Understanding Carnality

It is so easy to blame the Devil for carnality. Many things that Christians attribute to the Devil are really nothing more than the works of the flesh. We must realize that not everything that is wrong in life is directly the work of an evil spirit.

As mentioned in my previous message, the word "carnal", in a Biblical sense, signifies the flesh that is sensual, controlled by animal appetites, and governed by human nature instead of by the Spirit of God. So, the only way to overcome the flesh or carnal desires is to keep the flesh under the dominion of the spirit. When a person is born again, his spirit is instantly regenerated by the Spirit of God. In other words, his spirit is instantly quickened and made alive by the Spirit of God. Then he has the power in him to put his body under the control and subjection of his spirit.

True Children of God

The Bible says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14, NKJV).

It does not say, "For as many as are led by the body or the five physical senses, they are the sons of God." Or, "As many as are led by the soul (mind, emotion and will), are the sons of God." Spirit-ruled (led) and Word-based believers have a strong defense against Satan. But body-ruled and sense-ruled believers are an opened target for Satan and his wiles, because Satan cannot touch the spirit of a truly born again believer.

A believer must always keep his body subject to his spirit - more so for a Church leader or a preacher.

Paul said, "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, less, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27, emphasis added).

If the apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, had to keep his body under the dominion of his spirit, evidently his body must have wanted to do things (carnal in nature) that were not approved by God. He realized that otherwise he would not be qualified to preach to others. Therefore, in the eyes of God, a carnal preacher is disqualified to preach! As I have shared in my previous message, carnality is a Biblical type of spiritual leprosy. If you have a carnal Pastor-preacher or a carnal shepherd his "leprosy" will inevitably spread to members of the congregation! It makes me wonder, if this Biblical truth is strictly adhered to, how many Church elders or leaders are truly qualified to preach or to teach? But then again, not many God-fearing preaches or Pastors understood this important Biblical law!

Read the following Biblical qualifications of a Bishop (Overseer or a Church elder):

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; ..." (1 Tim. 3:2, 3).

Obviously, a carnal Chirstian is not qualified to hold leadership position in the Local Church! Because of these careless carnal preachers many Church-goers are having spiritual leprosy!

The Christian's body

When you are born again by the Spirit of God, your body is not born again. Unless you allow your body to come under the subjection (dominion) of your spirit you are no better (in conduct and character) than an average unbeliever as far as the body and soul are concerned.

It is important to realize that since your body is not born again, and it is with your body (with your five physical senses) that you contact this world where Satan is god (2 Cor. 4:4) you are in constant danger of satanic attack. That is why your inner-man (the spirit-man) must do something to control your body. If you let your body do whatever it wants to do and let you mind think anything it wants to think, the Devil can get into your mind and body and dominates you.

Paul said, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30, emphasis added).

The word "redemption" means the redemption of the Christians' bodies. This is a future event. This will happen when Christ comes again when "corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:53).

In the meantime the Scripture instructs a Christian what to do with his body:

1. He must present his body a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1).

2. He must put to death (crucify) or mortify the deeds (fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness) of his body (Col. 3:5).

3. He must keep his body under subjection to his spirit-man (the inward man), the real man on the inside (1 Cor. 9:27).

The Christian's mind

The Bible has much to say about the human mind - the gateway into the human soul.

Peter wrote to believers "of the dispersion" (1 Peter 1:1):

"Therefore gird up the loins of you mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ...." (1 Peter 1:13, 14, NKJV, emphasis added).

To "gird up the loins of your mind" means "not to let loose the thoughts of your mind". If you fail to gird up the loins of your mind you would allow your thinking to conform to the "former lusts" of an unsaved person.

God has given us specific instructions about the mind and what we are supposed to do to keep our minds strong so that we can stand against Satan, the enemy of our soul:

"You (God ) will keep him (God's people) in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You" (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV).

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5).

"The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7).

We are to keep our minds and our thoughts focused on God. And if we start to think like Jesus the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ.

To do that we have to put the Word of God (Jesus is the Word) into our minds by meditating on it. Then our thinking will be in line with the Word of God, and Satan would not be able to get a foothold in our thinking.

The Bible tells us what kind of thoughts we should be thinking:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" (Phil. 4:8, NIV, emphasis added).

We should think thoughts in line with the Word, not the enemy's thoughts of doubt, worry, and discouragement.

God knows that man's mind is the first place where Satan tries to gain access - even the minds of Christians if they let him. That is the reason He wants the Christian to have a renewed mind - a renewed mind will transform you and your thinking.

Paul said, " I urge you, brother, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1, 2, NIV, emphasis added).

The above passage of Scripture clearly shows that God wants submitted bodies, and transformed minds. That is His strategy for our defense against Satan.

When your mind is renewed with the Word, your thinking is transformed. When your thinking is transformed, your acting is transformed. You no longer think and act like you used to when you were under Satan's dominion. When your thinking and acting are transformed - you are transformed!

As Paul said, with the renewed mind you are tranformed or changed from the "old man" to the "new man":

".... that you put off, concerning your former conduct (lifestyle), the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:22 - 24, NKJV, emphasis added).

The "old man" with its carnal desires

The above passage of Scripture tells us how to deal with the body and soul after we are born again by the Spirit of God. It is important to understand that it is God's job to deal with our spirit - He quickens it; but it is Christian's job to deal with with his own body and soul - he takes dominion over the works of the flesh which comes from the old man. In other words, it is the Christian's job to put off the old man and put on the new man. God is not going to "put off the old man" for him.

You are not dealing with evil spirits when you put off those evil tendencies of the "old man"; you are just dealing with your flesh with its carnal desires. You are not to take the easy way out and blame it on the Devil. You've got to keep those evil tendencies and attitudes under the dominion of your spirit - the man on the inside - and let the new creature in Christ dominates. As you "put on" Christ you'll be able to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh where you are an easy prey for Satan:

"Walk in the Spirit, and you shll not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16).

Crucifixion of the flesh

The only way to "put off the old man" is to crucify the flesh.

Paul said, "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:24, 25).

The evil spirit will always try to work through your flesh, but you have the authority in Christ to overcome it. The Devil and his evil spirits have no dominion over you, as long as you are walking in line with the Word and submit yourself to God.

James said, "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7, NKJV).

You can't resis the Devil unless you submit to God or submit to the Lordship of Christ. When the Devil tries to use your flesh to gain access to you, it does not mean you are demon possessed. The Devil will always work through the flesh because your body is not redeemed yet. But if you don't furnish the Devil anything to work with, by submitting to God at all times, he would not have any access to you.

Therefore our carnal nature has nothing to do with the evil spirits. Therefore you just can't simply cast the flesh out like casting out demons. Instead, you have to crucify or mortify the deeds of the flesh. However, if you continue to give place to the lusts of your flesh, you will eventually open the door to evil spirits.

Conculsion

Thanik God, as genuine believers we know what to do about Satan, and we know our authority in Christ. We know how to put off the old man (carnal) nature with its "uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, wrath, malice ...." (Col. 3:5 - 8) and we know how to put on Christ. We can possess our vessels in sanctification and honor and learn how to stand strong against all the wiles of the Devil.