2 Chronicles 6 (KJV)

1 Then said Solomon, The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
2 But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.

7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.
8 But the Lord said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:

14 And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:

18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

29 Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:
30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
31 That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

32 Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;
33 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.

36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
37 Yet if they bethink (think on reflection; come to think.) themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss (inappropriate, not quite right; inappropriate or out of place.), and have dealt wickedly;

38 If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:
39 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.

Numbers 14 (KJV)

18 The Lord is longsuffering (patient), and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity (wickedness) and transgression (offenses), and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity (wickedness) of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Sarcasm, what it means really. Also, what the Bible says about it.

Sarcasm is the use of sharp, cutting remarks or language intended to mock, wound, or subject to contempt or ridicule.

When I look at it using a thesaurus this is what I get:

acrimony, aspersion, banter, bitterness, burlesque, censure, comeback, contempt, criticism, cut*, cynicism, derision, dig*, disparagement, invective, irony, mockery, put-down*, raillery, rancor, ridicule, satire, scorn, sneering, wisecrack, causticness, corrosiveness, flouting, lampooning, mordancy, scoffing, sharpness, superciliousness







Psalm 52 (KJV)

2 The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

4 Thou lovest all devouring (destroying, annihilating) words, O thou deceitful tongue.

BITTERNESS

Ephesians 4 (New International Version)

Ephesians 4

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 

32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


James 3

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 
11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 
12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 
18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.



MOCKERY

Galatians 6
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 
8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Didn't know this, but it comes from the ancient Greek σαρκάζω (sarkazo) meaning 'to tear flesh' but the ancient Greek word for the rhetorical concept of taunting was instead χλευασμός (chleyasmόs). Sarcasm appears several times in the Old Testament

Hey many times I have used this word myself. Thinking it would clean up a comment that was not received so well. Although I and many may proclaim it was just used in a form of wit, I beg to differ.

If you look at the meaning of Sarcasm, we do use it for what we meant. Have no problem admitting that I myself was thinking just as it was defined.

Don't like that about myself. This past week Michael Jackson died. Was appalled at the remarks and comments that was made about his life. Some by people that I know practice Christianity. Comments like "people die everyday, what's the big deal", "i was just being sarcastic about the comments I made about Michael Jackson, can't you take a joke." Basically, "what is all the hoopla about?"

Of course I ran to defend him. Not as him being an entertainer, but a human being. Who would want those kind of remarks made about them after they pass. Or about their loved ones. It was cruel and insensitive.

Sarcasm will always be used, but please reconsider using it. What are your intentions? We are suppose to build each other up. Doesn't mean we can't joke with each other...just what are your intentions?


Imitating Christ's Humility

Philippians 2

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 
2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 
3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 
4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Remember Cain's response "Am I my brother's keeper?" Genesis 4

So what should we practice? civility, courtesy, diplomacy, flattery, kindness, politeness, sweetness, commendation, praise

PRAISE AND KINDNESS

Galatians 5
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 
24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 
26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Rules for Holy Living

Colossians 3
8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 
9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 
10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 
13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 
14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 
17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

2 Peter 1

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 
7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 
8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 
11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


Philippians 4

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Christians sin too, why do some believe they do not sin

1 John 1
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

James 5
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent (having or displaying a passionate intensity.) prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Matthew 5
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.  

Romans 3 
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 
10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  
22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  
23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  
24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  
25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission (exemption) of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

Romans 4
18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  
19For as by one man's disobedience (Adam) many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.  
20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded (exist in large numbers or amounts.) , grace did much more abound (exist in large numbers or amounts.) :  

21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.