deserve to die – Praying Pint

19.q. “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked”

Romans 6:21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

Proverbs 1:30    Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

Proverbs 5:13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.

Jeremiah 17:10     “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Romans 1:32  Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Galatians 6:7-8    Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

The fruit of disregard, disobedience, indifference, and careless neglect of God, God’s Word, and things of God will fill the stomach of the hungering soul of the self-serving, self-worthy, and self-reliant. In their heart, they feed on that which is pleasing to themselves without a single thought of God’s ways. They determine within their own minds what is an acceptable and right way to live. The driving force behind every decision is to bring pleasure and satisfaction and purpose to themselves. They can appear to be good people and have others’ best interests behind their motives. Yet deep down there is no thought of God, God’s Word, or things of God. They are slaves to sin, their sinful nature, and to worldly passions. Paul sends this letter to Roman Christians and tells them; “What fruit did you reap while you were pleasing the desires of your sinful nature? You know very well that since you have come to the saving grace knowledge of Jesus Christ you became aware of how much you were enslaved to sin and when you look back at how you were living, you see it clearly and are ashamed of how selfish, self-reliant, self-worthy, and self-righteous you were.”

It is very hard to tell a slave to live like a free man, but certainly, you can tell a free man to keep from living as a slave. We should not revert back to sinful thoughts and actions. We have been set free from the bondage of sin. We have been set free to live to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. We have been set free to rely on, cling to, and trust in Jesus Christ. We have been set free to find purpose and satisfaction in Jesus Christ. We have been set free to find peace, hope, and joy in Jesus Christ. We have been set free to know the difference between things of God and things of this world. It is in this freedom we choose what master we will serve. We have been set free and we would do well to ask God every morning to expose what He sees in our heart that is not pleasing or honoring to Him, and to lead us on single-purpose paths away from sin and toward bringing Him honor and glory.

8.r. “I warn you, as I warned you before”

Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Romans 1:29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

While John’s list is similar to those of Paul, it’s important to note that John begins with “cowards” and “unbelievers.” This appears to be an indirect appeal to all professing believers facing times of testing. John makes no distinction between those who deny Jesus under persecution and those who openly embrace pagan vices. Jurgen Roloff again writes, “In an effort to challenge the reliance of the addressees on their safe possession of salvation, John again makes it clear that, because of the magnitude of the promise received, the danger is all the more serious of being disobedient and faithless to Jesus. Whoever succumbs to it does not belong to those who stand in the Look of Life and is therefore fundamentally like God’s enemies, who stand in his judgment” (p. 238). This is not to suggest that the elect will fall away; rather it seems to be an affirmation that those who merely profess Christianity may expect to be exposed under the withering heat of persecution so that their true nature as unbelievers is made clear.

Phillips, Rob. The Searcher’s Guide to the Apocalypse:

2.h. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God,

2 Chronicles 19:1 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”

Proverbs 1:10-19    My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

Romans 1:32     Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Ephesians 5:11    Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

John 15:18     “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Romans 8:7    For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

James 4:4     You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

How can we tell if we are doing things that seem right in our eyes and miss doing what is right in God’s eyes? How can we know we are not chasing after that which is worldly? How easy is it to be swayed by others to do that which is not God honoring? How can we become aware of our natural want to be worldly and worldly seeking in comparison to God honoring, God following, God glorifying, God trusting, and God obeying?

Becoming aware of self and self-seeking, self satisfying, and self-reliance seeds with in our heart and mind can only be made apparent by and through the word of God. The more time we spend in His word the more we grow and mature in what it means to deny self and humbly serve, honor, follow, trust, obey, and rely on Jesus Christ. It is more than just more time. It is an intentional choice deep within our heart, mind, and soul. It is a longing and desire to know the depth, width, and length of the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ. It is a refreshing each day watering and feeding our very being. It is where we grow to find peace in turmoil, strength in weakness, power in powerlessness, clarity in confusion, hope in trials and troubles, and courage to face the overwhelming.

If you find yourself stagnate and complacent. Look at what you long for each day. Look at that which occupies your mind and where you spend your time. If the want, need, and desire to have God’s word active in every moment of every day then repenting and turning away from being neglectful, complacent, and not seeking Jesus with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength must take place or there will be no grow, no victory, no purpose, no satisfaction, and no communion withJesus Christ. Confess it and turn away from it. Run to Jesus like you are being chased by the gates of hell on your heels. Run to Him like a demon is chasing your soul. Run to Him like Satan is about to take you as his own. Run to Him like you are about to be left behind!! Run to Him like as if this is your last chance to do what is right in His eyes. Run to Him with a desire to never let go, never displease, never forget, and never be self-seeking, self satisfying, self-reliant, and self-centered.

In His presence at all times will we find that which our heart, soul, and mind, will find purpose and satisfaction for each moment of every day and for eternity.

Fully convinced

Genesis 17:15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”

Romans 4:19-20 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Hebrews 11:11-19 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Faith is somewhat of a mystery. Scripture says it is the “substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” In this mystery we find salvation and forgiveness of sin. We find strength for today and hope for tomorrow. We experience peace when things around us are falling apart. We find joy in the midst of trials. We learn to lean not on our own understanding but through prayer we, by faith, let our requests be know to God. By faith we trust He will guide, direct, protect, and care for our needs. By faith we wake each day knowing He is in control and has a perfect plan and purpose for our day. By faith we acknowledge His unlimited steadfast love and control over all.

Father of Lies

“Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”

“For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.”

“His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”

Psalms 62:4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

Psalms 2:1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed,

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.

Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.

Matthew 26:3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

Luke 20:20 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

Matthew 27:1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

John 11:47-50 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish

Acts 4:16-17 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”

Acts 4:25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

Psalms 28:3 Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Revelation 22:15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Luke 11:39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

We should not be blind to the fact that there are those who will actively plot and scheme against christianity and also with those who believe. Their father is the devil and he is a liar and father of all lies. He speaks with a smooth tongue and tells people there is no God. He tells people that there is no life after death. He tells people that they need more and more. He tells people that their only happiness will come from what they get for themselves. He tells people that Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross is not enough to cover their sin. He tells people that they are not good enough for God. He tells people that they are failures. He tells people that personal pleasure at what ever cost is worth it. He tells people that they will never find peace. He tells people that there is no hope. He tells people to be greedy. He tells people that going to church is enough. He tells people that they are to busy to go to church. He tells people that giving to the church and its mission is not needed from them. He tells people that children are to be used for personal pleasure. He tells people to worry. He tells people to never forgive. He tells people that there is no need to confess and turn away from their sin. He blinds their eyes and heart to the current sin they are in. He tells people to hold grudges. He encourages people to be angry. He confuses people. He encourages people to close their ears to the whispers of God. He tells people that they should not wait on God. He tells people that God will not listen or answer their prayer. He tells people that God does not love us. And the list of lies could continue for pages….. Our God lives and is the rock, refuge, fortress, and heavenly Father to all who believe. However we will never be able to fight these lies if we spend little to no time in His word. I wonder how many defeated people are out there because they do not know God and His promises that are found in His word. I wonder how many do not seek God because they don’t feel they are good enough. I wonder how many do not confess sin because they have drifted so far away from God they cannot hear Him speak into their life. Our purpose is to know God, humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him. We can to believe lies or truth – if we would only choose to seek Him and His purpose, things of this world and the lies it shouts as truths, would have less and less influence. Choose Him!!!!