Posts Tagged ‘ wicked ’

Tweets & Rants 12 March 2013: Matthew 24:36-51; Romans 7:1-25; Psalms 57-58; Numbers 23-27

remains locked in this perpetual internal war between his flesh desires and the will of God. Rom 7:22 @WeeManWest

Matthew 24:37 Am I the only one who finds it interesting that Jesus compares His judgment coming against Jerusalem to the days of Noah and mentions specifically, marrying and giving in marriage? We mustn’t forget the story of the Nephillim and the rebellion against God they invoked among mankind.

The theme here is that life went on as usual without a thought toward God. The focus of existence was on what to do rather than on the worship of God. So it was in Noah’s day, so it was in Jerusalem’s last days.

Matthew 24:41 In Noah’s day, who was taken away from the earth and who was left on the earth? The wicked were taken from the earth in the flood and Noah was left on the earth to repopulate it in his new covenant in which he, in a sense, inherited a new heavens and new earth.

In the coming of the Son of Man in judgment against Jerusalem and Israel the unbelieving among Israel and Jerusalem were taken along with the old covenant system and who was left? The church and the new covenant!

Matthew 24:48 We should live the opposite of the days of Noah. Our existence should be God-centered…though He may tarry…we should live daily with Him on our minds and in our hearts.

Romans 7:4 It’s quite clear that either we are alive under the Law, or we have died and been resurrected into a life that is not under the Law but instead under the Spirit in Christ Jesus.

Romans 7:11 The Law creates our awareness of what is right and wrong. Sin seizes upon the opportunity to lead us into unrighteousness. The Law exposes what sin is already doing in us. In order to be free from both we must die in Christ.

Romans 7:15 We have each been in that place in which we have thought to ourselves, “why in the world did I just do that?” Sin still lurks in our flesh seeking to trap and enslave us to its will.

Romans 7:22 We delight in the law of God and in the goodness of God and yet within ourselves we are at internal war with our flesh that seeks to impose against the good things God is doing in us and turn us to captivity to sin.

Psalm 57:1 Has God truly become our refuge? Are we fully vested in Christ Jesus or are we holding back, still dependent upon our own skill and ability?

Psalm 57:5 In all that we are we should seek that God would be exalted.

Psalm 58:1 Wicked people find it impossible to be righteous in their judgments. We will note, just from the political processes of our day, that instead of justice and equality our leaders instead favor one group over another for political gain.

Psalm 48:11 The reward for the righteous is knowing that one day God will settle accounts with mankind. Justice will come.

Numbers 23:8 God alone has the sovereign authority to bless and curse.

Numbers 23:21 We must keep note of this statement for Balaam was quite certainly paying attention to it when he instructs Balack in order to still turn a profit on this venture.

Numbers 25:3 Israel was to be the covenant executioner of the Moabites for such activities and now instead has joined with them in these activities.

Numbers 25:11 Phinehas was jealous with a godly jealousy for the worship of His name alone and put an end to the plague and as such would secure the priesthood to his family.

Numbers 25:18 The Midianites are to be destroyed for having acting so deceptively among the Israelites.

Numbers 26:2 Now, 40 years later, that all the prior wicked generation has been removed (probably the last vestiges wiped out in the plague), it is time to muster up the army for invasion.

Numbers 27:18 Moses is soon to die and is going to appoint Joshua, a man full of the Spirit, to lead Israel into the promised land. Joshua and Jesus have the same Hebrew name.

Moses (the Law) can only bring us to the promised land, we need Joshua (Jesus) to bring us into the promised land. The Law makes us aware of sin and righteousness, Christ provides our righteousness and deals with our sin.

2013
03/12
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Tweets & Rants 5 March 2013: Matthew 22:34-46; Romans 4; Psalm 52; Numbers 9-11

believes faith is fully trusting God to be able to keep His promises, even if things don’t work out like we expect. Rom 4:21 @WeeManWest

is frustrated that faith calls us so often to wait, yet we wait fully trusting in the goodness and ability of God. Psa 52:9 @WeeManWest

needs to be more responsive to the Holy Spirit, yet needs to be aware of the Holy Spirit in order to respond to Him. Num 9:22 @WeeManWest

doesn’t understand why God’s people continually complain about their misfortunes, we forget how valuable He is! Num 11:1-3 @WeeManWest

thinks we complain and despise God’s provision in our lives because we, like Israel, still have too much of Egypt/sin within. Num 11:4-6 @WeeManWest

is ashamed of how often we “church” people make those tasked with caring for our souls feel like Moses. Num 11:15 @WeeManWest

Matthew 22:37 We should love God with all that we are, this is the greatest command. If we love God with all that we are we will naturally obey His commands.

Matthew 22:39 We should love our neighbor, which is broadly defined as anyone God brings into our life. If we love God, who we don’t see, we should love our fellow man whom we do see.

Matthew 22:46 Jesus knew it was time to bring the debate to an end. He had answered their many questions to no avail. So He poses His own and it is a jaw-dropper. They are left speechless.

