Spirit vs Flesh - Die Lighuis Ministry

[Warning: this teaching will not tickle the ear]

I want to spend some time on a topic the Holy Spirit has pressed on my heart for a week or two. How do we live by the Spirit and not by the flesh? Not just a high-level topic, but a practical of what it means.

Take some time to read and meditate on the following Scriptures before you continue. This will form the backdrop of the discussion.

Gal 5:16-25
Rom 8:1-11
Col 3:1-17

What is the ‘flesh’?

Let’s start with the obvious question: so what exactly is the flesh?

This is my definition:

when the Bible talks about our flesh, it refers to the impact the seed of Satan has on mankind which started all the way back at the garden of Eden. It’s our corrupt, carnal, sinful nature. Another way to explain it is our self-centred ego, the me-myself-and-I. Because of this seed of rebellion that was sown into the hearts of men, mankind wants to fill the void, but doesn’t want to do it God’s way. Some people fill this void with religion and rules; they try to earn God’s favour by doing things. Other people go the opposite way and try to fill the void with conscience-soothing-cheap-grace theology.

God’s way is faith and obedience. The flesh says either it’s too easy or it’s too difficult, “I will do it my way”. And then it continues by saying in arrogance: “the Lord knows my heart”.

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Gal 5:17)

the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot (Rom 8:7 AMP)

The dangers of walking in the flesh

When we don’t walk in the Spirit, but in the flesh, we read in Rom 8:7 that we are actively hostile towards God and cannot subject ourselves to God’s law. This means that we are in rebellion. The church of Galatians wanted to fill the void by doing religion – they wanted to work out their salvation by following rules from a flesh-perspective. They were not led by the Holy Spirit, they operated in the flesh.

The result of this is that we cannot please God. None of us, I believe, wants to stand in direct rebellion to God. We want to please God. For this very reason, we then need to walk in the Spirit. And find out how to do it if we don’t know how. Otherwise we cannot please God. It’s either flesh or Spirit. There’s nothing in between.

Romans 8:13 makes a very sobering statement: if you are living according to the flesh, you are going to die. The flesh leads to spiritual death. Paul then continues in verse 14 by saying that only those that are being led by the Spirit are sons of God. By implication it then means: if you are not being led by the Spirit (walking in the flesh) you are not sons of God. May the Lord give us grace to recognise the works of the flesh in our lives and to repent urgently.

Going deeper

Col 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

When we start our walk with the Lord, the Holy Spirit convicts us of the ‘big’ and obvious sins in our lives, things like idolatry, sexual immorality, addictions and lying. Then as we repent and ask His Spirit to shine His search light into our hearts, He reveals even more sins. Later these sins cannot be seen from the outside. He deals with our thoughts and with the condition of our heart. As we are passing one grade after the other, the testing becomes harder and we are being refined at a deeper level.

We must never ever say: “I’ve dealt with that”. This is a sign of religious pride. A humble heart will always ask the Holy Spirit to show him or her if there isn’t another layer whatever is discussed that must be removed.

The fruit of the flesh

We are all very familiar with the fruit of the Spirit, but we rarely look at the fruit of the flesh which is listed three verses in earlier in Galatians 5. Normally we will just pick up a few words here and there and jump the rest. No one likes to admit that this fruit may be present in our lives, and for the most part we will deny it since we don’t drink, party or do witchcraft.

Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21 AMP)

Let’s read it and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a deeper layer to us. When we work through the meaning of the words and look at the condition of our heart, we’ll realise there is still a lot to repent for. At the bottom of the teaching I’ve listed some deeper explanations to help us examine ourselves.

We are not supposed to walk in the flesh

Romans 8:9 says: However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God].

The Spirit of YHVH lives in us. Do we realise what it really means? So many believers will hide behind their sinful nature as an excuse to actively walk in the flesh. This shouldn’t be. Paul’s statement is a fact, not a prayer or a hope: we ARE not in the flesh, we ARE not controlled by our sinful nature. Why? Because the Holy Spirit lives in us and we belong to God. We need to change our mindset about sin. Only then will we be able, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to get rid of sin in our lives.

Walking in the Spirit

For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another. For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].” (Gal 5:13-14 AMP)

The more we walk in the Spirit, the less we will give in to the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16). When you are in the presence of the Holy One, you will not want to spoil the moment with a carnal thought or word. Why can’t every minute of our lives be lived in the presence of Him? He is our audience when no one else can hear our thoughts. I believe that for the most part we don’t live in the fear (reverence) of God because we have no idea what the words “The holy One of Israel” means.

Here is another verse that deals with the matter of the flesh versus the Spirit, but that gets half-quoted a lot:

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus

Only this portion is quoted, but here is the whole verse: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (NKJV)

There is no condemnation if you walk according to the Spirit. By implication: if the fruit of the flesh is present in your life, you are walking in the flesh and this acquittal doesn’t apply to you. It’s hard words, but it’s truth, it’s Scripture.

