Living by the Spirit: Overcoming the Flesh

Devotional

Day 1: The Flesh's Lifestyle of Exclusion

The works of the flesh are not just isolated actions but represent a lifestyle deeply rooted in our fallen nature. These actions, such as sexual immorality, idolatry, and jealousy, are manifestations of a life led by the flesh, which ultimately leads to exclusion from the kingdom of God. This calls for a deep introspection of our lives to ensure we are not living according to the flesh. The Apostle Paul warns that these behaviors are not merely occasional sins but a pattern of living that reflects a heart not transformed by the Spirit. It is crucial to examine our lives and ensure that we are not allowing these works to define us. [00:40]

Galatians 6:8 (ESV): "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you see a pattern of behavior that aligns with the works of the flesh. How can you begin to surrender this area to the Holy Spirit today?

Day 2: The Hostility of the Flesh

The flesh is inherently hostile to God, unable to submit to His law or please Him. It is self-exalting, self-sufficient, and self-indulgent, manifesting in various personality types and life stages. Recognizing this nature is crucial in understanding our need for the Holy Spirit's transformative work. The flesh's hostility is not just a passive resistance but an active rebellion against God's authority and righteousness. This understanding should drive us to seek the Spirit's power to overcome the flesh's influence in our lives. [02:32]

Romans 7:18 (ESV): "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out."

Reflection: In what ways do you see self-exaltation or self-sufficiency in your life? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform these areas?

Day 3: Categories of Fleshly Works

The works of the flesh can be categorized into sexual sins, religious sins, relational sins, and sins of indulgence. Each category reflects a different aspect of self-centeredness and rebellion against God. Understanding these categories helps us identify areas in our lives that need the Spirit's intervention. Sexual sins often arise from self-centeredness, religious sins from a desire to control the supernatural, relational sins destroy community, and indulgent sins reflect a return to sensuality. By identifying these categories, we can better understand the areas where we need to invite the Holy Spirit's transformative power. [04:38]

Ephesians 5:11-12 (ESV): "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret."

Reflection: Which category of fleshly works do you struggle with the most? What practical steps can you take to expose and overcome these works in your life?

Day 4: Led by the Spirit, Not the Flesh

These warnings serve as a call to examine our lives and ensure we are led by the Spirit, not the flesh. If we are led by the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. This distinction is crucial, as ongoing practice of these works indicates a lack of the Spirit's presence, and thus, a lack of redemption. Being led by the Spirit means allowing Him to guide our thoughts, actions, and decisions, leading us away from the destructive patterns of the flesh. It is a daily choice to submit to the Spirit's leading and reject the flesh's desires. [08:18]

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

Reflection: What is one practical way you can choose to be led by the Spirit today instead of the flesh? How can this choice impact your daily life?

Day 5: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Redemption

The presence of the Holy Spirit leads us into paths of righteousness and holiness, bearing fruit that is pleasing to God. These warnings are a necessary reminder to live soberly and vigilantly, ensuring our lives reflect the transformative work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit's role is not just to convict us of sin but to empower us to live a life that honors God. By yielding to the Spirit, we can experience true transformation and bear fruit that reflects His character. This is the essence of living a redeemed life, marked by the Spirit's presence and power. [09:16]

Titus 3:5-6 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Reflection: How can you actively invite the Holy Spirit to lead you into paths of righteousness today? What fruit of the Spirit do you desire to see more of in your life?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of Galatians 5:19-21, we delve into the sobering reality of the works of the flesh. These works are not merely external actions but are deeply rooted in our fallen nature, manifesting through acts of the soul, mind, and body. The list provided by Paul, though not exhaustive, includes sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, and orgies. These are not just occasional sins but represent a lifestyle that, if practiced, leads to exclusion from the kingdom of God.

