Romans 8:5 

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. – Romans 8:5 

If you get a chance to listen to soldiers who have walked through war, or to businessmen who have built great success, they’ll all tell you the same truth, “your mind sets the course of your life”. What you focus on is what you move toward. When your mind is fixed, your life begins to follow.

What our Lord Jesus did for us delivered us from the power of sin and death, yet the flesh remains our great struggle. For our flesh has been ruled by sin for thousands of years, and we see this even in a small child, how quickly they speak a lie without hesitation. Sin has become the nature of the flesh.

So when Paul declares, “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,” he is warning us that when the mind is fixed on fleshly desires, it becomes carnal. And the Word of God declares that to be carnally minded is death, that the carnal mind is enmity against God, and that those who are in the flesh cannot please God. For the works of the flesh always turn toward earthly cravings.

For us to understand this, let me give you an example from the Word of God. We know that one of the most basic needs of every human being is food, and this is exactly why the very first thing satan used to deceive humanity was food. Eve was deceived because of food; she looked upon the fruit and saw that it was “good for food” and she took of it. The Israelites tempted God because of food, and it provoked His anger, so later the Lord sent manna from heaven to test their hearts. And when satan tempt Jesus in the wilderness, the very first temptation was the same: “Command that these stones become bread.” Even today we see the same pattern, and studies showed that many Christians show higher rates of overweight and obesity.

We know that food was the very thing satan used to bring death into the human race through Adam. And even today, eating without restraint brings sickness and disease which can lead to physical death. When our bodies are sick and weak, how can we serve God the way we should? This happens when our minds are set on fleshly things. Many people even say, “Food is my comfort,” yet forget that our true comfort is supposed to come from the Holy Spirit.

When satan tempted Jesus, the Lord answered him by saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). But many believers today fill their mouths with food more than they fill their hearts with God’s Word. Instead of feeding their spirit with Scripture and prayer, they focus on feeding their flesh.

Jesus said, “Eat My flesh,” we knew that Jesus is the Word of God that became flesh. He used this picture because He knows we all enjoy eating food. Just as we enjoy eating natural food we should also enjoy to “eat (internalize)” His Word. The same way food nourishes our physical body, the Word of God nourishes our soul. And just as food sustains our physical life, the Word of God sustains our spiritual life.

This is what Paul meant when he said that those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Our first step is to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is the One who gives us the power to live for God. He is the One who leads us, guides us, and teaches us. And one of the first things He leads us to do is to spend time in the Word of God because familiarity with His Word brings familiarity with His voice, His guidance, His correction, and His leading.

How do we get to know other people? By spending time with them and listening to their words. It is the same with God. Spending time in His Word is like sitting with the Holy Spirit and listening to Him speak. As we read the Scriptures, it is as though God is talking directly to us, drawing us closer to Him.

Through God’s Word we begin to understand His nature, His ways, His love toward us, and His will and plans for our lives. His Word teaches us how to serve Him in a way that is pleasing to Him, not pleasing ourselves, because we desire to serve God and not our own flesh. And the more familiar we become with His voice in Scripture, the more easily we can discern whether a thought is from God or from our flesh.

Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). We know that God’s Word is Spirit, and as the Spirit works in us, He produces life in us. The Word of God confronts the lies of the enemy and speaks the truth. It also exposes the works of our flesh so that we become aware of them and can turn away from them. The Word strengthens us by reminding us that our power and ability come from God, not from ourselves. It gives us hope because it reveals the great and precious promises God has made for us. It speaks of a beautiful future, not a fearful one. It brings peace and assurance in every situation. The Word of God sets our minds in the right direction so we can focus on finishing the assignment God has given us, rather than being distracted by the desires of the flesh. For the Spirit and the flesh are at war with one another. The Spirit desires to please God, but the flesh desires to please itself.

This is why many Christians continue to struggle with sin not only because satan is always tempting us, but because their minds are set on satisfying the flesh instead of walking with the Holy Spirit. The Bible says, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8 ). And we see this clearly around us. Many believers cannot fast, yet they easily satisfy their appetite by going through a fast-food drive-through. Instead of praying, they choose parties. Instead of attending Bible study, they choose social gatherings. They cannot get up early for church, but they have no problem waking up early when it comes to worldly things.

This is also why many Christians remain unfruitful in ministry. Their comfort, their personal interests, and their desires matter more to them than the work of God. This is why so many believers pour their time, talent, and energy into building houses, careers, cars, and wealth because their minds are set on fleshly (earthly) things instead of spiritual (eternal) things. Flesh is tied to the earth, but the Holy Spirit belongs to the Kingdom of God.

Consider the life of the Apostle Paul and the other disciples, and how they walked closely with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was the One who guided them, strengthened them, and kept their hearts focused on the work of the Lord Jesus. He helped them understand that living for this world was meaningless. Because of this, the disciples gave themselves fully to God’s work. They invested their time, their abilities, and their resources into building the Kingdom of God, knowing that this world will one day be judged and destroyed at God’s appointed time. The Spirit continually reminded them that they belonged to the Kingdom of God and not to the earth. This is why they lived with eternity in mind. Their desire was to advance God’s Kingdom, not to build comfort for themselves in this world. Each day, they made the decision to crucify their flesh and to walk in the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Now we can see more clearly why the works of the flesh produce death and create enmity with God. Living for the flesh separates us from God because the flesh is carnal, it seeks only to please itself. And a life spent pleasing the flesh leads only to destruction. But a life that pleases God leads us into His Kingdom, into eternal life with Him forever. Jesus warned us about this very thing when He said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21).

So how do you know if you are living according to the flesh or according to the Spirit? Look at where your time, your talent, and your treasure go. Look at what you invest your life into. If everything you work for cannot be carried into Heaven, yet you devote your whole life to it, then you are serving yourself rather than God. But those who live by the Spirit and are led by the Holy Spirit, these are the sons of God.