The Bible says thirdly that God hates hands that shed innocent blood. The sixth commandment in Exodus 20:13 says, “You shall not murder.” Psychologists tell us that the seed of murder can lurk in the heart of even the most respected person.
1 John 3:15 says, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Murder can be committed in more ways. than with a weapon.
-You can murder your family with a spirit of lust or abuse.
-You can murder your friends with the poisonous venom of hatred and bitterness.
-You can murder your own reputation by committing some heinous offense against yourself.
-You can murder good people spiritually by allowing them to fail and refusing to have a spirit of restoration.
Not all murderers are behind bars. It so happens that only those who kill the body are punished by the law, but many who are free are just as guilty of destroying the lives, the personalities and the souls of others. The Bible says that you can strike someone with your tongue in Jeremiah 18:18:
"Then said they, Come and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words."
You can ruin another person’s reputation just as Israel tried to do with Jeremiah. God will hold such people accountable for murder on that great day of judgement. I don't want to be accountable for the failure of someone else and neither do you.
Monday, February 20, 2017
What God Hates (Part 2)
The Bible says secondly that God hates a lying tongue. Where did we learn to lie? Isn’t it strange that children lie instinctively without being taught? Sins of fraud, embezzlement, slander, libel and breach of promise are the products of a lying heart. Every pastor, preacher, evangelist, or preacher's child has had to endure trial because of a lying tongue. Innocent, good church members have had to deal with the same treatment in some instances.
It is that lying tongue that makes people bitter, hateful, untrusting of others, and wary of people who are super spiritual. Chances are the most resentful people you encounter in life have been affected somewhere and somehow by a lying tongue. I know of ministers that have given up on the ministry because of falsehoods told about them and others who have suffered greatly because of those lies. If you have been falsely accused often enough it will take a toil on you physically, mentally, and most importantly, physically.
Where did this spirit of deceit come from? Jesus gave us the answer in John 8:44 when He said to those who spoke a lie in His day, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. Human nature was warped and twisted in the fall of Adam, but Jesus Christ, who is the truth, came saying in John 8:32, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
God hates a lying tongue and we should be careful to speak what is true and not what is gossip. If you've been hurt by one, don't allow yourself to become a "false accuser". Speak the truth in love and keep your tongue free from the deadly poison of lying. You have power over your speech through the Holy Ghost so invoke it and use it!
It is that lying tongue that makes people bitter, hateful, untrusting of others, and wary of people who are super spiritual. Chances are the most resentful people you encounter in life have been affected somewhere and somehow by a lying tongue. I know of ministers that have given up on the ministry because of falsehoods told about them and others who have suffered greatly because of those lies. If you have been falsely accused often enough it will take a toil on you physically, mentally, and most importantly, physically.
Where did this spirit of deceit come from? Jesus gave us the answer in John 8:44 when He said to those who spoke a lie in His day, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. Human nature was warped and twisted in the fall of Adam, but Jesus Christ, who is the truth, came saying in John 8:32, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
God hates a lying tongue and we should be careful to speak what is true and not what is gossip. If you've been hurt by one, don't allow yourself to become a "false accuser". Speak the truth in love and keep your tongue free from the deadly poison of lying. You have power over your speech through the Holy Ghost so invoke it and use it!
What God Hates (Part 1)
Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
The church has failed to remind this generation that while God is love, He also has the capacity to hate. He hates sin, and He will judge it with the fierceness of His wrath. This generation is often taught about an indulgent, soft-hearted God whose judgments are uncertain and who coddles those who break His commandments. This generation finds it difficult to believe that God hates sin because so many choose religion over relationship with Christ.
God hates sin just as a father hates a rattlesnake that threatens the safety and life of his child. God loathes evil and demonic forces that pull people down to a godless eternity just as a mother hates a venomous spider that is found playing on the soft body of her little baby.
It is Gods' love for man and His compassion for the human race that prompts God to hate sin with such a vengeance. He gave Heaven’s finest that we might have the very best and He loathes with a holy abhorrence anything that would hinder our being reconciled to Him thru Jesus.
