"Cecil-iness"

July 31, 2015

“Cecil-iness”

Blessings folk!

We know that evil will increase.
We know that those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

2Ti 3:12-13
Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.


From bad to worse.
Deceiving and being deceived.

This will manifest in multitudes of way.

We see it today in the “outrage” expressed by many in the death of Cecil the Lion.
Yet, these same folk…these same news networks…the same impostors of the faith…say nothing about the murder of unborn children.
Nothing is said about the video evidence of children literally being sold by the pieces.
Nothing is said of the abject evil of people callously bantering over the purchase of baby pieces.
Nothing is said of videos showing medical personnel expressing pleasure over find certain pieces of bodies.

True evil.

It is as we have seen.
They worship the creation rather than the Creator.

Rom 1:25
For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.


They silently destroy that which is made in the image of God, a baby, while expressing outrage when Cecil is gone.

Gen 1:27
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Gen 9:6
“Whoever sheds man's blood,
By man his blood shall be shed,
For in the image of God
He made man.

Evil.

Remember…

Psa 139:13-17
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How precious are the thoughts of the Lord toward us and these little ones.

"Filled, Full Of, They Are..."

July 30, 2015

“Filled, Full Of, They Are…”

Blessings folk!

We saw yesterday that because “they” chose not to acknowledge God any longer, the Lord gave them over to a depraved mind…to do those things which are not proper.

Because of this “they” were…”filled”, “full of”, “they are”…

Rom 1:28-32
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.


The are filled with all…

  • unrighteousness
  • wickedness
  • greed
  • evil

They are full of…
  • envy
  • murder
  • strife
  • deceit
  • malice

They are (they have become..)…
  • gossips
  • slanderers
  • haters of God
  • insolent
  • arrogant
  • boastful
  • inventors of evil
  • disobedient to parents
  • without understanding
  • untrustworthy
  • unloving
  • unmerciful

They practice these things.
It is there pattern of life.
It is who they are.
They do these things.
They rejoice and give hearty approval to those who practice likewise.

Such are those in the world.
Many profess faith and gather in the organizational church.
Yet, they are not of God.

But, there is hope.
Such were some (most? all?) of us.
We have been…

1Co 6:11
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.


The same can happen to “they”…if “they” repent, confess and call upon the name of the Lord.

Washed.
Sanctified.
Justified.

Selah!

"Did Not See Fit..."

July 29, 2015

“Did Not See Fit…

Blessings folk!

The balance of Romans 1 is one sentence.

Read.

Consider what they had become after God gave them over…this is the third statement of the phrase “God gave them over”…

Rom 1:28-32
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.


Why did God give them over?

Because they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer.
They rejected God.
Remember, they knew Him…within and without.
Yet, they refused to acknowledge.

What did they receive?

A depraved mind.
Depraved to do what?
Things which are not proper.

Read the passage again.
Note what we learn about…
“filled”…
“full of”…
“they are”…

To what do they give “hearty approval”?

Ask the Lord what He is saying to you.

"Degrading Passions"

July 28, 2015

“Degrading Passions”

Blessings folk!

God gave them over to the lusts of their heart…
Their bodies were dishonored among each other…
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie…
They worship and served the creature rather than the Creator…

I repeat this because such is the case today.
Nothing has changed.
I repeat this so that we are reminded as we move into the next verse…which begins with “for this reason…”

What reason?
For what they had been doing.

Rom 1:26-27
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.


We see a progression in the degradation of man.

Because man rejected the knowledge of God…
Because man pursued the worship of self rather than God…
God gave them over.

Now, God gives them over to degrading passions.
What degrading passions?

The Lord tells us.
Women exchanged the natural function for unnatural.
Men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in desire for other men.
Men commit indecent acts with one another.
Men receive in their own person/body the due penalty of their error.

