Unveiling the Menace: The Lethal Power of Poison in Literature and Life

1. Poison's That Kill

2. Poison is mentioned in the Bible • Deut 32:24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. • Job 20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.

3. Acts 28:1-3 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

4. Acts 28:4-6 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

5. There were also poisonous plants • Hos 10:4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

6. Even in prophet’s food … 2 Kings 4:39-40 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.40 So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. Meal / twenty loaves of barley and corn ears for 100 men

7. But this was not the most dangerous of poisons It was in another form !

8. The words from evil people • Ps 140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. • Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

9. How they use them to harm • Matt 15:19-20 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: • The heart pumps out many images from the heart of man which cause him and others great harm

10. A Question : Ask the Psychologist • I have horrible evil thoughts about people I love. They are so bad, and I get so upset that I sometimes end up crying or hitting myself in the head with frustration. I’m 18, and I’m not depressed, but I find the thoughts are at times unbearably upsetting. Please help me: I’m embarrassed and ashamed and too scared to talk to anyone about this!

11. The Answer he gave listed these • OCD - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder • Depression – Anxiety - Distress • Serotonin levels are low – Chemical imbalance • Is there a good reason for being evil and thinking evil thoughts or just excuses • Does God say, now if there are extenuating circumstances it is ok to want to do evil things or even to do them because you couldn’t help it

12. A Question:To Islam Online • Dear sheikh, As-Salamu `alaykum. I have a very serious problem. For the last few months, I have been trying my best to follow Islam as closely as possible, . My problem is that I think of bad words about Allah, Most High, and sometimes about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), too. I cannot help it. It used to be quite bad, then I almost got over this problem, but now it's back. It happens usually when I'm praying. , I love my religion a lot and also Allah. Please do let me know how I can get over this or if there are any du`a’s that can help me.

13. Answer from Islam • Allah commands Muslims to refer to people of knowledge to become well acquainted with the teachings of Islam in all aspects of life. • “Evil thoughts could very well be whisperings of Satan. Whenever such thoughts occur to you, you must turn your attention immediately away from them by seeking refuge in Allah • It is also crucial for us to consider the treacherous nature of our hearts (more precisely our souls) and must exercise vigilance against them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us that “Hearts are ever changing.”

14. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us the following supplications to master the evil inclinations of our souls, and, accordingly, these must form part of the daily spiritual regimen of every believer: • O Allah, O You Who are the twister of hearts, so make my heart firm and steadfast on Your religion • My Lord, I seek Your refuge and protection against the whisperings of devils • Finally, read the master supplication for forgiveness in the morning as well as before retiring to bed

15. Do all these things sound like the words of Almighty God ? • Matt 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. • Matt 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. • Matt 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

16. Matt 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. • Matt 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. • Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

17. John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

18. Plea to contend for the faith… • Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. • Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

19. Some would not take that stand • Jude 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. • Jude 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

20. Example of justice at judgment • Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over tofornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. • Jude 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. • Jude 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed