BCF Philly | Pastor Ken Sheppard | Living by the Spirit and not the flesh

Oct 04, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Evident Battle: Flesh and Spirit at War Within

Every life produces visible evidence of an invisible war. Paul names this conflict plainly: our self-centered cravings wage war against the Spirit’s guidance. Like a tree’s roots shaping its fruit, our choices reveal who’s winning the battle. Sexual immorality, jealousy, rage, and division aren’t random failures but symptoms of flesh-ruled living. This war isn’t theoretical—it leaves marks on relationships, habits, and peace. To ignore the struggle is to surrender to destruction. [56:48]

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:16–17, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you dismissed your internal battle as “just how I am”? What specific craving (anger, lust, gossip) currently outweighs the Spirit’s voice in your choices?

Day 2: Works of the Flesh: The Path to Eternal Regret

Paul’s list of flesh-driven behaviors ends with a sobering warning: those who practice such things won’t inherit God’s kingdom. “Practice” implies habitual allegiance, not occasional failure. Like a farmer planting weeds, persistent fleshly living yields a harvest of eternal loss. The preacher’s raw warning—“you’ll remember this sermon in hell”—mirrors Jesus’ urgency. Secret sins, Sunday masks, and unrepentant habits aren’t trifles; they’re eternal stakes made visible in daily choices. [57:28]

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19–21, ESV)

Reflection: What “hidden” sin (pride, division, envy) have you excused as harmless? How does eternity’s reality confront your casual approach to rebellion?

Day 3: Walking the Spirit’s Path: A Habit of Surrender

Walking by the Spirit isn’t a mystical feeling but a daily posture. The Greek “peripateo” means walking the same road until it grooves your soul. Like a plow cutting furrows, repeated surrender to the Spirit reshapes desires. This walk demands brutal honesty—admitting which relationships, habits, or thoughts still belong to the flesh. Victory comes not by willpower but by yielding: “Holy Spirit, take control” becomes the anthem for every crossroads. [56:18]

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you still say “I’ve got this” instead of surrendering to the Spirit? What practical step (accountability, Scripture meditation, fasting) could deepen your daily dependence?

Day 4: The Helper Within: Embracing the Spirit’s Advocacy

Jesus didn’t leave us as orphans but sent the Holy Spirit as a permanent resident—not just for emotional highs but as Counselor and Advocate. He intercedes, convicts, and empowers, yet we often treat Him like a weekend guest. Ignoring His presence while battling sin is like refusing water in a desert. His job isn’t to make us dance but to make us holy, confronting every compromise with “You know better.” [58:10]

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16–17, ESV)

Reflection: When have you reduced the Spirit to a “feeling” instead of obeying Him as God? What area of life (finances, speech, relationships) needs His active leadership today?

Day 5: One Cluster, No Exceptions: The Spirit’s Complete Fruit

The Spirit’s fruit isn’t a spiritual buffet—it’s a single harvest. You can’t claim love while rejecting patience, or joy while resisting self-control. Like a grape cluster missing no piece, all nine traits grow together through surrendered soil. Partial fruit reveals partial surrender. When kindness feels forced or peace eludes you, it’s not a personality flaw but a yield sign: “Holy Spirit, what corner of my heart still belongs to me?” [57:39]

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23, ESV)

Reflection: Which fruit (gentleness? faithfulness?) feels most absent? What unyielded stronghold (grudges, selfishness, anxiety) might be blocking the whole cluster?

Sermon Summary

Paul begins with the command that sets the whole direction: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” The flesh is not merely a few outward mistakes. The flesh is every self-centered, self-serving, sinful desire that stands against God’s will. Paul says the flesh and the Spirit are fighting each other, and that battle leaves evidence in a person’s life.

The works of the flesh are evident. Sexual immorality, jealousy, anger, division, envy, drunkenness, and “things like these” all reveal what is ruling the heart. Paul’s list is not a checklist that lets somebody off the hook because a particular sin is absent. The phrase “things like these” reaches into every area where sin is being practiced, excused, hidden, or protected. God cannot be fooled by hands raised in church when the heart is living a different way the rest of the week.

The flesh lies. The flesh says, “You’re not hurting anybody,” “Nobody’s perfect,” and “It’s your life.” Paul warns that regular, unrepentant practice of the flesh leads to destruction. Christ does not call His people to perfection without struggle, but Christ does call them to repentance, obedience, and a real fight against sin. One foot in and one foot out is not the life God intended.

