Loving God in Reverse: Devising Wicked Plans

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for being faithful over these last few weeks. Thanks for all your encouraging cards. It is really a great honor to serve with you.

This week I will deal with an area that is always lurking under the surface in every area of life. Scheming, cheating conspiring to do evil.  This always begins in the heart. Thankfully not everyone carries out the evil plans they consider, but enough do to bring great harm.  The devil is a schemer and the wickedness of this world is often organized around his pattern.

Eph 6:11-12 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

God hates evil scheming. If we are going to be kingdom people we must follow Godly plans and approaches.

Eph 4:14-15 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

This Sunday we will learn about how we tend to make evil plans and how to avoid this tendency.  I will show you ways to turn from evil and plan to do well.  So plan to come!

I can’t wait to see you,

Joe

 


Preparing for Sunday.

Plan to invite someone this Sunday.

Please prayerfully read the scriptures and consider the following Questions.

Pro 6:16-19 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:  Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers

  • HOW CAN ENVY OF THE WICKED LEAD TO EVIL PLANS? PLEASE SHARE AN EXPERIENCE OR EXAMPLE.

    Pro 24:1 – Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them;  Pro 24:2 – For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. Pro 3:31 – Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.

  • WHAT IS MANIPULATION AND WHY DO WE DO IT? Give an example.
  • HOW DID MARTHA TRY TO MANIPULATE JESUS?

    Luk 10:40 – But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

  • WHAT PART DOES MANIPULATION PLAY IN EVIL PLANS?
  • HOW COMMON HAS THE PRESENCE OF CHEATING IN YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE?

    1Th 5:22-Avoid every kind of evil.

  • HOW CAN PLANNING TO DO GOOD GUARD YOUR HEART AGAINST EVIL PLANS?

    1 Pe 3:10 -For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.  1 Pe 3:11 -He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.  1 Pe 3:12 – For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

  • HOW CAN REMEMBERING THAT GOD SEE’S IT ALL TURN YOU FROM EVIL?

    Heb 4:12 -For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb 4:13 – And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

    Psa 36:4 – He plans wickedness upon his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil

About Joe Martin

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