SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT FOR TODAY (November 7, 2013)

“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” Galatians 5:19-21.

Memory Verse:

“I WARN YOU, AS I DID BEFORE, THAT THOSE WHO LIVE LIKE THIS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD” Galatians 5:21b (NIV).

In this edition, I will try to bring to an end the teachings on under the topic “The Acts of the Sinful Nature.” This will be the eighth and last part of that series. I hope we are learning from them and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape our lives with his word. In this last edition, let us consider the last of the sinful acts mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21. It is called REVELINGS or ORGIES. It can be described in other terms as well. But what we all need to remember that the list provided by Paul is not exhaustive of acts of the sinful nature. This is confirmed by what Paul said in verse 21; “and things like these” (MKJV). This should help us to remember that we can call any other acts which resemble any of the ones mentioned as acts of the sinful nature. So nobody can say that because it was not mentioned in the Bible it cannot be sin. If the Holy Spirit shows us through our conscience that an act is sinful, it must be regarded as such. Again, we need to remember that those who commit such acts MAY NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Let us now look at revelries or orgies. I am now beginning to understand why Paul put it last. It is not because of its less importance; it is because of its wide usage.

The Greek word for the word translated as ORGIES is ‘KOMOS’. It has been translated in various ways in different translations. Here are some of them: revellings (KJV, RV); Revelings (MKJV, LITV, Webster, ASV, EMTV); Rioutous Feasting (WNT); Wild Partying (ISV, CEV, ERV); Uncontrolled Drinking and Feasting (BBE); Orgies (ESV, GNB, NIV); Carousing (AMP, NASB). This tells us the extent to which KOMOS can be used. It includes excess in feeding, singing, obscene songs and dancing. This same word applies to wild celebrations of feasting, seductive dancing in moments of joy, excessive drinking and all acts of sinful pleasure such as loose sex life. Technically speaking, people in the state of komos are usually in control but are merrily intoxicated due to the effects of alcohol. They are the people who can say “am not drunk, I took just a bottle of beer” when caught in drunken-driving. Yes they may be in control but the influence of alcohol makes them loose their degree of alertness and alter their mental state. ‘Komos’ can also be applied to anything we do to satisfy the desires of the flesh such as excessive smoking, sexual activities such as unnatural sex just because we want to satisfy our sexual passions. This is what drives people into homosexuality, lesbianism, multiple sex partners, bestiality and the like. A lot can be added as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us.

With the above explanation, let us find out how relevant it is to the Christian. Many people do different things during celebrations of birthday parties, successes in examinations, promotions at work places or after marriages or successes in sport competitions. Some people can even go naked because their favorite teams won a game or competition and could dance anyhow and sing any songs that come into mind. Sometimes, some people have sex with anybody that is available at the time just because they are excited. I know of many people who lost their virginity or started drinking alcohol or taking other drugs just because of excitement. How about excessive drinking because you think it is a good day; or something you have been looking for in many years has just come your way? How about those who maintain sexual partners outside of their marriages due to excitement? You think your husband or wife is not giving you enough so you could sleep with other men and women just to satisfy your sexual desires? Maybe you can, but I cannot say that Christians can be exonerated from all these acts which are connected to reveling or orgies. This is because some Christians also participate in some of these drinking and dancing sprees just because of excitement.

What the devil does is to deceive people into thinking that this is just once. “Enjoy yourself for once and never do it again.” Those who listened to the voices of evil and participated in such wild or loose acts have always regretted their actions, wishing they had never gotten themselves involved. Do you know you can become addicted to drugs or alcohol after taking it once? Are you also aware you can be infected with diseases that may cost your life due to illicit sex committed out of ecstasy? Many have committed abortions due to unwanted pregnancies borne out of excessive excitement. This is a kind of chain of sins. You first get drunk; then you commit adultery or fornication then you become pregnant or impregnate someone and commit ABORTION which is MURDER. Sometimes, women die in the cause of abortion or it destroys their wombs making them unable to have children in the future. Why should you take such a gamble with your life just because you are excited? Why do you want to destroy your body which is the temple of God just because you are excited? Is excessive drinking or partying the best way to show God how grateful you are?

I am beginning to think that all those who engage in orgies do not consider God as the source of their joys or successes. This may sound a bit weird though. But the point is that if we consider the fact that whatever is making us happy and getting us into the partying mood was done by the LORD, we may as well celebrate in ways that will bring glory to God. We will not celebrate or party in ways that will glorify the devil if we believe the source of our success is God. The Apostle Paul admonished all believers in 1 Corinthians 10:31 as follows:

“SO WHETHER YOU EAT OR DRINK OR WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT ALL FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD.”

This should be our guiding principle in whatever we do in life. IF WHATEVER WE ARE DOING OR THE WAY WE ARE DOING SOMETHING WILL NOT BRING GLORY TO GOD IN THE END, WE BETTER STOP DOING IT NOW BEFORE IT DESTROYS OUR LIVES AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. IF THE WAY YOU ARE DANCING, THE GESTURES YOU ARE MAKING, THE SONG AND THE WAY YOU ARE SINGING IT OR EVEN THE WAY YOU HAVE DRESSED CAN CAUSE YOU OR OTHERS TO COMMIT SIN, YOU MUST DESIST FROM SUCH ACTS. For Paul further advised in 1 Corinthians 10:11: “DO NOT CAUSE ANYONE TO STUMBLE, WHETHER JEWS, OR GREEKS OR THE CHURCH….” May the Lord help us to stay pure and holy before him and before all men till he comes! May we never lose the opportunity we have to inherit the kingdom of heaven because of any of our actions and inactions!

THE WORD OF THE LORD!

See also :
The Acts of the Sinful Nature (Part 1)
The Acts of the Sinful Nature (Part 2)
The Acts of the Sinful Nature (Part 3)
The Acts of the Sinful Nature (Part 4)
The Acts of the Sinful Nature (Part 5)
The Acts of the Sinful Nature (Part 6)
The Acts of the Sinful Nature (Part 7)

Pastor Nana Kobina Baisie
Teacher/Pastor at Nadrim Mission International School, Busan, Korea.