The flesh, as described in Romans 8, is inherently hostile to God, unable to submit to His law or please Him. It is self-exalting, self-sufficient, and self-indulgent, manifesting in various personality types and life stages. The works of the flesh can be categorized into four groups: sexual sins, religious sins, relational sins, and sins of indulgence. Sexual sins often arise from self-centeredness, while religious sins like idolatry and sorcery reflect a desire to control the supernatural. Relational sins, such as hostility and jealousy, destroy community, and indulgent sins like drunkenness reflect a return to sensuality.

These warnings are not to be taken lightly. They serve as a call to examine our lives and ensure we are led by the Spirit, not the flesh. If we are led by the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. This is a crucial distinction, as ongoing practice of these works indicates a lack of the Spirit's presence, and thus, a lack of redemption. The presence of the Holy Spirit leads us into paths of righteousness and holiness, bearing fruit that is pleasing to God. These warnings are a necessary reminder to live soberly and vigilantly, ensuring our lives reflect the transformative work of the Spirit.

Key Takeaways

1. The works of the flesh are deeply rooted in our fallen nature, manifesting through acts of the soul, mind, and body. They are not just external actions but reflect a lifestyle that, if practiced, leads to exclusion from the kingdom of God. This calls for a deep introspection of our lives to ensure we are not living according to the flesh. [00:40]
2. The flesh is inherently hostile to God, unable to submit to His law or please Him. It is self-exalting, self-sufficient, and self-indulgent, manifesting in various personality types and life stages. Recognizing this nature is crucial in understanding our need for the Holy Spirit's transformative work. [02:32]
3. The works of the flesh can be categorized into sexual sins, religious sins, relational sins, and sins of indulgence. Each category reflects a different aspect of self-centeredness and rebellion against God. Understanding these categories helps us identify areas in our lives that need the Spirit's intervention. [04:38]
4. These warnings serve as a call to examine our lives and ensure we are led by the Spirit, not the flesh. If we are led by the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. This distinction is crucial, as ongoing practice of these works indicates a lack of the Spirit's presence, and thus, a lack of redemption. [08:18]
5. The presence of the Holy Spirit leads us into paths of righteousness and holiness, bearing fruit that is pleasing to God. These warnings are a necessary reminder to live soberly and vigilantly, ensuring our lives reflect the transformative work of the Spirit. [09:16]
** [09:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Introduction to Works of the Flesh
[00:40] - Understanding Works as Acts of the Soul
[00:56] - The Evident Works of the Flesh
[01:15] - Warning Against Practicing the Flesh
[01:34] - Prayer for Disinclination to the Flesh
[02:32] - The Hostility of the Flesh
[03:13] - Self-Exalting Nature of the Flesh
[04:19] - Manifestations of the Flesh
[04:38] - Categories of Fleshly Works
[05:35] - Religious Dimensions of the Flesh
[06:12] - Relational Conflicts from the Flesh
[07:39] - Indulgent Sins and Sensuality
[08:18] - Evidence of Being Led by the Spirit
[09:16] - The Role of the Holy Spirit in Redemption
[10:34] - Conclusion and Call to Sobriety

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Galatians 5:19-21

Bible Reading:
- Galatians 5:19-21
- Romans 8:7-8

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Observation Questions:

What are the specific works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21, and how do they manifest in our lives? [00:56]
According to the sermon, how does Paul categorize the works of the flesh, and what are the four groups mentioned? [04:38]
What does Romans 8:7-8 say about the nature of the flesh and its relationship with God? [02:32]
How does the sermon describe the ongoing practice of the works of the flesh and its implications for inheriting the kingdom of God? [01:15]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon explain the connection between self-centeredness and the manifestation of sexual sins? [05:15]
In what ways do religious sins like idolatry and sorcery reflect a desire to control the supernatural, according to the sermon? [05:54]
How do relational sins such as hostility and jealousy destroy community, and why does Paul emphasize these in his list? [07:22]
What role does the Holy Spirit play in leading believers away from the works of the flesh, as discussed in the sermon? [09:16]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Are there any works of the flesh that you struggle with? How can you begin to address these with the help of the Holy Spirit? [01:15]
The sermon mentions that the flesh is inherently hostile to God. How can you actively cultivate a mindset that is submissive to God's law? [02:32]
Consider the four categories of fleshly works. Which category do you find most challenging, and what steps can you take to seek the Spirit's intervention in that area? [04:38]
How can you ensure that your lifestyle reflects being led by the Spirit rather than the flesh? What practical changes might you need to make? [08:18]
The sermon warns against ongoing practice of the works of the flesh. How can you hold yourself accountable to live a life that bears the fruit of the Spirit? [09:51]
Think of a recent situation where you felt inclined towards self-exalting or self-indulgent behavior. How could you have responded differently with a Spirit-led approach? [03:13]
Identify a relationship in your life that has been affected by relational sins like jealousy or strife. What steps can you take to restore and strengthen that relationship? [07:22]

