STOPPING THE CAREER CRIMINAL

Introduction

Criminal behavior begins early in life. It is usually a manifestation of a child that has been given its way without any restraint. Many children know how to manipulate guilt ridden parents to get their way. They will use tears turned on and off in an instant. They should get an Academy Award, all the while the parents should receive an award for being a dupe. A child that is never given any restraint is a danger to society and social order. Proverbs 20:11 reads, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right." The key is to watch the child’s actions. It will tell you much about the child. Parents do not know their children’s weaknesses and tendencies. This will prove to be a detriment to the child.

Application

To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.

Leviticus 20:9 says, "For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him." The death penalty is to be given to those who have set themselves against the authority of their parents. In our day, this seems harsh and cruel. However, think of the future crimes that could be avoided, if this criminal class were dealt with early. People never stop and consider the victim. The victim always deserves justice. If a young adult will curse or strike his parents, there is no telling what else they might do. God hates rebellion against His authority and thus, the death penalty for this crime.

Paul wrote who deserves to be punished by the law in 1 Timothy 1:9, "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers." Notice that he says the law is designed for the lawless who commit such violent acts against others and especially one’s own parents. Had this individual been dealt with early in life, it could have spared the parent’s life. Instead, they have become victims at the hands of their own child.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 gives us a specific example with regard to the case of law of Leviticus 20:9, "If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear,and fear." Here is a potential criminal who could only get worse stopped early in life before he does something even more heinous. This is a case where the parents disinherit their son. Most parents would not do this. They do not want to see God’s order furthered, but they put their desires above God’s law. Every criminal act that this son commits can be put also on the parent because they refused to obey God concerning their son.

The high priest Eli gives us an example not to emulate in 1 Samuel 3:11-13, "And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not." Eli is representative of modern parents of our day who refuse to restrain their children and because of this they grow up to be irresponsible with the parents constantly bailing their children out of one mess after another. The preacher’s boys were not instructed properly as 1 Samuel 2:12 points out, "Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD." How could the High Priest’s sons be unaware of God? Could it be that the father failed in bringing them up properly by not disciplining them properly? God disinherits these two sons of Eli in 1 Samuel 4:10-11, "And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 11And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain." At least now these two sons could do no more harm.

The book of Proverbs has much child rearing advice. One such verse is Proverbs 13:24, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." The Amplified Bible renders this verse as, "He who spares his rod (of discipline) hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently and punishes him early." Punishment teaches a child restraint and boundaries. This verse proves how many parents actually say they love their children but in actuality hate them by not using the rod of discipline as necessary. The earlier the punishment is inflicted, the quicker the child learns to obey and his behavior improves.

Conclusion

Proverbs 19:18 has this advice, "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying." Discipline your son before he gets to the point of cursing and striking his parents. If you do not do it when they are young, you may live to regret it, as well as a lot of other people. Children will wail and cry and exaggerate so that the parent will stop the punishment. Determine the proper and punishment and follow through.

THE LAW AND CONDITIONAL BLESSING

Introduction

Most people do not believe that obedience is an important ingredient in being a Christian. They do not have a point of reference whereby they determine their actions to a given situation. In other words, they do not have a standard. The Bible preaches obedience from front cover to back cover. This was the message of James 1:22-25, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." Only those who obey God’s law are blessed. Without application of the law of God, our faith is in vain.

Ezekiel had the following to say regarding this issue of obedience in Ezekiel 33:30-33, "Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. 31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 32And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. 33And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them." Unfortunately, this is the condition of much of our modern church. They hear the word and that is all that they do. They will not put it into practice, however. They think somehow that they are exempt if they merely hear it.

Application

To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.

The most important verse in Leviticus 26:3-13 is verse 3, "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them. The marginal rendering of "do" is perform. This means to fulfill them. The "if" of this verse makes the positive sanctions as described in Leviticus 26:4-13, conditional. In other words, the promises do not apply, if there is lack of performance of God’s law. Obedience to all of God’s law is therefore, imperative to say the least.Leviticus 26:4-13 reads, "Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 7And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 9For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. 10And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. 11And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. 12And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. 13I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright." This is point four of the covenant model right out in the open. Based upon obedience to God’s law will produce these positive sanctions. In other words, God blesses everything we do. We do not have to follow after success. It pursues us and overtakes us.

