Bible Study - GOD'S Own Heart (6) - Honor All Relationships - Exodus 20:15-17; Psalm 37:1-6 - October 11, 2020

 

Bible Study – GOD’S Own Heart (6) – Honor All Relationships – October 11, 2020

This is our sixth and final lesson in our series entitled “After GOD’S own Heart: A fresh Look at the Ten Commandments.”

Our focus scripture is Exodus 20:15-17; Psalm 37:1-6.

Integrity and contentment in CHRIST form the foundation for good relationships.

King David has been an important part of our scripture study. King David was a man after GOD’S own heart, yet he committed grievous sins and tried to cover them up. What did GOD want David and all Spirit-born Christians to learn from David and his fall into adultery, murder and attempting to hide what he had done? What have we learned from this study? Our pastor’s sermon this past Sunday gave the answer loud and clear – GOD’S overwhelming GRACE! Do we, as Christians, extend GOD’S Grace to others who have offended us? GOD gives us, as HIS Children, grace but do we extend “Grace” to others?

Just as we are not perfect and neither are those with whom we interact with each day. Does that mean we do not interact and tell a person who had done something wrong? NO! The scripture is clear as recorded in Galatians 6:1 - 6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit,^[a] watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.

All Christians are subject to stumbling and falling into sin. We have an enemy called Satan who is like a “roaring Lion” seeking to devour us any way he can through the flesh – drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, gossip, stealing, lying, greed and so much more as we read on ----

Let’s read Exodus 20:15-16:

¹⁵ Do not steal.

¹⁶ Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.

The Ten Commandments came to mankind directly from GOD. They are not suggestions but commands for us, as humans, to be in right relationship with GOD and fellow humans. When we are in right relationship with GOD, we are in right relationship with fellow man.

GOD knew that we, as humans, needed help for us to measure up to HIS standard of perfection, therefore HE sent HIS only SON, JESUS, to earth to live 100 % human, yet 100% GOD. JESUS was fully capable of sinning. HE had choices but HE chose to remain sinless. Why? GOD established the penalty; sin equals eternal death. But GOD so loved every human who was, is and will ever be a way for eternal life to be restored.

Yes, humans had eternal life in the Garden of Eden until sin entered earth through Adam and Eve. They ate the forbidden fruit and lost eternal life. GOD is the GOD of second chances and sent HIS only SON, JESUS to earth so that all who place their faith in HIM, eternal life is restored.

JESUS left HIS Home in Glory to come to earth for the express purpose of giving HIS perfect, sinless life as atonement for the sins of all who will place their faith in HIM.

When a person accepts JESUS as his or her Savior a Spiritual miracle takes place in an instant. GOD’S Spirit unites with our human spirit and a Spiritual conception takes place quicker than the twinkling of the eye. The Spiritually conceived person instantly becomes GOD’S Son or Daughter. He or she is Spiritually born and will never be Spiritually unborn. You mean that I can become Spiritually born and live like the devil? You may briefly but you belong to GOD and HE disciplines HIS Children.

Have you ever had a whooping? A whipping is one thing but a whopping is another and GOD can give you a whooping. When we are Spiritually born and do not live as led by the Holy Spirit, we miss out on the rewards GOD has planned for us as recorded in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15: ¹⁰ According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder,^[d] and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[e] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

The Ten Commandments reveal what GOD expects of HIS Children and GOD’S Grace to keep them comes through HIS only SON, JESUS and JESUS is available to every human 24/7.

Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins, believing that HE paid in full, for all of your sins, past, present and future, by the shedding of HIS sinless life/blood upon the cross? If not, why not now?

GOD tells us “Do not steal” or not to take something that does not belong to us, without permission. That covers many applications e.g. when we gossip and ruin a person’s reputation, are we stealing? Are those who work and paid a wage stealing when we goof off?

GOD requires integrity in our actions and our speech, not only in a court of law but in all of our dealings with others. Christians must keep in mind that they represent GOD to others because the Holy Spirit lives within them.

Let’s read Exodus 20:17:

¹⁷ Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The word “covet” carries the idea of an excessive, ungoverned, selfish desire. This is an unhealthy desire for things and possessions.

With a healthy modification, “covet” can mean to desire GOD’S Word and to live according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

In the Ten Commandments, GOD is making it clear HE is against us coveting the wrong things and lists them. Why? GOD’S desire is for HIS Children to trust HIM to provide what we need and to look to HIM with thanksgiving as HE provides. That intimacy builds the right relationship with GOD.

Suppose I sin after placing my faith in JESUS? All Spirit-born Christians sin but they are under GOD’S Grace. As recorded in 1 John 1:7-10: ⁷ If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

There are sins of commission and omission. Ask GOD to examine your life and reveal any wicked way or ways in your life.

Let’s read Psalm 37:1-6:

Instruction in Wisdom of David.

¹ Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.
² For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.

³ Trust in the Lord and do what is good;
dwell in the land and live securely.^[a]
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act,
⁶ making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.

This Psalm was written by David. It is referred to as an “acrostic.” This means that in the original language that every other verse of this poem began with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

In essence, David began his poem saying, when you see bad people being blessed physically and materially, don’t let it get to you because there will be payday someday. You must keep a close eye on your own relationship with GOD and trust HIM to meet your needs.

Those who trust in their own abilities and do not honor GOD will wither like the grass because they are not connected to GOD, WHO is our strength. We who know GOD are to trust HIM to supply all of our needs and protect us. We are to delight in the LORD/YHWH/YAHWEH and HE will give us that which satisfies us to the core of our being (the eyes of our hearts).

To GOD be the Glory as you live for JESUS among a pagan world.

JESUS said it best in Matthew 6:13-16:

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty?^[a] It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

As we live and work in the world where GOD has placed us, we communicate hope to others in a Spiritually lost world.

How do we do that? Copied from page 83 of the Advanced Bible Study, LifeWay, Nashville, TN, Dr. Janice Meier:

-         When we are in right relationship with the LORD, we do not deeply desire the short-lived prosperity and power of wrongdoers.

-         We demonstrate wisdom by relying on GOD rather than depending on anybody or anything else for security.

-         We reveal our trust in the LORD by doing what is right in a culture where evil dominates.

-         When we live in fellowship with the LORD by committing our love to HIM, our desires will be in line with HIS will and purposes.

Blessing!!!