Sermon Clips

"Works are any Act of the Soul, Act of the Mind, Act of the body that is Flowing from our essential Fallen nature called the flesh. Now the works of the flesh are evident which are sexual morality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, Strife, jealousy, fits of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envies, bouts of drunkenness, orgies, and things like these." [00:35:00]

"I warn you as I warned you before that those who practice not just commit once and repent but go on making that their lifestyle, those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. That's a very frightening Prospect." [01:12:44]

"The mind of the flesh is hostile to God. There it is hostile to God. It doesn't submit to God's law indeed it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. That's who we are by Nature apart from the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit purchased by the blood of Christ." [02:32:12]

"The flesh therefore is our self. It's self-exalting, it's self-sufficient, it's self-indulgent and thus insubordinate, a law to itself. Now how does that nature, that's who we are, that's who your neighbor is, your spouse is, your children are that way until Redeemed by the holy spirit." [02:58:40]

"Sexual morality would be things like fornication and adultery. Impurity might include homosexuality because these two go so often together and in some context homosexuality is signified. Sensuality is just the broader demonstration of a preoccupation with things of off color sense kind of grueling in the low dimensions of human nature." [04:34:20]

"Idolatry would be basically inclining towards any kind of a supernatural reality that is not God and you're going to choose your own God that's staying in some kind of control and that's what sorcery is. It's an effort to use Magic to manage the aspect of life you don't have any control over you think." [05:37:20]

"If there's a hostile temperament it leads to Strife. If there's jealousy it leads often to fits of anger. If there's selfish Ambitions it often produces dissensions and if there's envyings it often produces factions. It's not as neat as I might like it to be and I may be grouping them in a way that's not according to Paul's intention." [06:30:08]

"Hostility, Strife, fits of anger, jealousy, selfish Ambitions, dissensions, factions, envies, that's all Community destroying dimensions of the Flesh and that gets most attention from Paul and then there's the bouts of drunkenness and orgies and maybe Paul returns to another dimension of sensuality." [07:16:40]

"I warn you now as I warned you before that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In other words, they are not giving evidence of being led by the spirit. If you are led by or walk by the spirit you will not fulfill the desires of the Flesh." [08:03:55]

"This is a description of what happens when you fulfill the desires of the flesh so you are giving evidence by this ongoing practice of these things that you are not led by the spirit and if you're not led by the spirit you're not of Christ you're not redeemed." [08:39:59]

"Those who are redeemed according to chapter 4-6 are given the Holy Spirit and when you have the Holy Spirit then you are led by the spirit into Paths of fruitfulness and righteousness and Holiness so these kinds of warnings are regular in the New Testament." [09:00:40]

"Many many Christians live lives of great Cavalier carelessness as though such warnings were not in the Scriptures it all not to be so." [10:23:59]

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Living by the Spirit: Overcoming the Flesh

Devotional

Day 1: The Flesh's Lifestyle of Exclusion

Day 2: The Hostility of the Flesh

Day 3: Categories of Fleshly Works

Day 4: Led by the Spirit, Not the Flesh

Day 5: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Redemption

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Living by the Spirit: Overcoming the Flesh

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