LIVING ABOVE CARNALITY
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: 1 Corinthians 3:3
Key Verse: "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal?" — 1 Corinthians 3:3 (KJV)
Supporting Texts: Romans 8:5-14; Galatians 5:16-25; James 3:14-18; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:1-10; 1 Peter 2:11
Description: Living above carnality means refusing to be controlled by the desires of the flesh and deliberately yielding our thoughts, attitudes, and actions to the Holy Spirit.
INTRODUCTION
Carnality is one of the greatest hindrances to spiritual growth. The Corinthian believers had received Christ and possessed spiritual gifts, yet Paul identified jealousy, strife, and division among them as evidence that they were still being influenced by the flesh. Their problem was not the absence of spiritual opportunity but the failure to allow spiritual truth to govern their conduct.
To live above carnality does not mean that a believer will never face temptation or experience human emotions. Rather, it means that we refuse to allow sinful desires, selfish ambition, uncontrolled anger, jealousy, pride, or worldly values to become the governing forces of our lives. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to respond differently and to choose what honours God.
God has called us to a higher way of living. Through the renewing of our minds, obedience to God's Word, prayer, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit, we can overcome the patterns of the flesh and increasingly display the character of Christ. We are not called merely to identify carnality but to rise above it.
1. RECOGNISE THE WORKS OF THE FLESH
Victory begins with recognition. We must understand the attitudes and behaviours that reveal when the flesh is attempting to control our lives.
a) Reject Jealousy (Galatians 5:26)
Jealousy causes us to compare ourselves with others and become uncomfortable with their progress. God calls us to rejoice in His work in every believer.
b) Refuse Strife (Proverbs 26:20)
Carnality often produces unnecessary arguments and conflict. A spiritually mature person refuses to fuel disputes and chooses wisdom and peace.
c) Avoid Division (1 Corinthians 3:4)
The Corinthians divided themselves around personalities and leaders. Believers must never allow preferences or loyalties to destroy the unity of Christ's body.
d) Resist Selfish Ambition (Philippians 2:3)
Selfish ambition seeks personal recognition at the expense of others, whereas Christlike living values others with humility.
Biblical Example: Cain allowed jealousy and anger towards Abel to control him, demonstrating the destructive consequences of unchecked sinful attitudes (Genesis 4:3-8).
2. WALK IN THE SPIRIT
The answer to carnality is not human strength alone but a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit enables believers to overcome the influence of the flesh.
a) Walk By The Spirit (Galatians 5:16)
When we deliberately follow the Spirit's leading, we are strengthened to resist the sinful desires that seek to control us.
b) Set Your Mind On Spiritual Things (Romans 8:5)
What dominates our thoughts eventually influences our conduct. We must intentionally focus on God's truth and purposes.
c) Be Led By The Spirit (Romans 8:14)
Spirit-led believers learn to recognise God's direction and respond with obedience rather than allowing the flesh to dictate their choices.
d) Produce Spiritual Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23)
The presence of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control demonstrates the Spirit's transforming work.
Biblical Example: Stephen remained full of faith and the Holy Spirit even under intense opposition, demonstrating that the Spirit can govern a believer's response in difficult circumstances (Acts 6:5, 8-10; 7:54-60).
3. RENEW YOUR MIND
Carnality often begins in our thinking before it becomes visible in our behaviour. Therefore, we must allow God's Word to reshape our thoughts.
a) Reject Worldly Patterns (Romans 12:2)
Believers must refuse to allow the values and thinking patterns of the world to determine their choices.
b) Think On Godly Things (Philippians 4:8)
Deliberately focusing on what is true, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise helps cultivate a godly mental environment.
c) Bring Thoughts Under Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Every thought that contradicts God's truth must be examined and brought into submission to Christ.
d) Put On The New Nature (Ephesians 4:23-24)
Spiritual transformation involves allowing God to renew our inner thinking and develop a new pattern of life.
Biblical Example: Daniel deliberately maintained his commitment to God even while living in Babylon, refusing to allow his environment to reshape his convictions (Daniel 1:8-16).
