We know we are called to live by the spirit and not the flesh, but what does it actually mean, and do we actually do it?
Romans 8:1 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah Yeshua who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
That is such a hopeful verse. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Messiah Yeshua). But how many of us are truly walking as if Jesus lives inside of us? Or are we still in bondage to our flesh that we fight?
Romans goes on to say, “For those who are living, according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnally minded is enmity against God, it is not subject to the law of God, nor can it be. Those who are of the flesh cannot please God. But if you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, the Spirit of God, dwells in you. If we do not have the Spirit of Jesus, we are not His” Romans 5-11 (paraphrased).
To live in the Spirit is life and peace. But so often we settle for less. We define what our flesh actually means we have to know what the deeds of the flesh are.
- Sinful Passions – “For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law worked in our members to bring out fruit of death” -Romans 7:5.
- All of these things – “Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanliness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, division, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom” -Galatians 5:19-21.
- The Opposite of the fruits of the Spirit – The works of the flesh represent ungodly, behavior driven by human selfish nature rather than the Holy Spirit. It’s love vs hatred and selfishness, joy vs bitterness, peace vs anxiety and conflict.
- Being Carnally Minded – letting our minds wander into worry, fear, and anxiety. It’s not staying focused on the kingdom of heaven, but rather on our own needs and desires.
- Selfishness – “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom that is from above is pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” -James 3:13-18.
I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of “flesh stuff” to work on. Because I fall into multiple categories of giving in to my flesh over my spirit. Thankfully there is hope when we have Jesus. And He doesn’t leave us alone to fight our flesh.
Our spirits and flesh are at war. If we want to win the war, our spirits must be louder than our flesh and we must put to death, the deeds of the flesh. Galatians 5:16-18 tells us, “Walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
Many times Satan will tempt us to give in to our fleshly desires. It is important that we submit to God and resist Satan then he will flee from us. Jesus is the only way to walk this life because of the peace He gives us.
Denying our flesh isn’t easy, but we must follow Jesus’s ways if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven. We cannot fight flesh with flesh. John 3:36 says, “The Spirit alone gives life, human effort accomplishes nothing.” Our flesh isn’t weak, so we must stay strong in the Spirit.
The evidence of the Spirit in our lives will be the fruit of our lives. Something that we as well as others will be able to see.
