Peace be with each of you tonight! We give thanks to the Eternal God, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, the only True God, for His Grace and Mercy that allow us to approach His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit. As the Scripture says: “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). We acknowledge that apart from God, there is nothing; humanity can do nothing and produce nothing without His presence. Therefore, we thank the Lord because, through His Word, He gives us the opportunity to grow, mature, and be perfected in the knowledge of His Son, Jesus the Christ.
Tonight, we will address a vital topic for the spiritual life of every man and woman of faith: the flesh. The flesh is a biblical term that represents the seat of evil and death within a person. Though it sounds harsh, it’s crucial not to soften these terms to clearly understand what we are up against. Many ask to learn about spiritual warfare, but spiritual warfare does not begin by confronting demons or forces of darkness; it starts within ourselves, by identifying the flesh. The flesh is the raw material Satan uses to operate in the lives of believers, even those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus the Christ.
We must not think that Satan only works in those living in sin or in the world. If that were true, why did the Holy Spirit inspire the apostle Paul to write about the old man, the flesh, the carnal mind, the body of sin, and the outer man? The Word, directed to the community of faith, calls us to know and confront these elements. Romans 3:23 states: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, and Romans 6:23 adds: “For the wages of sin is death”. The flesh is a satanic inheritance that operates in the believer, feeding the old man, whose purpose is to destroy from within, as Ephesians 4:22 indicates.
It’s not just about leaving behind bars, brothels, vices, or worldly friendships. While these changes are important, the flesh operates in a sophisticated way, and often we don’t even notice its influence. We cannot rebuke what we ourselves subsidize. As seen in Joshua 7, when God tells Joshua: “Israel has sinned… they will not be able to stand against their enemies… until they remove the accursed thing”, the problem was within them. Often, the accursed things are not in our surroundings but within ourselves, in the flesh we must confront.
What is the Flesh?
We will divide this teaching into three parts to understand clearly: what the flesh is, what it refers to biblically, and what we must do to overcome it.
1. The Flesh: The Umbilical Cord to the Kingdom of Darkness
In Romans 8:5-8, we find the first definition: “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. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be”. The flesh is the umbilical cord that connects us to the kingdom of darkness and death.
The word “mind” in the original Greek refers to the “mind of the flesh,” which focuses on earthly needs: provision, money, bodily necessities. In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve’s disobedience, they realized they were naked, showing how the flesh magnifies human needs disproportionately. Though believers no longer live in worldly sins, the flesh still operates subtly, maintaining a connection to the kingdom of darkness that must be broken.
2. The Flesh: The Seat of Sin
Galatians 5:17-19 states: “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh… Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness…”. The flesh is the seat of sin, but sin is not limited to breaking the law. Romans 14:23 declares: “Whatever is not from faith is sin”, and James 4:17 adds: “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin”.
The parable of the talents (Matthew 25) shows that the servant who knew what to do but didn’t do it sinned through negligence. When we know what God wants and fail to obey, we allow the flesh to operate, multiplying sin in our lives and surroundings.
3. The Flesh: A Sensory Memory
In Romans 7:17-25, we read: “So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me… Thanks be to God through Jesus the Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin”. The flesh is a sensory or genetic memory that retains past tendencies. Like inertia in a braking bus, the flesh pushes us to repeat expressions, thoughts, or attitudes learned in the world, even if they aren’t vulgar.
Many believers, upon coming to Jesus the Christ, struggle to use faith because, in the world, they relied on their own resources, contacts, or abilities. The phrase “God has the final word” reflects a worldly mindset, as if God were a last resort. Instead, Galatians 2:20 teaches: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God”. God is not the final word; He is the only word, our only resource.
What Does the Flesh Refer To?
The flesh is not inherently sinful. John 1:14 declares: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”, and Hebrews 2:14 adds: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same”. Jesus the Christ took on our flesh, yet was without sin, as Hebrews 4:15 states: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin”. Sin is spiritual and manifests through the flesh. When we come to Jesus the Christ, we are cleansed, as Isaiah 1:18 promises: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”. By crucifying the old man and subduing the flesh, sin ceases to manifest, for “whoever is born of God does not sin, because His seed remains in him” (1 John 3:9).
What Must We Do with the Flesh?
The Word provides five clear instructions to overcome the flesh:
- Put to Death the Deeds of the Flesh
Colossians 3:5 commands: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry”. Putting to death means bowing before the Lord, presenting our humanity and saying, “Lord, here I bring what seeks to manifest; I lay it before You.” It’s not about suppressing but surrendering to God. - Crucify the Flesh
Galatians 5:24 states: “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. Crucifying means cutting off anything that leads to sin: friendships, jobs, or places that cause stumbling. Jesus the Christ taught: “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out… for it is better for you to enter life with one eye” (Matthew 5:29-30). Identify the point of stumbling and cut it off. - Do Not Be Debtors to the Flesh
Romans 8:12 declares: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh”. Debts to the past—worldly friendships, places, or practices—must be settled, as Zacchaeus did in Luke 19, saying: “If I have cheated anyone, I restore fourfold”. Settling these debts brings liberation and healing. - Put on Jesus the Christ
Romans 13:14 exhorts: “But put on the Lord Jesus the Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts”. Putting on Christ means imitating Him, living as He did, as Ephesians 4:13 urges: “Till we all come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. The Word is not for boasting but for living it out. - Cleanse from All Defilement
2 Corinthians 7:1 urges: “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”. We must guard what we introduce into our bodies and environments, avoiding physical and spiritual defilement. - Live by Faith
Galatians 2:20 declares: “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God”. Faith, which comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17), is the key to overcoming the flesh. Without faith, we follow the carnal mind, which is enmity against God. Life in Jesus the Christ is a life of faith for all, not just ministers.
Conclusion
The flesh and the old man operate even in believers, but the Word equips us to overcome them. We cannot rebuke what we subsidize; we must put to death the deeds of the flesh, crucify it, settle past debts, put on Jesus the Christ, cleanse ourselves from defilement, and live by faith. Next week, we will study the “body of death” and later the “law of sin and death,” to understand how the kingdom of darkness operates in believers and how to achieve full freedom to live for the honor and glory of the Lord.
The peace of the Lord be with you and your households! Amen.
