Newsletter #228 - October 1997 - By Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/
There are 6 things God hates. When you add a 7th thing to any of the 6, it becomes an abomination to Father. What is this 7th thing? We will cover each in detail; however, the 7th is sowing discord among the brethren. . The word "discord" in the Scripture we will cover is from the Hebrew word "medan" (med-awn'). The word means means contention or strife. The prime of this word means to rule. Contention and strife can control your workplace, your family and your life, if you allow it to. Discord is an abomination to God. Let's begin our study in Proverbs.
Proverbs 6:12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
We are talking about more than just a naughty person. This phase in the Hebrew means a man of Belial. These folks choose to work against God.
Proverbs 6:13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
These men of Belial will be using anything at their disposal to trick and deceive others. Many of them do it in the name of religion.
Proverbs 6:14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
Frowardness, as used in this verse, means deceitfulness. We will see in a moment what God thinks of those who sow discord.
Proverbs 6:15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. 16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:
Yes, God hates. Don't listen to "powder puff" preachers that would tell you otherwise. He hates the 6 things that follow, and when you add the 7th to any one of the 6, it becomes an abomination to Father. What are the 6 things He hates?
Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Those with wicked imaginations are dreamers. They like to say, "God told me...". There is only one problem. God didn't tell them anything.
Proverbs 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
If you utilize any of the 6 things to sow discord, you can bet your blessings will be cut off. You will have become an abomination to God. What about those who would attempt to sow discord among those that are doing God's work? Should you be concerned? Let's turn to the Psalms.
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
If God is your strength, you have no reason to fear anyone or anything.
Psalm 27:2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
When God is on your side, you are among the majority. There will be a spiritual war in the near future. You have different religious beliefs than most other people. It will be very easy to feel like you are in the minority; however, with God on our side we are the majority.
Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple.
I hope this is what you are working for. We are talking about living in heaven with our Father forever.
Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
If your Rock is Jesus Christ, you have the protection of His pavilion and tabernacle available to you right here on earth today.
Psalm 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
God hears and answers the prayers of those that love and serve Him.
Psalm 27:8 When Thou saidst, "Seek ye My face;" my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."
This requires discipline. When God tells you to do something, do it!
Psalm 27:9 Hide not Thy face far from me; put not Thy servant away in anger: Thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
This verse brings Matthew 18:10 to mind. Jesus said, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father Which is in heaven". Your angel always has God's attention.
Psalm 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. 11 Teach me Thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Your way and my way are not important. God's way is the only way to understanding the righteous path to victory over the enemy.
Psalm 27:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
Here, we have one that qualifies as an abomination to God. They are a false witness, which God hates, and they sow discord with the cruelty of their words.
Psalm 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
You should be of good courage. He has promised the victory to those that have faith in God's ability to strengthen them and to those that wait on Him. We have talked about the 6 things God hates and sowing discord amongst the brethren. At this point, I ask you too look at yourselves. As mentioned earlier, the religious beliefs you hold are different than most. If you plant seeds and teach the truth carelessly, you very well could sow discord among the biblically illiterate. Should you be concerned about sowing discord? Jesus Christ sowed discord to the extent they crucified Him. Are you guilty of sowing discord? The answer is in the great Book of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 15:10 Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.
Jeremiah follow God's instructions and told the children of Israel they would go into captivity of the king of Babylon. The reaction of the people was much the same as when you tell others that the antichrist will come before the true Messiah returns. Jeremiah was sowing strife and discord among the brethren; however, he was teaching the truth.
Jeremiah 15:11 The LORD said, "Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.
The king of Babylon treated Jeremiah well at the command of God.
Jeremiah 15:12 Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
This is talking about the king of Babylon. You can't beat him with iron. The only way to beat him is with God on your side.
Jeremiah 15:13 Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders. 14 And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you."
Jeremiah would be allowed to leave and travel to Egypt. He eventually would see that the 3 daughters of Zedekiah would find safety in Ireland, which is documented by historical accounts. What is the point? God kept His promises to Jeremiah, and He will keep His promises to you.
Jeremiah 15:15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in Thy longsuffering: know that for Thy sake I have suffered rebuke. 16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
By what name will you call in the time of trouble to call? I hope it is in the name of the True Messiah, not the fake.
Jeremiah 15:17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of Thy hand: for Thou hast filled me with indignation.
Does your righteous indignation flare up, when you see what's happening in the world today? Mine sure does.
Jeremiah 15:18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt Thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?
Jeremiah had a bit of a "poor me baby" attitude at this point. The truth of the Living Water will never fail.
Jeremiah 15:19 Therefore thus saith the LORD, "If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before Me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.
God is telling Jeremiah to stay with Him and to allow the Word of God to separate His precious children from the vile which are an abomination. Will you stand with Him, orwill you return to them that are deceived?
Jeremiah 15:20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Teaching God's Word is not sowing discord. You see, those that are offended by God's Word are the ones with the problem. Those that stand with God have the victory and the blessings.
Jeremiah 15:21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible."
You have no need to fear antichrist. Just as God delivered Jeremiah out of the hand of the king of Babylon, He promised that He would deliver you out of the hand of the terrible, that is to say antichrist. Teach God's Word boldly! If it causes discord among the biblically illiterate, so be it.
In His service, Arnold Murray