Just bless this time we have together Lord. We pray this all in Jesus name. Amen
Okay, we're in Galatians chapter number five this evening and the title of my sermon is the works of the flesh
I want to talk about the works of the flesh what we see here in Galatians chapter 5 verse 19
It says now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these?
adultery fornication uncleanness
lasciviousness
idolatry witchcraft
hatred variance emulations wrath strife
seditions heresies envings murders drunkenness revelings and such like of the which I tell you before as
I have also told you in time past that they would do such things
Shall not inherit the kingdom of God and so here in Galatians chapter 5 the Apostle Paul gives us a list
That is isn't really necessarily extensive
Obviously, we know there's more works of the flesh than these the Bible refers to other sins that we in the New Testament
Throughout the Word of God that are equally as bad
but he pretty much gives us an overall view of a lot of things that Christians are actually capable of doing and he refers to
them as the works of the flesh because of the fact that
When it comes to believers we have two combating natures, okay?
We have one nature that is considered the new man who cannot sin because he is born of God
And then you have the flesh who is capable of committing these sins if they don't walk in the spirit
They don't fulfill the lust of the flesh or excuse me
If they're not walking in the spirit
They will fulfill the lust of the flesh and we see that listed here now before we get into the actual works of the flesh
Let me give you some introductory statements first regarding the book of Galatians
This is actually a letter that the Apostle Paul is writing to not one specific church
But actually various churches in the region of Galatia
So what's taking place here is that you have these Jews Pharisees Judaizers who are actually going?
To different churches that have already been planted and maybe they don't really have strong leadership
maybe they don't have a pastor someone who's preaching there and they're just kind of going through each church dropping off leaven teaching false doctrine and
Really what they're doing is they're trying to bring people back under the law trying to get people to get circumcised and teach a false
Way of salvation and so the Apostle Paul finds himself
Having to kind of fix the mess that these Judaizers have left behind
Okay, and what this shows us is that you know
Possibly a lot of the people in these churches are babes in Christ
Because of the fact that they're being tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of doctrine
It seems as though they're kind of believing what the Judaizers are putting forth that you have to be circumcised
Then you have to observe days and months and years and just have to kind of be brought under the law
So the letter to the Galatians is a strong rebuke towards that and he makes a great case
If you read the book of Galatians
It's an awesome book that goes to the history of Israel explains that we're the children of God because we're of Isaac
so on and so forth and so that's the background to the book of Galatians and one thing that we can take away from this
Book that really we can apply today is this is that even Christians can believe the wrong things
Even Christians can believe the wrong things in regards to salvation
sometimes they can get mixed up with terminology they can get mixed up with false doctrine and
In fact when you look at the works of the flesh what is one of the works of the flesh that we see listed
heresy
That means if a Christian is not walking in the spirit if they're not reading the Word of God
They're doing things that pertain to the kingdom of God. They're not spiritually minded. They can get caught up in heresy now
Here's the thing and I'm gonna explain this in a little later in the sermon
You know, I don't believe that Christians will just full-blown deny Jesus Christ
Okay, I don't think they'll get become a full-blown Jehovah's Witness a full-blown Mormon or just just completely
Just completely reject Jesus Christ in the Bible. I think they can become confused
Okay, and I personally believe and I'm going to show you according to this specific chapter here
Is that they don't remain in that state for very long if they're really saved
Because we actually do believe in what people refer to as perseverance of the Saints
The difference is this you don't persevere in your works to maintain your salvation
You have to persevere in your faith in the right doctrine to actually be saved, right?
So in other words, it's like if you believe right into the end then you're actually saved
But if you for some reason at the end of your life or throughout your life
You just deny the doctrines of Christ you depart from that which is
The Godhead the Trinity the Word of God
Salvation and just go full blown into damnable heresy. We wouldn't say that you lost your salvation
We would just say that you never saved to begin with you are what the Bible says in 1st Corinthians 15 as believing in vain
Okay
Now the Apostle Paul has some pretty strong words to say to the Galatians here because he tells them in previous chapters
That he's afraid of them doesn't mean he's like scared of them
He's saying he's afraid that there might not be even be saved. And in fact in previous chapters, he talks about
Travailing in birth till Christ be formed in you
what he's saying is I'm gonna hammer in doctrine and the right way of salvation and
And what the Bible actually says until Christ is formed in you in other words until you're I know for a fact that you're saved
That's what he's talking about. And I believe that basically by the end of the book Paul's convinced that they're saved
They're just simply confused. Okay, and that's why we have this list being given here in Galatians chapter number five
so one thing that we can learn from this book is that believers can be
Entangled in the yoke of bondage look at verse number one. It's a stand fast
therefore in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of
Bondage now when you and I think of you the yoke of bondage
We don't necessarily related to that which we believe but rather the things that you do
You know when you get someone who's involved in drugs or alcohol or they're involved in some sort of vice
We would say they're in bondage to that sin. They're in that yoke of bondage and that's definitely applicable
But what we see here in Galatians chapter 5 the yoke of bondage that the Apostle Paul is referring to is Judaism, Jude
Judaism, okay
He's saying look you're going back under the law
You're starting to believe these things that these Jews are teaching and you're not standing fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us
Free and so you and I both know people who are Christians, but they're just deceived by some sort of false doctrine
Maybe they got the terminology mixed up
These are people who are entangled by the yoke of bondage and who is the one entangling them? It's some false teacher, right?
