Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Dissipation

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is DISSIPATION; but be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:15-18)

"After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For ALL THE NATIONS have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her(misplacing their affections), and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.' And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously (sensually), in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow. Therefore her plagues will come in one day-death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire(her works destroyed), for strong is the Lord who judges her.' " (Revelation 18:1-8)

Dissipation is a wasting by misuse: drinking the wine of the wrath of fornication. Fornication could be described as misplacement of intimacy, in this context, with the ways of the world. Double-mindedness. "The wrath of man (fellowship with/in this fornication) does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:20) The righteousness of God is found in understanding what the will of the Lord is, walking so by the Spirit of Christ.

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