The flesh is the primary hindrance to spiritual life. Many Christians, particularly in Africa, often perceive Satan as the primary cause of their spiritual struggles. While salvation in Christ has freed us from the power and authority of Satan (Colossians 1:13-14), it has not liberated us from the flesh in this present life (Galatians 5:16-17). The flesh is our main issue and the focal point of our spiritual battles. No one can be a disciple of Jesus while still being controlled by self. This is why Jesus states in Luke 9:23 that anyone who wishes to be His disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him daily.
Being a true Christian involves laying down one’s self and putting an end to self-centered living. The flesh, or self, as it is often referred to in the Bible, pertains to living for personal desires, especially when they contradict God's will. The challenge with such living is that our desires and feelings are often misguided due to our sinful nature. The fundamental reason we live for the flesh is to protect ourselves. For example, we exhibit carnal behaviors such as bitterness, greed, gossip, unforgiveness, jealousy, and unhealthy competition to safeguard our self-image and ego. However, Jesus teaches in Luke 9:24 that whoever seeks to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Him will find it. We engage in these behaviors to protect ourselves, yet this approach ultimately fails to provide true protection.
True life comes not by living for the flesh, but by laying it down. When we live for the flesh, we are left with a fleeting existence that fills our lives with troubles and anxieties. In contrast, real life—one that overcomes life's challenges—emerges when we take up our cross and journey towards Golgotha with Jesus. It is by surrendering the flesh that we experience the new life in Christ that we are destined for—a life that is eternal and abundant, overcoming sin, trouble, and death.
We have nothing within ourselves worth protecting—nothing good exists there except sin. This is why we often stumble and face destruction when we live according to the flesh. The only thing worth guarding is the life of the cross, which brings glory to God. We must be prepared to carry our cross at all times, realizing that we cannot protect ourselves, but only God can. When we trust Him by laying down our lives, we discover true life. Let others say or do what they will; resist the temptation to retaliate or seek revenge, as this leads only to evil and destruction. Seek the grace to bear the wrongs done to you with patience, peace, and love, and you will find true life. The real battle lies in controlling our desire for revenge (Romans 12:19). Spiritual growth, at its essence, involves dying to self. The extent to which we have died to the flesh correlates with our spiritual growth, and vice versa.
This is the price Jesus paid for us to have eternal life. He walked the path of the cross and surrendered the flesh. When He explained this to His apostles, Peter, who had just confessed Him as the Christ, took Him aside and rebuked Him. In response, Jesus rebuked Peter, calling him carnally minded and a stumbling block to His mission. Similarly, we often resemble Peter; we perceive anything that threatens our pleasures as a threat while appreciating those things that do not. We tend to pursue and yield to matters that satisfy our fleshly desires rather than those that do not.
Unfortunately, in the church today, activities such as fervent prayer, fasting, and evangelism—practices that elevate the spirit and bring the flesh under control—are often viewed as unusual. In contrast, we tend to favor ceremonial and celebratory programs where we only dance, dine, and unwind. Sermons and teachings that illuminate the darkness of the flesh and awaken the light of true life are frequently dismissed as weak and powerless, especially compared to the motivational messages that dominate our pulpits, which fuel the flesh through psychology and promote an illusory lifestyle that could ultimately lead to eternal damnation.