I mean I guarantee you I
Guarantee you there are safe people in this world who like John MacArthur's preaching
Believe it or not. I
Guarantee you there's a safe people who like Joel's teens preaching
Yeah, I'm sad. It's out there. I'm sure I'm as shocked as you are
Because here's the thing is that Joel's thing doesn't really espouse false doctrine he just it's just nice all the time
he just kind of gives a motivational speech and you know, you're gonna be rich and all these things and and and
You know, he's not necessarily going down deep on doctrine
You understand like I've never heard him. I mean, I don't listen to his sermons, but from what I have heard
I've never heard him give any deep doctrine understand and I've known people who are saved
They don't read the Bible, but they like Joel's thing cuz he's nice
Understand so look there's people out there who like false teachers and it's because they're not able to distinguish
They're unskillful in the word of righteousness
They don't know what the Word of God says and so they're easily deceived if that wasn't the case
Why is there so many examples in the Bible where God is constantly telling people don't be deceived
Because it's possible to be deceived
He's constantly telling them don't be deceived
There's gonna be wolves that are creeping in among you to draw away disciples after them disciples are referring to say people
Right, and so we see here that it's possible for people to get into stupid doctrine
Heresy, etc. And so we want to avoid that as much as possible and the way we do
So is by feeding the flock of God, right?
We don't want people to avoid false doctrine by saying don't listen to so-and-so
Right. We don't want that. We don't want I never want to get up here and say hey, don't listen to this pastor
Don't listen to this preacher. Don't go on the internet and search this person up
What we do is just teach the right doctrine and then you can just discern false doctrine on your own
Know that it's not of God know that it's not biblical
Etc. Okay
Now look what it says in verse number 10 it says I have confidence in you through the Lord
That ye will be none otherwise
Minded but he that trouble with you shall bear his judgment
Whosoever he be so Paul's actually convinced that they're not gonna go full heretic now
This is a tone that's a lot different from what he previously said when he said I'm afraid of you
Right, he's saying I'm afraid of you. He's not sure if they're saved here is saying you know what though?
I'm convinced, you know, I have the confidence in you that you're not gonna be otherwise minded
You're not gonna believe these this stuff for very long
That's why he's given him this doctrine to kind of remind them of the right doctrine
Okay, the right way of salvation and so he's convinced that they're not gonna go full heretic now
How do we apply this to our church?
Well, if you have someone who leaves our church and starts believing some weird doctrine out there, you know for me
It's like well, I'll just count them as being deceived, right?
But if they start embracing it they start teaching it they just completely deny the doctrines of Christ then for me
It's just like well, let them be anathema then
Because obviously this person never believed to begin with they didn't have the right doctrine to begin with they were never safe to begin with
Therefore let them be anathema they were just playing the role while they're here in church
Okay, so he's convinced that they won't go full heretic go to the book of Hebrews if you would go to Hebrews chapter number three
Hebrews chapter number three if you would
Hebrews chapter number three
Let's see here
It says in verse number
4 for every house is builded by some man
but he that build all things is God and Moses very was
Barely was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after
But Christ as a son over his own house whose house are we look what it says if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing
of the hope firm unto the end
So the condition there is that we hold it firm unto the end in other words believe right all the way into the end
I mean that doesn't mean that people can't have a lapse of you know belief towards the middle you have
Different people throughout the Word of God like the book of Galatians where they got into some heresy and who knows maybe they did bounce
Back, but what it's saying here is that we need to hold it firm unto the end
We didn't even believe the right things all the way until the end and that's how we know okay this person
You know got off doctrinally
Maybe they believe some weird stuff and then dig in back on track and look folks
How about this you know there's people out there who are saved who believe in the flat earth, right?
Aren't there people out there that believe in the flat earth?
Who are saved I I know people on the internet who listen to my preaching and they are flat earthers
And they get really mad when I like make fun of flat earth and all that and you know they get really mad at me
But but they're saved they believe in the right gospel. You know well you say how do you explain that well the works of the flesh?
Are made manifest one of them is heresy
you know and so
But here's the thing that's not a doctrine
That's necessarily will mess with salvation, right?
That's not something don't mess with salvation. That's just a stupid doctrine, okay?
But you know what there are times when people can get mixed up on salvation for example
You know I've met people who will say we have to believe on Christ
But you have to repent of your sins right and then you you kind of corner them
And then they'll say well not really repent your sins because I know you can't but you have to feel sorry for yourself
And then you corner them on that be like well
Not really you know that really just feel sorry for your sin
And then when you remove all those excuses to say well what if they don't repent of their sin are they still saved well?
Yeah, or they don't feel sorry for their sin. Are they still saved well if they believe on Christ and yeah
So we don't say that person obviously is just being duped by some false teacher
That's just espousing that type of terminology, and they're using that terminology. It's wrong, but it doesn't mean they're not saved
It's just that they have the wrong terminology now. I would say if a person responds by saying
No, you do have to repent of your sins
And you corner them and say what if they don't are they still saving it and they say no then that person's not safe
Easily put or if they say well you have to feel sorry for your sin
What if they don't then they're not really safe, okay, then that person's not really saved it
You understand, but I've cornered enough Christians out there who use that terminology and when you corner them
They'll say well if they believe on Christ and yes of course
They're saved you know and it only shows that they just been they've been given this false doctrine
They've heard it so many times that they're just kind of repeating what everyone else says, okay?
So next thing I want you to notice is that Paul then explains the two combating natures in verse 16
He says this I say then walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh
For the flesh lusts against the spirit the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other
So they cannot do the things that you would but if you be led of the spirit
Ye are not under the law so he says here
He talks about the two natures which by the way proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that even though you're saved
You're still gonna commit sins
Because it says the works of the flesh. We are covered by flesh my friend
When you get saved your flesh doesn't automatically go away
When you get saved your old nature does not go away
And they'll often say well, you know if any man be in Christ
He's a new creature old things that passed away behold all things that become new
Haven't you heard someone say something like that and they're absolutely right because that's what the Bible says
But what they're interpreting it as they're basically saying well all things are new and your flesh is no longer there
No, it says it's passed away
What's another word for passed away?
