It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us.  Rom 10:8  The Message

This is particularly important, because the Christian life is a walk of faith from beginning to the end.  Everything the child of God does, must be done in faith.  For without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

It is essential therefore, for the believer, whenever he may be confronted with a seemingly adverse situation, to align his or her utterances with what God’s word says about that particular situation; and keep declaring God’s word regarding that situation, until a change is realized.  I like the way the Living Bible captures this:

We boldly say what we believe [trusting God to care for us], just as the psalm writer did when he said, “I believe and therefore I speak.  2 Cor 4:13  TLB

So we exercise our faith in God, when we call into existence the things that do not exist. (Rom 4:17)  One may ask: Is not the practice of declaring what one is yet to see manifested a mere denial of the facts of life?  Is the believer who makes such utterances not living in denial?  Not at all.  In the natural and to the carnal mind, this practice may seem foolish, but not so in the eyes of God.  No doubt, God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.

To exercise your mouth as an organ of faith is not to deny the situation you may be confronted with, but rather, to superimpose what God’s word says regarding such situations to that particular challenge you may be confronted with.

For example you may feel physically weak and admit to that fact, but deliberately and regularly confess in tandem with God’s word that you are strong: let the weak say, I am strong (Joel 2:8) As you keep doing this, with time you will begin to receive strength in your body.  For as children of God, the words that we speak, are life and spirit!

A careful read of the Bible, also reveals that our utterances are also a weapon of warfare.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, Rev 12:11 NKJV

The eternal blood of Jesus, no doubt has redeemed us from the kingdom of darkness into God’s perfect light.  When we align our words with what God’s word says about our lives and the specific situations in our lives, our words assume power and become like a light that dispels whatever darkness we may have been surrounded with.  As the Scriptures put it:

You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.  Job 22:28 NKJV

Our mouth is certainly an organ of our faith and there is the need for each child of God to come to terms with this truth and accordingly, exercise his or her tongue rightly.  The word of God should not only be in our hearts, but also on our lips. We should speak out what we believe in our hearts; and never underestimate the power in our words, realizing that we create our future with the words we speak.  The Scripture below explicitly captures this point:

As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”   Isa 59:21  NKJV Emphasis mine

Let each of us endeavour not to speak carelessly but align our words and utterances in any situation, with what God says in His word regarding such matters.  For the believer in Christ Jesus, our bodies are the containers of God’s presence; His Spirit dwells in us and His word should not depart from our mouths! Remember the Word and Spirit is what created the whole universe.

God bless you!

The post Organs of our Faith – The Mouth (II) appeared first on Fragrance of Love.

In our previous posts, we looked extensively at what the Scriptures refer to as our heart, and how important the maintenance of our spiritual heart is, for the sustenance of our faith in God.  In this post and the subsequent one, we will look at the mouth, as an organ of our faith.

Our future is carved by the words we speak.  We read from the book of Genesis that even though the Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the earth, there was darkness all over, until God commanded the light into being:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  Then God said,”Let there be light”; and there was light. Gen 1:1-4 NKJV

Similarly, one may be born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues and even manifest the fruit of the Spirit, but without employing the use of our mouths, by speaking out in faith what we desire to see manifested in our lives, we may not see the realization of that which we hope for, in the physical realm.

No doubt, the mouth is an important organ of our faith! If this organ must be exercised in the realization of our salvation through Christ Jesus, then its importance in our entire walk of faith cannot be underestimated. As the Scriptures say:

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.  Prov 18:21 NKJV

The Apostle Paul also puts it this way:

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);  Rom 10:8 ESV

So our faith in God should not only be in our hearts, but must be expressed with the words that proceed from our mouths.  We must speak out in faith, what we trust God for in our hearts. For as we confess into being, what we are yet to see in the natural world, our future will be carved out to conform to our utterances. Our declarations of faith will thus be like a light dispelling whatever dark situation we may be confronted with. I like the way this biblical truth is expressed in the book of Job:

You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways. Job 22:28 NKJV

There is also a story in the Bible that depicts the veracity of this Scripture. In Numbers chapters 13 and 14, we read that Moses sent 12 men, leaders from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to spy out the land of Canaan, the land that God had promised to give to His people Israel. The mandate given to these spies were as follows: to see what the land was like: whether the people who dwelt in it were strong or weak, few or many; whether the land was good or bad; whether the cities they inhabited were like camps or strongholds; whether the land was rich or poor; and whether there were forests there or not; and to bring some of the fruit of the land.

All the twelve spies returned from the trip, brought fruit from the land and reported that the land flows with milk and honey, the cities were fortified and the people who dwelt there were strong and mighty.

However, Joshua and Caleb gave voice to the faith they had in God, by publicly declaring that in spite of the apparent advantage the inhabitants of Canaan seemed to have over them in respect of their physical strength, they were certain that, with God on their side, they would surely overcome those inhabitants.  The other ten spies however instilled fear in the Israelites by the report they gave, for they said to the people of Israel:

We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we…. The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature..…. and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Num 13:31-33 NKJV

By these words, almost all the people lost their faith in God and cried out to Moses, complaining that they would have been better off dying in Egypt than the current predicament they found themselves in, with Moses as their leader.  God considered those utterances as an expression of their lack of faith in Him and made a profound statement:

‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you….  Num 14:28 NKJV

Consequently, the ten spies, along with all those who stood with them perished in the wilderness, whereas Joshua, Caleb and all those who also stood with these two men in faith, were able to make it into the Promised Land!

God’s word never falls to the ground.  He will do for you and me, just what He hears us declare with our mouths. If we claim to have faith in Him, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, with the assurance that He is faithful; and will do according to what He has promised us in His Word. (Heb 10:23).