These positive sanctions will makes us healthy and wealthy. It is a misnomer that by following the law of God that we will be in poverty. David said very clearly in Psalm 37:25, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." You will not find the godly forsaken. God always blesses them with an abundance. Malachi 3:7-12 gives us this specific example, "Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts." These promises are physical and material promises. They are the promises of wealth. It is still better to be healthy and wealthy than sick and poor. God intends for His people to prosper both in body and material possessions. Why obey if there is no reward?

Conclusion

Scarcity should not be the norm for the obedient. Abundance is the rule, as Deuteronomy 8:7-9 says, "For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass." The key is obedience to God’s law.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Introduction

The way that the world makes it sound, there is no good reason to serve God. They think that it is nonsense. They serve the government and look to the government to meet their every need. They live by bread alone. They missed what Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Man needs not only physical bread but spiritual nourishment as well. Are there any benefits to serving God? Psalm 103:2-5 answers this question, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s." When one comes to the Lord, he gives up all of his liabilities and debts and receives all the assets of God. This is an unfair exchange in our favor. Let the dead fight over whether or not the Federal Government will give them prescription medicine benefit.

Application

To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.

Exodus 23:25 talks about some benefits we get for serving Him, "And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee." The fourth point of the covenant model is sanctions. By serving the Lord, we receive his blessings. He will provide in abundance all of our needs and heal us of all our sicknesses and diseases. We will be a healthy and prosperous people. It all gets back to obedience unto God’s law. Obedience to point three of the covenant model brings the blessings of point four.

Paul wrote about having enough in bounty to give to others in 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God." God will bless and give us enough so that on every occasion of doing good, we will be able to do so. Because of the bountifulness bestowed upon us,it will cause thanksgiving to be given to God for His faithfulness and outpouring upon His people.

The Lord will always give us an abundant supply of our earthly needs. Scripture is replete with instances of the Lord’s provision. The Sermon on Mount tells us, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." If we seek God, God promises that He will meet every need that we have. This takes away all need for worry on our part. God has to be our first priority.

When the children of Israel had come out of Egypt and the Egyptians had been drowned in the Red Sea, God made a promise to them in Exodus 15:26, "And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." Obedience to God brings physical healing and prevention from getting sick in the first place. This is a definite benefit considering the high price of seeing the doctor and the ever rising cost of medical care. The great thing about God healing us is that it is free. Obedience has its rewards. Deuteronomy 7:15 gives the same promise, "And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee." Instead of us getting diseases and sickness, God will put on those that hate Him and His people. This is another blessing the world cannot give.

The book of Revelation talks symbolically about the gospel’s healing power in Revelation 22:1-2, "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." The sound doctrine of the gospel produces health in all areas of life. Healing deals with wholeness and also so does salvation. The gospel heals not only the spirit but also the physical and mental. It affects the whole person as redemption is comprehensive.

Conclusion

It pays to serve the Lord. It does not pay to serve the devil. God’s benefit package includes eternal life. The devil’s is eternal death. As Joshua said in part in Joshua 24:15, "...choose you this day whom ye will serve.." Check out the benefits package before making your decision.

WHY THE DEATH PENALTY FOR ANIMALS?

Introduction

Most people see things humanistically rather than theocentrically. They do not consider the rightness of God’s law. They are sentimental rather than Biblical in their approach to things. Whether we like it or not, we are going to face death. All physical living things eventually face it. Proverbs 12:10 reads, "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." A godly man takes care of his animals. He makes sure they are fed, watered and have shelter.

The Lord Jesus Christ said this regarding animals in Luke 14:1-5, "And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. 2And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. 3And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? 4And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; 5And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?" Even hypocrites take care of their animals on the Sabbath day.

Application

To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.

