Archive for the ‘Acceptance’ Category


This might be long, but it worth reading entirely.  
 Proverbs 27:22  Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him.

 Is there hope for a fool? Not really. A few exceptions do not alter the general rule. No matter what you do to help a fool, he will stay a fool, for he has no heart for wisdom. Here is a profound proverb based on an agricultural metaphor that gives it its beauty.

There is hope for a foolish child or a temporary foolish adult, but there is no hope for an incorrigible fool. He is what he is; you cannot help him (Pr 17:10,12; 29:9). You must avoid him, not waste efforts to reform him, and learn why some people never change.

What is a fool? A fool is a person who has rejected God and true religion by either words or deeds (Ps 14:1; 53:1; Titus 1:16). He is too proud and stubborn to be instructed, so he must be corrected and motivated like a brute beast (Pr 10:8; 12:1; 14:16; 26:3).

He is arrogantly confident of himself, so he continues in his madness without caution or examination (Pr 10:23; 12:15; 15:5; 17:16; 26:11; 28:26). He is self-centered and profane, interested only in his own thoughts (Pr 14:9; 17:24; 18:2; 20:3; Eccl 10:2-3).

Children are born foolish, and folly remains bound in their hearts, if they are not trained. But corporal punishment and reproof will drive it out of children (Pr 19:18; 22:15; 29:15). Adult foolishness can be corrected by instruction, rebukes, and warnings (Pr 1:5; 9:8-9; 19:20,25; 21:11; 25:12; 26:3). There is hope in both these cases, but not with fools.

A mortar was a cup-shaped stone vessel that held grain, so it could be pulverized with a pestle, a club-like instrument used to pound the grain. Braying the grain meant to beat, bruise, and crush it to powder. The metaphor is powerful! If you were to smash a fool in a mortar with a pestle, you could not drive away his foolishness and make him wise.

How can you keep from being an incorrigible fool? Fearing God is your first step, for it is the beginning of wisdom and understanding (Pr 1:7; 9:10). You must reject your own thoughts (Pr 16:25; 26:12). Then you must love instruction and reproof to be wiser (Pr 9:8-9; 12:1). And you must avoid fools, so you do not become like them (Pr 9:6; 13:20).

A wise man will identify fools, remember they are beyond help and hope, and not waste his time or breath on them (Pr 17:10,12; 29:9). They are not worthy of honor, so do not give them any (Pr 26:1,8). They should only be answered to shut their mouths (Pr 26:4-5; Matt 7:6). If you must manage one, brute force is your best bet (Pr 26:3; Ps 32:9).

Some people never change. Fools from birth, they were never trained. Every kind of animal has been trained, but these unruly beasts are contrary to convention, truth, and wisdom. They never mature as they should; they never increase in wisdom and understanding; they are fools. Do not be frustrated or waste time. Avoid them instead.

All men by nature are religious fools, no matter how their parents trained them (Ep 2:1-3; 4:17-19; Rom 1:18-32). Even Paul, who had the best religious training, admitted he was sometimes foolish (Tit 3:3). How can a spiritual fool be made wise? By the regenerating power of God, Who sovereignly causes him to be born again (John 1:13; 3:8; Titus 3:5).

This powerful work of creation by God gives a man a new spiritual nature for him to see, hear, know, and do things to please God (Jn 3:3; 8:43,47; I Cor 2:14; Rom 8:7-8; Phil 2:12-13). This new nature is truly wise (I Cor 2:15). A person must be born again first to hear and obey the gospel (John 5:24; 10:26; I Cor 1:24; II Cor 4:3-4; Acts 13:48).

It is heresy to think changing the environment will make fools wise (Is 26:10). It is heresy to think that new evangelistic methods will work (Luke 16:31). It is heresy to buy decisions for Jesus with food, water, or medicine (II Cor 2:14-17). They must be born again (Jn 3:7)! Only God can make a wise man out of a fool (Pr 20:9; Job 14:4; John 3:6).

It is your duty and privilege to fear God, humble yourself before teachers and counselors, and reject the proud rebellion that enslaves the hearts and minds of fools. It is easier to learn this way than to be brayed with a pestle in a mortar, which the Lord Jesus Christ has done and will do to both foolish children and enemies (Heb 12:5-13; Matt 21:42-44).

 


Under Gods Command

Romans 2:01 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at what ever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same thing. 

Whenever we find ourselves feeling justifiably angry about someone’s sin, we should be careful.  We need to speak out against sin, but we must do so in a spirit of humility.  Often the sins we notice most clearly in others are the ones that have taken root in us.

Lets Bring it Home: If we look closely at ourselves, we may find that we are committing the same sins in more socially acceptable forms.  For example, a person who gossips may be very critical of others who gossip about him or her.