To be continued in the next blog.

God bless you!

The post Organs of our Faith – The Mouth (1) appeared first on Fragrance of Love.

Just as a sharp object is required to circumcise the male reproductive organ, so also does the new testament circumcision, require our spiritual hearts to be circumcised with God’s word, the sword of the Spirit, which is sharper than any two edged sword and discerns the soul and spirit, exposing our innermost thoughts and desires to us in the light of God’s word (Hebrews 4).

Could it not be the case that the reason why a change is often not seen in the lifestyles of many who profess to be Christians, and who may even have actually accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, is probably because many of us do not allow the Word of God to prune our lives?

We stated earlier, that the circumcision of the male sexual organ, according to experts, not only shapes the organ, but also prevents it from attracting diseases.  Similarly, once we allow the Word of God to trim our hearts, and we align our thoughts, emotions, will power and decisions with God’s Word, we become more like Christ in character and ultimately become more fruitful in our walk with the Lord.  Indeed Christ Himself taught his followers extensively that his true disciples will be recognized by their fruits. (John 15)

You will recognize them by their fruits….. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Matt 7:16-19 ESV

A holistic study of the Scriptures show that the manifestation of this fruit in our lives is evidenced in how we relate with one another and in how we react to the issues and trials that confront us in our individual lives. (1 Pet 1:22)

God’s intent for man is to be fruitful and multiply, and a productive heart yields the fruit of the Spirit outlined below:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Gal 5:22-23 NKJV

This is only possible when by the Spirit of God, we subdue the works of the flesh.   As we regularly examine ourselves carefully in the mirror of God’s Word, our weaknesses and flaws are exposed to us.  Our thoughts and desires, actions, inactions and motives among others that mar and taint us in God’s sight, are revealed to us, by the power of His Word. The more exposed we are to God’s word, the more our individual attitudes and actions that conflict with His word are laid bare before us.

It is important therefore, for every child of God to routinely submit him or herself to pruning by the spiritual sword – God’s Word.  This process may sometimes hurt our pride, and at other times make us seem foolish, in the eyes of others; nonetheless as we persevere in pleasing God in all our ways, a transformation in our lifestyles is seen by all.

For example, in the books of Romans and Hebrews, we read:

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Rom 12:18

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Heb 12:14 ESV

When we are awakened to our weaknesses in the light of these Scriptures, and learn that our holiness before God is linked to our relationships with one another; we will, in seeking to please God, choose not to insist on our individual rights, whenever we find ourselves in a potentially contentious situation, but rather submit to the other party’s notion or alternative, for the purpose of avoiding conflicts and animosity, so long as it would not be harmful to any of the persons concerned.

As we continually seek to please God and allow His word to shape us, we will gradually be transformed in our thoughts and actions to become more Christ-like.  We will realize that with time, our actions are subsequently not motivated by self-interest, but rather by an earnest desire to consider the interests of others above ours. (Philipp. 2)

Similarly, the joy of the Lord will bubble from within us at all times, as we take delight in fulfilling God’s will for our lives.

Peace floods our hearts as we trust God with the issues in our lives; and we become more patient as we take inspiration from the trials and triumphs of the heroes of faith (Rom 15:4).

All this however begins when you believe with your heart that Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for your sin and confess Him as the Lord and Saviour of your life (John 3:16-18).  If you have not done this, I encourage you to do so.  Only when this is done, can our hearts be circumcised with the spiritual sword of God’ Sword, and we become more like Christ.  For He says:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  John 15:1-3   NKJV

God richly bless you!

The post The Heart As A Reproductive Organ – 2 appeared first on Fragrance of Love.

We concluded from our study that the biblical heart is the intangible part of man, comprising our minds, emotions, will power, decisions we take and our thoughts; and it is what is referred to as “the hidden man of the heart” (1 Pet 3:4).  In effect, our speech and everything we do, stems from our heart. Our biblical heart therefore, is the lens through which our Creator, God Almighty identifies who we really are.

The choice of the word heart, as earlier stated, is to better enable us relate to it as humans, and understand that, the condition of our spiritual heart is just as important for the sustenance of our faith in God, as the condition of our physical heart is, to the sustenance of our lives here on earth.  In today’s blog, we will examine the heart as the reproductive organ of our spiritual life and begin with God’s covenant with Abraham.

Abraham is the father of promise.  God divinely elected him and determined that through Abraham, He would establish His promise with mankind.  So that when God manifested Himself in human form through Christ Jesus, He made sure that our Saviour was born from the lineage of Abraham.  (Matt 1:1)

We read from the book of Genesis that God first appeared to Abraham and promised to bless him, make him “exceedingly fruitful”, make nations out of him, and ensure that through him, all the families of the earth would be blessed. God again appeared to Abraham when the latter was 99 years old, not only re-echoing the earlier blessing pronounced but also establishing a covenant of blessing with him.

Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations…. and I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Gen 17:3-5;7-8 NKJV

This is the promise, that every believer in Christ Jesus has become a partaker of, by virtue of God’s grace.  In this same discourse with Abraham, God continued by stating clearly what the sign of that covenant between Him and Abraham’s descendants thereafter would be: the circumcision of every male child of his.

This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. Gen 17:10-12 Emphasis mine NKJV

So in the Israelite culture and many other cultures in the world to date, circumcision is widely practised. Circumcision is the cutting of the foreskin of the male sexual organ with a sharp object. This male sexual organ is also part of the reproductive organs of a man, and experts say that the cutting of the foreskin not only shapes that organ, but also prevents it from attracting diseases.

Fruitfulness and productivity come from the reproductive organ.  A productive sexual organ is able to produce the life of another human being.

