Who are BULLIES?

 

Ephesians 6:12

King James Version

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, 

but against principalities, 

against powers, 

against the rulers of the darkness of this world, 

against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Who are bullies?

What is bullying?

What makes a person a bully?

What makes a government a bully?

What makes a nation a bully?

Let's find out, through SPIRIT, and Scripture.

Nothing like the WORD of GOD to define "bullies":

Leviticus 19:14

King James Version

14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, 

nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, 

but shalt fear thy God: 

I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:15

King James Version

15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: 

thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, 

nor honor the person of the mighty: 

but in righteousness 

shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Leviticus 19:17

King James Version

17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: 

thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, 

and not suffer sin upon him.

Psalm 10:2

King James Version

2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: 

let them be taken in the devices 

that they have imagined.

Psalm 10:4

King James Version

4 The wicked, 

through the pride of his countenance, 

will not seek after God: 

God is not in all his thoughts.

Psalm 10:5

King James Version

5 His ways are always grievous; 

thy judgments are far above out of his sight: 

as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

Psalm 10:7

King James Version

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: 

under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

Psalm 10:8

King James Version

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: 

in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: 

his eyes are privily set against the poor.

Psalm 10:9

King James Version

9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: 

he lieth in wait to catch the poor: 

he doth catch the poor, 

when he draweth him into his net.

Psalm 10:10

King James Version

10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, 

that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

Psalm 10:11

King James Version

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: 

he hideth his face; he will never see it.

Proverbs 6:16-19

King James Version

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: 

yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, 

and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, 

feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, 

and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Isaiah 59:3-8

King James Version

3 For your hands are defiled with blood, 

and your fingers with iniquity; 

your lips have spoken lies, 

your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: 

they trust in vanity, and speak lies; 

they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

5 They hatch cockatrice' eggs, 

and weave the spider's web: 

he that eateth of their eggs dieth, 

and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

6 Their webs shall not become garments, 

neither shall they cover themselves with their works: 

their works are works of iniquity, 

and the act of violence is in their hands.

7 Their feet run to evil, 

and they make haste to shed innocent blood: 

their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; 

wasting and destruction are in their paths.

8 The way of peace they know not; 

and there is no judgment in their goings: 

they have made them crooked paths: 

whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

Matthew 5:11-12

King James Version

11 Blessed are ye, 

when men shall revile you, 

and persecute you, 

and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, 

for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: 

for great is your reward in heaven: 

for so persecuted they the prophets 

which were before you.

Matthew 15:11

King James Version

11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; 

but that which cometh out of the mouth, 

this defileth a man.

Matthew 15:16-20

King James Version

16 And Jesus said, 

Are ye also yet without understanding?

17 Do not ye yet understand, 

that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth 

goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth 

come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, 

murders, adulteries, fornications, 

thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man: 

but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

John 8:44-45

King James Version

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.

45 And because I tell you the truth, 

ye believe me not.

Romans 14:13

King James Version

13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: 

but judge this rather, 

that no man put a stumblingblock 

or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Ephesians 4:29

King James Version

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.

1 John 2:9

King James Version

9 He that saith he is in the light, 

and hateth his brother, 

is in darkness even until now.

1 John 3:15

King James Version

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: 

and ye know that no murderer 

hath eternal life abiding in him.

If we've been victimized by bullies, now we know who, and what they are.

If we were not aware we, too, have been bullies, well, now we know.

What happens to bullies?

That's for another post.

Related material:

WATCHING our words

Gobrecomm

Many Ways To Be Kind

BORN AGAIN articles

Sin AWARENESS

Image: Clipart Library

What is JUSTICE?

 

Isaiah 26:7

King James Version

7 The way of the just is uprightness: 

thou, most upright, 

dost weigh the path of the just.

What is just?

What is justice?

Is the world just?

Are our authorities just?

Are nations just?

What is the symbol of justice in the world?

Is it not what they call "Lady justice"?

Do people know her origins?

Does she not spring from two goddesses:

"Themis" -- Greek goddess of "divine law and order"

"Justitia" -- Roman goddess of the "virtue of justice"

I can now see why the world is in chaos.

Many honor gods.

If there's one chaotic profession, it would be law.