What death
Right our flesh is crucified with Christ nevertheless
I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the faith that the life that I now live is by the faith in the
Son of God so what the Bible is actually telling us is that the old man the old nature is
Crucified with Christ doesn't mean it's no longer there. It's just passed away
Okay, and why is it passed away because when we get saved we've crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts
Let's let the Bible teaches. Okay, and
So what we're looking at here is these two natures that are constantly combating one with another
So what happens when the Spirit is winning well when the Spirit is winning you doing that which is pleasing unto God
Then the fruit of the Spirit is manifesting in your life
You know the love joy peace long-suffering gentleness meekness all these wonderful things that God
Manifest in you to be a benefit to someone else, but if you're not walking in the Spirit
You're just kind of feeding the flesh. You're feeding the old man
Then at that point you're gonna be a manifestation of your old man
Okay, this is why it's important that on a daily basis we die
You know Paul said I die daily and he's not referring to his new man
He's referring to his old man because although the old man is crucified with Christ, you know
He kind of comes back to life every single day
That's what the Bible says that we are, you know, the Apostle Paul says in Romans chapter 12
I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice
holding acceptable unto God which is a reasonable service so that means we're supposed to kind of
Sacrifice ourselves every single day, you know
Put ourselves in the altar die daily because if we don't we're gonna manifest the works of the flesh in our own body eventually
Okay, you will become like the old self
Sooner or later, so we got to keep feeding the Spirit feeding the Spirit by reading the Bible by communing with the Lord by praying
Okay by conscientiously actually thinking about walking in the Spirit, you know
Walking in the Spirit is not something where you you feel something in your chest or you know
You got the burning sensation going on or you know, you just feel like you just filled with the Spirit or something like that
No, it just means that you're heavenly minded. You're you're you're spiritually minded about the things of God
Now look there's times when you're walking in the Spirit and you do feel great
Right, you feel happy
You're you're joyous. You're emotional about it
But there's other times when you don't because it's a spiritual matter not an emotional matter folks
okay, we walk by faith and not by sight and
So he describes those two natures there and then he goes on to describe
the works of the flesh in verse 19 all the way to verse
21 now, I want you to notice the latter end of verse 21
He says as I have told you in time past that they would do such things
Shall not inherit the kingdom of God
Now a lot of people namely
Pentecostals, Charismatics, people who believe you could lose your salvation. They love these verses
By the way, I love them too. Amen. This is in the Bible
What I'm saying is that they like to they love to pervert it. Okay, they love to twist it
They look because it says it gives these lists of sins and then it says they which do such things
Will not inherit the kingdom of God. So if you don't know the rest of the Bible and
You only have this passage
This can be proof that if you're committing these sins and you're saved and you're not you're gonna lose your salvation or something like that
Okay
But here's the thing we know the whole Bible though
We have the whole Word of God
Okay, now there's two schools of thought when it comes to interpreting this specific verse and I think they're both right, okay
Number one is the fact that the Bible talks about the works of the flesh are
Manifests and then it says that they would do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God
So here's a school of thought number one. Number one. It's referring to the fact that
Bruce's flesh
Shall not inherit the kingdom of God
Because this nothing corruptible enters into heaven
Understand so this corruption must put on in corruption in order to stand before the presence of God
Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God. So the new man, okay the new Bruce Mejia
He doesn't commit these things
He doesn't do commit adultery or drunkenness or revelings or emulations
He doesn't do any of these things because of the fact that you know
He that is born of God does not commit sin for a seed remain within him and he cannot sin the Bible says
So he's born of God. He doesn't commit sin. He's completely perfect. He will inherit the kingdom of God
the old man will not
That's why when the old man when you when you physically die you get buried into the ground
It has to transform into something completely else. It's called glorification
Because the properties of your flesh has to change to become something that's acceptable in the sight of God has to be redeemed
It has to be upgraded in order to stand before the presence of God
So when it says they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God
It's absolutely right because the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God
The flesh is powered by blood
right
It's the blood that gives life to the flesh
Whereas the glorified body is not powered by blood. It's powered by the Spirit
Okay, you know the Bible tells us that
The the flesh profit is nothing the words that I speak unto you
They are spirit and they are life the Bible says it is the spirit that quickeneth quicken
It means be brought to life. And so the new man is powered by the spirit which will inherit the kingdom of God
So that's easy to explain but here's another school of thought is the fact that when we read passages like this
Where it might seem like it contradicts other portions of Scripture. Well, we have to look at it in light of other scriptures
To reconcile what it means
We don't want to be like these Christians that just pull out one verse out of the Bible and just discredit the entire Word
of God just because it says and it seems to say something different than the rest of the Word of God
Because we know that the Word of God is perfect. It's an errand. Okay, it doesn't have any errors in it
God doesn't contradict himself. We understand that what he's saying is correct
So we have to reconcile it based upon other portions of Scripture. Okay. Now what's the second school of thought?
Well, here's the second school of thought
Paul's already writing to save people
So he doesn't have to explain
The fact that they're gonna inherit the kingdom of God, even if they're guilty of some of these sins
Why cuz they're safe people. I mean he just got finished writing for the chapters explaining why they're the children of God
Okay now go to 1st Corinthians chapter 6 if you would 1st Corinthians chapter number 6
Because
We see a similar list in 1st Corinthians chapter 6 and it almost has the identical wording
It just gives us another list of sins as well. Okay
Look what it says in 1st Corinthians 6 and verse number 9
Knowing not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God
Similar wording there, right?
He says be not deceived neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate
Nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards
No, revilers nor extortioners and again shall inherit the kingdom of God
So again these Pentecostal
Charismatic types love to point to portions of scriptures like this to say you can lose your salvation
Because it plainly says right there if you commit these sins you will not inherit the kingdom of God, right?