In our study of Scripture, it is important for us to understand that the Old Testament is a shadow of the New Testament. (Col 2:17) Everything we read in the Old Testament, is thus a pointer to the new covenant we have with God through Christ Jesus, and which is revealed in the New Testament.  Consequently, every believer in Christ Jesus, is a partaker of the promises made to Abraham.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus ….and if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Gal 3:26-27; 29 NKJV

No doubt, Abraham’s promises are ours.

….that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, Eph 3:6

If the sign of the covenant God made with Abraham of which we are partakers, is one of circumcision, how does that translate into the New Testament covenant that we have with God through Christ Jesus, in this era of Grace?

Well, it is interesting to note that circumcision is also mentioned in the New Testament as a sign of our covenant with God.

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.  Romans 2:28-29 NKJV Emphasis mine

This time around, as born again believers, the organ to be circumcised for fruitfulness in our walk with the Lord, is not the male sexual organ, but the heart, our spiritual heart – the ruling centre of our whole being. Indeed, New Testament circumcision has to do with the heart.   Why?  Because the heart is the productive organ of the spirit, “out of it are the issues of life”.  (Prov 4:23)

The sign of our covenant with God, as beneficiaries of His grace, is therefore the circumcision of our hearts!  Just as the act of circumcision in the old covenant involves a sharp object which is used to trim the reproductive organ, so also is provision made in the new covenant for the heart to be trimmed with a sharp spiritual weapon – the Word of God!

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.  Heb 4:12-13 NLT

God’s intent for man is to be fruitful and multiply, and the heart is the spiritual reproductive organ of our spirit man.  It is only when this heart is circumcised with the sword of the Spirit – God’s word, that we can bear fruit as children of God. (Gal 5: 22-23)

To be continued in the next blog.

God bless you!

The post The Heart As A Reproductive Organ – 1 appeared first on Fragrance of Love.

In the Scriptures we see several mentions of some parts of our human bodies so to speak, in the exercise of our faith in God.  Are these mere analogies? Why is the mention of these organs replete in Scripture?  I have identified two of such organs, which the Scriptures portray as integral in our Christian walk: the heart and the mouth; and in the next few weeks God willing, we will be studying tit bits under what I have captioned as the Organs of our Faith. 

In this first blog, we will look at a few Scriptural references where the heart of man is portrayed as an important organ of our faith in God and then explain what the Bible refers to as the heart of man.

It is important to note that in the realization of the salvation that God Himself has worked out for mankind through His Son Jesus Christ, these two organs of faith are involved: the heart and the mouth. In other words, you and I can only become partakers of God’s gift of Salvation to us by engaging our hearts and our mouths: by believing in our hearts, Christ’s redemptive work for us, and by confessing with our mouths, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Saviour.

…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Rom 10:9-10 NKJV

We also read from (Genesis 6), that what compelled God to destroy mankind and indeed the whole earth in the lifetime of Noah, was when He saw the wickedness that was continually conceived in the heart of man.

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them. Gen 6:5-7 NKJV Emphasis mine

Against the backdrop of this story, and other instances in Scripture where the heart of man is referred to, the saying of our Lord Jesus in Matthew chapter 5 is very insightful:

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt 5:8)

One of the most profound stories in the Bible where we see God’s consideration of the state of the heart of man, as His focus of attention, has to do with His election of David as a replacement for king Saul.  When God rejected Saul as king (1 Samuel 16), He sent the prophet Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons as His chosen king:

So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”  But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  1 Sam 16:6-7 NKJV Emphasis mine

It is interesting to note that the prophet Samuel, was limited in his ability to discern the right person that God had chosen.  Glaringly, even though he was a prophet and could sometimes speak the mind of God, he was unable to see beyond the outward appearance of Eliab to discern his heart and its intent thereof; for the prophet’s judgement of God’s chosen one was wrong; and but for God’s promptings, prophet Samuel would probably have anointed Eliab as the chosen king.

Just like Samuel, we all, mortal as we are, are unable to see the heart of man and only reckon believers and non-believers alike by what we see of them on the outward.

God however, does not see as man sees; but looks beyond what man looks at.  He looks beyond the physical body and its demeanour, to look at the condition of our hearts. So when God sees us as individuals, He does not consider our physique, beauty or otherwise, our wealth; neither does he consider our level of education, nor even how much knowledge of His word that we may be privy to; but rather, what is within our hearts! When God sees you and me, He sees the intangible person within us – our hearts!

For as water reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals a man. (Proverbs 27:19).

So what does the Bible refer to as the heart?   Surely, the several references to the heart in the Scriptures; do not refer to the organ we know as the heart in the physical body, but rather, to the ruling centre of the whole person, the intangible person, the spiritual man within our physical body!

The choice of the word heart, I believe, is to enable us better relate to it as humans, and to make us better understand that, the condition of our spiritual heart is just as important for the sustenance of our faith in God, as the condition of our physical heart is, to the sustenance of our lives here on earth.  No wonder we are admonished to “guard our hearts with all diligence” since out of it comes the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Indeed, the heart is the centre of spiritual activity and all the operations of life.  All decisions we take and emotions we display emanate from the heart; and it is that which makes us who we are.  Let us look at some Scriptures to confirm that the heart encompasses all these areas.  We will begin with the words of Jesus.

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  Matt 15:18-20 NKJV

From this Scripture, we gather that our speech reflects what is harboured in our hearts. Bearing false witness and speaking blasphemies both have to do with utterances a person makes, and Scripture says, all these emanate from the heart.  Similarly everything we think about or do, stems from our hearts. Murder, adultery, fornication and thefts are all actions from the heart.  Once we nurture the thought in our heart, it is tantamount to doing it.

