Too many people today do not understand the difference between lust and love. They believe that because they are attracted to someone that they are in love with them. As you can tell by the definition of lust, that lust is a strong desire. Since most people seem to live by their emotions today, from being politically correct, to do not say anything that might offend someone, to who cares what others think, the attitudes are all over the place and people do what is right in their own eyes. So if lusting after someone is something that they desire, then have at it. Well, the problem with lust is that it can turn into all sorts of evil. According to the Book of James we are drawn away by our own lusts (James 1:14). It says that after we are drawn away by our own lusts that the desire turns into sin, then sin leads to death. Now the word death in Greek means to be separated from. Our lust will separate us from God Himself if we let it.

God gave us desire so that we would have attraction to the opposite sex in order to pro-create, He actually told Adam and Eve to go multiply, that is, to go have sex. Yes, God created sex!!! He also created our sex drives, but when sin entered into the human race so did every perverted evil desire that man can think of. Now as you study lust you will see that this is exactly what we are doing in our society today. The youth has been inundated with sexual images all of their lives and now lust is such a natural thing for them, that they have fell in love with their very own images of themselves. Why do you think that we have selfies and selfy sticks. We have become a very vain society.

In the love study we will discuss the differences between lust and love, in this study I want to point out some very interesting facts about the root words that we can see being applied into our lives today as a society. When I write on this subject I take it very personally because of the devastation that I have personally witnessed throughout the years. Most men and women that are caught up in pornography are actually in bondage because of this lust, and that is how the Evil One continues to keep them in bondage. C.S. Lewis says in his Screwtape letters that the formula for keeping a Christian in bondage is an ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure. This is how the enemy keeps us in bondage in so many ways. Most people would actually call this addiction, I call it bondage, for that is what the Word of God (The Holy Bible) tells me it is.

There are eight different words used in Scripture that are translated into the English word lust. Each one of these words has a lot to say about itself. Some of them are Hebrew and some of them are Greek, but as you will see each one of them have significant differences that will fully open up your understanding to what lust is and how the enemy uses it in our lives. I will now attempt to dive in and give you a quick look at each of these eight words. I want you to actually read each and every one of these words in there context so that you will see them in application and you will see the do’s and don’ts of each of these passages in Scripture. In each of these definitions you will see the verse given first, then the word for lust in which you will see their definitions May the LORD bless you through this study and if you are suffering under the bondage of lust may the LORD release you from this bondage!!!!!!

The Eight Different Words in Hebrew and Greek (Definitions)

Chamad: to delight in- beauty, covet, delectable thing, pleasant thing, precious thing

Havvah: in the sense of eagerly coveting and rushing upon/falling, desire, also ruin, calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous thing, naughtiness, naughty, noisome, perverse thing or substance, very wickedness.

Epithumeo: to set the heart upon, that is to long for (rightfully or otherwise), covet, desire, lust after

Agabah: inordinate love (Excessive/Abstract)

Orexis: excitement of mind, that is, longing after, lust

Aselgeia: licentiousness (sometimes including other vices):–filthy, lasciviousness, wantonness.

Epithumia: a longing (especially for what is forbidden):–concupiscence, desire, lust (after).

Pathos: suffering (“pathos”), i.e. (subjectively) a passion (especially concupiscence):– (inordinate) affection, lust.

Webster’s Definition For Lust

Lust n. 1 a strong desire (a lust for success). 2 a strong sexual desire. v. to feel a strong desire (The tyrant lusted for more power).

Each Word For Lust Used In Scripture With Hebrew or Greek Definition

Pr 6:25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.

2530. dmx chamad,  khaw-mad’ (Proverbs 6:25/Lust) NKJV

a primitive root; to delight in:–beauty, greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, (X great) delight, desire, goodly, lust, (be) pleasant (thing), precious (thing).

 Pr 11:6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by [their] lust.

1942. hwh havvah,  hav-vaw’ (Proverbs 11:6/Lust) NKJV

from 1933 (in the sense of eagerly coveting and rushing upon; by implication, of falling); desire; also ruin:–calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous (thing), naughtiness, naughty, noisome, perverse thing, substance, very wickedness.

 Mt 5:28 “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

1937. epiyumew epithumeo,  ep-ee-thoo-meh’-o (Mt 5:28/Lust)

from 1909 and 2372; to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise):–covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).

Eze 23:11 ¶ “Now although her sister Oholibah saw [this], she became more corrupt in her lust than she, and in her harlotry more corrupt than her sister’s harlotry.

5691. hbge `agabah,  ag-aw-baw’ (Eze 23:11/Lust) NKJV

from 5689; love (abstractly), i.e. amorousness:–inordinate love.

Ro 1:27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

3715. orexiv orexis,  or’-ex-is (Romans 1:27/Lust)

from 3713; excitement of the mind, i.e. longing after:–lust.

 Ro 13:13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

766. aselgeia aselgeia,  as-elg’-i-a (Romans 13:13/Lust)

from a compound of 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed selges (of uncertain derivation, but apparently meaning continent); licentiousness (sometimes including other vices):–filthy, lasciviousness, wantonness.

1Co 10:6 ¶ Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

1937. epiyumew epithumeo,  ep-ee-thoo-meh’-o (1 Cor. 10:6/Lust)

from 1909 and 2372; to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise):–covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).

Ga 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

1939. epiyumia epithumia,  ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah (Gal. 5:16/Lust)

from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden):–concupiscence, desire, lust (after).

 1Th 4:5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

3806. payov pathos,  path’-os (1 Thess. 4:5/Lust)

from the alternate of 3958; properly, suffering (“pathos”), i.e. (subjectively) a passion (especially concupiscence):– (inordinate) affection, lust.

 Jas 4:2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

1937. epiyumew epithumeo,  ep-ee-thoo-meh’-o (James 4:2/Lust)

from 1909 and 2372; to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise):–covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).

