What is the Flesh?

Galatians 5:16-24

New King James Version (NKJV)

Walking in the Spirit

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,^[a] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders,^[b] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
  
     In our Christian journey, one thing we can be certain of is that we will always have to deal with our flesh.  As long as we exist on the earth, our flesh will have cravings and appetites of it's own.  This week, we will look at the flesh.  Examine what it is and how we can overcome it.  Today we answer the question, "What is the flesh?"

Seven definitions of the Flesh
1.  Pleasures or bodily appetites that pull us outside of the will  of God.
2.  Un Christ like attitudes.
3.  Evil tendencies inherited from Adam. ( This would include pre salvation thought patterns or habits brought over from the life you lived before receiving Christ.)
4.  Unchecked natural needs or desires.  (For example: Eating is a natural need  we all have but if we do not balance this natural need we can end up in gluttony.)
5.  Carnal Mindedness ( A mind governed by the senses.)
6.  A strong desire for anything outside of the will of God.
7.  Self centered behavior that ignores the needs and well beings of others.

From these definitions we all should be able to locate ourselves and locate our issues.  We all have a pull to something that our flesh wants but that part is not sin.  If we act on those  desires, cravings, and appetites of our flesh, we enter into sin. In verse 19-20 the bible describes works of the flesh.  That includes our bodies, mouth and heart.   Here are 5 keys to resolving flesh issues:
1.  Mind renewal
2.  Consecration
3.   Self Discipline
4.  Faith
5.  Grace of God

It's now time to do the work.  It's time to do the things that will help us overcome.  Some of us it's sexual sins.  Some of us it's old destructive habits. For some of us it's our mouth..  It is all sin in God's sight and we must all do the work to control our flesh.

Brother Clarence
Author and Family Strategist
www.godlyking.com
www.godlykings.blogspot.com