“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
I’ve been doing a study on the Word “wicked” and in my search the above scripture was the first to catch my attention. We always concentrate on the healing of our land, on repentance, and the forgiveness of our sins. Do we ever look at it and realize that God is speaking to His people; called by His name and says we have wicked ways?
Not the world - His people.
Do you think you might have some wicked ways? Does that bother you?
Again, the preachers are warned -
“Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel 3:19 KJV
Preachers preach to the church, not the world. The world is already condemned.
So what does the word wicked mean?
wick·ed
adjective- evil or morally wrong.
synonyms: evil, sinful, immoral,
wrong, morally wrong,
wrongful, bad, iniquitous, corrupt, base, mean, vile;
Hollywood has for the past 50 years dressed up the “wicked!” In the past 20 years they have actually made “wicked” glamorous. They’ve made it funny and even made cartoons for the kiddos. They have desensitized the public so that despicable, monstrous, barbarous, murderous, depraved acts are not shocking. People actually pay money and sit for hours watching films that depict morally wrong, heinous acts that our great grandparents would not even have known about. The evil of today knows no bounds; lawlessness is the norm and the majority in the church are its viewers, whether on TV or film. Oh and we now have it, at our fingertips, on our smart phones.
Does that sound harsh? Most do not see themselves as wicked. But God is the One who sets the standard. It’s His Commandments we are to follow!
“Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.” Psalms 119:155 KJV
In Galatians we learn what is considered “wicked!”
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 KJV
As Followers of Christ, we are to put to death the deeds of the flesh. Which means when we want to do any of those things - we resist and repent of such thoughts! We instead do what The Word says to do! We take every thought captive. “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24 KJV
Okay, so, say we aren’t involved in an adulterous relationship or drunken brawls but if we are watching the like on TV and in movies aren’t we partakers of that sin?
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 KJV
Isn’t that the same thing?
What about sorcery? Witchcraft? It is blatant in almost every children’s program. You could say they are being programmed to accept something God detests. And it has worked!
“God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”
Psalms 7:11 KJV
Praise God for His mercy and His grace! But how long will we get by with partaking of the world?
“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” 2 Peter 3:17 KJV
Have you already been led away and not know it?
If you are indistinguishable from unbelievers, you probably have been, for we are to be a peculiar people; set apart. We are not supposed to look like or act like the world! And we are surely NOT supposed to love the world!
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 KJV
We need to examine our hearts to see where we have missed it!
“And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:24 KJV
If we are indeed are His then we care if what we do is pleasing to Him. We seek Him with our whole hearts and are concerned with His concerns!
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:3-4 KJV
Even Jesus said -
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 KJV
Do we?
If we keep His Commandments then we are living under His blessings. When we don’t - then the curse is on us. You can look around the church and see evidence of the curse everywhere!
“There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.” Isaiah 48:22 KJV
Peace is more than no conflict or torment! It is tangible! I had never known what peace was until I repented of my sins! I was amazed! Still am! And I guard my peace well! If I fall into sin (disobedience or unbelief) and lose it - I quickly ask The Lord to show me where I’ve missed it so I may repent! He is faithful! I quickly find a friend, confess and repent and my peace is restored!
“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” Psalms 10:4
When we continue in our sin and listen to the enemy, “Oh it’s just a little sin! Won’t hurt nothin!” And refuse to repent, we become “the wicked!”
“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.” John 8:44 KJV
Can we be in church and not follow God? Most assuredly!
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Matthew 7:22-23 KJV
It’s a matter of who you choose to serve; God or the devil?
Remember the story of the wheat and the tares?
“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;” Matthew 13:38 KJV
The wicked are the children of the wicked one.
How do you not be wicked? Repent! Turn from your evil ways! Make Jesus your LORD and Savior! That’s why He died! But you say, “I’ve already done that!” Most believe they have, yet their lives were not changed! That’s why they still enjoy the things of this world. When the change has occurred there is no longer an attraction to the things of the world!
Do you need to repent?
Dear LORD Jesus, I confess that You are the Son of God and I submit to You and make You LORD of my life. I confess that I have sinned against You and I repent of my lying, stealing, hatred, deceit, bitterness, adultery, being critical, grumbling, lust, murder, blasphemy, drunkenness, and sexual immorality, anger gossip and slander that went out of my mouth, that exposed that my heart was full of evil. LORD I repent of these sins and any other the Holy Spirit has convicted me of. I plead the blood and the finished work of Calvary over my life. LORD, I choose with my will to forgive those who have hurt me, and please empower me to make restitution to those I have hurt and offended. LORD Jesus, I come to your throne of mercy asking that You wash me with the water of the Word. Clothe me with your goodness and give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to perceive your unsearchable riches. And I submit to a new law, the Law of Love, and of faith in Christ Jesus! Amen!
Even so - MARANATHA
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