Pastor Luther Walker continues teaching on Galatians 5, focusing on walking by the Spirit to avoid fulfilling the desires of the flesh. He explains that walking by the Spirit refers to governing one’s life generally by seeking the Spirit’s desires, which oppose the flesh. Christians still experience desires from the sin nature but are no longer slaves to them. Being led by the Spirit means not being under law; attempting to manage fleshly desires through legalistic “thou shalt not” rules actually leads one back to the flesh rather than the Spirit.
Pastor Walker introduces the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19–21) as desires produced by the sin nature, one of three enemies Christians face (along with Satan and the world system). The sin nature attacks through fleshly desires, Satan through rational lies and discouragement (countered by the armor of God), and the world system pacifies the sin nature to exert control.
The works of the flesh are distinguished from sin: unrighteousness is the broader category (including mental attitudes), while sin involves actions. He references Romans 1:29–31 to show unrighteousness includes both actions (murder, deceit) and heart attitudes (haters of God, proud, unloving).
Victory over the sin nature comes from Romans 6: knowing the old man was co-crucified with Christ so the sin nature is rendered ineffective, reckoning oneself dead to sin but alive to God, and yielding members to righteousness instead of unrighteousness (not merely saying “no” to sin but actively pursuing righteousness).
Pastor Walker begins detailing the works of the flesh, starting with sexually related ones:
Adultery (sex outside marriage covenant)
Fornication (sex outside marriage entirely; Christians must flee it)
Uncleanness (sexual perversion)
Licentiousness/lewdness (lack of moral restraint, often lavish unrestrained lifestyle)
These originate from the flesh, not Satan, though Satan can exploit them. He stresses fleeing fornication because it sins against one’s own body and contradicts God’s will for sanctification.
He then moves to religious-related works:
Idolatry (covetousness; serving man-made gods, including money or false systems)
Religious superstitious awe (often translated “sorcery”; using chemicals, music, garments, rituals, or environments to simulate closeness to God or appear spiritually superior; linked to pharmacy and manipulative religious practices)
Pastor Walker warns against false religions, prosperity teaching that turns grace into licentiousness, and emotional manipulation through music or settings that falsely imply closeness to God (since the Spirit indwells believers constantly). The message concludes noting more works of the flesh (hatred, strife, jealousy, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness, revelry, etc.) will be covered next time, emphasizing identifying fleshly desires correctly so the proper defense—walking by the Spirit and yielding to righteousness—can be applied.
