“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth Me hateth My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of Me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.”
John 15:18-27
Hatred
Why There Is So Much Hatred In This World Today
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:9-12
Many choose to follow their own path, do their own thing, believe in their own god, and think everybody else ought to do the same thing. Be tolerant to my own faith, and if you believe different, then we will get along fine; as long as you don’t mention that there is only one God.
When someone comes along and is bold enough, courageous enough, full of the Spirit of the one true God, and with the love of God in their heart, confronts such a society, and due to lack of true toleration, are filled with hatred for the individual who has been so strong in faith.
Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold. It is due to the growing of sin, the iniquity of unbelieving, rebellious hearts.
Do not let your heart grow cold in unbelief. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Call on His name today.
The Law, The Prophets, and The Kingdom
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him. And He said unto them,
“Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Luke 16:14-17
Jesus has just told the Pharisees that you cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon, that is be a servant to God and material things such as money. Money is a big issue. We need it to live, but we can be ruled by our wealth, rather than have rule of our money. They did not like what Jesus said. Does that surprise me? Not at all. They have not liked Him or anything He has said. Their hatred for Him is clearly visible for all too see.
The Pharisees justified themselves in many ways. One way was in taking money that was supposed to be used for their parents, and they call it for use in the temple (Mark 7:11). They are probably holding it for themselves. God knew their hearts, and He knows yours, and my hearts as well. What we may value very much might just be an abomination in the eyes of God.
John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets; and the Law and the Prophets were until him. Since Jesus has began His ministry on earth the kingdom of God is here, and it will not pass away.
In Jesus we have the assurance of being in the kingdom. It is assured for us by the words of Jesus, “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than for one tittle of the Law to fail.” If it has been written in the Law and the Prophets, it shall be done. That includes our salvation by grace through faith.
Hate What God Hates
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.Proverbs 8:13, 35-36
Proverbs eight and nine personifies wisdom, and she is speaking of the need, for we descendants of Adam, to possess her. She is mentioned in chapter one verses 20 through 33; and she says quite a bit there for us to hear.
Wisdom is a gift from God, that comes with knowledge, and understanding. In chapter six we are given seven things which God hates. I do not believe this is an exhausted list, but that each of these evil things include all the evil that we do; and God hates it.
As you can see in verse 13 of chapter 8 above, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.” Wisdom is telling us that we are to hate everything that the LORD hates.
God hates sin and evil so much that he sees us in the bondage of wickedness of evil, and knows we cannot defeat it on our own. So seeing us in the condemnation of sin, evil, wickedness, sent His holy, ownly begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die in our place to purchase our salvation.
Jesus died on that old wooden cross as the propitiation for our sins, by becoming sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. When we turn away from sin to Christ Jesus that is repentance and faith, then we are no longer in condemnation. We are freed from the bondage of sin and evil.
The wisest thing we can do is to find life through Him. The greatest evil you can do is to reject wisdom and turn down God’s greatest gift. That is the mind of a fool.
Envy with Hatred: Evidence of Departure from GOD
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, “I will smite David even to the wall with it.” And David avoided out of his presence twice. And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
1 Samuel 18:10-16
They that trust in the LORD shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
Psalm 125:1
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, and discover not a secret to another: lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Proverbs 25:9-10
Hated
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.”” John 15:18-21
If there is anyone who knows about “Hate” and what it is, it would be Jesus Christ the Son of God, God the Son. He would know because He bore the hatred of man on the cross, and paid the debt for sin which is evil; and which He hated.
Jesus hated evil, because the Father hates evil. It is a violation of all the characteristics of Holy God. It is not evil to speak the truth. It is not evil to hate what God defines as evil or an abomination. All that God has told us in Scripture that is evil is still evil and an abomination to Him.
I for one, who names the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, do not like being hated for what I believe, for what I write, for the way I live, and hated for what I preach and believe. However, I will not back away, I will not stop speaking, writing, or living for my Lord and Savior. I choose rather to be hated by the world and loved by God; than to be loved by the world and hated by God.
Jesus Christ the God-Man gave His life for me on the cross bearing all my sin and the sins of the whole world, then He was buried and with Him was buried all our shame, guilt and condemnation of sin, and He arose and came out of that grave alive justifying all who will believe on Him calling on His name. That, my friend, is the greatest love you will ever know.