But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? Matthew 9:4 NKJV

From this second Scripture, also words from Jesus, we deduce that the biblical heart comprises our thoughts; for we think with our hearts.  If this is so, then it is important for us as believers, to guard our thoughts and imaginations.

Again, from the texts below, we read that the biblical heart also comprises our emotions. Joy is an emotion, likewise sorrow.  So then, the emotions we express, also spring from our hearts.

The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. Psalm 19:8

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. John 16:6-7 NKJV

Our will power and the decisions we take, also stem from the heart.  We read that:

… Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies,  Dan 1:8  NKJV

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Cor 9:7  NKJV

The verses above indicate that we decide with our hearts.  Consequently, every decision we take, including our decision to surrender our lives to Christ, emanates from the heart. For we become recipients of God’s salvation, when we believe the Gospel in our hearts and confess Christ, with our mouths.  Similarly, backsliding in the life of the believer, begins from the heart. The biblical heart therefore comprises our will power and the decisions we take.

Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.  Heb 3:13   NKJV

The biblical heart also embraces our conscience. For we read that:

For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 1 John 3:20-21 NKJV

Typically, it is our conscience that condemns us when we err or stray off from doing the right thing.  In the Scripture above however, we read that it is our heart that condemns us.  This implies therefore that our conscience forms part of our biblical heart.

One can deduce from all the above discourse that the biblical heart is intangible.  It is a spirit, comprising our minds, emotions, will power culminating in the decisions we take and our thoughts; and it is what is referred to as “the hidden man of the heart” (1 Pet 3:4).  Our biblical heart, is the lens through which our Creator, God Almighty identifies who we really are.

No doubt, the heart is a vital organ of our faith as children of God; and its health, central to the sustenance of our Christian life!  So the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, seeking hearts that are loyal to Him. (2 Chron 16:9)

Stand by for more tit bits on the organs of faith in our subsequent blogs!

God bless you!

The post Organs of our Faith – Tit Bit 1 appeared first on Fragrance of Love.

For every situation you face in life therefore, you have to choose an action that will either gratify the desires of your flesh or gratify the desires of the Spirit of God in you; for what your old nature desires, is contrary to what the Spirit of God now in you, and also prompts you to do. (Galatians 6:16-17)

Over the past few weeks, we have been looking at the manifestations of our fleshly desires outlined in Galatians chapter 5, that we need to subdue by the power of the Holy Spirit. Today, we will examine the sin of murder – as we conclude our teachings on overcoming these works of the flesh.  Let us once again quote one of our key texts in these series.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Gal 5:19-21 NKJV, Emphasis mine)

Interestingly, the sin of murder is not mentioned as one of the manifestations of the flesh in several versions of the Bible.  The King James and New King James versions of the Bible are however careful to mention it.

Murder is defined as the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. (Oxford English dictionary) Murder is not only considered a sin by God Almighty (Exodus 10:13), but it is also an unlawful act in almost every human society, punishable by some of the harshest penalties in any court of law.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, ….. (Lev 17:11, NKJV)

This life of man, on the basis of Scripture, may be accounted from the time a child is formed in the mother’s womb. (Jer. 1:5) In this sense therefore, abortion can be considered as a form of murder.

There are several instances of murders in the Scriptures and unfortunately, even the first family in the Bible fell a victim to this sin (Genesis 4).  Cain resented his brother Abel, because the latter was enjoying the favour of God Almighty; and this led him to kill Abel; for he failed to realize that we are each accountable to God for the blood of another. (Gen 9:5)

That was jealousy and envy at play; for when you are envious of someone, we resent the person for enjoying success or an advantage.

Similarly, the chief priests and elders handed Jesus Christ over to Pilate to be crucified because they were envious of Him! (Matt 27:18)

We see another example in Scripture, in 2 Samuel chapter 13, where Absalom harbored so much hatred in his heart against his step brother Amnon for raping his sister, Tamar; ultimately leading him to kill Amnon.

It is also common place to find people resorting to murder as a form of taking revenge on someone or something. Absalom sought to take revenge on Amnon for raping his sister Tamar, and this desire for revenge, fuelled his hatred for Ammon, ultimately leading him to kill him.  Difficult though it may be, the believer in Christ should not seek to take revenge.  For the Bible says:

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Rom 12:18-20, The Living Bible)

Absalom could have confronted Amnon for committing this abominable sin and demanded an apology from him for his sister Tamar and left the matter in the hands of God Almighty, just like his father David did on countless occasions where king Saul sought to kill him, but he did not.

We see another instance of mass murder at the birth of Jesus.  When king Herod heard through the magi that a king of the Jews had been born, he ordered all the male children, born in Bethlehem and who were below 2 years of age to be massacred.  Bible historians say that this was because Herod had a bad temper and feared losing his kingdom with the birth of a new king.  With Herod’s ambition to probably create a dynasty, the new born king of the Jews seemed to be a threat to that ambition.  This suggests that selfish ambition can also lead to murder.

The underlying cause of selfish ambition is pride and it is not surprising to see this sin of pride listed among the six things that God hates. (Proverbs 6)

From all these biblical examples given above, we see that murder is an outcome which is usually triggered by something else – envy, hatred or selfish ambition with the underlying factor, being the notion of considering ourselves better than the other person – pride!  That is why the Scriptures state that:

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phillp 2:3-4, NKJV)

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing can be found there. (James 3:16-17)

For this reason, it is important for the believer not to entertain the sentiments of jealousy, envy, hatred and selfish ambition from the onset. For these workings of the flesh can easily lead a person to murder another.  In our previous posts: 5, 6, 7, and 8, we have examined through Scripture, ways of overcoming these trigger sins and it will be helpful for the reader of this post to take a look at those earlier studies in order to be able to overcome these manifestations of our sinful nature.

