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P.O. Box 416, Gravette, AR 72736

501-787-6026
Newsletter #264 - October 2000
Dr. Arnold Murray,DRE @2000 SCN

[I Greediness I)
Greed has nothing to do with prosperity and success Corinthians. There was some incest going on, and Paul was
as long as you earn your income honestly. All too often, letting the people know that it was wrong.
people that are successful by honest means are labeled
as being greedy. In the Bible, greediness describes a I Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that
ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even
person that gains prosperity and success by dishonest Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: !l Therefore let us
means. The Greek word from which our English word keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven
greed originates means fraud and extortion. Greed can of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread
also mean covetousness. In other words, a greedy person of sincerity and truth.
is someone that wants what a successful person has and
lS'wlllmgr6~a6 wnat eVer if takes togerlr, even ift! -~'~-Wheft yott- 9ttffiy-Fatfter!s Word, put off the old--man
is by dishonest means. Let's begin our study in Ephesians. as much as possible. Put off the traditions of men, and
concentrate and focus on the Word. Many people have the
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more chi!­ traditions of men so engrained in their minds that those
dren tossed to and fro, and carried about with every traditions become biblical to them. They would sware their
wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning traditions are in the Bible. In a spiritual sense, those that
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; try to pass their traditions off as some new religion are
There are people in every profession that will take greedy. Their lies are fraudulent. They rob many of God's
advantage of you. Unfortunately, this includes some that children of truth and drive them away from His Word.
claim to be ministers. You must be wise enough to know I Corinthians 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to
when someone is ripping you off. company with fornicators: 1Q Yet not altogether with .the
fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortlOn­
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, maYers, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of
grow up into Him in all things, Which is th~ Hf!a. d, even the world.
Christ: 16 From Whom the whole body fItly Jomed to­
gether and compacted by that wh~ch e.very joint supp/ieth, Don't associate or socialize with these types. We are
according to the effectual workmg m the measu~e. of
every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edlfymg here to shine a light of truth on them to try to correct
of itself in love. them, but don't allow their ways to influence you.

Every member of the body has the responsibility of
supplvin" the body with whatever gifts God has given
them.- F~r example, some have the gift of unwavering
faith, and that faith is an example to other members.
Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the
Lord, that ye henceforth walk not a? other Gentiles we/k,
in the-·vanity.4 theif mind, Jk. Havmg the rmckm;tandmg
darkened, being alienated from the life of God ~hrough
the ignorance that is in them, because of the blmdness
of their heart:
Those that follow their own heart, that is to say
mind, are not helping the fitly joined body of Jesus
Christ. The ignorance of men's minds is what causes the
traditions of men to make God's Word void. God's Word
is what tells us how to live the life of God and be
blessed.
Ephesians 4:19 Who being past feeling have given
themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work 13/1 un­
cleanness with greediness.
I Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not
to keep company, if any man that is called a b~other be
a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a rader, or a
drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to
eat.
We have an old saying in our area that is appropriate
here. The saying is, "Don't lie down with the dogs, or you
-afe-~~g6Trfg~w-get-up .wtt11~ fIeas":~~-- ~- ... ~~ . . . .- -.­
I Corinthians 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them
also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are
within?
If you exercise Christian discipline, you don't have to
judge. You know God is the Judge; ho~vever.' you can
discern. You should know when someone IS trymg to pull
the wool over your eyes. Don't let them! On a spiritual
level, you must be able to discern a wolf in sheep's
clothing. For Satan himself will soon be trying to hoodwink
you, when he appears here on earth as antichrist.
I C(',.;.-.fhi ... ,.,S 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth.

