A heart that devises wicked schemes

24 August 2011. 

 Wickedness is defined as"‘which is morally wrong and with a deliberate intention to hurt people”. A heart  pumps blood throughout our body that keeps us alive and it is a dwelling place for all sorts of matters both  good and bad.  “…. out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure, brings forth what is evil. “(Luke 6:45) Wicked plans can comes out from a wicked heart and they are rebellion against both God and man. All evil thoughts in men's hearts are constructed from the devil's workshop.

 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”(Jeremiah 17:9) and every intentions  and reflections  of the  man’s heart is naturally evil.

Heart can be  influenced by its  own nature or subject to the charms of the world. The heart can devise evil plans  either intentionally nor  unintentionally, due to the craftiness and temptations of the devil.They “who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.”(Psalm140:2-4),and  ”…. out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, …… All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”(Mark7:21-23)

The Bible tells that  all evil thoughts comes from our hearts .Nobody is perfect, and  naturally we fall into sin.

• What is the condition of our heart now?
•  How do we use   our hearts to fulfill evil desires?
• Do you use your heart for anything that is constructive and useful to others?

 Think. Sanctify yourself.

Sanctification is a process of becoming holy, where It needs your total co- operation to cleanse your heart, with the blood of JESUS and you have to confess your sins as a repentance. “….. sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts…” (1 Peter 3:15)  When Jesus lives in our hearts, there is no space for evil. An evil heart   filled with persistent wickedness cannot survive with a Holy God.

A  Solution for a clean Heart

•  You need a changed heart.Start with simple faith. Believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior.God can give you a changed heart,a heart of flesh. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them”. (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Pray saying “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”( Palms 51:10)
• Take responsibility for your heart.”Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.”( Proverbs 4:23 ). you are responsible for yourself. You can do that by saturating your heart in truth and wisdom.  Do not let kindness and truth  leave you; “Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.– Meditate on the Word day and night.” Joshua 1:8

“……., give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them “.(Proverbs. 4:20-22)

Let your heart devise wonderful things for GOD.

“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. “(Jeremiah 24:7) ^“Finally…., whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”( Philippians 4:8)

 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”(Matthew 22:37) 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
   and lean not on your own understanding;” Proverbs3:5

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Garden view Kodaikanal Tamil nadu

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