Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Philippians 3:18-19 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
2 Peter 2:10 Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corruption desires of the flesh and despise authority. Reckless, self-centered, they speak abusively of angelic majesties without trembling,
It is easy to see when others have set their minds to worldly things of the flesh. We see it so plainly that we wonder why that person does not see it. These worldly passions of the flesh – (greed, pride, anger, hate, lust, ego, conceit, self-worth, arrogance, vanity, self-reliance, coveting, materialism, outrage, resentment, lying, aggravation, resentment……………..) are their normal behavior. We know “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” This is who they are. We know there are various levels to which a person may display these fleshly attributes of the world. Some are just more flagrant than others. We may see video clips on the news or read quotes of what people have said and we wonder how in the world can they act this way or think this way. We may even get upset (perturbed) at that person. We may even go so far as to which harm and God’s judgment on that person. Paul says – this is who they are and without the Spirit of God in them, this is how they will remain. We should not expect them to act differently.
We, on the other hand, ought to act and think differently. We ought to know what is in our hearts and minds that are being fed by worldly desires and wants. We ought to know the difference between things of this world and things of God. We ought to know what is pleasing, honoring, and glorifying to Jesus Christ. How or why should we know? Because the Spirit of God is living in us. When we are in God’s Word and seek and desire it to light our paths in this life, it is then the Holy Spirit of God will be more than a whisper. It will be a shout of direction and purpose for our lives each day. We will hear these shouts above any noise of confusion the world is shouting. In fact, the shouts of this world become faint whispers. It is when we begin to neglect God’s Word and our seeking and desiring become complacent that the shouts of the Holy Spirit’s leading become weaker and weaker, and shouts of the flesh and worldly things become louder and louder.
Oh, that our ears would be deaf to things of this world and hear strong and loud the shouts of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word into our lives.