If you are a Christian, then you are in a battle… a battle with your flesh. The “old man” still wants what it wants. And the “new man” desires the things of the Spirit.

Paul clearly revealed this battle when he shared his struggle in Romans 7:15 AMP. “For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity].”

He also acknowledged the struggle of every born-again person on the planet. Fighting this battle of the flesh, does not mean we are not born-again. In fact, if we are struggling, feeling guilty, and frustrated with ourselves for our behavior, it is a sign that the spirit and the flesh are at war. Likely because we are born-again and have the Spirit of Christ in us.

In Galatians 5:16-17 AMP, Paul shares further about this battle, and how to overcome evil with good. “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]. For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.”

A principle of truth that helps us, is that you can’t just eliminate the bad. There has to be something good put in that space. Just as darkness does not leave because we want it to. We must turn the light ON. It’s the light that dispels the darkness… not our willpower.

As Paul said in the above Scripture, we must continually establish the Spirit in our life, in order not to leave space for the flesh to take over. This battle for victory in the Spirit is an ongoing fight during our lifetime in this fallen world. But we are taught how to win it. And each “win” is another step of maturity in the Spirit.

In Ephesians 6:10-19 we learn more about the battle we are fighting and how to overcome evil to win the war. One aspect of this battle is to “put on the helmet of salvation….” It’s significant that the helmet is the portion of armor that guards the mind.

By “putting on the helmet of salvation” we establish that we have protection against the strategies of the devil because we are born-again. By acknowledging our salvation, we also acknowledge our authority through Jesus Christ, over every attack of the enemy.

The battle over sin always starts in the mind (the soul) with thoughts and imaginations. If our mind is already occupied with God and His Word, that space is less available to temptation. In addition, when an evil thought comes in (and it will), know that it’s the enemy placing it there to see if you’ll “bite.” Like bait on a hook, Satan dangles and bombards our mind with temptation.

If we do nothing, hoping it will run its course and just go away… it won’t. We must resist it. Doing nothing is simply waiting for the temptation to wear us down enough to give in. And then Satan shifts from temptation to accusation, with the thoughts like : “You’re not really a Christian,” or “A real Christian wouldn’t do what you do.”

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, we receive instructions for this type of battle—and it is a battle you can win. But you must take the correct action. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

When we experience thoughts and temptations (from the enemy) that are contrary to the Holy Spirit’s will for us, we are instructed to “pull them down.” Obviously, not by our willpower, but by the power and authority of the name of Jesus–the One who overcame Satan and every demon, when He died on the cross.

If we are fighting in our own strength, it is a futile fight. But if we can understand that this is an attack by our enemy (a supernatural spiritual being), we can pick up the supernatural weapons God has given us, that are superior, and win the battle.

We might say something like, “I rebuke this temptation (name the temptation: i.e. to gossip, to lust, to look at pornography, to lie, to steal, to think evil of this person, to commit adultery, etc.) in the name and power of Jesus Christ! I pull this evil temptation down and command it to leave in Jesus’ name. I proclaim that I am a child of God, born-again and covered by the righteous blood of Jesus. I give no place to this temptation, but instead, I praise the Lord for His victory in my life. I place Jesus Christ on the throne of my life again today and allow Him to lead me–body, soul and spirit. (Then spend a few minutes praising the Lord).”

There is no magic in these words by themselves. But there is power released when you speak these words from your heart. If you believe what you are saying, and say it with conviction, you reap results. As you consistently respond to the attack, in a way that defeats it… Satan will get the message and leave. He truly ONLY has the power we give to him. But again, we must resist correctly.