Works of the Flesh - Part 3: Idolatry and Witchcraft

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)

Review

The works of the flesh are sinful qualities 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 the Holy Spirit wants to develop in our life.

There is a constant spiritual battle going on in the life of a believer. The works of the flesh are trying to destroy the fruit of the Holy Spirit:

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)

The fleshly desires of natural man are contrary to the nature of the Holy Spirit.  The works of the flesh are:

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)

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)

The sins listed in Galatians 5:19-21 are not all of the sins identified in the Bible. They are a group of sins called "works of the flesh" which contrast the fruit of the Spirit. This is why we are studying these specific sins.

Today we are continuing with:

>    IDOLATRY

Idolatry is the worship of idols

This does not just mean the worship of images made out of stone, wood, or precious metals. An idol is anything that is more important to you than God; anything or anyone that put put above God; anything that you acknowledge more than God. Idolaters are those who practice idolatry and worship something other than the true God. Idolatry is the lack of acknowledgment of the rightful position of God in your life.

One of the first commandments given by God concerned idolatry:

Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God.   (Leviticus 19:4)

Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 26:1)

The gods of heathen nations are called idols:

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. (Psalms 96:5)

You will be confounded [or confused] if you serve idols:

Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols... (Psalms 97:7)

The idols of the heathen are the work of man. They have no power or true spiritual significance:

The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.  They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.  They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. (Psalms 135:15-18)  

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.  (Psalms 115:4-8)

A Christian cannot worship idols:

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? (2 Corinthians 6:16)

You are not to even keep company with idolaters:

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one go not to eat.   (1 Corinthians 5:11)

We are warned to keep ourselves from idols:

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)

Idolaters will not be part of the Kingdom of God:

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived...neither idolaters...shall inherit the kingdom of God.  (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

The Bible reveals the destination of idolaters:

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:15)

The Bible calls covetousness a form of idolatry. Covetousness is wanting something with an intense and wrong desire. You are to mortify and destroy covetousness:

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5)

You may have been an idolater in times past, but believers are no longer to continue with this practice:

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries... (1 Peter 4:2-3)

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.     (1 Thessalonians 1:9)

Apostle Paul admonishes against worshiping the created rather than the creator:

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: Romans 1:24-26

WITCHCRAFT

Witchcraft is the practice of witches including white and black magic, sorcery, 

astrology, voodoo, use of potions, spells, enchantments, and drugs. 

It includes all Satanic practices and worship.

The meaning of witchcraft can be expanded to include any controlling and manipulation of others. 

Even though you are not involved in Satanic witchcraft, you can be guilty of "witchcraft" as a sin of the flesh if you try to manipulate, control, or pray against others.

Witchcraft is spiritual rebellion against God. God says the sin of rebellion is as bad as witchcraft:

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.  (1 Samuel 15:23a)

(Biblical Studies)

09/08/16
06/17/19
02/07/20