 2Pe 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption [that is] in the world through lust.

1939. epiyumia epithumia,  ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah (2 Pet. 1:4/Lust)

from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden):–concupiscence, desire, lust (after).

 2Pe 2:10 ¶ and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. [They are] presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

1939. epiyumia epithumia,  ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah (2 Pet. 2:10/Lust)

from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden):–concupiscence, desire, lust (after).

1Jo 2:16 For all that [is] in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.

1939. epiyumia epithumia,  ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah (1 John 2:16/Lust)

from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden):–concupiscence, desire, lust (after).

Other Key Words Used In Verses That Help Define Lust (Definitions)

4561. sarx sarx,  sarx (1 John 2:16/Flesh)

probably from the base of 4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such):–carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).

3788. oftalmov ophthalmos,  of-thal-mos’ (1 John 2:16/Eyes)

from 3700; the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication, vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance):–eye, sight.

212. alazoneia alazoneia,  al-ad-zon-i’-a (1 John 2:16/Pride)

from 213; braggadocio, i.e. (by implication) self-confidence:–boasting, pride.

979. biov bios,  bee’-os (1 John 2:16/Life)

a primary word; life, i.e. (literally) the present state of existence; by implication, the means of livelihood:–good, life, living.

1Jo 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

1939. epiyumia epithumia,  ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah (1 John 2:17/Lust)

from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden):–concupiscence, desire, lust (after).

When a woman becomes a wife it is a huge moment in her life. Here in the United States it is like the Cinderella story coming to fruition to some extent. Her prince charming has come and rescued her. Now as you will see in Scripture, a wife should be prepared by the older women to be a good wife, to love her husband and children, to be submissive to her husband, to respect her husband, to have reverence and purity, to have a quiet and gentle spirit, to not give way to fear, to have self-control. The older women in our society have really messed this one up as far as I am concerned. Our society is completely out of control and it shows with the divorce rates. There are very few women in today’s society that actually have these qualities and the next generation is definitely not being taught it now.

Look I want to point something out in 1 Corinthians 7:3-5, it states that the husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. DO NOT DEPRIVE EACH OTHER!!! Look at the reason that the LORD gives for this, so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. Now I know that there are a lot of women out there that use sex as a tool against their husbands, then wonder why later on he has an issue with pornography or has an affair. Look ladies, do not deprive your husbands, he loves you and believe me when I tell you from a man’s perspective, he would not have married you except he loves you and thought that you were sexually attractive, no matter how much weight you have gained or how age has taken your beauty, the LORD gives you the answer. Focus on the inside!!!!!!! I have never met a man to this day, that cheated on his wife that thought that she was the most beautiful woman on the inside. I have met many men who have cheated on some very beautiful women, even with someone who is not as attractive, due to the reason, that they felt respected by the other woman, she did not brow beat him, she treated him special, she saw that he had good qualities. Sound familiar, you use to look at your husband the same way, what happened. Other women see it, but you have forgotten it or got to busy with the kids and your job, to make him feel that way anymore.

I am not trying to beat up the women at all. What I am trying to do is save marriages! Our society has become really messed up and the last few generations have really screwed it up. People buy the lie and reject the truth. In this study you will see that women are supposed to submit to their own husbands in everything. This is true, but if the husband is trying to get you to submit to something that is illegal, or against what the LORD has said, then you do not have to submit to it. God has given the authority structure, man is accountable to God, the wife is accountable to the husband. The women should be looking at it as this is a big burden off of their shoulders. I do not believe that the husband should lord his authority over his wife in any way. I personally believe what the Scriptures teach, and that is, that God took Eve from Adam’s side to be his helper. She is supposed to be by his side, not in front of him or behind him, but should be by his side, helping him. Let’s face it, women are different then men and men are different than women, that is the way it should be. We should compliment each other not beat each other up. Television today belittles men and make them out to be stupid. But reality is, a man that takes care of his business, puts God first, family second, church third, and work fourth obviously has his priorities straight. Without God he would not have his family, his family is his first ministry, then the ministries that he can get involved with to help others. And the job, well that is how God provides for the family. Remember, God is the provider, not the job. God uses the job for the provisions, and while your husband is at work, he has certain job responsibilities, as you do, if you work out of the house. I totally respect a family that can have a mother stay home and raise the children, in my eyes, there is no more important job than this. Raising children is our future and to teach a little girl how to become a submissive wife, who has self-control, purity, a gentle and reverent spirit, that will not bow down to fear, in a world where the LORD Himself has told her that you will face many troubles in this life when you get married. She decides to do it anyway, that is success!!!!!!!!! I hope that the LORD blesses you and that you received something from this study, may God bless your marriage and I hope that become the wife you have always wanted to be. May God Bless You and have a blessed marriage my Beloved!!!

I Corinthians 7:1-16

Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for . a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. To the married I give this command ( not I, but the Lord ): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest, I say this ( I, not the Lord ): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

I Corinthians 7:28

But if you marry, you will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

I Corinthians 7:39-40

A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is— and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—- for we are members of his body. F or this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery— but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Colossians 3:18

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

I Peter 3:1-6

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Titus 2:3-5

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Matthew 5:31-32

“It has been said, Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”

Matthew 19:3-9

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, ” Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read”, he replied, “That at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