Our new life in Christ is patterned after our Lord Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.  It is therefore important to take a look at Christ Jesus’ words on the sin of murder:

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,  leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matt 5:21-25, ESV)

In this Scripture, Christ Jesus raises the bar on His definition of murder, intimating that murder begins in the heart, before it is manifested on the outward. For out of the heart are the issues of life.  So we murder someone when we speak maliciously against that person. Here again in the Scripture above, Christ identifies those triggers at the root of murder that ought to be addressed as anger, outbursts of rage leading to insults and self-conceitedness.

Christ Jesus brings to our fore, that our worship to God cannot be accepted when we harbor ill-feelings against another and we offend one another with our actions or inactions.  So then, the maturity of the believer in Christ Jesus is ascertained by our relationships, not only with God, but with one another.

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35 NKJV)

For how can we claim to love God whom we have not seen, and not love our brother who is right there in front of us. (1 John 4:20-21)  If we love God, we will seek to live a life pleasing to Him by obeying His word and yielding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us; while we progressively subdue the desires of our old sinful nature that we naturally would have been prone to.

May the Lord help us all to live a life pleasing to Him as we await the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Blessings!

The post Our New Life In Christ (Series – 10) appeared first on Fragrance of Love.

In our previous blogs, we have taken a look at some of the various expressions of our sinful nature that we need to overcome: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, and jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies and envy.  The sins of drunkenness and revelries will be examined today.  Let us once refer to the Scripture in Galatians where all these works of the flesh are outlined:

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21 NKJV Emphasis mine)

Drunkenness

Unlike some of the other sins stated in this text above, the sin of drunkenness is captured as drunkenness in almost all the Bible versions.

Drunkenness is the state of being under the influence of strong liquor.  When a person is drunk, that person’s normal state of mind is affected and that person is unable to reason or behave as he or she would typically have, in his right mind. A person who is also slightly drunk (tipsy) is still disoriented. Whichever way, the Bible categorically states that drunkenness is a sin.

Indeed, even though the Bible does not state that taking any form of alcohol is in itself a sin, it admonishes us to stay away from alcohol because of its potential to make its victim act irrationally.

Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.            (Prov 20:1 NKJV)

So in Proverbs chapter 23, the wisest man Solomon, outlines certain predicaments that the one who yields to the lure of alcohol finds himself in: woe, sorrow, contentions, complaints and wounds without cause. He ends that counsel by saying:

Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly;  At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. (Proverbs 24:32 NKJV)

In 1 Samuel chapter 25, we read of a woman called Abigail, described as “beautiful and very intelligent”, who was married to Nabal also described as “uncouth, churlish, stubborn, and ill-mannered”.  In this story, we learn that but for Abigail’s swift intervention, king David and his men would have killed Nabal’s household because of the latter’s act of foolishness.  Towards the latter part of this same story, we get the sense that Nabal was probably drunk when he sent that provocative answer to king David.

So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. (1 Samuel 25:37-39 NKJV)

No wonder, Nabal was considered as a fool because he was often under the influence of alcohol and acted foolishly in various instances.  A wise man, will desist from alcohol so as not to act irrationally.

There is also the example of Noah that we read in the Bible.  Noah is described as a “just man, perfect in his generations” (Gen 6).  We read however, that one day, Noah, being a farmer, got drunk with the wine of his own vineyard, and lay “uncovered in his tent”.  His son Ham, saw the nakedness of his father and reported the same to his two brothers, who refused to look on their father’s nakedness but rather walked backwards into their father’s room with a garment to cover his nakedness.

This action of Ham, provoked Noah to curse him and his descendants after him; for in the ancient world, it was not merely an offence to see a father’s nakedness but actually a capital crime.

So by yielding to the lure of wine this one time, righteous Noah, indirectly brought a curse on his son Ham and his descendants after him.  No wonder the counsel of king Lemuel’s mother is one worth paying attention to:

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;  Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. (Prov 31:4-5 NKJV)

Instead of yielding to the lure of alcohol, being drunk by it, and acting under its influence, the Scriptures urge us to allow ourselves to be influenced by the Holy Spirit in all we do and say:

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:18-30  New Living Translation)

Just as alcohol influences a person to say and do things he or she would normally not have done in his right mind, so are we to allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lifestyles, actions and inactions.  We should be addicted to praying in the Spirit, as a drunkard is to wine, by daily creating and positioning ourselves in an environment where Christ is glorified.  So that now,

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20 ESV)

 

Revelries

While the King James Version of the Bible refers to this sin as revelries, some other versions refer to it as orgies and others, wild parties.  The original word in the Greek translation is komos, translated merry making, with wine and hosting unbridled sexual activity.  So reveling has to do with participating in wild parties.

While Jesus was here on earth, he participated in dinners and other social gatherings.  In fact, His first miracle was at a wedding feast. (John 2)  He was hosted by Simon the Pharisee to a dinner in the latter’s house (Luke 7); and also dined with Zaccheaus(Luke 19).

This shows us that there is nothing wrong for the believer in Christ Jesus to attend dinners where there is good food, good music, various beverages and some moderate fun activities.  A party is termed as Revelry, when it has to do with some aspect of sensuality, open display of sexual advances or profanity. This is what the believer in the Lord should desist from. Our guideline for participating in social activities should be the Scripture below:

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor 11:1 NKJV)

So in participating in any social activity, the question we ought to ask ourselves, is “does our presence there give glory to God?  What social atmosphere has been created there? Is the music being played there uplifting or one filled with profanity?

It is interesting to note that when Jesus attended any of the social gatherings earlier indicated, He demonstrated God’s love to the people in one way or the other: either through a miracle by turning water into wine, or by forgiving a sinner as in the case of the “unnamed woman” who was known by the community. (Luke 7)

Similarly, as a child of God, we ought to ask ourselves, whether we are demonstrating God’s love and are being an example to the people around whenever we find ourselves in a social gathering. Do people see you as different? Can they see the light of God in you?

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.  ……. I’m putting you on a light stand.  Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! (Matt 5:14-15a, The Message Bible)

Let us endeavor to be influenced by the Holy Spirit and seek to bring glory to God in whatever we do and wherever we find ourselves.  For when we purpose in our hearts to do this, the Grace of God will abound to us in that venture (Titus 2:11) and we will progressively be able to subdue the sinful desires of our old nature and be transformed into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 3:18)

May the Lord help us all in this regard.

Stay connected for a continuation of this weekly teaching!

God bless you.

The post Our New Life In Christ (Series – 9) appeared first on Fragrance of Love.

We have already examined the sins of sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, heresies, contentions, outbursts of wrath, jealousy and envy in our previous blogs.  In this post therefore, we will look at the sins of selfish ambition and seditions.  Let us refer once again to the Scripture in Galatians where all these works of the flesh are outlined.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Gal 5:19-21 NKJV Emphasis mine)

Selfish Ambition: While the King James Version of the Bible refers to this sin as Strife, some other versions refer to it as rivalries.  Nonetheless, the original word in the Greek translation is eritheia,  translated “mercenary self-seeking”.  This original translation of the word can therefore be explained as acting for one’s own gain, regardless of the discord or strife it causes.

From this etymology therefore, selfish ambition best captures this work of the flesh.  To be selfishly ambitious, is to be self-seeking; always seeking one’s own interest above anyone else’s.  A person who is selfishly ambitious projects himself and deploys his unique gift to push his personal agenda in an organisation regardless of the strife it causes or the factions it creates in that organisation.

Seditions: While the King James Version of the Bible refers to this sin as sedition, most other versions, refer to it as dissensions. The root word used in the original Greek translation however is dichostasia translated as standing apart.  With this original translation therefore, this work of the flesh can be explained as disagreements arising from an action or speech and inciting discontent or partisanship in a group.

The sins of selfish ambition and seditions both have to do with a projection of the self.  A careful look at the definitions and meanings above show that while the selfishly ambitious person’s actions are aimed at projecting himself, the seditious person creates partisanship in an organisation if he holds an opposing idea to what is accepted in that organisation.

So the underlying sin of pride is one that every believer needs to deal with.  For pride breeds contention wherever it is manifested.

Only by pride cometh contention: (Prov 13:10 KJV)

No doubt pride is listed as one of the six things that God hates in Proverbs chapter 6.  In the Scriptures, we read of King Saul, who could not stand the applause David was receiving from the women, for killing the giant Goliath.  For in his conceitedness, he believed that once he was the king, he deserved more applause, regardless.

So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward. (1 Sam 18:7-9 NKJV)

From that day onwards, Saul sought to kill David. Saul’s ambition was to reign as king of Israel for his entire life time whether or not he had God’s approval; and David seemed to be a threat to that ambition.

A believer who is self-ambitious places self-interest ahead of what the Lord declares right or what is good for others.  It is important for every child of God to keep the Scripture below in mind, in order to overcome pride and its related sins of self-ambition, jealousy and envy among others.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phillp 2:3-4 NKJV)

This is important because selfish ambition, if not checked from the onset, will lead a person to destroy himself.  We see that much as Saul tried, he was unable to kill David and only ended up destroying himself.  Similarly, Haman, thinking that no one apart from himself was worthy of honor from the king, ended up humiliating himself before Mordecai, the very person, he sought to destroy. (Esther 6)  The story of Adonijah (1 Kings 2) is also an example.

The Bible tells us that we are beautifully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14); and also tells us that each believer is in a race, not to compete with others, but to be able to obtain his or her own prize.  So the Scripture says:

Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.  (Hebrews 12:1, The Living Bible, Emphasis mine)

It is God who sets the race for each individual and it is He who thus determines the life span of each runner.  In this race, the runners do not compete against one another, and the aim is not to outdo another, rather, each person is to aim at getting to the finishing line.  So the apostle Paul says “run that you may obtain”.

It is God who decides and who knows those whose lives may be likened to a sprinter and those who may also be likened to long distance runners.  The important thing is for each individual to stay focused and aim at persevering to the end.

Oftentimes, where the selfish ambition is directed towards a peer or a colleague, it often leads to murder, however when it is directed at a higher authority, it culminates in seditions.

Indeed, a careful look at Scripture shows that the first sin in the world, was one of sedition – when Lucifer rebelled against God in the heavens.  So the Scripture says “six things God hates, the seventh, referring to “one who sows discord in a family” is an abomination (Proverbs 6).

When Lucifer rebelled, he did not only destroy himself, but several other angels in heaven who took to his side. (Ezekiel 28) Of him, Scripture says:

Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, you defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you… (Ezek 28:17-18 NKJV)

Similarly, we read of Korah in Numbers chapter 16 who together with some other leaders of Israel opposed Moses, God’s appointed leader, and his spokesman Aaron.  As a punishment and deterrent, God caused the earth beneath them to split open and Korah together with all his aides were swallowed alive.

The story of Absalom, one of king David’s sons who led a revolt against his father David, is also an example of sedition.  As we read these biblical stories, we ought to remember that

…all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Cor 10:11 NKJV)

The sin of sedition still exists in our world today.  We see leaders in organisations oppose the set man there, sometimes creating factions and divisions in that organisation and ultimately destroying that establishment.  We see this happen in families, small groups, companies, governments and even church denominations.

