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Volume 9 ... #15
Jesus Testified That the Works of the World Were Evil
John 7:1-6 ... After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for HE would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill HIM. Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. HIS brethren therefore said unto HIM, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that THY disciples also may see the works that THOU doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If THOU do these things, shew THYSELF to the world. For neither did HIS brethren believe in HIM.
Then Jesus said unto them, MY time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 7 The world cannot hate you; but ME it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
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By building the ark, Noah testified the works of the world were evil.
Thus Noah condemned the world by building the ark showing them God would destroy the world because of their evil works.
Heb. 11:7 ... By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
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John the Baptist told Herod it was unlawful for him to "have" Herodias for she was his brother's wife. By this John testified of the evil of Herodias' works and she hated him and managed to have him killed.
Mt. 14:3-12 ... For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
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Before Paul knew Jesus, Paul was so strong in the faith of the Pharisees in following the law of God that he described himself as follows:
Phil. 3:5-6 ... Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But this all changed suddenly ...
Acts 9:1-6 ... And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
And he fell to the earth, and heard A VOICE saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?
And he said, WHO art THOU, Lord?
And the Lord said, I AM Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt THOU have me to do?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
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After this, those who once loved Paul set about to destroy Paul. Paul, like Jesus, was a testimony to the evil of the works of the Pharisees and of the religious people who did not believe in Jesus.
James 4:4 ... Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
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Mt. 10:35-39 ... For I (Jesus, The Word) am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
He that loveth father or mother more than ME is not worthy of ME:and he that loveth son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of ME. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after ME, is not worthy of ME.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for MY sake shall find it.
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I Peter 4:12-16 ... Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when HIS glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part HE is evil spoken of, but on your part HE is glorified.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
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II Tim. 3:12 ... Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
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When we believe God, and go in the way of God, we become a testimony to the evil and those doing evil will hate us. Even without speaking a word, they will hate us because we do not do as they do, therefore they feel unapproved by our way of life.
All who are born again should identify with Jesus, Noah, Paul and all others who have been hated by the world after they were turned to God.
I Cor. 6:9-11 ... Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (homosexuals), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
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I Peter 4 :1-5 ... Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
Who shall give account to HIM that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
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I Peter 2:7-10 ... Unto you therefore which believe HE is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of HIM who hath called you out of darkness into HIS marvellous light:
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
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Therefore we endure in the way of God and rejoice in the way of God though they speak evil of us and accuse us as we go in the way of God.
Commit yourself to God in prayer and HE will sustain you in the time of trouble.
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