Watch out!
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Passages to ponder
Passages to ponder
Passages to ponder in this series are passages more than to read, but to absorb, to contemplate on, to consider what application. Here is what we have looked at so far.
Kingdom Beatitudes (Mt5:3-12)
Supreme blessedness!
They are not optional, they are proof!
Don’t have a defiled heart (Mk7:21-23)
Looking at what defiles a person comes from the inside not the outside. Watch out for heart problems, address them and deal with them.
Possessing the qualities of love (1Cor13:1-13)
Love is needed when it comes to the use of spiritual gifts, we looked at the qualities of love needed.
We have looked at the character of kingdom citizens
We have looked at the source of evil that defiles man
And we have looked at the kind of love that is possible and needed for those who follow Jesus Christ.
(Transition) Will our hearts be a source of good or evil depends on the outcome of the battle within us. That is what we are looking at for the next two installments. Are we going to be people who succumb to the flesh or follow and walk in the lead of the Holy Spirit. -
Please open your bibles to Gal5:19-21 that is where we will be focusing today.
So, having said that here are the intentions for this morning:
Look at the context
Look at the meaning
Look at application
The Context
The Context
Since we want to have proper understanding we need to look at things in context. Hence, why we are going back from our focal passage (Gal5:19-21) to (Gal5:16-17) to get the perspective, the context.
There is conflict between the Spirit and the flesh (Gal5:16-17; 1Pt2:11)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
(Insert Spirit Flesh picture here)
They are in opposition, they are contrary to one another; consider 1Pt2:11 “11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”
This is a spiritual battle with the flesh and the Holy Spirit for your very soul.
This reference to the Holy Spirit you can see more (Gal3:2-3, 4:6, 5:5)
Below scriptures are not on the screen!
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
And further consider Gal4:6 “6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!””
And Gal5:5 “5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”
One more
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Live by the indwelling, the empowering of the Spirit so we can walk by the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of the flesh.
Our reaping eternal life can only happen because of the Spirit
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
As Christians we are called to serve one another (Gal5:17; Rom6:12-13, 16, 7:14-23, 8:12-14, Gal5:18)
A reminder Gal5:17 “17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”
(below not on screen, use to highlight the bold portions and quote the ones noted to quote)
Following our flesh creates a serious problem as noted din Rom6:12-13 “12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Oh wait just a few verses later in Rom6:16 it says Rom6:16 “16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”
Summarize Rom7:14-23.
Sold into bondage by the flesh, do what we do not want to do, do not do what we want to do, it is the sin that dwells within.
There is a war going on within! A war of flesh and the spirit.
But wait, there is hope (Quote is all)
ROm8:12-14 “12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
We have a choice to walk in the flesh or walk by the Spirit, we need to walk by the Spirit so not to succumb to the lusts of the flesh.
For us to be battle ready, we need to know our enemy. We cannot battle something and have victory if we do not understand our enemy, the flesh and the lusts of the flesh. And now will call it the works of the flesh.
The Meaning
The Meaning
You now have the context, that leading up to our passage, the works, the lusts of the flesh, so now may we look at our passage and the meaning?
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Insert Warning may make you uncomfortable PowerPoint here)
(Transition) all scripture is good and profitable (2Tim3:16-17) but not all scripture makes you feel good, but can help you to learn to be good as Jesus is good. So when we look at this now, come at it knowing the meaning behind it, so not to do but to put away, do away with these things that wage war against the Spirit.
Sins of moral impurity
Adultery/immorality (v.19)
Not all manuscripts use the word adultery, but without a doubt immorality, immoral sexual behavior would cover adultery.
Another word you will find in there is “fornication” which is any sexual immoral behavior (adultery, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, and the like)
Impurity/uncleanliness (v.19)
This would be morally impure, especially with a repulsive quality (CWSD)
Lewdness/sensuality (v.19)
Shameless behavior in both dress and conduct, also sexual excess (Vines)
(Transition)These above sins are perversions of the sexual instinct (Barclay)
Sins of idolatry and sorcery
The adoration of images or other things in place of God, consider Eph5:5 “5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” or one more Col3:5 “5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.”
(Transition) These sins are perversions of worship and drugs (again from Barclay)
Sins that are violating the law of love.
Hatred/enmity (v.20)
This is enmity or hostility toward others that builds barriers
Contentions/Strife (v.20)
Strife, quarreling, discord, often the result of hatred and enmity.
Jealousies/Envy (v.20)
Zealous envy that often casts grudging looks
Outbursts of wrath/anger (v.20)
This is the blaze of temper that flares into violent words and/or deeds
Selfish ambitions/disputes (v.20)
This is self-centered attitude that often leads to other sins that violate the law of love such as
Dissensions (v.20)
Literally standing apart, literally resulting in division
Heresies/factions (v.20)
This is caused as a result of dissensions and selfish ambitions causing division.
Envying (v.21)
This like jealousy, but this is often times an action of hostililty.
(Transition) These sins are perversions of noble ambition, righteous indignation and devotion to principle (one more time from Barclay)
Sins that are sins of intemperance
Drunkenness (v.21)
Intoxication due to alcohol
Revelries/carousing (v.21)
Barclay says “feasts and drinking parties in which there in an excess.”
And things like these/and the life (v.21)
So that tells us this list is extensive but not exhaustive, it is given as an illustration of the deeds of the flesh that we war again that we must Watch out for.
(Transition) These sins are perversions of the joy of social fellowship (Barclay) - - - Now, next week we will get into details about the works of the Spirit, or the fruit of the Spirit, but we need to make application to this warning passage first, this week, we can’t end on a heavy note.
The Application section
The Application section
Even with an uncomfortable warning there is things to learn, things to apply, to take away and now no more just quoting, summarizing scripture, here it comes, the scripture!
Application:
We must abstain from fleshly lusts (1Pt2:12, 4:1-3; Rom13:12-14; 1Cor6:9-10 and Gal5:21 as a reminder)
Abstain for they wage war against the soul
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
No longer are we to live under the influence of the flesh
1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
No longer under influence, no longer making provision for the flesh
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Know, that the war is real, it is for the very soul, for the things of the flesh can keep you out of the kingdom.
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
and add to that one of our verses today
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
So, be one who walks by the spirit
16 I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Set your mind on the things of the Spirit
5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Set your mind of the word of God, for it was the word that resisted Satan for Jesus
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
and then with Jesus
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”
Don’t fulfill the flesh, for the Spirit will give you the strength needed for this fight!
12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Let the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body, of the flesh! HE will do it and He will strengthen you
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
For he is abundantly more (Eph3:20-21)
(Insert Invitation slide previously used here)
Don’t take lightly the works, the deeds of the flesh, have you put to death the deeds by the forgiveness of your sins?
Do you remember and does your remembering impact what you do today? Are there areas you still need to allow the Holy Spirit to put to death in you.
(Song) (Prayer) (exit)