Grace in Galatians (Part 138): The Danger of the Works of the Flesh
Today, we continue our focus on “THE YEAR OF DISCOVERY,” as we learn to maintain our posture of faith after God has revealed His plans for our future.
But we are also doing something different. I am going back to the “Grace in Galatians” series. This is a series where we were doing a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Galatians. We are going back to this powerful letter today, and we will continue this study until we finish EVERY SINGLE VERSE.
Key scriptures for this year:
2 Peter 3:18 GNT
“But continue to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory now and forever.”
Luke 10:20 Mirror
“It’s time for you to rediscover who you are from Heaven’s perspective.”
1 John 3:10 Mirror
“There is a very visible and vast difference between living one’s life from your God identity or from a fallen man’s mindset.”
Proverbs 25:2 NKJV
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Scripture we will study today:
Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV
“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.”
Galatians 5:19-21 TPT
“The cravings of the self-life are obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment, fighting with others, tempers that flare up, exceeding your own responsibilities, loving only those who love you, as though only you are right and everyone else is wrong, and being shed of anyone who doesn’t agree with you.”
Setting the Stage:
Paul does not pull any punches here. He says the works of the flesh are “evident” or “obvious.” This means we don’t have to guess whether we are being led by the Spirit or by our old nature. The “self-life” has a signature, and that signature is written in the list we just read. The “danger” Paul is describing is the danger of living a life that is separated from the power of God.
To live #TheGraceLife, we must understand that grace is not a cover for these behaviors; it is the power to overcome them. Paul is showing us what life looks like when we rely on our own power and cravings rather than yielding to the Holy Spirit. In this Year of Discovery, God wants to reveal to you where these “cravings” might still be hiding so that His grace can flush them out and lead you into the higher way He has for you.
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. The Works of the Flesh are the Manifestation of the “Self-Life.”
Paul transitions from the internal struggle to the external evidence. He uses the word “works” for the flesh but “fruit” for the Spirit. “Works” imply human effort, labor, and striving. When you are operating in the flesh, you are “working” to satisfy a craving that can never be truly satisfied. Grace, however, invites you to rest in Christ’s finished work so that His life can flow through you naturally.
How this applies to you:
— You must recognize that the “flesh” is not just your physical body; it is your fallen human nature that wants to live independently of God. It’s the fallen mindset that you must be delivered from.
— When you see these behaviors manifest in your life, don’t just try to “fix” the behavior; that’s the fruit. But at the root is a heart that is failing to yield to the Holy Spirit.
— The flesh always demands immediate gratification, while the Spirit produces long-term transformation.
— I like to say that if you give the devil your attention for 5 seconds, he will have your mind for 5 minutes. Before you know it, sin will take you further than you wanted to go, and it will cost you more than you wanted to spend.
— You cannot “willpower” your way out of the flesh; you must renew your mind and surrender to the Holy Spirit, who empowers you to abandon those cravings.
— Paul uses the word “evident” in this passage. The word “evident” means these works are plainly visible; they are the evidence of what’s ruling your heart. Just like evidence in a courtroom proves a case, the works of the flesh prove that self is on the throne instead of the Spirit. When you’re honest about the evidence, you can make the exchange: stop relying on self-effort and start yielding to the grace of God that empowers real change from the inside out.
— Understanding this list (of the works of the flesh) helps you maintain spiritual discernment over your own heart and motives.
— Grace doesn’t just forgive these works; it provides the divine nature that makes these works unattractive to you over time.
2. Sexual Immorality and Lust are Distortions of God’s Design.
The list begins with sexual sins: adultery, fornication, and lewdness. In the TPT, it mentions “lustful thoughts” and “pornography.” These are the most basic cravings of the self-life because they seek to satisfy a God-given desire through ungodly means. Living the grace life means your body is the temple of God, and the Holy Spirit lives in you to lead you into purity.
How this applies to you:
— Purity is not just about your actions; it is about guarding your heart and mind from ungodly cravings.
— Grace provides the power and the desire to say “no” to lustful thoughts before they become sinful actions.
— Discovery in this area means letting the Spirit reveal why you are seeking satisfaction in things that offend Him.
— You are not a slave to your hormones or your history; you are clothed with Christ and His righteousness.
