Avoiding the works of the flesh
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The document discusses the concept of the 'works of the flesh' as outlined in Galatians 5:19-21, emphasizing the importance of resisting sin and understanding that temptation can be overcome through faith in God. It highlights the three primary sources of temptation—lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life—and encourages believers to make choices that align with God’s teachings. The final message reinforces the need for community support and the pursuit of a life led by the Spirit to avoid sinful behaviors and attain the promise of eternal life.
Avoiding the works of the flesh
- 4. Avoiding the Works of the Flesh! Gal. 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- 5. How many of us here today have ever struggled with fleshly desires? ▪ This struggle has been around as long as man! (Gen. 3:1-6 cf. 1 Jn. 2:15-17) ▪ There are three aspects involved in this! ▸ “Saw that it was good for food” being “lust of the flesh!” ▸ “Was pleasant to the eye” being “lust of the eye!” ▸ “Desired to make one wise” being “pride of life!” ▪ These are the 3 areas by which sin comes!
- 6. The Process of Sin! Js 1:12-16 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
- 7. It is important to understand that we do not have to give in to sin! We are not sinful by nature, we have a choice! ▪ 1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. ▪ Jos 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ...
- 8. Avoiding the works of the flesh! When we give into these we sin! ▪ Simply put, sin is “missing the mark!” ▸ Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ▪ In the New Testament we are told 4 times what “is sin,” or what “sin is!” ▸ What is not of faith! (Rom. 14:23 “is sin”) ▸ Knowing to do good & not doing it! (Js. 5:17 “is sin”) ▸ All unrighteousness is sin! (I Jn. 5:17) ▸ “Sin is lawlessness!” (1 Jn. 3:4)
- 9. I. The First Key The Observation! ▪ Each and every Bible study should begin this way, we need an overview of it! ▸ The better we observe, the more we will see! ▪ We will begin by asking some questions! ▸ Jesus most often responded to a question with one of His own! (Mk. 11:27-32) ▸ This is a great way to get someone to think and arrive at their own conclusion! ▸ We need to learn to make a habit out of “questioning the text!”
- 10. The Observation! ▪ Who is writing? And who are they writing to? ▸ Paul is writing to the churches of Galatia! ▪ Next, what is the purpose of the letter? ▸ Overall theme “Law vs. Liberty!” – Liberty doesn’t mean one is free to live any way they like, but they are free to enjoy the laws of the land! – “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” does this give us freedom to reject the law or freedom to enjoy them? ▪ Immediate context “Christ vs. Moses!” ▸ Gal. 5:1-6
- 11. Two Key Verses! ▪ Gal. 5:13-14 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ▪ The following verse shows us the end result when we fail to do this! ▸Gal 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
- 12. We are either worldly or godly! There is no middle ground! ▪ Gal. 5:16-18 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ▪ The following verses are a cheat “sheet” to know if we are walking by the Spirit or flesh! (Gal. 5:19-21 & 22-24)
- 13. II. The Second Key The Interpretation! ▪ This part of the study is often the most difficult and time consuming! ▸What did the writer indeed for the reader to get? We must go back 2,000 years and put ourselves in their place! ▪ We will now work to interpret the meaning of these verses to them! ▸There are 15 to 17 descriptive words given describing the lust of the flesh! –Many incorporate the first two as one and then leave off “murder!”
- 14. Lust of the flesh! ▪ Adultery and/or fornication; uncleanness or impurity; lasciviousness; idolatry; witchcraft or sorcery; hatred; strife; jeolousy; wrath or fits of rage; fractions; divisions; heresies; envying; murder; drunkenness and revellings!
- 15. III. The Third Key The Application! ▪ This is were we must learn to “put feet to our faith!” If we stop short of this, we have failed already! ▪ This is were the text is to change “our lives!” ▪ The works of the flesh will keep one out of heaven! ▸Gal. 5:21 “... that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” ▸How many of us here want to go home to heaven? Then we can not practice these!
- 16. We must learn to take serious the works of the flesh & avoild them! ▪ We are to live in the world, but not as the world! We are to live in the flesh, but not by the flesh! ▪ These are not new things for us! It is because we have given into them that we have come to see our need for a Savior! ▪ In the Bible God often tells us what not to do and then follows it by what to do! ▸The following verses teach us how to live!
- 17. When one is busy allowing God to live through them, they will not have time to be engaging in these! ▪ The best way to avoid the works of the flesh is to live for the Fruit of the Spirit! ▪ The world will tell you “if it feels good do it” but they fail to see, that not everything that feels good is really good for us! ▸Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
- 18. Conclusion: ▪ I hope and prayer that each of us have gotten something valuable out of this lesson tonight! ▪ If you are struggling with the works of the flesh, remember that we need God and we need one another, we cannot do it alone! ▪ “They which do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!” ▪ Where are we headed tonight? ▪ If you are not a Christian, then tonight is the tonight to put on Christ!