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Friday, May 6, 2016

EVIL HEART - NYOBS 58.10


EVIL HEART
The Bible is clear that we are all sinners and fall short of the mark that has been placed before us.  Ever since our childhood the inclination of our heart is on evil and it’s this evil that is in us that causes us to do evil. – But does that mean we have an evil heart?
Larry

·         In elementary school Larry was very large for his age and his way of life was to shove, punch and hit everyone around him.  He would steal your lunch money, take your food and sit beside you when there was no room, forcing someone else out of their seat.
·         Things did not change in High School; knocking your books out of your hand and picking you up and throwing you into the bushes and in general making himself a bully.
·         Larry’s heart was set on evil all the time. - I had never hated anyone before and often thought how much better the world would be if he did not exist.  - Larry was killed during a robbery in his twenties.  I did not rejoice at his death, but mourned over his perishing soul.


First Word
·         Evil translates to someone who deceives without a conscience; someone who hurts others with no remorse; someone who makes up lies to shatter others’ lives. - We don’t recognize an evil heart because we don’t actually believe that anyone around us is really just plain evil.
·         What is the difference between someone having an evil heart and a person that is just an ordinary run of the mill sinner who just messes up?
·         A Christian does not on purpose cultivate evil desires, nor feel good about them when they occur, but feels guilty and ashamed about them right away.  NYOBS 30.16 - SINLESS
Romans 3:23 – We all have sinned and fall short of the mark
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ESV
Genesis 8:21 - Inclination of the heart is evil from childhood
21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
Romans 7:19-21 – Sin lives in us and causes us to do evil
19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to dothis I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ESV
Rom 7:23 – There is a war going on between my Mind and Body
23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. NIV
Rom 7:25 – Mind serves the law of God – Body serves law of Sin
25 So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. NIV

The Evil Heart
·         From Birth an evil heart does evil, spreading lies, repaying good with evil, hate for love.  It devises mischief and wicked schemes and stirs up conflict for no reason and thinks of ways to sharpen its tongue with the poison of deceit and lies.
·         An Evil Heart takes advantage of the poor and needy with jaws of knives and tongues of swords. It conceives trouble; gives birth to evil and fashions deceit, it wink maliciously with the eye, signals with the feet; motions with the fingersplotting evil with deceit in the heart; stirring up conflict.
·         The evil heart lies awake plotting ways to carry out evil because it has the power to do so and secretly manipulates false witnesses to get the results that they want.  - They withhold information, deny reality and make up stories to avoid their own responsibility.
Psalm 58:3 – From birth the evil heart goes astray spreading lies
3 Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
ESV
Job 15:35 - Births evil; Conceives trouble; Fashion deceit
35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit.” ESV
Psalm 36:1-4 – The evil heart has no fear of God
1 I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is NO FEAR OF GOD before their eyes. 
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. 
The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. 
Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.
ESV
Romans 2:8 – Self-seeking rejecting the truth; following evil
8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ESV
Psalm 109:2-5 – fighting without cause, repaying good with evil
2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit have they opened against me: They have spoken unto me with a lying tongue.
3 They have compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer.
5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. (ASV)
Proverbs 30:14 – Devouring the poor and needy
14 those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind. ESV
Micah 2:1 – Plot evil in their beds; carry it out because they can
1 Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. ESV
Jeremiah 18:18 – Plan attacks with their tongues; will not listen
18 They said, “Come, let’s make plans against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophets. So come, let’s attack him with our tongues and PAY NO ATTENTION to anything he says.” ESV
Proverbs 16:27-28 – Plots evil, stirs up conflict with gossip
27 A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire. 
28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. ESV
Nehemiah 6:8 – Make up stories and spin yarns as they go
8 I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” ESV
Acts 6:11-13 – Secretly manipulates false witnesses
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 
13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
ESV
Jeremiah 23:14 – Strengthens the hands of others to do evil
14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that not one of them turns from their wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.” NIV

