The Flesh List Continued Galatians 5:20 - Equipped for Battle

As Paul the apostle continued his effort to share the importance of being led by the Spirit of God, he has begun a list of the way the flesh manifests itself. In verse nineteen of chapter five he listed: Adultery, fornication, lasciviousness, and uncleanness, and in verse twenty he continues to share where he wrote:

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Paul begins with “Idolatry”. “Idolatry” is the worship of false gods such as loving anything other than the One and true god. People are naturally bent to worship something, and even if they do not believe there is a god, they worship that idea. Generally what we give our life to, devote ourselves to, give our resources to, and give our time to can become our god. This is just another manifestation of the flesh nature.

Paul adds, “Witchcraft.” “Witchcraft” comes from the Greek word “pharmakeia”. It's the word from which we get our English word “Pharmacy”. In other words, it's not just hocus pocus and incantations, but rather the use of mind altering chemicals such as drugs or alcohol. The flesh nature is prone to participate in “Witchcraft”, and we must remember that if we “walk in the Spirit” we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Next Paul wrote, “Hatred.” “Hatred” means “enmity” or antagonism, bitterness, malice, rancor, spite, venom or detestation. The flesh nature is prone to hate those who do not do as they desire, and the person who has hatred toward another person manifests the natural state of the flesh.

Paul continues, “Variance.” “Variance” is contention, strife, and wrangling. It is very natural within the flesh to be in contention, strife and wrangling with others especially when they do not act or say things in a manner we desire. The idea is like a tug-a-war where there is pulling back and forth as in a struggle for position.

Paul adds, “Emulations.” “Emulations” comes from the Greek word “zelos” and means excitement of mind, ardour, and fervour of spirit. It is the word from which we get “Zealot.” It can contain a fierceness of indignation, and may be prone to a punitive zeal. In its roots it is envious and denotes contentious rivalry and jealousy. Generally it is love that is threatened from without, and the desire is to destroy that which threatens our love.

Paul next wrote, “Wrath”. “Wrath” comes from the word “thumos” from which we get our word “thermometer”. The idea behind “wrath” is passion, angry, heat, anger brought forth, boiling up and soon subsiding again. Like a boiling thermometer the wrath within someone can go up and down, and the outward expression of anger is usually demonstrated through wrath.

Paul adds, “Strife”. “Strife” is the word “eritheia “ and means electioneering or intriguing for office,

a courting distinction, a desire to put one's self forward; a partisan and fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts, partisanship or fractiousness. All we have to do is consider politics whether in local venues or nationally and we will understand this manifestation of the flesh.

Next Paul said, “Seditions.” “Seditions” has the idea of dissension or division. Whenever there are opposing sides to issues which lead to wrangling, strife, wrath and the other manifestations of the flesh, usually “seditions” are involved as well. The flesh nature has within it a desire to always be right, and whichever side it chooses is the “right one”. This thinking often leads to seditions.

Finally Paul wrote, “Heresies.” “Heresies” has within its roots the idea of taking, or capturing as if storming a city in battle. There is choosing or choice involved, and is like a group of men following their own party. Whenever seditions occur, people tend to cling to one or the other party because of diversity of opinions and aims. Whenever false teachings and doctrine are presented, the flesh nature may tend to follow it, and of course, this is one of the themes of the whole book of Galatians.

Paul's list continues, but we shall wait till another time to share about those. Hopefully we are not finding ourselves within all of these manifestations of the flesh, but if we are, we must remember, that if we are walking in the Spirit, we will not fulfill these fleshly desires at all.

Next time Paul will conclude his list of the works of the flesh, so read ahead, and let us join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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