Rom 8:5 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. NASU
Crucifying the flesh is not supposed to be a wrestling match, just you against the flesh. You put to death the members of your body by walking by the Spirit. To walk by the Spirit is to walk in such a manner as to not fulfill the desires of the flesh. It's not just a matter of this wrestling match with the flesh, but rather it is setting your mind on the things of the Spirit, and listening to the Holy Spirit speak to you.
To set your mind on the things of the spirit is to come to Jesus, listen to His words, and to embrace His words with your will. This results in the mortification of the flesh, it is to die to your self, the will of the old man. When you set your mind on the things of the Spirit, you position yourself to listen to the Holy Spirit AND to do what He says. Setting your mind on the things of the Spirit includes acting on what the Holy Spirit has spoken to you. The moment you choose not to do what He has spoken to you, you have gone from setting your mind on the things of the spirit to setting your mind on the things of the flesh. You have preferred to set your mind on the will of the flesh in your life rather than continuing on in setting your mind on the Spirit. Do not think that simply listening to His words is setting your mind on the Spirit, rather the setting of your mind on the things of the Spirit includes listening to His words, and believing the words to the extent of doing them. In the very moment that you choose to move from listening to His words to not doing them, or even procrastinate in doing them, you have chosen to set your mind on the things of the flesh. It is the making consideration for the things of the flesh, that hinders His will from being fulfilled in our lives.
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