But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:27)
Paul wrote to the Corinthians about what it means to live the Christian life. In his explanation, he said, “I keep under my body.” He did not say that he put his body somewhere; he kept it. The past tense implies that living this way is a continual process, not a one-time action.
In the same way that athletes must train daily to stay in peak condition, believers must put their bodies down and not do whatever the flesh tells them to do. Paul referred to his body as it, distinguishing between his physical body and spirit. The spirit man—the real us, the part of us that becomes born-again—must lead, while the body should follow.
The battle between your flesh and spirit does not end after you get saved. It is a daily denying of the fleshly way of doing things and making intentional choices to pursue God. Paul warned that even after preaching to others, he could become disqualified if he did not keep his body under control. It’s not enough to teach or minister to others or have an important-sounding spiritual title. We must also live in alignment with the truth of God’s Word that we proclaim.
So, what decides if we follow our flesh or our spirit? The mind. Your mind plays a critical role in whether you follow your flesh or obey the pull of the Spirit. Satan knows this, so he tries to gain a foothold in our thoughts. You cannot let him.
Practical Application
Don’t assume that your past spiritual victories mean that you will have future success. Dying to our flesh is a daily practice in which we listen to our spirit and put our flesh in check. Be vigilant and recognize when your flesh is trying to pull you away from God’s way of doing things.