adultery – Page 2 – Praying Pint

The Grumblers

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

“Draw near, O nations, to hear, and give attention, O peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it; the world, and all that comes from it.”

Psalms 59:12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter,

Psalms 64:7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads.

Psalms 120:3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue?

Psalms 140:9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!

Proverbs 12:13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

Proverbs 18:7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Psalms 10:2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.

Psalms 109:17 He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!

Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

1 Corinthians 15:34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

Isaiah 28:14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!

Jeremiah 4:22 “For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.”

Romans 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

These words of scripture are a warning to those who seek everything for themselves and have a dark heart. Our sermon on Sunday was from Exodus Chapter 16. The people grumbled against Moses and God. They had been delivered from Pharo’s army, they had witnessed the Red Sea split in half, and they had witnessed the ground they walked on being dry. Just prior to this they had witnessed other great works of God, with the plagues and finally the death of every first born of the Egyptians. Yet not many days into their exodus grumbling starts. You have to realize that this grumbling had to start with one person and many joined in with this thought. This one person who spoke without regard to what had previously happened or the steadfast love, power and might of God. How is it that we are pulled so easily away? Why do we join with the thoughts of the crowd? Why do we stand on the sidelines watching wrong being said and done without courage to take a stand for God? It is easy to grumble at a current situation, but isn’t it just as easy to praise God? It is a true reflection of where your heart and mind are focused. If it is focused on me, myself, and I – there is little chance of seeing God in His holiness, steadfast love, mercy, sovereignty, power, might…… If our heart, mind and soul are on Him we trust Him, we rely on Him, we cling to Him, we wait for Him. We can do this because we believe His word and promises that state He will never leave us or forsake us, He is always with us, He will protect us, He will lead us, He will guard us, He will provide for us, and He will deliver us. How can we know Him and His great and precious promises? – Staying in His word, having a deep heart desire to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him. Our heart, mind and soul require daily filling of His word. Without this we are prone to listen to those who’s heart is filled with grumbling and soon join in with the crowd.

The Price is Paid

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

“For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.”

Psalms 50:23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

Isaiah 48:22 “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Ezekiel 18:27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.

Isaiah 1:11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.

Jeremiah 7:4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’ “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.

Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Romans 2:17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.

Psalms 25:14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

Psalms 78:36 But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.

Jesus Christ went to the cross to redeem all who would come to him, believe in him, and trust in his sacrifice for their sin. Scripture says “for the joy set before him” he willingly bore our sin to redeem us. We come to this saving grace knowledge not by words but by a God drawn, Spirit led, Christ redeemed changed heart. The price paid was God’s only son. The price paid was freely and willingly given for the single purpose of redeeming those who would turn to him, trust in him, believe in him, cling to him, and rely on him alone for salvation of their soul. This is the most important decision ever made this side of eternity. It determines eternity with him in heaven or being forever tormented in hell. The time for this decision is NOW. The urgency of this decision is NOW. Your eternal life depends on this NOW. Seek him while he may be found. Making this decision is never regretted now and for certain forever but not making it will certainly be regretted forever. There is no better time than Now to trust in, rely on, cling to and humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him.

No Faithfulness

“There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land;”

Hosea 4:1
Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel,
for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land;
there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;
they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Therefore the land mourns,
and all who dwell in it languish,
and also the beasts of the field
and the birds of the heavens,
and even the fish of the sea are taken away.
Yet let no one contend,
and let none accuse,
for with you is my contention, O priest.
You shall stumble by day;
the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;
and I will destroy your mother.

Isaiah 3:13
The Lord has taken his place to contend;
he stands to judge peoples.

Jeremiah 25:31
The clamor will resound to the ends of the earth,
for the Lord has an indictment against the nations;
he is entering into judgment with all flesh,
and the wicked he will put to the sword,
declares the Lord.’

Micah 6:2
Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord,
and you enduring foundations of the earth,
for the Lord has an indictment against his people,

Have you ever thought about what you would say in the presence of God? Or what you would say if you knew you were coming before God and He was judging you? Before coming up with what you would say remember that God is all knowing. Scripture says He knows the intent of the heart, that His judgements are true, that He knows our thoughts and sees all of our actions. Do we understand the depth of this? Scripture says that we are to love our God with all our heart, mind and soul – Do we? This would tell us that God should be ever present in our heart, mind and soul – Is it every minute of the day? Do we find meaning for every day by staying in His word? Do we meditate on it day and night? Do we write it on our heart? Do we post it on our doors? Do we actively choose to hear Him speak into our heart and mind through His word? I fear that our time with Him is more of a “checked box of I did it today” and not out of desire and love and truly wanting to serve Him. I think about what David wrote in Psalms 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” This is a heart cry of what it means to desire Him with all your heart with the single purpose of each day living to honor and glorify Him.