— We have witnessed in recent days how sexual sin destroys in public what was built over a lifetime. Careers, ministries, families, and legacies have been shattered because the flesh was given authority that belonged to the Spirit. Let these examples serve not as judgment but as a sobering reminder that no one is immune when they stop yielding to the Holy Spirit.
— God designed sexual intimacy as a gift within the covenant of marriage. The Bible says the marriage bed is undefiled (Hebrews 13:4), and Paul wrote that husbands and wives should fulfill their duty to one another so that Satan cannot tempt them through lack of self-control (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). The hunger is real and God-given, but it was designed to be satisfied within the boundaries He established, not outside of them.
— If you have stumbled in this area, don’t hide in shame; run to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find help to change.
3. Idolatry and Sorcery are Attempts to Control Life Without God.
Idolatry is “chasing after things instead of God,” and sorcery often involves manipulation. The flesh hates being dependent. It wants to be in control. It wants to find “methods” or “things” to get its way. But the New Covenant is about an internal relationship, not external manipulation or “lucky charms.”
How this applies to you:
— Idolatry happens when a dream or a goal becomes more important to you than the One who gave it to you. You get more caught up in the gift than the Giver.
— Chasing success, money, or validation as your primary source of identity is a work of the flesh. However, when God makes your name great, you can experience Godly success
— Grace teaches you to trust God as your source, removing the need to manipulate people or circumstances to get ahead.
— When you are led by the Spirit, you don’t need “shortcuts” or worldly schemes because you have divine favor.
— Discovery means asking: “Am I relying on my own methods or am I yielding to God’s Spirit?” The Holy Spirit will expose to you whether or not you need to make any course corrections in this area in this season.
— True power is not found in controlling others, but in submitting to the King of kings. When you’re led by the Holy Spirit, God will put you in a position of authority. At that point, you won’t use that authority to control others. You will actually use your influence to be a blessing to others.
— As you prioritize God’s Kingdom, all the “things” you used to chase will begin to chase you, and you will be so blessed that you understand you’re supposed to BE a blessing.
4. Relational Conflict is a Clear Sign of Fleshly Living.
Most of the items on this list (hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions) deal with how we treat others. TPT mentions “senseless arguments” and “resentment.” When your “self-life” is in charge, you are easily offended and quick to fight. But when the Spirit of Grace is leading, you become a bridge-builder and an extender of grace.
How this applies to you:
— Senseless arguments and “being right” are often just monuments to your ego. God had to deliver me from this. When I joined the Army, I was young, brash, and arrogant. I had countless arguments where I just fought tooth and nail to be right. I remember one day when I was a Corporal, and I had a senseless argument with a Staff Sergeant in the motor pool at Fort Bragg that resulted in me doing pushups and flutter kicks on the hot asphalt in the blazing sun. One of my friends said, “Piña, all you had to say was, ‘You’re right, Sergeant!‘” This simple incident caused me (even before I got born again) to question why I always needed to be right. Later, after I was born again and I studied the Bible, I realized that this was a work of the flesh.
— If you are constantly in conflict, it is a sign that your flesh is dominating your Spirit. If you read 1 Corinthians 13, you will learn the characteristics of God’s love, and you will see that if you operate in love, you won’t be in constant arguments.
— Grace empowers you to forgive the unforgivable because you remember how much God has forgiven you.
— Selfish ambition seeks to “win” at the expense of others, but Kingdom success is about fulfilling your assignment.
— Resentment is a poison that chokes the Word in your heart; let the Spirit of Grace flush it out today.
— When you are secure in your identity, you don’t have to be jealous of someone else’s promotion or success. You are settled in your own assignment, and you know that you have your own grace with your own race that you’re supposed to run at your own pace.
That’s enough for today. We will talk more about these in the days to come.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for the Holy Spirit, who leads me into all truth and discovery!
I declare that I am dead to the cravings of my self-life and alive to the leading of Your Spirit!
I refuse to “work” for my own gratification; I rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ!
My heart is guarded, and I reject every thought of sexual immorality, lust, or pornography!
I strip away every manipulative method and selfish ambition, choosing instead to be a conduit of Your grace!
I am not easily offended, and I refuse to harbor resentment or participate in senseless arguments!
I win the battle for my mind by yielding my will to the intense cravings of the Holy Spirit!
I am soaring above the Law and the limitations of my flesh because Your Spirit empowers me!
I am living the Grace Life, I am walking in the Spirit, and GREATER IS DISCOVERED FOR ME!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
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