This I say then, Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16
LET IT GLOW
I like going for walks on my country road. It refreshes me as I get away from the demands of the world and observe nature. Since I live out in the country, the peace and quiet is wonderful (except for sounds of WalMart truck rolling on the highway 1/2 mile away). Lately, I have watched an eagle perched in the same tree now, 3 or 4 days in a row. He must be finding rodents to eat. He is such a huge, strong bird that soars in the sky. Then I notice the cardinals, briliantly red small birds flying around in the bushes. Every once in a while, there's a quail somewhere saying his "bobwhite". Since the snow, the bluejays come on my porch to eat out of the catfood bowl. Now that's a cocky bird, very demanding. but he's alert, always looking about for anything that can attack him, since he's close to the ground. All these birds depend upon the Lord for their food, which He provides. Guess I wondered off the path a little.
How do I walk along this road? Carefully. There are muddy places, chug holes, rocky spots, ruts. Then there are smooth, easy going places, which are tracks made by traffic. Wait. Life is like that. Especially if I'm living by my flesh and not being led by the Spirit of God. Let's look at verse 16.
"Walk is a common picture of traveling the "road of life" and making progress upon it. How are you progressing in life? Many people have a distinct walk, and can be identified by the way they walk. So, how do you walk? What can others tell by your walk? It should be a walk in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in you. You are open and sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit. You pattern your life after the influence of the Holy Spirit. If someone walks in the Spirit, they look a lot like Jesus. They listen to what the Holy Spirit says as He guides in the path and nature of Jesus," stated David Guzik.
J. Vernon McGee said in his book, The Epistles, Galatians:
The word lust in our usage today has an evil connotation, which the Greek word does not have. Lust of the flesh refers to the desires of the flesh, many of which are not immoral, but are of the flesh (music, art, and works of do-gooders, etc.). There are many things which in themselves are not evil, but they can take the place of spiritual things, such as hobbies, tv, books, movies. If it takes you away from that which is spiritual, then it is wrong.
After we're saved, the flesh wars against the Spirit and the new nature rebels against the old nature. (verse 17) I have a nature that is prone to wonder, to leave the God I love, as the old hymn reminds me. I need help in this area. Today, I want to look at the works of the flesh, tomorrow the fruit of the Spirit.
LET IT GROW
I started to skip over these works of the flesh and go straight to the fruit of the Spirit, but then I definitely need to be reminded of them. They are found in verses 19-21:
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.
Falwell said in Liberty Bible Commentary,"Note the plural, works, the complex mixture of evil desires and deeds. The flesh is always active; it never takes a vacation. It is plainly evident to everyone. They are from a heart in rebellion against God and instist upon doing as it will (Matt. 15:19; Mark 7:21-22)."
McGee lists them into categories: sensual sins, religious sins, social sins, and personal sins. (I got to get my boots on; these are difficut to walk through.) The meanings are from Falwell.
1. Sensual Sins:
- Adultery-Illicit sexual intercourse between married partners
- Fornication-Illicit sexual intercourse betwee unmarried partners
- Uncleanness-Moral impurity, sexual sins including pornography
- Lasciviousness-Brutality, sadism, which is gratification from causing pain
- Idolatry-Worship of idols, anthing that takes the place of God, including money
- Witchcraft-Sorcery, magical arats, drugs used in heathen religions
- Hatred-Enmities, personal animosities
- Variances-Strife, rivalry, discord, factions, quarrelsomeness
- Emulations-Jealousies, sedition, constant desire to excel othere people and secure their admiration
- Wrath-Passionate anger, stirring up the emotions of temper resulting in an explosion, hot temper
- Strife-Factions, cliques (little cliques in a church hurt the cause of Christ)
- Seditions-Divisions, splits
- Heresies-Choices based on preferences, sects, parties
- Envyings-Feelings of ill-will
- Murders-Hating in the mind, to kill with premeditated malice
- Drunkenness-Excessive indulgence in strong drink
- Revellings-Horrible orgies in wild parties
(Falwell)
"The Prodical Son who got down in the pig pen didn't stay there. The only ones that stay in the pig pen are pigs. If a son gets there, he will be very unhappy until he gets out. If you continue to live in sin, you are in a dangerous position. It means you are not a child of God," stated McGee.
Okay, I didn't have trouble with lists 1, 2, and 4, but I found myself rereading list 3. How about you? Of course, I can justify my sins by saying I don't habitually do them, just every once in a while (jealousy, envy, strife). However, sin is sin, right? Lord have mercy on us.
Friend, tomorrow's lesson is better- The Fruit of the Spirit. Please join me for some spiritual salve on my wounds. The Word cuts; It's sharper than a two-edged sword.
LET IT GO
Evaluate how I am walking, living, in my flesh or in the Spirit.
Recognize my sins that I keep repeating, confess them, and turn to the Holy Spirit for His infilling.
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