Characteristics of an Evil Heart
·         An evil heart withholds mercy and craves evil. – They delight in wrong – There paths are crooked and are devious in their ways – They are slanderers, insolent, arrogant, boastful, and God haters.
·         They find pleasure in wicked schemes and are full of meaningless talk, using their mouth for rebellion and deception; advising deceitfully for their own advantage – Manipulating false witness; using winks and hand gestures to secretly put plans into motion, stirring up conflict.
·         They plot destruction, and invent ways of doing evil. – They pat you on the back and flatter you with kind words with plans for your demise.
Proverbs 21:10 – Crave Evil – Withhold mercy
10 The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.
ESV
Romans 1:30 – Slanderers, insolent, arrogant, boastful, Haters
30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ESV
Proverbs 2:14-15 – Delight in wrong – Paths are crooked; devious
14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil
15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. ESV
Proverbs 10:23 – Find pleasure in Wicked schemes
23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
ESV
Psalms 52:2-3 – Practice deceit; plot destruction, love falsehood
2 You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. 
3 You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. ESV
Titus 1:10 – Full of meaningless talk, rebellion and deception
10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. ESV
Psalms 50:19 – Their mouth used for evil; their tongue for deceit
19 You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. ESV
Psalms 59:7- They spew deceit secretly from their mouths
7 See what they spew from their mouths— the words from their lips are sharp as swords, and they think, “Who can hear us?” ESV
Proverbs 12:5 – They advise deceitfully
5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. ESV
Jeremiah 12:6 – They use kind words, but cannot be trusted
6 Your relatives, members of your own family— even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you. ESV
Proverbs 12:10 - They find pleasure in wicked schemes
10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. ESV
Matthew 26:59 – They present false evidence against you
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.
ESV
Psalm 140:2-3 – Devise mischief, sharpen their poisoned tongues
2 who devise mischiefs in their heart; continually do they gather themselves together for war.
3 They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. Selah
(ASV)
Proverbs 6:13-14 – Maliciously signals, winks, motions & plots
13 who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict. ESV
Proverbs 6:18-19- Devises wicked schemes – Stirs up conflict
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. ESV
Make-Believer
·         There are some who call themselves Believers, but are actually Make-Believers; wolves in sheep’s clothing, full of meaningless talk and deceptions and feel nothing of their actions.   They are full of evil and threats; with troubles and lies buried under their tongue.
·         They take the hard scriptures and distort them to fit their own agenda bringing destruction to the body; going from bad to worse.
·         There is no evidence of their Faith, just smoke and mirrors. – They lay claim to heaven, but are unworthy to even recite God’s laws and commandments; having only a form of Godliness, pretending to be Believers, but perverting the Grace of God.
Rev 2:2 – Some claim to be Christians, but are not
2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ESV
Jude 1:4 – Pretend to be Believers, perverting the grace of God
4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. ESV
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – Evil Hearts masquerade as Believers
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then,
15 if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. ESV
Proverbs 26:23-26 – Disguise themselves with charming speech
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. - Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. 
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven (complete) abominations fill their hearts
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. ESV
2 Timothy 3:2-5 – Having a form of godliness
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy
without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. ESV
Psalm 73:6-9 - Their mouths lay claim to heaven
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression
Their mouths LAY CLAIM TO HEAVEN, and their tongues take possession of the earth. ESV
2 Peter 3:16 – They distort the hard scriptures
16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. ESV
Psalm 50:16-22 – They have no right to recite God’s Laws
16 But to the wicked person, God says: “WHAT RIGHT have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips
17 You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you
18 When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. 
19 You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit
20 You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. 
22 “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: ESV
Titus 1:10 - They spin meaningless talk with deception
10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.
NIV
Romans 16:17-18 – Cause divisions – Put up obstacles
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 
18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. ESV
Psalm 10:7 – Their mouth is full of lies, threats, trouble and evil
7 His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. ESV
Proverbs 26:28 – Have a lying flattering mouth that brings ruin
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. ESV
Acts 6:11-13 - They secretly manipulate; stirring up the people
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 
13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
ESV
Titus 1:16 – The Make-Believer’s actions deny God
16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. ESV
2 Timothy 3:13 – Make-Believers will go from bad to worse
13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ESV