Now Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:1 that it is good for a man not to marry. Paul is not trying to discourage marriage, but is letting men know that it is okay not to marry. It is okay for you to be single if that is what the LORD has called you to be. If this is your calling you will not have the desire for marriage. Now the Scriptures clearly tell the husband that he should fill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. This clearly means that you have an obligation to each other to fulfill each others sexual desires. Now when it comes to sex in marriage it has to be mutual on each spouses part for the sexual encounter. To clarify, if there is no oral sex in the marriage bed it is suppose to be of mutual consent. These are things that should clearly be discussed before marriage in order to have a healthy sex life. Now remember gentlemen your wife’s body belongs to you, but this means that you do not want to do anything to her that would hurt her or that you would not be proud of period. In verse 5 it says to come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. Satan is going to do everything that he can in order to interrupt your sex life. Like getting into a fight right before you planned on being together. I know so many men that have gotten into pornography by this very trick of the Devil. He starts a fight between the husband and the wife, then the man gets away from his wife and listens to that deceptive voice that is telling him to go watch some total stranger (a woman), that is willing to do whatever he was just desiring to do with his wife. In verse 10 it says that a wife must not separate from her husband. The reason for this is so that the woman when she is offended by her husband will not decide to leave because of his cruelty. It clearly teaches that if she is a believer and he is not, then he is set apart by the LORD because of her. Now it also says that a husband must not divorce his wife. This is because when a man decides to divorce his wife, this decision is truly his own and he will own it before the LORD. Now when it comes to divorce, the Word of God only allows it due to two different situations. The first is infidelity (Cheating on your spouse), the second is abandonment (your spouse leaving you). Now according to Scripture it says that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. But it also says that it was not like this in the beginning. God never intended for divorce and it says in the Book of Malachi that God hates divorce. The marriage and divorce studies should be read through thoroughly before any kind of marriage plans in my opinion. I believe that everyone should go through biblical marriage counseling before marriage so that they fully understand the commitment that they are making to their spouse and the covenant that they are entering into with the LORD. People are afraid to commit, because they have seen so many marriages fail, but almost everyone that you have met that their marriage has failed did not go through biblical pre-marital counseling. I hope that you enjoy this study and that God makes you the husband that you should be to your wife and that you treat her as yourself, according to Scripture it says that if you are harsh with your wife, that the LORD will not answer your prayers. We need to understand that our wives are God’s daughters, now how would you feel if someone was treating your daughter the way that you have been treating your wife? We need to think before we speak and learn not to engage when they come at us. Learn to be a better communicator and be quick to listen and slow to speak. May God Bless You through this study and please try to apply what the LORD will teach you through this study into your marriage and see if God does not bless your marriage. One more suggestion, have your wife read this study and then you read the Wives study. It is good to see what the LORD says to your spouse also. Not to throw it in their face, but to gently help them remember what to do and not to do. My wife continues to help me in this area and thank God, it definitely blesses our marriage, because she has a better memory than I do.

I Corinthians 7:1-16

Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. To the married I give this command ( not I, but the Lord ): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest, I say this ( I, not the Lord ): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

I Corinthians 7:28

But if you marry, you will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—- for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery— but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Colossians 3:19

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

I Peter 3:7

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Titus 2:1-2

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Titus 2 :6-8

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Matthew 5:31-32

“It has been said, Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”

Matthew 19:3-9

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, ” Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”” Haven’t you read”, he replied, ” That at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, , For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

In the Old Testament God has a lot to say about Witchcraft and people who practice divination (Fortune telling/Psychics). All of it is bad, in the Old Testament times when these Scriptures were written, God tells his people the Israelites that they were to have nothing to do with these people and if they even caught them among them that they were to kill them. Now we know that God does not want us to do this today, that is, kill anyone. For the sixth commandment is do not murder. But we are still to use the same kind of practice of not having anything to do with these kind of people, for all of this practice is demonic. It tells us in Leviticus if we do go to these people that we will be defiled by them. It also tells us that if we do these things that we are an object of horror and disgusting to the LORD. One thing that you will notice is that these people are detestable to the LORD and that He does not approve of their behavior, that He takes away from these people and that they are not people to be feared. They have absolutely no power against a child of God. They do have a certain amount of power given to them by the Devil, but it is limited only to be used on unbelievers. I believe God allows these things to get people’s attention that there is actually a spiritual realm. Now a lot of people believe in superstitions and fear the unknown, but what I have come to find out throughout the years, is that all of the answers for all of the questions that I have are in the Word of God (The Holy Bible). In this study you will see what God thinks about these kinds of practices, how God deals with these people and the judgments that come upon these people for doing what they do. I do not know if you or anyone you know is into any kind of black magic, white magic, fortune telling , tarot cards, witchcraft, or any other occultic practice, but if you are I suggest that you repent, that is, turn the other way and get away from it. Before God Himself judges you!!! Remember, if it is someone that you love that is involved in these practices, go to your church and speak with the elders about what to do. These people are involved with demonic activity and according to the Book of Acts, the demons only listen to the Spirit of God, not people who pretend to have the Spirit. In the Book of Acts there is a story of some Jews that decided that they could go cast out demons in the name of Jesus, but what they quickly found out was that they were overpowered by the demon. For they were just men, not children of God, and they did not have authority over the demon. And according to a story in the book of Matthew, some demons only come out through prayer and fasting. So if you have these kind of issues in your life, seek wise counsel, spiritual counsel. I hope that this study gives you some insight of how God views these evil practices and how to deal with them and that you stay far from these practices. May God Bless You!!!

Leviticus 19:26

“Never eat meat that has not been drained of its blood. “Do not practice fortune telling or witchcraft.

Leviticus 19:31

“Do not rely on mediums and psychics, for you will be defiled by them. I, the LORD, am your God.

Deuteronomy 18:9-14

“When you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling or sorcery, or allow them to interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is an object of horror and disgust to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The people you are about to displace consult with sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things.

Exodus 22:18

You shall not permit a sorceress to live.

1 Samuel 15:10-23

Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has again refused to obey me.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night.

Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.”

When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the LORD bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the LORD’s command!”

“Then what is all the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.

“It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else.”

Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!”

“What was it?” Saul asked.

And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel. And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’ Why haven’t you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do exactly what the LORD said not to do?”

“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep and cattle and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you from being king.”

1 Samuel 28:1-25

About the time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.”

“Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.”

Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.”

Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned all mediums and psychics from the land of Israel.

Then the Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul and the armies of Israel camped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. He asked the LORD what he should do, but the LORD refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets. Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.”

His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.”

