“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”  Galatians 5:1
And Vs. 13,
“For you brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” 
 
The apostle Paul is writing about freedom from the law for those who are led by the Spirit,
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”  Vs. 18
 
Let’s look at what happens when one entangles himself in the bondage of the works of the flesh.
 
Keep in mind what the word entangle means: it is from the Greek word ENECKO which means ‘to be held within, to be ensnared’.
It is used of something or someone who is held in a net for example--a restriction upon their liberty. 
[To be ensnared is to have your liberty taken away.]
 
In verse 13, Paul is strongly urging the Galatians  not to use their liberty from the law as a base of operation from which to feed the flesh, but instead, their lives are to be rule by love.
 
In verses 19-21 Paul lists the works of the flesh (please read).  Notice he says,
“…those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Vs. 21
 
Paul tells us in another instance,
“for the kingdom of God is not food or drink, but righteous and  peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 14:17
Among the works of the flesh Paul lists hatred.  We are seeing so much blatant hatred in the world, let’s look it a bit.
 
Hatred in the Greek is ECHTHRA.  It speaks of enmity and hostility and ill will in whatever form it is manifested. 
 
In the Greek it is plural which stresses continuous and numerous.
It is a destructive work of the flesh.  That is, hatred is ruinous, evil, wicked, deadly and it robs the Believer of his freedom.
 
Scripture tells us that it does NOT remain just one ‘evil work’:
“Hatred stirs up strife; but love cover all transgressions.”  Proverbs 10:12
[Strife: exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes.]
 
“Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.”  Proverbs 10:18
 
Proverbs 26: 24-26 tells us what starts in the inward parts is eventually revealed before the whole congregation:
“He who hates, disguises it with his lips, 
And lays up deceit within himself,
When he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
For there are seven abomination in his heart;
Though his hatred is covered by deceit,
His wickedness will be revealed before the whole congregation.”
 
For example, hatred can start with such a little thing as resenting something that someone said.  If that seed of resentment is harbored in the heart and nurtured, the root of bitterness starts to grow.  As it grows it takes more and more of ones attention until other areas of life are infected and affected.
 
Paul tells us in Galatians 5:9,
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump…”
 
Finally, in 1 John we see the seriousness of hating:
“The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.”  1 John 2:9
 
“…He who does not love his brother abides in death.  Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”  1 John 3:14b-15
 
“If someone says, ‘I love God’ and hates his brother he is a liar, for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seem, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  1 John 4:20
 
Strong words!  Hate hurts the one who is hated, BUT it is deadly to the one hating.
 
Thank you Lord for Your word on the evilness of hatred!  AND thank you Lord for the key that unlocks the prison that we will see in the next message.  All praise to You. Amen