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food meal of stew shows how temptation gains are being made. There will be no
over-emphasizes a certain need and exag- compromise between the flesh and the
gerates the consequences of not giving Spirit (Gal 5:17). Thus, we cannot ap-
in. Esau’s claim (though it was rather pease the flesh without displeasing God.
dubious), “I am about to die!” (25:32), was We should pray for His help to maintain
his rationale for the high and long-term a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to
cost of satiating his momentary hunger. the temptations of the flesh. In fact, Paul
The flesh claims that failing to act on our writes that since we now have the Spirit
desires will result in the loss of something within us, “brothers and sisters, we are not
special or even necessary. Conversely, obligated to the flesh to live according to
it asserts that acting on our desires will
have no real cost. The warping effects of the flesh, because if you live according to
the flesh on Esau’s mind are evident by the flesh, you are going to die. But if by
his rhetorical question, “Of what use is a the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the
birthright to me?” (v32). The flesh beckons body, you will live” (Rom 8:12-13 CSB).
with instant gratification, but at a stagger- David forgot that though he stayed
ing future and spiritual cost. All about away from the battle, the battle didn’t stay
the here and now, it leaves no space for away from him. The man who had never
an eternal perspective – “Let us eat and lost a battle, whether against formidable
drink, for tomorrow we die” (1Co 15:32). individuals or powerful armies, fell spec-
In the Lord’s desert temptation, the tacularly to the invisible foe within his
flesh’s line of attack is illustrated in the own being. Peter’s brash declaration of his
stones-into-bread idea, in the context of brave devotion was promptly undone by
His extreme physical hunger. The Lord’s his blatant denial of his Lord. Both of these
temptation was very real, notwithstand- men fell to the temptation of the flesh,
ing the absence of the sin principle (the but later saw recovery and usefulness for
flesh) within Him. “The problem with God. Don’t allow past defeats to the flesh
Satan’s miracle bread solution is that it’s discourage you from learning to lean on
contrary to God’s plan at that time for Je- God in your weakness and trusting Him
sus. This is what the Enemy is always pre- to meet your need.
senting, an alternative plan to God’s. Here
he is seeking to lure the Son of God away The flesh assures us we are quite right
from His Father, and the devil attempts to see that our own desires are gratified,
the same for us. So what is his strategy? “but the truth is that we are sinners who
Exploit weakness, undermine priorities, are dependent upon God for His mercy
and appeal to our independence.” 4 and for His continuing grace. To attempt
The presence of both the flesh and the to live without Him is precisely what is
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Holy Spirit within the believer means meant by sin. We also need one another.”
there is an ongoing war in and for our The flesh dotes on us, inciting us with the
hearts. Every believer is a battleground, desire, “I will do what I want.” Prone to
and our response to the temptation of the heed the flesh’s self-indulgent urges, let
flesh will determine where the military us practice dependence on God.
⁴ Tim Chaddick, The Truth About Lies (Colorado ⁵ John Stott, The Radical Disciple (Downers
Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2015), 66. Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2010), 103.

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