Proverbs 26:4-5

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.  Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

It is wrong to debate with fools. They do not deserve knowledge or truth. Wisdom is too precious to waste on them. Wise men have better uses of their time. And arguing is a fleshly lust. For these reasons, it is a sin to debate with men who do not clearly display godly wisdom and righteousness. By doing so, you descend to their profane level.

You should say enough to shut their mouths, but anything more is folly and sin (Proverbs 26:5)). They deserve no honor (26:1) and only a beating will truly help them (26:3). To keep them from thinking they are right, it is proper to briefly refute their idiotic notions. Truth does not back down from any, but it has no obligation to waste its time on any, either!

Jesus plainly confirmed Solomon by teaching, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matt 7:6). Jesus often rebuked the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, lawyers, and scribes of His day, but He avoided any foolish wrangling with them.

If you debate truth with a fool, he will first despise the wisdom of your words and ridicule the precious things you tell him (23:9)). You will degrade the truth by letting him mock and reproach it. He will then twist your words and use them against you, because his heart is black with hate and violence (Ish 29 20:21) Leave him alone, and let him rot!

Too harsh, you say? Jesus called them dogs and pigs – vile animals and perpetual examples of beastly cruelty and selfish greed, among other despicable traits. When told He had offended the Pharisees, He said to His apostles, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Mat 15:14).

How do you spot a fool? Easy. Listen to him talk (14:7) and measure his walk (20:11). A fool talks a lot, likes his own ideas, gets angry easily, always excuses his conduct, belittles others, prefers teaching to being taught, wants to debate most everything, resents authority, disdains convention, or talks profanely. A fool also does not live according to the Bible and has no spiritual fruit, which are the absolute and final measures of wisdom.

Your flesh wants to get in the last word, or believes you can persuade him by reasoning, or thinks love will win the day, and sees no risk to your own soul (11 Tim 2:24-26); (1Cor 15:33). There is danger here, so Paul warned against the foolish questions or vain babblings of foolish men

 


Under Gods Command

Romans 1:28-32 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done, they have become filed with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.  They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.  They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. 

How were these people aware of God’s death penalty?  Human beings, created in God’s image, have a basis moral nature and conscience.  This truth is understood beyond religious circles.  Psychologists, for example, say that the rare person who has no conscience has a serious personality disorder that is extremely difficult to treat.  Most people instinctively know when they do wrong-but they may not care.  Some people will even risk an early death for the freedom to indulge their desires now.  “I know it’s wrong, but I really want it,” they say; or, “I know it’s dangerous, but it’s’ worth the risk.” For such people, part of the “fun” is going against God’s law, the community’s moral standards, common sense, or their own sense of right and wrong.  But deep down inside they know that sin deserves the punishment of death (6:23).

Lets Bring it Home:  In which way do we play with fire?  Let’s asks ourselves, do we fit into any of these areas?  How do we handle our sinful desires, verses deep down inside knowing that sin deserves the punishment of death? No ifs, ands or buts about it.  Does God really hand us over to our foolish ways after numerous attempts to get our attention? Why is there so much hell in my life we say?

 


Under Gods Command

Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

When Jesus died for the sins of humanity, the curtain was torn open, permitting anyone to enter the holiest of all-God’s presence.  The high priest was no longer required for believers to be forgiven.  By a “new and living way”, believers can go directly to God through faith in Christ.

Lets Bring it home: When was the last time you really went to God to ask forgiveness for your sins.  Remember, you can’t get yourself ready for Christ.  I hear people say that I have to get right before going to Church.  No, that is not the case.  You are ready right now.  God already knew you, even before you was form in your mothers womb.  Go to him now, Pastor Jimmy once said, this is not a Job where qualifications are required for the position.  In Gods house it’s our dis-qualifications that qualifies us for a position in the Kingdom.


Under Gods Command

Part 4

Homosexuality was a widespread in Paul’s day as it is in ours.  Many pagan practices encouraged it.  God is willing to receive anyone who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept others no matter what their background.  Yet, homosexuality is strictly forbidden in Scripture (Leviticus 18:22).  Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice by many in our world today-even by some churches.  But society does not set the standard for God’s law.  Many homosexuals believe that their desires are normal and that they have a right to express them.  But God does not obligate nor encourage us to fulfill all our desires (even normal ones).  Those desires that violate his laws must be controlled.

Lets Bring it Home: If you have these desires, you can and must resist acting upon them.  Consciously avoid places or activities you know will kindle temptations of this kind.  Don’t underestimate the power of Satan to tempt you, nor the potential for serious harm if you yield to these temptations.  Remember, God can and will forgive sexual sins just as he forgives other sins.  Surrender yourself to the grace and mercy of God, asking him to show you the way out of sin and into the light of his freedom and his love.  Prayer, Bible study, and strong support in a Christian church can help you to gain strength to resist these powerful temptations.  If you are already deeply involved in homosexual behavior, seek help from a trustworthy, professional, pastoral counselor.

