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Works of the Flesh ~ Seditions
This week we are studying "sedition" which is the twelfth work of the flesh in the Galatians 5:19-21 list. The word sedition basically means to separate and to divide people from God. When used in this context as a carnal work of the flesh it means to cause people to separate or rebel against God and His truth.
For those who do such things, Paul says that they will not be in God's kingdom. God will not allow those who have proved themselves disloyal to Him now in this life, unless they sincerely repent, to enter the Kingdom of God while challenging the authority of His rule as King over all the earth with their seditious attitude.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
What Exactly is "Sedition"
The Greek word used in this verse for "sedition" is dixostasía (Strong's #1370) and means: division, sedition. From a derivative of dis and stasis; disunion, i.e. (figuratively) dissension -- division, sedition. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) 1370 dixostasía (from dixa, "separately" and 4714/stásis, "a standing, stance") - properly, separate-standings ("standing apart"), used of divisions which wrongly separate people into pointless (groundless) factions. (HELPS Word-studies)
The English definition clarifies even further what it means to cause "sedition" in terms of revolting against human governments. If we apply these meanings to seeking to overthrow God's rule and His government we see how diabolic this destructive mindset is which the Bible says is a "work of the flesh".
From The Free Dictionary On-line:
"A revolt or an incitement to revolt against established authority, usually in the form of Treason or Defamation against government."
1. Incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government.
2. Any action promoting such discontent or rebellion.
1. Speech or behaviour directed against the peace of a state
2. (Law) an offense that tends to undermine the authority of a state
3. (Law) an incitement to public disorder
4. Revolt
5. Conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of a state.
6. Insurrection; rebellion.
7.Willfully advocating or teaching the duty or necessity of overthrowing the US
government or any political subdivision by force or violence. See also counter
intelligence. (The Free Dictionary, on line)
To be biblically seditious is to incite rebellion against God. It is an attempt to usurp God's authority by leading people to turn away from zeal for God towards a zeal for men.
Sedition is an attempt to overthrow a lawful authority and take control from that lawful authority. A person or a group of persons seek to seize control over organizations, churches, countries, or on a grand scale as has happened in Satan's case, take over the whole earth, by convincing people to turn from lawful authority to join them.
As we watch what is happening in our culture and in the world events, we see this spirit working throughout the world as factions, conspiracies, coups, government take overs, covert operations, spying, terrorism, fringe militia trying to gain leverage and control. We witness governments toppling and being replaced all the time. We can look into the Bible to see endless cases of sedition in the lives of the kings and their dynasties. Look up the story of Korah and his followers seeking to take over Moses and Aaron's positions. History books attest to man's constant exploits of opposition and sedition to take control from the hands of others.
God hates rebellion and He hates the kind of evil fruit it produces. The "prince of sedition" is of course Satan, the devil, the originator of insurrection, who is also known as the Adversary, the Accuser, the father of lies, and is the summation of all deception and wickedness. This totally wicked spiritual being who is the Arch-Rebel is invisible to our eyes but his influence and the effects of his rebellion are everywhere. This spirit of opposition to God and hatred for all that is sacred permeates every segment of our society and affects every aspect of life on earth.
In this article we will address certain ploys Satan uses in his warfare to overthrow God and to infuse men and women with his spirit of rebellion. For that is what this evil work of the flesh, which is also a work of Satan, is about; it is WARFARE against God and His Laws. The term "warfare" fits because Satan not only is working against God and His holy angels but is vehemently working against all those God is calling and working with at this time, the Ekklesia.
