Thursday, February 8, 2018

Works of the Flesh - Part 5 ( Strife, Seditions, Heresies and Envyings)


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

We wrestle every day against the sinful influences of this world.  They bombard us every day in every way.  Our sinful or self nature does not have the capacity in and of itself to combat these influences, thus our spirit has to fight against the works of the flesh.  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 your life.

John tells us that we are not to love the world neither to be influenced by the the characteristic temporal things:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17


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.  

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:

>      STRIFE

Strife is quarreling, fighting, or conflict. It means a clash or dispute. 

In addition to wrath causing strife, hatred also causes it:

Hatred stirreth up strifes; but love covereth all sins. (Proverbs 10:12)

Forward [aggressive] men also cause strife:

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. (Proverbs 16:28)

Pride causes strife:

He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat. (Proverbs 28:25)

Angry men cause strife:

An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. 
(Proverbs 29:22)

Scornful men cause strife:

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea strife and reproach shall cease. 
(Proverbs 22:10)

To be scornful is to mock or show contempt for something or someone.  People who meddle, are argumentative, and talk about others cause strife:

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears...

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.  (Proverbs 26:17, 20-21)

Foolish questions cause strife:

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 
(2 Timothy 2:23)

Strife is a carnal work of the flesh:

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)

Where envy and strife is, there will be confusion:

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not...For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (James 3:14, 16)

Apostle Paul admonishes us that nothing should be done through strife:

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.
 (Philippians 2:3)

Strife is one of the characteristics of false teachers:

He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (1 Timothy 6:4-5)


>      SEDITIONS

Sedition is the stirring up of unrest or discord. 

The passages on sedition are few where this term is used in the Bible.  The account of Korah found in Numbers 16  is an excellent example of sedition. 

Consequence of rebellion against God:

Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord.
Jeremiah 28:16

What a sad state that a man, because of sedition murdered, was released in preference for the death of Jesus:

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.   Luke 23:25

>      HERESIES

Heresies are beliefs contrary to the Word of God. 

They are opinions of man which are in error and lead to division in the church.

Heresies are characteristic of false prophets:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)

>      ENVYINGS

Envy is jealousy excited by the success of others. 

It is resentment of the spiritual, financial, or material blessings of others. It is wrong longing and desire.  Envy is one of the characteristics of false teachers:

He is proud knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.  (1 Timothy 6:4)

Envy comes from the spirit of man:

Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
(James 4:4)

Envy is a sign of being a carnal Christian:

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)

Those full of envy, who did not retain God in their knowledge, who took pleasure do not have a favorable outcome:  

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers. . . 

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  (Romans 1:28-29, 39)

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, and deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 
(Titus 3:3)

Where there is envy, other problems arise:

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)

We are warned not to envy sinners:

Let not thine heart envy sinners; but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.
(Proverbs 23:17)

Beloved, these are excellent scriptures as to why should never allow our flesh to minister to our spirit!


(Biblical Studies)



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