Jesus gives the Holy Spirit as Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Comforter. The Holy Spirit is not only for a good feeling, a dramatic moment, or a shout in worship. The Holy Spirit is God, dwelling in every born again believer and supplying power for victory. The Spirit does not move believers around like robots, but the Spirit calls every part of life into surrender.

Paul’s word “walk” points to a habitual path. The Spirit-led life is not a Sunday thing. The Spirit-led life is a daily yielding of speech, relationships, desires, choices, burdens, and habits. The flesh says that a person will always be a slave to anger, lust, money, or old patterns. The Holy Spirit says that struggle does not have to become identity. God has given life and peace instead of death and defeat.

Paul finally turns to the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The fruit is singular, not a supermarket selection where somebody picks love but rejects patience or chooses joy but refuses self-control. The Spirit produces one unified cluster of godly character. That fruit is not for private consumption. God grows it so other people can taste His goodness and Christ can be glorified.

Key Takeaways

1. The flesh always leaves visible evidence. Paul says the works of the flesh are “evident,” even when somebody works hard to keep them hidden. Anger eventually comes out in speech, envy comes out in relationships, pride comes out in attitude, and lust comes out in choices. God sees the heart long before other people see the evidence. [68:42]
2. Freedom in Christ is not license. Paul warns believers not to use freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Grace does not give sin permission to rule; grace trains the believer to repent, obey, and fight for holiness. A life that wants Christ’s benefits while refusing Christ’s authority is trying to hold onto two opposite paths. [61:59]
3. The Holy Spirit is God’s daily help. Jesus sends the Spirit as Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Comforter, not merely for emotional moments. The Spirit is present in the pressure, the temptation, the difficult conversation, and the private decision. God has not left His people to fight spiritual battles with bare willpower. [78:49]
4. Walking requires full surrender every day. Paul’s picture of walking means staying on the path again and again until it becomes the settled direction of life. The Spirit must be allowed to govern where a believer goes, what a believer says, and which relationships a believer keeps. Partial surrender keeps the door open for the flesh to keep winning. [87:56]
5. The Spirit’s fruit is one whole cluster. Paul says “fruit,” not “fruits,” because love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control belong together. Believers cannot pick the traits they prefer and reject the ones that expose their weak places. God produces this fruit so others may encounter the goodness of God through a changed life.

## [101:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[56:18] - Galatians 5:16-25
[60:04] - Why the Works of the Flesh Matter
[61:59] - Freedom Is Not Opportunity for Flesh
[62:40] - The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit
[65:14] - Works of the Flesh Lead to Destruction
[67:56] - God Knows What Is Hidden
[75:24] - Identifying Fleshly Cravings
[76:56] - Walk by the Spirit
[78:12] - The Holy Spirit, Helper and Advocate
[82:48] - Surrender Every Area of Life
[87:43] - A Habitual Walk in the Spirit
[95:18] - The Harvest of Spiritual Fruit
[99:29] - One Fruit, Not a Supermarket List
[104:03] - Fruit for Others to Taste God’s Goodness

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Galatians 5:16-25
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” [56:18]

John 14:16-17
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” [01:18:49]

Romans 8:6
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” [01:25:36]

Observation questions

In Galatians 5:16–25, what two opposing forces does Paul describe, and what does he say each one produces? [01:03:09]
Which works of the flesh in Paul’s list especially affect relationships between people, families, or church members? [01:06:09]
What descriptions of the Holy Spirit are given in John 14:16–17, and how long does Jesus say the Spirit will be with believers? [01:18:43]
What specific qualities are included in the fruit of the Spirit, and what does Paul say about those who belong to Christ Jesus? [57:31]

Interpretation questions

Paul says the works of the flesh are “evident” and includes “things like these.” Why is it important that this list is not treated as a limited checklist of only a few sins? [01:06:19]
How does Paul’s contrast between a mind governed by the flesh and a mind governed by the Spirit help explain why freedom in Christ is not permission to keep practicing sin? [01:25:35]
What does it mean for a believer to “walk” by the Spirit as a regular direction of life rather than as an occasional spiritual moment? [01:28:03]
Why does Paul describe the Spirit’s work as one “fruit” rather than separate fruits believers can pick and choose from? [01:41:29]

