The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 15 May 2019 – Works Of The Flesh Vs The Fruit Of The Spirit

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TOPIC: Works Of The Flesh Vs The Fruit Of The Spirit

READ: Galatians 5:19-26 King James Version (NKJV)

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

21 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.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

THE MESSAGE:

There is a conflict between the sinful nature (flesh) and the Spirit. It looks easier to walk in the flesh and a struggle to walk in the Spirit. The reason is simple, in sin did my mother conceive me. Now, the works of the flesh are summarised as four (4) abuses of human sexuality, two (2) false religion or sin of superstition, nine (9) sins of temper and two (2) sins of the appetite or excesses.

The sexual sins reflect from active involvement (adultery, fornication, incest, homosexuality, prostitution and pornography), impure thoughts, and suggestive attitudes like touching, provocative dressing and sex humour. 
The fruit of the Spirit is the medicine for the works of the flesh. The fruit is the manifestation of the character of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

As we submit to the Holy Spirit and follow His directives, it becomes easier to subdue the manifestations of the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit is summarised thus: fruit that directs our thoughts towards God (love, joy, and peace), fruit that directs our attention to others (longsuffering, kindness and goodness), and the fruit that directs attention to oneself (faithfulness, gentleness and self-control).

Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfil the acts of the flesh.

Prayer: O Lord! I submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Please, lead me daily to live out the fruit of the Spirit and to live victoriously over the flesh in Jesus Name!