Based on 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 (New King James Version)
“Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
Many times, and the vast majority, almost always see as problems things that really aren't problems, and vice versa, things that are really problematic as good things or non-issues. But the point is that we must understand what can be a real problem, and what can affect us infinitely. We should not think that our worst problems are bad circumstances, or other people, or even the devil and his demons (although these are all factors). The worst problem we have is the flesh, and to be even more exact, our flesh or carnality, even literally speaking. This is our number one enemy, our worst problem.
Through the Word, God warns us in different ways of how we should be careful with the flesh, that we cannot trust the flesh, that we should not follow the flesh, and that we should not make decisions based on the flesh. In short, God always puts great alert to everything that has to do with flesh. For example, we simply cannot trust the flesh, or the things of the flesh, as it is written: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.’” Jeremiah 17:5-8. So, quite simply, if a person trusts in the flesh, they bring curse upon themselves. Why does this happen? Two reasons. Because God punishes everything that is based on the flesh, and has called it accursed, but also, because the natural consequence that the flesh produces is curse. This also says the Word about it: “For he who sows to his flesh waill of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:8. So then, God teaches that if a person invests in the flesh, or is only concerned about pleasing the flesh, the fruit or the product will be corruption.
The Lord also says that the flesh promotes weakness, and that is why we cannot depend on it. He said this: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41. So, the flesh is something that makes us weak. It doesn't help us face circumstances, let alone temptations, or trials, and of course, even tribulation. The spiritual or divine things are what help us to be strong, to be able to resist any problem, and of course, help us to enter the kingdom of God. That is why the Word also says this: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:16-21. So quite simply, we cannot even depend on the flesh in any way, we cannot seek to satisfy the desires of the flesh, and of course, we cannot give free rein to the desires of the flesh, or else, we will not be able to enter the kingdom of God, and that is a serious problem, an eternal problem that has no remedy.
The issue is that if we get carried away by the flesh, we will fail to do God's will. And this problem can arise at any moment, which is the worst problem. The best example we have where we are shown that we cannot let our guard down is what happened to the Apostle Peter. This we read: “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’ Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.’” Matthew 16:13-27. And so, anything can change in a matter of moments if we are not mindful of the flesh, if we allow ourselves to be overtaken by it. The Word also reiterates this: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. The flesh goes completely against God and His will, and if our life becomes a collection of carnal things, will God be able to let us into His kingdom? That is why every gospel or doctrine that is based on or seeks to please the flesh and seek the pleasures of this life is accursed. Everything that has the flesh as its center or as an end to please the flesh is accursed. So, is your life and your faith based on the flesh or on the Lord and on doing His will for eternal life? Lord bless! John