God refuses compartmentalized religion (Jeremiah 7:9-11, Malachi 2:13,1 Peter 3:7)

Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!”—only to go right back to all those evils again? Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the Lord, have spoken! Jeremiah 7:9-11

Here is another thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn’t accept them with pleasure. Malachi 2:13

In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7

Big idea: The altar cannot be a place of escape from covenant obligations, it exposes them.

The structural irony in Malachi 2:13: The tears at the altar were real grief but grief over the consequences of sin, not the sin itself. They mourned the closed heaven, not the broken covenant.

The progressive witness

• Prophetic diagnosis (Isaiah 1:15, Jeremiah 7:9-11, Hosea 6:6)
• Wisdom confirmation (Psalm 66:18, Proverbs 21:13)
• Jesus's direct teaching (Matthew 5:23-24, 15:8-9)
• Apostolic application (1 Peter 3:7, Ephesians 5:25-33)
• Positive command structure (1 Corinthians 7:10-11)

The Jeremiah 7 passage adds a dimension the others don't: the presumption of ritual as cover for ongoing sin. "We are delivered, so we can continue" that's not just hypocrisy, it's weaponized religion.

Cain Builds His Name; Seth Brings Repentance to God's Name

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Give your heart to God and let your eyes delight in him (Proverbs 23:26, John 14:6)

A popular verse has been "delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:3,4).

The idea behind this verse and others like it is that, when we truly rejoice or “delight” in the eternal things of God, our desires will begin to parallel His and we will never go unfulfilled. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [the necessities of life] will be given to you as well.” - What does it mean to delight yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4)?

My son, give me your heart
 - Father-son relationship
 - free will gift
 - the heart is the core of motivation, innermost being (Deut 6:5, Proverbs 4:23)
 - Jesus said, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14)

let your eyes delight in my ways (NIV)
 - take delight in following my ways (NLT)
 - let your eyes observe my ways (ESV), keep your eyes fixed on my ways (ISV)
 - gladly follow my example (CEV)
 - let my life be your example (GNT)

Give me your heart my son, and your eyes will keep my ways (Aramaic Bible in Plain English)

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

• Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 119:24)
• My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; (Proverbs 3:1)
• he taught me and said, "Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commandments and you will live. (Proverbs 4:4)

Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD. (Psalm 107:43)

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart… (Psalm 119:2,9-11
https://biblehub.com/proverbs/23-26.htm

Love, Belief and Works are hallmarks of disciples of Jesus (John 13:31-14:14)
Jesus teaches love precedes obedience and the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:15-31)
Remaining in Jesus brings relational consequences with God and people (John 15:1-16:4)
Jesus teaches about the Father's love and Holy Spirit's guidance (John 16:5-33)
Jesus prays for himself, believers and testimony to the world (John 17:1-26)

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Difference between transgression and iniquity

True for believers and non-believers:

Lust begins with a look

Proverbs 27:20 - eyes are never satisfied  

Matt 5:28,29 - looks with lust, adultery in heart, Eye pluck it out

What if you didn't know it was wrong? Leviticus 5:17 “If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity."

Difference between transgressions (outward movement) and iniquity (lust, inward motivation). Both sin. Iniquity starts in the eye, not the heart. Impurity affects your family. Iniquity is passed on to children (Psalm 51:5, Exodus 20:5,34:7)

Isaiah 53:5 wounded for transgression, bruised for our iniquity

Sexual immorality affects your relationship with God

 - Because with it you open yourself up to a family of evil spirits. You lie, you don't believe God...

 - Sneak around, develops an appetite 

 - You learn to have a covered relationship with God, stiff arm the Holy Spirit, conscious is seared

Impurity will affect your future (don't let lust take your life: Proverbs 7:23)

 - Satan would have said to Joseph, nobody is going to know. 

 - Repent don't continue,  James 1;14 (desires/lust drags us away, sin to death), don't be deceived James 1:16

 - Accountability, honesty, day by day

 - How can we repent when we've already been seared, desensitized, and living deep in sin?

Hear God speaking to you (Deut 5:24) commit to putting Him first in your life (Deuteronomy 11:13) put yourself under his care TODAY (Psalm 95:7). Today, if you hear his voice don't harden your hearts (Heb 3:7,15,4:7)

http://www.theblessedlife.com/

iniquity&qs_version=ESV

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"Chuck-it list", 12 things to stop doing before I die

I came across a humor book called the chuck-it list, it's got funny captions for journal pages like, "monuments I'll never visit, road trips I'll never go on, events I'll never compete in" it's meant to inspire like writing a bucket list but with a lot less pressure to follow through on the ideas. I was disappointed because I thought it was brilliant to actively think about attitudes, behaviors and habits that we should strive to "chuck" out of our lives. So I've made my list of 12 things to stop doing before I die. The Bible calls this "putting off the old man"

12. Independence - The is one of life's grand illusions. No matter how much success I experience or what I have above and beyond my needs - I'm not independent from God and people. My goal in life is to live and breath acknowledging God who gives life and can take it away and people he's brings into my life to help me (that I might help them too).

