(CLICK HERE to listen to this message on John 4:24)
Do you avoid evil or do you practice and embrace it?
With the last day of October upon us today and the world celebrating an occult holiday (see our post warning about Halloween HERE ) we thought it would be wise to discuss the topic of avoiding evil.
The Lord and Savior of the Word Jesus Christ gave His followers some great instruction in this verse:
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:16
If we are to use wisdom (we who claim His name) then we must live daily with the awareness of what we say, do and practice must come under the Lordship of Christ and be fully honoring and glorifying to him. Much like being a husband or a wife; as a TRUE Christian there is no time when you can ever set down your important faith and just can do as you please. Who would want to be married to a man who was a faithful husband "when with his wife" but when he was away from her he would stray and be unfaithful? He would be called a cheat, adulterer and a liar. A man who allows himself to act in such ways would be considered evil!
So the question to you today is this: if you are claiming His Holy name are you remaining faithful in ALL your ways or are you in "some ways" entertaining evil in your life?
Our proof text for this post on evil will be 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 were the Apostle Paul tells us to:
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Paul gives us the clear and easy to understand command to prove or test all things (that would be prove it to God's Word) to hold fast to what is good (Philippians 4:8 / whatever is pure, truth, lovely worthy) and finally to abstain or flee from ALL appearance of evil. (that which is opposite of God's good ways)
Clearly we are told in the Holy word to vet out our lives, hold on to the good and to clear out all appearance of EVIL from it. Paul tells us to not only avoid evil but anything with the appearance of it. A good illustration would be none of us would eat moldy food or feed it to our families, amen? Well the deeper question is would you give them food that had just the appearance of mold or would you avoid it still, out of that love? Most people would toss it out and so should we who claim Him toss out anything with a appearance of evil, for His glory! This is not really hard to understand but so few people really do it today as compromise and pragmatism (all things are ok if "some" small good is in it) rules the day of man made religious places in America. Let me see if we can help you understand.
When Paul says to abstain (stop doing, hold oneself off, be distand and avoid) all appearance of evil he really means........ to stop doing and stay away from any appearance (or view) of evil! Either we who are bought with Christ's shed His blood must "obey Holy scripture" or we don't and we then sin. We at www.dontperish.com see no gray area in this holy instruction. We do see day after day the fruit of people who stay connected to some sin/evil and the result is they are not rooted fully in God and they are very ill in their spiritual lives and we want better for them. Clinging to the Word and avoiding all evil is the Holy cure!
It is always a good practice in your studies to go to the root word and in this case it would be the Greek word for evil:
Pon-ay-ros
From a derivative of G4192; hurtful, that is, evil (properly in effect or influence, and thus differing from G2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from G4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively calamitous; also (passively) ill, that is, diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, that is, derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners: - bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked (-ness).
While there are many meanings listed above for evil; the easiest way to understand what is evil is that which indicates a "degeneracy of original godly virtue". The opposite of godly is to be evil. Satan fell into sin/evil when he rebelled against God and wanted to be god himself. Then Adam and Eve fell into sin and evil when they rejected God's command and went their own way. Nothing has changed under the sun and so when we choose to leave what is godly and good to go our own way we are in evil/sin! What is sin and evil as examples today? The list is huge but to name a few common ones it would be things like dabbling in occult Halloween for fun, practicing any spiritual lies, performing man made denominational religion, compromising on God's truth for traditions, seeking the favor of men not of God, being like and of this fallen carnal culture and anything that is opposed to His Holy Word. In leaving any of His truth we are indeed practicing sin and evil not avoiding it. This is a direct violation of God's Law as Apostle Paul clearly tells us to AVOID all appearance of evil.
Please look around you and see the many people who claim Christ (including modern pastors) who are compromised and practicing what is not godly and good. There can be only two excuses and neither will stand up before a Holy God. Either they don't know the truth (they should know it as they have His Word to guide them) or two; they know the truth and choose to compromise and do what is popular (disobey) and the end result is evil ways. What do you desire to do today the good and godly or evil and what are you exampling to those around you by your actions and ways? Is it all good and godly or a mixture of good and evil?