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans: 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised.  Amen.   

Romans 1:26-27 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 

 


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 20:30 Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being. 

Corporal punishment works. Pain is an efficient deterrent and effective instructor. Do you believe both rules in spite of what effeminate fools and social do-gooders say today?

Why are you careful with fire? By studying the laws and theories of fuels, heat, oxidation, combustion, and thermodynamics? By theorizing why fire hurts and destroys? Or because you felt the biting sting of fire when you were young! Ah, yes, fire hurts!

If you want to be wise, and Proverbs was written for that, then submit to God’s word. Let God be true, but every man a liar (Rom 3:4; Ps 119:128). God and Solomon had more wisdom about modifying behavior than any man, group of men, institution, or theory on earth! Freely given without charge, they wrote it down for your great profit and success.

Foolishness and wickedness are terrible human traits, causing much pain and suffering, including ruined lives and estates and death. How can these traits be reduced? Sin is more than a bad habit; it is the inborn reaction of deceived rebels (Jer 17:9). Most men must be beaten, bruised, and wounded before they will change or improve. This is the lesson.

Do you wisely wound those who need it? Do you receive wounding well when you need it? Do not resist the wisdom taught here. Severe and wise punishment is far less painful than unrestrained self-will or obstinate rebellion. A fool not corrected will cost himself and those around him far more than the light sting of a whipping. This is the application.

Parents drive foolishness from children with the rod (Pr 22:15; 23:13-14); God scourges foolishness from His children (Pr 3:11-12; Heb 12:5-11); friends correct one another by verbal blows (Pr 27:6; Ps 141:5); and Jesus was bruised and wounded for our iniquities (Gen 3:15; Is 53:5,10). Corporal punishment greatly reduces crimes. This is the result.

Until recent decades of perverse thinking and loud talking by social engineers, everyone knew corporal punishment worked. They used to say, “Reading, writing, and arithmetic, taught to the tune of a hickory stick.” In a wise society, magistrates beat criminals (Deut 25:2-3), and employers beat offending employees (Pr 29:19; Ex 21:20-21).

Solomon’s inspired wisdom is despised today. Social dreamers and arrogant educators teach that flattery and freedom work better than corporal punishment. Read Benjamin Spock’s, Baby and Child Care. They do all they can to outlaw parental spanking of children, just as they have outlawed flogging for maintaining order and discipline in schools, the military, and society. But look at the results! They have miserably failed!

What a beautiful proverb! Here you see the nature of proverbs as clearly as anywhere.  The words are chosen and arranged to create maximum beauty, force, and rhythm; but the sense is slightly hidden for you to discover and enjoy. Can you find a few metonyms?

This beautiful and wise proverb teaches God’s ordinance of corporal punishment. But today’s enlightened world prefers the darkness of the perverted speculations of educators. They will suction a million screaming babies into pieces in their mothers’ wombs, while protecting teenagers and criminals from ever being touched! These perverse persons are the devilish corrupters of nations, and the results of their policies are visible everywhere.

With only a few proper lessons from a rod, children will grow up into mature and wise adults (Pr 22:6,15). Feed them for 17 years without this tool, and you will have a child that brings you shame, ruins his life as well, and is a burden to those around him (Pr 23:13-14; 29:15). The self-restraint needed to prosper and succeed in life is brought by the rod and reproof. Correct children, and they will give you rest and delight (Pr 29:17).

Let parents remember the rule – the rod works. Let school principals and magistrates consider – the rod works. Let friends recall – sharp reproofs work. The wise use of corporal punishment will correct fools and sinners and reform the heart. This is not fanciful advice of the ignorant: these are inspired rules of the wisest man ever! Are you wise enough to grasp who is right? God and Solomon or Ben Spock and UNICEF?

Let every man gratefully and humbly receive wounds from God and man, for they are designed for his learning (Pr 3:11-12; 9:7-9; 27:5-6; Ps 141:5). Without them, there is no evidence that either God or men love you, and there is no hope for your improvement or perfection. You should look for a church where you are wounded weekly by preaching!

Some natural men limit this proverb to foolish medical advice. They say the blue color around a wound is evidence that infection is being purged from it! And they say that developed abdominal muscles (“a six-pack” of stripes on your belly) promote the health of your lower internal organs! What an ignorant travesty of interpretation! Forget it!

God hates sin but loved His elect, so He severely bruised and wounded the Lord Jesus by the Jews and Romans. During the hours leading to His death, He turned blue from many wounds, and many stripes covered His back. Why? Because He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, chastised for our peace, and by His stripes we are healed (Is 53:5,10). His blue wounds and many stripes cleansed us from all evil!


Under Gods Command

Part 3

 Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans: 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised.  Amen.   

Romans 1:26-27 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 

God’s plan for natural sexual relationships is his ideal for his  creation.  Unfortunately, sin distorts the natural use of God’s gifts.  Sin often means not only denying God, but also denying the way we are made.  When people say that any sex act is acceptable as long as nobody gets hurt they are fooling themselves.  In the long run (and often in the short run).  sin hurts people-individuals, families, whole societies.  Because sex is such a powerful and essential part of what it means to be human, it must be treated with great respect.  Sexual desires are of such importance that the Bible gives them special attention and counsels more carful restraint and self-control than with any other desire.  One of the clearest indicators of a society or person in rebellion against God is the refection of God’s guidelines for the use of sex.

Lets Bring it Home: Natural sex is not just between men and women.  Natural sex is between Husband and Wife.  If you’re not married and having sex, pray for self control.  I know it’s hard.  So make up your mind to either marry the perosn, or drop it likes it hot.  Nothing is worth burning in hell for the rest of your life.


Under Gods Command

Part 3

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans: 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised.  Amen.   

Romans 1:26-27 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 

God’s plan for natural sexual relationships is his ideal for his  creation.  Unfortunately, sin distorts the natural use of God’s gifts.  Sin often means not only denying God, but also denying the way we are made.  When people say that any sex act is acceptable as long as nobody gets hurt they are fooling themselves.  In the long run (and often in the short run).  sin hurts people-individuals, families, whole societies.  Because sex is such a powerful and essential part of what it means to be human, it must be treated with great respect.  Sexual desires are of such importance that the Bible gives them special attention and counsels more carful restraint and self-control than with any other desire.  One of the clearest indicators of a society or person in rebellion against God is the refection of God’s guidelines for the use of sex.

Lets Bring it Home: Natural sex is not just between men and women.  Natural sex is between Husband and Wife.  If you’re not married and having sex, pray for self control.  I know it’s hard.  So make up your mind to either marry the person, or drop it likes it hot.  Nothing is worth burning in hell for the rest of your life.


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 19:14  Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. 

 Here are two rules of marital and family wisdom. Only the God of the Bible could put so much wisdom in so few words. Do you understand the two rules for success here? Do you know how to apply the wisdom practically in your life or the lives of those you love?

Good fathers leave an inheritance for children, and only a virtuous wife from God will do. If every father provided financially for his children, each generation would be better off. If every family demanded exceptional women, each generation would improve in godliness. These two rules are fundamental for building a great, long-term, godly family.

Many men do not leave an inheritance for their children. They fail for two major reasons. Either they do not work hard enough and smart enough to generate income beyond their needs, or they waste what they earn through foolish spending or risky investments. Either they are too slothful to earn more than they consume, or they are too foolish and selfish to preserve capital for the next generation. Both faults are sin.

Children should help parents in need (I Tim 5:4-8,16), but this is not God’s order for great families. Parents not providing for themselves, so they take from their children in old age, destroy families. Parents should save for their grandchildren, not for parents (II Cor 12:14). Good men leave an inheritance for children and grandchildren (Pr 13:22). This is God’s rule for great families.

Great families need more than wealth for prosperity. They also need the blessing of virtuous women: for their character helps diligence, reputation, and training families helped to greatness (Pr 14:1; 31:10-31). Great women make great families. Finding an average wife is easy; but finding a great wife is like searching for hidden treasure. The LORD must bless such a search by His criteria and His favor (Pr 31:30; 18:22).

A lazy, odious, worldly, or self-righteous woman will keep a family from greatness. She will undermine the son she married, and the grandchildren will have her example and genes. God forbid! Wise parents avoid average girls; they beg God and search for exceptional girls – those rare girls with great diligence, graciousness, spirituality, and humility. Parents should point out examples from scripture and life of these rare women.

A great woman can do more for a family than most other factors. Settle for nothing less. Seek and win them with zealous guile. Pray fervently and often for this rare treasure. Explore every avenue to find one for each son and grandson. Never compromise a rule of Scripture for wives, or you will pay for it. Let nothing distract or hinder you from demanding the very best. Do not settle for average. Forbid your sons to marry down (Gen 26:34-35; Judges 14:1-3). Find holy girls for them (Gen 24:1-67; 28:1-5; Ezra 2:61).

Parent, catch the vision! Plan now, prepare now, and pray now to build a godly family for generations to come by saving money for your children and grandchildren and searching land and sea for great women. Make estate planning a godly goal. Trust the LORD; make the fear of the LORD the most important criterion; and beg Him for mercy in your search for godly women. Commit this family project to Him for His honor and glory.