When we become born again and God’s Holy Spirit comes upon us, our bodies become the containers of His presence, and new life begins for us at that point; (2 Cor 5:17) a life aimed at pleasing God by the power of His Spirit. We definitely cannot at this point, continue to live in sin. We are born again and like any new born baby, we need to grow in this new life. This growth process occurs as we mortify our old sinful nature.
But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. Rom 8:13
In this New life series therefore, we have been looking at the aspects of our sinful nature that the Scriptures urge us to put to death. In our previous posts, we examined the sins of sexual immorality, sensuality, impurity and idolatry; and today, we will look at the sins of sorcery, hatred and divisions and how to overcome these sins. Let’s see the Scripture in Galatians 5 again where all these works of the flesh are outlined.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:19-22 ESV (Emphasis mine)
Sorcery
Some versions of Scripture in this text refer to sorcery as witchcraft. Sorcery is a word commonly used to cover activities such as the casting of spells, foretelling the future and witchcraft. It is the practice of using evil spirits to gain control of the environment of people; and even for the benefit of oneself such as to gain wealth overnight. It also involves the practice of summoning spirits, to harm others.
The Webster’s new college English dictionary puts it simply. It defines sorcery as the use of an evil supernatural power to control or influence people and their affairs or the natural world.
The practice of sorcery, even though age-old, is still pervasive in our days. Not only is it presented in scenes and as major themes in the movies on our screens, but sadly, it is also targeted at children. Harry Potter books and films, for example seem to introduce children subtly to this sin of sorcery by presenting this sin in “acceptable ways” to the children. God hates sorcery and states that clearly to His children:
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord,… Deut 18:10-12 NKJV
The practice of sorcery is evil and an abomination for the child of God; for it is impossible for God’s Holy Spirit to operate from the same vessel that has yielded itself to the operations of evil spirits! (Rev 21:8) So the Scripture says:
You who love the Lord, hate evil! Ps 97:10 NKJV
King David’s predecessor Saul, fell prey to this sin of sorcery and died.
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. 1 Chron 10:13-14 NKJV
Interestingly, in rebuking this same king Saul of his disobedience to God’s command, the prophet Samuel likened the sin of rebellion to witchcraft. (1 Sam 15:23). Stubbornness can be equated to witchcraft, likewise the surge to control others.
Hatred /Enmity
Some versions of Scripture in the Galatians 5 text earlier quoted, refer to enmity as hatred. Hatred is an intense dislike for someone or something. Hatred goes beyond an emotion. It is extreme hostility towards someone or something; and it can be either openly expressed to the person or concealed from him or her; and this is dangerous. For hatred can cause a person to even murder! We see examples in Scripture, in 2 Samuel chapter 13, where the hatred Absalom harboured in his heart against his step brother Amnon for raping the former’s sister, Tamar, led him to kill Amnon.
God is holy and as earlier stated; the child of God is expected to hate evil and any semblance of it. The Scriptures also reveal to us what our Father in heaven hates. If we really love the Lord, we cannot condone what He hates. It is important to note that we are admonished to hate certain traits and not people.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. Prov 8:13 NKJV
Scripture is very clear on this work of the flesh. No doubt, hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins (Prov 10:12). We cannot claim to love God and hate our fellow man.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
1 John 4:20-21 NKJV
Indeed, no matter how someone offends us, God urges us to forgive, difficult though it may be; we will only receive forgiveness from Him for our own wrong doing, when we are able to forgive others who offend us.
… and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. Matt 6:12 NLT
I have come to realize in my walk with the Lord, that we cannot experience a new life in Christ if we fail to love. In fact I have come to the conclusion that the word love, is one of the most difficult verbs. (1 Cor 13) Nonetheless, it is the foundation of our faith in Christ. We love, because He first loved us; and Jesus was emphatic about this to His disciples. He said:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 NKJV
Divisions / Heresies
Some versions of Scripture refer to this work of the flesh also as heresies. Heresy may be defined as the act of having an opinion or belief that is the opposite of, or against what is the official or popular opinion; or an action that shows you have no respect for the official opinion. (Cambridge English Dictionary)
Sometimes, as we grow in the Lord, Christians are divided over matters that are irrelevant to our salvation in Christ Jesus; matters such as the covering of the hair and the ordination of women into ministry among others. While on earth, Christ prayed that His disciples may be one. (John 17) So we all ought to dwell on what binds us together as children of God and not on issues that will tend to divide the body of Christ
What is of utmost importance after all, is whether we have received Christ Jesus as Lord and that we are following Christ Jesus as our perfect example – Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb 12:2) I like the way David, the man after God’s own heart put it.
Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:1-2 NKJV
To grow in our new life in Christ, we must relate with our Father in heaven with the heart of a child; showing our dependence on Him by consistently studying His Word and seeking His face in prayer; as Christ Himself said:
“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 18:3 NKJV
May the Lord help us to remain humble before Him, with a tender malleable heart, so He can mould each of us to become more and more like Jesus!
Stay connected for a continuation of this weekly teaching!
God bless you.