Hatred, Deceit, and Repentance
“…Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.” Proverbs 26:26
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Acts 26:19-20
Let us pray that all hatred that is covered by deceit be exposed. Christian first, in our own hearts and lives; then in the world and its wicked system that hates all things godly and holy.
May we also pray for the “Heavenly vision” which is the redemption of the lost through the Lord Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection; that the condemned, the hopeless and the helpless might come to faith in Him receiving forgiveness of sin, for their sanctification, and eternal life through Him.
Lips and Words
“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18
“Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.’ ” John 14:23
Pray for honest lips and encouraging words to our neighbor, our enemies, and the brethren in the faith. If we love God and His Son Jesus we can do no other.
Make sure the place you abide is with Him.
The Way We Speak of Our Neighbor
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:21-22 (KJB)
Has anyone ever heard of “Assassination by words”? Maybe I am making it up; but I believe that is what is happening in our nation (U. S. of A.) today. Maybe I need to remind my brothers and sisters in Christ who our neighbor is.
Our brother is our neighbor. The man or woman across the street or road; or across the creek is your neighbor. The people of China, Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel are our neighbors. Remember Jesus’s story of the Good Samaritan.
I write this because the Lord reminds me of this quite often. I am not without guilt of assassination by words. May God forgive me; and may those I have assassinated by words forgive me too.
The political climate is hot, very hot, hotter, it seems to me than I can remember. Mean and vicious words from conservatives as well as liberals and in betweens.
Calling another person who disagrees with us a vile, vicious name is a sure sign we have lost the argument. If we disagree with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris that is fine, but they are still part of Adam’s race who deserve the same respect you and I do. We are not authorized to call them ugly and vile names because of their party affiliation.
“Well they do it” does not give us the right to retaliate. God’s love is the greatest power on earth. If we are children of God through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are to love our enemies, and that means we have no business, right or authority to assassinate by words the character of any other individual.
By the power and grace of God let us cool this heat of hatred with words of grace and mercy.
Words of Jesus; Son of God, God the Son – John 15:18-27
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
He that hateth Me hateth My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.” John 15:18-27 (KJB)
Words of Jesus; Son of God, God the Son – 082120
“And as He sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, ‘Tell us, when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?’
And Jesus answering them began to say,
‘Take heed lest any man deceive you: for many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.’ ” Mark 13:3-13 (KJB)
All That Is Written
“For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in Me, ‘And He was reckoned among the transgressors:’ for the things concerning Me have an end.” Luke 22:37 (KJB)
Jesus’s life is about to take a turn that would put the world in a tizzy. He was about to fulfill the most difficult part of His work, calling, and ministry for the glory of His Father.
That difficult work was His death on the cross; but there was more to take place there than the human eyes can see. The hate, and unbelief of the religious mob would be brought to light. The hatred of the world toward what is holy and righteous would be revealed as well.
Jesus knew that His life, and ministry as He walked among His brethren, the Jewish people, was always questioned; there were many doubts, and much unbelief concerning who He was; and today after 2000 years, of who He is. He also knew, and was willing to fulfill Scripture.
The quotation He gives in Luke 22:37 is from the following passage from the prophet Isaiah:
“Therefore will I divide Him with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12
If in the life of Jesus as He walked among Adam’s race He was about the fulfilling of God’s word, the prophecies concerning Himself; shouldn’t His people of 2019 love the word, the prophecies, the law, and the poetry of Scripture as well? Most surely. We should also be looking for the fulfillment of all that has not yet been fulfilled, and living accordingly for His honor, power, and glory.
Of the last part of Jesus’s words in Luke 22:37 John Gill wrote:
“for the things concerning me have an end. The Syriac version renders it, “all of them”; or “the whole of it”, as the Ethiopic version; all that were concerning him; all the counsels, purposes, and decrees of God, relating to his sufferings and death; to the manner in which his death was brought about, by one of his disciples betraying him; to the several indignities he should be used with, by Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Jews, and Roman soldiers; and to his death itself; all which were by the determinate counsel, and foreknowledge of God, and now were about to have, and quickly had their fulfilling end; as also all his own covenant engagements and agreements he entered into with his Father, to bear the sins of many, to make his soul an offering for sin, to be numbered with transgressors, and pour out his soul unto death; and likewise all the types and shadows of the law, all sacrifices in general, and the daily sacrifice in particular, with the passover, brazen serpent, and other things, even the whole law, both moral and ceremonial, had their full and final accomplishment in him; together with all the prophecies of the Old Testament relating to this matter, particularly Gen_3:15.” John Gill’s EXPOSITION OF THE BIBLE
If you profess to be a Christian, and yet you are unbelieving toward the word of God, then you need to examine your heart and life to be sure you are in the faith.
