1: The Work of the Holy Spirit vs. the Flesh and Satan

How can we discern what is of the Holy Spirit and what is sinful or from Satan, particularly when considering the complexity of Christian history? God’s Word is very helpful in answering this important question. Consider the Scriptures below.

Galatians 5:13-23 says,

^“13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[c] you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians is clear that those who act from the flesh (verse 19-21) will not even inherit the kingdom of God, while the fruit of the Spirit is directly contrary to the flesh. Those who are filled with the Spirit exhibit love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

2 Corinthians 3:17 says,

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Freedom and the Spirit of the Lord go hand in hand. The Spirit lovingly gives us freedom and choice.

James 3:13-18 says,

^13”Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

True wisdom does not include envy, selfish ambition, or disorder. True wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

Matthew 7:15-16 says,

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?”

Jesus explicitly warns his followers to watch out for false prophets. False prophets look good on the outside, but really they are ferocious wolves. The fruit of a person reveals if someone is a false prophet or not. Notably, Jesus did not say we will know a false prophet if their teaching seems to align with God’s Word – Jesus says we will know them by if they have good fruit in loving God and others. That is the measure of if someone loves and knows God.  Some teaching sounds good and from God – but it is not. Conversely, some teaching may seem off but upon further investigation it reveals more who God is. We must be discerning and in particular, according to Jesus, consider the fruit of potential prophets to see if they are false.

Consider the below diagram based on the above verses:

Whenever the 22 evidences of the Holy Spirit are present, God is at work. Whenever the 20 evidences of the flesh/Satan are present, Satan is at work, not God. People are sinning; they are not led by the Holy Spirit. All this being said, God is on the throne and He works ALL things for good. Romans 8:28 says, ^{28 “}And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Further, God is both good (Exodus 34:6) and sovereign (Isaiah 61:1), not Satan, and He can be fully trusted – even with the darker sides of history – even with the darker sides of Christian history.

As we consider Christian history, please keep in mind the evidences of the Holy Spirit and the evidences of sin/flesh and Satan to help discern where the Spirit was leading the Church in history and where Satan was interfering and spreading lies.