No Confidence in the Flesh: Worship by the Spirit

Mar 08, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The True Mark of God is a Matter of the Heart

The sign of God's covenant was never meant to be a mere external ritual. It was always intended to point to a deeper, internal reality. True belonging to God is not about physical markings or adherence to a set of rules. It is about a heart that has been set apart for Him. God looks past our outward performance and sees the condition and posture of our inner being. This is the foundation of a relationship with Him. [08:46]

But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (Romans 2:29 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life have you been focusing on external religious performance rather than cultivating a heart that is fully devoted to God? What is one practical step you can take this week to shift your focus inward?

Day 2: Knowing About God and Knowing God Are Vastly Different

A life built solely on information about God will inevitably lead to a works-based religion. This kind of existence is restrictive, exhausting, and can never satisfy the deep longing for God that is built into every human heart. It creates insecurity, as we constantly wonder if we have done enough. True life and peace are found not in knowing about God, but in experientially knowing Him through a living relationship. [19:46]

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3 ESV)

Reflection: Would you describe your current walk with God as primarily knowing about Him or knowing Him through personal experience? What habits or routines might be keeping you at a distance from a deeper, experiential knowledge of Christ?

Day 3: We Worship and Serve by the Spirit, Not by the Flesh

Our calling is to live a life of worship and service that is energized and directed by the Holy Spirit. This is the opposite of striving in our own strength or simply going through religious motions. Living by the Spirit means cultivating an awareness of His presence and a sensitivity to His gentle nudgings throughout our day. It is in this place of Spirit-led living that we find true life and peace. [22:08]

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6 ESV)

Reflection: In which area of your daily routine do you find it most difficult to be aware of and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading? How could you create space to listen for His voice in that specific area this week?

Day 4: We Glory and Boast Only in Christ Jesus

Mature faith redirects every accolade, achievement, and reward back to the source of all grace. Our boast is not in our own religious performance, our good works, or our spiritual pedigree. Instead, we choose to glory in Christ alone, acknowledging that anything of value in us comes from Him. This posture of heart recreates the atmosphere of heaven on earth, where every crown is cast at the feet of Jesus in worship. [28:26]

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14 ESV)

Reflection: What is one recent accomplishment or strength you are tempted to take pride in for yourself? How can you intentionally turn that into an offering of praise to Jesus today?

Day 5: Put No Confidence in the Flesh

Our spiritual confidence must never be placed in our own ability to perform, our heritage, or our adherence to rules. These things belong to the realm of the flesh, which has no power to save or transform us. The call is to actively reject this confidence and instead rely completely on the Spirit’s work within us. We stop trying to earn God’s favor and rest in the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. [30:40]

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3 ESV)

Reflection: Where are you still striving in your own strength to be “good enough” for God? What would it look like to actively release that area to Him and instead put your full confidence in what Christ has already done?

Sermon Summary

Paul’s argument in Philippians 3 forces a reorientation from outward religion to inward relationship. Scripture traces God’s choice of a people through Abraham and Israel to show how covenant signs functioned historically, but the covenant’s true center proves to be faith, not external marks. The old sign of circumcision served as a reminder that God calls a people set apart, yet the gospel redefines marking as a matter of the heart by the Spirit rather than mere fleshly ritual. Paul confronts those who insist on external requirements, labeling their insistence as mutilation of the flesh and warning that such demands lead people away from grace.

True spiritual life grows when worship proceeds by the Spirit, when Christ alone receives glory, and when no confidence rests in human effort. Worship by the Spirit means paying attention to inner promptings, cultivating awareness of God’s presence, and allowing the Spirit to lead ordinary moments into divine encounter. Boasting shifts from personal achievements to the work of Christ; crowns and accolades become offerings laid before the Lord rather than trophies to display. Confidence in the flesh—credentials, rituals, and moral accomplishment—blocks the experiential knowing of Christ. The Greek ginosko highlights knowledge that comes through personal encounter, not mere information.

Religion tends to be outside-in: do the right things to earn acceptance. The gospel calls for inside-out living: receive grace by faith, then let love and obedience flow from a transformed heart. This inward life produces freedom, not exhaustion; it gives life and peace rather than fear of falling short. Practical application centers on turning daily practices—like Bible reading and worship—into avenues for encountering Jesus rather than boxes to check. The invitation closes with a call to break religious patterns, receive Christ, and begin a life led by the Spirit that seeks intimate, experiential knowledge of the risen Lord.