Solomon tells us what God hates Proverbs 6. We read in Verses 16-19, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
God said first the He hates a proud look. The Bible says,
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Daniel 4:37 says that “those who walk in pride He is able to put down.”
Jeremiah 50:31 states further,“Behold, I am against you, O most haughty one!.”
In just about every instance in the Bible, as well as in life, pride is associated with failure and not success. We hear a great deal about the inferiority complex, but the superiority complex of pride is seldom spoken of. Pride caused the fall of Lucifer, and he became Satan, the devil.
Pride still keeps thousands away from Christ today. People say, "What will my friends say?" or "What will my family think?" In todays world many ask, "Will my reputation be affected if I become a Christian?" Jesus said in Matthew 23:12, “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven is gained through your coming in humility.
The greatest act of humility in the history of the universe was when Jesus Christ stooped to die on the cross of Calvary. Before anyone can get to Heaven, they must kneel at the foot of the cross and acknowledge that they are a sinner, that they have broken the commandments of God and that they need the grace of God in Christ. No one can come proudly to the Savior.
The church has failed to remind this generation that while God is love, He also has the capacity to hate. He hates sin, and He will judge it with the fierceness of His wrath. This generation is often taught about an indulgent, soft-hearted God whose judgments are uncertain and who coddles those who break His commandments. This generation finds it difficult to believe that God hates sin because so many choose religion over relationship with Christ.
God hates sin just as a father hates a rattlesnake that threatens the safety and life of his child. God loathes evil and demonic forces that pull people down to a godless eternity just as a mother hates a venomous spider that is found playing on the soft body of her little baby.
It is Gods' love for man and His compassion for the human race that prompts God to hate sin with such a vengeance. He gave Heaven’s finest that we might have the very best and He loathes with a holy abhorrence anything that would hinder our being reconciled to Him thru Jesus.
Solomon tells us what God hates Proverbs 6. We read in Verses 16-19, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
God said first the He hates a proud look. The Bible says,
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Daniel 4:37 says that “those who walk in pride He is able to put down.”
Jeremiah 50:31 states further,“Behold, I am against you, O most haughty one!.”
In just about every instance in the Bible, as well as in life, pride is associated with failure and not success. We hear a great deal about the inferiority complex, but the superiority complex of pride is seldom spoken of. Pride caused the fall of Lucifer, and he became Satan, the devil.
Pride still keeps thousands away from Christ today. People say, "What will my friends say?" or "What will my family think?" In todays world many ask, "Will my reputation be affected if I become a Christian?" Jesus said in Matthew 23:12, “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven is gained through your coming in humility.
The greatest act of humility in the history of the universe was when Jesus Christ stooped to die on the cross of Calvary. Before anyone can get to Heaven, they must kneel at the foot of the cross and acknowledge that they are a sinner, that they have broken the commandments of God and that they need the grace of God in Christ. No one can come proudly to the Savior.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Delivered With Peace
Are you troubled by feelings of guilt? Perhaps you did something that clearly was against Gods Word and law, you hurt someone with your words or actions, or perhaps you entertained thoughts you knew were wrong. Now you may feel robbed of peace and the sense of guilt will not go away.
Doctors are continually faced with what to do about guilt in the lives of their patients. Feelings of guilt have harmed people physically or emotionally. Some try to explain guilt away and may have some success, but in many cases all they succeed in doing is pacifying guilt temporarily or in pinning the blame on others. It's true that in some cases others have caused us to feel false guilt. Yet if we seek the truth, the Lord can reveal it to us and relieve us of that.
Wrongly blaming others for our problems can result in far greater difficulties. Guilt feelings come from the Spirit and the conscience which God has given all of us human beings. John 1:9 says that Jesus gives light to every person coming into the world. So what can we do about the guilt that haunts us?
One wise counselor developed a new professional approach to the matter of guilt that is much like that we find in the Bible. Believing that neurotic patients suffer from moral failure, he taught what is called "integrity therapy." Using this method, he encouraged his patients to take the consequences of what they do instead of blaming their troubles on others. He believed that future treatment of emotional illness would take guilt, confession, and atonement seriously. Thanks to his teachings, many other counselors now do this, and thus are now far better able to help their patients. For this way of dealing with guilt is the way the Bible teaches and Gods Word has the right answers.
