look

Seven Abominations Which God Hates – The Proud Look

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THE PROUD LOOK

This is the first in a seven part series I call “SEVEN ABOMINATIONS WHICH GOD HATES. It is taken from Proverbs 6:16-19 as the text. I began this series on Sunday morning July 09, 2006, and I believe it covers the sins that are the cause of all the ills of the earth. Of course, sin is the cause of all the ills on earth. I pray all who read this will learn to serve and glorify the Lord Jesus for His abundant grace and mercy He has provided for us all upon the cross of Calvary.

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.  Proverbs 6:16-19

A PROUD LOOK equals “Haughty eyes” or arrogant ambition.

IT IS THE LOOK THAT DEFIES GOD.

But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.   Numbers 15:30.

Note the condemnation of one who sins defiantly/presumptuously. Also look at the words of Isaiah to the king of Assyria because of his “High looks”. A man in the New Testament who would fit into this category could be the one who tore down his old barns to build new ones. Isaiah also says in 2:11,

” The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.”

C. S. Lewis said,

“A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”

THIS PRIDE WILL CAUSE THE FALL OF THE ONE WHO PRACTICES IT. ” Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18.

King Nebuchadnezzar was brought low by the arrogance he had against God, and in the end He glorified the Lord God (YHWH). So will it be with all who exalt themselves over the will of God.
Look at this verse which reminds us of the peril of a Proud look. ” An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” Proverbs 21:4
In the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 we find a great contrast to this PROUD LOOK. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (v. 3).

THE ‘PROUD LOOK’ IS THE LOOK WHICH SAYS, ‘I KNOW BETTER THAN GOD’. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:21,

“Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.”

It is the PROUD LOOK of the man which says, ‘I will not love my wife as Christ loved the Church…”, or just plainly refuses to do so. It is the PROUD LOOK of the woman who refuses to ‘submit’ to her husband ‘as to the Lord’. It is the PROUD LOOK of the rebellious child or teenager who will not honor and obey their parents; or the adult who shuns and will not honor their parents.

THE ANSWER IS FOUND IN A HUMBLE HEART TOWARD GOD. ” The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17. Someone once said, “Humility is a funny thing; when you think you have it, you don’t”.

Some Christians beat themselves up verbally in an attempt at “Humility”. That is really a lot of pride manifesting itself in the person to draw others attention toward themselves. How do I know that? How can I say that? Because I have been there. I have been guilty of doing it.

Humility is not trying to make yourself lower than others – true humility is not thinking of yourself at all. The humble person rest in Christ Jesus, and lives for Him and serves others without thought of reward or recognition.

Thank the Lord for those humble people of Christ’s who serve and are not seen.

When No One Else Does…

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“Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7 (KJB)

Micah saw many who professed the name of the LORD who were not faithful to the LORD in His word.  They were afflicted yet turned to other sources of help. Micah says,

“Therefore I will look unto the LORD…” The Lord GOD is my help. He is my Salvation. I will wait – I will trust in Him, even if no one else does.  God will hear me.

 

“Therefore I will look unto the Lord — as if no one else were before mine eyes. We must not only “look unto the Lord,” but also “wait for Him.” Having no hope from man (Mic_7:5, Mic_7:6), Micah speaks in the name of Israel, who herein, taught by chastisement (Mic_7:4) to feel her sin (Mic_7:9), casts herself on the Lord as her only hope,” in patient waiting (Lam_3:26). She did so under the Babylonian captivity; she shall do so again hereafter when the spirit of grace shall be poured on her (Zec_12:10-13).” Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary

“Things had come to an awful pass in the favored city. Oppression, bribery, and bloodshed, were everywhere in the ascendant. Men wrought evil with both hands. Husbands could not trust their wives. At such a time there is no refuge for God’s children save in God, Mic_7:7-13.” THROUGH THE BIBLE DAY BY DAY by F. B. Meyer on Micah 7:7-13

Your only hope and help for salvation is through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Call on His name today. He will hear you, save you and change your life for His glory.

Communicating Perfection

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Communicating Perfection

Matthew 5:33-48

We start off with an “Ye have heard…” statement. It is the fourth of five if you count the “It has been said” of verse 31. This shows us Jesus’s familiarity with Scripture and the Law. It also shows that He is familiar with the general interpretation of those Laws.

In looking at the SERMON ON THE MOUNT we must realize that for the time being these principles are our goal. I fall so short of these principles of His Kingdom. The only way they are lived is when we are in complete obedience to the leading of the Spirit within us. Let me say here that our perfection/completion is only by God’s own decree – “You are Justified. All your sins are gone. Jesus has paid your debt”. This is still our goal for now.

THE PLACE TO BEGIN LIVING HONESTLY, WITH HIGH HONOR AND INTEGRITY IS WITH JESUS CHRIST (vv. 33-37).

* When your heart is right with God your first responsibility of honesty is with Him.

+ He already knows your heart and thoughts why would you lie to Him.

+ Why lie to others, if indeed, you see the image of God in them, and we should.

* When making a vow, or promise, let your Yes, Be Yes; and your No, be No!

+ If you must swear on a “Stack of Grandma’s Bibles”, then, your word is probably as good as the ocean front property in Arizona.

THE PLACE TO BEGIN SEEKING THE GOOD OF OTHERS IS BY LOOKING AT THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST AND BE LIKE HIM (vv. 38-42).

* Jesus even turns this toward those who would strike you.

+ Is it a wimpy thing for a man to “turn the other cheek”?

+ Is it the right and courageous thing to “turn the other cheek”?

* Giving others what belongs to you shows that you care for them more than we care for things.

+ Giving them our time – if you are “compel(led) to go a mile, go with him twain”.

+ Giving possessions – if he “take away you coat, let him have your cloke also” (vv. 40, 42).

“Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3 (KJV).

LIVING WITHOUT THE ATTITUDE OF RETALIATION IS A WORK OF JESUS CHRIST IN OUR HEARTS (vv.43-47).

* I recall nowhere in Scriptures which tell us to “Hate your enemies”.

+ Most error in such things comes from misinterpretations and evil hearts.

+ Here, Jesus quickly puts that thought out in the cold

* The law does teach, “Eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:23-25).

+ Seeking justice and seeking revenge are two different thoughts.

+ You can still love the person when justice is being done, but revenge almost requires hatred.

* When we love those who love us, we are doing only what others will do.

+ When we love those who have stricken us, who have lied about us, who have harmed us, then, people will see the love of Jesus Christ, and the difference He has made in our lives.

+ We need to be strengthened by the Spirit of God each day to walk with Christ and be like Him, in loving and forgiving those who have despised us, even hated us.

THE PERFECTION OF GOD IS THE COMPLETENESS WE HAVE SOLELY IN HIM (v. 48).

* This is similar to God’s command to Israel:

+ “For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44-45, and 1 Peter 1:15-16.

* Perfection is the work of God taking us and making us more into the likeness of His Son.

+ It is the goal of every follower of Jesus to one day be made like Him for we have the promise;

+ “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3 (KJV).

-Tim A. Blankenship

Christmas Day Twenty and Five

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What do I want for Christmas today?

I want all School Bus drivers to drive wisely, safely; to get their students to School on time, but safely; and I want other drivers on the road to be aware when they are approaching a School Bus with lights flashing to stop; for the safety of the children: let us do these things the rest of 2016; and then throughout the School years ahead.