The Spirit or the Flesh~Which One Are You Feeding?

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

“One is evil, which is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

“The other is good, which is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

This parable illustrates well the battle between the Spirit and the flesh.  We could easily ask, “Which one are you feeding?”

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.”  Romans 13:14

Provision: the providing or supplying of something, especially of food or other necessities.

This scripture is telling us, “Do not feed your flesh anything. Do not provide anything that will keep it alive.”

Paul made this statement after he wrote Romans 7, that so many like to go to that they may justify sin in their life.  But Jesus came to condemn sin in the flesh,  and justify us in the Spirit.  Romans 8:3-4

But we have a part. We must feed the Spirit and starve- mortify the flesh.  Romans 8:13

Let’s look at Romans 7 and 8 utilizing the marginal readings and modern English:

Romans 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am fleshly, sold under sin. (“I” – my fleshly body) [15] For that which “I” do “I” do not understand: For what “I” (my flesh) wants to do “I” don’t do.  [16] So then, if “I” do that which “I” don’t want to do, I agree with the law that it is good.  [17] Now then it isn’t anymore “I” that does it, but “sin” that dwells in me.  [18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh)  dwells nothing good: For I am always willing to do good; But how to perform (live out the good that I want to) I find not.  [19] For the good that I want to do, I don’t do; but the evil that I don’t want to do, that I do.  [20] Now if I do what I would rather not do, it is no more “I” but “sin” that dwells within me.  [21] So I have found a law (of nature) that when I want to do good, evil is present with me.  [22] For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man:  [23] But I see another law in my members (my fleshly body) warring against the law of my mind (that wants to do good) and bringing me into captivity (I am bound, no freedom from this evil law) to the law of sin which is in my members.  [24] O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death? (WHO? Who will set me free from this captivity???)  [25] I thank God through JESUS CHRIST our Lord.  (Jesus Christ sets us completely free John 8:36)  So then with the mind I serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in CHRIST JESUS (our deliverer from the captivity of the law of sin)  who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (who do not feed the bad wolf, but the good wolf) [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me FREE from the law of sin and death. (no longer a captive)  [3] For what the law could not do, because it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Christ had complete victory over the sinful flesh. He didnt feed it. When it was hungry, when temptations came, he starved it and rather fed the Spirit instead; See Matthew 4)  [4]  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us (In our flesh) who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  [5] For they that are after the flesh set their minds on the flesh (they make provision for- feed the flesh)  but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (They feed the Spirit)  [6] For to be carnally minded (fleshly minded- to feed the flesh) is death; But to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  [9] But you, (the saved and sanctified- the ones that are “born again” of the Spirit)  you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF so be that the Spirit of God dwells within you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. (He is not a Christian)  [10] And if Christ is in you, the body (the flesh) is dead because of sin. But the Spirit is life (or alive) because of righteousness… [12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  [13] For if you live after the flesh, you will die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you will live. 

So, which “wolf” are you feeding? Before Christ came, we only had one wolf within- the bad wolf.  But Christ brought us salvation, and sanctification. Salvation justifies us, sanctification gives us  God’s Spirit, (the “good wolf) so that, through His spirit, we can put to death sin in our bodies. (the “bad wolf)  But we must not make provision for the flesh. We must not feed the bad wolf any longer.

Paul said in this same book, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

To make provision for- to feed the flesh, is to say it is okay to sin a little bit everyday; God understands. When you do that, you are feeding the bad wolf- and you will not have victory in your life, and you will not be ready when Christ returns. But with the Spirit of God, which God is willing to give to all men freely when they repent-when they are truly sorry for sinning and desire to be free from sin, the Spirit will give us the power to put to death the bad wolf and set us FREE from sin. Praise God for that!

“Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkeness, not in chambering and wantoness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:13-14