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Proverbs centers around one of the Bible's super key themes—"The Two Ways"—in an extremely unique manner. The Way of Righteousness is personified by Lady Wisdom, and the Way of Unrighteousness is personified by Lady Folly. We are called to make a choice between these two women; the former brings joy and happiness in the Fear of the Lord, the latter brings misery and death. Let us embrace Lady Wisdom! Enjoy this sample from Lesson 2, "Embracing Lady Wisdom (Prov 1-9, 30)" from Dr. Nick's course, "Proverbs: A Life of Wisdom." Anyone can join our community of students and stream the entire audio lesson and full course (and other courses too!) whenever they wish.
Preached at the Divine Healing Centre during the Supernatural Encounter Service, 4th May 2025
In the fifteenth and final episode of "The Cross," Duane Sheriff explores the depth of God's forgiveness and mercy under the New Covenant. He explains that God's attitude is mercy, not wrath or punishment. Hebrews 8 reveals God's covenant promise: "I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." By understanding our complete forgiveness in Christ, we can fully appreciate God's love and a life of holiness motivated by love rather than fear. This crucial truth prompts us to reconsider our view of God's attitude towards us when we fail. Instead of wrath or punishment, we find mercy. This is not a license to sin but rather a call to serve God out of love instead of fear.Click for FREE offer ➡️https://pastorduane.com/the-cross/
A Sermon Preached at The Qodesh by Bishop Dennis Agyei Gyan.
A Sermon Preached at The Qodesh by Bishop Dennis Agyei Gyan.
This Sermon was Preached by Rev. Dr. Charles Osei at the Laikos Church International Newark Branch New Jersey.
Romans Vol. 1 - Coming Under GracePaul sets the brilliance of the gospel against the dark backdrop of human sin, helping us see just how necessary and glorious it really is. Before we can celebrate salvation, we must first face the reality of our guilt and God's just wrath to understand our deep need for rescue.Sermon Preached by Chris Lewis on April 27, 2025Foothill Church exists to glorify God by living as disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus. https://foothill.churchLearn about our For the Sake of His Name 2-Year Discipleship Journey: https://foothill.church/FTSOHN
What does it mean to unlearn something? Sometimes we learn things in life that are not beneficial to us or those we are supposed to influence for right. When we learn unrighteous thoughts, feelings and behavior not only will these damage us, but they will damage those we influence as well. So we need to unlearn unrighteousness.
#4 in our series, "The Book of Romans: A Theology of Hope"
In God's mysterious grace, the starting point for hope is to face our desperate, hopeless condition. Our problem is the stain of sin, which we can never scrub away. Sin of exchanging the glory of God for a love of ourselves—that terrible exchange, which trickles down into a hundred other fruits of wickedness. But there was another exchange. The holy, almighty God we rejected, He made another exchange. The righteous Judge took all the eternal wrath and punishment that our sins deserve, and He poured it out, not on us, but on His beautiful, perfect Son. And the one Man who always treasured the glory of God–His perfect record is draped over us, if we receive Him. Our sin for Christ's righteousness. This is the breath-taking exchange of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For our sake, he [God] made him to be sin who knew no sin [Jesus], so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
To Become Jesus Followers: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Every time you lie or cheat or lust or get stoned, you put a barrier between yourself and God because God is Holy. God's Holiness prevents Him from communing with sinners. The author of 1 John tells us in 1 John 3:8: “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.". God brought Jesus, who was both God and man, to live on earth. Therefore, Jesus' blood sacrifice on the cross permitted Him to take on your sins. By His sacrifice, Jesus became the doorway for your personal relationship with God and a path for your Salvation from your sins (1 John 1:9-10): “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.". TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Compulsions. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Patience. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 17:2-3; Philippians 3:7-10; Matthew 16:13-20; Psalms 78b:13-24. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Beginnings in Prayer -- Part 2: Faith, a Gift of the Spirit, Is a Key Element in Our Relationship with God Through Prayer”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Segment 1: Steve McConkey on Fairness in Sports Dr. Chaps is joined by Steve McConkey of 4 Winds USA to discuss the ongoing fight for fairness in sports. Learn how Steve is standing up for the integrity of competition and protecting athletes in this ever-changing landscape. Segment 2: What's Not Pleasing to God? Dr. Chaps and Steve McConkey dive into broader societal issues that may not align with biblical principles. From cultural trends to moral challenges, this segment explores areas where faith can make a difference. Segment 3: Staving the Tide of Unrighteousness Dr. Chaps and Steve McConkey challenge viewers to take bold steps to confront unrighteousness in today's world. Discover how faith, prayer, and action can push back against the cultural and spiritual forces that oppose God's will. Get free alerts at http://PrayInJesusName.org © 2025, Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, PhD. Airs on NRB TV, Direct TV Ch.378, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, GoogleTV, Smart TV, iTunes and www.PrayInJesusName.org