So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men.

“I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?”

            “Are you trying to get me killed?” the woman demanded. “You know that Saul has expelled all the mediums and psychics from the land. Why are you setting a trap for me?”

But Saul took an oath in the name of the LORD and promised, “As surely as the LORD lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this.”

Finally, the woman said, “Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?”

“Call up Samuel,” Saul replied.

When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, “You’ve deceived me! You are Saul!”

“Don’t be afraid!” the king told her. “What do you see?”

“I see a god coming up out of the earth,” she said.

“What does he look like?” Saul asked.

“He is an old man wrapped in a robe,” she replied. Saul realized that it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him.

“Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?” Samuel asked.

“Because I am in deep trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are at war with us, and God has left me and won’t reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do.”

But Samuel replied, “Why ask me if the LORD has left you and has become your enemy? The LORD has done just as he said he would. He has taken the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. The LORD has done this because you did not obey his instructions concerning the Amalekites. What’s more, the LORD will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The LORD will bring the entire army of Israel down in defeat.”

Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life. Now do what I say, and let me give you something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back.”

But Saul refused. The men who were with him also urged him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch. The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She kneaded dough and baked unleavened bread. She brought the meal to Saul and his men, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night.

2 Chronicles 33:1-6

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, imitating the detestable practices of the pagan nations whom the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He constructed altars for the images of Baal and set up Asherah poles. He also bowed before all the stars of heaven and worshiped them. He even built pagan altars in the Temple of the LORD, the place where the LORD had said his name should be honored forever. He put these altars for the stars of heaven in both courtyards of the LORD’s Temple. Manasseh even sacrificed his own sons in the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the LORD’s sight, arousing his anger.

Galatians 5:19-21

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Micah 5:7-15     Side Note: This is future prophecy to be fulfilled in the end times.

Then the few left in Israel will go out among the nations. They will be like the dew sent by the LORD or like rain falling on the grass, which no one can hold back. The remnant of Israel will go out among the nations and be as strong as a lion. And the other nations will be like helpless sheep, with no one to rescue them. The people of Israel will stand up to their foes, and all their enemies will be wiped out.

“At that same time,” says the LORD, “I will destroy all your weapons – your horses and chariots. I will tear down your walls and demolish the defenses of your cities. I will put an end to all witchcraft; there will be no more fortune-tellers to consult. I will destroy all your idols and sacred pillars, so you will never again worship the work of your own hands. I will abolish your pagan shrines with their Asherah poles and destroy the cities where your idol temples stand. I will pour out my vengeance on all the nations that refuse to obey me.”

Acts 8:9-24  Side Note: This man was a sorcerer who came to Christ.

A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, claiming to be someone great. The Samaritan people, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One – the Power of God.” He was very influential because of the magic he performed. But now the people believed Philip’s message of the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the great miracles and signs Philip performed.

When the apostles back in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new Christians to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the apostles placed their hands upon people’s heads, he offered money to buy this power. “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”

But Peter replied, “May your money perish with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right before God. Turn from your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitterness and held captive by sin.”

“Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things won’t happen to me!”

Acts 13:6-12

Afterward they preached from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, a man of considerable insight and understanding. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Saul and Barnabas said. He was trying to turn the governor away from the Christian faith.

Then Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked the sorcerer in the eye and said, “You son of the Devil, full of every sort of trickery and villainy, enemy of all that is good, will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? And now the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be stricken awhile with blindness.” Instantly mist and darkness fell upon him, and he began wandering around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. When the governor saw what had happened, he believed and was astonished at what he learned about the Lord.

Jeremiah 27:1-22

This message came to Jeremiah from the LORD early in the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah.

The LORD said to me, “ Make a yoke, and fasten it on your neck with leather thongs. Then send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through their ambassadors to King Zedekiah in Jerusalem. Give them this message for their masters: ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: By my great power I have made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose. Now I will give your countries to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who is my servant. I have put everything, even the wild animals, under his control. All the nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until his time is up. But then many nations and great kings will conquer and rule over Babylon. So you must submit to Babylon’s king and serve him; put your neck under Babylon’s yoke! I will punish any nation that refuses to be his slave, says the LORD. I will send war, famine, and disease upon that nation until Babylon has conquered it.

“ ‘Do not listen to your false prophets, fortune-tellers, interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers who say, “The king of Babylon will not conquer you.” They are all liars, and I will drive you from your land and send you far away to die. But the people of any nation that submits to the king of Babylon will be allowed to stay in their own country to farm the land as usual. I, the LORD, have spoken!’”

Then I repeated this same message to King Zedekiah of Judah. “If you want to live, submit to the king of Babylon and his people,” I said. “Why do you insist on dying – you and your people? Why should you choose war, famine, and disease, which the LORD will bring against every nation that refuses to submit to Babylon’s king? Do not listen to the false prophets who keep telling you, ‘The king of Babylon will not conquer you.’ They are liars. This is what the LORD says: I have not sent these prophets! They are telling you lies in my name, so I will drive you from this land. You will all die – you and all these prophets, too.”

Then I spoke to the priests and the people and said, “This is what the LORD says: Do not listen to your prophets who claim that soon the gold utensils taken from my Temple will be returned from Babylon. It is all a lie! Do not listen to them. Surrender to the king of Babylon, and you will live. Why should this whole city be destroyed? If they really are the LORD’S prophets, let them pray to the LORD Almighty about the gold utensils that are still left in the LORD’S Temple and in the king’s palace and in the palaces of Jerusalem. Let them pray that these remaining articles will not be carried away with you to Babylon!

“For this is what the LORD Almighty says about the bronze pillars in front of the Temple, the bronze Sea in the Temple courtyard, the bronze water carts, and all the other ceremonial articles. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon left them here when he exiled Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, to Babylon, along with all the other important people of Judah and Jerusalem. Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says about the precious things kept in the Temple and in the palace of Judah’s king: They will all be carried away to Babylon and will stay there until I send for them, says the LORD. But someday I will bring them back to Jerusalem again.”

