The Conflict Within

 

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.  

1 John 2:15-16

      It’s necessary that we know and live in the fruit of the spirit.  We wrestle every day against the sinful influences of this world.  The world bombards us every day in every way we can possibly think to get us to conform or return to the standards of the world.  But God doesn’t want us to:  

      . . . copy the behavior and customs of this world, He wants us to be transformed into a new person by changing the way we think.  Romans 12:2
 
Our senses and our emotions are literally influenced – if not assaulted – in ways that trigger us to operate in our flesh rather than demonstrate the fruit of the spirit.  The world continuously offers us a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.
 
Our sinful flesh or self-nature doesn’t have the capacity in and of itself to combat these influences thus our spirit has to fight against the works of the flesh. 
If left to ourself, we’ll lose every time.  We do well to remember that we don’t have the power in and of ourself to deliver ourself – It is only through God’s word and His spirit . . .   If we be real with ourself, there are some things that our self-nature, our flesh, wants to do; that’s when I look to my life scriptures and I don’t have to look far – keep it simple, Jesus said, if you love me, keep my commandments [John 4:15].  Because I love Him, I can’t let my flesh manage me!  

     When we submit our self – our whole self to God – just know there’s a constant spiritual battle going on in the life of the believer. Remember, the works of the flesh are trying to destroy the fruit – the work – 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  

      But God, in His infinite grace and mercy, gifted us His precious spirit.  He leveled the playing ground so we can be successful in Him.  The works of the flesh are sinful qualities instigated by Satan which contrast the fruit of the Spirit.

      

      uUNCLEANNESS

      Uncleanness is the opposite of being clean. In this passage on the works of the flesh, the word "uncleanness" means being spiritually or morally unclean, moral corruption, especially lust, sexual impurity, and evil thoughts/actions that contrasts holiness and affects one's character and spirit. God would not have His people to be spiritually unclean:

      But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.  Ephesians 5:2
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.  1 Thess. 4:7

      It’s our responsibility to mortify uncleanness and discipline ourself to live a holy life:

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

      Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  2 Corinthians 7:1

     That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 1 Thessalonians 4:4

      The bible lets us know if we don’t mortify uncleanness then we’ll yield to it.  Apostle Paul said, “At one time you gave yourselves over to the power of sin. You kept on sinning all the more. Now [that you’ve given] yourselves over to being right with God. Set yourself apart for God-like living and to do His work.”  Romans 6:19

      If someone continues to yield to uncleanness they’ll eventually give themselves over to it:  They don’t care anymore about what is right or wrong. They have turned themselves over to the sinful ways of the world and are always wanting to do every kind of sinful act they can think of. Ephesians 4:19

      If believers continue to live in spiritual uncleanness [sin], God will give them over to it:

      Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts . . .  Romans 1:24
 

     When a man is given over by God to something, his conscience ceases to function and he is totally controlled by it. He will perish in his sin unless he repents:
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness...these as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption . . .     2 Peter 2:10, 12

     Look at what happens when you connect the dots on the verses regarding uncleanness; a pattern emerges. We have the power to either mortify or yield to sin. If we mortify uncleanness, it will lead to holiness in our life. If we yield to it, we’ll eventually give ourself over to it. Finally, God will give that one over to it and they will perish in their own corruption:  But, if we mortify uncleanness:

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

            ü    it leads to holiness

       For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.  1 Thessalonians 4:7     

      On the other hand, if you yield to uncleanness, it leads to

      I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  Romans 6:19

        ü  which results in

     Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  Ephesians 4:19 

             ü  God giving them over to it

     Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:  Romans 1:24

             ü which ends in utterly perishing in their own corruption: 

      But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. . . But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 2 Peter 2:10, 12

      God wants us clean [holy], not unclean!  

u LASCIVIOUSNESS

      Lasciviousness is the sin of lust, sinful emotions, and lewdness, it is unbridled lust, debauchery, its shamelessness, and is a flagrant, unashamed disregard for moral restraint or public decency. Uncleanness and lasciviousness are very similar.  Uncleanness is the hidden impurity – that’s where transforming the mind comes into pay - whereas lasciviousness is the public, unbridled indulgence in that impurity and it is filthy and shameless in its conduct. 

     So, uncleanness refers to moral filthiness, impurity in thoughts or actions, and general immorality, while lasciviousness refers to a total lack of restraint, shamelessness, and a grand display of moral boundaries.  We say that person has no shame.  Shamefulness is giving offense to moral sensibilities and damaging to reputation. Lasciviousness is one of the characteristics by which you can see this ungodly behavior.  Jude lets us know of this when he wrote how:
. . . there were some ungodly people who wormed their way into our churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.

      For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 4

      In times past, before the blood, we may have been lascivious. As a believer, we are no longer to continue this behavior:

      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
 

     The Bible teaches that if someone continues to be lascivious, they will eventually give over to it without conscience:

     Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work uncleanness with greediness. Ephesians 4:19

     God desires that we live in and display His image.  And, it is a command of God that we live holy and clean lives characteristic of the fruit of the spirit - allowing our lights to shine so that others will come out of the darkness and into God's marvelous light.

      Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

      uMURDER

      To murder is to take the life of another with willful malice and forethought.
This murder is not the same as self-defense or an accidental killing. This murder is not the same as imposing the death penalty on a person who has killed someone. This murder is what is described by God in Numbers 35:16-21. One of the first commandments given by God was "Thou shalt not kill".  This isn’t just an Old Testament pronouncement, when a man came to Jesus wanting to know what he could do to obtain eternal life, Jesus said:

      . . . Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Matthew 19:18

      God’s children should not be guilty of murder:
 

      But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 1 Peter 4:15

      The New Testament expands the meaning of murder to include hatred. If you hate other believers it is like being a murderer:

      Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15

      Jesus taught of the intent behind the 10 commandments that it’s not just the physical act of murder.  Our thoughts of murder are the same as the physical act.  It’s a heart thing.  Our hearts are to be pure.  When King David prayed for a clean heart and [Psalms 51:10] and a right spirit – it wasn’t just because he slept with Bathsheba, he also had a man, her husband, murdered.  Had he had a clean [pure] heart, there wouldn’t have been a breach for iniquity to enter in.  

     The three works of the flesh I mentioned today requires us to do a heart check. 

     Make sure that your thoughts are clean and your heart is pure.

   

      Sermonette

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

 

Sermonette