The desires of the flesh
produce the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-21).
The Bible admonishes us not to gratify or
carry out the desire of the flesh (v.16).
How do you not fulfill the
desire within your old nature that leads to evil
behavior?
There are really two dynamics
at work in Galatians 5:16-17.
There is the promise that is realized in those who
walk by the Holy Spirit. If you
walk by the Spirit, you will definitely not fulfill
the desires of the flesh. The
person who walks by the Spirit will be able to
resist the flesh in the end – in its wicked desire
that is bent on your total domination.
One dynamic spiritual principle leads to
spiritual slavery. The end result
is an evil lifestyle as described in vv.19-21.
If you yield to the desire of the flesh, this
is what your life will produce.
How would you like to be
married or live with the individual described in
vv.19-21? "Now the deeds of the
flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity,
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife,
jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,
factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and
things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as
I have forewarned you, that those who practice such
things will not inherit the kingdom of God"
(Galatians 5:19-21).
If your life is controlled by
your old human nature that is what it will produce.
There is a desire, longing, or craving for
something that is forbidden and if you yield to it
you will produce a lifestyle and behaviors that are
not pleasing to God. It is that
element of man’s nature that has been corrupted at
its source. When this nature is
left unchecked, it produces the “works of the
flesh.” The basic underlying
principle refuses to acknowledge God and leads to
doing evil instead of good. It is
our fallen human nature, which was inherited from
our fallen parents. It is self-centered and prone to
sin. This body of sinful impulses seeks to gain
control of the mind and will, and when it does it
produces its own behaviors called “works of the
flesh.”
This (sarx) sinful nature means
all that the individual is capable of as a sinful
human being apart from the intervention of the
Spirit of God in his life. The
sinful human nature reproduces itself.
If the Holy Spirit has never regenerated you,
He is not in control of your life, and this is what
you will produce.
Paul admonishes Christians not
to use their new found spiritual freedom to live a
lifestyle that will give full-play to the demands of
their lower nature and produce behaviors contrary to
God’s righteousness.
If the Holy Spirit is not in
control of you life, you are giving your old
unregenerate nature a pretext to break out in fresh
sinful activity.
Now if you really want to be a
slave, love one another. Serve
one another.
Life outside the control of the
Holy Spirit is synonymous with “the natural man,”
“the old nature,” “lust of the flesh,” “desires of
your lower nature,” or “sinful nature.”
If you are not under the control of the
Spirit, this nature is in control.
The two dynamics at work:
“the desires of the flesh are against the
Spirit;” “the desires of the Spirit are against the
flesh.” The two are directly
opposed to each other. They are
enemies who run counter to one another with mutual
antagonism.
The Holy Spirit is more
powerful than our sinful nature. There is a state of
continuous opposition, but thank God it is not
between equal powers! The Holy Spirit restrains the
desires of the flesh.
Am I obedient to the Holy
Spirit? I am fully responsible
for my thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
God has made a perfect provision for our
holiness. He has given us the
indwelling Spirit to reveal sin, to create a hunger
for His righteousness, and strengthen us in our
daily walk in the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit lives in us, is
working in us, and empowering us, giving us the
ability to be pleasing to God.
The Holy Spirit is working in
us both to will and to do His good pleasure! It is
because I am not left to myself that I can live a
Christian life. It is because the Spirit is in me
that I am exhorted to work out my own salvation with
fear and trembling. It is not I, but Christ living
in me that enables me to be all God wants me to be
in this life
The choice lies with the saint.
I can choose to be obedient, and “walk by the
Spirit.”
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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