Perhaps no one sinned more flagrantly than King David. But when he prayed, he found peace with God and with himself. Psalm 51:1, 2; 12 says, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love," he pleaded, "according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Restore to me the joy of your salvation"
When Jesus Christ walked this earth, He said in Matthew 11:28, , "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." It is not God's will that people be burdened with their sins. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. In Jesus Christ is forgiveness for all who repent and accept His sacrifice as full atonement. Only his blood can wash away our sins and cleanse us from guilt.
What can Christians do when they have backslidden and are burdened with guilt? 1 John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness."
We must be willing to admit we were wrong, repent, and ask forgiveness. Jesus said that if we remember that someone has something against us, we should go and make peace with that person in Matthew 5:23. Regular application of these principles will keep us right with God. It will clear our minds and free us from guilt. We may have to live with the consequences of our actions, but at least thanks to Jesus Christ we can be delivered from the heavy burden of guilt!
Doctors are continually faced with what to do about guilt in the lives of their patients. Feelings of guilt have harmed people physically or emotionally. Some try to explain guilt away and may have some success, but in many cases all they succeed in doing is pacifying guilt temporarily or in pinning the blame on others. It's true that in some cases others have caused us to feel false guilt. Yet if we seek the truth, the Lord can reveal it to us and relieve us of that.
Wrongly blaming others for our problems can result in far greater difficulties. Guilt feelings come from the Spirit and the conscience which God has given all of us human beings. John 1:9 says that Jesus gives light to every person coming into the world. So what can we do about the guilt that haunts us?
One wise counselor developed a new professional approach to the matter of guilt that is much like that we find in the Bible. Believing that neurotic patients suffer from moral failure, he taught what is called "integrity therapy." Using this method, he encouraged his patients to take the consequences of what they do instead of blaming their troubles on others. He believed that future treatment of emotional illness would take guilt, confession, and atonement seriously. Thanks to his teachings, many other counselors now do this, and thus are now far better able to help their patients. For this way of dealing with guilt is the way the Bible teaches and Gods Word has the right answers.
Perhaps no one sinned more flagrantly than King David. But when he prayed, he found peace with God and with himself. Psalm 51:1, 2; 12 says, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love," he pleaded, "according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Restore to me the joy of your salvation"
When Jesus Christ walked this earth, He said in Matthew 11:28, , "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." It is not God's will that people be burdened with their sins. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. In Jesus Christ is forgiveness for all who repent and accept His sacrifice as full atonement. Only his blood can wash away our sins and cleanse us from guilt.
What can Christians do when they have backslidden and are burdened with guilt? 1 John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness."
We must be willing to admit we were wrong, repent, and ask forgiveness. Jesus said that if we remember that someone has something against us, we should go and make peace with that person in Matthew 5:23. Regular application of these principles will keep us right with God. It will clear our minds and free us from guilt. We may have to live with the consequences of our actions, but at least thanks to Jesus Christ we can be delivered from the heavy burden of guilt!
God Is
This list of God’s names are by no way comprehensive, but they are helpful in getting to know who God is.
1. He is the LIGHT -“The Light of Israel will become a fire, Their Holy One a flame . . .”
Isaiah 10:17
2. He is the MIGHTY ONE-“See the Lord, the Lord Almighty,”
Isaiah 10:33
3. He is the SPIRIT OF THE LORD- “the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of the wisdom and of understanding, The Spirit of the counsel and of power,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.”
Isaiah 11:2,3
4. He is the HOLY ONE- “Shout loud and sing for joy,
People of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Isaiah 12:6
5. He is our DEFENDER- “for their Defender is strong.”
Proverbs 23:11
6. He is our MAKER AND HOLY ONE-“In that day, men will look to their Maker and turn their eye to the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 17:7
7. He is our STRENGTH- “Oh, my Strength, I watch for you; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.”
Psalm 59:9
8. He is our SOVEREIGN LORD- “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says . . ”
Isaiah 28:16
9. He is our SAVIOR, THE HOLY ONE- “For I am the Lord, your God. The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Isaiah 43:3
10. He is the FIRST AND THE LAST- “I am the first and I am the last.”
Isaiah 48: 12b
11-He is my SHEPHERD- “The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not be in want.”