Send us a textIn this final episode on morality, Arnie and Fred begin by discussing the fact that immorality is the same as sin. We note that James discusses what happens when an individual knows what is good to do but decides not to do it. John in two passages identifies what sin is. We look at what he says there. Paul has a discussion in Romans 14 relating to one that has doubts about what he is doing and what the result is if he continues to do it. We discuss this situation. Paul also has a long discussion of quite a few different sins in Romans chapter 1. Arnie spends some time looking at what Paul says about those sins. Fred discusses what Paul said to the Christians in Galatia when he listed a similar number of sins in Chapter 5. We move on to talk about what Paul wrote to the brethren in Ephesus about other sources of immorality which are equally serious. We complete this episode by looking at the consequence of unrighteousness and note that Adam and Eve understood that in the very beginning. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.
Family Gathering Service Sermon Preached by Bishop Samuel B. Sawyerr at the Laikos International Church, New York Branch. This Message was taken from the Book "Those Who Forget" written by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills
These verses draw our attention to false teachers who prioritise their own interests over God's truth, this can shipwreck people's faith and hurts them. This highlights the critical need for genuine leaders who teach God's truth.
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Ethan Ramsey Romans 9:14-18 Sermon Notes Episode 240
To Become Jesus Followers: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Every time you lie or cheat or lust or get stoned, you put a barrier between yourself and God because God is Holy. God's Holiness prevents Him from communing with sinners. The author of 1 John tells us in 1 John 3:8: “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.". God brought Jesus, who was both God and man, to live on earth. Therefore, Jesus' blood sacrifice on the cross permitted Him to take on your sins. By His sacrifice, Jesus became the doorway for your personal relationship with God and a path for your Salvation from your sins (1 John 1:9-10): “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.". TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Anxiety. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Peace. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 17:2-3; Philippians 3:7-10; Matthew 16:13-20; Psalms 78b:13-24. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Giving Thanks to the Lord”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Understanding righteousness often starts with recognizing our own shortcomings, as Isaiah reminds us that even our best deeds are tainted, and only by seeing our own need can we grasp the true essence of divine righteousness.
Verse by verse teaching in Romans 1:18 titled "Suppressing the Truth in Unrighteousness" by Pastor Jeffrey Anderson of Calvary Youth of Calvary Chapel Clayton, NC on June 23, 2024.
Series: 1 Peter: Holiness in a Hostile World Sermon: Suffering for Unrighteousness Text: 1 Peter 3:18-20 Preacher: Pastor Thabiti Date: August 4, 2024
Topics: Antichrist, Lawless One, End of Time, Eschatology, Colossians 2:8, Tradition of men, Political Figure, Nero, AD70, 2 Thessalonians, 1 John, 2 John, Proof-texting, Protestant Scholastics, John Darby, Anyone Against Jesus, Establish Himself in Temple, Man Riding on Horseback Added Verses to Bible, Temple is Gone, Return of Jesus, Lawless one Taught the Law, Delighted in Unrighteousness, 1 Timothy 1:7, 1 Timothy 1:9, Delighted in the Law, Psalm 1:2-3, Romans 7:22, Nobody Declared Righteous Through the Law, Romans, 3:20, Be Perfect Like God, Matthew 5:48, Matthew 5-7, In Accordance With How Satan Works, False Signs and Wonders, Children of the Devil, John 8, If God Were Your Father You Would Love Me, Lawless One Did Not Love Jesus, Did Not Obey the Gospel, Workers of Lawlessness, Depart From Me I Never Knew You, Matthew 7:21-23, Appear as Angels of Light, Masquerading Like Satan, Thorn in Paul's Flesh, Lawless One is Specific Individual, Every Letter Paul Lamented About Judaizers Except Philemon, Left Behind Books Series Support the Show.Sign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter
We continue our series on Romans with a discussion of the Wrath of God on Unrighteousness from 1:18-2:11 CHAPTER 1:18-32 — God's Wrath on Unrighteousness CHAPTER 2:1-11 — God's Righteous Judgment
