Christians Being Overcome By the Flesh
What is the flesh? Most Christians have a hard time understanding the concept of the flesh. The flesh is simply that part of us that responds to the natural world around us. Our physical body and our desires are what make up the flesh. Unfortunately, we as Christians have more to contend with than just our flesh. We also have the Spirit to deal with.
1 Corinthians 3:1:And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
One indication of being “dominated by the flesh” is that spirituality will be missing. Paul told the Church at Corinth that the reason that they were not able to grow in the spirit was because they were “carnal” or “fleshy”. If we look at this scripture we see certain characteristics associated with carnality and they are :envying, strife and divisions. As a deliverance ministry we have seen spirits that were also associated with these names. In other words with most fleshy activity there is a spirit that will be associated with it.
Galatians 5:16-25: This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, 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. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
We see again in these scriptures “works of the flesh”. However I will just take one of these as an illustration. For example, witchcraft is not just carried out by the flesh alone, there is a spirit attached to this work of the flesh. This spirit is what motivates and causes a person to be overtaken. This is another characteristic of a person that appears to be “driven” in there activity. This activity takes place in the flesh but has a spirit that is driving the person to continue to desire to participate in the sinful act. The only remedy for this is the ministry of “casting out demons”. No amount of personal or psychiatric counseling will cause that person relief besides casting the demon out.
The flesh screams to be satisfied, however, if we through the Spirit of God mortify (put to death) the power of the flesh we will live a victorious Christian life.
Romans 12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.