But God…
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (KJB)
There are several “But God” statements throughout the New Testament, and the apostle Paul was quite good at using them.
“But God…” even while we were still His enemies sent His Son to die for us. How unhuman that is; how so much GOD it is.
Jesus said,
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
“But God” in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ, went to the cross and died even for those who condemned Him to die; He died for those who falsely accused Him; for those who beat Him so cruelly; for those who drove the nails in His hands and feet; for the one who thrust the spear into His side. Some of them believed, and were redeemed.
How much greater love is that.
“But God” while we were yet sinners poured out His wrath in its fullness upon His only begotten Son, who had became our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), and gives to all who will believe His holiness, His righteousness, and declares us Just.
“But God…” has clearly demonstrated His hatred for our sin; and His love for us by way of the cross of Jesus Christ. He died, was buried, and was raised to life. He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life; the only way to the Father.
The Innocent One: Condemned and Spat Upon
“Then did they spit in His face, and buffeted Him; and others smote with the palms of their hands…” Matthew 26:67 (KJB)
As I read these words this morning it grieved my heart and soul. It does so many times when I see men and women do the things they do to one another that are vile, wicked, and evil.
This act of spitting on another human being is an insult to us. It is degrading. It is a disgusting act of hatred clear and simple. However, we are speaking here of the One who is our Creator; “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3).
Notice that this is after His rigged trial, the “judges” sought for false witnesses, and could find none, and “convicted” Him purely out of envy (Matthew 27:18). The religious leaders could not stand the fact that Jesus had authority with God that they did not have. They were envious of His peace, His joy, His power, and His followers.
Upon the guilty “verdict” those who held Him turned on Him and began spitting in His face. This did not deter Him from His work. This did not turn Him to hate those who hated Him.
They “buffeted Him” which means; according to many; they struck him with their fists. Really brave souls there, don’t you think? Beating a man with his hands tied.
Some of them “smote” Him, meaning they slapped His face with an open hand.
Sadly, there are many in our world today who would still humiliate our Savior by spitting in His face, beat Him with their fist, and slap His beautiful face of love.
He went on to the cross willingly. He willingly laid down His life that those who would be saved, could be saved. He paid the price for our redemption. He paid for your redemption. There is no other redemption from sin except Jesus’s death on the cross. He was also buried having taken all our sins upon Himself, carrying it all away. Then He rose from the dead proving that He is everything He said (Romans 1:3-4).
Because He lives we have eternal life. Believe His word. Believe Him.
Why I wrote “The Auschwitz Escape.” As anti-Semitism spikes, we must teach our children the lessons of the Holocaust.
My wife and I have both read The Auschwitz Escape and found it thrilling, informational, and fearsome in a good way.
(Jerusalem, Israel) — Yesterday, Israelis solemnly marked “Yom HaShoah,” the annual day in which we pause to remember the six million Jews exterminated during the Holocaust. At 10am, all over the country, air raid sirens wail for two straight minutes. All traffic stops. All commerce halts. Everyone stands at attention and remembers what was, and what could be again one day if we do not remain vigilant against the forces of evil.
This morning, I’ve decided to re-post a column I wrote several years ago, explaining how I came to write my only work of historical fiction as my way of helping inspire more people to learn about the Holocaust. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read the column, and share it with your children, and with other family and friends.
With hatred of Jewish people once again spiking around the world — a new report released this…
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They Watched Him
Jesus had a way, His way of aggravating the religious crowd of His day. That religion was steeped in legalism, and little mercy or grace. It seemed they knew nothing about grace for their people; but allowed much, with loopholes around some of their traditions for themselves.
When the disciples with Jesus were walking through a field of grain, and they were scooping their fingers through the heads freeing the grains seeds from the tops, rolling the grain in their hands to free the good from the chaff, then blowing the chaff away with a strong breath; and they were doing it on the sabbath day [Saturday]; then, the scribes and Pharisees considered that a violation of the sabbath.
