The Works of the Flesh

Have you ever done something that you were not meant to do? Thought thoughts you were not meant to think? Pursued someone or something that is not yours? Committed fornication or adultery? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, keep on reading, this blog is for you. The scriptures make it clear that all of us have fallen short in our conduct before God ( Romans 3: 23). We have acted upon fleshly behaviours and thoughts that we see commonly committed by sinners in this world. But just like many others, we have struggled to control ourselves and fallen into sin. The bible calls the rebellion of our carnal actions ‘ the works of the flesh’.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

The manifestations of ‘the works of the flesh’ can be summarised into 5 main categories that are centred around a carnal believer and their fleshly wants and desires. These are:

• All sexual sins:
• Idolatry
• Witchcraft
• Murders
• Strife, covetousness and envying
   

Have you noticed that when the works of the flesh are in operation, ‘it does not matter who gets hurt in its pursuit, just as long as the pursuer ‘gets what they want’. For instance: sexual sin requires both the sexually immoral and another person to commit that sin. If sexual sin is your vice, have you ever thought about how your fleshly desires may affect another person’s relationship with God? Or have you ever considered the simple fact that your desires may become a stumbling block for another?

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Matthew 16:23 New American Standard Bible

If you were to address the issue of witchcraft from the lens of it being a ‘work of the flesh’, not a demonic power, you would ask yourself: Am I guilty of trying to manipulate, intimidate and dominate another’s life?

Take Jezebel for instance, she is what we may call a ‘fixer’. She heard of a problem, but instead of taking that problem to God, she fixed it her way. She lied, manipulated and intimidated another unto their death for the purpose of possessing and dominating that which another had. If you are a carnal Christian, you should ask yourselves whether the works of your flesh is, stealing, killing or destroying another’s life in order to obtain what you want? Remember the ‘works of the flesh’ is about you and not God.

It is your choice to overcome the flesh

 When you received the Spirit of God by faith in Christ Jesus, what you embraced was the liberty that is found in Christ Jesus ( Galatians 5 :1, Galatians 3:2) . You saw a blessed hope that is not obtainable by the flesh and its works. You saw an escape from the yoke of bondage that you were once entangled in. You saw a new spiritual life in Christ. So, why in light of this revelation are you not standing firm in the liberty Christ has given you? What is separating you from the love of God In Christ Jesus? is it Lust, greed, idolatry?

When you repeatedly choose to live by the flesh and not after the Spirit of God, you become at risk of losing your spiritual inheritance in Christ. Galatians 5: 21 say it like this:

‘…..  that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’ Galatians 5:21.

In our walk as Christians, we must ask ourselves the following questions: Is walking after the desires of the flesh worth losing our inheritance in the kingdom of God? And if not, how can you as a believer overcome the overwhelming desire to ‘have what you think you want, desire or need?’ More tellingly, how do you know that once you get what you want, your flesh won’t destroy it? Don’t be bewitched like the Galatians, what you obtained by the flesh, don't expect God to maintain it by his Spirit.

To help you find the light in these questions, I want you to look at Galatians 5:22-23.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

More often than not, the reason why the works of the flesh are manifest, is because as believers in Christ, we have not allowed the Holy Spirit to work in us the strength we need to overcome our flesh. Out of fear, we may try to obtain what we want our way, under the guise of the name of Jesus. When what we really need, is to grow in faith, exercise patience and endure long- suffering through the operation of the Holy Spirit who helps us. It may be that it is not fear but your emotions that are raging out of control and therefore envy, lusts, hatred, murder and drunkenness may be the works of the flesh manifesting in your life. God is watching to see whether you will rely on the Holy Spirit to help you exercise self-control, patience and love, which will then allow you to engage his peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, gentleness and joy. God does not just call us to live in the Spirit, we must walk in the Spirit too, this is how we overcome the lusts of the flesh. A spiritual life tends to spiritual matters, not fleshly desires.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Galatians 5:16-17 KJV

Final thoughts

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:13 -14

It is time to put to death the deeds of the flesh and live by the Spirit of God. Take hold of your thought life ( Proverbs 4:23). Don’t be like the Galatians who paid attention to the delusions of a fleshly appetite ( Genesis 3:6, Galatians 3:1). Remember that scripture warns us that, the carnal mind is enmity against God ( Romans 8:7).

Instead, now that you have been born by the Spirit of God, let your pursuits be ‘heaven bound’. listen to the counsel of the Holy Spirit and follow his lead. But be warned that when you follow the Spirit’s lead, you will ‘die to self’. You must die to self! Don’t let the flesh deceive you. You can overcome your flesh and live in relational harmony when you stand in the liberty Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour has given you.