Daniel 2:1-49

One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that disturbed him so much that he couldn’t sleep. He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king, he said, “I have had a dream that troubles me. Tell me what I dreamed, for I must know what it means.”

Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “Long live the king! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.”

But the king said to the astrologers, “I am serious about this. If you don’t tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be demolished into heaps of rubble! But if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means, I will give you many wonderful gifts and honors. Just tell me the dream and what it means!”

They said again, “Please, Your Majesty. Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means!”

The king replied, “I can see through your trick! You are trying to stall for time because you know I am serious about what I said. If you don’t tell me the dream, you will be condemned. You have conspired to tell me lies in hopes that something will change. But tell me the dream, and then I will know that you can tell me what it means.”

The astrologers replied to the king, “There isn’t a man alive who can tell Your Majesty his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer! This is an impossible thing the king requires. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live among people.”

The king was furious when he heard this, and he sent out orders to execute all the wise men of Babylon. And because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends. When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened. Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time so he could tell the king what the dream meant.

Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven, saying,

“Praise the name of God forever and ever,

for he alone has all wisdom and power.

He determines the course of world events;

he removes kings and sets others on the throne.

He gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to the scholars.

He reveals deep and mysterious things

and knows what lies hidden in darkness,

though he himself is surrounded by light,

I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors,

for you have given me wisdom and strength.

You have told me what we asked of you

and revealed to us what the king demanded.”

Then Daniel went in to see Arioch, who had been ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream.”

Then Arioch quickly took Daniel to the king and said, “I have found one of the captives from Judah who will tell Your Majesty the meaning of your dream!”

The king said to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar), “Is this true? Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?”

Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can tell the king such things. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.

“While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. The revealer of mysteries has shown you what is going to happen. And it is not because I am wiser than any living person that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wanted you to understand what you were thinking about.

“Your Majesty, in your vision you saw in front of you a huge and powerful statue of a man, shining brilliantly, frightening and awesome. The head of the statue was made of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs were of bronze, its legs were of iron, and its feet were a combination of iron and clay. But as you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain by supernatural means. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits. The whole statue collapsed into a heap of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. The pieces were crushed as small as chaff on a threshing floor, and the wind blew them all away without a trace. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.

“That was the dream; now I will tell Your Majesty what it means. Your Majesty, you are a king over many kings. The God of heaven has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor. He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.

“But after your kingdom comes to an end, another great kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to take your place. After that kingdom has fallen, yet a third great kingdom, represented by the bronze belly and thighs, will rise to rule the world. Following that kingdom, there will be a fourth great kingdom, as strong as iron. That kingdom will smash and crush all previous empires, just as iron smashes and crushes everything it strikes. The feet and toes you saw that were a combination of iron and clay show that this kingdom will be divided. Some parts of it will be as strong as iron, and others as weak as clay. This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But this will not succeed, just as iron and clay do not mix.

“During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed; no one will ever conquer it. It will shatter all these kingdoms into nothingness, but it will stand forever. That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain by supernatural means, crushing to dust the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold.

“The great God has shown Your Majesty what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain.”

Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed to the ground before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.”

Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. At Daniel’s request, the appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.

During a word study the Lord revealed to me that there are different measures of faith, and that our faith can grow. But the most important thing that he revealed was that we hinder our own faith by doing these five things ( Being afraid, doubting, reasoning among ourselves, unbelief, and reasoning within our hearts ). All five of these things carne right out of Jesus’ mouth. I have put together these five different instances so that you can see them together and have highlighted the words that I want you to pay close attention to. After these verses I have also put together some other verses that back up what I am talking about with different measures of faith and how the Word tells us that our faith can grow. These verses are taken out of the King James Version for that is the version that the Lord revealed this to me. Some other versions change the wording a little bit which takes away the effect some what. Not that you won’t get the meaning though, so look up these verses with whatever Bible the Lord has you using. I do believe that you should read the verses before and after these so that you will completely understand who he is speaking to and what is going on at the time when he is speaking.

Matthew 8:26

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, 0 ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Matthew 14:31

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, 0 thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Matthew 16:8

Which when Jesus perceived, he saith unto them, 0 ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves because ye have brought no bread?

Matthew 17:20

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Mark 2:5-8

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

What hinders our Faith

Now that you have read these verses you will notice that Jesus kept on saying 0 ye of little faith, lets emphasize that word Little so that you will notice that everytime he used it, he was showing them their lack of faith. In this first verse that I am going to put down notice what Jesus says to the Centurion about his faith. That he has GREAT FAITH!!!! Wouldn’t you like Jesus to say that about you? Where is your faith at, and are you doing anything about making it grow, as even Jesus grew in stature with men and GOD.

Matthew 8:5-10

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Luke 2:52

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

II Peter 1:4-10

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

In the Word of God, it tells us that God Himself has written His commandments in our hearts. So men are without excuse. When you read these commandments, you will probably be like, everyone knows these things. And to some extent you are right. One of the things that the LORD revealed to me when I read through these two different sections in Scripture, is that, the order was a little different, towards the end. Now in Exodus it tells us not to covet our neighbor’s house first, then in Deuteronomy it says not to covet our neighbor’s wife before it says house. I do not know about you, but I think this was not by mistake by the LORD. He does know the heart of man and the one thing that I see time and again throughout history is men coveting each others houses and wives. To the point of actually murdering people over these two things. I believe in today’s society that we see even more of this, then any other time in civilized history. Why do you think that we have so much adultery, divorce, bankruptcy, etc. We covet what other people have and we are not content with what we have. Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading thru these commands and I hope you follow them whole heartedly. I heard a pastor say one time, that we have over 4 million laws on the books in the United States, but if we would just do the ten commandments that we would not hardly need any of them. May God Bless you and keep you!!!