Again, greediness correctly translated means to want
something that legally and rightfully belongs to someone
else. Beware of them. They will rip you off, if you allow
them to do so. Utilize your knowledge of God's Word
to discern between those that are honest and those that
are filled with greed. Let's continue in the Book of I
Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked
person.
The wicked person Paul is referring to is the one that
was committing incest. Stay ~ away from these types. Let's
continue our study concerning greed and covetousness in
Mark. We will pick it up with Jesus just having told the
Pharisees and scribes that they void the law of Moses
concerning honouring your father and mother by saying
that as long as it is Corban (a gift to the church) that
it is alright. Some television preachers I have heard would
fit right in with the Pharisees and scribes.
Mark 7:14 And when He had called all the people unto
Him, He said unto them, "Hearken unto Me every one
of you, and understand: 1.9. There is nothing from without
a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the
things which come out of him, those are they that defile
the man. 1§. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."
Many believe that this Scripture has to do with food.
I want you to focus on the fact that Jesus is teaching
us that what comes into our minds by hearing isn't what
defiles us, it is what comes out of your mind through
your mouth. You know truth when you hear it, and that
which isn't truth is culled out and doesn't defile you.
Mark 7:17 And when He was entered into the house
from~ people, His disciples asked Him concerning
this parable. 1§. And He saith unto them, "Are ye so
without understanaing also? 00 ye not perceive, that
whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it
cannot defile him;
They could tattoo "666" from your head to your feet,
and it would not change your feelings or mind about
Christ. This is important. I hope you understand.
Mark 7: 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into
the belly, and goeth out into the draught," purging all
meats?
You don't allow lies and untruths to enter your mind.
If you do, your very beliefs can be altered.
Mark 7:20 And He said, "That which cometh out of the
man, that defileth the man. £.1 For from within, out of
the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fomications,
murders, ll. Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit,
lasciviousness, an evil eye, blashemy, pride, foolishness:
Out of the minds of men comes all of this evil.
Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and
defile the man."
I think it is important for you to think on that a
moment. Evil does not originate from God. Preachers that
teach only the traditions of men are ripping God's chil­
dren off. The bad part is that it isn't only money we are
talking about here. They are ripping off souls, and God
doesn't like it one bit. If you are a teacher, teach God's
Word, not that which comes out of your mind. If you
aren't a teacher, Iisten and discern. If what is being
taught doesn't align with God's Word, pass it into the
draught. That is where it belongs. Don't allow people to
misuse you. Stay away from covetolls and greedy people.
Let's turn to the Book of II Corinthians.
" Corinthians 2:9 For to this end also did I write, that
I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient
in all things.
Paul was testing them. He didn't want to have to
correct them when he went to be with them.
" Corinthians 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I
forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave
it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
In the service of Christ, Paul could forgive. Accord­
ing to Christ's teaching we are supposed to forgive;
however, forgiving doesn't mean forgetting. It would be
foolish and against the law of survival to forget about
someone hurting you. Once someone has proven them­
selves untrustworthy, it takes time to earn that trust
again. Don't miss the important point Paul is about to
make.
" Corinthians 2: 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage
of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
The word "advantage" in this verse comes from the
same Greek word that the word "greediness" is derived.
Satan is the heighth of covetousness and greed. He
wants to take advantage of you. Satan wants to take
your mind and soul, especially if you are one of the
elect. Don't let him! Let's close this lecture in II Peter.
Our subject will be false teachers.
" Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among
the people, even as there shall be false teachers among
you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord That bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction.
I would not want to be in the shoes of those false
teachers on judgement day.
" Peter 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways;
by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil
spoken of.
If you teach God's Word Chapter by Chapter, and
verse by verse on television today, you will be spoken
of evilly. It will be lies, because God's Word is truth.
" Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with
feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judg­
ment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation
slumbereth not.
False teachers will sell your soul right into Satan's
camp, if you let them. They will be judged accordingly.
" Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that
sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them
into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
We are talking about the falIen angels here (Jude
1:6).
" Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved
Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness,
bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Noah wasn't a false teacher of covetousness and
greed. He taught that which was right. There is another
flood that has begun even now, but we haven't seen
anything yet. That is the flood of Satan's lies. You had
better be ready. He will be very convincing. Know the
overall plan of God, and stick with His plan. Don't allow
false teachers to sell your soul to Satan's greediness.
In His Service.