Holding Onto Peace- Part 1
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6 (KJV)
Carnality is fleshly. When we think with our carnal minds, it leads to works of the flesh which profit nothing. This verse says it actually brings death.
Flesh in the Greek is sarx, and refers to the fleshly nature. I call the flesh our animal appetites. Flesh always leads to sin- in thought and with our bodies. The carnal mind thinks on the works of the flesh that are listed in Galatians 5:19-21.
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 carnal mind leads to death and destruction. To be carnally-minded means to have the mind of the flesh, thinking on the works of the flesh. To be spiritually-minded means that we think on God’s Word, and our thoughts are guided by Holy Spirit. Having a spiritual mind brings life and peace. When we are spiritually-minded, we think about how to please the Lord, but carnally-minded people only think about how to please self.
The word life in Romans 8:6 is life in the absolute sense, or life as God has it. It is the life that the Father has in Himself- eternal life. God gives us life so we’re filled with life. This produces salvation, healing, prosperity, peace, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, victory, and the like. However, if we operate with a fleshly mind, we seek only what pleases the flesh and the results are the opposite.
A spiritual mind is one that has been renewed by God’s Word and Spirit. When we operate out of a spiritual mind, we have life and peace. Peace is the Greek word eirene, which speaks of harmonious relationships with God and man. In Hebrew, peace is shalom, which refers to wholeness, with nothing missing and nothing broken.
When we are filled with God and walk in His peace, we are full of His life and wholeness. We’ll be happy, healthy, whole, and peaceful. This enables us to have peace with God, ourselves, and one another, as well as with our lot in life. We won’t fight for our own way and strive in the flesh to get what our flesh wants. Instead we’ll allow God to fight our battles, knowing He’ll work things out for our good. In so doing, we hold onto our peace and remain peaceful.
As we hold onto our peace, we hold onto life, health, happiness, and all that God gives us.