Commandment: n. a law or order; especially, in the Bible, any of the ten laws (Ten Commandments) that God gave to Moses.

Exodus 20:1-21

Then God instructed the people as follows:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt.

“Do not worship any other gods besides me.

“Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.

“Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For is six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then he rested on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you.

“Do not murder.

“Do not commit adultery.

“Do not steal.

“Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.

“Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns.”

When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the horn, and when they saw the lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.

And they said to Moses, “You tell us what God says, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us. If he does, we will die!”

“Don’t be afraid,” Moses said, “for God has come in this way to show you his awesome power. From now on, let your fear of him keep you from sinning!”

As the people stood in the distance, Moses entered into the deep darkness where God was.

Deuteronomy 5:1-33

Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully to all the laws and regulations I am giving you today. Learn them and be sure to obey them! “While we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God made a covenant with us. The LORD did not make this covenant long ago with our ancestors, but with all of us who are alive today. The LORD spoke to you face to face from the heart of the fire on the mountain. I stood as an intermediary between you and the LORD, for you were afraid of the fire and did not climb the mountain. He spoke to me, and I passed the words on to you. This is what he said:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt.

“Do not worship any other gods besides me.

“Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.

“Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God had commanded you. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do. Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out with amazing power and mighty deeds. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

“Honor your father and mother, as the LORD your God command you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you.

“Do not murder.

“Do not commit adultery.

“Do not steal.

“Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.

“Do not covet your neighbor’s wife. Do not covet your neighbor’s house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns.’

The LORD spoke these words with a loud voice to all of you from the heart of the fire, surrounded by clouds and deep darkness. This was all he said at that time, and he wrote his words on two stone tablets and gave them to me. But when you heard the voice from the darkness, while the mountain was blazing with fire, all your tribal leaders came to me. They said, ‘The LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen God speaking to humans, and yet we live! But now, why should we die? If the LORD our God speaks to us again, we will certainly die and be consumed by this awesome fire. Can any living thing hear the voice of the living God from the heart of the fire and yet survive? You go and listen to what the LORD our God says. Then come and tell us everything he tells you, and we will listen and obey.’

“The LORD heard your request and said to me, ‘I have heard what the people have said to you, and they are right. Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever. Go and tell them to return to their tents. But you stay here with me so I can give you all my commands, laws, and regulations. You will teach them to the people so they can obey them in the land I am giving to them as their inheritance.’”

So Moses told the people, “You must obey all the commands of the LORD your God, following his instructions in every detail. Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

Pride is a subject that most of us would think that there is nothing negative to say about it. Well, that is because in our society we view pride only in one aspect. We look at it from the point of view as in we take pride in our children or we take pride in being an American or a specific nationality and the such. Well, the Word of God (The Holy Bible) gives us a whole different view on the subject of pride. It speaks about all of the negative effects of being prideful. I describe pride as the seed that gets planted deep in our hearts that we are better at something then someone else, and then when we are really feeling boastful in our hearts, it comes boasting out of our mouths. Now this is the difference between pride and arrogance. Pride is something internal that will eventually become external, this is where it turns into arrogance. According to Scripture pride leads to disgrace, to arguments, pride goes before destruction, pride ends in humiliation. Now in Proverbs 16:18 it says that “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before the fall.” This is exactly what I was speaking about with pride and arrogance. When you see people become proud about something, such as some kind of sin, or even a gift that the LORD has blessed them with, they will try and take credit for something that the LORD has done for them. Well, they will start boasting about it and then they fall from this mighty pedestal that they have put themselves on. This is quite devastating to the proud, but it is the way that the LORD gives them humility. Being humble is just the opposite as being prideful. Pride comes naturally to most of us and it is taught in our society as some kind of good virtue, but as we can see in Scripture that it can actually be a bad thing. Satan himself fell from heaven because of pride, and if an anointed angel can fall from the presence of God, so can we. I hope that you will benefit from this study and I suggest that you read the humility study also. May God Bless You and I hope that you understand it is alright to be proud of your children and the good things that you do in your life, but do not let pride root itself in your heart as to become a stumbling block between you and God. In Romans 12:3 it says “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”

Pride: an opinion of oneself that is too high; vanity

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things that the LORD hates – no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 8:13

All who fear the LORD will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech.

Proverbs 11:2

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 13:10

Pride leads to arguments; those who take advice are wise.

Proverbs 15:25

The LORD destroys the house of the proud, but he protects the property of widows.

Proverbs 16:5

The LORD despises pride; be assured that the proud will be punished.

Proverbs 16:18

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

Proverbs 16:19

It is better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.

Proverbs 21:4

Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.

Proverbs 21:24

Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.

Proverbs 28:25  Side note: (KJV) He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife

Greed causes fighting; trusting the LORD leads to prosperity.

Proverbs 29:23

Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

Humility is something that does not come natural to most of us. It is a taught behavior, usually through the tough circumstances in our lives. The more prideful we are the harder humility comes to us. As you can see in Scripture humility is a good thing. Humility precedes honor, true humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life. We are taught in Scripture if we do something that we should not of, that we should humble ourselves and try and redeem ourselves. If not, we will suffer the circumstances. In Proverbs 16:19 it says “Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” It also says in Scripture that God remembers the humble and that He destroys the proud. The LORD hears the desires of the humble and He will lift you up in honor in His timing. But remember that just because someone seems humble does not always mean that they are. According to Scripture it tells us that some people put on quite the show, they fool men, but they do not fool God. Some people are actually proud of being humble. You might not ever know it but God does. May God Bless You and keep you and I hope that God gives you the humility that it takes to trust Him and to be a blessing to others. That God keeps you from being prideful and that He takes all of the negative pride out of your heart and mind.

Humble:  Knowing one’s own weaknesses and faults; not proud or bold; modest or meek

Humility: the condition of being humble, or not proud; modesty.

Proverbs 15:33

Fear of the LORD teaches a person to be wise; humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 18:12

Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 22:4

True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.

