WORKS OF THE FLESH

THE FALL OF CAIN

Part 2: TILLER OF THE GROUND

Lesson 2 - WORKS OF THE FLESH

In the Lesson One (1) we looked at the ground as the mind but in this episode we are considering the same as the flesh.

Scripture Reading:

“Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.” (Gen. 4:2)

Humans have this tendency of overflowing curiosity and anxiety. This puts within us the natural desire to experiment everything, both good and bad. For this reason, everything which has a “do not” attached to it becomes tempting to humankind. Such cravings if not curbed could grow into the lust of the flesh.

Cain did not take God’s warning into account. (Gen. 4:7) The most dangerous enterprise in the human race is the FLESH enterprise. The flesh as used in the New Testament often refers to lust and desires (Eph. 2:3) and therefore contrary to the Spirit (Gal. 5:17). A tiller of the ground in our current context points to unholy involvement in lustful desires – works of the flesh. This is the portrait of Cain, an expert in dealing the workings of the flesh.

The Bible makes it clear that anyone who sows in the flesh will reap corruption, so being a tiller of the ground means sowing in the flesh. Cain sowing in the flesh ended him with harvesting corruption. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:19-21 lists seventeen (17) works of the flesh which is categorized into four (4) major groups;

1. SEXUAL SINS – (i) Lasciviousness, (ii) Adultery, (iii) Fornication, (iv) Uncleanness
2. PAGAN RELIGION – (v) Idolatry, (vi) Sorcery
3. SINS OF TEMPER – (vii) Hatred, (viii) Contention, (ix) Jealousy, (x) Strife, (xi) Sedition, (xii) Heresies, (xiii) Murder, (xiv) Wrath, (xv) Variance
4. SINS OF DRUNKENNESS – (xvi) Revelries, (xvii) Drunkenness

The verses 22 and 23 of the same scripture say this, “But the fruit of the Spirit…” as opposing to the works of the flesh. Instead of manifesting the fruit of the Spirit Cain rather swung through the works of the flesh as per our topic of concern “Tiller of the Ground”. Tilling the ground, that is, sowing into the flesh has but one outcome, reaping corruption. This is not only true for Cain the son of Adam but the exact fate of those who trade in the flesh enterprise.

Redemption from the works of the flesh is the fruit of the Spirit; Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

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