Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject
to the Law of God neither, indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell
in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his, ROM 8:7-9.
The theme of being of the Spirit or of the flesh seen in this verse is brought to our
attention in many other passages of Scripture.
The apostle Paul talks about this in Chapter 7. He says in verse 15, "For that
which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."
That evil, carnal nature is still there, but Paul says in ROM 7:22, "For I delight
in the law of God after the inward man." When, "...ye put on the new man, which
after God is created in righteousness and true holiness," EPH 4:24, the desire of the
heart is to do that which is pleasing unto the Lord.
It says in GAL 5:17, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the
things that ye would." This is the carnal nature we have in us.
The Lord is looking at the desire of the heart. What has taken place in the heart? What
is the change of mind? What is the change of desire? Are we allowing the carnal to
overtake the work of grace in our hearts? Are we of the Spirit?
We find that we have to strive against the carnal nature. We have to pray against it.
When the flesh boils up in our hearts the Lord gives us the grace to suppress it. Dear
friend, have you cried for grace to over come the flesh? Has God answered your prayer?
Then thank Him for it!
