“¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would.

¹⁸ But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹ Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:17-21

There is a gospel that claims a Jesus that uses humanistic psychology to have victory over the works of the flesh.  This Jesus claims that our vernacular (our words) have the power to overcome fornication, witchcraft, hatred, drunkeness, etc..  This Jesus appears to be extremely superstitious.  The moment anything “bad” is spoken, whether it be true or not, a séance is required…I believe those who practice such silliness call them “deliverance sessions” to break the curse; whether they be family curses, soul ties or just a curse spoken over them.  Evidently this gospel believes a curse is greater than the power of God and THEY must do something to overthrow this curse….in Jesus name of course.

Now, just to be clear, there are some truths in this gospel but the Truth is used to exalt the lie…not the Truth.  First of all, there is absolutely power in the Name of Jesus but not when used as a magic charm to manipulate the spirit world according to our will, whether it be the righteous or the unrighteous spirit world.  Also, the only way a Child of God can be cursed is for them to step out of the Will of God.  With that being said, we need to repent from such straying, not attend a séance.

This gospel that is being proclaimed over the air waves and from behind the pulpits is another gospel and another Jesus…and it is accursed (2 Corinthians 11:4, Galatians 1:8).

We must understand that the flesh and the Spirit are contrary to one another and recognize when these philosophies are presented to control the flesh, even when they are under the banner of Christianity.  When the devil gets our focus on the war of the flesh, we engage this war and we lose. Always and without exception, we grow further from the Lord and closer to the world while cloaked in self righteousness and pride.

The Word of God says to DENY ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23).  We are to SUBMIT unto God, resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7). We cannot yield our members as servants of righteousness when we are yielding them as servants of law presented by humanistic psychology sprinkled with Scripture.

” ¹⁹ I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

²⁰ For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.

²¹ What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

²² But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”  Romans 6:19-22

When the Believer is submitted to God, looking unto Jesus as the Source and His finished work on Calvary’s Cross as the means by which we receive everything from God, the Holy Spirit is commissioned to free us from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). Once we are free from the law of sin and death the works of the flesh fall away.  We become partakers in God’s Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4) and the power of the Holy Spirit produces fruit unto holiness.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2.

Walking after the Spirit of God does not mean doing many spiritual things but simply believing in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ to keep those of which He has purchased at so high a price, namely whosoever will call upon the Name of Jesus and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour.  The Believer’s victory over the works of the flesh is found in the Cross of Christ…not the many religious philosophies presented by the hyper spiritual pharisees of the modern church.  Jesus Christ of the Bible used an old rugged Cross to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Saint and He now sits at the Right Hand of God looking to and fro to show  Himself strong in behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).

We either believe the Cross of Christ broke the power of sin in our hearts and lives or we don’t. Prayerfully consider…the Eyes of the Lord are searching to and fro.  His Arm is not shortened.  Seek Him.  HE is the Vine and we are the branches that bring forth His fruit…fruit unto holiness and righteousness.

“I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5.

-Donna Clark Warren