The Original Insurrection
Using the tactics of sedition is the very thing that Satan did when he revolted against God and convinced a third of the angels to join him in his rebellion against God and His government in ages past. He, in essence, divided a third of the angels from their submission and loyalty to God and somehow convinced them that they must be loyal to him as their leader in place of God. The insurrection happened at an unspecified time in history but Satan's rebellion against God has continued ever since. He influenced a third of the angels to join him in his rebellion and then tempted Adam and Eve shortly after God created them. With his smooth and deceptive speech he convinced Eve that her Creator had lied to her and that she should follow Satan's urgings to partake of the forbidden fruit. He promised her that she would "be as the gods, knowing good and evil. He was able to tempt her into lusting after the forbidden fruit and she then succumbed to his twisted reasoning. She therefore ate the fruit and then Satan was able to use her to influence her husband to join her in disobeying their Creator.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
From that rebellious act in the Garden, Adam and Eve and all their children that would come from them have come under Satan's influence to rebel against the laws of God which has led to the conditions we see here on earth; disease, famine, broken families, desecration of the earth, war, etc. It is not that Satan makes mankind sin, men are created with free moral agency, but our carnal nature, human nature, is a reflection of the nature of Satan and his demons and they invisibly influence us to follow the same proclivity to sin as they do. The more we sin and rebel against God the more we open ourselves up to being guided by these evil spirits rather than being led by God's Spirit.
That is what we need to understand about these works of the flesh, that as God's called out children we must conquer them and not allow them to have mastery over us as we did in the past before our conversion.
Even if we are called and have God's Spirit's that is no guarantee that we automatically have power over the works of the flesh. Some elders in the Church of God seem to imply that if we are corporate church members and have God's spirit, that it is easier for us to resist (Jeremiah 7:4),when in fact Satan usually targets those who are called even more; and we must constantly cry out to God to help us to resist.
It is a life-long struggle and we must be in a continuous process of overcoming our carnal nature and the works of the flesh. It is part of our training for what God has in store for us as leaders in His Kingdom. Adam hearkened unto the whims of his wife and disobeyed his Lord so God cursed the ground because of his rebellion which has brought on many sorrows in this present evil world ever since. Because the "ground is cursed", (think of this in spiritual allegorical terms) life is not easy for humans, and it is in the process of overcoming those struggles that we grow in character and perseverance, things that God is seeking to develop in His faithful children.
Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Satan has included us as his targets and wants to do all that he can to deceive and mislead us, just as he did with our first parents in the garden. We too are the objects of his insurrection and he wants to destroy us and our witness for the Father and Jesus Christ. We cannot blame him for everything; "the devil made me do it" type of rational, thus absolving ourselves of our responsibility for our sins, but the other extreme is to ignore him, or down play his existence and thus we can become easy prey for him.
Paul tells us that we are not to be ignorant of Satan's devices and it is easy to just dismiss him as not being very real because we cannot see him. But Scripture tells us that he not only exists, but also that he is the head commander of a huge army bent on destroying God's Plan.
Satan is the being who is the invisible influence responsible for a major portion of man's troubles, mostly because men are ignorant of or are careless in regard to him and they thus do his bidding. On the other hand we must be careful to avoid an unhealthy preoccupation with the demonic ("behind every rock", "a demon of this and a demon of that", etc) and fear of the spiritual forces of darkness.
We are called to fear God and God only. "...greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world." (1st John 4:4) Satan may be the principal trouble maker in this world, but we have to understand that compared to God he is still very weak. God sets limits and Satan is able to do only what God permits him to do. I am going into detail about him, for knowledge of these things is an important defense mechanism against him and his wiles. As warriors for God it is always good to know what we are up against when dealing with our enemies.
If he can discourage us enough to give up, to fall into sin, or to not put forth the effort to seek God and all His ways, Satan will succeed in his attempt to get us to forfeit our chance of being a king and priest in God's Kingdom. Whether we realize it or not, true Christians have been thrust into a definitive battle brought on by our special calling from God, and we must resist this spirit of "sedition" with all of our might if we want to stay loyal to God and be one with Him.
Even in the church of God, the members of the Ekklesia are admonished by the Bible to believe God and His Word rather than just go with the flow of those who say they are following Christ but who are in fact in rebellion against God's true doctrines and what He teaches in Scripture. We are not to let anyone separate us from God, no matter how "important" or sincere that person may be; we are not to allow him to separate us from obedience to our Lord and Savior and from staying true and loyal to the true Christ and our Father in heaven now and forever.
Those who have been called, sincerely repented and have been given God's Spirit, must stay cognizant of all satanic antagonism to God's laws and be on alert to it everywhere we turn. That spirit constantly opposes us as we try to obey God and live our lives to please Him rather than going along with the rest of mankind; and sometimes that even includes family members, some of our brethren and church leaders.
