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I once heard our six-year-old son tell his nine-year-old brother, "I hate you!" I quickly went to my son and asked him, "what did you say to your brother?" He firmly told me, "I hate him!" I didn't know what my older son had done to provoke this reaction, but I know I had a responsibility to teach our sons this type of language was not acceptable in our home. I took our six-year-old into the bathroom, pulled out a bar of soap, and said, “Son, and our house, we don't use language like you just spoke to your brother. Your mouth has said some pretty ugly words, so it's time to give your mouth a bath! We're going to wash your mouth out with soap!" taking a bar of soap, I inserted it into his mouth, pushed it this way and that, until I knew his mouth was full of a soapy taste. Then I pulled it out and told him to spit into the sink. My son explained, "Daddy, that's soap taste so bad!" I answered, "yes, it tastes just as awful as those words you spoke to your brother!" Our two other Sons stood outside the bathroom watching as their middle brother spit bubbles out of his mouth. I could visibly see they were inwardly resolving that they would never say the words "I hate you!" as far as I can determine, that was the last time those words were spoken in our home! Hatred: When Paul wrote Galatians 5 19:21, he included "hate" in his villainous list of the works of the Flesh. And Greek, the word hate is from the word echthra. This word expresses the idea of an intense hostility that one feels towards someone else. There's often used to picture enemies in the military conflict. And the New Testament, it primarily Dino's a personal enemy. This is the very word used in Luke 23 to depict the animosity, hostility, and hatred that existed between the Herod Antipas and Pilate before they became friends at the time of Jesus's trial and crucifixion. Prior to that moment, they hated each other. To say they were enemies is not even significant to express the Deep animosity they felt for each other. They were bitter, sour, hardened enemies who despise one another, and all of this is Express in the Greek word echthra. This word echthra pictures of people who cannot get along with each other. They have deep issues with each other, holding resentments, grievances, complaints, and grudges that go way back in time and have very deep roots. Something occurred along the way that cause one or both of them to be offended. Instead of letting go of the offense, they became divided, hostile, and fiercely opposed to each other. Now they are antagonistic, aggressive, and harsh. They hate each other. They have a grudge and are determined to hold on to it. Doesn't that sound just like the flesh? If you have hatred in your heart, the spirit of God wants you to forgive and release your offender. I realize your flesh wants your offender to feel bad, too emotionally suffer, to be paid back for his actions. Even if your flesh does finally rally around to offer a very weak version of forgiveness, it will probably still try to inflict a little punishment on your offender. You see, that is what the flesh produces! That is why it must be crucified! If you will pull the plug on the Flesh and walk in the spirit, it won't be long until that hostility and animosity is replaced with love, joy, peace and longsuffering! Variance: call necklace variance as one of the works of the flesh. This Old English word in the Greek word eris, which was used in a political context to describe political parties that had different platforms or agendas. For this reason, some newer translation of the New Testament translated as a party spirit. In a democratic system, people tend to align themselves politically with people of like opinions. Once they congregate, discuss the issues, and concur about their political views, they then proceeded to build a platform from which they can promote their own political agenda. Once the agenda is decided upon and a competition has begun, the fight can be fierce. As you are well aware, political races can become very ugly. Often nasty words are spoken. False representations are sometimes publicized by opponents who wish to discredit their contenders. Lies are often told and repeated as facts. As unfortunate as this behavior is for people who are running for public office, it has been this way since ancient Greek and Roman times, and it will continue to be this way because this is the nature of the flesh! When Paul writes to us, he uses the word eris to depict how flesh erupts to divide families, destroy relationships, ruin churches, and Pull-A-Part people who once stood side-by-side. Those who have been offended our drawn like a magnet to others who have been offended or who feel hurt. Once they discuss their feelings and realize they have similar stories or opinions, it isn't too long before they start thinking they are right and everyone else is wrong! That's when they begin to process of building their own platform from which they can divide and promote their own agenda! The apartment where my family lives in Moscow was vacant for a very long time because the family who owned it got into a terrible family fight about how the apartment should be rented, how much they should charge for rent, what should be done with the rent money, and so on. The family members who were once so close to each other all took sides in the bitter fight, and the coral finally divided the family and half! Both sides had their own View and we're not willing to compromise. This horrible attitude is exactly what Paul was talking about when he use the word eris in Galatians 5. This case may sound extreme but it happens all the time and families, churches and businesses. The word eris, or variance, depicts a bitter mean spirit that is so consumed with its own self-interest and self Ambitions that it would rather split and divided than to admit it is wrong or give an inch to an opponent! This is exactly why Church splits occur and families frequently dissolved. Most of the issues that bring such division aren't even that important. But the flesh simply hates the surrender or compromise, to admit it is wrong or to let someone else be right. The flesh would rather blow issues all out of proportion and wreak havoc then to let someone else have his way! Don't allow this work of the flesh to operate in you! Emulations: Paul goes on to state that emulations is also a work of the flesh. The word emulations is not used much in our contemporary world, so what does it mean? The word emulations comes from the Greek word zelos, which often denotes enthusiasm, fervor, passion, devotion, or an eagerness to achieve something. It is where we get the word zeal. And a negative sense, it depicts a person who was upset because someone else achieved more or received more. This person is therefore jealous, envious, resentful, and filled with ill-will for that person who got what he wanted. As a result of not getting what he desired, he is irritated, infuriated, irate, annoyed, provoked, and fuming that the other person did get it! In short, you could say that this person is really ticked off! He can't Rejoice with the other person because he is so jealous. A perfect example of this negative aspect of the word zelos is found an Acts 7, where it depicts a jealousy that Joseph brother felt for him. It says, "And the patriarchs, moved with Envy, sold Joseph into Egypt." the words moved with Envy are from the word zelos. This indicates that the brothers were incensed with Joseph. After seeing him richly rewarded over and over again by his father, they wouldn't bear it any longer. Rather than Rejoice that their younger brother was so loved, a cringed every time Joseph received the blessing. Eventually, they were filled with so much ill-will towards Joseph and were so overcome by their jealousy that they sold him into slavery. It is important to note that acts 7 says they were moved With Envy. This word zelos, envy or jealousy, is such a strong force that it will move you to action when it starts to operate in you. Unfortunately, it will usually move you to do things that are harmful or that you will later regret. So don't allow emulation or jealousy to work inside you! It is a work of the flesh that brings great hurt and destruction. Wrath: Next, Paul list wrath as a work of the flesh. The word wrath is the Greek word thumos, which is used throughout the New Testament to picture a person who was literally boiling with anger about something. Although the person tries to restrain his anger by shutting it down deep into his soul, and intermittently flares up. When it does, it looks like a volcano that suddenly Blows Its Top, scorching everything within its reach as it pours it’s load of deadly molten lava into the entire surrounding landscape. Have you ever seen someone blow his top like I'm describing to you right now? The Greek word thumos, or wrath vividly Paints the picture. People get hurt, offended or upset. Rather than take the offense to the cross and deal with it there, they choose instead to meditate on the perceived offense. The longer they think about it, the more upset they become. Soon they are really boiling. They know if they don't do something quick to restrain themselves, they are going to say or do something really ugly, so they shove it back down deep inside in an attempt to keep it under control. But if those angry emotions were never properly dealt with in the first place, one day something will happen that triggers our release. Perhaps this has happened to you. If so, the word thumos perfectly illustrates the way the flash tries to deal with problems. Rather than confront the problem head-on when it happens, the flesh says, "just shove it down deep and keep it to yourself!" the problem is, when you shove down unresolved issues, they just keep boiling and boiling deep inside.