The degrading passion is homosexuality.
The Lord could not be more clear.
People are not “born” homosexual.
It is a degraded passion.
It brings forth indecent acts.
It is a lie of the evil one to destroy the most creative.
More on that later…

"Given Over to Lusts..."

July 27, 2015

“Given Over to Lusts…”

Blessings folk!

Therefore, God gave them over…

This is one of the most heart-stopping portions of the Word.

Three times in the balance of Romans 1 it is stated that “God gave them over…”

The principle is clear.

The Lord will give over to wants, desires, lusts, etc.

Seek the Lord for understanding as we continue through Romans 1…

Rom 1:24-25
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen
.


They had lusts in their heart.
God gave them over to the lusts.
Remember that “they” were unrepentant and denied God.

The lusts of their heart led to impurity.
Now, their bodies would be dishonored.

Why?
How?

Because they had exchanged the truth of God for a lie.
They worship and served the creature…themselves…rather than the Creator.

The same is occurring today in the world and in the organizational church.

People serve themselves rather than the blessed Creator.

Succumb not to the lusts of the heart.

Remember this…

1Jo 2:15-17
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

"Image..."

July 26, 2015

“Image…”

Blessings folk!

So,

Rom 1:22
Professing to be wise, they became fools,


but, there is more…

Rom 1:23
and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

They exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God…

We are made in the image of God.

Gen 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.


Man exchanges this image for corruptible man…and birds, etc.
Idolatry.

Rather than ruling in dominion over creation as God designed, man began to worship creation.
He began to pervert the order of the Lord.

Because of this, God did something.

How do we know?

The first Word of the next verse…

Rom 1:24
Therefore…


True Believers have had their image renewed, restored…

Live in the image of God.

"They..."

July 25, 2015

“They…

Blessings folk!

Well.

I did not expect to spend a couple of weeks chasing around “The Fool”, but the Word has much to say.

Remember where we began.

Rom 1:22
Professing to be wise, they became fools,


Remember who “they” are?

They are those who knew God…yet rejected Him.
They suppress the Truth of God.

Rom 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who
suppress the truth in unrighteousness,


They rejected the inward testimony that God has placed in all mankind - God is Real.

Rom 1:19
because that which is
known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.


They rejected the outward testimony of creation…the testimony that speaks of the nature of the Godhead.

Rom 1:20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.


They rejected.
They professed to be wise.
They are without excuse.
They became fools.

We see it everywhere today…in media, in political circles, in education, in the organizational church…everywhere.

Be not “they”…

"Fools 15"

July 24, 2015

“Fools 15”

Blessings folk!

Often Believers are overly careful of using the word “fool”.
They believe that it is a sin to call a fool a fool.

We always do well to guard the tongue.
We do well to speak encouragement, exhortation in love and truth.
But, as we have seen in the Word, acknowledging the traits and life of a fool is not a sin.

It has to do with the attitude of the heart.

Here is what we are not to do…

Mat 5:22
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

Note it is brother-to-brother.
Be not angry before a brother…a fellow Believer.

The Lord uses a picture of earthly courts to reveal a truth.

If you are angry with a brother…then you are guilty before the court…
If you say ”good-for-nothing”…then you are guilty before the supreme court…a higher court.
If you say “you fool”…then you are guilty enough to be cast into the fiery hell…the highest court.

The Lord is clear.
One can not say that “I love God” and yet hate his brother.

1Jo 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?


Therefore, love.
Do not call one “Fool” from the fleshly motivation of an evil heart.

"Fools 14"

July 23, 2015

“Fools 14”

Blessings folk!

Is it not amazing how much information the Lord has granted us in His Word?

We looked at one simple cross-reference related to The Fool…and continue with more. Happy

Ecc 10:15
The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.

Isa 32:5
No longer will the fool be called noble,
Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.

Isa 32:6
For a fool speaks nonsense,
And his heart inclines toward wickedness:
To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD,
To keep the hungry person unsatisfied
And to withhold drink from the thirsty.


