Bill's Personal Version of Flesh--September 30 2012

Today, we watched the first half of Session 2, “The Life”, with Bill and Anabel Gillham. In today’s lesson, we watched and listened as Bill described his own version of flesh. As Bill states, “Each of us has developed our own version of the flesh in order to get our needs met our own way.” Bill and Anabel will illustrate in their comments God’s desire to meet our deepest needs and the futility of trusting in the flesh.


As Bill begins his personal discussion of the flesh, he points toward the role played by his parents. Yet, he explains that the culprit in the development of his flesh is not his parents. The real culprit is Satan. Bill explains that he grew up in a home in which the role of husband and wife were reversed. According to Bill, this was 180 degrees counter to the instructions provided in the “Manufacturer’s Instructions”— the Bible. Bill explained how little boys have a need to discover and express their masculinity. They learn how to interact with females by interacting with their moms. If males are emasculated in their formative years, their flesh usually develops toward one of three patterns according to Bill. Homosexuality may manifest itself if the child gives up on being male. Passivity can be a path chosen by young men in this circumstance. In the case of passivity, he is likely to adopt a philosophy in which he agrees to be anything someone else wants him to be as long as he is accepted. The third path chosen by young men raised in this environment is machismo. In this circumstance, the young male employs macho behavior to try to gain masculine acceptance. This third circumstance is the one that Bill described as his own personal version of the flesh. By trying to meet his own needs, which Bill calls “Playing Lord of the Ring”, he collared himself with emotional, mental, and behavioral flesh patterns.

Bill felt like he needed to be a “MANLY MAN” to meet his need to be accepted. He transposed that expectation onto his own sons and onto his wife as well. The consequences were devastating for his family. It is important to remember that fleshly patterns are developed in response to your “stuck feeler” and will bring you into conflict with God, yourself, and others.

Next week, we will hear the touching story of Anabel’s personal version of the flesh. I hope you will be present to join us in hearing this story and in our discussion and application of the lessons learned from both of these stories.

CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: Craig handed out a copy of the “Flesh Inventory” during class this morning. I hope you will take a look at the “Flesh Inventory” and apply it to your life. Think this week about the “chains” that are holding you in bondage as a result of your personal version of the flesh. Keep in mind that none of us are capable of freeing ourselves from this bondage. Only Jesus can free us from this bondage—we simply cannot do it ourselves.