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Series: Works of the Flesh
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Additional file: 2014-09-14 Works of the Flesh - Part 6 - Alan Yeater.docx


S.R. 1 Peter 4:1-5

Introduction

  1. The enemy of the Spirit:
    1. The flesh (Gk. sarx) is the deadly enemy of the spirit (pneuma). (Gal.5:17).
    2. (Gal.5:17) the flesh is “against,” and “in opposition to” the spirit.
      1. “lust of the flesh” is not limited to the sensual desires of the physical body (cf.Gal.5:20 relates to attitudes of mind).
      2. Opportunities of Freedom (5:13-15): In Christ, we were called to freedom (5:13); set free from the bondage of sin and death and self-dependence. We must not abuse our freedom to think we can do what we want. Freedom in Christ is not license to sin; it is not license to give into our own sinful desires. That is turning freedom into an “opportunity for the flesh” (5:13). We were set free so that we could serve, not be served; so that we could serve others and not our own selfish desires. We were called to love and love finds its ultimate expression in our serving one another.
      3. Walk by the Spirit (5:16-18): Rather than turning freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, walk by the Spirit. “Walk”, describes the overall course of my life, not just a specific uncharacteristic action here or there. The challenge we’re given in these verses: Will I live for God’s will or will I live for my own will?
      4. Paul already described this process in his own life (2:19-20). His death to “law” was a death to the system of law that enslaved him – trying to be right on his own efforts. This “death” brought about freedom so that he could live to God. Beyond this death to his own efforts, he crucified his own will and sinful desires so that Christ could rule in his life. He put his sinful desires to a violent death, and now lives by faith with a constant view of grace – that is walking by the Spirit. (Gal. 2:20) Theme of our studies.
      5. Evidence of Your Walk (5:19-23): Am I living for God or for myself? That is evident by our works; “the works of the flesh are evident” (5:19). “Fruit” also is visible and obvious (5:22). Whether I am living for God’s will or my own will is obvious by my life – the words I say, the attitudes I express, and the actions I take. These all demonstrate whether I am living for myself or for God’s will. And so Paul presents works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit to help us see which side we are on.
  2. There are certain thoughts and actions that should be on our “won’t list”.
    1. Participating in these thoughts and actions are killers.
    2. Consequences are eternal (Gal. 5:21) “those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
  3. Last summer we looked at a few of these:
    1. The works of the flesh (our nature when we give into sin) are obvious:
    2. Gal. 5:19-20 “19sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, and envy were discussed from an etymological, cultural and spiritual level.
    3. Last week we looked at Anger (wrath); Selfish Ambition and Dissensions.
  4. The elders requested that we finish what we started. Final three on the list are:

Outline

  1. Factions (Galatians 5:20)
    1. Greek word hairesis
    2. Translations KJV & NKJV: heresies; ASV: parties; NASB & NIV: factions
    3. Definition: “a body of people belonging to a particular school of thought and action and holding to a particular kind of belief.”
    4. New Testament Usage:
      1. Sect of: Pharisees (Acts 15:5; 26:5); Sadducees (Acts 5:17); the Nazarenes (Acts 24:5);
      2. Christians (Acts 24:14; 28:22). For example: Christians (Acts 24:14; 28:22).
        1. Sect – not necessarily heretical, (those which abandon true teaching for party lines, cf. Mt.21:25-27), sometimes used to describe a body of people who have chosen the same system of belief and conduct. What is under consideration in (Gal.5:20) is the division within the church (local assembly) into groups and parties which destroys the togetherness of the church.
        2. Beware of huddles: “as you all know”   “we all know” “everybody in the group…” “all who are core know…” Not all of us have been here 30 years
      3. Note (1 Cor.11:18-(v.19) “heresies; factions”
        1. Instead of sharing united fellowship the members were divided into parties and sections.
        2. They turned the Lord’s Supper into a common meal without respect for Christ or brethren.
        3. 1 Corinthians 4:17 “For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.”
  2. Drunkenness: KJV & NIV “an intoxicant” (alcohol not the only intoxicant)
    1. A.Notice the company it keeps:
      1. (Romans 13:13)
        1. a. Greek: komos and methi
        2. b.“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.”
      2. God’s view of Drunkenness:
        1. Prov. 20:1; ““Wine is a mocker and beer (strong drink) a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
        2. Isaiah 28:1.7-8 “7Woe to the proud… drunkards of Ephraim…And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions. 8All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.”
        3. Putrid filth and degradation produced by alcohol.
    2. Why is drunkenness incongruent with the life of a Christian?
      1. Sober minds are necessary to serve Christ. Clarity of thought is critical.
        1. 1 Thess. 5:6-8 “6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
        2. 1 Peter 4:7 “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
        3. Usages of “Wine in Scripture” See Website 6-22-2014 or email me for an outline.
      2. Alcohol and other chemicals distort sober thinking and diminish natural inhibitions.
      3. Driving under the influence” is a crime. Christians are law-abiding.
        1. Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
        2. Steering our minds, mouths, and passions is far more important than steering a car.
        3. Lives can be ruined in both cases.
    3. Jesus was never drunk and he never encouraged others to become intoxicated.
      1. John 2:1-11 Jesus turned water to wine: See Website 6-22-2014 or email me for a copy of the outline. Usage of the terms for “wine” in Scripture
        1. No basis in the text to presume that this was alcoholic or intoxicating
        2. Especially when we consider everything Jesus taught and did that required soberness and sound judgment
        3. Would Jesus have done anything to contradict these principles He advocated?
        4. He personally refused “sour wine” even at the point of intense pain.
          1. 1 Peter 2:22 “Jesus did not sin”
          2. God does not tempt people to sin (James 1:13) “drawn away by their own lust and enticed.”
          3. Jesus did not and would not contradict what He directed Peter to write in 1 Peter 4:3
    4. Please consider 1 Peter 4:3-5
      1. “3For 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. 4In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; 5but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
      2. KJV translates “banquetings” NIV “carousing” ESV “drinking parties:
        1. Gk. “potos” R.C. Trench says about (Gk. potos) translated, “drinking parties”
        2. “The banquet, the symposium, not of necessity excessive.”
      3. The Bible covers any and all misuses and abuses of alcohol from “a little bit” to excessive use.
      4. Former friendships are “toxic”. You must end those relationships.
      5. The question of whether or not to use alcohol boils down to motive and influence.
        1. At times it has been prescribed as a necessary medicine (1 Tim. 5:23).
          1. Is that your motive?
          2. The health benefits are in the grape not in the alcohol.
          3. Timothy chose to drink water until directed by an apostle to do otherwise for health reasons.
        2. b.What do others think about us when they see us choosing to drink alcoholic beverages? (Same amount of alcohol in 1 and ¼ oz of 80 proof whiskey as in a 12 oz. beer and 5 oz of wine. Why condemn one and not the others?)
          1. Does it cause them to think of us as spiritual or carnal? (1 Pet.4:3) Gentile life
          2. Does it encourage them to drink or not to drink alcohol?
          3. Could our drinking encourage others to sin? (1 Cor.8:9-11)
      6. Motives to drink:
        1. Parental influence: either they drink or they expect you to do so
        2. College influence: Fraternities and Sororities and Admin Expects it
        3. Professional organizations, employers, conferences, symposiums
    5. Encourage you to interview the recovering alcoholics among us.
      1. Ask them there advice about drinking or starting to drink.
      2. Ask them the costs in their life for choosing to drink.
      3. Ask those of us who had family members who used alcohol.
      4. Personally, I am pleading with you not only to not drink and drive, but don’t drink at all.
  3. Carousals: KJV - “revellings” NASB - carousings; NIV and ESV: orgies
    1. Gk. Komos
      1. “a carousal, orgies (as if a letting loose): revelling, rioting.” (Hebrew-Greek Dictionary)
        1. “It expresses a lustful excess in physical and sexual pleasure, offensive to God and man.” Barclay
      2. Notice the company (Romans 13:13) “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.”
    2. New Testament Usage:
      1. Luke 21:34 (Jesus describing a time of Judgment) “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.”
      2. 2 Peter 2:13-14 “13and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.”
    3. No wonder that guys want girls to drink in order to take advantage of their lowered inhibitions
      1. Purdue girls admit to drinking to numb the pain of conscience in sexual activity. (Exponent)
      2. Date rape with drugs placed in drinks.
      3. “My dad taught me how to handle alcohol.”
  4. Conclusion: Abandoning factions, drunkenness, and carousing can only be fully realized in the power of Christ as we submit our will to His.
    1. There is one way for the Christian to avoid all such sinful pleasure. It is simply to remember that he is forever in the presence of Jesus Christ. This fact challenges us to make every aspect of our life, in its work and pleasure, fit for Jesus Christ to
      1. Do you want to live for God?
      2. Gal. 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
    2. The Devil is the master of taking that which is good in itself and distorting and perverting it for the selfish destruction of our souls. Let us once again be reminded that: Gal.5:19-21“19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
    3. Every time God gives a don’t or “must not” list He always supplies a “must” list. Replacement Therapy is essential for victory over the flesh.
      1. Gal. 5:22-23 “22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
    4. Forgiveness is real and constantly available in Christ
      1. “9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
      2. 1 Cor. 6:11 “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
      3. Coming to God for help and healing: “…8and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. 9…: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”” (Acts 18:8-10)