We find it amazingly hypocritical how religious people and modern pastors would never stand for anyone who would use a cuss word in their body or drink alcohol but they are openly practicing many pagan false ways for "so called" worship. CLICK HERE to read about denominations built on murder and pagan ways.
Perhaps this would be a good time to also take what Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 "to examine ourselves" and see if we have any of this evil or rebellion in our "own lives" that we practice either knowingly or unknowingly. What is the call of God's Word for us to do with such ways? We are to AVOID evil not make excuses or say 'everyone does it', 'no one is perfect' or 'we really mean well'.
Jesus told us to live by every word out of God's mouth (Matthew 4:4) and that Word tells us to OBEY. We know that God is love and He is indeed grace but don't be deceived. God won't be mocked (Galatians 6) and those who knowingly practice sin and evil will face His wrath (Romans 1). Jesus Christ did not die on a cross to redeem a "yet rebellious people" and those who continue in sin makes them lost sinners. The bible NEVER calls His saints sinners as we are called to repent and LEAVE sin (Luke 13:3) While you won't hear that preached in man's religious buildings; it is the truth still.
"If you are not running from all sin you are walking with some evil"
What will you do with this call to test all things and to avoid all appearance of evil from your walk?
The fruit of a godly man or woman is not what they do in a religious building on Sunday or how long they have been a faithful Lutheran or Baptist. No, the fruit per Christ is if you are keeping His commands (John 14:15) and obeying His ways unto salvation (Hebrews 5:9) As it has been said: a police officer or a court judge is not interested in your "intentions" but only in your "actions" to obey the law.
Please don't expect less of a Holy Holy Holy God!
The Righteous Just Judge of the World has given His true people their marching orders. It is to be receive Christ as your sin payment (John 3:16) be HOLY in all your ways (1 Peter 1:15) to obey His Word (love God and your neighbor) and we do all of this as we strive to avoid all forms of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
Are you one of His true people by your daily fruit or do you have the appearance of evil yet to avoid?
Let us know how we can assist you in any way at all.
For His glory.........
www.dontperish.com
Do you avoid evil or do you practice and embrace it?
With the last day of October upon us today and the world celebrating an occult holiday (see our post warning about Halloween HERE ) we thought it would be wise to discuss the topic of avoiding evil.
The Lord and Savior of the Word Jesus Christ gave His followers some great instruction in this verse:
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:16
If we are to use wisdom (we who claim His name) then we must live daily with the awareness of what we say, do and practice must come under the Lordship of Christ and be fully honoring and glorifying to him. Much like being a husband or a wife; as a TRUE Christian there is no time when you can ever set down your important faith and just can do as you please. Who would want to be married to a man who was a faithful husband "when with his wife" but when he was away from her he would stray and be unfaithful? He would be called a cheat, adulterer and a liar. A man who allows himself to act in such ways would be considered evil!
So the question to you today is this: if you are claiming His Holy name are you remaining faithful in ALL your ways or are you in "some ways" entertaining evil in your life?
Our proof text for this post on evil will be 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 were the Apostle Paul tells us to:
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Paul gives us the clear and easy to understand command to prove or test all things (that would be prove it to God's Word) to hold fast to what is good (Philippians 4:8 / whatever is pure, truth, lovely worthy) and finally to abstain or flee from ALL appearance of evil. (that which is opposite of God's good ways)
Clearly we are told in the Holy word to vet out our lives, hold on to the good and to clear out all appearance of EVIL from it. Paul tells us to not only avoid evil but anything with the appearance of it. A good illustration would be none of us would eat moldy food or feed it to our families, amen? Well the deeper question is would you give them food that had just the appearance of mold or would you avoid it still, out of that love? Most people would toss it out and so should we who claim Him toss out anything with a appearance of evil, for His glory! This is not really hard to understand but so few people really do it today as compromise and pragmatism (all things are ok if "some" small good is in it) rules the day of man made religious places in America. Let me see if we can help you understand.