Well, look what it goes on to say in verse 11 and such were some of you
But ye are washed ye are sanctified
Ye are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God
So we see there that yeah, they shall not inherit the kingdom of God, but that's not you because you're saved is what he's saying
so we can use that same portion of Scripture and
apply it to Galatians chapter 5
Because they mean the same exact thing
It's not like well if they're guilty of these specific sins of verse Corinthians chapter 6
No, he's just saying sins in general
I mean, he's not gonna give us an entire book of all the sins that we're capable of committing. Okay?
He's just saying look whoever does these things. They're not gonna inherit the kingdom of God
We can plainly say he's basically referring to any kind of sin
It's not just saying well, it's just adulterers
It's like Revelation 21 8 is not an exhaustive list of all sins that exist that people will go to hell for
It's just giving you like the general ones, right?
So we can interpret Galatians chapter 5 based upon 1st Corinthians chapter 6
Because 1st Corinthians chapter 6 gives us an expanded
Version of it and tells us and such were some of you but you're washed you're justified so on and so forth
You're saved you're washed. Okay, so we can we can apply that Galatians chapter 5 because he's talking to believers
Now
I want you to notice that in Galatians chapter 5 there's one sin that's actually missing from there
There's one sin that Galatians 5 does not mention isn't that interesting? What sin is that sodomy?
Because Christians aren't capable of
Willingly wanting to commit such a filthy act
Think about that right now obviously we understand there's people in this world. Maybe they're Christians
Who got involved in that due to peer pressure or whatever may be or you know, they were forced into that
Maybe they're in a in a volatile relationship where the the partner made them do something like that or whatever may be
But what we're talking about what the Bible specifically is talking about is someone who's burning in their lust one toward another
Because you know, they'll try to put that sin amongst all the other sins. Like it's just like every other sin
Well, it's not mentioned in 1st Corinthians 6 and it's not mentioned in Galatians chapter 5
You would think that
He would mention it because such a grievous sin and if Christians were capable of committing it why not put it in
I mean adultery is punishable by death. Is it not?
That's a very grievous sin
Heresy is a very grievous sin and yes sodomy is not there why because Christians people who are saved are incapable of committing it now
surely someone will point to 1st Corinthians 6 and
Ah
Abusers of themselves with mankind pastor Mejia that's talking about homosexuals
Arsenal kitties
It's in the Greek
You know
No, I don't know I don't know what you're talking about and neither do you
You
Know people it's it's funny how people want to use this portion of Scripture as their proof text of how sodomites can be saved
But they just completely throw out Romans chapter 1
They just completely throw out Genesis 19
They just completely throw out judges 19 and every other portion of Scripture that clearly lays out what God thinks of it
And just point to this obscure scripture and 1st Corinthians 6 where it doesn't even mention sodomy
It says abusers of themselves with mankind, oh, let's slap it on there. That's what it's talking about. Really?
and by the way, you go to the modern versions of the Bible and
What they'll do is, you know, they'll change it
they'll put
Men having you know, whatever with men or if they do put abusers themselves with mankind to put a footnote
Where it says this is referring to homosexuals
And
Here's the thing they'll say well where it says effeminate because they'll take they'll take effeminate completely out and
Then literally just put men with men or whatever
They don't even have you feminine on there
And they'll say well what it says effeminate, but it's referring to like the male
You know the the the passive member in that relationship or something like that because that's what it is in the Greek
You know, they hide behind that or whatever but wrong wrong
wrong
It's not true and look folks. This is why it's important. Do you use a King James Bible?
Because the King James Bible is not gonna deceive you it's not gonna throw out random words out there random commentary out there
You know telling you that it's referring to sodomites or whatever. You say well, how do you know then?
That that's what it's referring to. Well effeminate in our modern
Terminology, what's a synonym for that someone who's what?
soft, right
That's a grievous sin for a man to be soft
You know, it's not right for men to be soft men
You know God expects for men to be manly and to act like man talk like men look like men
It's not right for a man to be girly, right?
So he says, you know effeminate people will not inherit the kingdom of God
It means soft and when you look at the Greek word for that
It says soft and I'll say we have but that's soft like like a homosexual soft though
But
When you look at that term in the Gospels, okay, you know you
You read about John the Baptist and Jesus is praising John the Baptist and he says that they that were soft
Clothing are in King's houses and that word for soft is the same word that's being used here
And let me just let me just clarify something. He's not saying they that were a faggoty clothing
Homosexual clothing, okay
Soft just means soft because Kings that's how they dress
You know, someone told me like I put out a video on King James because you know
He's always accused of being a homosexual and all these things and people
You know
They'll they'll rail on him and say that he was a homosexual should try to discredit the King James Bible
And I had a picture of King James, you know, he's dressed like a king and they're like, well, he looks the way he's dressed
he looks like a homosexual and
I kind of explained to him. I said well, this is how Kings dress though
Because they that wear they wear soft clothing when they're in King's houses
Yeah, I mean, I'm not saying like that's what I would want to wear, but I'm just saying that's what they wore
I mean when you're the king who's gonna tell you any different
If he wants to wear a velvet purple or whatever is like dude you're the king, you know, that's what you want
that's what you want, you know, and so
What I'm saying is that the word effeminate just means soft
But they do is they just completely remove soft and say well it's the passive member of a homosexual relationship
Which shows us that someone who does not have the Spirit of God they pervert the things of God
Until the pure all things are pure
But into them that are defiled is nothing pure but even their mind of their conscience is defiled
So when they interpret the Word of God, they interpret it through perverted lenses. Oh, it means homosexuals for sure
No, in fact, look what it says
Let's look at the context here. He says it at the latter end of verse 9
Effeminate nor abuses of themselves with mankind
He talks about such were some of you and then he says in verse 13 meets for belly and belly for meats
But God shall destroy both it and them
Now the body is not for fornication before the Lord and the Lord for the body and God has both raised up the Lord
And will also raise up us by our his own power
Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ
Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot God forbid
What know you not that that which is joined to a harlot is one body for to say if he shall be one flesh
This is referring to just women sleeping around is what it's talking about
Okay, when it says abuses of themselves with mankind's referring to a woman who just sleeps around
So why didn't it say that then because he's just using this terminology
He's expecting for people not to have a perverted mind and just understand what that means and
This phrase is only used twice in the King James Bible
It's rendered as defy themselves with mankind in first Timothy chapter 1 verse number 10 and in context
You could see that it's referring to a woman doing those things
Okay, so it's not referring to sodomites and look we don't get our teaching of
What a sodomite is if they can be saved or not based off of this
One portion description is completely obscure only bad people do stuff like that
Only bad people like the Jehovah's Witnesses will go to Ecclesiastes to try to teach you about salvation
Right. Oh, they're going to sleep in the ground
I'm gonna say it's like why don't you go to the clear passages of the Bible not the obscure
Passages that really have nothing to do with salvation
Because that's what they have to do in order to try to deceive people
They don't want to go to the clear passages because the clear passages tell the truth
Okay, and obviously the the obscure passages tell the truth
But they can just twist it to mean whatever they want it to mean to fit the theology and their heresy
Go back to Galatians if you would
So I wanted to chase that rabbit because it's an important rabbit to skin kill eat
You know and take care of you know, it's true
They which commit such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God
Number one because our flesh is not gonna inherit the kingdom of God
But number two, he's he's not telling them that they're not gonna inherit the kingdom of God because they're actually saved
Okay, they've already believed on Christ. They're saved. They're sealed, etc. Okay, and look folks, you know
If when you get saved everything just comes already included
Batteries included you're not gonna commit these things then why would he tell them to walk in the spirit?