Judging an Evil Heart
·         We are told to not judge others because that is God’s prerogative alone. -  We are instructed to be fruit inspectors; that we will know a good tree by its fruits. – Fruit does not fall very far from the tree   – NYOBS 20.36 - GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
·         You will know them by their fruit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; All of these make up ONE FRUIT. – It’s in the Book –
  • Description of the Believer - An Evil Heart exhibits none of the following characteristics.
1.     They realize that they are in spiritual bankruptcy and need God. - NYOBS 04.02 – BE ATTITUDES
2.     They weep over perishing souls. – They anguish over sin. – They want right to prevail
3.     They have an absence of pretense which suggests self-control, humility, doing their daily work as unto the Lord with gentleness toward all men.
4.     They have an intense desire to be in right standing with God and from the heart to wholly do God’s “will”.  All sin, evil and wrong doing to anyone grieves them.
5.     They are kind; have pity and show mercy to others, whether it’s convenient or not.
6.     They have a pure heart with singleness of purpose with no hidden motives or self-interest; utterly sincere. - (In scripture, seven is the number of completeness.)  
7.     They are Peacemakers; partaking in the nature of God; therefore they have peace with God.  Peacemakers not only keep the peace, but bring men into harmony with each other.
·         The Beatitudes show the characteristics of a man who is saved; they do not show a man how to be saved.  They are not promises, but are a description of who the believer already is.
Matthew 7:1-2 – Do not judge others
1 Judge not, that you be not judged. (ESV)
Matthew 7:16-18 - You will recognize them by their fruits
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  - So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. (ESV)
Isaiah 32:6 – You will know them by their actions
6 For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the LORD; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water. ESV
Galatians 5:22-23 – Fruit of the Spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)
Matthew 5:3-9 – Complete Description of the Believer
3 Blessed are (1) the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are (2) those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are (3) the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are (4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 Blessed are (5) the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 Blessed are (6) the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are (7) the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (ESV)
How an Evil Heart ends

·         This is how it all ends up – An Evil Heart pollutes their own body; they reject authority and heap abuse on everyone around them including the things in and of the spiritual realm. – The Evil Heart has no room for thoughts of God.
·         The evil heart is proud, arrogant and is a mocker and slander of what they do not understand, reacting to things with their basic animal instincts. – They seek to shepherd, but actually only feed themselves – Their promises are like empty clouds without rain and their opinion is like the wind being tossed about with change. 
·         No one who practices deceit will dwell in the house of the Lord.  - No one who speaks falsely will stand in His presence. - Their sacrifices and gifts are detestable and rejected.
·          Because of the sin of Adam, EVERYONE is born traveling down the road to hell; however, God in His mercy has predestined some to be saved from this fate, others He gave FREE WILL to accept the mercy extended by His Son Jesus the Christ. – The Evil Heart becomes trapped by its own actions therefore its Destiney is Hell. – NYOBS 03.30 - PREDESTINATION –- NYOBS 29.28 - PREDESTINATION REVISITED
·         The blackest of darkness has been reserved for them as they follow their own evil desires.  Scripture says they are TWICE DEAD.
·         I hate to end this study by saying there is no hope for an evil heart, because TRULY with man it is impossible to be saved, but Jesus said, WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. The thief on the cross was saved at the very last minute.
·          I truly want to believe in my heart that life is still choice driven even if you have an evil heart, however, narrow is the gate and difficult is the road that leads to life, and unfortunately very FEW FIND IT. – It’s in the book – He is coming soon -

Proverbs 21:24 – An Evil heart mocks and is insolent
24 The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury. ESV
Psalms 10:1-18 – The wicked have no room for thoughts of God
1 Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. 
3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. 
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts THERE IS NO ROOM FOR GOD
5 His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all his enemies. 
6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” 
His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue
8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; 
9 like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. 
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. 
11 He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.” 
12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. 
13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”? 
14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. 
15 Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out. 
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. 
17 You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.
ESV
Jude 1:8-16 – They slander what they do not understand
8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. 
9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 
10 Yet these people SLANDER WHATEVER THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND, and the very things they do understand by instinctas irrational animals do—will destroy them.
11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. 
12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—TWICE DEAD. 
13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom BLACKEST DARKNESS has been reserved forever
16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
ESV
Proverbs 21:27-29 - The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with evil intent! 
28 A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully. 
29 The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.
ESV
Proverbs 12:13 – They become trapped by their own sinful talk
13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.
ESV
Psalm 101:7 – No one who practices deceit will go to heaven
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.
ESV
Matthew 7:13-14 – The gate is narrow and the road difficult
13 Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.
14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
(HCSB)
Matthew 19:25-26 – All things are possible with God
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.”
(ESV)
Luke 23:42-43 – You will be with me in Paradise
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NIV2011)



Through the character of the Believer,
the world can see God
 and glory in Him.

The Believer is the light of the world
It’s in the Book







In the multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14


I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I otherwise ever could have.
                                                                                                                                     
Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias
Apocrypha - Goodspeed
Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White
Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row
Bible Study Tools - Crosswalk
English Standard Version Bible – ESV
Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein
Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale
King James Version Bible – KJV
Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest
Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan
New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney
New International Version Bible - NIV
Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee
Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner
Wikipedia -
Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney



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