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The Amish Voice 5
7.
Hatred
: enmity, hostility, animosity. It is the hatred that
lingers and is held for a long, long time; a hatred that is deep
within.
“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his
brother, is in darkness even until now” (1 Jn.2:9).
8.
Variance
: strife, discord, contention, fighting, struggling,
quarreling, dissension, wrangling. It means that a man fights
against another person in order to get something: position,
promotion, property, honor, recognition. He deceives, doing
whatever has to be done to get what he is after.
“As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is
a contentious man to kindle strife” (Pr.26:21).
9
.
Emulations
: jealousy, wanting and desiring to have what
someone else has. It may be material things, recognition, honor,
or position.
“For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will
not spare in the day of vengeance” (Pr.6:34).
10.
Wrath
: bursts of anger; indignation; a violent, explosive
temper; quick-tempered explosive reactions that arise from
stirred and boiling emotions. But it is anger which fades away
just as quickly as it arose. It is not anger that lasts.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man
be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the
wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of
God” (Jas.1:19-20).
11.
Strife
: conflict, struggle, fight, contention, faction,
dissension; a party spirit, a cliquish spirit.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but
in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves” (Ph.2:3).
12.
Seditions
: division, rebellion, standing against others,
splitting off from others.
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and
stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because
thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath
also rejected thee from being king” (1 Sam.15:23).
“But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust
of
uncleanness,
and
despise
government.
presumptuous are they, self-willed, and they are not
afraid to speak evil of dignities” (2 Pe.2:10).
13.
Heresies
: rejecting the fundamental beliefs of God, Christ,
the Scriptures, and the church; believing and holding to some
teaching other than the truth.
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men” (Mt.15:9).
14.
Envyings
: this word goes beyond jealousy. It is the spirit...
that wants not only the things that another person has,
but begrudges the fact that the person has them.
that wants not only the things to be taken away from the
person, but wants him to suffer through the loss of them.
“A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the
rottenness of the bones” (Pr.14:30).
15.
Murders
: to kill, to take the life of another person. Murder is
sin against the sixth commandment.
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye
know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in
him” (1 Jn.3:15).
16.
Drunkenness
: taking drink or drugs to affect one’s senses
for lust or pleasure; becoming tipsy or intoxicated; partaking of
drugs; seeking to loosen moral restraint for bodily pleasure.
“Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of
God” (1 Co.6:10).
17.
Revellings
: carousing; uncontrolled license, indulgence, and
pleasure; taking part in wild parties or in drinking parties; lying
around indulging in feeding the lusts of the flesh; orgies.
“For the time past of our life may suffice us to have
wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in
lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings,
banquetings, and abominable idolatries” (1 Pe.4:3).
QUESTIONS:
1. Do you worry about being a slave to your flesh?
2. Which one of these works of the flesh has the greatest influ-
ence in your life? You may not be able to confess it public-
ly, but answer the question in your own heart: which work
of the flesh does give you the most problem? What can be
done to free you from its power over you?
3. Is it easier for you to fight the works of the flesh or to sur-
render to their influence over you? Why?
4. Why does God want you to be aware of the works of the
flesh?