I could feel the Holy Spirit prompting me to get up, but I didn’t feel like getting out of bed. My body was pleading for a few more minutes sleep. And I had this thought I’m becoming more and more fond of: “I don’t owe my flesh anything”. I hopped out of bed. I’m fine. I’ve been fine all day. It was bluffing.

The flesh is sarx in the Greek: properly, flesh (“carnal”), merely of human origin or empowerment.

My flesh is hungry. My flesh is tired. My flesh is bored. It goes on and on, telling me what it needs and expecting me to respond. If I don’t, it gets louder. Somehow I get talked into responding to its needs. Yes, of course I need food. I deserve a rest. A little distraction would be a nice break.

But what if I don’t have to satisfy its cravings? What if I don’t owe my flesh anything? Like, I can just say no. I can always choose to be led by the Spirit.

• Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. – Romans 13:14
• 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. – Galatians 5:16-17

We won’t find any life in satisfying our fleshly desires. Exactly the opposite.

• The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. – John 6:63
• For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.
• Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. – Galatians 6:8
• When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. – Colossians 2:13

The desires of our flesh are not from God.

• 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. – 1 John 2:16
• These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” – 2 Peter 2:17-19
• in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. – Ephesians 2:2-3

Our flesh wants us to trust it. “Just serve me a little and I promise you that….”

• Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? – Galatians 3:3
• we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh – Philippians 3:3

We can’t serve the flesh and the Spirit. Just one or the other.

• Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. – Romans 8:5-8

We have no obligation to the flesh.

• Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. – Romans 8:12-13

Let’s crucify our flesh. It’s bluffing. Truth and life is in Jesus and his Spirit.

• 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. – Galatians 5:24-25