Why would he tell them not to fulfill the lust of the flesh if that already comes included?
Well
You know if you're saved you're gonna have a desire to do those things and that's why yeah, but here's the then
Why is he commanding it?
The letter should just be like, you know
You guys are good to go. You're perfect. You know, you're never gonna sin. No, he lists these sins
Because of the fact that they're capable of committing those things. It's still possible for them to do so
Now
Here's the thing is that obviously when we get saved we're dwelt by the Holy Spirit
Right Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, but then there's that dichotomy where we think of well, you know
If I'm in dwelt by the Spirit, why is it that I'm commanded to walk in the Spirit?
You know, why do I have how is it that I'm supposed to be filled with the Spirit if I'm already in dwelt by the
Spirit I just don't get that how does that work and I've explained this many times before but it's like a car with an engine
When you put an engine into a car
Now it has the ability to go somewhere, right?
But what does that car need?
gas and it needs to be filled with gas to get from point A to point B and
If it doesn't have gas we're not gonna say well that car is not really a car
Well, it has a motor
It just needs to be filled
Now given there's a lot of Christians out there with the motor and no filling no gas in it
Right, but we're not gonna say they're not saved just because they're not filled with the Spirit you understand they're in dwelt by that motor
Known as the Holy Spirit that will make them capable of serving God and doing that which is pleasing in his sight
Okay, and so this is an important lesson and it's just a reminder to us all that you know
We're capable of these things and we need to make sure that we're walking in the Spirit on a day-to-day basis
Especially tomorrow Monday morning. We're starting off the week
You know you get home late or you're having a rough weekend or whatever you get up you get filled with some coffee first
And then and then you're just like Lord help me today, you know
I want to just submit my mind to you
How many live a life that's pleasing unto you and being walking in the Spirit just being conscious of the things of God
Just recognizing I'm a Christian. I need to make sure I'm reading my Bible. I need to make sure that I'm praying
I need to make sure that I'm thinking of the Lord. Okay?
Let's go through some of these right here. So he goes through some of the works of the flesh
He says in verse 19 the works of the flesh are manifest which are these?
Adultery. Okay. So the first one is adultery and this is referring to voluntary intercourse between a married person and
Someone other than their spouse. This is a very grievous sin that Christians are capable of committing now
Although fornication is the next sin which is basically
sexual relations
Before marriage these although they're both grievous sins, obviously one is worse than the other
Okay, and the reason we know that is because of the punishment that's instituted for people who commit adultery in the Bible
Now obviously today that same punishment is not being dished out, but it doesn't make the law of God null and void
You know just because the United States of America does not place the same severity of punishment on these crimes doesn't make it not bad
Doesn't make it as everyone does it well in God's eyes it's still bad
Even to the point where someone deserves the death penalty if they were to commit that. Okay, so he talks about adultery talks about fornication
Here's another one uncleanness.
I believe that this is referring to sanitation
Okay, and
You know, I think God wants us to be clean
I think he wants us to be sanitary
Because of the fact that it's a reflection of who we are as Christians and look if you don't believe me
Just go to the where's like the dirtiest place in California
Wrong, LA is not the dirtiest place in California, San Francisco
Does anybody know what I'm talking who doesn't know what I'm talking about raise your hand, okay, San Francisco has feces all over the place
everywhere
Needles and feces and look I know by personal experience because we went to us we did a sowing marathon in San Francisco
You know and I had heard about it and then you know, I saw with my own eyes unfortunately, I saw with my own eyes
You're walking there. He's just like what in the world, but you know, what is it really surprising?
because of the fact that
Sin abounds into San Francisco. And so there's all types of uncleanness
There okay, and
So, you know, I I think God wants us to be clean people because it's a reflection of biblical principles
You understand, you know take showers
brush your teeth
You know all that stuff, okay
Just don't be a dirty person
Don't be a person who is odor is offensive. I think that's important to note. You know, you want to be the person who?
You know just stinks all the time. I don't think that's right
You know and you say oh man, it's like that's kind of personal isn't it?
