Expectation of the Wicked

      The desire of the righeous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. Proverbs 11:23.

                                                    

     The wicked desire things for pleasure, for profit, or for vanity. Not all wicked desire violence or drugs. But do they really expect wrath? I can believe they ignore what will make other people or authorities mad. But do they really expect wrath to happen to them?  Do they even bother to think about being accountable to God when they do those things?

      Or is the "expectation of the wicked" referring to the righteous' expectation of the wicked? The righteous can fall into wrong desires too, so we cannot just point a finger at them.

     The righteous get their desire from God or the Bible. One big advantage of being righteous is that we can identify desires we need to get rid of or control.

The Power of Praise

Psalms 22:3 (KJV) But thou art holy, thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

            I read a book by Stormie O’Martian called The Prayer that Changes Everything. Her answer for problems is to praise and worship. Stormie says, “Worship is opening up the channel through which we communicate our love to God and God transmits His love to us.”[1]  

            My praise and worship has freed me from negative thoughts and emotions. I have had problems with memories of regrets: how much money I have wasted, my lack of compassion, problems with family. Someone told me to replace negative thoughts with good ones.  That didn’t work for me. I tried meditating on verses, but that was only a little more effective. After reading her book, I tried praising God. I bragged on God by listing the times He cared for me; I told Him how unbelievable it is to me that we can be partakers of His divine nature; I thanked him for hope in this life and the next through Jesus.

            Praise drowned out the evil thoughts.  I felt His love and peace, and didn’t have a problem with those thoughts the rest of the day.

            The Bible says God inhabits the praises of His people. Combining prayer, verses, and praise is a potent power, whatever the problem.

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[1] Stormie OMartian, Prayer that Changes Everything (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2004) Page 57.

No Wrong Time to Give Thanks

1 Thes. 5:8, in everything give thanks.

There is no wrong time to give thanks. Corrie ten Boom wrote in the Hiding Place that she and the other prisoners thanked God for fleas. It seems the fleas kept the guards away, and they could read her Bible in peace.

The Bible says God inhabits our praises.  It's easy to think of giving thanks for food and clothing. But are you thankful if you lose a ballgame so you can demonstrate good sportsmanship? Or how about giving up a chance to see a concert of your favorite singer, just so you can tutor a student in math? These are "sacrifice of praise" (Heb. 13:15) When we thank God, we are sacrificing ourselves so God will get the praise and glory.

We may not realize the accumulative impact of our giving thanks, but when it is a habit, we will receive blessings from it.

God's and Satan's Ways

Having peace in God's ways is like riding with someone who knows where we are going and has been there many times.

Satan's ways are like a roller coaster. When you are high up, you worry about falling off.  When you are in the valley, it looks like you will never be able to climb out of it.

The wicked says "I can separate the people from God with a few lies." God says,"What advantage is there in pride?" He also says, "I will show the wicked his lies, and use My bonds of love to hold My people closer to me." 

The wicked says "Why should I believe the Bible?" He is used to taking action through lies. He can't see the truth because he doesn't know the truth and can't recognize it. He uses just enough truth as bait to catch someone with itching ears.

The righteous speak a word in season to the weary. God's truth has hope in it: hope of newness of life through Him, hope of seeing loved one's again, hope that he will be a partake of His divine nature, and never be moved.

Grace

It seems like mercy is for the past and grace is for the future.

I was having a bad day about my regrets and this song says it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgXYRV2B7Tk

Itching Ears

When you have an itch, what do want to make it go away? You want to scratch it.  When you have itching ears, what do you want to make it go away? You want to hear what will feel good. (2 Timothy 4:3)

Balak and Balaam (Numbers 22-24) had itching ears. Balak itched to hear that Israel would be cursed.  He thought Balaam could do that. Balaam itched to receive riches for what he said, Neither had any itching to hear God's opinion.

People with itching ears want to hear that God is love.  They won't get their ears scratched by hearing that we are accountable to God because He made us. Some ministries scratch their listeners ears by talking about planting a seed donation to their organization, which will multiply and make them rich. They don't mention that people should expect persecution.

The cure for itching ears is to read the Bible, weigh what you want to it, and accept all the Bible says, not just what you like.

This is an example of Bible word studies that I do.

Jezebel Word Study

Introduction: Jezebel was the daughter of the king of Zidonians. She served and worshipped Baal. (1 Kings 16:31)

Spiritually:

            1) Had Ahab build a building for Baal worship (1 Kings 16:32)

            2) Plans to give Ahab Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21:7)

                        --Uses Ahab’s name (1 Kings 21:8)

                        --Hires liars (1 Kings 21:10)

                        --Manipulated elders (1 Kings 21:8-ll) Did she threaten elders?

                        --Uses God’s type of punishment (stoning) when convenient. (1 Kings 21:13)

                        --Didn’t care about rights of Naboth’s children (1 Kings 21:15)

                                    Even killed his sons (2 Kings 9:26)

            3) Not impressed with Elijah’s fire contest

                        --Threatened Elijah’s life (1 Kings 19:2)

                                    a. Revengeful

                                    b. Her punishment out of her own mouth

            4) Jezebel, not Ahab, cut off the prophets of the Lord (1Kings 18:4)

What was Jezebel like at home?

            1) Two messengers to an army both defected to the army (2 Kings 9:18-20)

            2) 2 or 3 eunuchs threw her out the window (2 Kings 9:30-33)

            3) She stirred up people. (1 Kings 21:25)

            A study of the word “wicked” may give you more ideas of what she is like.

What was God’s response?

            1) God saved 100 of His prophets saved alive.

            2)  Her punishment out of her own mouth (1 Kings 19:2)

                        --God’s punishment (1 Kings 21:23)

                        --Fulfilled in (2 Kings 9:35-37)

New Testament

            Revelation 2:20 speaks of prophetess and compares her to Jezebel.

                        1) Teaches her religion and bad doctrine.

                                    --Commit spiritual fornication with other gods.

                                    --Eat sacrificed idol food.

                                                a. Intimate with other gods.

                                                b. Attribute to Satan what God has provided.

                                                c. She gives them what they want if they obey her.

                        2) Seduce servants—probably to follow her example.

                        3) Jezebel is not the problem.  The church condoning her is the problem.