Hands that shed innocent blood

23 August 2011

It means  attacking  an innocent person  in order to take revenge/ or to  satisfy envy, anger,  hatred, prejudice, suspicion or perhaps the  person is not prepared to defend himself. Such action was required on vulnerable, to parade their “superiority” over them.

 Murder is something a grave offense committed on the fellow being. God always opposed murder. God gave mankind a command that murderers were to be put to death “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.”(Genesis 9:6) .Of course the ten commandants states, "You shall not murder."(Exodus 20:13)

  

Murder is erroneous when an innocent people are killed. The first description of innocent blood being shed in the Bible is found in Gen. 4.8-12 Cain becomes very angry with, jealous, he decides to murders his brother, hides the body, and pretends he does not know anything about it. God looked deep into the  heart of Cain and saw all the evil  hidden there.

 Generally the people with evil character are liable to shed blood without any botheration and they are wicked at heart: Such people “who …. uses his power to shed blood”.(Ezekiel 22:6). “slanderers who are bent on shedding blood;” (Ezekiel 22:9). “people who accept bribes to shed blood;”( Ezekiel 22:12).  “for unjust gain you have made .. blood you have shed ..” (Ezekiel 22:13.). “…. no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land…. They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.” (Hosea 4:1-2)

God hates bloodshed because “the wicked person who plots and plans murder of innocents. He is greedy, full of pride, persecutes the poor. thinks he will never be punished, ….his mouth is full of cursing, deceit, oppression and fraud, trouble and sin are under his tongue, and he ambushes and slays the poor and innocent.Their feet run to evil, … to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts are of iniquity; …. Destruction were in their paths and highways. …. peace they know not, and there is no justice or right in their goings; they have made them crooked paths;…Isaiah . 59:7-8 “your iniquities have separated you from your God; …...For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt…. Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood.” (Isaiah 59:2-3, 7)

“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; Romans 3:14-15

We have seen how rebellion, hate, envy, jealousy grow in excessively now in the world. The Bible tells us to obey the instructions of God eagerly, repent of rebellion, forgive others, correct any errors in your thinking pattern. “The wicked are quick to shed innocent blood” (Isaiah 59:4-8) “Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty”. Exodus. 23:7

God warns that “You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”(Genesis 4:8-12)

“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; 
for in the image of God has God made mankind. Genesis 9:6

“….the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days.”(Psalm 55:23.)

 “when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.

Your hands are full of blood! (Isaiah 1:15-16)

Mountain View @ Kodaikanal Tamil nadu

  

God hates a lying tongue

22 August 2011 

Lying here means: deceitful, fraudulent false and  double-dealing. 

The lies reflect the character within a person. What God hates is the character of a lying tongue which displays are dishonesty, false and dishonesty.   

The moral and ethical principles of our society has been deteriorating slowly, where lying becomes a habitual way of life. The person will continually lie or exaggerate (habitual liar) the problem,  and often get caught in the conflicting descriptions of their speech -they are “caught in the act.” It is important to avoid such a habit of exaggeration of facts. “….do not swear not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.” (James 5:12). "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment".( Proverbs 12:19)

           Lie is hateful in the sight of God: The Holy Spirit is identified as ‘the Spirit of Truth’.  Satan, on the other hand, is ‘the Father of Lies’ has been part of man from the beginning deceiving mankind. From the creation of man it was a lie that led to Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden.

• God hates a lying tongue (Proverbs.6:17) and “all liars… will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (Revelation 21:8)
• Lying is forbidden: “Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.” Leviticus 19:11 “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” . Colossians 3:9 
• Hateful to God: These six things doth the LORD hate: 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 
•  An abomination to God:” Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight." Proverbs 12:22 
•  A hindrance to prayer¨ “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” Isaiah 59:2-3.

A lying tongue is all hateful in a person and we cannot trust him for anything. “keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it”. (Psalm 34:13) ”An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble.”(Proverbs 12:13) 

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”( Proverbs 18:21)

"I am the way, the truth and the life." John 14:6

warning sign board -uphill   Kodai  Tamilnadu

NEVER OVER TAKE YOUR TONGUE TO SPEAK HASTILY!

 you can read the blog post 8/8/2011-

GOD hates six things

21-August 2011 A proud look

 We usually say ‘GOD LOVES’, ‘GOD IS MERCYFUL’ etc. Remember God hates something , which is sinful. “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

    A proud look, 
    A lying tongue, 
    Hands that shed innocent blood, 
    A heart that devises wicked plans, 
    Feet that are swift in running to evil, 
    A false witness who speaks lies, 
 And one who sows discord among brethren”.Proverbs6:16-19

 

The dictionary defines Pride: The quality or state of being proud, as excessive self-esteem, an unreasonable conceit of superiority- in talents, power beauty, rank, or wealth etc ; We usually think being proud is not a sinful attitude. We are encouraged in our lives to be proud of ourselves, to take pride in one's own achievements and abilities. It sounds reasonable, to be proud of the success of our loved ones etc . Pride only  made Lucifer to set himself in conflict with God in heaven, and to rebel against God's power and  authority. Pride is the cause for the fallen state of mankind. Pride is one of the seven sins referred as "deadly sins" which happens to be the origin of most of our sins.