Key Takeaways

1. Worship must be Spirit-led True worship rises from awareness of the Spirit’s presence and guidance, not from external performance. Attentive worship trains the soul to recognize God’s promptings in small moments and to respond with surrender rather than obligation. Cultivating this sensitivity frees religious duty into relational devotion and opens the way for transformation. [20:38]
2. Boast only in Christ’s work All personal achievements lose their weight when compared to the cross; genuine maturity reorients praise away from self and toward Christ. Offering honors and accomplishments back to God converts ambition into worship and aligns identity with grace. Such boasting fosters humility that empowers faithful service rather than pride-driven performance. [26:51]
3. Reject confidence in external righteousness Trusting credentials, rituals, or self-effort obscures the gospel and hardens the heart toward dependence on God. Confidence in the flesh creates a suffocating, performance-driven religion that never satisfies the soul’s longing for belonging and peace. Letting go of outward certainty invites reliance on the Spirit’s life-giving power. [30:19]
4. Know God through personal encounter Spiritual knowing (ginosko) involves relational experience, not just intellectual assent; intimacy with Christ produces love that naturally obeys. Prioritizing encounters with Jesus reshapes motives, turning duty into delight and commands into expressions of love. Seek repeated, humble openings for the Spirit to reveal Christ in everyday life. [15:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:23] - Opening prayer and aim
[02:54] - Why Israel appears in Scripture
[05:32] - Covenant sign explained
[06:40] - Heart over outward marking
[11:19] - Warning about false teachers
[13:24] - Autobiographical argument in Philippians
[20:38] - Three marks of true faith
[25:37] - Glory in Christ, not self
[30:19] - Put no confidence in the flesh
[31:59] - Practical application: read Scripture
[32:35] - Invitation to break religion
[35:29] - Prayer of commitment and dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Philippians 3:1–11 (ESV)
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

Observation questions

According to Philippians 3:2–3, what three groups does Paul warn believers to look out for, and what does he say characterizes true worshipers?
In verses 4–6, what specific credentials does Paul list that could have been grounds for confidence in his own flesh?
What does Paul say he did with all his former gains and credentials in verse 8?
According to the sermon, what does the Greek word ginosko imply about the kind of knowledge Paul is pursuing in verse 10? [15:04]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Paul uses such strong language like “dogs” and “mutilators of the flesh” to describe those insisting on external religious markers?
Paul says true worshipers “glory in Christ Jesus” (v. 3). What does it look like to truly glory in Christ rather than in personal achievements or religious performance? [25:37]
How does putting “no confidence in the flesh” (v. 3) free a person to pursue knowing Christ rather than just performing religious duties? [30:19]
In what ways can an overemphasis on external righteousness actually hinder a person from experiencing intimate relationship with Christ?

Application questions

Where in your life have you noticed a tendency to rely on external religious routines (like church attendance, Bible reading, or serving) rather than cultivating a heart posture of dependence on the Spirit? What would it look like to approach one of those areas differently this week? [31:59]
What achievements, credentials, or areas of moral accomplishment do you find yourself subtly leaning on for spiritual confidence? How can you intentionally “count them as loss” and instead boast only in what Christ has done? [26:51]
Describe a recent moment where you sensed the Holy Spirit’s nudge or presence in an ordinary situation. How did you respond, and what would it look like to cultivate greater awareness of His leading in your daily life? [23:16]
Religious living often feels exhausting and restrictive, while life in the Spirit brings freedom and peace. [17:50] Where do you currently feel the weight of performance or obligation in your walk with God? What step can you take this week to exchange that burden for grace-based dependence?
The goal of the Christian life is to “know Christ” personally and experientially. [15:04] What practical habits or rhythms could you incorporate to prioritize relational connection with Jesus over merely acquiring information about Him?
How can you intentionally “cast your crowns” before Jesus this week—offering back to Him your successes, recognition, or strengths as an act of worship and surrender? [28:51]
In what relationships or environments are you most tempted to compare your spiritual performance with others? How can you shift your focus from external markers to heart authenticity and grace?

Sermon Clips

40s

#KnowJesusByFaith

“Such a relationship needs leads to obedience on our part. In fact, Jesus defines eternal life in this way as knowing God and knowing Jesus Christ, which involves both faith in him and love for him. I don't know if you caught that, but I love the order of this. It's knowing him, a deep faith and love in Jesus that then leads us to follow him. See, religion says, follow the ways, and maybe you can get to him. Do all the things, and maybe you can experience God. But Jesus says, no. No. No. No. Come to me. Receive me. Receive grace”

32s

#GraceInsideOut

“by faith in me like salvation is yours. Come to me. And then something that happens then is as we experience him, there's this deep love and faith in him that then leads us to want to keep his commands. See, religion could be defined like this. Religion is outside in living. It's I perform out here so that maybe something will happen here. But see, grace and a relationship with Jesus is no. No. No. Something has happened here, which motivates me to live a certain way out here.”