Application questions

The flesh often excuses sin by saying, “Nobody’s perfect,” “You’re not hurting anybody,” or “It’s your life.” Which excuses are most tempting to believe, and how can they be answered with honesty and repentance? [01:10:08]
What pattern, craving, attitude, or relationship has the potential to pull a person away from obedience to Christ? What would it look like to bring that area into the light rather than hiding or protecting it? [01:15:24]
The Holy Spirit is present as Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, and Comforter in everyday pressure and temptation. What is one situation this week—at home, work, school, online, or in a difficult conversation—where there is a need to depend on His help instead of bare willpower? [01:22:48]
Full surrender includes speech, places, habits, desires, and relationships. Is there an area of life where it is easy to say, “Holy Spirit, take control,” but difficult to actually follow His direction? What makes that area hard to surrender? [01:29:41]
Which part of the fruit of the Spirit most clearly exposes a current area of weakness—such as patience, gentleness, faithfulness, peace, or self-control? What is one concrete way the group can pray for and encourage growth in that area this week? [01:39:05]
The fruit of the Spirit is meant to let other people experience the goodness of God. Who in a person’s life especially needs to receive love, patience, kindness, gentleness, or self-control from them this week? [01:44:03]

Sermon Clips

72s

#OvercomerInChrist

“Devil wants you to think you're always gonna be a slave to that temper. Your mama had a temper. Your grandmama had a temper. Your great grandmama had a temper, and you got a temper. You're always gonna be a slave to loving money and always trying to acquire more and more. That's who you are. You're always gonna be a slave to sexual immorality. the holy spirit says, no. That does not have to be your life. Even though you will have struggles, are all gonna struggle. That does not have to define who we are because we are overcomers, the bible tells us. So you can't... So how you're gonna live and defeated? The bible said, you are an overcomer in Christ Jesus. Free to live the life that God intended for you and I to live.”

70s

#FruitOfTheSpirit

“What's interesting about this battle between the flesh and the spirit, because unlike maybe some other battles, this battle leaves... It leaves evidence, evidence you can see. And if you're not aware, every one of our lives produces something. produces something. My life produces something. So the question is, what is your life producing? What is my life producing? Paul lets us know that there's only two choices, especially when you're talking about this this battle, two choices. Either your life and my life is producing works of the flesh, or they are producing fruits of the spirit.”

58s

#UnifiedFruit

“that's not how that works. That's not how that works. You know what Paul said? He said, the fruit of the spirit. Did not say fruits the spirit. Why do he say fruit, not fruits, if it's multiple ones? Because he's trying to let you know this is a cluster that goes together. Uh-huh. You can't pick and choose what you want and what you don't want. Good example. It's not our fruit. It's his fruit that he wants for us. We gotta understand that it's one unified expression of the holy spirit's work for every born again believer. If you have love, you must have peace. If you got kindness, you must have self control.”

38s

#PursueHoliness

“You have to spend your your life walking in obedience. You have to spend your life doing everything you can to be holy because he is holy. It ain't no one foot in, one foot out. We got way too much of that going on in 2026. Way too much of that going on in churches around the world. There's gonna be a lot of people upset when they close their eyes on this side.”

68s

#GodSeesTheHeart

“A lot of Christians sitting in sanctuaries this morning that are pretending that they are living one way. But when they get out of church, you catch them on a Wednesday or Thursday. They are living a whole different way. Think about church. You can come to church and clap your hands, raise your hands, listen to the message, fool just about everybody. But you cannot fool god. each and every one of us. He knows exactly where we are. I may not know. Rest of the saints may not know, but god knows. You can't hide it forever.”

58s

#ChooseTheSpirit

“Two ways for every person to live. You either wanna live with a mind controlled by your flesh, or you're gonna live with a mind controlled by the Holy Spirit. You choose. choose every day how you... By how you live. Walking with the spirit. What does that mean exactly? Let's kind of break that down a little bit. Maybe somebody today is not totally clear what it means. What it really means, if I'm going to break it down basically, it means living a life that is totally surrendered to the Holy Spirit, that's totally yielded to the Holy Spirit, that you are letting the Holy Spirit reign over your entire life.”

53s

#SurrenderToGod

“He's saying that you and I and every born again believer must live our lives according to the holy spirit. Live in a way that, we say, Holy Spirit, take control. me where you want me to go. Show me where you don't want me to go. Tell me what you wanna say. Tell me when to shut up. Tell me who I should be and hang around and who I need to drop. me in every area of my life so that you may be pleased with me. Help me to live a holy life acceptable to God our father.”

54s

#HolySpiritLed

“And while this fruit is produced, I'm getting ready to close. While it's produced for us, and while we are blessed because of it, it's actually for other people. It's not for us to consume. It's for others to consume. We will benefit from it, but we want other people to taste God's love, his joy, his peace, his patience, kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness, and self control.”

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