This spirit of antagonism originates with Satan who is really the invisible ruler of this present evil world; he is the personification of rebellion and sedition. It was Lucifer's rebellious action against God's rule over him that caused him to be tossed out of heaven and to be renamed Satan which means the Adversary.
Satan has been given temporary domain over the earth and he is not alone for he has recruited the other rebellious angels (now called demons) to follow him and they rule under him in different capacities. Their main goal is to undermine all that God is doing in His plan of bringing many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10). It is their mission to try to destroy mankind, destroy the earth and circumvent God's plan and man's potential of developing into the spiritual image of God and from qualifying to enter God's Kingdom.
Satan, along with his demonic cohorts, are invisible supernatural beings that are powerful, cunning, and unrelenting enemies of mankind, but especially of those whom God is calling to become firstfruits that will be resurrected to spirit themselves.
Satan and his demons are currently occupying seats of authority over this earth to which they have been given dominion. (Daniel 10:13, Matthew 4:8-9) Our spiritual struggles are largely with these unseen rulers and it is the responsibility of God's called-out to overcome them, even as Jesus overcame Satan.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Jesus referred to the time when Satan was cast to the earth when He was making a certain point with his disciples.
Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
The Hebrew word for Satan is satan (Strong's #7853 & #7854) and means: adversary, Satan, to withstand
From satan; an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good -- adversary, Satan, withstand. be an adversary, resist, A primitive root; to attack, (figuratively) accuse -- (be an) adversary, resist. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)
The Greek word for the Devil is diábolos (Strong's #1225) and means: slanderous, the Slanderer, the Devil (adj. used often as a noun), slanderous; with the article: the Slanderer (par excellence), the Devil. (Strong's Concordance)
Isaiah gives us insight of what was in Satan's heart when he tried to usurp God and take over God's throne.
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Lucifer, whose name means "Light Bringer" was created by God to be a beautiful and gifted cherub who had the privilege of being close to God, living in His presence. Lucifer, was possibly the sum total of beauty and intelligence that God could create by fiat and instill into a created being. Ezekiel says of him that he was perfect in his ways until iniquity was found in him. Lucifer was a created being of amazing beauty, of tremendous power, of marvelous intelligence, and like man was also created to be of free moral agency. God gave him the freedom to either remain loyal and cooperative or to choose to rebel and go the opposite way that leads to misery and death. Just as God gives to men and women, the freedom to choose.
Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Satan had been granted the privilege of reigning over at least one-third of the angels. We are told that there are millions of angels that surround God's throne (Daniel 7:10) so that means that Satan has at least a third of that number under his control. He was given great intellectual abilities that equipped him for administering God's government on earth and he was renown for his beauty amongst God's created angelic beings.
How Can God's Ekklesia Fight Against the Effects of Satan's Rebellion?
Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
We need more Phinehas'es in our day (Numbers 25:6-11) and also Elijah's, Jeremiah's, Ezekie'ls and Paul's. Where are those that are not afraid to speak out against the profane wickedness in these modern times and the obvious debauchery that is so common place in our society?
To speak out and strongly rebuke all sin, sedition and rebellion against the whole Word of God; is the church's job and we all need to to be doing our part in speaking out against the wickedness, the rebelliousness of men and women and then warning them of God's wrath that is coming.
Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.
1st Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Our society is fast being systematically destroyed step by step from within. The things that were unthinkable a generation ago are now embraced, promoted and taught in our schools to the young children and our perverse wicked ways are threatening the very core of man's civilization. We see evidence that we are on the very threshold of the latter days that Daniel speaks of:
Daniel 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Because mankind refuses to acknowledge that there is a God that will judge us for these things, God is going to reject us and bring us into His correction.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
God calls His own special people to repent and to come out from this Babylonian society. But out of love for humanity He then wants them to preach and warn their brothers and sisters; whether it is our spiritual brethren who are going astray; or to those who are our countrymen who do not know any better and have not heard of the TRUE gospel message of turning from wicked works to obey God and His commandments.
