Ishmael vs Isaac - Many have stated that "the mind is the battlefield."  The "mind of the flesh" actually starts from the outside with the senses, reason and logic, and influences our heart from that realm.  And it is indeed, a battlefield. 

     But if we don't realize that the "mind of the Spirit" doesn't start with the organ of the brain, we will continue to struggle in some religious futility and eventually feel more iike a victim than a victor during our life on earth.  I have heard many people say, "Well, I get it (truth) in my mind, but it just hasn't dropped into my heart."  I don't believe that is based on scriptural principle--rather it is a seemingly acceptable excuse offered by the carnal mind itself.

     The natural mind does not, cannot, receive the things of the Spirit.  (I Corinthians 2:14)  Yes, the natural mind can somewhat comprehend the words of the Bible when read in a version written in their native language, and certainly, study aids with definitions from the Greek and Hebrew are helpful.

     But the above scripture says that to the natural man, things of the Spirit of God (His Word is Spirit) are foolishness and therefore unwelcome to natural man.  And it goes on to explain why...Because the mind of the natural man (based on sense, reason, logic) cannot know, is incapable of knowing and discerning, the things of the Spirit.  Amplified says the things of the Spirit are folly, meaningless nonsense, to the natural mind--or as Romans 8 says, the mindset of the flesh. 

     This is a predicament for those who believe and want to read the Bible--but actually lean on the sense, logic, intellect of the natural mind to interpret what they read.

     The Word of God is written from a totally different "mindset," if you please, than natural man.  Jesus did say, "The Words that I speak are spirit..."(John 6:63)

     I think this gives clarification to Romans 8:7, which states that the mind of the flesh does not, will not, cannot be subject to or submit to God for it is at enmity with Him; it's thoughts and purposes are hostile to God.  This actually restates what Romans 6 points out--a death must take place to the old nature and it's thinking, not a rehabilitation.

     This revelation could be quite disconcerting if we don't study on because it messes with the armor of spirituality in which we have placed our trust.  We may think, if the carnal mind doesn't submit to God, then what am I to do?

     We may even discover at some point that we were actually exercising "mind over matter," which starts with the head, rather than acting on faith in God's Word, which starts with the heart.