The Flesh versus The Spirit

Who’s winning in your life?

Spirit = Life and Peace—Flesh = death

Romans 8:5-9a NKJV—For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the  carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. 

To be carnally minded is death…
Carnally = G4561, “sarx”—flesh, body, sensuous nature, human nature, as opposed to the spirit
Death = G2288, “thanatos”—life on earth is ended, implies future misery in hell

To be spiritually minded is life and peace…

Spiritually = G4151, “pneuma”—Holy Spirit, our spirit
Life = G2222, “zoe”—the absolute fulness of life, life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God. Blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ.
(I like to think of it as the God-breathed fullness of life that Adam enjoyed before sin came into the world.)
Peace = G1515, “eirene”—tranquility, immunity from the rage and havoc of war, harmony, security, safety, prosperity (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous), joy

So, in other words, when you are carnally minded you’re living our lives in the flesh, “according to the flesh”. Your whole focus is on the things of the flesh—your life here on earth, your body, your pleasures, your likes and dislikes, your wants, etc. Everything is inward focused on you.

You consult your flesh when making decisions and choices. You live to please your fleshly desires. Your mind and life are in enmity against God. Your mind is hostile, has a deep-rooted hatred, and is in opposition against God. You’re not subject to the law of God but in opposition against it. The end of a life lived this way…is death.

Living in the flesh

Living from the flesh means living death. You are constantly working to meet the ever-increasing demands of the flesh. It needs more and more to make you happy. Serving self begins to consume your thoughts. Your world rotates around you.

This may be an extreme example, but the same is true when you look good on the outside. You’re other’s focused—you spend you’re life living for the good of others. In the world’s eyes that’s wonderful! But…doing good without God is called “being self-righteous”…and in God’s eyes that’s just as evil as being self-focused. It’s still all about
“S-E-L-F“!

Look at what the Bible says about “self righteousness”…
Isaiah 64:6b—And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
Romans 8:8—So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

And just for clarification “filthy rags” are equivalent to our modern day “feminine napkin or tampon”. That’s what God thinks of anything we do through our flesh. Doesn’t matter how good it may be…it’s as wonderful to God as a feminine napkin or tampon would be to us!🤮 For “those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Don’t be discouraged

If you’re feeling like you’re living from your flesh more often than not…don’t be discouraged. Most of us start that way. It doesn’t mean you haven’t been saved, or you’ve lost your Salvation, or anything else like that! It just means there’s some work for you to do.

It’s called renewing your mind

Romans 12:2 AMPC—Do not be conformed to this world (this age) [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Renewing your mind is all about learning to think according to what the Word of God says about you…and the best way to do that is to know who you are now that you are IN Christ. I would highly recommend printing out this page, Click this link: Knowing Who I Am in Christ

Whatever your need, you’ve already got it

The best thing about having the Holy Spirit living in you is that you already have all the answers and the Wisdom you need living right inside of you! Jesus tells us that in John 14:26 AMPC, “But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things.”

(I would highly recommend writing out this verse and then looking up the meanings for the different words and put it beside each word. Then the next time you’re wondering what the Holy Spirit can do for you, you can look back at this verse and know.)

The Holy Spirit also shows you the Truth, He will reveal Jesus to you…as well as comforting you, counselling you, helping you, strengthening you and so much more…

John 16:13 AMPC—But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes^**, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father, He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.

^**We no longer have to wait for the Holy Spirit to come. He came on the day of Pentecost 2,000 years ago…and He came to live in your heart the moment you accepted Jesus—at that very moment you were “born again” and Holy Spirit came to live in your spirit…making you a new creation.

I don’t know about you…but I find that extremely comforting! You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Ask the Holy Spirit for His help and He will enable you to change. 

Listen to what 2 Corinthians 3:18 AMPC says—“And all of us, as with unveiled face [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.”

Understanding your new Spirit

If you’d like to gain a greater understanding of what your new Spirit is and how it functions within you…I would highly recommend you watch this very important video: Spirit, Soul, & Body Animation by Andrew Wommack.

I guarantee you that after watching this video you’ll have a better understanding of the difference between your Body, Soul, and Spirit and how each one works together with the other parts to bring you the God-Life you’re desiring.

Living in the Spirit

Galatians 5:24 NKJV—And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Psalms 37:4—Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

When we’re spiritually minded…when we delight ourselves in the Lord…our thoughts and desires are focused on God and our life with Him in the heavenlies where we are already seated in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:4-6 —But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV—If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

A spiritually minded life is ‘an absolute fulness of life’ experienced here on earth…. A life that is active and vigorous, blessed with Peace—tranquility, immunity from the rage and havoc of a war fought in our mind between death and life…harmony, joy,  security, safety, prosperity—because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous.

I don’t know about you…but I’d rather give my mind over to the Spirit than to my flesh. I remember my mom saying to me as a child, “Want is a cruel task master. It’s never satisfied. It will always want more and more and more!” That’s a picture of living in the carnal mind.

So…How do you live from the Spirit within

The Bible is full of advice on how to live from the Spirit rather than the flesh. Here are just a few verses to get you started.

Romans 8:12-1 NKJV—Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 

2 Corinthians 104-5 NKJV—For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

These strongholds are the flesh fighting to live a fleshly life. Our mind is filled with thoughts of self and other thoughts that actually speak death to the Life within us.

Arguments are those thoughts that argue that being in the flesh is okay. That you’re not doing anything wrong. Nothing will be harmed by doing xyz. It’s okay, just this once. Arguments war against following the leading of the Spirit.

Everything that prevents you from growing in the Knowledge of God MUST go. Every flesh-serving thought we have must be taken captive and put to death at the throne Jesus.

Instead we are to think on these things:

Philippians 4:8 NKJV—Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 

Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV—But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

For more Scriptures about living from the Spirit within you follow the links below…

Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through these Scriptures. Ask Him to show you how to apply them to your life. Ask Him to help you become aware of all wrong thoughts. Ask Him to help you take those thoughts captive.

Rely on Him. This isn’t work you do through your own will…but through the helping hand of the Holy Spirit within you. With His help you CAN, and you WILL change!

What Does the Bible Say About Living By the Spirit?

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29 Bible Verses about Living in the Spirit