The toil of a fool wearies him…

  • due to slothfulness
  • due to laziness
  • due to folly in “work”

Why?
Because The Fool…
  • speaks nonsense
  • has a heart inclined toward wickedness
  • has a heart that practices ungodliness
  • has a heart that speaks error against the Lord

Why does The Fool do this?
Apparently it is intentional.
To keep the hungry person unsatisfied.
To withhold drink from the thirsty.

The Fool keeps that which would satiate the hunger and thirst of people away from them.
The Fool withholds the Word of God.
Though he waxes eloquent, the people are starving.
Such is the state of much of the professing church.

A heart that is wicked, ungodly and intentionally full of error spoken against the Lord.
Such is The Fool.

Be not The Fool.

"Fools 13"

July 22, 2015

“Fools 13”

Blessings folk!

A cacophony of sound.
A cascade of verbiage.
Word after word wearing down the listener.

Such is the speech of the fool.

Ecc 10:3
Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.

Ecc 10:12
Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;

Ecc 10:14
Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?

The Fool:

  • lacks sense, proves/demonstrates to everyone…even just by walking along the road
  • his folly is evident
  • his lips consume him
  • he multiplies words
  • no one know what he will say/do next

The Wise:
  • his words are gracious

Many are The Fools that think a barrage of words reflect insight, wisdom, revelation, illumination, enlightenment and truth. Sadly, many take their stand as the voice of the Lord.

Resist the temptation to pontificate and prove to be The Fool.
Rather, speak the Truth of the Most High, guided and empowered by the Spirit, thereby leading the many to righteousness.

"Fools 12"

July 21, 2015

“Fools 12”

Blessings folk!

Ecclesiastes continues to teach us about The Fool.

Ecc 5:3
For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.

Ecc 6:8
For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living?

Ecc 7:6
For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool;
And this too is futility.

Ecc 7:17
Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

The Fool:

  • a person of many words
  • “as the cracking of thorn bushes under a pot”..such is the laughter of the fool (anyone come to mind…think politics…LOL). Such is futility.

Do not be excessively wicked?
Can we be “a little” wicked? Happy
No.

Be not wicked.
Be not a fool.

Both might cause one to die before their time.

"Fools 11"

July 20, 2015

“Fools 11”

Blessings folk!

The writer of Ecclesiastes (likely Solomon) reveals truths about The Fool.

Solomon is lamenting the vanity of life…from his perspective at that time…whatcha get for pursuing women rather than God.

Give heed to the truths of The Fool.

Ecc 2:14
The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both.

Ecc 2:15
Then I said to myself, “As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?” So I said to myself, “This too is vanity.”

Ecc 2:16
For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die!

Ecc 2:19
And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.

Ecc 4:5
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.


The Fool:

  • walks in darkness
  • a fate…not good…awaits
  • will die
  • will have a lasting remembrance…a negative one
  • folds his hands…lazy…thereby his flesh is consumed…he waste away

The Wise:
  • eyes are in his head…he sees…he uses what the Lord provided
  • wisdom of itself is not the goal…is vanity
  • no lasting remembrance of wise man…for the sake of wisdom
  • will die

Both The Fool and The Wise will die…should the Lord continue to tarry.

Walk the way of The Wise.

"Fools 10"

July 19, 2015

“Fools 10”

Blessings folk!

There are some who are worse than The Fool…
  • the man wise in his own eyes
  • a man who is hasty in his words


Pro 29:20
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.


Be not hasty in words.
Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.

Jas 1:19
This you know, my beloved brethren.
But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;


Trust not in your own heart…fools do this.

Pro 28:26
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

Rather, walk wisely…the Lord will deliver.

Remember, a fool loses his temper.

Pro 29:11
A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise man holds it back.

But a wise man holds back temper.

It is possible in the Lord.

Walk wisely.
Walk not as The Fool…or worse.

"Fools 9"

July 18, 2015

“Fools 9”

Blessings folk!