Romans 4:3 The core difference in the debate between faith and works is this. Those living by works are merely doing what is due, they are not earning anything. Those who live by faith acknowledge that their works don’t earn their righteousness but that they instead need God to make them righteous.

Righteousness isn’t dependent on works but is granted by God by grace through faith. Our works are merely payments on an eternally unpayable debt.

Romans 4:12 Abraham was righteous without the ritual. His righteousness had nothing to do with religious ritual. He believed God. His belief was accounted as righteousness.

We must stop clinging to our religious rituals as though the ritual itself merits us toward God.

Romans 4:13 Abraham inheriting the world has nothing to do with the Law and everything to do with faith. The Law guarantees nothing but sin.

Romans 4:21 Abraham was fully convinced that God could indeed do what He had promised He would do.

How convinced are we? Do we live lives based on this conviction?

Psalm 52:7 How often in this life have we encountered those who were fully confident in their abundance and their riches and their abilities and yet left no place for God only to come to ruin?! Yet so many continue down that path as though they are the one for which things will be different.

Psalm 52:9 Faith often calls us to hurry up and wait for God’s promises. As we wait, we trust in the goodness of God and in His ability to keep His promises.

Numbers 9:14 The Passover was a witnessing tool for Israel to those who were passing through. God gives us the sacraments of the church not only for us to testify through them to His might, but also to provoke questions among the uninitiated.

Numbers 9:22 As long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle, regardless of how long it remained, the people of Israel remained where they were camped. When the cloud moved, the people moved. When the cloud stayed, the people stayed.

We should be as responsive to the Holy Spirit. When He moves we should move and when He stays we should stay. Wherever the Holy Spirit is working so should we be.

Numbers 10:2 God instructs Moses to make silver trumpets. The trumpets were to have multiple uses.

First, the trumpets are to be used to gather either the leaders or the whole congregation. So the trumpets are blown for gatherings.

Second, the trumpets are to be used to break the camp and send each segment of Israel on their march. So the trumpets are blown for marching.

Third, when Israel is at war with oppressors they are to be used so that God will remember to deliver them from oppression. So the trumpets are blown for war.

Fourth, when Israel is making the offerings of the appointed feasts and beginning of months they are used to remind Israel of God. So the trumpets are blown for sacrifices.

Numbers 10:35 May God arise and scatters His enemies from around us that we may be secure in preaching His gospel. May His gospel conquer His enemies.

Numbers 11:1 We are so blessed, Israel was so blessed to be free from slavery and oppression and certain death at the hands of the Egyptians. Yet, they complain about how unfortunate their lives are with God present among them.

Oh how we provoke the anger of a mighty God when we complain about how miserable our lives are when we have His very presence in our lives!

Numbers 11:6 The people despised the manna. They rememberd the foods of Egypt, of Pharoah, and desired those foods over the food of God.

How often do we lament that, “this is ALL we get from God!” and yet we don’t deserve to even have what He has given?

God could have left us in our sin, He could have left Israel in Egypt. Apparently, there was still a lot of Egypt in the Israelites and my hunch is there is still a lot of sin in us. We must deal with our sin if we are going to be able to follow God. Our inner selfishness will come out and it will show up in complaining and despising God.

Numbers 11:15 I hope that we are aware of how often we drive our leaders to this very point. We shouldn’t weary those whom God has placed over us to lead us, most especially those tasked with the burden of our souls. Woe unto us if we weary a faithful leader!

Numbers 11:29 We see the day that Moses hoped would come. The day that God’s Spirit would be upon all of His people. What a glorious day in which we live and yet still too often in our own day we complain bitterly about our life with God.

Numbers 11:34 It seems as though with the meat, God sent a plague, and that plague wiped out those who had succumbed to the “craving” and desired a return to Egypt over a life with God.

2013
03/05
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Tweets & Rants 15 February 2013: Matthew 16:1-12; Acts 22; Psalm 37:1-22; Exodus 35-37

needs to have pity on those who may be materially prosperous and yet underneath are spiritually bankrupt. Psa 37:1 @WeeManWest

Matthew 16:3 I believe it was very clear to the Pharisees and Sadducees at this point exactly whom Jesus was. They now seek a heavenly sign as though the works Jesus was doing and the words He was teaching were not enough.

We are so apt at interpreting things in this physical world, yet we neglect the spiritual world. We neglect the spiritual things going on in our midst that God wants to use to speak to us. We don’t want to do the hard work involved in building a relationship with God through daily investigation and time. We want the easy way. We want a sign from heaven.

They would receive only this sign of Jonah, just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish and came out, so also would Jesus be in the belly of the earth and come out.

Matthew 16:7 The disciples thought Jesus’ was questioning them about their lack of bread when instead He is pointing out the corrupt nature of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Jesus’ focus with the disciples was on their spiritual discipline. He was pointing them away from the spiritually dead and dangerous teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

He had provided bread for thousands on two separate occasions. He was well capable of providing for their physical provision. He knew that the more important issue for them would be spiritual provision and that only comes with seeking.

