I would just like to mention that
due to my current working hours, this message will not go out at the regular
times as it used to go out, but I will make every effort to let it go out on
the days it should go out.
The last two acts of the sinful
nature that we are going to discuss from Galatians 5:19-21 is drunkenness and orgies.
Outrageous, you may exclaim, we don’t
even think along these lines in Christian circles. Do we not? What is
drunkenness? Is it not an addiction – people being controlled by something that
affects our relationship with either or both the Lord and people around us.
What can we be addicted to that prevent us from being completely free to serve
the Lord with all our heart? We can be addicted to work, hobbies, sport, money,
a certain lifestyle, comfort, a certain image we have to maintain, television,
social networking and you may continue naming anything you can think of that
controls our time and effort.
But these things are nothing like
alcoholism! Are they not? How pleased is your spouse if you spend too much time
at work or on your hobby, inclusive of social networking? How pleased is the
Lord if we work so hard at filling our pockets that we do not have time for
obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit. In the same breath we can mention
pride, position or image, and lifestyle. These things are worldly and does not
contribute to the Kingdom of God, even if we give a little of our time to be
religious. Drunkenness or alcoholism is a selfish act that holds one under its
control, affects those around one and keeps one from becoming what you should
be in the Kingdom of God.
The rich young man came to ask Jesus:
“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
Jesus asked him whether he actually obeyed the law, which is equal to us obeying
the Holy Spirit, and which he confirmed. Then Jesus said: “‘If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had
great possessions,” (Matthew 19:16-22).
Why was the young man sorrowful? His
possessions had control over him, just like drunkenness. What is it that
controls you? What is it that prevents you from following the Lord wholeheartedly?
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are
on earth. For you have
died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you
also will appear with him in glory,” (Colossians 4:1-4). Are we setting
our minds on things above all the time? No we don’t. Some of us may, but most
of us are controlled by desires of the sinful nature that keep us tied to
earthly interests such as status, image (also within the church), money and the
like that we have mentioned above.
The other act of the sinful nature
is orgies. The Galatians were a church that came to being because raw pagans started
to believe in Jesus, and Paul had to teach them that sexual orgies are not
exactly what Christians do anymore. In Christ life is different. Jesus told the
crowd in the Sermon on the Mount: “You have heard that
it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with
lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” (Matthew
5:27-28). Orgies are mass adultery in God’s eyes. According to Jesus’ standards,
if men look at women the wrong way, and if women cause men to do that by the
way they dress and lure men with their manner, it boils down to the same – mass
adultery.
Can you see that Satan and the
carnal nature are out to cause us to have so much baggage that we do not have
time, or the right standing, to effectively serve the Lord? I challenge all of
us to look into our hearts and get rid of anything that takes the place of the
Lord in our lives, even if we think that it is Christian and noble, such as a
position of authority in church. The Lord’s most powerful people were of no esteem
in this world – Moses, Elijah, Jesus, John, James, Peter, Paul and many more.
They had nothing and were severely persecuted.
Paul cautioned the Ephesians: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is
debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”
(Ephesians 5:18). Shall we rephrase it? Do not get shamelessly controlled by
your selfish desires, but be controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Thank you Lord that your Word went
out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you
empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which
you sent it.
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benefit by it.
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