44s

#FreedomInChrist

“Religion creates insecurity. Right? It's I'll never do good enough. I will always fall short. All I'm doing is trying to stay within the lines. Religion creates insecurity, but Jesus creates security. Because when I'm with Jesus, it's like, yeah, I'm gonna fall short, but he's with me. I'm gonna go outside the lines, but he's gonna bring me back by his grace. It is such a freeing place to live when you can live in and work with Jesus. See, living according to religion and works is exhausting. But living focused on Jesus, we get to know him experientially, and it's freeing.”

29s

#TurnAsideEncounter

“You know, this week, I was driving my son to school in the morning, and I had my worship playlist on. It was still on my phone from my time with the Lord in the morning. And I was I was driving, and there's a song that came on, and it's a song I've led worship with. I've it's a song I've sung a lot. It's a song I've worshiped with in the car a lot. But as I was listening to it that morning, just something happened in my heart. And I I didn't know what it was. I couldn't define it, but I just knew it was a moment.”

35s

#ReadToMeetJesus

“If you've made Jesus the lord of your life so you don't have to be a pastor. You don't have to be a person on a stage. If you've made Jesus the lord of your life, then you are a sheep. And and more exciting than being one of his sheep is this, you hear his voice. You can sense his leading. So if you're not hearing his voice, which, by the way, I'm not talking about an audible voice. I am talking about those internal nudgings and and the move of the spirit and those that witness of the holy spirit in your heart like I had on that morning. But when you're you hear his voice, you might just need to, like, turn off all the other voices in order to hear him a little bit better.”

40s

#ReleaseReligionEmbraceGrace

“I wanna encourage you, if you fell off the train, jump back on. Not because checking the box on a Bible reading plan does anything for you. It doesn't. But when you can approach the word of God and every day say, Jesus, I thank you that this is you on paper for me. I pray this every morning, you guys. Jesus, I don't wanna I don't wanna read you and miss you. God, help me see you. Give me a fresh revelation today. I wanna encourage you today. Let's break off a spirit of religion. It's not about checking the boxes and getting it done. It is about saying, God, I wanna know you and the power of your resurrection. Speak to me today. Are you up for that?”

38s

#ServeFromTheHeart

“the holy spirit of God is completely wrapped in this entire thing. Like, he doesn't want us just to go through the motions. And if you're going through the motions and you're experiencing God is boring, guess what? That's not the one he wants you to have. Because the spirit of God and living according to his spirit is wrapped up in this whole thing. Paul says this in Romans chapter eight. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the spirit is life and peace.”

39s

#WorshipBySpiritNotMarks

“worthy are you or our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things. And by your will, they existed and were created. So so what is part of the atmosphere of heaven? It's elders. There's 24 people that have been elevated above all else in heaven, and guess what they're doing? They're bowing, and they're casting their crowns at the feet of the Lord. You know, we can give God a lot of offerings this side of heaven. We can give him an offering of our time. We can give him an offering of our serving. We can give him offerings of our giving, our finances. And as we've already looked at in this book, we can give him precious offerings out of pain and out of suffering.”

32s

“And it's it's no worry for me to say it again, and it's a safeguard for you. What is Paul saying? Well, he's using repetition to drive home a point. It's like people would say, oh, Paul wrote to you? I I bet you he wrote about rejoicing, didn't he? Because he keeps saying it over and over and over. The the things that are are repeated are important for us to hear. And how many golfers do we have in the room this morning? Come on, my people. When I golf, I have to tell myself, like, literally every shot, head down, swing easy.”

29s

“This is still old covenant times, ladies and gentlemen. And he's already God is already pointing us to the fact that, no. No. No. You need to mark or cut away your heart, separate your heart. You are different than those who don't follow me. So you're with me this morning so far? So now that we've set this baseline, it was an important kind of baseline that we wanted to establish here. We can go to Philippians chapter three and hear what Paul wants to speak to us today from this chapter. And he says this in Philippians three verse one.”

31s

“So what is Paul saying? It says that it righteousness was credited to Abraham before there was ever the sign of the covenant. And so what does that mean for us today? It means whether you're marked or not doesn't matter. In fact, if it mattered, then ladies, I don't know what to tell you, actually. Maybe you're out. I don't know. Either way, we're grateful. Aren't we? Okay. And I will say because some people get caught up in this. It's more of a personal preference thing now and a cultural thing, and while you are not under commandment if you love Jesus to be marked. Okay.”

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