Our God is a God of order and expects His children to honor those in authority over them.  AS the Scripture says:

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1-3 NKJV)

As children of God, we ought to rid ourselves of all pride. For pride is the root cause of selfish ambition and seditions.  We need to ask God to give us the mind of Christ, humble and lowly at heart so we will be able to live in peace with all men and give honor to all in authority especially elders who direct the affairs of God’s church. (1 Tim 5:17-18)

May the Lord help us all in this regard.

Stay connected for a continuation of this weekly teaching!

God bless you.

The post Our New Life In Christ (Series – 8) appeared first on Fragrance of Love.

Unfortunately, sometimes memories of some of our painful experiences in life tend to arouse certain sentiments that do not naturally go away, even as born again Christians.  In our previous post, we realized that when we allow such experiences to trigger sentiments like rage, we give the enemy a foothold on our lives and this must be avoided.

Sad to say, these are all the workings of our old sinful nature and it is up to the believer to deliberately deal with those underlying unpleasant events prayerfully in order to overcome the recurrence of unhealthy sentiments and dispositions.  For indeed the fruit of the Spirit of God in us is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal 5:22)

Over the past few weeks, we have been studying the workings of our sinful nature that we need to discard.  These have been detailed out by the Apostle Paul in the book of Galatians. We have already examined the sins of sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, heresies, contentions and outbursts of wrath.  In this post therefore, we will look at the twin sins of jealousy and envy and its repercussions.  Let me once again quote the Scripture in Galatians where all these works of the flesh are outlined.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Gal 5:19-21 NKJV, Emphasis mine)

Envy & Jealousy

Jealousy and envy are said to be twin sins.  “Jealousy” is defined as the state of being unhappy and angry because someone has something that you want. “Envy” is also defined as the feeling that you wish you had something that someone else has. (Cambridge English dictionary).  So a person, who is either jealous or envious, is dissatisfied with his current condition or state of affairs.

Unfortunately, this is an unhealthy sentiment which defiles the person’s heart and state of mind.  What is more, where a person is jealous, this unhealthy sentiment can be so intense that it even leads that person to take a negative action against the object of jealousy even to the point of murder!  This is why we do not have to entertain this sentiment at its onset.

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing can be found there. (James 3:16-17)

Here again, the Scriptures admonish us to stay clear of these sins and actually provides examples for us of people who fell prey to the sins of jealousy and envy as a kind of caution. Let’s look at the example of Cain. Right at the beginning of the age, we see this sin at play in the life of Cain, the first child of Adam and Eve.  Both Cain and Abel brought an offering to God, but we learn that while God accepted the sacrifice of Abel, that of Cain was rejected. (Genesis 4) Consequently, Cain was very angry and his countenance fell.

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Cor 10:11 NKJV)

Cain resented his brother Abel, because the latter was enjoying the favour of God Almighty; that was jealousy and envy at play; for when you are envious of someone, who resent the person for enjoying success or an advantage.

Sad to say, this situation is pervasive across all divides: family members, work colleagues and even brethren in ministry!  A lot of people, in all walks of life, are unable to rejoice at the successes of others.

In the Genesis 4 account earlier cited, the story could have been different if Cain had purposed to, at the next opportunity, sacrifice the best lamb possible to God like his brother Abel did, so as to also gain favour from the Lord.  Alternatively, Cain could have also asked God Himself what he could do next time to make his offering acceptable to the Lord; but Cain did not. Rather he vented his dissatisfaction on his innocent brother and ended up doing one of the things the Lord God hates – murder! (Prov 6:16-17)  This is how the Apostle James puts it:

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.  (James 4:2-3 ESV)

Similarly, the chief priests and elders handed Jesus Christ over to Pilate to be crucified because they were envious of Him! (Matt 27:18)

If Cain had acknowledged this unhealthy sentiment that was rising up in him against his brother, and had sought for help to overcome it, the story would have been different.  Harbouring envy in our hearts can lead us to destroy others even to the point of murder and this must be checked.

We learn from this, that to deal with jealousy and envy we need to first acknowledge that feeling when we have it, and ask God to help us and overcome it.

In the Bible, we also read of the sons of the patriarch Jacob, who sought to kill their brother Joseph because they were envious of him.  They envied Joseph because their father Jacob, loved Joseph, the son of his old age, more than all the others; and even made for Jacob a tunic of many colours.  Again Joseph’s repeated dreams presupposed that he would one day reign not only over his brothers, but even over his mother and father; and this infuriated his brothers even more.  We read that “his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind”.

This envy caused Joseph’s brothers to conspire against him and eventually sell him off as a slave to strangers in another land, even though some of the brothers had sought to kill him outright.

It is important to note that sometimes our envious disposition stems from our selfish ambitions, or in other words, our quest to outdo the other person.  Let us bear in mind that

…  godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim 6:6-7 NKJV)

Jealousy and envy often arise from insecurity in a person’s life and a lack of understanding of who you are in Christ Jesus.  Being envious of a brother or a sister, indicates a lack of appreciation of one’s own uniqueness. For the Scripture makes us aware that we are beautifully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

In our walk with the Lord, it is important for us to always look onto Jesus as our perfect example, the author and finisher of our faith.  For in our new life in Christ, God’s righteousness is manifested in our lives as we heed to His Word and yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our daily activities and relationships. So the Bible urges us not to do anything out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philip. 2:3-4)

We ought not to conform to the dictates of our old nature, but rather take on the mind of Christ Jesus.  Our attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and became like men. (Philip. 2)

It is important to realize that this cannot be done with our own strength.  We need to ask the Lord to take away our stony hearts and give us soft, tender and malleable hearts that can be transformed into the image of Christ Jesus!  May the Lord be our Help.

