02/10/2026
We live in the therapeutic age. Even in the larger Christian culture, counseling, programs, steps, appointments, and systems are the "go to" solution for overcoming the "flesh." Just ask any church...how many calls are for counseling?! And the question is: how do I not act like the person I don't want to be and that God calls me not to be? How do I stop falling into the ruts that got me/us here? In Biblical terms: how do I not feed the flesh? What do I mean by the "flesh?" Here's a short list from our text this Wednesday night at Foundry Bible Church: s*xual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, or**es, and things like these (Ga 5:19–21 ESV). Now it might take a minute to describe these things in a way that we would recognize them in our own lives and society, but a cursory read identifies the things so rampant: p**n, s*xual sin (anything outside of heteros*xual marriage or abstinence: LGBTQ+, premarital s*x, adultery, flirting with non-spouses), bickering, relational ghosting, temporary pleasures eclipsing heavenly priorities, jealousy and envy (add the gasoline of social media), jobs/careers ruining biblical roles of men and women, the constant rants of Christians against Christians...and SO many other things...these are evidences of the flesh...that broken part of us that still rears back and roars against the Spirit of God that lives in every genuine believer. This is a list of things that believers can and do wrestle with, but how do we put those things down? How do we kill those things? How do overcome them? Gal 5:16 tells us: "walk by the Spirit"...meaning let your daily habits be empowered by the Spirit of God living in you. This surely doesn't mean counseling isn't good...it can be and often is a great help...BUT it does mean that the Holy Spirit is the power to overcome the arguments in your marriage, the broken and sinful s*xual desires, the rage that seems to bust out quietly in tears or explosively in terrifying screams. This means that it's the Holy Spirit that can keep the vitriol down in your heart when you read the news or someone's post. And when we wake up Monday morning and the sermon isn't helping or the counseling appt has worn off--we better have something greater to help us live that day without falling prey to those innate sinful desires and weaknesses. You and I need the power of the Spirit to win that battle so that we can actually be who we want to be in Christ!! Aren't you tired of not winning those moments? Aren't you tired of not being who you want to be...rising above the "flesh?" I know I am. Join us Wednesday night at 6:30 at The Chalet (5450 China Garden Rd, Rocklin) to learn from the Bible how to not gratify (feed) the flesh. Coffee is hot. Kids are cared for. Find out why counseling, or trauma dumping, or sadfishing or "just being honest" will never be enough on its own for you to win the battle between the flesh and the Spirit inside of you.