You know, you're just kind of talking about like not being yeah
But you know what one of the reasons why we want to be clean is because we don't want to offend people around us
Because obviously it doesn't offend you you live with yourself and you probably don't even smell it
It's the people around you that you offend. Okay, and so, you know being clean takes other people into consideration
This is great preaching. I promise you, okay
Very
Applicable, okay, and I'm not thinking of anybody in here
I'm not saying that I'm not preaching this because there's like a dirty person in our church or something like that
You know, but hey, you know if the shoe fits amen if you feel like, you know
Adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousness, this is lewdness
Lust just being fleshly. That's what it's referring to
Okay, where you're just kind of
Kind of abounding and lustfulness and in the flesh you're just basking in the flesh you're being a fleshly person
He says in verse 20 idolatry now
Obviously, this isn't necessarily an issue of huge issue in the United States when we think of idolatry
We think of a place like Southeast Asia, right?
But if you think about it idolatry does abound in the United States, maybe not as much as Southeast Asia
But it does about in two ways. Okay number one in the most literal way
Because now we have Catholicism and you have Buddhism and Hinduism
Making its way through the United States and people are adhering to it. You go to restaurants. There's all types of idolatry
There's that fat Buddha there and they have all types of devils of statues. I mean that is idolatry
right
So you have that you have Catholics with their Virgin Mary and and and you know
the the the white looking Jesus and everything like that and you know
carved on a cross
Okay, that is considered idolatry folks
Now obviously again, it's not as bad as Southeast Asian because it's Southeast Asia
They literally have it on every corner where people are literally bowing down to those idols and they're worshipping those idols
But I mean in a sense it's just as bad because people put it in their homes here
Okay, where people put shrines you have
You know the Orthodox Church that does that's even worse, you know, they don't call it idols to come icons
Just as the Catholics they don't call it worshipping to call it venerating
Okay, it's like you can change the word all you want. It means the same exact thing
But you know then you have idolatry what the Bible also describes spiritually speaking as covetousness
You know according to what is it Colossians chapter 3 where it talks about idolatry, which is covetousness
Okay, where you can idolize the almighty dollar
Okay, that's a form of idolatry according to the Bible
We obviously understand that the physical statue is probably worse
But there's a reason God put
idolatry being likened unto covetousness in the Bible because of the fact that
Christians can have a propensity to commit that type of idolatry all the time where possessions money
finances resources Bitcoin
Bitcoin and Bitcoin and Bitcoin
Can be an idol to some people now, I don't know how Bitcoin is doing now, you know for all I know
It might have crashed or something like that. I have no idea how that works
But you know what? I've talked to people where they're just like they're just all about
I mean
They're checking their phones on Bitcoin and seeing how their thing is doing their stocks or whatever that's called
That's a form of idolatry according to the Bible
Because your heart is there
It's just constantly idolizing it constantly thinking upon it
And so that is a work of the flesh that's being manifested. That means you're not heavenly minded. You understand
So he says idolatry
Witchcraft believe it or not Christians can be involved in witchcraft. Ah
Really well, how about Saul I
Mean there's a reason why the example of Saul is given to us in the most extreme example of a believer
Who went to a witch?
to commit
You know necromancy to bring up Samuel from the dead
That's witchcraft
Okay, you say you think Christians are capable of doing it? Absolutely
You know, it's a work of the flesh where you know
people can become desperate and you know
They might even go to like a palm reader or something like that or you know
Maybe their pastor their church is not giving them the answer that they want
So they go to someone else some sort of medium to try to get answers. I mean it's out there
Okay, but the Bible also says that witchcraft is likened unto what?
rebellion
so guy
Rebellion is another list that we see here, but witchcraft is likened unto rebellion
Okay, and we know that Christians can get involved in that when they rebel against authority whether it's their parents church authority
governmental authority
Things of that nature. Okay, and I'm not saying oh you're if you don't wear the mask you're going against a governmental authority
I'm saying like when you're like willingly breaking the law like committing crimes
According to the Bible you understand you're violating someone or you're stealing
You know, that's a violation of governmental law
Idolatry witchcraft next one hatred
Hatred is a work of the flesh
Now here's the thing is that people would point to this and say see you guys can't hate them. Why you guys hate me?
Bunch of you guys you're a church full of haters over there. Well, hold on a second. This isn't saying
Not that hatred is bad for everyone
It's saying hatred in context of what hating your brother
Cuz it is a sin. It's a grievous sin to hate your brother in Christ
And when I say brother in Christ, I'm referring to what save people
The reason I got to clarify that is because I got so many people mad at me right now
Cuz of John MacArthur, do you hate your brother?
I'm like insulted by that
They're like checkmate
You're in darkness you hate your brother. I'm like, he's not my brother the guy's not even saved. What do you mean?
And I feel like Tom like it's like Satan your brother
You have brothers for Devils Devils for brothers I
Mean these people are sometimes so nice you think you would think that they're about to say that Satan's redeemable or something like that
But we should give Satan grace or something, you know
This hatred is referring to hatred towards a brother in
Christ and it's a sin that people are capable of doing folks
They can come about because of bitterness you're angry with the brother a sister in Christ. By the way, this applies to sisters as well. Okay
Sometimes even more so than
Than the brothers and then just put that out there. I'm saying
Sometimes they can you know, they can become bitter towards another person in the church to the point where they hate them
It's not right
Okay, but it is possible because it's a work of the flesh that's being made manifest, okay
You say well, how do I combat that?
Well the fruit of the Spirit when you walk in the Spirit, you're gentle you are kind
You have joy you have long suffering
What does it mean to be long suffering means you suffer along with other people's?
