19. Now the works (practices) of the flesh manifest wrong results. These are: impure thoughts, sexual immorality, eagerness for lustful pleasure such as Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, indecency;
20. idolatry, witchcraft (sorcery), hatred (enmities), strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions, seditions, heresies:
The Living Bible "complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group--
and there will be wrong doctrine."
21. envying, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (New American Standard)
22. But the fruit of the Holy Spirit, (the work which His presence within accomplishes) is love, joy, peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, (Amplified Bible),
23. (Meekness, humility) gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law.
24. And those who belong to Christ Jesus, the Messiah, have crucified the flesh--the Godless human nature--with its passions and appetites and desires. (Amplified)
25. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit's power, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.
26. Then we won't need to look for honors and popularity which lead to jealousy and hard feelings. Living New Testament.
Do you have LOVE, JOY, and PEACE?
Do you realize what real love is? Look up in the Bible 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13. Describe how Jesus shows real love.
Romans 8:15-25 (Living)
"I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can't. I do what I don't want to--what I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience proves that I agree with these laws I am breaking. But I can't help myself,
because I'm no longer doing it. It is sin inside me that is stronger than I am that makes me do these evil things.
I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn I can't make myself do right. I want to but I can't. When I want to do good, I don't; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. Now if I am doing what I don't want to, it is plain where the trouble is: sin still has me in its evil grasp.
It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love to do God's will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God's willing servant but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin.
So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free."
Measuring Fairness
Today's Verse: "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" --Matthew 20:15.
Anger was building up in the face of a girl as I passed her by while giving away money. I handed out money randomly not knowing any of the students. "Unfair" was the outcry. A few guilt ridden faint thank yous came from those who received money. One girl informed me it was wrong for me to give money to some and not to all. I asked her if she was mad at me because I was generous to some people. No, she just wanted what she thought was her fair share. Hoping they would learn a lesson in giving, I told the one's who had received money that they could give some of their money to the others. They did not what to give what I had given them.
God knows our hearts whether there is bitterness or thanksgiving in it. God owes us nothing. We owe Him everything.
Prayer: Dear Lord help me to share what you have given me.
--Ann Sullivan
(The above is a true story from a Bible study class I taught).
19. Now the works (practices) of the flesh manifest wrong results. These are: impure thoughts, sexual immorality, eagerness for lustful pleasure such as Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, indecency;
