The flesh and Spirit are contrary to one another.  Gal 5:16-17.  Not just talking about the flesh.  Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.  Proper nutrition, exercise, hygiene, and rest are essential.

Paul is talking about Gal 5:16 the lust of the flesh. 1 Jn 2:16 all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh…. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.  Paul described the “law in my members warring against the law of my mind”, Rom 7:23.

The flesh and Spirit are contrary the one to the other.  They are at war with each other.  And you are caught in the middle.

So here are some things that are true.

Following the flesh is sin and death; following the Spirit is life and righteousness.  When it comes to following the lusts of the flesh, the result is always sin.  Yet, when we follow the Spirit, the result is always life and righteousness.  What you do, therefore, is either sin or it’s right.  It cannot be both.

The flesh and the Spirit don’t cooperate.  Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed”?  The Spirit will never cooperate with the flesh to help it fulfill it’s lusts.  And the flesh cannot help the Spirit.  Fornication.  Over eating.  Self-will.  Eph 3:31-32, because Eph 3:30.  Partial obedience (like Saul with Amalek).  There’s no right way to do wrong.  The Spirit won’t do something through you for your glory.  He doesn’t draw attention to himself and he certainly won’t draw attention to you.

The flesh and the Spirit will never agree.  They are contrary.  The carnal mind is enmity against God, Rom 8:5-7.  It can’t be of the Spirit if it’s of the flesh.  Bible translations 1 Jn 5:7, Acts 8:37, etc.  Inspiration.  Lukewarm Laodicean carnal Christianity about rich, increased with goods, have need of nothing.

The war between the flesh and Spirit never ends.  As long as you are alive in this flesh, you will have a war going on.  Some of the fleshly lusts will be mortified, Rom 8:13, Col 3:5-6.  But there will always be something the flesh is trying to get by with against the Spirit.  Therefore, “make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof”, Rom 13:14.  Obey the Spirit when he is leading you away from the things that draw you into fulfilling the lusts.  Cut it off at the source.