In my country, bickering is common among lawyers, and politicians.

When law students graduate, there's great pride.

As they take their bar exams, they act "fragile" and "entitled".

Making sure there are security measures to "protect" them.

These are our future lawmakers?

As if they're already VIPS, far transcending other examinees in other fields.

And not just in my country.

Talking about timing.

As if to support my observation, check what's happening to an ivy league law school in the U.S.

Is that representative of how they shall conduct themselves in the future?

How, then, can they judge righteously?

They honor female gods.

They honor themselves.

They honor anyone, BUT GOD.

Really think upon it.

What does "justice" mean?

Merriam-Webster defines it as:

"the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments"

I like that word, "impartial".

But is man impartial?

Are our thoughts unclouded?

Are we free of "vested interests"?

Are we free from a love of money or power?

As born again, I only turn to GOD's WORD.

What does the Bible say about justice?

What is required of a true believer?

This ought to end ALL debate:

Micah 6:8

King James Version

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, 

what is good; 

and what doth the Lord require of thee, 

but to do justly, 

and to love mercy, 

and to walk humbly with thy God?

One such rightful judge was king Solomon.

Endowed by GOD with wisdom, and wealth, he ruled well.

He only became corrupted when he honored his wives' gods.

More than he honored GOD.

That was his downfall.

Thus, the grave consequences, from which Israel reeled.

One example of his judging righteously can be found here:

"The TWO women"

Strange, "TWO women" again.

Two female gods.

Two women to be judged.

SPIRIT makes me pay attention.

To every detail that matters.

Which, for many, don't matter at all.

But all I care is what SPIRIT calls my attention to.

In the midst of writing an article, more "treasures" are revealed.

That's how we get to create all those blogs, and books.

I must explore it, thresh it out, ponder upon it.

For there's much to share with you.

What does it take to be a good judge?

What does it take to do justice?

What is acceptable in the eyes of GOD?

We shall explore more verses in another post.

For now, know this:

Proverbs 21:3

King James Version

3 To do justice and judgment 

is more acceptable to the Lord 

than sacrifice.

Jeremiah 17:10

King James Version

10 I the Lord search the heart, 

I try the reins, 

even to give every man according to his ways, 

and according to the fruit of his doings.

Galatians 6:7

King James Version

7 Be not deceived; 

God is not mocked: 

for whatsoever a man soweth, 

that shall he also reap.

Know who you serve.

By checking your work's FOUNDATION.

We all need an eye-opener.

Which SPIRIT and Scripture give us.

It's time to SERVE the LORD.

Related material:

FEAR the LORD verses

The MAGNIFICENCE and MAJESTY of GOD

BORN AGAIN classics

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Sin of NUMBERING

 

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

King James Version

1 The words of the Preacher, 

the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, 

vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

The world is in great sin.

This sin of pride, and vanity.

Wanting to know how many likers, followers, members.

This addiction to fans, and fame.

As if strength comes in numbers.

King David became susceptible to that, too.

Causing great wrath to come upon him, and Israel.

Here's the story:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

21 And Satan* stood up against Israel, 

and provoked David to number Israel.

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, 

Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; 

and bring the number of them to me, 

that I may know it.

The captain of hosts reaction:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

3 And Joab answered, 

The Lord make his people an hundred times 

so many more as they be: 

but, my lord the king, 

are they not all my lord's servants? 

why then doth my lord require this thing? 

why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

But David's word prevailed:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed 

against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, 

and went throughout all Israel, 

and came to Jerusalem.

The number given:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

5 And Joab gave the sum 

of the number of the people unto David. 

And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand 

and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: 

and Judah was four hundred threescore 

and ten thousand men that drew sword.

For Israel, that's 1,570,000 men fit for "military service".

For Judah, it's 470,000.

That must have pleased the king.

Still, Joab was not about to defy the LORD GOD:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: 

for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

GOD's reaction to David?

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

7 And God was displeased with this thing; 

therefore he smote Israel.

David realizes his error.

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

8 And David said unto God, 

I have sinned greatly, 

because I have done this thing: 

but now, I beseech thee, 

do away the iniquity of thy servant; 

for I have done very foolishly.

