(Christian Living Sermon) Hillside 5/97
Filename: Works of Flesh (6)

WORKS OF EXCESS

TEXT: Galatians 5:19-21

INTRODUCTION-- A different class of "works of the flesh" is under consideration in this lesson, works of excess.

1. It is not hard to see where Paul seems to have placed emphasis, if we consider the types of works.
   
   1. In the lesson on "Works of Immorality," three types are mentioned: Fornication, Uncleanness, and Lasciviousness.
      
   2. In the lesson on "Works of False Religion," two types: Idolatry and Sorcery.
      
   3. In the lessons on "Works that Divide," seven types: Enmities, Strife, Jealousies, Wraths, Factions, Divisions and Parties.
      
      1. Should we conclude, because so many works the divide are mentioned, that we should put our emphasis on these types?
         
      2. I believe it would be a mistake to think of any of these works of the flesh as more destructive than others, since all will serve to condemn those who practice them.
         
2. In the "Works of Excess," only two types are mentioned, Drunkenness and Revelling, but Paul also adds, "and such like."
   
   1. Paul includes these works in Romans 13:13--- Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.
      
   2. Moderation is the principle Christians need to follow. 2 Peter 1:5-6--- Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, etc.

LESSON--

1. The fleshly work of drunkenness (Greek, METHE, meye ).
   
   1. The pagan world of the days of the Apostles had no aversion to "strong drink."
      
      1. Greek Mythology included the minor god, Bacchus, in whose honor "bacchanalian" wine-feasts were held.
         
      2. Greeks of all ages drank wine, though it was diluted by 60 % water. (NOTE: When the undiluted wrath of God is described in the visions of the Apostle John, it is said to be full strength. Revelation 14:9-10--- Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
         
   2. The Bible, especially the Old Testament, is somewhat ambivalent.
      
      1. Drunkenness is condemned in the Law and the Prophets.
         
         1. Priests were forbidden to drink wine in service. Leviticus 10:8-11--- The LORD then spoke to Aaron, saying, "Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die--it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations-- and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses."
            
         2. Others besides the priests are condemned for being "ovecome" by it. Isaiah 28:1, 7-8--- Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, And to the fading flower of its glorious beauty, Which is at the head of the fertile valley Of those who are overcome with wine!........And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while having visions, They totter when rendering judgment. For all the tables are full of filthy vomit, without a single clean place.

In the "Wisdom Literature," there is warning.

1. Proverbs 20:1--- Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.
   
2. Proverbs 23:29-35--- Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly: At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
   
1. Yet, in the same literature there is also a recommendation of wine.
   
   1. Proverbs 31:6-7--- Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul: Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.
      
   2. Ecclesiastes 10:19--- A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
      
1. There is no such ambivalence in the New Testament.
   
   1. Drunkards "shall not inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11--- Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
      
   2. Christians are to separate themselve from those who practice drunken ness. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11--- I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; not at all meaning with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.
      
2. People in New Testament times drank wine, but not to excess.
   
   1. Jesus drank wine, apparently.
      
      1. Because He did, He was called a "winebibber." Matthew 11:19--- "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, `Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'"
         
      2. He even provided wine for a wedding feast. See John 2:1-11.
         
   2. Paul also drank wine apparently, or else he could not have given the advice regarding Christian liberty in Romans 14:21--- It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
      
   3. Yet, Paul's advice to Timothy shows that some abstained completely from wine. 1 Timothy 5:23--- No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.
      
3. Honesty compels us to take the view that the drinking of wine in moderation was a practice of New Testament times. However, it is my conclusion from the instruction of Paul that Timothy, in spite of his frequent bouts with illness, abstained from drinking wine, so that he might have the best influence on those he taught. He endured much illness because of this, and only use it medicinally, on the instruction of Paul. This is my practice.
   
1. The fleshly work of revelries (Greek: KOMOS komov). Compare the English word "commotion." This word is variously translated, "carousings, orgies, riotous feasting, disorderly dancing, debauchery."
   
   1. In Greek and Roman cultures, revelry was not considered harmful, unless it evolved in its excess to violence.
      
      1. In secular Greek literature, KOMOS "particularly described the joyful procession through the streets and the subsequent celebration following a man's victory in the games." (Barclay, Flesh and Spirit, p. 62)
         
      2. When partisan factions in the games went out of control, and became violent in their enthusiasm for their champions, Roman Emperors found it hard to suppress the revelries.
         
   2. In the Bible, it is consistently condemned.
      
      1. It was seen in Israel's sinful outbreak of revelry before the golden calf.
         
         1. Their revelry is first called "play." Exodus 32:3-6--- So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!" So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD." Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
            
         2. To the ears of Joshua, however, the tumult reminded him of war. Vs. 17--- And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp."
            
         3. Moses had a different interpretation. Vs. 18--- But he said: "It is not the noise of the shout of victory, Nor the noise of the cry of defeat, But the sound of singing I hear."
            
         4. This commotion involved unrestrained dancing. Vs. 19--- So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.
            
         5. Paul refers to this incident when he warns New Testament readers against practicing this sort of idolatrous revelry. 1 Corinthians 10:7- And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."
            
      2. Revelry is characterized as a practice of Pagan "gentilism" to be shunned. 1 Peter 4:1-6---Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revel-ries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gos-pel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
         
   3. The Christian lifestyle is described as "tranquil, quiet, godly and grave."
      
      1. We are to pray that rulers allow us to live this way. 1 Timothy 2:1-2----- I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.
         
      2. We must follow the admonition of Paul. 1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12--- But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more; and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you; that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.

CONCLUSION-- Works of excess are much in evidence in modern society, thrown at us on TV, glorified in the thrills to be enjoyed in drugs and alcohol, shocking us with pictures of the sensual wild forms of modern dancing, and many other things. The Lord, in answer to this sort of excess, pleads with us....

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).