Acts 22:22 What a terrible response by the Jews?! Paul was giving his testimony and yet because he had been sent among the Gentiles to preach the Gospel he was worthy of death!

Religion is again clouding the minds of the people of Jerusalem. The Law doesn’t perpetually forbid the Gentiles from the people of God. Yet these Jews wanted nothing more than to see Paul slain for trying to reach the Gentiles.

Psalm 37:1 Admittedly it is very challenging to not be envious of evildoers. When we are honest about it we must admit that generally wrongdoers tend to prosper materially in this world.

Yet, we know their end. Rather than our envy they should have our pity and compassion. Though they may be materially prosperous they are spiritually bankrupt.

Psalm 37:4 I believe that so many people miss the very plain and simple truth of this verse. We must consider that just before it contextually David precedes this statement with challenges for us to trust in the Lord, do good, dwell, and befriend faithfulness. He then begins this statement with delight in the Lord.

What we can’t miss is that God’s greatest desire for us is not material prosperity but instead spritual prosperity. God wants the desires of our hearts to be God centered. If in our hearts, we desire His will, He will give us His will.

This verse doesn’t mean that if you desire a new car or house that you will get a new car or house.

Psalm 37:7 Patience is definitely a virtue. God so desires to bring His best into our lives. Unfortunately we see someone plotting and prospering and then we begin to plot so that maybe we can prosper.

Sometimes the only answer is to be still before God and wait patiently for Him. Just as the Israelites were told to be still at the banks of the Red Sea and wait for God’s deliverance. They weren’t to build boats and rafts, they weren’t to begin swimming lessons…they were to wait!

We don’t like to wait. We believe that we’ve been given a particular skill set so that we can make our own way. So often we do so and miss God’s best for our lives.

Psalm 37:13 The wicked have this world for their own plots. Yet, no matter how cleverly devised their plans are the Lord will hold final judgment. He knows their end and so should we.

Exodus 35:3 I believe that if one is going to “keep” the Sabbath and condemn everyone else for not “keeping” the Sabbath then I would expect that one to not even start their automobile on the Sabbath…or their oven…or turn on a light switch for that matter!

Exodus 36:6 I can’t help but wonder on the principle herein. God motivated the people to give in accord with His will. Do we ever stop to ask about our unfunded ventures if maybe God hasn’t put that into the hearts of the people to be done? Maybe God is setting the principle in place, maybe not.

I think our federal, state, and local governments would be wise to heed such a matter. Only do the public works that the public is willing to fund. I think this would balance the budget and would eliminate debt.

2013
02/15
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Tweets & Rants 14 February 2013: Matthew 15:21-39; Acts 21:27-40; Psalm 36; Exodus 34

believes Statism is a religion defended by murder and ignorance of due process in order to “protect” state interests. Act 21:31 @WeeManWest

Matthew 15:23 This one solitary statement is the entire point of this exchange between Jesus and this Canaanite woman. His disciples didn’t disapprove of Jesus’ ignoring her for the sake of her humanity but instead were upset that Jesus had tarried in sending her away.

They saw her as an annoying Canaanite who should deservedly be rejected by Israel’s Messiah. Jesus used her faith to speak volumes to the disciples for their own lack thereof.

Matthew 15:33 The disciples are being stretched by Christ. More than 4,000 people are to be fed at the command of Christ in a desolate place. Such is the glory of the Gospel. Our supply is not of this world, but of Christ’s kingdom of plenty and bounty. Nothing is impossible with Christ.

Acts 21:31 This is what religion does to people. They ignore the strictest statutes of their “law” in order to fulfill their own bloodlust to defend their religion by killing those who seem to even be the slightest bit opposed to their religion.

Religion is not just of the religio-god type. Statism is a religion as well and people will murder and prevent due process in order to “protect” the “state” from harm.

Psalm 36:1 We must understand the depth of the darkness for those who have not received Christ. Things that would terrify a righteous person to even consider doing actual percolate in the heart of the wicked. They can conceive of such things without the bearing of conscience upon them for the wickedness of the work.

Whereas the righteous will have only holy things upon the table, the wicked are not so, but much differently, all options are on the table for them for they do not fear the finality of the judgment of God.

Psalm 36:11 We should pray earnestly that the foot of arrogance would not come upon us. Whether it be the arrogance of the wicked or our own arrogance we should be vigilant and guard ourselves from the destroying power that arrogance has over us.

Exodus 34:6 God reveals His glory to Moses and what does God proclaim as His glory? He is merciful, gracious, patient, loving, faithful, forgiving before He is judge. God’s emphasis is on His mercy. We should run to His open arms and receive the mercy He has for us.

Exodus 34:35 Moses’ skin of his face would shine when he had met and spoken with God. He would cover his face with a veil to speak with Israel the words of God.

They saw God’s glory behind the veil, we see God’s glory in Christ Jesus without the veil.

2013
02/14
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