We have seen much about The Fool.
It might look hopeless.
Yet, there is one who is worse than The Fool.

Pro 26:12
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.


The one that is wise in his own eyes.
Yes.
Truly they are worse than the fool.

How bad is The Fool?

Pro 27:3
A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

Pro 27:22
Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.


The provocation of a fool is heavy…a weighty burden…hard to handle
The foolishness of a fool can not be “processed out”…with mortar and pestle…even with enhanced crushing.
It can not be “managed”.
Foolishness and The Fool are inseparable.

Is there hope?
Is there a solution?

Pro 28:26
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.


Trust not in your own heart as the fool does.
Walk wisely and be delivered.

…to be continued…

"Fools 8"

July 17, 2015

“Fools 8”

Blessings folk!

As we have seen, the Lord has given extensive…and often uncomfortable…detail related to the fool.

Today we learn what happens to those who trust The Fool…

Pro 26:6
He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.

Pro 26:8
Like one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives honor to a fool.

Pro 26:10
Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.

Pro 26:11
Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly.

Send a message by the hand of a fool?
…like cutting off your own feet
…like drinking violence

Give honor to a fool?
…like binding a stone in a sling
…like given a loaded firearm to an incompetent

Hire a fool?
…like an archer who wounds everyone…no control, haphazard

A fool repeats folly.
He is like a dog that returns to its vomit.

Be not a fool.
Reach and rescue The Fool from his folly…speak Truth.

"Fools 7"

July 16, 2015

“Fools 7”

Blessings folk!

We continue to see the character of The Fool.
We also see it compare to those who are not a fool.
Then, what are we to do with The Fool?

Pro 20:3
Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,
But any fool will quarrel.

Pro 23:9
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Pro 24:7
Wisdom is too exalted for a fool,
He does not open his mouth in the gate.

Pro 26:1
Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool.

Pro 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.

Pro 26:5
Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes.

The fool: will quarrel.
Man of honor: will keep away from strife.

The fool: will despise your words of wisdom, wisdom is too exalted for him.
Man of honor: does not speak in the hearing of a fool, do not answers a fool according to his folly…does not get entrapped in his foolishness. Rather, he answers him as his folly deserves.

What a great truth!

Respond to a fool as his folly deserves so that he not be wise in his own eyes.

Too often we think that we are to do nothing with the fool and his folly.
The Word is clear that this is not truth.
We as Believers have responsibility to speak to the fool according to his folly.
To not allow folly and foolishness to prevail.
To seek the conversion of The Fool to a man of honor.

Remember, such were some of us…

"Fools 6"

July 15, 2015

“Fools 6”

Blessings folk!

…more about the fool…

Pro 17:28
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Pro 18:2
A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.

Pro 19:1
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.


Proverbs 17:28 is a personal favorite…even a fool appears to be wise when he hold his tongue.
We do well to speak only that which the Lord speaks.
We do well to hold the tongue of flesh.

Even a fool knows this at times.

A fool might appear to be wise, until they release the tongue and lips.

A fool does not delight in understanding.
A fool delights in revealing his own mind.
A fool does not listen for understanding.
He only wants to speak what he thinks.

A fool is perverse in speech…a liar, a perverter of word.
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than such a fool.

The speech of the fool reveal the mind of the fool…folly and foolishness.

Seek the Kingdom.
Be not a fool.

"Fools 5"

July 14, 2015

“Fools 5”

Blessing folk!

The Lord has warned us about the fool.
Especially to avoid being one.

Here is more…

Pro 17:12
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.

Pro 17:16
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
When he has no sense?

Pro 17:21
He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.

Pro 17:24
Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.