When Paul says to abstain (stop doing, hold oneself off, be distand and avoid) all appearance of evil he really means........ to stop doing and stay away from any appearance (or view) of evil! Either we who are bought with Christ's shed His blood must "obey Holy scripture" or we don't and we then sin. We at www.dontperish.com see no gray area in this holy instruction. We do see day after day the fruit of people who stay connected to some sin/evil and the result is they are not rooted fully in God and they are very ill in their spiritual lives and we want better for them. Clinging to the Word and avoiding all evil is the Holy cure!
It is always a good practice in your studies to go to the root word and in this case it would be the Greek word for evil:
Pon-ay-ros
From a derivative of G4192; hurtful, that is, evil (properly in effect or influence, and thus differing from G2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from G4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively calamitous; also (passively) ill, that is, diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, that is, derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners: - bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked (-ness).
While there are many meanings listed above for evil; the easiest way to understand what is evil is that which indicates a "degeneracy of original godly virtue". The opposite of godly is to be evil. Satan fell into sin/evil when he rebelled against God and wanted to be god himself. Then Adam and Eve fell into sin and evil when they rejected God's command and went their own way. Nothing has changed under the sun and so when we choose to leave what is godly and good to go our own way we are in evil/sin! What is sin and evil as examples today? The list is huge but to name a few common ones it would be things like dabbling in occult Halloween for fun, practicing any spiritual lies, performing man made denominational religion, compromising on God's truth for traditions, seeking the favor of men not of God, being like and of this fallen carnal culture and anything that is opposed to His Holy Word. In leaving any of His truth we are indeed practicing sin and evil not avoiding it. This is a direct violation of God's Law as Apostle Paul clearly tells us to AVOID all appearance of evil.
Please look around you and see the many people who claim Christ (including modern pastors) who are compromised and practicing what is not godly and good. There can be only two excuses and neither will stand up before a Holy God. Either they don't know the truth (they should know it as they have His Word to guide them) or two; they know the truth and choose to compromise and do what is popular (disobey) and the end result is evil ways. What do you desire to do today the good and godly or evil and what are you exampling to those around you by your actions and ways? Is it all good and godly or a mixture of good and evil?
We find it amazingly hypocritical how religious people and modern pastors would never stand for anyone who would use a cuss word in their body or drink alcohol but they are openly practicing many pagan false ways for "so called" worship. CLICK HERE to read about denominations built on murder and pagan ways.
Perhaps this would be a good time to also take what Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 "to examine ourselves" and see if we have any of this evil or rebellion in our "own lives" that we practice either knowingly or unknowingly. What is the call of God's Word for us to do with such ways? We are to AVOID evil not make excuses or say 'everyone does it', 'no one is perfect' or 'we really mean well'.
Jesus told us to live by every word out of God's mouth (Matthew 4:4) and that Word tells us to OBEY. We know that God is love and He is indeed grace but don't be deceived. God won't be mocked (Galatians 6) and those who knowingly practice sin and evil will face His wrath (Romans 1). Jesus Christ did not die on a cross to redeem a "yet rebellious people" and those who continue in sin makes them lost sinners. The bible NEVER calls His saints sinners as we are called to repent and LEAVE sin (Luke 13:3) While you won't hear that preached in man's religious buildings; it is the truth still.
"If you are not running from all sin you are walking with some evil"
What will you do with this call to test all things and to avoid all appearance of evil from your walk?
The fruit of a godly man or woman is not what they do in a religious building on Sunday or how long they have been a faithful Lutheran or Baptist. No, the fruit per Christ is if you are keeping His commands (John 14:15) and obeying His ways unto salvation (Hebrews 5:9) As it has been said: a police officer or a court judge is not interested in your "intentions" but only in your "actions" to obey the law.
Please don't expect less of a Holy Holy Holy God!
The Righteous Just Judge of the World has given His true people their marching orders. It is to be receive Christ as your sin payment (John 3:16) be HOLY in all your ways (1 Peter 1:15) to obey His Word (love God and your neighbor) and we do all of this as we strive to avoid all forms of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
Are you one of His true people by your daily fruit or do you have the appearance of evil yet to avoid?
Let us know how we can assist you in any way at all.
For His glory.........
www.dontperish.com