Topics: 2 Thessalonians, Return of Jesus, Lawless One, Strong Delusion, the Rapture, Matthew 24, Luke 17, Luke 21, Mark 13, Eschatology, Proof-Texting, Protestant Scholastics, John Darby, Plymouth Brethren, Repent the End is Near, Harpazo, Caught Up, 1 Thessalonians 4, The Dead Who Rise First, Cremation, Anti-Christs, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the Rebellion or Apostasy or Falling Away, Nero, Hebrews 6, Galatians 5, John 16, I've Told You These Things So you Do Not Fall Away, Turn Away, 1 Timothy 4:1, In the Last Days, In Accordance With Satan, All Signs and Wonders, Refused to Love the Truth and be Saved, Strong Delusion, Do Not Believe Truth, Pleasure in Unrighteousness, Law Not for the Righteous, 1 Timothy 1:9, Stand Firm in the Truth of the Gospel, Pray for Us to be Delivered from Wicked and Evil Men, The Lord is Faithful He Will Strengthen and Protect You From the Evil One, 2 Thessalonians 3, Idleness and People Not WorkingSupport the Show.Sign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter
Romans 1:18 - Sun, May 26, 2024
To Become Jesus Followers: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Every time you lie or cheat or lust or get stoned, you put a barrier between yourself and God because God is Holy. God's Holiness prevents Him from communing with sinners. The author of 1 John tells us in 1 John 3:8: “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.". God brought Jesus, who was both God and man, to live on earth. Therefore, Jesus' blood sacrifice on the cross permitted Him to take on your sins. By His sacrifice, Jesus became the doorway for your personal relationship with God and a path for your Salvation from your sins (1 John 1:9-10): “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.". TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Anxiety. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Peace. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 17:2-3; Philippians 3:7-10; Matthew 16:13-20; Psalms 78b:13-24. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Day of Pentecost – The Promise Fulfilled (All Saints Anglican Church; Peachtree City, GA)”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Message from 5-5-2024 at Grace Church in Chester Illinois.
Greg explains why not attending a same-sex wedding is not just a matter of conscience, answers challenges to his comments last week on original sin, and responds to arguments for Catholicism. Topics: Commentary: Love does not rejoice in the unrighteousness of same-sex weddings. (00:00) Were your answers to my questions about original sin contradictory? (27:00) How would you respond to these arguments for Catholicism that are attracting my friend? (46:00) Mentioned on the Show: Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA Questions about Original Sin – Last week's episode referenced by first caller When a Baby Dies by Ronald Nash Related Links: Should a Christian Attend a Same-Sex Wedding? by Alan Shlemon
1 John 1:9 King James Version 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Listen in as we tackle the pressing question of whether affirming someone's lifestyle, especially within the LGBTQ community, equates to an act of love. This poignant discussion explores the recent shifts in attitude from influential religious figures like Andy Stanley and Pope Francis and scrutinizes the notion that love must always be synonymous with affirmation. We examine the delicate balance between love and truth, drawing on Jesus's encounter with the woman at the well and the profound insights of 1 Corinthians 13. The conversation offers a thought-provoking perspective on the intersection of faith, love, and sexuality, aiming to distinguish between genuine compassion and the inadvertent endorsement of sin. Venturing further, we address the complexities of engaging with individuals whose actions may not align with our beliefs, highlighting the need for humility and wisdom. Our discourse navigates the challenges of affirming feelings while guiding individuals toward biblical truths, using Apostle Paul's approach as a template for meaningful and compassionate dialogue. We also touch upon the struggles parents of LGBTQ children face, offering a glimpse into the supportive ministry we provide for these families. Tune in for a conversation that seeks to reconcile the necessity of upholding our values with the powerful imperative to love unconditionally, even when it requires navigating difficult seasons of separation.Timestamps:(00:16) - Exploring Love and Affirmation in Sexuality (10:38) - Love and Truth in Engaging SinnersJoin us weekly as we strive help people embrace God's standard for sexuality! Other ways to listen:https://linktr.ee/calibrateconversations#lgbtq #christianity #affirming #sin
Romans 1:18-32| The Unrighteousness of Mankind Click here to listen! Join us as we take a deeper look at how Paul describes the unrighteousness of mankind. Did you absolutely love this episode? Show your support by: Sharing a screenshot on your social media/stories and tagging us @couragemolina @boldfaithchurch Giving us a 5-star rating and leaving a glowing review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform Sharing the link with a friend who needs to hear this amazing content Let's spread the love and keep the momentum going!