We learn more of the
character of a fool…

  • folly
  • tries to buy wisdom
  • no sense
  • his eyes are on the ends of the earth…the things of the earth…”the grass is greener on the other side of the earth” type of thing

We learn of the
impact of the fool…especially in the lives of others…
  • it is better to deal with an angry momma bear robbed of her cubs (that is bad) than with a fool and his folly…think on that…
  • one who sires a fool…the father…has sorrow and no joy due to the fool

Pursue holiness and the mind/understanding of the Lord.
Reject the way of the fool.
Reject the folly of the world.

"Fools 4"

July 13, 2015

“Fools 4”

Blessings folk!

More insight about fools…

Pro 15:5
A fool rejects his father's discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible.

Pro 17:7
Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are lying lips to a prince.

Pro 17:10
A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.


We have noticed the ongoing comparison between the fool and the righteous/wise/understanding/etc.

A fool…

  • rejects his father’s discipline
  • has not excellent…uplifting, encouraging, exhorting…speech
  • refuses a rebuke…might as well be a hundred blows

The wise…
  • regards reproof sensibly
  • has excellent speech
  • does not lie
  • understands a rebuke…receives it

So much time in life is robbed by the fool and the foolish things that trip us up.

Allow the discipline of Father to purge of foolishness.
Receive the rebuke of the Beloved.
Rejoice in the Life that results.
Be not the Fool.

"Fools 3"

July 12, 2015

“Fools 3”

Blessings folk!

More about the fool.
Note the difference between the fool and the wise.

Pro 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

Pro 13:16
Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool displays folly.

Pro 14:7
Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

Pro 14:16
A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.


A fool…

  • is right in his own eyes
  • displays folly
  • is arrogant
  • is careless

A wise man…
  • listens to counsel
  • prudently acts with knowledge
  • leaves the presence of the fool (many in organizational churches are voting with their feet)
  • discerns words of knowledge
  • cautious
  • turns away from evil

Right in own eyes vs. listening to counsel…
Prudent acting with knowledge vs. display of folly…
Staying with fools vs. leaving fools so as to discern words of knowledge…
Cautious and turning away from evil vs.arrogant carelessness…

Which are you?
What are you doing?
Ask the Lord.

"Fools 2"

July 11, 2015

“Fools 2”

Blessings folk!

The Word has much to say about the “fool”.

We experience it on a daily basis.
The babbling of a fool.
The lying lips of a fool.
The concealed hatred of a fool.
The slander of a fool.
The wickedness of a fool.
The fool sporting about with the lie and deceit of his lips.

We see it within the professing church.
We see it without in the world.

Pro 10:8
The wise of heart will receive commands,
But a babbling fool will be ruined.

Pro 10:10
He who winks the eye causes trouble,
And a babbling fool will be ruined.

Pro 10:18
He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads slander is a fool.

Pro 10:23
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

Note the contrast of the righteous.
The wise of heart will receive commands, the babbling fool will be ruined.

The babbling fool winks the eye to cause trouble.
Wickedness is as a sport to them.

But, to a man of understanding…wisdom is pursued, found, manifest.

Play not the role of the babbling fool.
Be as the Lord created Believers to be…wise of heart, wise of understanding.

"Fools 1"

July 10, 2015

“Fools 1”

Blessings folk!

So much has happened in recent days.
We know that evil will increase in the last days.
Still, the speed of such is amazing.

Perhaps the most striking thing at the moment is the abject foolishness of man.
We know why…we will see that in a moment.

Someone can now state that they “identify” as…whatever?
Therefore, I “identify” as tall and twenty. Happy

What does the Word say about such?
Much.
We will spend some time examining it.

Today, we will cut to the chase…and fill in the context as we go.

Here is the Truth.

Psa 14:1
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.

Psa 53:1
For the choir director; according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.

The bottom line is this…

Rom 1:22
Professing to be wise, they became fools,

Abominable deeds.
Abominable injustice.
No one who does good.
Professing to be wise…thinking they are wise, they know all, they have the answer.
They became fools…
Such are the fools.

The Word has much more to say…

"Against Our Body..."

July 9, 2015

“Against Our Body…”

Blessings folk!