Offenses the things that they say to you the things that they've done to you you suffer
You're willing to just be patient with that person and not hate them in your heart. Okay, that is a work of the flesh
So if those words ever come out of your mouth, like I hate this person just mark it down. You're just in your fleshly
You're in sin, okay
Now some of these sins are
Can can cause you to get kicked out of church, but others you can't okay, you know, obviously adultery fornication
Yes uncleanness. I can't kick you out because you stink
You know idolatry, of course
Witchcraft the actual act of witchcraft where you're just like you're known for playing Ouija board or something like that
Or yeah that can get you get you kicked out
But rebellion in a sense of like you're rebelling towards your parents or you know in your job not necessarily
Hatred can't kick someone out for hatred
You know if you hate someone in the church you hate a sister or sister hates a brother whatever may be I cannot kick you
out, but I can
Tell you that you need to make sure that you are kind to the person you don't have to love them
You don't have to like them. It's wrong for you to hate them, but I have to make sure that you are
Being diplomatic about it
You're not trying to recruit other people to cause them to hate that person as much as you do. Okay
So idolatry witchcraft hatred
Variance. Okay. Now what is variance?
Variance is just you think of you know a variety right? In other words, it's someone who's just
constantly disagreeable
They're just constantly fighting you on every nook and cranny of everything
They just contradict you on everything
That's a sin actually according to the Bible. It's a work of the flesh
What does that mean? You just you always have to go against the grain of
Whatever thought someone has
You understand? Now look, we're not always gonna agree on everything, right?
But when it's just like you just don't seem to agree on
Nothing, you just don't agree on anything. You're just a variant type of a person. You're just a contrarian
You know, that's a character flaw that's not a that's not a virtuous quality
Though I just question everything and everything, you know, I just want to prove all things hold fast that which is good
But but here's the thing. Sometimes you could just keep your mouth shut though
And you don't have to be vocal about it
Because look all of us
Someone's gonna say something in church that we just don't agree with
Do we have to just vocalize that we don't agree with it?
No, because if it's something that it's a little nuance doesn't really matter
Right, but the contrarian the one who's variant
Always wants to contradict because of the fact that he wants to show that he's right and that they're wrong
You understand
That is a work of the flesh. Now. What's the work of the flesh that's behind being variant?
pride
Pride
Because a person who is humble is willing to say well, you know, that might be wrong, but you know, who knows?
Maybe that might be right
maybe I'm wrong and
the
contrarians have a trouble have trouble
You know
Recognizing that they might be wrong on some things
They think they're always right
Even when you prove them wrong
When it's just like it's in the bag you've proven them wrong. They just so stubborn and prideful
They're not willing to do that. So don't be a contrarian
Don't be someone who's given to variants and you're always disagreeable
You can never come to terms with someone just because they you know, you're just always right. No, you're not always right
okay, and
so
It's not a grievous sin, it's just an annoying sin actually
It's not a grievous sin, but it's just an annoying sin. It's a stubborn sin. It's like and it's big to be described as stubbornness
You ever met a stubborn person?
They're just not willing to admit that they're wrong or admit that they lied or something or admit that they made a stupid
Comment or they made a mistake. It's like they're not willing to admit it
Okay, and you know, I think we as men have trouble doing that sometimes
Because we're men. All right
But we need to come to a place in our lives when we when we were willing to take correction
And if we're wrong, we're wrong
I mean I've had times when I made mistakes in sermons and people come talk to me and they say hey you made a mistake
And it's just like oh man, I guess I made a mistake then
You know or on a video someone will point out a mistake that I made in a sermon or in a video and I'll say
You're absolutely right about that and I'll put in the comment section and I'll pin it. I misspoke in this area
This is the word I should have used. Oh
Oh
You know, but isn't that embarrassing? Well, yeah, of course, but I'm not always right though
I'm allowed to make mistakes, too
Okay, and by the way contrarians you don't always have to point out when people are wrong or make mistakes
Sometimes it's not even worth it. Oh
You said uh instead of the
You added an S to that
You said verse 15 when it was actually verse 16
I'm sorry. Some things are just not worth mentioning
It's like you know what I just screwed up all the doctrine of the church I can't believe everyone sit back down
We're gonna have the sermon again
But a contrarian will want to do that
Okay
So the contrarian the one who is given to variants needs to be humble and look
I'm not saying don't speak up at any time, but choose your battles wisely
Okay
so idolatry witchcraft hatred variance
Emulation that's the desire to be better than others
Okay, that's when you compare yourselves among yourselves and you're unwise for doing so you you you have a desire to exceed
Others okay to be better than someone else now
You know, obviously we should have the desire to excel at what we do understand we want to succeed
You know, I find it weird when people don't want to succeed at something or they're just kind of like a blob
They just kind of let life happen or whatever. I have a problem with that because to me
It's just like we only have this one life to live, you know, whatever you do
Whatsoever that hand finds to do do it with thy might do the best that you can at it
It's great to excel and succeed at what you do
But here's the thing is that you don't want to do it at the expense of someone else
Where you just like why do you want to be better than everyone else?
Understand especially in a church setting
You know, we're on the same team here a man. I want to be better soul winner than anybody in our church
I want to have the best illustrations the most salvations the the best verses to give I want the best King James Bible. I
Want the best knock I want the best everything because I want to be the best at this, you know
That's not necessarily the best attitude to have because we're all the same team
We're all the same team
Okay, and so, you know, the only one we should be competing with is number one ourselves
Right, we should compete against herself. And then we're also competing against the devil himself and his armies
Because you know, we want to beat the forces of darkness
We want to tear down the gates of hell to be able to win souls to Christ
Okay, but just not how about just not in spiritual matters just in matters of life period I want to make more money than
So-and-so I want to have more possessions. I want to have a better car. I want to have better clothing
I want to have better this or better that you know, then someone else it's not bad to want those things
It's bad if you want to do it to be better than someone else. It's called emulation
Okay, we're all on the same team and we need to support one another amen
That's why folks like, you know, if someone chooses a diet in our church as long as it's not veganism or vegetarianism
Don't hate on them for that
Don't put them down for that if they choose to get on keto and you're anti keto
Don't hate on them for that. They're choosing to better their life. It's keto is probably way better than what they're choosing
Now what they're doing now
It's better than their jack-in-the-box and and McDonald's
Why are you gonna put them down for choosing for choosing keto?