GOD's response:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

9 And the Lord spake unto Gad, 

David's seer, saying,

10 Go and tell David, saying, 

Thus saith the Lord, 

I offer thee three things: 

choose thee one of them, 

that I may do it unto thee.

The punishment:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, 

Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee

12 Either three years' famine; 

or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, 

while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; 

or else three days the sword of the Lord, 

even the pestilence, in the land, 

and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout 

all the coasts of Israel. 

Now therefore advise thyself what word 

I shall bring again to him that sent me.

What would you have chosen?

David's choice:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

13 And David said unto Gad, 

I am in a great strait: 

let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; 

for very great are his mercies: 

but let me not fall into the hand of man.

The results:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

14 So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: 

and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: 

and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, 

and he repented him of the evil, 

and said to the angel that destroyed, 

It is enough, 

stay now thine hand. 

And the angel of the Lord stood by 

the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

David repents:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

16 And David lifted up his eyes, 

and saw the angel of the Lord stand 

between the earth and the heaven, 

having a drawn sword in his hand 

stretched out over Jerusalem. 

Then David and the elders of Israel, 

who were clothed in sackcloth, 

fell upon their faces.

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

17 And David said unto God, 

Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? 

even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; 

but as for these sheep, what have they done? 

let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, 

and on my father's house; 

but not on thy people, 

that they should be plagued.

The angel speaks to the prophet:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

18 Then the angel of the Lord 

commanded Gad to say to David, 

that David should go up, 

and set up an altar unto the Lord 

in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, 

which he spake in the name of the Lord.

The angel must have looked frightening, and yet magnificent:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; 

and his four sons with him hid themselves. 

Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

David makes arrangements with Ornan:

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

21 And as David came to Ornan, 

Ornan looked and saw David, 

and went out of the threshingfloor, 

and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

22 Then David said to Ornan, 

Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, 

that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord: 

thou shalt grant it me for the full price: 

that the plague may be stayed from the people.

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

23 And Ornan said unto David, 

Take it to thee, and let my lord the king 

do that which is good in his eyes: 

lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, 

and the threshing instruments for wood, 

and the wheat for the meat offering; 

I give it all.

24 And king David said to Ornan, 

Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: 

for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, 

nor offer burnt offerings without cost.

25 So David gave to Ornan for the place 

six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

David builds an altar.

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

26 And David built there an altar unto the Lord, 

and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, 

and called upon the Lord; 

and he answered him from heaven 

by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

Peace reigns.

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

27 And the Lord commanded the angel; 

and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

1 Chronicles 21:1-30

King James Version

28 At that time when David saw 

that the Lord had answered him 

in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, 

then he sacrificed there.

29 For the tabernacle of the Lord, 

which Moses made in the wilderness, 

and the altar of the burnt offering, 

were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.

30 But David could not go before it to enquire of God: 

for he was afraid 

because of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

Many have no idea GOD's POWER.

But look what He can have ONE of His angels do:

2 Kings 19:35

King James Version

35 And it came to pass that night, 

that the angel of the Lord went out, 

and smote in the camp of the Assyrians 

an hundred fourscore and five thousand: 

and when they arose early in the morning, 

behold, they were all dead corpses.

That's 185,000 that perished in a night.

And that's from only ONE angel the LORD commands.

GOD is no respecter of persons.

He takes no favorites.

King, or commoner, we're all subject to GOD's laws.

May we refrain from this sin of pride, and vanity.

Especially of numbering.

The only thing JESUS cares to number are these:

Luke 12:7

King James Version

7 But even the very hairs of your head 

are all numbered. 

Fear not therefore: 

ye are of more value 

than many sparrows.

Luke 15:3-7

King James Version

3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, 

if he lose one of them, 

doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, 

and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 And when he hath found it, 

he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he cometh home, 

he calleth together his friends and neighbours, 

saying unto them, 

Rejoice with me; 

for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7 I say unto you, 

that likewise joy shall be in heaven 

over one sinner that repenteth, 

more than over ninety and nine just persons, 

which need no repentance.

Apart from that?

It's all vanity.

*NOTE:

The "Chronicles" book cited here says it was Satan who "provoked" David to number Israel.

The "Samuel" book says the LORD "moved" David to do so.