4. REPLACE CARNALITY WITH CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER
Overcoming carnality involves more than removing wrong behaviour. We must replace fleshly attitudes with qualities that reflect Jesus Christ.
a) Replace Anger With Gentleness (Proverbs 15:1)
A gentle response can calm conflict, while harsh words often intensify it. Spiritual maturity changes the way we respond under pressure.
b) Replace Jealousy With Contentment (Philippians 4:11-12)
Contentment enables us to appreciate God's dealings with us without becoming troubled by another person's blessings.
c) Replace Pride With Humility (1 Peter 5:5-6)
Humility acknowledges our dependence upon God and enables us to value others without constantly seeking personal recognition.
d) Replace Selfishness With Love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Genuine Christian love is patient, kind, selfless, and enduring. It is one of the strongest demonstrations that the flesh is losing its influence.
Biblical Example: Jonathan chose to support David rather than become jealous of him, demonstrating humility and genuine love despite knowing that David would become king (1 Samuel 18:1-4; 20:12-17).
5. MAINTAIN VICTORY OVER THE FLESH
Living above carnality requires continual vigilance. We must consistently choose spiritual disciplines and dependence upon God rather than assuming that yesterday's victory guarantees tomorrow's.
a) Crucify The Flesh (Galatians 5:24)
Believers must continually reject the control of sinful desires and submit themselves to God's authority.
b) Watch And Pray (Matthew 26:41)
Prayer keeps us spiritually alert and dependent upon God when we face temptation and weakness.
c) Flee Sinful Opportunities (2 Timothy 2:22)
Wisdom sometimes means physically or deliberately removing ourselves from situations that encourage sinful behaviour.
d) Keep Your Eyes On Christ (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Focusing on Jesus gives us strength to lay aside every weight and continue faithfully in our Christian journey.
Biblical Example: Joseph fled from temptation rather than attempting to negotiate with it, demonstrating wisdom and determination to preserve his purity (Genesis 39:7-12).
CONCLUSION
Carnality does not have to control the believer. God has given us His Word and His Holy Spirit so that we can rise above jealousy, strife, pride, selfishness, and every other work of the flesh. The Christian life is a call to transformation, and the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live differently.
Therefore, refuse to make room for carnality in your heart. Examine your thoughts and attitudes, renew your mind with God's Word, walk by the Spirit, and deliberately cultivate Christlike character. As you yield yourself to God daily, you will increasingly overcome the flesh and demonstrate the life of Christ.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, reveal every hidden manifestation of carnality in my life and give me grace to overcome it, in Jesus name.
2. Lord, deliver me from jealousy, strife, division, pride, selfishness, and every work of the flesh, in Jesus name.
3. Father, help me to walk consistently by the Holy Spirit and submit every area of my life to Your direction, in Jesus name.
4. Lord, renew my mind and remove every thought pattern that is contrary to Your Word and Your will, in Jesus name.
5. Father, help me to control my words, emotions, reactions, and desires so that they will honour You, in Jesus name.
6. Lord, replace every carnal attitude in me with love, humility, patience, gentleness, peace, and self-control, in Jesus name.
7. Father, give me strength to resist every temptation and wisdom to flee from every opportunity that could lead me into sin, in Jesus name.
8. Lord, help me to maintain unity and peace in my relationships and never become an instrument of division, in Jesus name.
9. Father, let the fruit of the Holy Spirit become increasingly evident in my life and character, in Jesus name.
10. Lord, help me to live consistently above carnality and increasingly reflect the character and likeness of Jesus Christ, in Jesus name.
PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS
1. You shall not be controlled by the works of the flesh; the Holy Spirit shall increasingly govern your thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions.
2. Every pattern of jealousy, strife, pride, selfishness, and division shall lose its influence over your life.
3. You shall walk in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit and receive grace to obey God's direction consistently.
4. Your mind shall be renewed by God's Word, and your thoughts shall increasingly align with the truth and purposes of God.
5. You shall respond to difficult situations with wisdom, patience, gentleness, and self-control rather than with carnal reactions.
6. The Lord shall replace every destructive attitude with Christlike love, humility, peace, contentment, and compassion.
7. You shall receive strength to overcome temptation, and God shall give you wisdom to recognise and avoid situations that could lead you into sin.
8. You shall become an instrument of peace and unity, and your presence shall contribute to the strengthening rather than the division of God's people.
9. The fruit of the Holy Spirit shall increasingly flourish in your life, and your character shall become a clear reflection of Christ.
10. You shall live above carnality, walk in spiritual maturity, and fulfil God's purpose for your life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
