Romans 8:7 reads, "Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so." Why is the mind set on the flesh, which is also called 'fleshly thoughts', hostile toward God?
This is because fleshly thoughts hinder people from having spiritual faith that pleases God. It stops answers and blessings. Also they are obstacles to entering spirit. Now let's look into what fleshly thoughts are and check our thoughts.
Fleshly thoughts are hostile toward God
The human brain has brain cells which constitute a 'memory device'. They can input, save, and regenerate 'knowledge'. Regenerating the stored 'knowledge' is 'thinking'. This memory device, stored knowledge, and regenerating process constitute the 'Soul'.
The work of soul is categorized into two: the work belonging to 'spirit' and the work to 'flesh'. 'Spiritual thinking' functions in such a way that the truth cultivated in heart takes control over 'soul'. So God is pleased with spiritual thinking. To the contrary, 'fleshly thinking' works in the way the untruth in heart come out through the work of soul, which follows lust and agitates heart. Concerning on this, Romans 8:7 says, "…the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God."
Practical examples of fleshly thoughts
1. They hinder you from believing the Word of God
The Bible is the Word of God who is spirit. It explains about the spiritual world. So many parts of the Bible can't be understood with knowledge, speculations, or frameworks acquired in this fleshly world.
People with fleshly thoughts immediately use their knowledge when they hear that Virgin Mary bore Jesus or Jesus walked on the waters of the sea. They may think, 'How could she have a baby although she had not got married and come together with her husband yet?' and 'Did He really walk on the sea water? He may have walked on a shallow part of the sea.' They simply won't believe such things.
2. They cause you to disobey the Word of God if things are not beneficial to you
When people accept Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit, their spiritual ears open. Then they can understand the Word of God, and faith in the Word is given. Although they believe, they may still sometimes disobey the Word of God when things are not beneficial to them.
For example, the Bible says, "the greatest among you shall be your servant." It also tells us to seek others' benefits. But they may think, 'If I serve them, they may look down on me,' and 'Would I not lose too much if I sought only the benefit of others?' Naturally, in this way they can't obey the Word.
People think that those who serve will suffer loss. But God certainly guarantees His Word. When we serve others and humble ourselves with belief in God, He will bless us to be recognized by others and become heads among them. However, with fleshly thoughts, we can't obey the Word of God, and then we can't enjoy God-given blessings.
3. They limit the possibility for you to experience the works of God
We have witnessed that many people were healed of their diseases and received answers to their prayers. However, when we ourselves have a problem, if we have fleshly thoughts, we can't have faith enough to solve it through prayer. Even if we receive prayer, spiritual faith is not given to us. The faith can't lead to the work of God.
Let's suppose you got a splinter in your finger and you can't get it out. Some of you may think, 'It is not a disease. So why not go to hospital? It can be pulled out through simple medical treatment.' However, if you change your mind, and have a spiritual thought—'If God the Creator works, it is nothing for Him to do it.' This can please God and He will work as you believe.
As in the example above, in some cases we may show faith but in other cases we may not show faith and may not be able even to think of showing faith. Then by listening to many testimonies of many cases, we can destroy such fleshly thoughts. Thus, we must not draw our own line concerning the works of God. But we must have spiritual thought, 'This too can be answered by God.' Then nothing is impossible.
4. They bring negative and shrinking thoughts lest you should trust yourself
If you make a mistake, do something wrong, or discover shortcomings, you may feel sorry before God and your heart may ache. But even in this case, people with spiritual thoughts may pray, 'Thank you God for allowing me to discover my shortcomings'. They encourage themselves thinking, 'I won't make this same mistake. I will quickly be renewed to please God.'
On the contrary, with fleshly thoughts, people might think, 'I am short of many things. God cannot love me.' Or, 'I tried hard but I did wrong again. I can't do anything.' Causing themselves to become discouraged, they don't pray, they don't do their duties, and even don't attend some meetings they have to attend.
However, people with the same difficulty who use spiritual thought try harder to change themselves quickly. But, people who have fleshly thoughts get deeper into negative thinking, get more discouraged and finally give up.
In order to have spiritual thoughts that God wants
Romans 8:5-6 says, "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace."
Even though we try to set our minds on the things of the Spirit, if we have untruth in our hearts, we cannot help having fleshly thoughts that lead to death. Therefore, we have to look back on our hearts all the time, cast off untruth and fleshly thoughts, and try to follow the truth and always have spiritual thoughts.
1 Timothy 4:5 contains the way to do so; it says, "For it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer." We must diligently arm ourselves with the Word of God, pray fervently, and thereby throw away untruthful things completely. Then we can have spiritual thoughts that bring us to life and peace and eventually we can receive God-prepared answers and blessings.
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