The Spirit gives a succinct command to sum what we have examined in 1 Corinthians 6…

1 Co 6:18
Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.


Flee immortality.
Action.
Decisive.

Note that we are never promised not to be tempted with such.

We are to resist.
We are to flee…turn…reject.

Why?
It is a sin against our own body.
Interesting.
Every other sin is outside the body.
Immorality is “in” the body…against the body.
It has negative fruit.

Why else?
The body of the Believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is within us.
God’s Presence in us.
We are not our own.
We are indwelled by the Most High God.
Bought with a price.
Filled for a purpose.

Therefore, we are to glorify God in our body!

Again…
Flee immorality.
Glorify God in your body.

May we do so.

"Joined"

July 8, 2015

“Joined”

Blessings folk!

To what/who are you joined?

Continuing through 1 Corinthians 6 we next see these verses…

1Co 6:15-17
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!
Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.”
But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.


The Lord continues to show us how to live as Believers.

We are members of Christ.
We are not to join the member of Christ with anything that will prostitute.

The Lord leaves nothing to doubt.
If we join ourselves with a prostitute then we are one body.

A reference to Genesis 2:24…”the two shall become on flesh”.
There is a soul joining of oneness that occurs.

We as Believers are not to join in such.

We are to join ourselves to the Lord.
We will then be one spirit with Him.

Again, to what are you joined?

Repent.
Confess.
The Lord will forgive.
Join with the Lord.
Rejoice.

"Raised Up Through His Power"

July 7, 2015

“Raised Up Through His Power”

Blessings folk!

Such were some of you/us…

But, now we are…
  • washed
  • sanctified
  • justified

It can not be repeated enough.
Remember.
Rejoice!

Because of this, all things are lawful for us.
Yet, we are not to be mastered by anything.

Our bodies are not for immorality.
Our bodies are for the Lord and the Lord is for our bodies.

Now, this great truth.
Forget it not.

1Co 6:14
Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.


God has raised the Lord from the dead.
He lives.

But not only the Lord.
God will also raise us up.
From the dead.
Through His power.

The very same resurrection power will raise us from the dead…or from this life…to His Presence.
This same resurrection power lives within us…abides in us.

Our response?

Abide in Him.
Abide in the One Who abides in us as Believers.
Thereby, we will live holy, full of might and power.

"The Body and the Lord"

July 6, 2015

“The Body and the Lord”

Blessings folk!

All things are lawful for true Believers.
Yet, not all things are not profitable.
We are not to be mastered by anything.

The Lord then gives an example…

1Co 6:12-13
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.
Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.


Food is for the stomach.
The stomach is for food.
God will do away with both.

First truth.
We are not to be mastered by the stomach.
Observation proves that too many believers are mastered by their stomachs.
How many are consumed with consumption?
How many spend their days anticipating the next time of food/drink intake?

How many are gluttons?

The Word is clear.
We are not to be heavy drinkers…especially of drink that will cause chemical imbalance.
We are not to be gluttonous of food.

Pro 23:20-21
Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.


Eph 5:18
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,


Second truth.
The body…our corporeal body…is not for immorality.
Our body is for the the Lord.
The Lord is for the body of the believer.

In the same manner that food/stomach naturally relate, the body of the believer is the Lord’s.

Therefore, be fill with and full of the Holy Spirit.
Quench not the Spirit.
Be indwelled by the Lord rather than the passions of the flesh.

"All Things Are Lawful..."

July 5, 2015

“All Things Are Lawful…”

Blessings folk!

“Such were some of you…”

One of the more powerful statements in the Word.

Remember what
they had been
  • fornicators
  • idolaters
  • adulterers
  • effeminate
  • homosexuals
  • thieves
  • covetous
  • drunkards
  • swindlers
None would inherit the Kingdom of God.