When we are being led by the Spirit, we are not under the law, the law is being fulfilled in us. How? Through serving each other in love. This, by the way, is in direct contrast to the flesh that is self-centred.

Rom 8:4 so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power].

The fruit of the Spirit

All of us are familiar with the fruit of the Spirit and there is not a lot that can be added that hasn’t been said already.

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

I want to add that the fruit of the Spirit is not a to-do list or some kind of achievement. It’s the effect of the working of the Holy Spirit in us. When we allow the Spirit of the Lord to change us, this fruit will automatically become evident in our lives. It’s the result of His working.

Our fruit must constantly increase as we grow more into the fullness of Christ. If we have exactly the same amount of patience (or impatience for that matter) than we had a year or a month ago, we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us. This fruit will grow greater and more abundant to the degree that we are living in the Spirit and not in the flesh. It’s impossible to constantly live in the flesh, but to produce fruit of the Spirit. The same goes for the other way around.

Let’s examine our lives, not only for fruit, but for the evidence of growth. There is no such thing as “this is the way I am” or “Born this way, still this way” in the Kingdom of God. You are either growing or dying.

Is it even possible?

By our own strength it will never be possible, but through the victory of Jesus, it’s most certainly possible. And not only possible, but it should be our normal.

This Scripture in Roman 7 are often quoted to find an excuse for walking in the flesh, but it actually proofs the contrary. Even though we can detect the constant lure to rebellion and sin working in our lives, we can overcome through the power of our Messiah, Jesus. Even though our fleshly desires can frustrate us, we don’t have an excuse. We have the Holy Spirit in us and therefore we can also be victorious.

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom 7:23-25)

It takes action

Because our natural inclination is rebellion, to walk in the Spirit doesn’t come automatically when we are reborn. It requires some effort and action from our side. I’m not talking about works, rules and to-do-lists. I’m talking about spiritual discipline. But then again, how can we not when we had an encounter with the living God? How can we not want to put in the effort when His Son paid our ransom with His precious Blood? Because we love Him, we want to walk in the Spirit. It’s all about our love for Him and the motives of our heart.

We have to crucify our flesh; in other words, take drastic action and kill it. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal 5:24 )

Decide today to WALK in the Spirit. Step by step, constantly being led by the Holy Spirit. To walk is a verb. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:25)

We are instructed to kill our fleshly desires and sinful inclinations. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth. (Col 3:5)

We are to completely rid ourselves of sin. But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things. (Col 3:8)

Colossians 3 are packed with practical instructions, of which one is to ‘put on’ the good virtues. Verse 12 explains it beautifully: because we are His chosen people and because we are loved, therefore put on… Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (Col 3:12)

Through all of these verses, we can see that Paul didn’t expect change to happen automatically. To three different churches he gave the same instructions: kill, get rid of, crucify. We are misled if we think because of grace we don’t have to do anything. Grace is that the Spirit lives in us and we don’t have to do this in our own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Grace is that the Son of God paid with His Blood so that we can live in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

But how?

Let’s get practical…

First and foremost, we have to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Think of a train. The Holy Spirit is the locomotive that provides the force to move all the wagons. The wagons have no power in themselves, they are pulled by the power of the locomotive. Living in the Spirit works exactly the same. The Holy Spirit is the power source. All we have to do is to follow. We need to ensure that we stay plugged into the source. That’s what it means to abide.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (Joh 15:4-5)

Secondly, we have to work on our thought-life.

Every sin starts with a thought. The same goes for most physiological and psychological diseases.

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. (Rom 8:5-6)

Are we allowing carnal thoughts to grow roots? Are we constantly taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ or do we allow our thoughts to roam all over the place? How disciplined are we with what goes on in our mind? Paul gave us very good advice here; we will be foolish to not take heed.

The third practical point is to fight.

This is one that I think most of us which wasn’t in the Bible. We are yet to practice and live out this instruction. The writer of Hebrews instructs us to not become tired or discouraged in our fight against carnality. He goes on to point out that we can still resist even more; our fight has not been until bloodshed yet.

How do we deal with fleshly desires? How hard to we resist? When we have to be really honest with ourselves, there is still a lot of fighting and resisting that can be done.

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. (Heb 12:3-4)

Fourthly, we simply have to be zealous.

Sometimes it’s necessary to force our flesh. When you don’t feel like worshipping, praying, fasting or whatever spiritual discipline applies, we cannot sit back and wait for the ‘I want to’ feeling. We have to force ourselves. That’s why specific prayer times, fasting days and gatherings are very useful. Our flesh will never feel like devouring the Scriptures, it’s only through the working of the Holy Spirit in us. But if we have become lazy, force yourself. Read, pray and worship until you break through from flesh to Spirit. And then continue to not get out of practice again.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

I don’t believe these are the only practical points, but it should be enough to get us going.

