Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 10:1 – 8 (KJV)
Psa 10:1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
Psa 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
Psa 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Psa 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Psa 10:5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
Psa 10:6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
Psa 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
Psa 10:8 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.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10 – 17 (KJV)
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 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.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Transforming Power Statements:
1) The Scriptures teach that there are two people groups who occupy the world; the ones who “Believe the Word of God” and the ones who “do not believe the Word of God”; and that every soul is in one group or the other; and that the sin that was introduced by Adam has continued to permeate every member of the human race, and therefore, all of both groups are contaminated with what I shall refer to as the “Imperfection Factor” which is the catalyst for every sinful thing happening in the world, being committed by both groups.
2) The Psalmist reveals the general mindset of the category of the wicked is poised against the poor and takes no consideration of what God says and allows the progression of the “Imperfection Factor” to dictate their actions, attitudes, and outcomes causing their actions to escalate into even more wickedness and hostility against God.
3) The Apostle Paul teaches us how to attain “Mastery Over the Imperfection Factor” by faith in the Word of God, and meditation on the realities of Who God is and what He has done for us through Jesus Christ His Son!