On another sabbath day Jesus had entered a synagogue to worship, and there was a man there with a withered right hand. The Pharisees and the scribes watched Jesus to see what He would do. Our verse today…
“And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, whether He would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against Him.” Luke 6:7 (KJB)
They watched Him with ill intent. They watched Him to bring harm. They watched Him to eventually kill Him. Why? They hated Him, His life, His teaching, and probably His boldness and authority with which He spoke. He put religion on notice as well.
Those who follow Jesus, are faithful to Him, and His teaching- His doctrine will be watched too. Sometimes for the same reasons as those who were watching Jesus. What are we to do? Live faithfully for Christ. Put Him on daily (Romans 13:12; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:24; 6:11) all the things of Christ Jesus. Do not fear; be faithful.
I will leave with you a quote from the Matthew Henry Commentary on Luke 6:7…
“Among those who were the hearers of Christ’s excellent doctrine, and the eye-witnesses of his glorious miracles, there were some who came with no other design than to pick quarrels with him, Luk_6:7. The scribes and Pharisees would not, as became generous adversaries, give him fair warning that, if he did heal on the sabbath day, they would construe it into a violation of the fourth commandment, which they ought in honour and justice to have done, because it was a case without precedent (none having ever cured as he did), but they basely watched him, as the lion does his prey, whether he would heal on the sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against him, and surprise him with a prosecution.” From the MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY
Seven Things God Hates # 7
This is the final message of THE SEVEN ABOMINATIONS WHICH GOD HATES. We must take heed to the warnings and teachings God gives us in His Word.
SOWING SEEDS…
Proverbs 6:16-19
“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
*Let’s have a word study –
Discord = from Strongs – #4066 v. 14 or v. 19 4090 = discord and strife;
Soweth = from Strongs – 7971 = send forth, sow;
Among = from Strongs – 996 = בּין
bêyn
bane
(Sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly the constructively contracted form of an otherwise unused noun from H995; a distinction; but used only as a preposition, between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjugation, either… or: – among, asunder, at, between (-twixt . . . and), + from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be… or), within.
Brethren = from Strongs – 251= brother, kindred.
The idea presented is that of sowing seeds of dissension. Like one who ‘Broadcasts’ the wheat seed by hand as they walk about the field, so does the one sow seeds of discord (Tares rather than wheat), who walks about with contention in their hearts.
The one who is contentious will find fault, then tell it to whom ever will listen. One who is ‘Spiritual’ ie. ‘Walking in the Spirit’ will not have the soil for receiving ’seeds of discord’. The one who is Spirit filled will send them to the one of whom they are contentious with. Thus, it stands to reason that they soon learn not to take their complaint – ’seeds of discord’ – to the ‘Spiritual one’, but will take it to the one who has ears for it. For what do you have soil to receive, or ears to hear?
OUTLINE –
I. TAKE A LOOK AT THE SEED THAT IS BEING SOWN.
II. TAKE A LOOK AT THE HARVEST THAT COMES FROM THE SEED SOWN.
III. TAKE A LOOK AT THE END RESULTS OF THE SEED THAT WAS SOWN.
IV. TAKE A LOOK AT THE ANSWERS.
When we LOOK AT THE SEED THAT IS SOWN we find that these seeds are surely ‘Tares’ or weeds of the devil. They are in fact seeds of strife, “A froward man soweth strife:” (Proverbs 16:28a). These weed seeds do nothing but disrupt the growth of the actual good grain (Matthew 13:24-30).
When you look a the one who sows these seeds of strife it is in fact the enemy who came by darkness, because he is not of the light. He works under the cover of the absence of light, in order to deceive, and to lead people astray. He especially works of the people of God. Why should he bother those who are already his. His work is to attempt to destroy the work of God.
Now let us take a LOOK AT THE HARVEST. What does come from seeds of strife, except ‘Whisperings’ and that many a time has separated friends. Note Proverbs 16:28
“A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.” Prov 16:28 (KJV).
Friends, in this case could be family, best friend, It can be real to marriages and work relationships.
Seeds of earthly wisdom bring forth foolishness. It is devilish. There is confusion and every evil work.
“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” James 3:14-16 (KJV).
The harvest of good seed of course, is very different. Good seed produces good fruit, godly, righteous, holy, Christlike fruit which will glorify God and His Son Jesus.
