This is a very important statement.  Every Christian is required to walk in the Spirit.  It is when you walk in the flesh that you get yourself in trouble.  Walking in the Spirit sets you apart from the things of the flesh, the things of the world that desire to control your life.  We must first define what it means to walk in the flesh.  Then we will define what walking in the Spirit means.

Matthew 26:41, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

In this passage Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane praying.  He speaks to the disciples and tells them to watch and pray so that they would not enter into temptation.  Here He makes a clear distinction between the flesh and the spirit.  The flesh He calls weak, however regarding the Spirit He calls it willing.  It seems that the flesh nature of man is where wicked temptations find their ability to function.  It also seems that it is when the spirit of man is strong towards God that temptations lose their power to sway believers.  What therefore is this flesh thing?  Paul spoke about this, let’s take a look at what he said regarding the flesh.  As you can see from looking at Matt 26:41 the spirit of the man desires to do right, but it is the flesh that is weak and causes man to sin.  Therefore it is necessary that we understand how to escape the power that the flesh has over our lives. 

Romans 7:14-24, "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  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 shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

In Romans 7:14-24 Paul begins to outline the nature of the war between the flesh and the Spirit.  He states that the law is spiritual.  However, he also goes on to state that he is carnal, sold under sin.  Let’s take a moment to define these two words. 

spir·i·tu·al (sp¹r“¹-ch›-…l) adj. 1. Of, relating to, consisting of, or having the nature of spirit; not tangible or material.  (American Heritage Dictionary)

SPIRITUAL:  4152 pneumatikos {pnyoo-mat-ik-os'}

 1) relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man

    which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ

    1a) that which possesses the nature of the rational soul

 2) belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God

 3) belonging to the Divine Spirit 3a) of God the Holy Spirit

    3b) one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God

 4) pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind, blowing

The word spiritual defined means something that comes from and is operated by God.  Something that is not material or tangible.  Paul therefore is saying that the law has the nature of the spirit of God.  The law is governed by and was released by God.  Now let’s look at the word carnal. 

car·nal (kär“n…l) adj. 1. Relating to the physical and especially sexual appetites: carnal desire. 2. Worldly or earthly; temporal: the carnal world. 3. Of or relating to the body or flesh; bodily: carnal remains.

CARNAL:  4559 sarkikos {sar-kee-kos'}1) fleshly, carnal 1a) having

 the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites

        1a1) governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God

        1a2) having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the

             animal nature 1a3) human: with the included idea of depravity

    1b) pertaining to the flesh 1b1) to the body: related to birth,  linage, etc

     The word carnal in contrast to the word spiritual deals directly with the desires of man and does not possess the nature of God.  This word represents the appetites of man, which are governed by man’s own personal wants.  God does not deal with the flesh nature of man it is His enemy.  Notice the passages below:

Romans 8:7, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

Rom 8:7  Our desires fight against God, because they do not and cannot obey God's laws.   Rom 8:8  If we follow our desires, we cannot please God.   Rom 8:9  You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God's Spirit, who lives in you. People who don't have the Spirit of Christ in them don't belong to him.   (Contemporary English Version)

To this point we have learned that the law of God is spiritual but man has a carnal nature.  The carnal nature is a nature that resists the things of God and will not submit itself to God’s laws.  Anything in us that resists the law of God is not born of God.  Paul goes on to state that when he desires to do right he finds that he cannot do right.  In fact the very thing that he finds himself doing he actually hates doing it, but he can’t seem to stop himself. 

Romans 7:15, "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."

Paul continues to talk about this and comes to the conclusion, if I admit that these things I am doing are not done intentionally then I am saying that the law of God is good.  It is therefore not the law that is the problem but it is sin that resides on the inside of me that causes me to fight against God’s laws. 

Romans 7:16, "If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good." Romans 7:17, "Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."

The key to walking in the Spirit therefore is admitting that it is not God’s Word that is the problem but it is un-dealt-with and unresolved issues within our own souls.  These unresolved issues that continue to have residence within our thoughts and lives fight against what God desires to do for us.  Therefore Paul admits that he does not know what to do.  He further admits that in his flesh has found nothing good.  Again he clearly states that he does not know what to do.  He states that every time I try to do good evil is present with me.  There is a side of me that desires to do the will of God but this good side is always at war with another side of me.  One side wants God but the other side desire to bring me into captivity to sin that still lives inside of me.  What can I do Paul states?  He calls himself a wretch and asks the question who in the world can get me out of this trap?  His final conclusion was that Jesus is the answer.  In order to walk in the Spirit we must submit ourselves totally to the word of God.  We must also understand that as long as we are in these bodies this war will go on.  The two divisions are as follows:  with my mind I serve the law of God but with my flesh the law of sin.  Now we have clear picture, if we will simply obey the law of God that is in our minds by taking in  God’s Word we will be able to defeat the power and pull of our flesh.      

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Lighthouse of Faith Community Church 

755 Lovejoy Road 

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32458 

(850) 244-2003