Stay connected for a continuation of this teaching.

God bless you.

The post Our New Life In Christ (Series – 7) appeared first on Fragrance of Love.

As we yield to the promptings of God’s Holy Spirit within us, we are gradually transformed into the image of Christ Jesus and sin no more has a hold of us. This process however is gradual and progresses as we get rid of our old sinful nature. The apostle Paul carefully outlines the workings of our sinful nature in the book of Galatians.

We have already examined the sins of sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hatred and heresies. In this post therefore, we will look at the following manifestations of our sinful nature: contentions and outbursts of wrath. Let me quote the main Scripture in Galatians 5 again:

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21 NKJV Emphasis mine

Contentions

Some versions of Scripture refer to this work of the flesh as variance. A contention is simply defined as a disagreement that results from opposing arguments. Similarly, to be at variance with somebody or something is to be in disagreement with that person or thing. (Cambridge English Dictionary) So simply put, contentions are disagreements.

Disagreements over issues tend to divide families, societies and even nations as a whole. What’s worse is that, sometimes the disagreement is over something frivolous and this can end up ruining relationships.

In the Bible, we read of a contention between Abraham’s herdsmen and that of his nephew Lot. It was Lot who accompanied his uncle Abraham in the latter’s journey. However, when the land was no more able to support the herd of both men, there was strife between their herdsmen; and this contention began to mar the relationship between Abraham and his nephew Lot. So Abraham stepped in quickly to save the situation by letting Lot have for himself the part of the land that he, Lot wanted. (Genesis 13)

Abraham could have chosen for himself what he wanted first, before offering the other to his nephew, but he did not. He preferred Lot better than himself. (Romans 12:10) No doubt strife often comes about when one wants to prove a point that he or she is right and the other wrong. So the wisest man Solomon rightly said:

Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. Prov 13:10 KJV

One of the ways to steer clear of this work of the flesh in our lives is to hate contentions.

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9-10 NKJV

Jesus set for us a perfect example to follow. He failed to argue with the religious leaders of His day, rather he listened to them and sometimes answered them intelligently (John 8:1-8) and other times just left them. (Mark 8:11-13) I therefore agree with Solomon when he says

The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. Proverbs 17:14

Wrath / Outbursts of wrath

Some versions of the Bible refer to this work of the flesh as fits or outbursts of anger. Wrath is extreme anger. It is a strong vengeful anger or indignation (Merriam Webster’s dictionary).

It is interesting to note that anger itself is not a sin, but a disapproval of a person or an incident. Indeed, anger can even be used positively to correct a wrong action or bad situation. However, it is what you do or say in the moment of your anger that makes it a sin. Extreme anger however, is a sin!

Outbursts of anger, has to do with either frequent or occasional outpourings of strong feelings of displeasure and usually antagonism towards someone or something. It is evident in the tone of the person’s voice, utterances and even sometimes in the resultant action ensuing from that rage.

More often than not, the child of God who falls prey to this work of the flesh, regrets his or her actions after the harm has already been done. Moses, the great leader who led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, could not enter the Promised Land, because he was unable to control his rage. (Num. 20:2-13).

Even though people of particular temperaments may be more prone to this sin, no one is exempt; and it is in the interest of the child of God to continually ask the Holy Spirit to help him or her exercise restraint in the speech and actions. This is because, anger, if not checked can lead to many other sins: bitterness, strife, hatred and even murder!

..looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; Heb 12:15-16 NKJV

Cain got angry that God had accepted his brother Abel’s sacrifice and rejected his; and this anger led him to kill his brother. (Genesis 4) In the book of Esther, we also read of Haman, a respected man in Shushan, whose plot to annihilate the Jews ended up in his own destruction. Sadly this anger towards the Jews was simply an extension of his anger towards one Jew – Mordecai, who continually refused to bow or pay homage to him.

When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, ….. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus – the people of Mordecai. Esther 3:5-6 NKJV

The root cause of outbursts of rage can be attributed to tension from past or present fears, failures and hurts. The memories of these events and its accompanying sentiments do not naturally go away; whether you are a born again Christian or not! It is the pile ups of fears, failures and hurts that often erupt into outbursts of rage at the least trigger; and so it is important for us to deal with those events prayerfully. We are to learn from the experiences of the Bible characters and not repeat their mistakes:

These things that were written in the Scriptures so long ago are to teach us patience and to encourage us. Romans 15:4 The Living Bible

Indeed, past, present or future fears, failures and hurts underlying our angry outbursts, will have to be deliberately dealt with through prayer and repentance. Any time you happen to burst out into anger, as a born again Christian though, you will feel a strong uneasiness in your spirit and an urge for you to make peace with the object of your anger.

As you heed to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within you, you will begin to take steps that will bring reconciliation and peace between two parties. This is important in our walk with the Lord.

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Rom 12:18-10 NKJV

Considering what uncontrolled anger can lead to, we are cautioned to get rid of angry sentiments quickly, so as not to give the devil a foothold over our lives. We may get angry though, but let us not sin by nursing that grudge and letting the sun go down on our anger; for if we do not get over the anger quickly, we will give the enemy a foothold on our lives.

Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Eph 4:26-28 NKJV

Difficult though it may be, we all need to learn to be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ has forgiven us. (Eph 4:31-32)

May the Lord help us, by the power of His Holy Spirit, to get rid of contentions and outbursts of wrath in all our dealings, as we strive to be at peace with all men.

Stay connected for a continuation of this weekly teaching!

God bless you.

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