Churches of Christ -- Sermons; Sermons, American -- 20th century
Preachers are not the only ones who are tempted to envy each other.
Business men, doctors, school teachers, young people in their social
relationships may all be guilty of this sin and must guard against it.
If you cannot see your boy friends or your girl friends be more popular
or successful than you without having a feeling of uneasiness and a
disposition to harm them in some way, then you are guilty of the sin of
envy, and a murderer can come just as nearly going to heaven as one who
is guilty of envy. Because they are both works of the flesh and stand
condemned by Jehovah.
12. _Murder._ We don’t need to comment upon the word “murder.” You know
what it means. You can be guilty of murder at heart. The Bible says,
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no
murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15).
13. _Drunkenness._ Everybody knows what this sin is. It’s the work of
the flesh, and those who are guilty of it will be lost. And there’s only
one way to be absolutely certain that you won’t get drunk—just don’t
drink of anything that’s intoxicating. If you never take the first drink
of beer, if you never take the first cocktail or sip of whiskey, then
you’ll never get drunk. But if you do take the first one, you don’t know
what may happen.
14. _Revelings._ Reveling signifies lascivious feasting with obscene
songs and music, feasts and drinking-parties which are continued until
late at night with unclean songs, dissolute conduct, and boisterous
merrymaking. Those occasions when people turn themselves loose and do
not observe proper restraints of natural desires, are occasions of
revelry. Remember “that they which do such things shall not inherit the
kingdom of God.”
III
The Fruits of the Spirit
In contrast with the works of the flesh let us look at the fruits of the
Spirit. They are the fruits which will be produced in the life of one
who is following in the Spirit. They are the characteristics which will
adorn the life of one who obeys God. I want you to notice how attractive
these are. I want you to see how beautiful this list is.
1. _Love._ Love for God, for your brother, for your neighbor, and even
love for your enemy is a fruit of the Spirit.
2. _Joy._ God expects his people to be joyous. Paul said, “Finally, my
brethren, rejoice in the Lord” (Phil. 1:1). “Rejoice in the Lord alway:
and again I say rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). Again we read, “And these things
write we unto you, that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:4). As Christian
people, those who are following the Spirit are full of joy. People who
are trying to follow the Spirit and the flesh both are not full of joy.
But those who are truly following the Spirit are joyful, because joy is
one of the fruits of the Spirit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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