Now take a LOOK AT THE END RESULT. Lives are destroyed when evil seed is sown – seeds of discord reap an ugly harvest, and does no one any good except the devil himself, and he will laugh and mock any Christian who falls, and brings shame to the name of Jesus Christ. Relationships are ruined. Peace is stolen.
Finally, let us take a LOOK AT THE ANSWER to all of this. In Jesus Christ there is a changed, renewed heart, and life. In Him there is peace,
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Phil 4:6-7 (KJV).
There is Peace with God as well,
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Romans 5:1 (KJV).
When you are at peace with God you are at peace with others – whether they are with you or not.
“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Prov 16:7 (KJV).
When you are at peace with God there will be a love for others, and there will not be a heart which sows discord among our brothers and sisters in Christ. Look at what the Psalmist wrote of this matter,
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” Psalms 133:1-3 (KJV).
Among the children there is no desire to sow discord. There is, however, the desire to be at peace with God, one another, and to be a faithful servant of God, His Son and His Word.
WHERE THERE ARE SEEDS OF DISCORD, THERE IS NOT LOVE.
Loving God, Loving Others
In some years back there was started this phrase, “You must love yourself before you can love others”, or something along that line of thought. They based that on Jesus’s words, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”.
“Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 19:19
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:39
“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31
After a lesson the Lord gave me today I can see where that concept of “Loving ourselves to love others” could come from; but I still have a problem just leaving it with loving ourselves.
Look at what Jesus said, first, though not printed above, but in the Biblical context we see Jesus saying to love God, then to love our neighbor, or others, as ourselves.
After someone spieled out hateful speech in a continual, rude, even very crude manner today, I asked, “Why do you hate yourself so much?” As I asked the question I thought of Jesus’s words.
We must also remember the words Jesus spoke, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That is where the Lord spoke to me through the speech of this individual.
Does a person desire to be treated the way we too often treat others? If we do it must be a sure sign of self hatred. Remember the principles of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7).
Genuine love starts with loving God with all your hear, all your soul, all your mind, and with all your strength; then, loving God you can and will love others too, thus rewarding yourself.
Just a thought from this morning.
Vulnerable Situations
Reading 1 Samuel 23 – 25 for today…
“And he said unto his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 24:6 (KJB)
King Saul was out to kill David. He saw David as a threat to his being king, and especially to his kingdom, what was going to end. However, God had already made the decree (1 Samuel 13:13-14), and given the kingdom to another.
In the background of the story we find the King relieving himself in a cave. David and his men are hiding in the cave and David’s men encourage him to take Saul’s life; but he will not strike the LORD’S anointed.
David is the other whom God has chosen to have the ongoing, even eternal kingdom, and he has…
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The Secret Life of the Hypocrite
Let it be certainly known that nothing is hidden or secret to our God and Savior. Jesus said,
“For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.” Mark 4:22 (See Luke 8:17)
We are still looking into the Proverbs of Solomon. Words of wisdom written thousands of years ago by the wisest men who ever lived, and put together in one book by king Solomon.
The verses from Proverbs I share today are the conclusion of chapter 26, and seem to summarize the chapter.
“He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; when he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” Proverbs 26:24-28
More thoughts on chapter 26…
Verses 1 – 12 — Matters concerning the foolish individual.
Verse 1 – The honor of a fool, a foolish person, is about as likely as “Snow in summer”, and as unneeded or as unwanted as “Rain in harvest”. See 1 Samuel 12:17. Verse 2 – See Psalm 32:9.
vv. 4-5 – These seem to be a contradiction; however it is a matter of judging when to be silent and when to speak. Use discernment.
v. 12 – Romans 12:16; Proverbs 29:20
Verses 13 – 16 — A description of the slothful, lazy individual (22:13).
v. 13 – Excuses and difficulties, even dangers of the job are ever the slothful man’s heart and tongue. Note the location of the lion [on the streets]. Typically lions do not inhabit streets, but rather the plains, woods, and fields. (20:4)
v. 15 – Proverbs 19:24
Verses 17 – 23 — The character of the “talebearer”.
