Word choice matters.
Proverbs 6:12 KJV A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
Proverbs 6:13 KJV He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
Proverbs 6:14 KJV Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
Proverbs 6:15 KJV Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
For many years, I belonged to the Independent Fundamental Baptist faction, which claims superiority in all biblical matters and interpretation. But after long giving the brethren the benefit of the doubt, I saw what the LORD hates: pride that scorns those who don’t dot their i’s and cross their t’s, including dispensationalism; lies that hide their sins; calls to destroy others in support of misguided Zionism; and divisive, mischievous factions called preacher fellowships that sow discord among believers. I could not stay among what God hates.
Proverbs 6:16 KJV These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Proverbs 6:17 KJV A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 6:18 KJV An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Proverbs 6:19 KJV A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
The lust of the heart was active long before the commercialization of PornHub and OnlyFans.
Proverbs 6:25 KJV Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
Proverbs 6:26 KJV For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
When you understand that Christians have received God’s promises and seek to be cleansed of sinful lusts, you will see why others, whom we are not permitted to notice, commercialize them.
2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Somehow, adulterous hireling preachers believe they deserve a promotion after they repent. Forgiveness in eternity may be granted, but the reproach in this life is not wiped away.
Proverbs 6:32 KJV But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
Proverbs 6:33 KJV A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
Yes, there's much corruption in churches today that wrongs, corrupts, and defrauds. However, there are those who genuinely want to honor God and His will. Therefore, let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
2 Corinthians 7:2 KJV Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for many things; however, he did not condemn them.
2 Corinthians 7:3 KJV I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
2 Corinthians 7:4 KJV Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
No pain, no gain.
2 Corinthians 7:8 KJV For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
2 Corinthians 7:9 KJV Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
There is sorrow that aligns with self-pity and sorrow that aligns with God's heart, called repentance. One leads to destruction and death, while the other leads to restoration and life. Paul commended the Corinthians for the latter, in that they were careful to do right, eager to clear their name, angry at sin, fearful of God, passionate for truth, zealous for good, and determined to make things right, with a great desire to show themselves pure in the matters in which they had failed.
2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2 Corinthians 7:11 KJV For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
We must not lose all confidence in our brethren, knowing that God is molding and shaping us all with His amazing grace.
2 Corinthians 7:16 KJV I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
If the Lord your God is not Jesus Christ, He does not fight for you; He fights against you.
Deuteronomy 3:21 KJV And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest.
Deuteronomy 3:22 KJV Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.
Jesus quoted Isaiah 61, declaring its fulfillment in Himself. He stopped short of mentioning the 'day of vengeance,' reflecting His two-part mission: salvation first, followed by wrath.
Isaiah 61:1 KJV The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isaiah 61:2 KJV To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Isaiah 61:3 KJV To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:4 KJV And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Isaiah 61:5 KJV And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Isaiah 61:6 KJV But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
Luke 4:17 KJV And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luke 4:18 KJV The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 KJV To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Gospilled Minute #152
Christian, which seed are you blessing? The seed of the robbers or the seed of Christ?
Isaiah 61:8 KJV For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Isaiah 61:9 KJV And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
If you need a clue, the blessed seed is clothed with the garments of salvation.
Isaiah 61:10 KJV I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Father, help us to choose our words wisely. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