And the Bible tells us that our Heavenly Father HATES pride! God hates haughty eyes.  God seeks a reflection of the character of the person   through his eyes.  “Face is the index of mind” and eyes has the potential to reveal itself in a multifarious ways. All the diverse expression  are there to be read on ones face, for those who can read them. What God hates is the character which the eyes display, basically  pride, egotism, conceit, and self importance. 

The expression on the faces usually shows, “I am important,” - “I don’t have time for you,” – "I am better than you” “I know more than you” – such attitudes portrays the essence of pride—a proud look. Such facial expressions are seen throughout the society, actually a snare on the personality, exist in this world. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16

We read in the bible about the eyes and its expression, it states, “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.”Luke 11:34. Avoid a proud look—God hates it.

Pride is at the top of the list because it is the main factor which drives us to disobedience and rebellion against God’s laws. God knows that pride can live in a place very deep in men’s hearts. He also knows that most of the  sin emerge  because of pride.That is why pride is at the top of the list of things who God is greatly opposed to.  

The Bible has a lot to say about pride…..and it is all negative: 

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs (11:2). “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”(Proverbs 16:18). “Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.” (Proverbs:21:4.)“whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.”(Psalm 101:5)

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs:16:18)“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished" (Proverbs. 16:5);  “The Lord shall cut off... the tongue that speaketh proud things “(Psalm 12:3);"God resists the proud..." (James. 4:6) 

 Proud people are warned in many incidents in the Bible

“For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon everyone that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and 'he shall be brought low” (Isaiah 2:12).

The scriptures also say that God “knows them from afar off”; and God will “bring down haughty [proud] looks”. 

Pride is the most subtle of sins. It can break into our life and pollute Our prayer- life, our faith, our obedience to God, our willingness to self-sacrifice, our ability to speak, and our patience, and can spoil our  self esteem and a sense of superiority over others. 

 

Pride is the opposite of humility.  God wants us to seek godliness. Jesus said, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart". We, too, must be adorned "with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4).

God has the final word on this: God will reward or exalt a humble heart, with those who are humble in spirit

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time “(1 Peter 5:6). 

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:“God opposes the proud  but shows favor to the humble^. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:6-7, 10

Be alert. 

Satan has a hidden trap laid for you.

you have to identify, to avoid.

Be filled with the power of God  and you can see the devil flee from you.

Blue mountains @ kodaikanal TamilNadu

The right use of the tongue

20-August 2011 

The smallest organ of our body has a great potential and can be instantly used for good. We can do excellent things with our mouth and tongue. We can be truthful, comfort the sad, encourage others, teach others and compliment others etc. Above all we can we can praise God, thank him, adore him, pray, plead  and  intercede  etc, in that case tongue can be a gentle tongue, truthful lips, the healing tongue , praising lips. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” Mathew 12:34 

Let us see what the Bible says about the potential use of your tongue .

“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.”Proverbs 25:11

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,…” Proverbs 10:11

 “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, ”Proverbs 20:21

“The lips of the righteous nourish many, A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, 
   but the lips of the wise protect them.” Proverbs 14:3

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1.

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21.

“The soothing tongue is a tree of life… Proverbs 15:4

“LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; Psalm 15:1-2

Our speech and words  must show our attitude and concerns for others.

Get a right heart. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”. Mathew 12:34

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” Proverbs 17:27

Be vigilant. “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds.”Paslm 141:3

Pray.  “Whenever we are about to open our mouths to speak, we might offer the prayer ‘May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”Psalm 19:14

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Proverbs 16:24

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”. Proverbs 15:1

In summation, remember that your tongue is a two–edged weapon —what you say, when you say how it sounds etc are very important to you , to others  and to God. Strive to keep your words and speech soft and gentle,  while reaching out to others, rather than being razor-sharp and bitter.Strive not to gossip, flatter, lie or misuse the tongue in any other way. Instead, use it to help others and build friendships and relationships. …“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech”.1 Peter 3:10 

 If you want a good life, control what you say!

What you say is very important in the sight of God—

Finally, read this verse :“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21.

 Almighty Father has warned us “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life…”Deuteronomy 30:19

 Choice is your - think and choose what you want.. 

 It is very Simple.

 But need great inner  strength .

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows..Psalm 23:1-6

 PRAISE THE LORD.

Layers of mountains uphill view@ Kodaikanal Tamil Nadu