• We all depend on God for life (Job 33:4;10:12;12:10;27:3;32:8; Genesis 2:7; Isaiah 42:5) our life is sustained by God (John 15:5) and our spirit returns to God when we die (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
• We depend on each other by God's design (Romans 12:4-5)

11. Lying - This is a problem for most people have because it seems like an effective coping mechanism for areas that we fall short in. It's even worse for Christians because when we are dishonest in any way we are knowingly sinning against God and he hates it (Proverbs 6:16-19). I need to be truthful to God, myself and others.

• Lying comes from the devil (John 8:44) and exposes what is in our heart (Matthew 15:18-20
• Don't lie to one another, see you've put off the old self and put on the new self - being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (Colossians 3:9-10). 
• Lying never pays off, only hurts myself and others (Luke 8:17, Exodus 20:16)

10. Insensitivity - Insensitivity really shows itself in the lives of people around me. I'm reminded of my kindergarten fish, my good intention of feeding him (with a months worth of food while I went to school) didn't matter. The fish was dead. I need to be sensitive to God, his call and to people around me (loved ones, friends, neighbors and strangers).

9. Brashness -By this I mean arrogance, cockiness, self-assurance, self-confidence to the point of being disrespectful, insolent and rude. I would do well to slow down sometimes and take on modesty leading to civility, courtesy, graciousness and good manners. Being brash is like being the unrighteous "revilers" spoken of in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, I need to chuck it.

8. Nearsightedness - as long as I can remember I've been nearsighted. The good thing is that if I was interested in something I'd have to get closer, but corrective lenses fixed that issue. I like the idea of outliving enemies in that after a while they can come around and be friends. The best way to live is beyond our own lives. I want to think about my legacies, legacy. I want to spend my moments with eternity in mind.

7. Powerlessness - I won't walk by a person in need when I have the ability and means to help and I won't hold back a friendly smile. I will live in the truth of Christ in me and be filled with gracious power of God. I will view problems and opportunities with the attitude of what can I do.

• I can give freely of my time, treasure and talent with peace and blessing of God (Proverbs 11:24; 1 Peter 4:7-11)

6. Greed - By this I mean wearing "golden hand cuffs" that may keep me away from the calling that would better utilize the skills, abilities and desires received from God. Greed can also show itself in holding back parts of my life from God.

• Preoccupation with riches leads to temptations/cravings and strife (1 Timothy 6:9-10; Proverbs 28:25)
• Contentment with God, being heavenly minded is key (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 6:24; )
• Greed is a sin like sexual perversion found in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

5. Lust - This is covetousness, wanting what others have and wanting more of everything for myself (Exodus 20:17; Luke 12:15), "Build a bigger barn for all my stuff" is the wrong way (Luke 12:16-21). Put to death these desires that lead to sin and death (Colossians 3:5; James 1:14; 2 Timothy 3:6). Regarding 2 Timothy 3:1-9, Matthew Henry says, "God is to be loved above all; but a carnal mind, full of enmity against him, prefers any thing before him, especially carnal pleasure...All must be ever learning to know the Lord; but these follow every new notion, yet never seek the truth as it is in Jesus."

• She who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive (1 Timothy 5:6)
• We've all been enslaved by all sorts of desires, yet God in loving-kindness saves us with grace and mercy (Titus 3:3-15)

4. Doubt - The opposite of doubt is faith, meaning trust in the Lord with all my heart and not my own understanding. Chucking doubt will show itself when in all my ways I acknowledge him and turn away from evil (Proverbs 3:5-8). Trusting in the Lord means asking him in faith with no doubting (James 1:6; Matthew 21:21). While I'm chucking doubt, I need to have mercy on those who doubt (Jude 1:22) - serve others as Jesus commanded, in the way he commanded.

3. Guilt - Guilt can take the form of anxiety. The bible says that, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." and There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (1 John 1:9; Romans 8:1). The way to chuck guilt is to confess sin to God, submitting myself to him in fear and true repentance (James 4:7; Psalm 103:11-12). I need to cast my cares onto him knowing that he cares for me (1 Peter 5:7), I need to patient with myself and others believing in God (2 Peter 3:9)

2. Disobedience - Could be the hardest thing of all. I was raised in a "grace" focused church, where it was drilled into me that we don't earn our way into heaven but that faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). I'm enticed by my own desires and lured into sin (James 1:14-15), Jesus said plainly if you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15). We live in times of difficulty and the Bible warned us about this (2 Timothy 3:1-7). I need to listen to Jesus and not my culture and put my action where my heart is. So I'm chucking disobedience and obeying God (Acts 5:29).

1. Blasphemy - There is one unpardonable sin in the whole of the Bible. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:10; Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:29). My friend brought up the meaning of the unpardonable sin. Hebrews 10:29 that says, "How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?" This shows itself when we hear the word of the Lord and are convicted - yet refuse to receive the gift of salvation. This is the reason that at the end of time those not listed in the book of life will be throne into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1-11,12-15), they worship the beast who blasphemies God (Revelation 13:1-18). Definitely on the "chuck it" list.

Putting Off The Old Man
Job 33:4
31 Bible Verses about Dependence
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Lying, Greed, Covetousness, Lust (2 timothy 3:6) Commentary, Doubt,Commandments of Jesus, Guilt, Disobedience, Blasphemy
brashness

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