The Ekklesia's work is to call all to return to the Great God who is the Creator of the heavens and earth and to come out from rebellion against God and His government. Many will hear, but not many will heed until they are at rock bottom in the throes of tribulation. Still God expects His Ekklesia to sound the trumpet and warn all people of this world to repent.
A man by the name of Edmund Burk once said that "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Or in other words "Evil Prevails Because Good Men Do Nothing".
Solomon states it this way in Proverbs:
Proverbs 24:11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Proverbs 31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
As Christians called by God to do a work for Him as per Matthew 28:19-20, we are to preach the Gospel of God's Word and point out the need to repent of the sinful nature that is in us, and to expose the unjust things that are happening in our nation; and then help them by teaching how to keep God's commandments and how to live His way of life.
When we come to discern that our brethren have been led astray, out of godly love for them we are to renounce the sins that are being promoted and justified in the church of God and point them in the direction of God's whole Word.
In the following verse, the "house of Jacob" can be the people of Israel or the spiritual Israel of God. This is how we fight against those that cause insurrections and sedition in the world, in the Ekklesia and against Satan, who uses underhanded deception and attempts to keep the people of the world ignorant of the knowledge of God.
Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Satan actively works to try to hinder the work of those who are trying to teach the people to return to God. He wants to thwart those who are warning the people of the consequences that are coming for our sins and rebellion against God. But God is much greater than Satan and He will help His workers in all their battles to fulfill His commission in the world and in His church, if they are seeking to obey all of His commandments and ordinances themselves.
Many of us may not be in a position to publicly speak out against the sins of the world but we can speak volumes to those who know us and those that we come into contact with and see our example. We can use opportunities to speak up when others ask us of the hope of the gospel that lies within us.
God desires that we be constantly studying and learning the Word of God so that we can articulate and rightly explain the things that we have come to understand that are the truths of God. We can also pray for and support those that ARE speaking out and doing God's work on earth. If God is using certain men or a man to do the work of preaching the gospel and warning the nations to repent, we can join in that work by encouraging that one and helping him in ways that we are able. In this way we can be a part of the furtherance of the work that God is doing here on earth; and especially during these final days as we see that we are fast approaching the time of God's correction.
Those who are hearing and want to heed, still have time to repent and be spared from the coming correction, but at some point the time to repent will be up. This is showing the true love of God, by first doing our part to heed and repent and then to help give warning to others of the danger of being complacent and thinking that we have all the time in the world to repent later of the things that we come to see that we need to change. (Revelation 3:2-3, 3:14-22)
We Can Choose Not to Follow Satan in his Rebellion
The created arch angel Lucifer was created by a loving God to be a part of the spirit realm and to have a fantastic life for all eternity, but he blew it by rebelling because he allowed pride to fill his heart. He became envious and angry because he wanted to be like God so he rebelled against the government of God, thus he rebelled against God Himself.
Satan was not satisfied to rebel by himself, but caused division amongst the other angels that God had placed in his care and he convinced them that God was not who He said He was and that God did not have their best interests to heart. Desiring to be free from God's authority, he sought to depose God and take over the sovereign rule of the universe. As a result of Satan's insurrection and his attempt to cause warring factions amongst God's ministering angels, vast chaos and destruction resulted among the heavenly bodies and on earth (Genesis 1:2) when God "cast him as a profane thing out of the mountain of God" (Ezekiel 28:16).
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Because of Satan's rebellion, we are to this day still experiencing its evil fruit. Notice how Isaiah describes the reaction of people who will look back upon Satan's legacy after God finally destroys him forever in the Lake of Fire:
"Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying, Is this the man [Hebrew ish, male, individual, person] who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?" (Isaiah 14:16-17) These people are describing the very effects of Satan's rule on this earth at this present time but the effects will become even more so in the coming tribulation!
Ezekiel 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
And his iniquity was his ruin and his iniquity will ultimately be the cause of his own total destruction. Humans that choose to join him in his sedition and insurrections will face the same fate. But if we choose to be on the Lord's side and to be faithful to God always, we will reap eternal life and and we will have many wonderful opportunities along with the privilege of ruling as kings and priests being in God's presence forever.
