Provisions

"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." 
Romans 13:14 



Making provisions is a fantastic thing when it comes to the necessities 
of life. Those who can vegetables and fruits or pack them away into the 
freezer are making provision for later down the road. Isn't it just 
delightful to unscrew that ring on a home-jarred can of green beans in 
the middle of winter and pop that seal? Mmmm! Those beans taste just 
like they've been freshly picked off of the vine. 


Putting away provisions is a wonderful concept, but I wonder 
how many of us put away things on the shelves of our lives that we 
shouldn't. That verse in Romans 13:14 warns us, but how many of us heed 
it? 


...and make not provision for the flesh... 


There are things we pack away in our canning jars as it were that can only lead to broken fellowship with Christ. 

Negative Thoughts 
What about all those negative thoughts that we get a good crop of and 
put up into our jars? It could be negative thoughts about our pastor, 
church, coworkers, or even our family members. 
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself 
against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought 
to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 

Negative Actions 
Sometimes we do things that are nothing more than setting ourselves up 
for sin. Remember how David took Bathsheba's husband Uriah and put him 
at the front of the lines? (2 Samuel 11:15) He made provision for 
Uriah to be killed so that he could have Bathsheba.For those of us that know Christ as Savior, our actions should be that of obedient children. 
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the 
end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of 
Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according 
to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you 
is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is 
written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who 
without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass 
the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye 
were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from 
your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But 
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and 
without spot. 

Envy 
Look how David made this his provision for sin. (2 Samuel 11:2-27) He 
saw Bathsheba and wanted her. When he opened that jar of envy up, he 
only invited misery into his life. Talk about opening a can of 
worms! Envy is listed right up there with the works of the flesh in 
Galatians. 
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: 
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in 
time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit 
the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:21Worry 
Worries we jar up a jar at a time, never too many at once. Ever notice, 
however, that when we open them up later, we usually end up opening all 
the jars of worry at one time and devouring them all at once? 
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and 
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto 
God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep 
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7 
Pride 
We can certainly pack this one away, can't we? Some of us have several 
jars of pride lining the shelves of our lives. We don't always label it 
"pride" though. We mark it neatly as "knowledge, "talent", or 
"spiritual growth". Not that there is anything wrong with those things, 
but sometimes we use them as excuses in order to justify our prideful 
attitudes. 
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 

Time. 

Setting aside time is not a bad thing but when we set it aside and put 
ourselves in situations where we are prone to sin it is. Many of us set 
aside time every week to sit down and watch a television show or two 
that we know doesn't honor God. Some people set aside time to roam 
around on the internet to places that are not fit for a Christian. Some 
of us even set aside time to sit and gossip on the phone. In the end it 
makes provision for the flesh for us to sin. 

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15,16 


Conclusion: 
When we are making provision for the flesh to 
rule our lives, we aren't giving the Spirit any leeway to develop that 
fruit we should be exhibiting. That's what we should be jarring up and 
lining our pantry shelves with...The Fruit of the Spirit. When we go 
back to the verse we started with in Romans 13:14, it tells us how to 
avoid making provision for the flesh. We are to put on Christ! 


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


When we are putting on Christ in our daily lives we are allowing the 
Spirit free reign and our fruit and the things we pack away will 
reflect that. These are the things we should exhibit. 


Love 
Joy 
Peace 
Longsuffering 
Gentleness 
Goodness 
Faith 
Meekness 
Temperance 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: 
against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified 
the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let 
us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 
When we are not living in the Spirit, the only other thing we can 
be doing is living in the flesh. There isn't any middle ground. Putting 
on Christ daily is the only way to keep from being bogged down with sin. 
I trust that I can have my pantry full of the wonderful fruits of the 
Spirit. I know it isn't easy. It's something we have to put some energy 
into. Those green beans won't string themselves or hop into the jars by 
themselves. Preserving takes a little work, and so does living in the 
Spirit and allowing Christ to have full reign. Just like putting up 
home canned goods, it takes a little heat, a little pressure, and above 
all a little sterilizing of the jars and equipment to get started. We 
can only live in the Spirit when we have all unconfessed sin taken 
care. That's what sterilizes and makes things ready to put up that good 
fruit. I hope I can live that way. When people open my pantry cupboard 
as it were, I'd like them to find all those jars of things that only 
living in the Spirit can produce lined up on the shelves. 

So, what are you making provision for?