Proverbs 6:1-3

My son, if you become surety for your friend, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, you are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; for you have come into the hand of your friend; go and humble yourself; plead with your friend.

Proverbs 16:19

Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Proverbs 29:23

Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

Psalm 9:7-12

But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble.

Psalm 10:12

Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.

Psalm 10:17

LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear.

Psalm 34:2

My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Acts 20:18-21

When they arrived he declared. “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the LORD’s work humbly– yes, and with tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. Yet I never shrank from telling you the truth, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Gentiles alike- the necessity of turning from sin and turning to God, and of faith in our Lord Jesus.”

Colossians 2:18-3:17

Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial. And don’t let anyone say you must worship angels, even though they say they have had visions about this. These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds have made them proud. But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.

You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle, don’t eat, don’t touch.” Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. You used to do them when your life was still part of the world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him in God the Father.

1 Peter 5:1-9

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches, I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And, I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns. As a fellow elder, this is my appeal to you: Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly- not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example. And when the head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor.

You younger men, accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.”

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.

Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Enemies is a subject that most of us already have a pre-determined mind set on. We look at our enemies with no sympathy, no remorse for what happens to them and we would love to destroy them in our sinful nature. But the LORD has a lot to say about our enemies and how to treat them. As you will read, He does not tell us to take vengeance for ourselves, He actually tells us to be kind to them and to pray for them. To forgive them and to lend money to them, things that we would never do, if it was not for wanting to obey God. When I was younger I use to believe that vengeance was mine for all of the offenses that we done to me. As I grew a little older, I realized that I was reaping what I sowed and I decided that I needed to quit doing stupid stuff. So I started obeying the laws and fell into line with our society. This did help out my life tremendously to say the least. Now, I still would not have treated my enemies any differently if they crossed me under the right circumstances, for I use to tell people, don’t take my kindness for weakness, for you will find out that I am not weak. But of course some people had to find out the hard way. When my daughter was a teenager and her mother found some pictures of her and her friend trying to look hard, I pulled her aside and explained to her that fighting never got me anywhere except giving me a bad attitude. It took me down a bad path that never ends, it just keeps escalating!!!!!! Before you know it you will either kill someone or end up in prison for the violence, I have met many people that this has happened to.

You will see that in this study, God is your defender and He is a just judge. Vengeance is God’s alone according to Scripture and believe me I have seen God pour out His vengeance on my enemies. You actually start praying for them, just as God has told you to, so that God’s mercy will come into their lives. You actually start feeling sorry for them and for what they are going through. The first few times this happened I did not know what to expect. To actually do what the LORD told me to do was the hardest part. I had already learned not to take vengeance myself, but to actually pray in a way that the LORD told me to do, well, this was a lot more difficult. I want to encourage you to check out what the LORD has told us to do, and see if it does not work for you also. I would personally love to hear some testimony on this, if you apply what the LORD has told you to do and what the outcome was. I hope that this study will help you view your enemies a little bit different and realize that if God is with you, who can be against you!!! May God Bless You and remember a gentle answer turns away wrath!!!!

Enemy: n. 1 a person, group, or country that hates another or fights against another; foe. 2 one who hates or fights against an idea, cause, conditions, etc.

Matthew 5:21-26

You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fire of hell.

“So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown into jail. I assure you that you won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.

Matthew 5:43-48

“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 22:41-46

Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?

They replied, “He is the son of David.”

Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, call him Lord? For David said,

‘The LORD said to my Lord,

Sit in honor at my right hand

until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’

Since David called him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?”

No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Proverbs 27:6

Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Luke 1:68-75

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,

because he has visited his people and redeemed them.

He has sent us a mighty Savior

from the royal line of his servant David,

just as he promised

through his holy prophets long ago.

Now we will be saved from our enemies

            and from all who hate us.

He has been merciful to our ancestors

by remembering his sacred covenant with them,

the covenant he gave to our ancestor Abraham.

We have been rescued from our enemies,

            so we can serve God without fear,

            in holiness and righteousness forever.”

Luke 6:27-36

“But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it: and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do for others as you would like them to do for you.

“Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Luke 19:11-27

The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away. He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. Before he left, he called together ten servants and gave them ten pounds of silver to invest for him while he was gone. But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say they did not want him to be their king.

“When he returned, the king called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what they had done with the money and what their profits were. The first servant reported a tremendous gain – ten times as much as the original amount! ‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a trustworthy servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’

“The next servant also reported a good gain – five times the original amount. ‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You can be governor over five cities.’

“But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘I hid it and kept it safe. I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’

“You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Hard, am I? If you knew so much about me and how tough I am, why didn’t you deposit the money in the bank so I could at least get some interest on it?’ Then turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who earned the most.’

“But, master,’ they said, ‘that servant has enough already!’

“Yes,’ the king replied, ‘but to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. And now about these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king – bring them in and execute them right here in my presence.”

Luke 20:41-44

Then Jesus presented them with a question. “Why is it,” he asked, “that the Messiah is said to be the son of David? For David himself wrote in the book of Psalms:

‘The LORD said to my Lord,

Sit in honor at my right hand

until I humble your enemies,

            making them a footstool under your feet.’

Since David called him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?”

Psalm 110:1-7

The LORD said to my Lord,

            “Sit in honor at my right hand

until I humble your enemies,

     making them a footstool under your feet.”

The LORD will extend your powerful dominion from Jerusalem;

            you will rule over your enemies.

In that day of battle,

            your people will serve you willingly.

Arrayed in holy garments,

your vigor will be renewed each day like the morning dew.

The LORD had taken an oath and will not break his vow:

“You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.”

The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.

He will strike down many kings in the day of his anger.

He will punish the nations

            and fill them with their dead;

he will shatter heads

            over the whole earth.

But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way.

He will be victorious.

Romans 5:6-11

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s judgment.

For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.

Romans 11:25-32

I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud and start bragging. Some of the Jews have hard hearts, but this will last only until the complete number of the Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved. Do you remember what the prophets said about this?

