Archive for the ‘Encourgement’ Category

Proverbs 2:14 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 2, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 02, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 2:14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil

The wicked enjoy sin. Their conscience is seldom grieved, and their soul is seldom vexed. They are excited about the opportunity to sin, and they count it great sport to see the perverse actions of other sinners. They do evil, and they take pleasure in others doing evil. This is the character of wicked men, and wise men will avoid them at all costs.

Solomon taught his son the benefits of wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding (Pr 2:10-11). These blessings would save him from wicked men and wicked women (Pr 2:12-19). They would lead him into the company of godly men and their blessings (Pr 2:20-21), and they would keep him from the judgment of the wicked (Pr 2:22).

The wicked never think about God: He is not in all their thoughts (Ps 10:4). They rush into life with thoughts only of pleasing themselves. They do not tremble at God’s warnings. They are excited about sin. Like Ahab, they sell themselves to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD (I Kgs 21:25-26). Their damnation is coming fast (II Pet 2:3)!

These wicked men are not like Lot, the righteous and just nephew of Abraham. His soul was vexed daily while he lived as a carnal Christian, compromising with sin in Sodom (II Pet 2:6-8). But the wicked are only vexed when they cannot sin (Pr 4:16; Micah 2:1)! They love sin. And they love watching others sin, even heinously. Think Hollywood!

The world is filled with such madmen. Paul described them as “being past feeling” and giving “themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Eph 4:17-19). The reason for this horrible condition is the vanity of their minds, their darkened understanding, and their blinded hearts. He warned against living like them.

Men rejected God’s truth in creation, so he blinded them (Rom 1:18-21). They foolishly created versions of gods to their own liking (Rom 1:22-23), so God blinded their minds further to do abusive and inconvenient things to themselves (Rom 1:24-31). Though they knew such sins deserved death, they sinned and enjoyed others sinning also (Rom 1:32).

This generation flatters wicked men. Sin is no longer a horrible thing with consequences. Sin is good material for comedies and jokes for entertainment. But only fools mock at sin (Pr 10:23; 14:9). Not only is sin destructive of men’s lives, it offends a holy and just God.

The value of wisdom is salvation from such wicked men (Pr 2:10-15). Young man, love and seek wisdom to be saved from their lifestyle and horrible judgment. Delight thyself in the Lord (Ps 37:4). Flee youthful lusts (II Tim 2:22). Pursue godliness instead (Tit 2:6).

Spiritual Training 30 May 2014

Posted: May 30, 2014 in 1 Corinthians, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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PAUL ADDRESSES CHURCH PROBLEMS (1:1-6:20)

1 Corinthians 4:14-16 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

In Paul’s day, a guardian was a slave who was assigned as a special tutor and caretaker of a child. Paul was portraying his special affection for the Corinthians (greater than a slave) and his special role (more than a caretaker). In an attempt to unify the church, Paul appealed to his relationship with them. By father, he meant he was the church’s founder. Because he started the church, he could be trusted to have its best interests at heart. Paul’s tough words were motivated by love-like the love a good father has for his children.

Paul told the Corinthians to imitate him. He was able to make this statement because he walked close to God, spent time in God’s Word and in prayer, and was aware of God’s presence in his life at all times. God was Paul’s example; therefore, Paul’s life could be an example to other Christians. Paul wasn’t expecting others to imitate everything he did, but they should imitate those aspects of his beliefs and conduct that were modeling Christ’s way of living.

Lets Bring it Home: How do we live that people can see Christ’s way of living in us that can be imitated?

Proverbs 30:16 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 30, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 30, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 30:16 the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

Discontentment is a horrible vice. It is the mark of a bloodsucker (Pr 30:15). Men who are never satisfied are compared here to four other things that are never satisfied. The grave, a barren womb, dry ground, and a raging fire illustrate the sin of discontentment.

Foolish man is never happy. He loves silver, and gets some; but he is not content, for he wants more (Ec 5:10). He marries a beautiful woman, but he lusts after others’ wives (Jer 5:8). Covetousness, a hideous sin, denies men contentment, peace, or satisfaction in life.

Men’s lusts continue to greedily crave and seek pleasure regardless of sinful indulgence. Their sinful fleshly lusts never reach satisfaction to turn to godliness or righteousness instead. They persist insatiably in their pursuit of vain fulfillment in the world’s pigpens.

The grave is never satisfied. No matter how many are buried today, cemeteries will take more tomorrow. It will have room for you when your turn. Do not worry about no room at this inn. Though death cuts men down by the thousands, there is room for more. The grave never says, “It is enough!” It has an insatiable desire for the bodies of men.

The barren womb is never satisfied. Today’s liberated women do not count – they are perverse. In Bible times, women craved children. Rachel said to her husband Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die” (Gen 30:1). The barren womb has an insatiable desire for children. God placed a longing need for children in women, and they crave them.

The earth that is not filled with water is never satisfied. Dry ground absorbs water applied to it and is still dry. The water disappears, and the ground demands more. Though much water is supplied, it yet wants more. The dry ground has an insatiable desire for water. Rain on such ground is quickly absorbed, and it needs much more. It is never filled.

The raging fire is never satisfied. As long as it can find combustible material, it will continue to burn. It never approaches a forest or house and stops due to lack of desire to burn. The raging fire has an insatiable desire to burn anything it can touch. It is not content with one acre of forest, for it will quickly burn another ten if not contained.

