Where Are You At: Flesh Or Spirit?

The Lord has been impressing on my heart heavily that every thought, word or action needs to be tested against the Scriptures. It’s what Scriptures calls “taking every thought captive.” When tested, Jesus rebuffed Satan with “it is written” and the Pharisees and Sadducees by saying “have you not read?” Therefore, if I am to seek Christ, as I ought to, I must therefore test everything against what the Scriptures say. A good litmus test of flesh versus spirit is found in Galatians 5:But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (v18-24)

In light of these verses, I should ask myself: am I under Spirit or Flesh?

-Am I given over to sensuality, sexual immorality, any kind of impurity?

-Am I given over to worshipping myself, or anything that fits my world view (Idolatry)?

-Do I need to use substances or activities to have peace of mind (drunkenness, sorcery, orgies-i.e. indulging myself in all sorts of pleasures)?

-Do I anger easily, and cause division with those who should be my brothers and sisters?

-Do I have ambitions that cause me to be at odds with people I should be in partnership with, and do I look at what others have and ask why I don’t?

These are all motives of the flesh. These are demonstrative of trying to do things in our own power and steam.

But the Spirit has no law against it, according to Paul. He (the Holy Spirit), gives us fruit that allows us to endure in all circumstances.

-Love: I look at even my enemies, and seek their salvation, laying my life down, even for them, and living sacrificially for Christ and my brothers and sisters in Christ.

-Joy: no matter my circumstances, my hope is in Christ and not in this world. I let Him determine my outlook on my circumstances, not how I feel at the time.

-Peace: I have peace and am at peace in any and all circumstances, because I know who Christ is, I know He is in control, and I know that He is immovably at the right hand of the Father.

-Patience: I bear with people, just as God through Christ, bears with me in my stubbornness.

-Kindness: I tell the truth, not at all bearing with falsehoods, but speak and act only for building up and drawing people towards Christ.

-Goodness: because God is good, I seek His goodness, and seek to reflect His character and nature.

-Gentleness: I act in gentleness toward those I disagree with, and who may be weaker in or toward the faith than I am.

-Faithfulness: I seek Christ in all things, and at the beginning and end of the day, I seek His will above my own.

-Self-Control: I am in control of my emotions and how I respond to people. I test everything against the Word of God, and keep my emotions and thoughts and actions in check, submitting them to the Spirit.

Against such things, Paul says, there is no law. Let us, then, believer, seek to be walking according to the Holy Spirit, and not given over to indulging our flesh nature.

Galatians 5

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.