LIES, LAZINESS, AND CORRUPTION
Tuesday – January 24, 2017
Praise the Lord for another day to build His Kingdom, our kingdom. This kingdom is for us, believe me God was doing fine before He created all physical matter and us to inhabit and work according to His mandate (commands) in the physical world. Our Father wanted a family, He wanted fellowship with others in His image and likeness. He wanted others of ‘like kind’ who thought like Him, talked like Him, and acted like Him. Think about the lengths He has gone to get that done. No matter where you or I are on that continuum between just born again and being a spitting image of our Father that is our final or eternal destination.
Ephesians 4:24-28 (KJV)
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
In Ephesians 4:25 we see the admonition to stop lying, bearing false witness. For the Christian it is always sin to lie or bear false witness whether talking to another believer or an unbeliever. On the other hand in Islam it is expected and not a sin to lie to the infidel (unbeliever). The purpose of the lie is to get an advantage over the infidel so as to enslave, tax, or kill him/her (them). So we have an okay to lie and kill in Islam so who would be the father of that doctrine?
John 8:44 (KJV)
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
As we move down to Ephesians 4:28 we find the instruction is quit stealing and go to work, oh, what a word for our time. The person who does not work, especially if they steal for a living are not in a good position to fulfil their obligation to God in caring for the poor, and the stranger (noncitizen).
Leviticus 23:22 (KJV)
22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
This was the method which provided for the poor citizens at large in Israel and the stranger or traveler in Israel that was poor. Notice in the preceding passage and in the one to follow that the government is not involved. These is no role for the government to take from one and give to another, which encourages poverty and laziness and the government becomes their god with power over and to manipulate the recipient (sin of witchcraft). There is no example of this in Scripture and no teaching of Jesus instituting governmental welfare.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (KJV)
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
The idea of self-sufficiency is a God idea. When we choose God as our God and treat Him as our God in full submission to His thoughts, Words, and ways He will ensure our success. Self-sufficiency is a little bit of a misnomer since the sufficiency and the excess is the result of the Blessing of God in our lives but we first have to submit in spirit and in Truth to Him. One can see by simply keeping the context of 2 Thessalonians 3:11 in mind that idleness is really the devils playground, it gives place to the devil. Next we find the admonition to not have corrupt communication.
Ephesians 4:27-32 (KJV)
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
The phrase “corrupt communication” is not heard commonly today but I think we intuitively more or less understand the idea. Rust on a piece of iron is a corruption of that iron and if conditions are allowed to continue that caused the initial rust (corruption) soon the whole piece of iron will be ruined. Sounds like the little leaven story don’t you think? The Amplified translation of the Bible does a really good job with this verse.
Ephesians 4:29 (AMP)
29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.
Corrupt communication or language is an expression of ideas that are not those of God. The Word of God strengthens a person and brings the work of the Holy Spirit (grace) into their lives. On the other hand ‘corrupt communication’ will weaken the hearer and open the door for the devil in their lives.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