“A Deliverer will come from Jerusalem,

and he will turn Israel from all ungodliness.

And then I will keep my covenant with them

and take away their sins.”

Many of the Jews are now enemies of the Good News. But this has been for your benefit, for God has given his gifts to you Gentiles. Yet the Jews are still his chosen people because of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the Jews refused his mercy, God was merciful to you instead. And now, in the same way, the Jews are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you. But someday they too, will share in God’s mercy. For God has imprisoned all people in their own disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

1 Corinthians 15:21-28

So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man, Christ. Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man. But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised.

After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having put down all enemies of every kind. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, “God has given him authority over all things.” (Of course, when it says “authority over all things,” it does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) Then, when he has conquered all things, the Son will present himself to God, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

Psalm 140:8-10

LORD, do not give in to their evil desires. Do not let their evil schemes succeed, O God. Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me. Let burning coals fall down on their heads, or throw them into the fire, or into deep pits from which they can’t escape.

Listen one of the things that our society is lacking today is compassion towards others. We think that situation comedies are great, laughing at others is an American past time. You will see that the LORD is very compassionate and believe me when I say that you want His compassion in your life. But a man will reap what he sows. That means that if you are not compassionate to others, you will not receive compassion in your time of need. Our society has become very violent and God will only put up with a violent society for so long, before He intervenes Himself. Throughout history, God used a more violent nation to deal with the wicked nations throughout the earth. God will raise up a nation that will judge whatever nation He decides for whatever reasons that only God knows about. In the Word of God (The Holy Bible) you will see that God is a merciful God, a loving God, but also a God of justice, and when the Righteous Almighty God judges He knows what justice is. He literally wrote the Book on it. With judgment in the Bible, you see that God judges the individual and the nation. In the Book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah kept telling the king that judgment was coming to the nation of Israel, but the king kept listening to the false prophets. Then when the judgment came by the Babylonians, the nation was not only judged, by being either killed, or taken into captivity, but the king himself, who thought that he was going to get away, gets caught and judged personally. A prophet had prophesied that the king would be taken to Babylon, but he would never see it. Well, when the king was caught, all of his sons were killed right in front of him, then the kings eyes were burned out of his head, so this was the last thing that he saw. Then the king was taken to Babylon. And Jeremiah the prophet was released by the Babylonians to go on his way, to wherever he chose. This is what I am talking about with individual judgment and national judgment.

I hope that this study will show you how compassionate that our LORD can be. But at the same time, we need to analyze ourselves to see how compassionate we are towards others. I believe in the near future you are going to continue to see horrible and wicked things happen in our society, unless we as a people repent of our sins. The youth of this nation is really off course and it is because we as a nation have drifted away from God. I would suggest that you read the “How to have a relationship with Jesus” blog on this website if you do not already have a relationship with Him. May God Bless You and I hope that you are compassionate to someone today!!!!

Compassion: a feeling of being sorry for others and wanting to help them; deep sympathy; pity

Deuteronomy 13:17

“So none of the accursed things shall remain in your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, have compassion on you multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers.

Deuteronomy 30:3

“that the LORD your God will bring you back from the captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you.”

2 Kings 13:23

But the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.

2 Chronicles 30:1-9

And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel. For the king and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at the regular time, because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem. And the matter pleased the king and all the assembly. So they resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem, since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner. Then the runners went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and his leaders, and spoke according to the command of the king: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. “And do not be like your fathers and your brethren, who trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, so that He gave them up to desolation, as you see. Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you. For if you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.”

2 Chronicles 36:10-21

At the turn of the year King Nebuchadnezzar summoned him and took him to Babylon, with the costly articles from the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah, Jehoiakim’s brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel. Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand. And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders, all these he took to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious possessions. And those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

Psalm 78

Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will no hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God. The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law, And forgot His works And His wonders that He had shown them. Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters stand up like a heap. In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, And all the night with a light of fire. He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. He also brought streams out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers. But they sinned even more against Him by rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness. And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. Yes, they spoke against God: They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, He struck the rock, So that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?” Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up against Israel, Because they did not believe in God, And did not trust in His salvation. Yet He had commanded the clouds above, And opened the doors of heaven, Had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven. Men ate angels food; He sent them food to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; And by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, All around their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled, For He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; But while their food was still in their mouths, The wrath of God came against them, And slew the stoutest of them, And struck down the choice men of Israel. In spite of this they still sinned, And did not believe in His wondrous works. Therefore their days He consumed in futility, And their years in fear. When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, And they lied to Him with their tongue; For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath; For He remembered that they were but flesh, A breath that passes away and does not come again. How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, And grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy, When He worked His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; Turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, that they could not drink. He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, And frogs, which destroyed them. He also gave their crops to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust. He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore trees with frost. He also gave up their cattle to the hail. And their flocks to fiery lightning. He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them. He made a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, But gave their life over to the plague, And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, The first of their strength in the tents of Ham. But He made His own people go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock; And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And He brought them to His holy border, This mountain which His right hand had acquired. He also drove out the nations before them, Allotted them an inheritance by survey, And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, And did not keep His testimonies, But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images. When God heard this, He was furious, And greatly abhorred Israel. So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men, And delivered His strength into captivity, And His glory into the enemy’s hand. He also gave His people over to the sword, And was furious with His inheritance. The fire consumed their young men, And their maidens were not given in marriage. Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows made no lamentation. Then the LORD awoke as from sleep, Like a mighty man who shouts because of wine. And He beat back His enemies; He put them to a perpetual reproach. Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has established forever. He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

Isaiah 49:15 Side note: This is God speaking in this verse.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.

Matthew 9:36

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 14:14

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Matthew 15:32

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”

Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. “And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. “But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. “The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. “Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him his debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, “Pay me what you owe!” “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.” And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. “So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” “And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Matthew 20:34

So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.