Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Are You Fleshy or Fruity? (Part 2)

Hatred (Greek "ekthra")
Hatred is an attitude of the heart in which the inner motivation is for the ill treatment of others.

Contentions (Greek "eris")
This defines a person with a combative and argumentative spirit. Most of us have come across those who always seem to want to fight you on something or are always ready for a fight. Although we are told in Scripture to always have a defense ready, this includes telling the truth in love. The Spirit will NEVER lead us to become contentious people. When hatred enters our hearts, then contention is not far behind. This kind of attitude shows that the Spirit is not active in one's life.

Jealousies (Greek "zelos")
Jealousy is the desire to have what someone else has; a wrong desire for what is not for us. It is desiring someone else's blessings for yourself.

Outbursts of wrath (Greek "thumos")
This denotes a sudden flash of anger, losing your temper, unable to control your anger. But remember, there are "silent" outbursts of anger..in which we enact an outburst in our minds toward a person; someone who does this is just as guilty as someone who actually acts out on it.

Selfish ambitions (Greek "eritheia")
Here we come to the main motto of our modern society...it's the old question, "What's in it for me?" This question has become the golden rule for how many of us live our lives. The aims of selfish ambition are profit and power...someone engaged in this has no concept of service for others beyond what THEY can gain out of it.

Dissensions (Greek "dichostasia")
This one is straight forward..it literally means "standing apart". A contentious person promotes dissensions...and we see the effects of these types of divisions today in the body of Christ...and sadly it's still continuing.

Heresies (Greek "Hairesis")
We often think this word means "false teachings"...but in actuality, the Greek word used here means "the wrongful dividing over opinions." It, in essence, is hardened dissensions.

Envy (Greek "phthonos")
Envy is similar to jealousy....but it's actually worse because it's not only the desire for what someone else has, it's a bitterness/loathing for something someone has that you do not.

Murders (Greek "phonos")
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines murder as "the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought." Although that's pretty straightforward, Jesus takes the term further and defines murder not only as the act, but the thought also. Matthew 5:21-22a “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment."

Drunkenness
While Christians may differ as to if a believer should drink alcohol (based on personal convictions), the Scriptures clearly forbid drunkenness. We must not think that this only means "falling down drunk," but being impaired in ANY WAY by drink is a sin, as well as drinking with the intention of becoming impaired. Ephesians 5:18 says, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit". This verse describes drunkenness as "dissipation", which means wastefulness. Getting drunk is a waste of our time, resources, and spiritual lives. God is not and cannot be in this type of lifestyle.

Revelries (Greek "komos")
This is unrestrained partying. It's the "party life." This person is CHARACTERIZED by the fact that they're a partier.

Romans 8:5-8 states
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.


I believe this verse pretty much sums up the difference between living according to our sin nature and living according to the Spirit and how God views both.

Now the last part of Galatians 5:21 is pretty freaky (I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.)

So what does this mean? Does this mean that every time I "slip up" morally that I'm not going to heaven? Well...let's examine the verse. The Greek word used for practice is "prasso". It is a present tense verb which indicates a HABITUAL continuation in fleshly sins, rather than an isolated lapse. The point is, that those who continually practice such sins give evidence of having never received God's Spirit.

Why? Because the Holy Spirit will ALWAYS convict us of our sins when we're living in them. Those who do these things and experience no conviction at all (or maybe they'll just "feel bad" about them but will make no effort to turn from their sin) must really examine if they even have the Holy Spirit living within them. You see, it's not that a Christian can never commit these sins, but that they can never STAY in these sins because of the heart-changing work of the Spirit.

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