The terms “flesh” and “Spirit” are often used in the church today and I for one believe that there is a big misconception in regards to what this really means in a practical sense not only in our personal walk with the Lord but also in the corporate environment as well. To fully illustrate the point of this article I want to first define what the Bible tells us about the flesh and Spirit, show where the battle lies between the two, and then finally show this misconception in scripture so that we can be aware of it in our own lives.
WHAT IS THE FLESH?
Our flesh is our old, corrupt, sinful nature that came about due to the fall of man. The outcome or works of the flesh are listed below:
Galatians 5:19-21 says “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, 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.”
WHAT IS THE SPIRIT?
When the Bible talks about the Spirit in regards to our lives, it is talking about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Christ like nature we receive in the new birth. The outcome or fruit of the Spirit are listed below:
Galatians 5:22-23 says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT WAR AGAINST EACH OTHER!
Galatians 5:16-17 says “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 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.”
THE BATTLEFIELD IS THE HEART!
Mark 7:20-23 says “And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
What Jesus says here is really close to what Paul says in Galatians 5 regarding the works of the flesh (see above scripture).
WHAT’S THE POINT?
The point I am trying to make is that what determines whether you are in the flesh or in the Spirit is the intentions of your heart! Every decision we make is either out of the flesh or the Spirit! This point is clearly illustrated in scripture in several places but we will focus on two in order to explain the big misconception.
THE BIG MISCONCEPTION!
The big misconception is that actions always determine whether we are in flesh or in Spirit. Some actions such as murder, violence, substance abuse, etc. can obviously determine this but not all actions can. If this article, we don’t want to focus of those obvious one but rather, let us focus on the actions that have the appearance of good such as preaching, teaching, operating in spiritual gifts, charity, etc.
Just because someone is preaching the gospel, doesn’t mean their preaching it in Spirit. The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:15-16, “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains.” Please keep in mind that Paul specifically names envy and selfish ambition as works of the flesh in Galatians 5 (see scripture above).
So therefore, if someone is doing a “good” thing such as preaching, it doesn’t mean they are bearing good fruit. What determines this, is the intentions of their heart. Are they preaching out of the Spirit (love, peace, joy, etc.) or out of the flesh (envy, jealousy, hatred, selfish ambition, etc.)
THE BIG MISCONCEPTION IN CHURCHES TODAY!
Is this section I want to list and briefly explain two common areas where the big misconception can typically be found:
MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT – Many times people will comment on how others manifest the Spirit and claim that they are in the flesh. Unless someone is “manifesting” in order to look spiritual this is likely not the case. Remember, what determines whether you are in the Spirit or in the flesh is your heart.
If someone jumps up and down praising God on their own free will, not fully taken over by the Holy Spirit are they in the flesh? Most would say yes, I would say not necessarily. Why? It depends on their heart. If they are jumping up and down to be seen to be seen they are in the flesh because selfish ambition is a work of the flesh. If they are genuinely jumping up and down praising and thanking God they are in Spirit because joy is a fruit of the Spirit whether or not the Spirit completely took them over to do it or not.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS – Just because someone is operating in a spiritual gift does not mean they are walking in Spirit, it means they have been baptized in the Spirit have a spiritual gift. As illustrated in the section above, we can operate in spiritual gifts but not be in Spirit. This not more clearly shown than through the Corinthians.
The Corinthians operated in spiritual gifts. In fact 1 Corinthians 12-14 is where we learn the most about them in scripture yet Paul still called them carnal because they displayed works of the flesh. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 says “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men.”
This is confirmed in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 when the Apostle Paul says “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” Love is a fruit of the Spirit, charity and spiritual gifts are not (gifts are evidence of baptism of Spirit not fruit of the Spirit). They are however, vehicles for fruit to be shown.
You can lay hands on a 1,000 people and everyone be healed but it doesn’t mean you’re walking in Spirit. If while you are laying hands on those 1,000 people to be seen or to make money you are walking in the flesh but if you are doing it out of love and compassion then you are walking in the Spirit. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).”
“The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).” God did not take away the gifts from the church in Corinth even though there were not in His will and neither will He take away our gifts if we are not in His will. Therefore, we must be even more certain to pursue His will which is to walk “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2-3).”
CONCLUSION:
To end this article I want give you the same exhortation and pray for you as Paul did for the Philippians:
“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:1-4).”
I pray for you and everyone that reads this article the same that Paul prayed for the Philippians, “that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” in name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
God bless!
Mike Thompson
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