Romans 1–2 Romans 1–2 (Listen) Greeting 1 Paul, a servant1 of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David2 according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Longing to Go to Rome 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,3 that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians,4 both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. The Righteous Shall Live by Faith 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,5 as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”6 God's Wrath on Unrighteousness 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,7 in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. God's Righteous Judgment 2 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking8 and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality. God's Judgment and the Law 12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. 17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded9 as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically10 uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code11 and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Footnotes [1] 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface [2] 1:3 Or who came from the offspring of David [3] 1:13 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters [4] 1:14 That is, non-Greeks [5] 1:17 Or beginning and ending in faith [6] 1:17 Or The one who by faith is righteous shall live [7] 1:20 Or clearly perceived from the creation of the world [8] 2:8 Or contentious [9] 2:26 Or counted [10] 2:27 Or is by nature [11] 2:27 Or the letter (ESV)
Old Testament: Jeremiah 2–3 Jeremiah 2–3 (Listen) Israel Forsakes the Lord 2 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the LORD.” 4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the LORD: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?6 They did not say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?'7 And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?' Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds1 transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit. 9 “Therefore I still contend with you, declares the LORD, and with your children's children I will contend.10 For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing.11 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. 14 “Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?15 The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.16 Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved2 the crown of your head.17 Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way?18 And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?319 Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts. 20 “For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, ‘I will not serve.' Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore.21 Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?22 Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD.23 How can you say, ‘I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals'? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restless young camel running here and there,24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.25 Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.' 26 “As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets,27 who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,' and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.' For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us!'28 But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah. 29 “Why do you contend with me? You have all transgressed against me, declares the LORD.30 In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.31 And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, ‘We are free, we will come no more to you'?32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number. 33 “How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.34 Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things35 you say, ‘I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.' Behold, I will bring you to judgment for saying, ‘I have not sinned.'36 How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.37 From it too you will come away with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them. 3 “If4 a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the LORD.2 Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been ravished? By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers like an Arab in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your vile whoredom.3 Therefore the showers have been withheld, and the spring rain has not come; yet you have the forehead of a whore; you refuse to be ashamed.4 Have you not just now called to me, ‘My father, you are the friend of my youth—5 will he be angry forever, will he be indignant to the end?' Behold, you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could.” Faithless Israel Called to Repentance 6 The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: “Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore? 7 And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,' but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore. 9 Because she took her whoredom lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree. 10 Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the LORD.” 11 And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12 Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever.13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD.14 Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15 “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. 17 At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. 18 In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage. 19 “‘I said, How I would set you among my sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations. And I thought you would call me, My Father, and would not turn from following me.20 Surely, as a treacherous wife leaves her husband, so have you been treacherous to me, O house of Israel, declares the LORD.'” 21 A voice on the bare heights is heard, the weeping and pleading of Israel's sons because they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their God.22 “Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness.” “Behold, we come to you, for you are the LORD our God.23 Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies5 on the mountains. Truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel. 24 “But from our youth the shameful thing has devoured all for which our fathers labored, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 25 Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor cover us. For we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.” Footnotes [1] 2:8 Or rulers [2] 2:16 Hebrew grazed [3] 2:18 Hebrew the River [4] 3:1 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew Saying, “If [5] 3:23 Hebrew commotion (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 104 Psalm 104 (Listen) O Lord My God, You Are Very Great 104 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. 5 He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.7 At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. 10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills;11 they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. 14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth15 and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart. 16 The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.17 In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
We all know someone who seems like they're on nonstop sin patrol. They spend their time looking into everyone else's business seeing if they can spot any kind of inconsistency in a person's walk of faith. Maybe in searching for other people's sin it helps them ignore their own. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us each check ourselves. We'll learn to walk more closely with the Lord, and spend less time worrying about the spiritual scorecards of others. Listen on harvest.org --- Watch JESUS REVOLUTION from home! A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.