Leviticus 20:15-16 says, "And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. 16And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." Here it is plainly stated that the death penalty was to be given for bestiality, both for the human and the animal. This is and homosexuality are extremely grievous sins, as they are so dead set against the natural order of God.

Why would God also demand the death penalty for the animal seeing that it does not have the power to reason? God must have had a good reason else He would not have enjoined the death penalty also for the animal involved in this perversion. The reason in simple. The beast has now been defiled. Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines "defiled" as, "1. To make unclean; to render foul or dirty; in a general sense...4. To pollute; to make ceremonially unclean. 5. To corrupt chastity; to debauch; to violate; to tarnish the purity of character by lewdness. 6. To taint, in a moral sense; to corrupt; to vitiate; to render impure with sin..." The animal has now been rendered an unclean animal. It is tainted, corrupt and debauched. In other words, it now subject to the death penalty.

There was precedence for the death penalty being given to animals in other portions of Scripture. Genesis 9:3-5 in one of those instances, "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. 5And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man." Here God requires an animal being put to death who kills a man. Some life is more valuable than others. Man’s life is a higher life because we were made in the image of God. Animals were not.

"What happens to animals when they die?" is an often asked question. Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 asks this question, "I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" I believe this question is answered here. Animals have temporal life only. They do not possess a soul, as does man. In other words, they cannot make moral decisions. This is in line with Jeremiah 13:23, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." A leopard does what God made them to do. They are already hardwired. Jeremiah 8:7 is similar, "Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD." The animals do what they are intended to do. It is people who rebel against their Maker. Animals are only of this life and nothing more.

Exodus 21:28-32 gives the death penalty to an animal that has killed humans, "If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit. 29But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death. 30If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him. 31Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him. 32If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned." God’s law is a life for a life. The ox killed and he in turn must also be killed.

Conclusion

Something that is unclean and has been defiled is worthless in God’s sight. Acts of sin bring death, even to animals. God is not a respecter of persons or animals. Sin is sin and restitution must be made. This restores God’s order. A defiled animal pollutes the earth.

ABOMINABLE PRACTICES

Introduction

To say that God is only a God of love is to distort God. God is also holy. One attribute is not above another. They all are equal within the Godhead. Romans 7:12 reads, "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." The law is holy because the giver of the law is also holy, just, and good. God is the one that legislates and defines what is sin and what it is not. Man is to obey the commands and precepts of God. Anything else is lawlessness as 1 John 3:4 explains, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." To transgress is to go beyond what was prohibited. In other words, it is to trespass boundaries.

Psalm 5:4-5 describes what God thinks about all such, "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity." It is plain that He hates sinners. What else could a worker of iniquity be? Psalm 7:11 further says, "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day." Obviously this God of love is not too pleased with the wicked. If He was, then the Lord Jesus Christ died in vain.

Application

To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines "abomination" as, "Extreme hatred; detestation..." Leviticus 20:13 reads, "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." This act is an act of defiance against God and His order. God requires the death penalty for the sodomite. If God did not hate them, then why does He require the death penalty for them? Based upon the definition of "abomination," God has extreme hatred towards these wicked perverts.

Romans 1:19-31 says, "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." When one refuses to acknowledge God even though he knows the truth, he heads down a dark path that increases and intensifies in wickedness. In other words, no sin is too degrading.

Romans 1:27 in the Amplified Bible reads, "And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for one another–men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrongdoing and going astray, which was (their) fitting retribution." When sodomites get sexually transmitted diseases, they are receiving what they deserve for their wicked and shameful acts. The sodomite is consumed with lust. He is going to burn himself out trying to prove that there is no God. He is the most consistent sinner. He is out to commit suicide.

Look what happened to Israel during King Rehoboam’s reign in 1 Kings 14:22-24, "And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. 23For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. 24And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel." The children of Israel had now become like the Canaanite. They allowed sodomites in the land. They did not put them to death.

Conclusion

God’s solution to the sodomite is simple, the death penalty by the civil government. This is what Paul affirmed in 1 Timothy 1:9-10, "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." The civil law was instituted to deal with such sinners.