As we have been taking a more in-depth look at the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:18-21, covering immorality, impurity, and sensuality, we will continue this week with the next in the list—idolatry.

We may think that no one worships idols anymore, but in fact it is very widespread in every nation and culture, including all of the nations of the West, and even among Christians. How could any Christian ever fall to worshiping idols? This is one of the most important questions we can ask as this is one of the most subtle and devastating...

Last week we began a more in-depth look at Galatians 5:18-21,starting with the first work of the flesh that is listed there, “immorality.” This week we will look at the next two, which are “impurity” and “sensuality.” Impurity is the lustful gratification of our own flesh through such things as pornography, fantasizing, masturbation, etc. Sensuality is the tendency to try to be sexually attractive to someone other than our spouse, causing us to, in the very least, become stumbling blocks to others.

One can be attractive without being sensual. There is a dignity and honor with which the...

As we have discussed, in Scripture “the flesh” is a metaphor for the carnal nature of fallen man which is in opposition to the Spirit of God. The attributes of this carnal nature are listed in Galatians 5:17-21:
 

As we continue our study of how the church will cross over and begin to possess its Promised Land, this week we will look at the first great event after crossing the Jordan, which we see in Joshua 5:2: “At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time."

Circumcision was a ritual performed that speaks of the removal of the flesh or carnal nature. As we read in this chapter, this was done because...

As we have been covering the last few weeks, the church now stands on the brink of one of the most important advances in history. It is an advance that must take place. If the church continues to wander in the wilderness, it will only wither away. We are called to be sojourners, but not nomads. Sojourners travel to a destination, while nomads just wander. We are coming to the destination that the entire church age has been preparing us for and now we must cross over.

It is true that some of the greatest revivals and spiritual advances in...