PsalmTree

The Fruits of the Flesh…Galatians 5:19-21

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice 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. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Context: In light of yesterday’s parable of Jesus cursing the barren Fig tree, We understand God’s displeasure with things that do not satisfy their created purpose; A Fig Tree is supposed to produce figs. It is a parable describing religious people who look clean and proper on the outside but produce nothing for God’s kingdom.

Jesus described this condition on another occasion; “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” (Matt 23:27)

Outward holiness, inward deadness - They look righteous, keep the external rules, and demand public respect, but their hearts are filled with hypocrisy, greed, and wickedness (Matt 23:28).
Religious performance without repentance - Their external “whitewashing” hides a rotten spiritual condition—pride, self‑righteousness, and separation from God’s mercy.

Explanation: An expected response might be…”Why is this such a big deal? I’m a child of God, on my way to Heaven…I’m good”

First, what is fruit and, why is it important?

We all (should) know that fruit offers a broad range of health benefits because it is rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, while usually being low in saturated fat, sodium, and calories. Zero fruit in the diet is unlikely to kill a healthy person, in the short term, but it can significantly increase the risk of life‑threatening diseases over time.

Our entire purpose (here on earth) is to “make disciples” for God’s glory. Fruitfulness is how we do it. Look at it this way; when our life is filled with the fruit of the Spirit, we become so spiritually attractive that unbelievers will come to us to be fed.

We are God’s Fruit Trees
No fruit…no disciples.

We know what God thinks of barren fruit trees…In Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul addresses the problem. He wrote to believers in Galatia because false teachers were pressuring them to add circumcision and law-keeping as necessary for acceptance with God. He explained that their relationship with God was sustained not by what they do but by who they are. Paul and then it turns to the practical difference between living by the flesh and living by the Spirit.

Paul says “the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.” These are characteristics of life that we are instructed to avoid. The common denominator is that these are all expressions of life turned inward and away from God—either through disordered desire, self-rule, or broken relationships. Paul is describing what happens when the flesh is in control rather than the Spirit.

A few threads run through the whole list: Self-centered desires, spiritual rebellion and relational breakdown (hostility, strife, jealousy, anger, dissension). We can never “make disciples” like this…

The common denominator is not just “bad behavior,” but a bad attitude; Its called narcissism…its the definition of sin; “I prefer my way over than God’s way.” Its a flesh-driven orientation that resists God and produces chaos instead of love. And what is the consequence? These people will not enter the Kingdom of God.

In truth, we all have a human propensity for these “deeds of the flesh.” So, do I need to wonder if I’m a Christian when I see these behaviors rear their ugly head in my life?

No…

The Greek construction of this text is present indicative active verbs, meaning these qualities are current or ongoing (indicative of lifestyle). So, if I struggle with sin, am I still saved? Yes, but with an important distinction. A Christian can commit deeds of the flesh and still be saved because salvation rests on Christ, not on sinless performance; however, persistent, unrepentant patterns of the flesh are spiritually serious and call into question whether the person is truly walking by the Spirit.

Saved people still sin, but Saved people do not remain comfortable in sin. The key distinction - A believer falls into sin and then is convicted and turns back, versus someone who lives in the flesh as a lifestyle. Temporary failure is not the same as a governing pattern of rebellion.

Illustration: At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Mary Lou Retton became the first American woman to win the individual all‑around gold and walked away with five medals, She did not win a gold on a single apparatus but her all‑around total (across vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor) clinched the individual all‑around gold, beating Romania’s Ecaterina Szabo by 0.05 points for the gold.

Application: Like Mary Lou Retton, every event in our lives will not be lived out perfectly but, our “all-around performance” is underwritten by the Blood of Christ so…we will one day walk the “streets of gold.” We are living is Satan’s Kingdom which means, Satan doesn’t want us to be fruitful so he attempts to exert influence over us through deception, temptation, and blindness to the gospel. He is occasionally successfully but he is not sovereign, and he is not equal to God; his power is always under God’s limits.

He lies. He attacks God’s character, twists truth, and tries to make believers doubt what God has said.
He tempts. He exploits weakness and desire, trying to lure Christians into sin.
He discourages through suffering. He uses hardship to make believers think God is not good, not powerful, or not for them.
He isolates. He pushes believers away from fellowship, wise counsel, and accountability.
He divides. He stirs up conflict, jealousy, and rivalry inside churches and families.

The most effective way to battle Satan is to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. In practical terms, that means staying rooted in Scripture, praying consistently, obeying what you know is true, and refusing the lies, accusations, and temptations he uses.

Hold fast to God’s Word. Satan’s attacks are often lies, so truth is the main defense.
Pray actively. Prayer is not just preparation for battle; it is part of the battle itself.
Stand in your identity in Christ. Don’t fight from fear or shame; fight from what Christ has done.
Stay in Christian fellowship. Isolation makes believers easier to attack, while accountability strengthens resistance.
Keep resisting over time. James 4:7 gives the promise that the devil flees when believers keep submitting to God and resisting him.

If I had to reduce it to one sentence: the best way to battle Satan is not by focusing on Satan, but by focusing on Christ—through truth, prayer, obedience, and steadfast resistance

Be the fruitful Tree that God created me to be…

Prayer: Father, I come before You in the name of Jesus Christ and commit myself to resisting Satan and standing firm in Your truth.

Lord, strengthen my heart to reject every lie, every accusation, and every temptation that comes against me. Help me to submit fully to You, to trust Your Word, and to walk in obedience by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I renounce the works of darkness, and I ask You to guard my mind, my eyes, my desires, and my words. Give me discernment to recognize the enemy’s schemes and courage to resist them without fear.

Clothe me with faith, righteousness, and peace. Keep me rooted in Scripture, steady in prayer, and anchored in Christ, so that I may overcome evil with good and live as one who belongs to You.

I declare that You are my refuge, my strength, and my victory. I place myself under Your authority and ask You to make me steadfast until the end. In Jesus’ name, amen..

Live boldly out there today…

Resources:

https://www.gotquestions.org/works-of-the-flesh.html

https://studyscriptureonline.com/sermons/galatians-519-21/

https://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/galatians/5-19.htm

https://truthfortheworld.org/works-of-the-flesh

https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/verses/id/1208/works-of-flesh-verses.htm

https://www.briansburke.com/galatians-5-carnal-christians-works-of-the-flesh-witchcraft/

https://www.keylife.org/articles/how-to-deal-with-satan/

https://harvestime.org/translations/english/Spiritual%20Strategies%20Of%20Warfare.pdf

https://www.klove.com/resources/temptation/8-prayers-to-stay-strong-in-the-face-of-temptation-6079

https://www.kylewinkler.org/articles/3-simple-but-sure-ways-to-outwit-and-outlast-satans-attacks/