Flesh Fails

Why must we live for God and not for our flesh? To put it simply, because the flesh fails, but God never does.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 (KJV) emphasis mine

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Romans 7:8 (KJV) emphasis mine

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41 (KJV) emphasis mine

In all three of these verses, the word flesh is the same Greek word: sarx. According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, it means human nature with its frailties, the weaker element in human nature, carnal, carnally minded. It implies weakness, frailty, imperfection (both physical and moral). It is the opposite of spirit. It speaks of sinfulness, the carnal nature, the seat of carnal appetites and desires, of sinful passions and affections.

In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but in a [spiritual] circumcision [performed by] Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts)….  And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, Colossians 2:11, 13 (Amplified Bible Classic Edition, AMPC) emphasis mine

Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.] Colossians 2:23 (Amplified Bible Classic Edition, AMPC) emphasis mine

Note how the Amplified Classic describes the flesh in these verses. It tells us it is the lower nature: corrupt, carnal, full of lower passions and lust.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV)

The Apostle Paul describes the works of the flesh in this passage. It is the manifestation of the sinful nature of the flesh, or the acts of the flesh.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6 (KJV)

This tells us that the flesh has a mind. To follow the mind of the flesh leads to death.

The flesh profits nothing; it leads to nothing good. In our flesh dwells no good thing, so keep it crucified and dead. Keep sinful desires from destroying you by saying yes to Jesus and no to the flesh and its sinful desires. The flesh is weak because it is not born-again. Therefore, it must be kept crucified and dead by not yielding to it. Don’t give in to it. How? By having a renewed mind that has been transformed by the Word of God. Have a spiritual mind rather than a mind of the flesh. Have a mind that is dedicated to and focused on God. Set your mind on Holy Spirit and what He wants. Turn away from thoughts and temptations of the flesh and what it wants. Keep God as your center, the most important thing. Trust God for all you need. The more we say yes to God, the more power we have to say no to the flesh. Flesh fails but God always prevails.

So then, brethren, we are debtors, but not to the flesh [we are not obligated to our carnal nature], to live [a life ruled by the standards set up by the dictates] of the flesh. For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8: 12-14 (Amplified Bible Classic Edition, AMPC)