Revenge-A Believer’s Perspective
In a world of “don’t get mad, get even”, It is turning away from God and his Holy Word.
What is the believer’s proper approach to life’s temptation of “getting even”?
It is almost an instinctive response to do ill to those who do us ill. It is contrary to God’s Holy word.
There is a German Study of a condition that produces happy feeling and brain cycles when a person of popularity “gets theirs”.
Commandments from God-
We should let ourselves be found truthful
Exodus 20
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Zechariah 8
16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares the LORD.
Who should handle this Issue?
Humans have a hard time releasing the desire to make something happen.....
Nahum 1:2
God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
Ezekiel 25
11And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
12Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;
13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.
14And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.
15Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
What must do as Christians.
Our behaviors are dictated by this
Luke 6
35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Matthew 5
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 22
The Greatest Commandment
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments
John 3
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
God has the Just way to take vengence on us for ignoring his Holy Commandments. God has taken Mercy on us. We as humans are flawed. God is Perfect and Holy. It is his perfectness that shall pass judgement....
Monday, April 19, 2010
Depraved- by Chris Jones
There is alot of, shall we say, nonsense in the world today. Much malice back and forth in a "get even" or "its all about me" society. I think this lesson outline will show how the word "depraved" is alive and causing harm in society.
Romans 1
God's Wrath Against Mankind
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Depravity in Society Analog of Modern times to Paul’s Time
Depravity=Ability to do violence to fellow man
God’s Plan
· He has revealed himself by the knowing that there is a greater way of the universe. (18-19)
· The awe of creation and the order of nature.
· so that men are without excuse. (20) with out the word of God, people know the creator.
How He reveals Himself to us.
· Through the glory of the creation
· Through the Holy Spirit (comfort, courage, wisdom)
· Through his word
· Through Miracles
Humility in the Spirit
· Expected proper attitude to God- gratitude and thanksgiving.
· {They} Denied The Glory of the Spirit
Boastfulness of Man due to denial of God
· Their thinking became futile
· The gave their hearts to foolishness
· They began to worship man made idols.
· Did violence to the natural ways of God concerning sexuality
Result- God gave them:
· Depraved mind- predisposed to violence
· Envy
· Murder
· Strive (Drama)
· Gossip
· Deceit
· Malice
Their actions
· Gossiping
· Insolence
· Inventive ways of doing evil
· Disobedient to authority (parents)
· Without Faith
· Ruthless
· Without Sense or Wisdom
How to prevent this situation
· Prayer communication with God. 1 Thessalonians 5 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not quench the Spirit;
· Read God’s word 2 Timothy 3
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
· Go To Church Regularly 1 Chronicles 16 23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 25 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
· Identify the enemy 1 Peter 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
· Encourage each other- 1 Thessalonians 5 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Proverbs 12
25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
Romans 1
God's Wrath Against Mankind
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Depravity in Society Analog of Modern times to Paul’s Time
Depravity=Ability to do violence to fellow man
God’s Plan
· He has revealed himself by the knowing that there is a greater way of the universe. (18-19)
· The awe of creation and the order of nature.
· so that men are without excuse. (20) with out the word of God, people know the creator.
How He reveals Himself to us.
· Through the glory of the creation
· Through the Holy Spirit (comfort, courage, wisdom)
· Through his word
· Through Miracles
Humility in the Spirit
· Expected proper attitude to God- gratitude and thanksgiving.
· {They} Denied The Glory of the Spirit
Boastfulness of Man due to denial of God
· Their thinking became futile
· The gave their hearts to foolishness
· They began to worship man made idols.
· Did violence to the natural ways of God concerning sexuality
Result- God gave them:
· Depraved mind- predisposed to violence
· Envy
· Murder
· Strive (Drama)
· Gossip
· Deceit
· Malice
Their actions
· Gossiping
· Insolence
· Inventive ways of doing evil
· Disobedient to authority (parents)
· Without Faith
· Ruthless
· Without Sense or Wisdom
How to prevent this situation
· Prayer communication with God. 1 Thessalonians 5 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not quench the Spirit;
· Read God’s word 2 Timothy 3
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
· Go To Church Regularly 1 Chronicles 16 23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 25 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
· Identify the enemy 1 Peter 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
· Encourage each other- 1 Thessalonians 5 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Proverbs 12
25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
Answer to below Who Am I?
Nehemiah
This is great book that show the difficulties in running an organization....
This is great book that show the difficulties in running an organization....
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