Support them and
Doesn't mean you have to partake with them
But but you know if they're doing it, they're losing some weight. What's wrong with going to say? Hey, man, you're losing some weight
What they want to hear
I'm not saying lie to them, but I'm just saying like
Why disagree with the ketogenic diet well then don't do it then
Let them do it
Okay, because there's people in this world who have been have benefited from the ketogenic diet whether you agree with it or not
Yeah, but it's only water weight though
30 pounds must be a lot of water weight from what I heard that water weighs only like 10 pounds
Okay
Yeah, but it's only because of caloric deficit
okay, but you know what ketogenic diet assisted that person doing a
Caloric deficit by feeding them the fats getting them satiated so they can lose the weight. Can you just support a brother?
Good night in the morning
Can't do right in front of people sometimes
People trying to better their lives, and they're just trying to you know they get into carnivore diet
Oh, I can't believe you're doing a carnivore diet. Don't you know that it's like dude chill out
You do you then?
Okay, don't be a person of emulation where you just have to have the best way to do it
There's different ways of getting success
Okay, and you know what and if someone has a different way than you, but they're successful at it. Just just say man
That's awesome
What do you have to gain by criticizing others if they're succeeding a different by using different methods than you do
What do you get by succeeding in that nothing?
you know you get you got other people looking at you saying this person is a
contrarian
This person involved in emulations. They always have to say something wrong to the person
You know hey if you get some guy in our church. They're brand new and they start lifting don't hate on them for that
Courage them in there amen they start lifting a little bit. They're there. They're you know. They're they're doing curls and
They start running. I'm not into running I
I don't like running, but you know someone runs, and they like it. I'll praise them for that
Because at least they're doing something
Okay, now if they come to me, and they say you know if they ask me for my opinion on diets obviously
I'm going to give them my opinion
But notice that they have to ask for my opinion for me to give it to them
Right I'm not going to just slam them and say oh, I can't believe you do now
I will say this if it's veganism absolutely I will
Jump in and say that's not in fact. It's it's anti Bible
to be a vegan okay, and
So
What sin are we on here
Emulation
Being better than everyone you got to have the better diet you got to have the better this you got to have the better that
Folks we're all on the same team, and if someone's succeeding they're bettering their life support them
Don't be a contrarian. Don't be a person who's just into emulations. We just have to be better than everyone else and look
Nothing wrong with by the way. Let's let's say
You do have a better way of doing it per se okay?
Let's just theoretically say you have a better way of doing it. There's a way to
Give that information why without sounding like a prideful arrogant individual
Like this is what's worked for me. This is what I've done
This is the research that the research that I've done has gotten me to this point. This is what I've learned
I know how people have different way of doing this is what I've learned
What do you guys think instead of just putting everyone else down saying this is the right way to do it?
Now we can do that when it comes to salvation
Because there's only one way of salvation folks
There is only one way
Okay, but there are different diets out there that people can adhere to and get the same results, and they're fine
Oh, no, but you're gonna mess up your kidneys if you do carnivore diet. I haven't you're gonna mess up your liver. I haven't
So what now well you're the exception why I know someone else who hasn't either
I know a bunch of people who have it
So you know if you want to go down that route, but let's not go down there
I let's just support people if they decide to better their life
Okay
Not veganism or vegetarianism okay, or fruitism or whatever what's that called?
Fruititarians it's out there fruititarians
It was like I only eat fruits okay
Bunch of fruititarians
I don't treat witchcraft hatred variants and relations wrath
Okay, the Bible obviously talks about being slow to wrath
strife
Seditions that's referring to rebellion
heresies you know
Christians can get involved in heresies when little Riley excuse me when they don't rightly divide the word of truth
When they are watching too many YouTube channels of people who adhere to the book of Enoch and
Not the Word of God okay, they can get involved in heresies
Heresies envings
Murders drunkenness these all speak for themselves
Revelings reveling is just like the party like spirit
Where every day is a party you know there's a time to celebrate okay?
But this is time to just read the Bible work
Feel pain feel suffering get sober get serious about the things of God
I'm not saying be sober because you were drunk. I'm saying be sober minded be alert
You know think there's times when we where it's not a time to laugh men. It's time to take things serious
Okay
envings murders drunkenness revelings and such like of which I tell you before as I've told you in time past that they would do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of
God so I just want to point those out there that you know these are some pretty bad sins some worse than others
But I want you to notice that you know Christians are just capable of doing these things
Okay, and if you are if you have the propensity to
Flesh out these certain things. Here's the remedy walk in the spirit, and it's not hard
It's not hard to walk in the spirit. It's just a matter of
Recognizing I need to walk in the spirit at this moment
Okay, people go in and out of the spirit all the time
I was probably in and out of the spirit pretty much all day today or something
You know get in the spirit and then you get out because you get upset or you hear something
You're just getting a little out of hand and then you're just like I got to control myself. All right, Lord
Help Lord help me, you know, just like filling with the spirit. That's constantly how we live
Okay, so walk in the spirit. You won't fulfill the lust of the flesh and that's pretty much it. Let's pray father
we thank you so much for your word Lord, and we're thankful that
We have the new nature that can combat our old nature and
The real honest truth is that we as Christians we're sometimes we're grieved at our old nature. It bothers us
Especially when we want to do right, but then we realize that friend me that is in my flesh dwells
No good thing and it just reminds us of a couple truths. Number one, of course, it reminds us that
We need to walk in the spirit to live a life. That's pleasing to you that we can't do it in our own power
We need the power of God in our lives to be able to do these things
But also it just helps us to look forward to the day that we are that our bodies are redeemed
When we get a glorified body, we no longer have to struggle with the old man. He can be put into the ground
Permanently we never have to deal with that the old man ever again and we look forward to that day Lord