THE WORKS OF THE FLESH
19 NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE EVIDENT, WHICH ARE: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; OF WHICH I TELL YOU BEFOREHAND, JUST AS I ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST, THAT THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
Galatians 5:19–21 (NKJV)
Comment: The works of the flesh are the deeds of the flesh. What the flesh longs or desires for and does. They are the things that the fallen human nature craves for. But the Bible says a believer should not fulfil or satisfy such longings or cravings or desires: "I SAY THEN: WALK IN THE SPIRIT, AND YOU SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH" (Galatians 5:16 NKJV).
After you are born-again or saved, your flesh might still be longing for those sinful things you used to do in the past but you should not grant or do the desires of the flesh.
a. Those who live by granting or fulfilling the desires of the flesh cannot please God: "SO THEN, THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD" (Romans 8:8 NKJV).
b. They also will not inherit the kingdom of God at the end of their journey here on earth (Galatians 5:21).
Dealing with these works of the flesh, or not fulfilling or satisfying the longings or lusting or appetites of the flesh is where many believers are having challenges or problems.
Albeit, the solutions to the works of the flesh are:
a. the mortification of the flesh: "THEREFORE PUT TO DEATH [kill, deaden, or deprive of power] YOUR MEMBERS [human nature] WHICH ARE ON THE EARTH: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, WHICH IS IDOLATRY" (Colossians 3:5 NKJV).
b. being submissive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit through the recreated human spirit: "BUT I SAY, WALK HABITUALLY IN THE [Holy] SPIRIT [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], AND THEN YOU WILL CERTAINLY NOT CARRY OUT THE DESIRE OF THE SINFUL NATURE [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]" (Galatians 5:16 Amps).
READ: Romans 8:14
To mortify the flesh means to starve or deprive the flesh of things that the flesh is craving or asking for.
A believer who is denying the flesh, not satisfying the longings of the flesh, but practicing the principles found in the Word of God, the Bible, is said to be walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Whilst a carnal believer is the one who is walking according to the dictates of the flesh:
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, THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT. 7 BECAUSE THE CARNAL MIND IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD; FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, NOR INDEED CAN BE. 8 SO THEN, THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD" (Romans 8:5,7,8 NKJV).
Peace.