furious – Praying Pint

30. “Their feet run to evil”

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. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Proverbs 27:3-4 A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.  Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

Daniel 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.

Daniel 3:19  Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.

2 Kings 8:12   And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.”

Proverbs 28:15   Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

Isaiah 59:7   Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways.

We never understand the minds of those who carry out very wicked acts of violence. It is if they have no regard for others or the pain they are causing. Across history, there have been leaders and individuals who give no thought to the lives they are destroying. It is as if their hearts and minds have been incased and filled with hatred, anger, and unyielding fury. There is no compassion or love other than for fulfilling the destructive desire of their deep-rooted anger. Pride, selfishness, and self-worth drive them. No life has meaning other than theirs. Their acts are cruel. There is no thought of God or the power of God, or judgment of God. They are lost and doing things that the most wicked of the lost do.

We can think we are better than these wicked people and if we used human judgment our conclusion is true, but in the eyes of God, all are lost. The eternal judgment for the lost is all the same – eternal punishment and torment forever and ever. Our human thoughts might say this is not fair, but who are we compared to God, the creator, and author of all there is and all there ever will be. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, and is full of love, mercy, and grace. All of His judgments are right and true. The lost – those who have not trusted in, relied upon, followed, obeyed, and humbly surrendered to His offer of salvation and redemption – all end up lacking and will be cast into eternal hell. There is no partial ground with which to stand. No reliance upon our own good and good things we have done that will make us right before God, only faith and trust in Jesus Christ. There are no degrees of “lostness” in the eyes of God. Being separated from God has the same end for all without Jesus Christ.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

7.o. To make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus

Revelation 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Satan, being cast out of heaven and no longer having access to accuse believers before God, comes to earth and is seeking to destroy Israelites and those who have a testimony in their life of Jesus Christ. Satan’s attack is fierce and cruel, but God has placed His protective loving arms around the Israelites so that Satan’s attacks are fruitless, whereas God’s protection is fruitful. Satan then turns his focus on those who have a testimony to Jesus Christ. They will be the focus of Satan’s attacks/wrath. Certainly, they will die during these next 3.5 years. We can’t even come close to understanding the tribulation they will face because of their faith in Jesus Christ. I am certain those who find faith during this time will have a peace that passes all understanding because they have come from a place in their heart, mind, and soul to know they rejected the greatest gift ever, forgiveness, redemption, salvation, and eternal life and now they have fully surrendered their life to Jesus Christ. Their surrender means certain death. And yet, they hold fast, stand firm, and their faith is solid in Jesus Christ alone. They will not take the mark of the beast, they will not deny faith in Jesus Christ, and they will proclaim His testimony unto death. Do you ever wonder if your faith would stand firm in the face of death for that faith? Our faith can not be based on prosperity and ease in this life. It must be so deep in our heart, mind, and soul that things of this world do not distract us from continually purifying, growing, and maturing in our walk with Jesus Christ. Examine your heart and know what is there. Examine your mind and know what is there. If more of the world and what it has to offer is there than love for Jesus Christ then repent and intentionally choose to change. Intentionally choose to spend time in His Word, listening to His whispers of guidance in and through His Word, and walk humbly before Jesus Christ, honoring, following, obeying, trusting and relying on Him.

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!!!!