1Co 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

But now…they are

  • washed (in the blood of Jesus)
  • sanctified
  • justified
In the name of the Lord.
In the Spirit of our God.
God, Son, Spirit

Paul continues to build the conversation.

1Co 6:12
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.


As true Believers, all things are lawful for us.
We are no longer under the Levitical law.
Twice it is stated.
It is true.

But, there are other truths.
Though all things are lawful, not all things are profitable.
Yes, I’m free.
Yet, I am not to use my freedom for that which is unprofitable in the Kingdom.
Yes, I’m free.
But, I am not to be mastered by anything.

We must not use “freedom” as an excuse for that which masters us and is unprofitable.

Abuse of freedom is sin.

…to be continued…

"Drunkards, Revilers, Swindlers"

July 4, 2015

“Drunkards, Revilers, Swindlers”

Blessings folk!

Fornicators
Idolaters
Adulterers
Effeminate
Homosexuals
Thieves
Covetous

No one whose pattern and practice of behavior includes these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

There is more.

1Co 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.


Not…

Drunkards -
methysos - abuser of the vine, drunk

Revilers -
loidoros - verbal abuser, slanderer

Swindler -
harpax - violently greedy, ravenous

None will inherit the Kingdom of God.

How many in church organizations are such…especially revilers.
I encounter them frequently.

How many revile, swindle and otherwise cheat?

Yet, fear not.

Such were some of us.
There is Hope.
There is the washing, sanctifying and justifying of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In His name.
By His blood.
To His glory.

Therefore, do not “give up” on someone.
Speak the gospel to them.
It is the power of God unto salvation.

"Thieves, Covetous"

July 3, 2015

“Thieves, Covetous”

Blessings folk!

When speaking of unrighteous to this point we have seen sins that we would “expect”…
  • fornicators
  • idolaters
  • adulterers
  • effeminate
  • homosexual

Continue reading…

1Co 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.


These will not inherit the Kingdom of God…

  • thieves: kleptai - one who steals
  • covetous: pleonektēs - greedy

Thieves and covetous will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Many who are professing believers…and perhaps true believers…are involved with things that relate to thievery and covetousness.

Seek the Lord.

He will lead.
He will direct.
He will guide.
He will let you know the truth.
He will guide you out of ignorance.

Act 17:30-31
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

"Effeminate, Homosexuals"

July 2, 2015

“Effeminate, Homosexuals”

Blessings folk!

Remember!
Neither fornicators, idolaters or adulterers will inherit the Kingdom of God.

There is more.

1Co 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.


Neither will effeminate nor homosexuals inherit the Kingdom of God.

Effeminate - malakos - “soft, soft to touch”...metaphorically in a bad sense: a boy kept for homosexual relationships with a man, male who submits his body to lewdness, male prostitute.

Homosexuals - arsenokoitēs - abuser of self with mankind, one who lies with a male as with a female.

There are many smooth and slick teachings and sermons being released that purport to “explain away” the biblical prohibition related to homosexuality.

Such are lies and deceptions of the evil one.

The Word is clear.

Sin is an abomination before the Lord.

But, there is Hope.
Such were some of us…
But, we have been washed, sanctified, justified.
Procure the Hope!

"Fornicators, Idolaters, Adulterers"

July 1, 2015

“Fornicators, Idolaters, Adulterers”

Blessings folk!

Such were some of us.
Dare I say, most of us?

1Co 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.


The unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
A plain truth that is often ignored.

Who are the unrighteous?
Among them are those who practice the deeds in this passage.

Fornicators - pornos
- a man who prostitutes his body to another's lust for hire
- a male prostitute

  • a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse, a fornicator
  • one involved in sexual relations outside of marriage

Idolaters - eidōlolatrēs
  • worshipper of false gods
  • worshipper of anything other than the Most High God

Adulterers - moichos
  • married person involved in sexual relationship with other than spouse
  • faithless toward God

Note how many of these are sexual sins.

Be not deceived.

Such will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Be not such.
Repent.