The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit
The Struggle is Real
Every believer faces a battle—a war that rages within. It is the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. The Apostle Paul describes this conflict vividly in Romans and Galatians, showing that while we are saved by grace, we still wrestle with sinful desires.
But take heart—this struggle is not a sign of failure; it is proof that the Spirit of God is at work within us! The question is: How do we overcome the flesh and walk in victory through the Spirit?
The Flesh: Our Fallen Nature
Paul uses the term flesh (Greek: sarx) not just to refer to our physical bodies, but to the fallen, sinful nature inherited from Adam. The flesh represents:
Our sinful inclinations – Romans 7:18: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.”
Rebellion against God – Romans 8:7: “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God.”
The pull toward self-gratification – Galatians 5:19-21 lists the works of the flesh, which include immorality, jealousy, and idolatry.
Without Christ, we are slaves to sin, unable to escape its grasp. But through Jesus, we are no longer bound by the flesh—we are given a new way to live.
The Internal War: Flesh vs. Spirit
Paul describes this inner conflict in Galatians 5:17:
"For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want."
Even after salvation, we still experience this tension.
The old nature fights to regain control – Our former way of life does not simply disappear overnight. It tries to pull us back into sin.
The Spirit empowers us to resist – When we are born again, God gives us His Spirit to help us walk in obedience.
Paul understood this struggle firsthand (Romans 7:24):
"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"
The answer is not in willpower, but in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit!
Victory Through the Spirit
Paul does not leave us in despair—he provides the solution:
1. Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)
To walk in the Spirit means to live in step with Him daily—through prayer, scripture, and obedience.
The more we feed the Spirit, the stronger He becomes in us.
2. Crucify the Flesh (Galatians 5:24)
We must put to death our old ways and refuse to entertain sin.
Colossians 3:5 says, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature.”
3. Renew the Mind (Romans 12:2)
The battle is won or lost in the mind. We must replace sinful thoughts with God's truth.
Philippians 4:8 calls us to dwell on what is pure, lovely, and praiseworthy.
4. Rely on God’s Grace (Romans 8:1-2)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Even when we fall, God’s grace restores us. The Spirit convicts us, but He does not condemn us.
Living in the Freedom of the Spirit
Romans 8:12-14 declares:
"Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God."
What does this mean for us?
We are no longer slaves to sin—we are children of God.
We have the power of the Spirit to say NO to temptation.
We live with the hope of eternal life, not bound by the desires of this world.
Walking in the Spirit is not always easy, but it is the only way to experience true victory over the flesh. God didn’t call us to be comfortable in our sin—He called us to be obedient to His Spirit.
Will you surrender to the Spirit today? Will you crucify the flesh and choose to walk in step with God?
Prayer:
"Lord, we confess that we often battle with the desires of the flesh. We need Your Spirit to guide us, strengthen us, and transform us. Help us to walk in obedience, to renew our minds, and to crucify the sinful nature daily. We surrender to You. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Call to Action:
This week, make a conscious effort to walk in the Spirit—spend time in the Word, in prayer, and in worship.
Identify areas where the flesh is trying to take control and submit them to God.
Trust that God has given you everything you need to live in victory.
Final Word: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
Joe
6 comments
Amen 🙏🏻 Romans 12:2
Very nice
Thank you for being the light in the darkness , for taking the time to bring this to light . This surely spoke to me on levels .
God is the way the truth and the light & even though it’s not an easy walk , It is a worthy walk and all things are possible through our Lord , amen !
Thanks for sharing this 🙌
This hit the nail on the head! Truth, Truth, and more Truth!
I love Galatians 5. There’s so much in that chapter about the Spirit and the Flesh. Such as, if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the Flesh.
Keep Being the Light in the Darkness!