The struggle of the flesh:

Galatians 5:16-21:So I say,live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit,and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other,so that you do not do what you want.But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:sexual immorality,impurity and debauchery;idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy;drunkenness, orgies,and the like.I warn you,as I did before,that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

When the word "flesh" appears in the New Testament,it usually doesn't refer to the human body's physical covering.The flesh is the humanness within us that wants to indulge in self-gratification.

Our natural impulses are geared,not toward pleasing the Lord,but toward personal comfort and pleasure.People go to great lengths to fill the emptiness within—even participating in the acts of sexual immorality,contention,idolatry,and carousing listed in today's passage.But nothing can truly appease the flesh,which always selfishly wants more.

When an unbeliever acts out of self-interest,believers cannot say he should know better.There's no Helper inside him to sound the alarm when he is wrong or to enable better conduct.But the Christian has no such excuse,since God's Spirit dwells within,prompting appropriate behavior and thoughts.However,the tug of the flesh remains,since we do not shed our humanity until we reach heaven.So we still have the capacity to give in to sinful inclinations and sow corruption into our life.

To protect ourselves from fleshly desires,we must place our complete trust in the Holy Spirit.
Only He can point out wrong actions,thoughts,and attitudes.What's more,He can fill us with the desire to obey and enables us to make right choices.

By,
Deep