Psalm 23:1
12-He is my HELPER- “The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6
13-He is the WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE-"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
John 14:6
14-He is our REFUGE AND STRENGTH- “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”Psalm 46:1
15-He is ALPHA AND OMEGA-“I am the Alpha and the Omega”, says the Lord God." Revelation 1:8
16-He is LOVE- “God is love.”1 John 4:16
1. He is the LIGHT -“The Light of Israel will become a fire, Their Holy One a flame . . .”
Isaiah 10:17
2. He is the MIGHTY ONE-“See the Lord, the Lord Almighty,”
Isaiah 10:33
3. He is the SPIRIT OF THE LORD- “the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of the wisdom and of understanding, The Spirit of the counsel and of power,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.”
Isaiah 11:2,3
4. He is the HOLY ONE- “Shout loud and sing for joy,
People of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Isaiah 12:6
5. He is our DEFENDER- “for their Defender is strong.”
Proverbs 23:11
6. He is our MAKER AND HOLY ONE-“In that day, men will look to their Maker and turn their eye to the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 17:7
7. He is our STRENGTH- “Oh, my Strength, I watch for you; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.”
Psalm 59:9
8. He is our SOVEREIGN LORD- “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says . . ”
Isaiah 28:16
9. He is our SAVIOR, THE HOLY ONE- “For I am the Lord, your God. The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Isaiah 43:3
10. He is the FIRST AND THE LAST- “I am the first and I am the last.”
Isaiah 48: 12b
11-He is my SHEPHERD- “The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not be in want.”
Psalm 23:1
12-He is my HELPER- “The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6
13-He is the WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE-"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
John 14:6
14-He is our REFUGE AND STRENGTH- “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”Psalm 46:1
15-He is ALPHA AND OMEGA-“I am the Alpha and the Omega”, says the Lord God." Revelation 1:8
16-He is LOVE- “God is love.”1 John 4:16
What A Friend
Ephesians 3:12 "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by faith in Him."
What A Friend We Have In Jesus is a song that speaks an unforgettable truth. Have you sung it recently? If not, remember the last two lines of the second verse:
“Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrow bear?Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.”
What an amazing friend He is! Jesus is always there for us. Jesus is caring, listening, loving, and never leaves us. He is always the same and our stable foundation.
Everyone and everything else around us changes constantly. Our bodies change, our location changes, and the seasons change. Children, parents, and friends come and go. Yet Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
When I lost my dad 28 years ago it was the worst thing I had ever experienced in my life. Not only were my brothers and I grieving the loss of our father, we watched our mom lose her soulmate and only love. Her whole life changed and there was nothing we could do about it because dad was gone. I remember that during the time I was grieving, I would ask myself what could be more painful. One day the Holy Spirit gave me the answer. He reminded me that if Jesus were to ever leave me, that would be utterly horrible and bring total darkness. I realized then that God had called my dad to his reward at His time and that He would take care of us and never leave us alone.
Who would I talk to hundreds of times a day if He weren’t there? Who would I send thoughts of praise to many times a day? Where would I go in times of emergency? Where would I receive Life and Light for the day?
How glad I am that He will never leave me or you. No matter the changes that occur during our lifetime, He does not change, and He does not leave us. He is our “forever friend.” What a friend we have in Jesus!
What A Friend We Have In Jesus is a song that speaks an unforgettable truth. Have you sung it recently? If not, remember the last two lines of the second verse:
“Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrow bear?Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.”
What an amazing friend He is! Jesus is always there for us. Jesus is caring, listening, loving, and never leaves us. He is always the same and our stable foundation.
