The Totality of God's Word

 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.  

James 1:14-15

We become lopsided and unbalanced when we don’t know the totality of God’s word.  Oh, we know all about the goodness of God – His grace and mercy, we know that He’s a deliverer, a healer, His love – we know all these things but how much do we know about His thoughts; His stance on sin and those who commit it?  We know in the broad sense that hell is the place reserved for sinners. But it’s much deeper than that and we need to understand what is included under the broad category of sin and its consequences.  Let me tell you, the church today sees itself as modern and sophisticated and elitist; above it all; exclusive with the ability to dabble in sin without consequences.  The church has fooled itself with being ‘enlighten’ to believe that it doesn’t take all that; all I have to do is show up at church, say hallelujah, do my dance, and maybe speak in tongues depending on your denomination but the bible says what it says and nothing has changed. I look at the account of King Soul and it makes me want to weep because of the iniquity in his heart that caused him to sin, he was rejected by God. 

And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?  1 Samuel 16:1

Because nothing really bad happened to him the first time he was disobedient, he probably didn’t think twice when he committed the same sin, disobedience, again.  We don’t know when we get on the slippery slope of sin how far it will lead us.   

"Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer 
than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay"

I just want everyone to be clear on the consequences of sin – no matter what that sin may be.  So, We’re going to start in Galatians 5 where Apostle Paul outlines a list of sins that he refers to as the works of the flesh:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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 5:19-21

The works of the flesh, are defined as sinful qualities and actions which contrast the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The works of the flesh are characteristics of the sinful nature of man caused by lust [sinful desire]. They are opposites of the qualities which God, through His Holy Spirit, wants to develop in our life.  We need God’s spirit because there’s a constant spiritual battle going on in the life of believers. The works of the flesh are trying to destroy the fruit of the Holy Spirit; our sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what God wants. And God through His Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so we’re not free to carry out our good intentions; that’s what the bible says:

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Galatians 5:17

Although the results of these sins are visible in wrong actions, the cause is not visible. The cause is sinful desires [lusts] of the heart:

And He saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him...

And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; And these evil things come from within, and defile the man.  Mark 7:18, 20-23

We can’t walk in the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance – as long as the works of the flesh is still manifest within us. The sins listed in Galatians 5:19-21 are not all of the sins identified in the Bible. They are a group of sins; "works of the flesh" which contrast the fruit of the Spirit.  

So, we’re going to talk about the works of the flesh; make sure everyone has a good understanding of what could possibly hinder the fruit of the spirit being manifested in our life and the consequence of willingly operating in these sins.  So, the first one I’m going to talk about is one that is indeed familiar to us and that is:

v HATRED

Hatred is defined as the opposite of love. It is an emotion of intense dislike. It is evil feelings towards things others.  The Bible says that hatred stirs up strife:

Hatred stirreth up strife; but love covereth all sins.  Proverbs 10:12

It is better to be where love is than with those who are filled with hatred. In other words, the bible puts it like this:  A dish of vegetables with love is better than eating the best meat with hate.  Proverbs 15:17

Hatred covered by deceit will be revealed by God:

Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. Proverbs 26:26

Deceit here means pretending to like someone when in reality you hate them.  There are consequences to retaining hatred in your heart:

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.  1 John 3:15

v  VARIANCE

 Variance is defined as disagreement, disharmony, and dissension. It is similar to strife.

 This word is used only one other place in the Bible; when Jesus speaks of "variance" in the family as a sign of the last days of time:

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. Matthew 10:35

In this instance, Jesus lets us know those who do not believe in Him will turn on those in their families who do [1 Peter 4:3–4; John 15:18–21].

It is not for the children of God to bring or create disharmony, disunity and dissension when the bible clearly tells us that we are to be reconcilers:  We are to be peacemakers:

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:24

v EMULATIONS

Emulation is defined as the desire to copy others and to equal or excel them. It is a spirit of rivalry and a form of jealousy. The passage in Galatians 5 is the only reference in the Bible where the word is used in this manner.  

Every other instance in the bible refers to God’s children striving to emulate Jesus as He is the perfect example of a life lived that exemplifies God; that puts us in the image of God.  Imitating men (or women) in order to be like them [rather than like God] to receive the accolades, fame, fortune, power, status, etc.; if you’re mimicking someone else out of envy, jealously or just because you think you can do it better, you’re wrong and out of alignment with God’s will for your life.  Doesn’t matter how successful they may be, if God didn’t call you to the same, don’t try to emulate someone else!

v WRATH

 Wrath is defined as violent anger, an angry act, rage.

The Bible says wrath is cruel:

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy. Proverbs 27:4

A man of great wrath will suffer because of it:

A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment; for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.  Proverbs 19:19

Wise men will turn away from wrath:

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: Wise men turn away wrath. Proverbs 29:8

As an unbeliever we were a child of wrath:

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  Ephesians 2:3

Wrath should not operate in our life:

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice . . . Ephesians 4:31

We are to put off wrath:

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Colossians 3:8

We are to forsake wrath:

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  Psalms 37:8

You are to be slow to wrath:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.   James 1:19-20

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.  Proverbs 14:29

There is a relation between wrath and another work of the flesh, which is strife. The Bible describes this relationship:

A wrathful man stirreth up strife; but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. Proverbs 15:18

Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.  Proverbs 30:33

Forsake all negative feelings that may lead to or cause wrath:

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  Psalms 37:8,

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  1 Corinthians 3:3,

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  James 3:14, 16

 

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