16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
The flesh is a formidable foe. There will be battles against the flesh as long as you live. Some are small and appear insignificant. Others are larger and have greater implications. For example, you are in bed and the alarm goes off. You have a choice. If you get up you will have time for prayer and Bible reading and meditation. If you choose to sleep in a little longer you can rest but will not have time for devotions. This decision appears insignificant but if repeated over time can have deeper consequences. The flesh fights against you getting up for that devotion. This is just a small example.
As Paul wrote it in Galatians, the flesh set its desire against the Spirit. Think about that this way. Every single thing the Holy Spirit purposes do in your life, through your life, and for your life, the flesh opposes and resists with vigor. Every desire of the flesh is in opposition to every desire of the Holy Spirit. Every single one.
On the other hand, the Holy Spirit is constantly working to oppose the flesh. We are caught in this great tug of war for our souls. There are days when we are more in submission to the Holy Spirit and we resist the flesh and win victories. There are also other days when our flesh wins and we yield to temptation and live in defeat.
Do we really think about this day in and day out. Paul writes we are to "walk by the Spirit." If I interpret that rightly every day we are to walk in submission to and empowered by the Holy Spirit. If we do this Paul continues, "We will not carry on the desires of the flesh." The key to living victoriously is to walk by the Spirit.
What does that look like practically. On the ground where you live and work how does walking by the Holy Spirit even happen. From the moment you awake until you go back to bed you are in a battle. Decisions you make daily, hourly, and even minute by minute will determine whether the flesh or the Holy Spirit rules.
As I wrote earlier the flesh is a formidable foe. The flesh will never surrender any ground without a life and death struggle. It sounds hopeless from that point of view. Who really wants to think that every moment of your life the flesh will oppose every work of God in you and around you.
There is only one solution. Paul referenced it earlier in the book of Galatians. Galatians 2:20 (NASB)
20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I
who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for
me.
The only way to win the battle is to crucify the flesh. Put the flesh to death. I wish that could be a one time act and perhaps there are many people will argue that it is. It appears to me that crucifying the flesh is a daily experience. Multiple times we have the opportunity to deny the desires of the flesh. Each time is a little death blow to the flesh. Vice versa each time we yield to the desires of the flesh we strengthen the flesh.
Crucifixion was a bloody and horrific in the New Testament. Likewise crucifying the flesh is never easy. The flesh will fight being nailed to the cross every step of the way. It is way beyond our ability to will to happen in our own power. It is way beyond our resolve. Our resolve will weaken over time if left to our own strength. That is why it is imperative that we walk by the Holy Spirit.
The battle is difficult. There are casualties and scars from the fighting. It is worth the battle. The battle against the flesh is one we have to win empowered by the Holy Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit and yet in many mainstream churches the Holy Spirit is seldom referred to or embraced. How many Christians are even familiar with the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Let me state this emphatically. We will never win the battle of the flesh without the Holy Spirit. We need to familiarize ourselves with Him and His ministry. We also need to yield to the Holy Spirit. If we do we will not carry out the desires of the flesh.
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