Everyone and everything else around us changes constantly. Our bodies change, our location changes, and the seasons change. Children, parents, and friends come and go. Yet Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
When I lost my dad 28 years ago it was the worst thing I had ever experienced in my life. Not only were my brothers and I grieving the loss of our father, we watched our mom lose her soulmate and only love. Her whole life changed and there was nothing we could do about it because dad was gone. I remember that during the time I was grieving, I would ask myself what could be more painful. One day the Holy Spirit gave me the answer. He reminded me that if Jesus were to ever leave me, that would be utterly horrible and bring total darkness. I realized then that God had called my dad to his reward at His time and that He would take care of us and never leave us alone.
Who would I talk to hundreds of times a day if He weren’t there? Who would I send thoughts of praise to many times a day? Where would I go in times of emergency? Where would I receive Life and Light for the day?
How glad I am that He will never leave me or you. No matter the changes that occur during our lifetime, He does not change, and He does not leave us. He is our “forever friend.” What a friend we have in Jesus!
An Extension Of God
There is an impression in the world today that God only loves Christians. We've encountered this through innuendo and assumption in a very liberal and sinful society. I've encountered it in myself with the attitudes brought on by a strongly Pentecostal upbringing, and I have found it to be an attitude that is hard to get rid of in many people.
The way this usually works out is that God doesn’t love anyone I don’t love, and the human inclination is to not love anyone who is not like me. That makes God’s love an extension of myself, instead of the way it should be, with me as an extension of God and His love. I have much to learn about God’s love. God is love; I am not. I am the one who needs to change. I am the one who needs to learn to love like God.
“God is love” in 1 John 4:16. God is synonymous with love. How could God not love His entire creation? It is His nature to love.
“God so loved the world that He gave...” according to John 3:16. The tragedy of God’s love is that it is not universally received. John 1:11 says, “He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.” What a tragedy. Do you think God feels that tragedy? I think that is why the prophet Isaiah called Him a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. That is why Jesus wept over Jerusalem because He wanted to gather everyone up and bring them to Himself, but they would not all come.
How is it that God being God would create a world where His love was limited by the free will of those He created, making Him appear helpless to do anything about those who would reject Him? I honestly don't know how this works, but I do know God feels these feelings because He has expressed them in through His living Word handed down to us.
My point today is not to where these discussions often lead, but to capture some of the nature of God in His love for us and suggest that we should at least share in these same attitudes and emotions. We should be governed more by the tragedy of those who reject God’s love than in their judgment or their wrong doing.
Do we weep or do we condemn? I have caught myself shaking my head in judgment and condemnation, and God told me to stop. Stop judging and weep instead. That’s what God did, and He even has the right to judge and will someday. The cross has put that judgment aside so that He can love. Can we do any less?
So if you love like God, you will love and hurt at the same time.
The way this usually works out is that God doesn’t love anyone I don’t love, and the human inclination is to not love anyone who is not like me. That makes God’s love an extension of myself, instead of the way it should be, with me as an extension of God and His love. I have much to learn about God’s love. God is love; I am not. I am the one who needs to change. I am the one who needs to learn to love like God.
“God is love” in 1 John 4:16. God is synonymous with love. How could God not love His entire creation? It is His nature to love.
“God so loved the world that He gave...” according to John 3:16. The tragedy of God’s love is that it is not universally received. John 1:11 says, “He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.” What a tragedy. Do you think God feels that tragedy? I think that is why the prophet Isaiah called Him a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. That is why Jesus wept over Jerusalem because He wanted to gather everyone up and bring them to Himself, but they would not all come.
How is it that God being God would create a world where His love was limited by the free will of those He created, making Him appear helpless to do anything about those who would reject Him? I honestly don't know how this works, but I do know God feels these feelings because He has expressed them in through His living Word handed down to us.
My point today is not to where these discussions often lead, but to capture some of the nature of God in His love for us and suggest that we should at least share in these same attitudes and emotions. We should be governed more by the tragedy of those who reject God’s love than in their judgment or their wrong doing.
Do we weep or do we condemn? I have caught myself shaking my head in judgment and condemnation, and God told me to stop. Stop judging and weep instead. That’s what God did, and He even has the right to judge and will someday. The cross has put that judgment aside so that He can love. Can we do any less?
So if you love like God, you will love and hurt at the same time.
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