The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit | Walking in Step with the Spirit
- The Secret Place Ministry
- Dec 10
- 5 min read
Following Jesus begins with a daily decision to deny yourself, resist the desires of the flesh, and walk in step with the Holy Spirit according to God's Word.
Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."
Getting Trapped in the Ways of the Flesh
Do you find yourself excusing your sin? Maybe it's not that bad, right? Maybe you say things like, "If I do this one more time, I know God will forgive me." But then, after you've fallen into sin again, you feel the weight of it. The shame.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 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 are not to do whatever you want."
As believers we were called to live in freedom and not to be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. To not live as the world. To not walk in the desires of our flesh.
The Ways of the Flesh
What does it mean to deny our flesh and what are these fleshly desires?
These are the things that go against the Spirit. Galatians 5:19–21 gives examples of the acts of the flesh saying,
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The acts of the flesh are the very things that go against the Spirit of God.
The Ways of the Spirit
The acts of the Spirit are the opposite of the fleshly desires. Galatians 5:22–25
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
When we are walking in step with the Spirit we will choose to follow our Messiah. We will choose to sacrifice and put to death sinful desires.
Going back to Luke 9:23, notice how it says, "take up their cross daily." Because our flesh and Spirit are at odds with each other this must be a daily pursuit of striving to live holy lives according to God. As to not gratify the desires of the flesh we have to be walking in step with the Spirit of God.
Brothers and sisters, each of you are incredibly loved by God.If you are struggling with walking in the ways of the flesh I will first say we are not perfect and yes, we mess up and there is grace and mercy.
But there is a difference between one who is walking in pursuit of the Lord and falls into sin, has a heart of repentance and starts walking back in step with the Spirit and one who is actively choosing to walk in the ways of the flesh while feeling the pull from the Spirit to repent.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
This world and its desires will pass away, but the one who follows God will live forever.
2 Corinthians 7:1b says,
"Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."
Out of our fear of the Lord—deep awe and respect for him, let us purify ourselves from everything that can contaminate both body and spirit.
Denying Ourselves and Taking Up Our Cross Daily
In this world we are told to "do you" "your truth is your truth" or "as long as you're happy, that's all that matters." But as we read in Luke 9 it speaks on something completely different. As followers of Jesus, we are called to deny ourselves. To take up our cross daily and to crucify the flesh.
Your ways are not God's ways. Your "truth" is not "The Truth" if it goes against the word of God. The world's standards cannot be our standards as believers in Jesus.This means you will make a daily and active decision to "Choose Jesus" time and time again.
To choose Jesus when the world is telling you to choose yourself.
To choose to be like Jesus in the midst of confrontation and arguments.
To choose Jesus when you are offered a job position that doesn't align with where God wants you.
To choose Jesus even when God hasn't brought a relationship into your life.
To choose Jesus when your life looks nothing like you thought it would.
And to choose Jesus when life is going great and when life is really hard.
This is a daily active decision to deny ourselves and to choose Jesus.
Know that no matter where you find yourself right now, God loves you. He knows you and wants you to know him.
Draw near to God, resist the desires of the flesh. And may you have freedom in Jesus' mighty name, Amen!
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Remember you are so loved, valued, and cherished!
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