Romans 6:4 – Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
It is through the glory of the Father that I walk in newness of life. It is only through the life and presence of God within me that I am able to walk in newness of life. It is only in fellowship with God that I am able to put aside the old life and walk in the new life.
Romans 8:12-14 – So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Galatians 5:16-17 – But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Victory over the flesh comes through the Spirit. It is by the Spirit (not will power or stronger decisions) that I put to death the deeds of the body and walk as I ought to walk. Walking in victory and walking in the Spirit is only found in being led by the Spirit of God.
When I walk by the Spirit, I will not carry out the desires of the flesh. Victory over the flesh never comes through the power of the flesh.
Walking in the Spirit is walking in fellowship and communion with God. It is only through abiding in Him and Him abiding in me that I am able to bear the fruit of the spirit (John 15:4-5; Galatians 5:22-23). Walking in the spirit isn’t walking in the power of my own regenerated human spirit (as I have been taught); it is walking in and through Him, Me in Him and Him in me, being led by the Spirit, yielding to His Spirit. This CANNOT be done without a living fellowship with God.
Romans 7:24-5 – O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? O thank God! Through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
No matter how mature I get, my flesh is still under the law of sin. It is not a matter of improving my flesh. It is a matter of bypassing my flesh and walking in the spirit. When I walk in the flesh, I can NEVER fulfill God’s requirements. It in only when I walk by the Spirit, which is being led by the Spirit, yielding to the Spirit and walking in continual communion and fellowship with Him.
Romans 8:15 – For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:3-4 – For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh; God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin; He condemned sin in the flesh. That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:8 – So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.What the law (obeying outward requirements; rules and regulations; being behavior conscious) could not do; it still cannot do. We can ONLY fulfill the requirements of God’s laws when we walk according to the Spirit. Walking in the flesh I can NEVER please God.
So the best way to overcome the flesh is to get closer to God, to accept His love and acceptance for you and then listen and obey His inner leading regarding all of the areas of your life. He will walk you step by step, lovingly and mercifully, out of darkness and sin into life and light and victory over every area of sin and bondage.