Jesus Christ Has Come to Set the Captives Free
Lucifer could have had a fantastic eternal life as one of God's highest cherubs if he had chosen to stay loyal to God. Instead Lucifer rebelled and became called Satan, who after many eons of time, is still at war against God. He was cast to the earth and through his deception and false promises he has taken the whole world as hostages. The people of this world are his prisoners for the time being; but Christ is in the process of setting those who respond to his calling free from the deception and power of Satan. Jesus will in the coming years set about to release the rest of humanity (those who are willing) from Satan's grip in the soon coming future events that are prophesied throughout the Scriptures.
Satan used his conniving in the garden to convince Eve that God had lied to her and that she should really listen to him (Satan) rather than to obey God. It was his very intention from the start to separate her and Adam and their human offspring from any kind of allegiance to God; and by influencing them to rebel also, they automatically came under Satan's dominion. Satan is the invisible ruler of this world and has influenced all of humanity ever since.
The work of Christ and the work of His Father is to set the captives free by calling each one to know the truth when it is their appointed time to have the scales taken from their eyes. All will ultimately have a chance to choose to follow the way of God rather than the carnal way of this world, that has been the only "way" they have ever known all of their earthly lives.
Satan refuses to learn that rebellion to God does not profit and will only lead to wretchedness and destruction. For almost 6000 years of man Satan has been the unseen ruler that still uses the same tactics on the rest of mankind as he did with the angels that followed him and also with our first parents.
We do not have a record of how he mislead the angels but we do have passages that tell us what he said to Eve. He slandered and accused God and then told her lies that she should believe in him instead of God, and that she should do as he (Satan) says.
Satan and his demons have been in a state of rebellion along with the rest of the world and they are the epitome of a seditious attitude. We have a choice to either follow Satan and take on his works of the flesh or to repent of our evil ways and follow God. Many Scriptures in the Bible describe the whole world as being under the influence of the devil and, in actuality, are his captives.
1st John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
2nd Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
After Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil, He began His ministry and declared what His life's work would be. (Matthew 4:17) We know from reading and believing the Gospel accounts that Jesus fulfilled His mission in life and also fulfilled His mission by His death. He was murdered by a hateful mob that was under the influence of Satan himself. Christ died for the sins of mankind but rose again to spiritual life three days later thereby defeating the works of the devil. He can now offer salvation to all those that He calls if they repent of following after Satan and begin a new life of following and obeying God. Jesus Christ came to set the captives free and for those who willingly renounce their allegiance to the ruler of this world, they are no longer Satan's prisoners if they remain faithful to following God to the end.
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
(See also the whole chapter of Isaiah 61 for the awesome prophecy of what God has in store for all those who are willing to repent and come under His government.)
God has sent a Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ who delivers us from Satan's captivity; when we believe the gospel and turn from our sins and commit to sin no more. God says that it is the truth that sets us free. Free from what? Free from the lies and deception that have held us in bondage all of our lives.
John 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
2nd Corinthians 10:2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
How We Can Combat the Spirit of Insurrection?
As Christians we must guard ourselves from this work of the flesh just as we do the other works of the flesh. Are we beginning to see that all of these works are interlinked with each other; just as the fruits of the Spirit work in tandem with each other, so do the works of the flesh? So far we have done studies on idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, and today "seditions". They work as links in a chain with one work connected to another and they all work together in conjunction with each other. A chain is a good allegory for this kind of chain keeps us in bondage to sin and the works of the devil.
If we think of sedition as insurrection and rebellion, we know that often having variance, hatred, pride, strife in our hearts, or even a sense of unfairness, can lead to outright rebellion against the object of our pride, hatred, etc. How do we safeguard our hearts from these works and especially sedition since that is the subject for this week? The Bible contains many verses with instruction in how to avoid division, namely rebelling against God and His Word.
