The Devil or the Flesh?your fleshly appetites, lusts, and carnal cravings into
subjection. The devil will try to gain access to you any
way he can, and he will use the cravings of your own
flesh to do it if you allow him to. But you don't have to
allow him to.
When the devil tries to use your flesh to gain access
to you, it doesn't mean you're demon possessed. The
devil will always work through the flesh because your
body isn't redeemed and your five physical senses
contact this world where Satan is god (2 Cor. 4:4). But if
you don't furnish the devil anything to work with—if
you don't give him any place in you—he won't have any
access to you.
So the Bible says there are lusts of the human
carnal nature which have nothing to do with evil
spirits. You can't cast the flesh out; you have to crucify
or mortify the deeds of the flesh. However, if you
continue to give place to the lusts of your flesh, you will
eventually open the door to an evil spirit.
The devil will accommodate believers and help them
fulfill the lust of their own fleshly desires. And
eventually an evil spirit can get a hold of believers who
continually indulge in the lust of their carnal, sensual
nature. That is one way Satan gains access, even to
believers.
Put the Responsibility Where It
Belongs
Have you ever thought about it? The Holy Spirit
helps and encourages believers to do what's right. And
if we yield to the Holy Spirit, we can do what is right.
But even though He helps us do what is right, we can't
really say it is the Holy Spirit who does right—we do.