2 Samuel 24:1

King James Version

24 And again the anger of the Lord 

was kindled against Israel, 

and he moved David against them to say, 

Go, number Israel and Judah.

Which one do we follow?

That's the beauty of the Bible for a born again.

SPIRIT invites us to look deeper.

Which we already have an idea of.

But it will have to be for a future post.

Related material: 

On ANGELS

Sin AWARENESS

GOD's WRATH

GOD's numbers

Image: Clipart Library

VALLEY of DECISION

 

Joel 3:14

King James Version

14 Multitudes, 

multitudes in the valley of decision: 

for the day of the Lord is near 

in the valley of decision.

Agonizing over decisions?

What would a true born again do?

He doesn't agonize over decisions.

He's made that 180-degree turn.

There is no vacillating over decisions.

SPIRIT and SCRIPTURE have made it pretty clear for us:

GOD, or man?

Colossians 3:23

King James Version

23 And whatsoever ye do, 

do it heartily, 

as to the Lord, 

and not unto men;

GOD, or strange gods?

Psalm 115:3-8

King James Version

3 But our God is in the heavens: 

he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

4 Their idols are silver and gold, 

the work of men's hands.

5 They have mouths, but they speak not: 

eyes have they, but they see not:

6 They have ears, but they hear not: 

noses have they, but they smell not:

7 They have hands, but they handle not: 

feet have they, but they walk not: 

neither speak they through their throat.

8 They that make them are like unto them; 

so is every one that trusteth in them.

GOD, or mammon?

Matthew 6:24

King James Version

24 No man can serve two masters: 

for either he will hate the one, and love the other; 

or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. 

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

GOD, or the world?

Luke 16:15

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; 

but God knoweth your hearts: 

for that which is highly esteemed among men 

is abomination in the sight of God.

JESUS, or the devil?

1 John 3:8

King James Version

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; 

for the devil sinneth from the beginning. 

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 

that he might destroy the works of the devil.

SPIRIT, or flesh?

Galatians 5:16

King James Version

16 This I say then, 

Walk in the Spirit, 

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

ETERNAL LIFE, or sin?

Romans 6:23

King James Version

23 For the wages of sin is death; 

but the gift of God is eternal life 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

FULL DEVOTION to GOD, or neutral?

Revelation 3:15-16

King James Version

15 I know thy works, 

that thou art neither cold nor hot: 

I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, 

and neither cold nor hot, 

I will spue thee out of my mouth.

LOVE, or hate?

Matthew 5:43-48

King James Version

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, 

Thou shalt love thy neighbour, 

and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, 

Love your enemies, 

bless them that curse you, 

do good to them that hate you, 

and pray for them 

which despitefully use you, 

and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father 

which is in heaven: 

for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil 

and on the good, 

and sendeth rain on the just 

and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, 

what reward have ye? 

do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, 

what do ye more than others? 

do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, 

even as your Father which is in heaven 

is perfect.

STRAIT GATE, or wide gate?

Matthew 7:13-14

King James Version

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: 

for wide is the gate, 

and broad is the way, 

that leadeth to destruction, 

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, 

and narrow is the way, 

which leadeth unto life, 

and few there be that find it.

LIFE and GOOD, or death and evil?

Deuteronomy 30:15-19

King James Version

15 See, 

I have set before thee this day life and good, 

and death and evil;

16 In that I command thee this day 

to love the Lord thy God, 

to walk in his ways, 

and to keep his commandments 

and his statutes and his judgments, 

that thou mayest live and multiply: 

and the Lord thy God shall bless thee 

in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17 But if thine heart turn away, 

so that thou wilt not hear, 

but shalt be drawn away, 

and worship other gods, 

and serve them;

18 I denounce unto you this day, 

that ye shall surely perish, 

and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, 

whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, 

that I have set before you life and death, 

blessing and cursing: 

therefore choose life, 

that both thou and thy seed may live:

GRACE through FAITH, or works?

Ephesians 2:8-9

King James Version

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; 

and that not of yourselves: 

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, 

lest any man should boast.

Related posts:

The HOLY SPIRIT

BORN AGAIN classics

Sin AWARENESS

Man's QUESTIONS

It's all PREPARATION now

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