ONE of the greatest challenges believers face is identifying the real source of their struggles, whether the root is of a carnal or demonic influence.
While we have been taught how to put the carnal fleshly nature to death, we cannot deal the same way with evil spirits We cannot put them to death. The carnal nature is crucified while evil spirits are driven out in the name of Jesus Christ!
This is called power encounter- when we cat out evil spirits in ourselves or in people around us who are willing to be set free-the quickest and surest way of dealing with them.
Our problem if often how to detect when dealing with a demon or not. Misdiagnosis leads to misapplication of spiritual remedies.
There are two main ways of detecting carnal-vs-demonic: Discernment and Detection.
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The word of God shows us clearly that not every evil action is caused by demons. Sometimes, it is simply the unchecked flesh. Yet, on the other hand, ignoring the reality of spiritual forces can leave a believer vulnerable to oppression.
Understanding the carnal nature
The carnal or sinful nature is the fallen part of humanity inherited from Adam. It is the seat of desires, appetites, and tendencies that oppose the Spirit of God. Paul writes in Colossians 3:5, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
Notice the instruction: put to death. This means the carnal nature must be crucified daily through self-denial, obedience, and walking in the Spirit. Flesh cannot be cast out—it must be subdued.
Paul reinforces this in Galatians 5:16: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Victory over the carnal man is not through shouting at demons, but through yielding to the Spirit and developing discipline.
The Apostle John also warns against worldliness in 1 John 2:15–16: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
From these passages, we see clearly the flesh must be denied and disciplined. Carnality is fueled by desires of the world. It requires spiritual maturity, not deliverance sessions, to overcome.
In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul says “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
The Greek word translated discipline literally means to strike under the eye — to buffet, subdue, or treat harshly. Paul is not advocating self-harm but expressing the seriousness of training the flesh into submission. Just as athletes beat their bodies into shape for competition, believers must discipline their flesh to obey the Spirit.
Choosing obedience
The flesh is the sinful nature that resists God. Romans 8:7 – “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”
Galatians 5:17 – “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.”
Left unchecked, the flesh leads to sin and bondage. That’s why Paul uses such strong imagery: the flesh must be crucified (Galatians 5:24), mortified (Colossians 3:5), and beaten into obedience (1 Corinthians 9:27).
The flesh can be beaten into obedience through spiritual disciplines like Fasting – denying the body to strengthen the spirit. Prayer – aligning the heart and mind with God’s will. Word of God – renewing the mind daily (Romans 12:2). Self-control – choosing obedience in small daily decisions and Accountability – walking with others who can correct and encourage.
Beating the flesh into obedience is different from casting out demons. T
The flesh must be crucified and disciplined. You cannot cast out your flesh. Demons must be cast out or resisted. You cannot “discipline” a demon!
When a believer fails to discern this difference, they may try to “rebuke” what actually requires repentance and discipline.
Paul compares the Christian walk to athletes training for a race. Athletes discipline their bodies for a perishable crown. Believers discipline their flesh for an imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:25).
Those who beat their flesh into obedience become fit for God’s use and avoid being disqualified
When a believer blames demons for every sinful action, they avoid personal responsibility. But when they accept that some battles come from within, they can cooperate with the Holy Spirit for inner transformation.
Understanding demonic influence
Evil spirits are fallen spiritual beings who seek to harass, oppress and possess humans, animals and things. Unlike the flesh, demons cannot be put to death—they are spirits. The proper biblical response is to resist them, drive them out, and refuse their influence.
Jesus gave His disciples authority over unclean spirits. In Mark 16:17, He declared: “In my name they will drive out demons.” Notice the language- demons are not crucified but expelled.
Paul also emphasizes spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
This means demonic influence is spiritual and authority in Christ is the weapon against demons. The deliverance ministry is necessary where demonic oppression is real.
Ignoring the demonic realm leads to bondage, but mis-labelling everything as demonic creates confusion and fear. Discernment and detection are key, the former is a supernatural gift of the Holy spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10) while the latter is simply observing what the spirits are doing to a person.
Telling the carnal and the demonic apart is foundational to a successful deliverance.
The problem in many Christian circles today is confusion—believers mix up the flesh with demonic influence. Some rebuke demons of laziness when the real problem is lack of discipline. Others cast out a “spirit of gluttony” when the issue is simply poor self-control with food.
On the other hand, there are situations where people try to discipline their flesh endlessly but never find freedom because the real root is demonic oppression.
Weapons of warfare
This confusion weakens the believer’s warfare because wrong weapons are applied. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:4: “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” Each stronghold requires the right weapon. The flesh is crucified by walking in the Spirit, fasting, prayer, and renewing the mind.
Demons are resisted, cast out, and subdued by the authority of Christ. When the two are confused, believers end up fighting shadows and missing victory.
Flesh can be treated at the hospital. Sometimes it is not a spiritual problem and can be dealt with by change of habit or discipline. Most times when people seek deliverance they have tried medication. The flesh responds to medicine and discipline. One may change lifestyle and be better.
The demonic does not respond to medicine or discipline. It only responds to prayer immediately. Demons respond to commands because of the word of God and leave!
If the issue responds to prayer and spiritual authority, it is likely demonic. Jesus cast out a mute spirit (Mark 9:25), and the boy was instantly healed. Medicine could not fix it—it was spiritual problem.
If prayer, fasting and the authority of Jesus bring sudden relief, the root is demonic.
What betrays the activity of demons in a person is lack of self-control. If after the person has tried to control their explosive anger through repentance, Bible reading, meditation and still cannot control it then they are dealing with an evil spirit and not carnal nature,
Confusion arises when believers mislabel, some try to cast out a “spirit of laziness” when it is simply lack of discipline. Others only use medicine where prayer is needed, leaving spiritual bondage untouched. Both extremes cause frustration. The key is discernment.
It’s not always “either–or.” Sometimes the flesh and demons work together. For example Addiction may start as a carnal weakness (fleshly desire), but demons later reinforce it, making it harder to break. Depression may have medical roots but can also open a door for oppressive spirits.
In such cases, both prayer and practical care are needed. Luke was both a physician and a companion in ministry (Colossians 4:14)—showing that God uses both spiritual and natural remedies.
Whether the battle is with the flesh or demons, God has given His children victory through Christ.
- Against the Flesh:
- Walk in the Spirit daily (Galatians 5:25).
- Practice self-control and discipline.
- Feed on the Word of God.
- Cut off worldly influences that feed carnality.
- Against Demons:
- Use the name of Jesus to resist and drive them out.
- Stay under spiritual covering and accountability.
- Maintain a lifestyle of holiness and prayer.
- Plead the blood of Jesus as your defense.
Victory is possible when the right response is applied to the right enemy.
The mature believer must hold a balanced view: the flesh is real, and demons are real. The Spirit empowers us to deal with both. A Christian who only blames demons becomes irresponsible; a Christian who only blames the flesh becomes naïve.
God’s call is for balance. Paul says in Romans 13:14: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” At the same time, James declares in James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Both truths must be embraced: crucify the flesh and resist the devil.
The Lord has equipped His church with both the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit to ensure victory. When we discern rightly, we fight effectively. And when we fight effectively, we walk in true freedom. The battle is real, but the victory is sure in Christ Jesus.