The motive of our heart

Flesh will always say that I have to do or achieve a certain standard of holiness to be acceptable to God. To come in faith is too simple for our flesh; we want to add. I believe this is rooted in our prideful nature which forms part of the seed of Satan – our sinful nature. Pride is our biggest enemy and it’s an enemy within.

We don’t have to do anything to be good enough for God. This is the meaning of true grace.

Then…

BECAUSE we are grateful and we love Him, we want to please Him.

BECAUSE we love Him, we want to live in the Spirit.

BECAUSE we love Him, we want to abide in Him.

This is the difference between works and rest.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will enlarge your understanding and that you will allow Him to shine His light into each chamber of your heart to reveal a deeper layer of flesh. I pray that you will overcome through the power of the Spirit of the living God that resides in you and that you will live in the Spirit, every minute of every day.

Many blessings,

Yolandie Mostert

Notes on the fruit of the flesh:

Adultery:

Cheating, breaking covenant, sexual immorality, also in thoughts – thinking about another person you are not married to. Also spiritual adultery – going back to previous lovers or old ways.

[Afr: owerspel]

Fornication:

Any form of sex outside of marriage, also thoughts, pornography. Also yoke or covenant outside of God’s order – to what are we yoking ourselves spiritually?

[Afr: hoerery]

Uncleanness:

Polluted, impurity, contaminated, dirty. Uncleanness comes in through our eye-gate, ear-gate, but also our thoughts.

[Afr: onreinheid]

Lewdness / lasciviousness:

Sensuality, lack of self-control, irresponsibility, lust, driven by the sexual, pornography.

[Afr: ongebondenheid]

Idolatry:

On a deeper level, this is not only worshipping idols or having idols and unclean objects in our houses. What else are we worshipping, what sits on the throne of our heart? Our career, job, position, status, our self, money, hobbies, unhealthy relationship, ministry, church you’re attending? A good test is: should the Lord ask you to give it up completely, will you be able to? Can also be the chasing after things instead of God.

[Afr: afgodery]

Sorcery:

Witchcraft. In the traditional sense, to practice magic and to pull spells. Witchcraft has found its way into the church also. When you name and claim or pray someone out of God’s perfect will, you are practicing charismatic witchcraft. Manipulation and controls are also fruit of witchcraft. Unfortunately the prophetic, has become a playing ground for this fruit. Another form of witchcraft lies in the unhealthy use of medicine and substances (pharmakeia).

Hatred:

An intense dislike, deep rooted hate. Enemy. Antagonistic, bitterness, hate. Racism forms part of hatred. Also, friendship with the world (James 4:4).

[Afr: vyandskap]

Contentions:

Argumentative, disagreement, heated arguments, dispute, discord. Are we in disagreement with ourself, our family, anyone in the body of Christ? Do we like to pick a fight?

[Afr: twis]

Jealousy:

A feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something or someone that you want. This doesn’t only apply to physical possessions, also to spiritual gifts etc. Resentment when others are favoured.

[Afr: jaloersheid]

Outbursts of wrath:

Temper tantrums, extreme anger, rage (also road rage), indignation, annoyance, to be very difficult (can explode at any minute).

[Afr: toornigheid]

Selfish ambitions:

When your ambition becomes all about you. Strive, also a form of jealousy. The opposite of serving the needs of others. Selfishness moves you to compare yourself to others. Only thinking of yourself.

[Afr: naywer]

Dissensions:

Seditions, Language or behaviour intended to persuade other people to oppose authority. Disagreement that leads to discord. Strong disagreement. Disunion or division.

[Afr: tweedrag]

Factions:

A coalition of persons within a larger group; a clique. Brings discord. Forming a party, choose a side, inner fighting. Seeking to find followings for own selfish desire. Rivalry.

[Afr: partyskap]

Envy:

A feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or blessings. Wishing you can be like someone else: talking, giftings, performing art or sports.

[Afr: afguns]

Murder:

Not only taking someone lives physically, but also spiritually with words, gossip, slander and hateful thoughts.

[Afr: moord]

Drunkenness:

The condition of being delirious with any substance e.g. alcohol; intoxication (This means a person’s brain and body are not working normally, because of the alcohol they have had). A little bit of intoxication also counts. Not only alcohol, other additions are also included. On a deeper lever: being overly affected (intoxicated) by something.

[Afr: dronkenskap]

Revelries:

Wild parties, lively and noisy festivities, especially when these involve drinking a large amount of alcohol. It comes from the French word reveler meaning to rebel, its tone indicates carousing or noisy partying. Uncontrolled partying, eating and drinking. Orgies.

[Afr: brassery]