© 21 Colin Melbourne
Danger: Winker Ahead
Q: What is meant by lasciviousness in Galatians 5:19; Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness…?
A: The 1908 Oxford English Dictionary defines Lascivious, Lasciviousness as; “Inclined to lust, lewd, wanton. Inciting to lust or wantonness.”
The Apple OED summarises the meaning as; “feeling or revealing an overt sexual interest or desire: he gave her a lascivious wink.”
It’s contemplating, signalling, suggesting, or indulging in sexual lust, and sits atop of God’s listed sinful works of the flesh, as we see in biblical context, Gal. 5:16-25 KJV;
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
God-the-Holy-Ghost lists lasciviousness even before idolatry, witchcraft and murder.
That gives an indication of the poor view Father takes of His children fixating on lust; listening to ungodly music, dirty jokes, dressing provocatively, and making sexually suggestive remarks etc. Such is the way of the world from which we have been called to follow The LORD Jesus Christ.
No Smut in God’s Kingdom
Halleluia! Father reminds us, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Is it possible to live free of contamination in our corrupt, morally polluted environment?
Can Christians live with constantly pure hearts, thoughts, words, and deeds?
Absolutely, that’s what Christ came for; to set captives free, to offer sin-slaves liberty, to destroy Satan’s power over every believer, to snap chains holding people in bondage with sin & sickness, and making them clean from the inside out.
He begins at the heart; the wellspring of life, from the inward man (or woman), our spirits, from there to our souls; that is our minds, thoughts, feelings and emotions, internal changes which are radiated in words, actions, and lives henceforth.
Your First Love
It’s a gentle subtle process when a sinner first yields to the Holy Ghost. As Born Again Believers they come to recognize His leading, learn by following Him, and thus experience the fruits of obedience.
Recall the wonder of those first weeks after you were Born of God, when from within you were transformed by the Spirit of God moving in your heart, gently turning you from those things you once enjoyed, to nobler desires, and godly pursuits.
Beware Lest Ye Also…
Now here’s an important lesson many believers overlook, and are shocked when they find themselves overwhelmed by temptation, and succumb.
You’ve walked in the light of God’s written word and Spirit, steadfastly resisting whatever sins confront you; overcoming every temptation, until in a moment of weakness you sinned by choice knowing Father would forgive you as soon as you Confessed it to Him and turned from all sin.
This is the sin that grieved King David more than his adultery and murder: The sin of brushing off conviction of the Holy Spirit, ignoring his conscience and rejecting God’s gentle counsel. Psalms 51:1-4 KJV;
(To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.)
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Notice that King David reckons, like Almighty God does, that discounting and disregarding His word is infinitely more grievous than adultery and murder.
He was correct: That is why the episode is in The Book of all books., yet how often have we too followed suit blithely. Praise God for His mercy and patience, oh how we need His Blood, intercession, and Spirit to Keep Us Righteous.
YOU Subject Your Flesh
Your flesh will remain with you until Christ appears at The Rapture, or you take your Final Breath.
Father will never control your flesh for you; it is the believer’s responsibility to keep his, or her, flesh Under the Lordship of Christ. 1 Cor. 9:27 KJV;
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
That is why the Holy Ghost reminds us in second Peter chapter three, 2 Pe. 3:17 KJV;
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
And exhorts us to Walk in the Light of Christ… Col. 2:6-10 KJV;
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Spirit-filled believers are complete in Him, equipped to overcome every temptation until we see His Glorious Face. AMEN!
© 21 Colin Melbourne
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You may also wish to read;
How To Walk In Constant Victory
How to be Led by God’s Holy Spirit