We are to seek God and His truth will all our hearts and then note those who are openly causing divisions and offenses CONTRARY to the doctrines we learned from the Bible. We are to CONTEND earnestly for the faith which was given to us through God's Word by the apostles and inspired writers of Scripture, being constantly on guard to men who turn the grace of God into license to keep breaking God's commandments thereby denying the truth of Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
2nd Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
2nd Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick [a man who is factious - a heretical sectarian and cause of divisions] after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
1st Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
1st Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
2nd John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
From these Scriptures and many others that we can look up on our own, is some very good advice that I give to myself as well, is to stay away from all teachers and church groups that do not teach the truth. Don't allow yourself to come under the authority of any one who twists the gospel message which is the whole Word of God, or those that teach that we don't need to prove what the Bible teaches, just obey what they tell us and trust them to give us what we need to know and practice. Don't go to websites, movies, or TV shows that are full of cynicism and sarcasm for the things of God, that spew out bitterness and foul language and attempt to fill our minds with lies and slander against God and His people. Don't listen to music that sings of rebellion and immorality or watch videos that promote violence, debauchery, and sensuality.
If we are truly serious about being a follower of Jesus Christ we will have to cut out all the things that our unconverted friends and family chase after. Did not Jesus tell us that we must come out of Babylon? This is our protection and safety! The spirit of sedition is a very contagious spirit and it is easier than we realize to come under it's influence. If we hang out with those who are in a state of rebellion against any part of God's teachings, before we know it we are infected with bitterness, offense and hurt feelings and thinking that we know more than God.
Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Psalm 141:4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties [the things they delight and take pleasure in].
Jesus Christ Sets Us Free
It is through Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice and then total allegiance to Him and His Father and their commandments that we can have freedom from our chains of sin and from this corrupt world; and at the end of our lives enter into eternal life.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Knowing the Truth will set one at liberty, free from sin, free from condemnation, and free from death. Jesus came to proclaim liberty to the captives. We must live as people who are free, not using our freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
1st Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
God has created us to have free moral agency and if we have been set free from the power of darkness we must guard our hearts from the spirit of sedition [insurrection] and seek to stay loyal to our great God in spite of anything others try to get us to do.
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Be Strong in the Lord
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Paul tells tells us to finally to be strong in the power of God's MIGHT. The Greek word of for " be strong" is endunamoó (Strong's #1743) which means : to enable, increase in, strengthen. From en and dunamoo; to empower -- enable, (increase in) (strengthen), be (make) strong. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)
We must pray and ask God to make us strong, to empower us to resist all the works of the flesh and to resist all the fiery darts that are shot at us by the evil one and his agents: his demons and also physical human beings who are under their sway.
In this passage Paul goes on then to tell us how to be strong. As soldiers for Christ and defenders of the faith, we are to put on the whole armor of God which includes the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel, our shield of faith held to defray the fiery darts, our heads covered with the helmet of salvation, and to carry the sword of the Spirit which is the whole Word of God.
In addition we can ask for more of God's Holy Spirit and the fruits of that Spirit to fill us so full that there is no room to be filled with the carnal nature which are the works of the flesh.
All of these things shield us and keep us protected if we are diligent to put on the whole divine armor of God each day which covers us from the top of our head to the soles of our feet and then stay close to our Protector and Sustainer with prayer and the study of His Word.
We are not to fear the unseen principalities but to fight them with the equipment that God gives us. We fight our enemies with the understanding that they exist and about who they are, but also with the knowledge that people are not our real enemies! The principalities and powers of this age do use human beings to act as their agents. But God wants us to understand that our real enemies are the supernatural beings who are instigating these people to do their bidding. They are trying to get the heirs of salvation to give up and join their camp and then share with them the ruin and destruction that is their ultimate fate.
Please understand this: IF we take our stand and stay faithful warriors, victory is assured because our Captain, Jesus Christ, has already defeated the Chief of this huge invisible army. Christ defeated Satan and it is Christ who lives in us if we have been called and have His Holy Spirit and we are obeying Gods whole Word.
The forces of darkness are way too powerful for us to defeat on our own, but God promises that He will be with us always and never abandon us. We must never give in to the enemy's cunning deceitful persuasions to turn our back on God in rebellion and to walk in the works of the flesh that are also Satan's character traits; but rather resist his temptation to partake of his pride, envy, covetousness, insurrection and sedition that will take us out of God's Kingdom.
Jesus says in Matthew 28:20 ...and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Constance
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