Turn Up the Volume

How was it that I went so long without seeing my sin? Why was I so clueless to my flesh in action? Did I really think I could "live" the Christian life while tolerating so much fleshly behavior? Had I grown immune to the words of Scripture, "tone deaf" to their power to correct me? Obviously, if I could get through over 20 years without grieving over my sin, I had developed a thick skin towards the Word of God. If I had grown deaf, then I needed to turn up the volume. I decided to try and make the significance of the words in Galatians 5:19-23 become more loud, more difficult to ignore. I wanted them to be sharp enough to pierce through my spiritual complacency and stubbornness. The following list is what I consider to be the expanded version of the deeds of our flesh.

Self-satisfaction

Selfish sexual pleasure: reality, fantasy, porn, masturbation

Exerting power over others

Independence (from God)

ME first

Conflict

Quarreling

Pride

Jealousy

Envy - wanting what someone else has

Anger

Drunkenness

Self-indulging

Selfishness

Division

Hostility

Enjoy putting people against each other,

Having people join your “side” of things,

Resist giving up your way

Won’t accept humble position

Refuse to be wrong

Trying to "out-do" someone else

Then I took an inventory of the fruit of the Spirit and what is evidenced in my life when I don't have it.

Love

(selfishness, hate, disdain)

Joy

(lack of contentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy)

Peace

(war, conflict, threats, revenge, anxiety)

Patience

(temper, impatience, irritation, anger)

Kindness

(unkind, cruel, inflicting pain, hurtful, mean)

Goodness

(stingy, self-first)

Faithfulness

(unreliable, inconsistent, negligent, gives up easily)

Gentleness

(harsh, critical, rough, rude)

Self-control

(indulgent, impulsive, glutton, gossip, lazy, undisciplined)

Before you can "cross"walk, you must first see how truly weak you are, and where your flesh is most vulnerable. Understand that Satan is astute to your own flesh tendencies; he can pinpoint them with sharp accuracy. So you need to be clued in as well. You must know your flesh weaknesses better than your enemy does.

Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to see how your flesh tends to trip you up.

Turn up the volume!