Daily Bread - FEB/13/07

Galatians 5:19 - "Now the works of the flesh are manifested which are adultery, illicit sex, uncleanness, lasciviousness..."

The list of the 17 works of the flesh can be grouped into four categories:
1- Sensual sins: Adultery, illicit sex, uncleanness, and lasciviousness.
2- Idol worship: Idolatry and magic.
3- Personal relationship sins: Enmity, strife, jealousies, rage, rivalry, dissension, heresies, and envy.
4- Excess: Intoxication and drinking parties.

The realm of the flesh is absolutely opposed to the realm of the Spirit and has no place among the redeemed. They are as opposite to those who have been born of the Spirit as light is from darkness. Paul makes it very clear in his address to the Romans that we are not in the flesh but in the Spirit (Romans 8:9). Do not let anyone deceive you; for those who do these deeds cannot inherit the Kingdom of God and have no part with Christ Jesus - which Paul also made absolutely clear to the churches at Corinth, Ephesus, and Colossia (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:5-6; Colossians 3:6).

The works of the flesh refer to the satanic influence described by Paul to the Ephesians, "in which you then walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience among whom we also all conducted ourselves in times past in the lusts of our flesh, doing the things willed of the flesh and of the understandings, and were by nature the children of wrath even as the rest" (Ephesians 2:2-3; Greens Literal Translation).

These works of the flesh are not to be named among God's people who are born of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 24-25; Ephesians 5:3; 4:22; 2 Timothy 2:19; Romans 8:1, 14). As the saints of God, we are to absolutely not allow any of these works of the flesh to be manifested in our lives. We are to recognize that these works of darkness are inspired from the satanic realm of the demonic that purposes to overthrow our effectiveness as God's people and ultimately our faith. None of these influences come from the heart of those who have been made a new creation in Christ Jesus; rather, they come from all that is in the realm of the satanic and are to be resisted: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-16; 1 Peter 2:22-23; Matthew 5:8; Ezekiel 36:26; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22; Hebrews 10:22; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Peter 4:1-3; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org