Formulas

Written By: Mr. Brian Black

Have you ever tried to solve a problem in math or science with the wrong formula? I remember plugging the wrong chemical formula for an element into an equation once and by the time I was done, I was so far from the right answer I didn’t even know how to correct the process. I only discovered what was wrong when I when back and checked the ‘beginning’ and recognized that I was wrong from the start.

In Genesis 39, we find two different formulas on display. First, you can see the formula for walking in the Spirit. “She spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her”. Verse 8 says that he refused her requests. He refused at first but then he remained firm in that spiritual decision. He was resolved to do right so he applied the principle of “not giving place to the devil.” He did not listen to her requests, he did not allow himself to be around her or even be with her in the same place.

Where you and I make our first mistake is becoming comfortable allowing sin to be around us.

We may refuse at first but allowing ourselves to be influenced by its’ presence causes us to fall. His action was definitely drastic, but it was to stay spiritually pure. The spiritual formula for purity is simple — stay clean! What friends or influences (social media, movies, shows, music) are you allowing to stay around and become instruments of defeat in your spiritual walk?

We also see the formula for walking in the flesh — Potiphar’s wife. When she was thwarted from her plan, she got upset. She then began to ponder revenge to achieve her own personal pleasure and desires. She lied to manipulate circumstances in her favor by telling a grand story (“directing the drama”) that had everyone believing she was a victim.

If we are not walking with God, there is no conceivable depth of wrongdoing that our fleshly desires will drive or push us to do.

When we have a desire for position, popularity or any pleasure in a wrong time or place, the only way to see that desire accomplished is through worldly or fleshy ways. The wrong formula will give you the wrong outcome. Proverbs tells us that the desire of the righteous (right desires in a right time and place) will be granted. What formula are you living by today? Are you walking in the Spirit or walking in the flesh?