From the Believer’s Bible Commentary –
“I am more deadly than the screaming shell of a howitzer. I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity pure enough to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. I never forget and seldom forgive. My name is Gossip!” Alanta Journal
From the English Standard Version Study Bible –
“Prov. 26:17-22 These proverbs describe a person who uses his words carelessly. Examples include interfering in other people’s arguments (v. 17), deceiving people as a joke without concern for the consequences (vv. 18–19), and gossiping, especially where gossip provokes conflict (vv. 20–21). Verse 22 directly warns the reader that gossip is seductive, and the proverb serves as a bridge to the next section (vv. 23–28), on the liar.” ESV Study Bible note
Verses 24 – 28 — The deceitful, lying hypocrite. Care will be taken by the wise individual when hearing the words of someone who might gain by the telling of lies. Whether the lie be flattery, or denial of a charge one must hear with judging ears, and mind.
The hypocrite’s life ends up being not so secret.
Christmas Day 30
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to be (today and everyday) a Christian in the words that I speak, the life that I live, and to be one who shares the love of God in Christ Jesus wherever I may be; to whom ever I am with, and no matter their economic, religious, political, moral, or ethnic place in this world; to share the word of God, and the love of God shown on Calvary’s cross.
“He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; when he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.” Proverbs 26:24-26 (KJV)
For the Seven Abominations see Proverbs 6:16-19.
Christmas Day 80
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to be angry at what makes God angry, and to direct that anger to fulfilling the will and glory of God in my life; to not let the anger fester and become hatred, sin and evil.
Christmas Day Two Hundred Twenty and Nine
What do I want for Christmas?
I want to see other people as the Lord Jesus sees people, and to love them as He does also; and to know how to show that love through His Biblical example, and the power of the Holy Spirit within.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” [Jesus Christ Son of God] Matthew 5:43-48 (KJV)
The Righteous and the Wicked
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1 (KJV)
The one who is guilty of a crime is constantly looking over their shoulders to check, and see if anyone is pursuing them. That is the wicked. Wickedness goes further, though, than just a guilty conscience. The wicked are haters of God, good, and godliness.
As I read this this morning I asked myself two questions: First, Do the unrighteous always flee in fear? The second: Are the righteous always the bold ones? The answer to those questions is both “NO!”
Let us look at another thought of the “Wicked”. The wicked are not just lawbreakers, they are God-haters. They hate God, His law, His Word, His righteousness, and anyone who is connected to Him. Many of the wicked will say, “I don’t believe in God. How can I hate something I don’t believe in?” See what I mean. The whole creation cries out for the God of the Universe, and you deny He exist; because you hate Him. You hate Him even when the evidence says He is true.
Normally, the wicked flee when no man pursues. Everyday the wicked flee because God is in pursuit of you. Normally, the righteous – the God fearer, the one’s who love God, His Word, His commandments, His law are bold as a lion.
It seems to me sometimes that the wicked are much more bold than the righteous in today’s world. Why would that be? Who are the “Righteous”? Those who have been declared righteous or Just by God Himself (Romans 1:7; 5:1). Of course there are none who are righteous of their own merit, their own goodness, “No not one” (Romans 3:10-11). Righteousness comes through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Why does it seem that the wicked are bold, and the righteous are fleeing? It is because the righteous are not living righteous lives; we are not believing what God’s Word says, we are not believing God, thus we live with fear. We fear offending others, rather than fear offending God.
O LORD God give your people a righteous, healthy fear of YOU; that we might show forth Your righteousness in a lost, dark, and condemned world.
Tongues of Hatred
“A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” Proverbs 26:28 (KJV)
There is much said about “Hate speech” in today’s culture here in the United States of America. “Hate speech” seems to be a code term used to try and convince people that if you do not agree with someone then you are accused of using “hate speech” as a way of silencing you.
This proverb is the truth. I wrote yesterday of the worth of truth, and today of a lying tongue. The individual; the man, the woman, the boy or girl who speaks continual lies is a hater; using hate speech to further their own ends.
The lying tongue hates those whom they are lying to. They especially hate those who are brave, bold, courageous, and loving enough to confront them about their lies.
On the matter of the “Flattering mouth” we have probably all been guilty of flattery of some kind. Flattery is sometimes used to be kind. It is often used to try and obtain from another something we want.
Flattering mouths work ruin; first for the individual speaking it; then, also the one to whom they are speaking it.
We must remember the tongue is a powerful instrument. It holds the power of life and death.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21
We would all be better to love one another; speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), than to lie. We may offend some with the truth, but we cannot truly be accused of hate speech speaking the truth. Truth gives life. Life comes to us from God the Father sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross for us sins, His burial, and His bodily resurrection.
Believe Him. He is the truth.
The Fire and Hammer 