These four things – never satisfied and with insatiable desires – powerfully picture man’s sinful lusts. Some men are never content, though given much, for they always want more. They live frustrated and painful lives, with their eyes always looking for more (Pr 27:20).

Contentment leads to happiness, and it is easy to have, but few men find it. It has nothing to do with circumstances (Phil 4:12). It is a learned choice (Phil 4:11). To the hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet (Pr 27:7). Be content by making God your portion (Gen 15:1; Ps 73:25-26; Heb 13:5-6). Great gain is godliness with contentment (I Tim 6:6).

Are you content, reader? Or are you frustrated? Why? God has given you much, and promised you more. What else could you possibly want? You are like the grave, the barren womb, the dry ground, and a raging fire, if you do not choose contentment today.

 

Proverbs 29:19 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 29, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 29, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 29:19 A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond.

Rebellion can be active or passive. Wicked servants will not respond to verbal correction, because their hearts are full of defiance. They fear enough to refrain from cursing, but they do not have the spirit of a virtuous servant. Though clearly or frequently corrected, and understanding the lesson and their needed improvement, they will not answer properly or amend their ways. Therefore, authority needs to be enforced painfully.

A scornful, sullen, surly servant will show his stubborn rebellion by ignoring verbal instruction and correction. If you explain things carefully and clearly, he will not agree or submit. Though you ask questions he understands, he will not answer. He uses silence to punish the authority he despises. He shows his wickedness quietly by rejecting your rule. Men may describe such a person as one that does not know how to say, “I am sorry.”

If you find yourself saying, “Say something!” you have encountered the rebellious problem Solomon here described to his son. Silence is no evidence of agreement or submission; it is often a loud statement of defiance. Measures beyond words must be used. This is not just any servant, for many servants are corrected by words (Matt 8:9).

Such rebellion must be crushed. Authority must be enforced to maintain order and peace. It was solved by two options under Moses’ law. You could beat the servant, if necessary, to within an inch of his life (Pr 19:29; 26:3; Ex 21:20-21). And if you were tired of beating him, you could sell him to a master with a bigger rod! Moses’ law warned against unnecessary rigor (Lev 25:43), but authority must be maintained (Pr 19:25; 21:11; 26:3).

Modern employment relationships do not have the provisions of Moses’ law, so wise masters fire belligerent losers. Keeping one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch. Allowing a defiant employee to stay, even if he rebels quietly, will cost your authority. When you find a scorner, and you cannot correct him, throw him out (Pr 22:10)!

Parent, do you know your children? Do you know when silence is rebellion? Do you observe sullenness? Do you understand that a withdrawn child is a problem child? Do you know their temperamental differences, and do you carefully watch the passive ones, who tend toward reserved responses? Their rebellion can grow while you snooze.

Rebellion can be active or passive, loud or silent, angry or sullen. It is your job to detect passive rebellion. Do not allow a child to avoid instruction, correction, or questions. They quickly learn delay tactics, knowing you will tire and forget them. Reject excuses, such as needing more time; children do not have any such rebellious luxury when facing you.

Remember how God hates mocking eyes (Pr 30:17). Watch and read the faces of your children. Correct any insolence, even in the facial expressions. Silence can be mocking. When you detect such a problem, quickly move toward more severe measures to rescue this child from their self-will. The rod will work wonders (Pr 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15).

Tears are also used in silent rebellion. Rather than telling you wickedly they will not do it, they simply let go with the tears, knowing that such a show of emotion got rid of you the last time. If the tears are genuine, they will accompany sincere words of apology and the correct action. Do not allow a child, especially daughters, to use tears as a cover.

Husband, manage your marriage. Watch your wife’s face and correct any marital problems while they are in the bud. Silent rebellion is very common. They will self-righteously justify themselves as submissive, all the while building up bitter rage inside. Spot this sinful rebellion by her silence, smoldering eyes, facial expressions, or body language. Do not let a confrontation end until she is fully at peace with God and you.

Wife, silence is not submission. If your husband must correct you, tell him quickly you are sorry. Tell him you understand the lesson; explain it back to him; promise better behavior in the future. Too much for your pride? Get down right now and confess your arrogance to God. Pride is a horrible sin, and it will destroy your life and home. Answering again is wrong, whether with words or with silence (Tit 2:9). Beware of it!

Christians should never be such blots on their Saviour. They should take correction with cheerfulness and contrition. They should reverently express a desire to make amends as quickly as possible. Then they should do what is expected. Silent rebellion is conduct totally contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ for servants (Eph 6:5-7; I Tim 6:1-2).

Christians should be the quickest to say they are sorry when shown their faults. The man unwilling to say he is sorry on earth will have eternity to consider his rebellion, for such willful stubbornness marks reprobates. Insubordinate servants, wives, and children are odious things that trouble the earth (Pr 30:21-23). Let Christians avoid such reputations.

Dear Christian reader, do you understand the great Lord you serve? You must give Him your sincere confession when you are convicted for sin. Feeling conviction and purposing in your heart to turn from your sin is not nearly enough. You must confess your sins, admit your folly, and turn to Him (Pr 28:13; Job 33:27; 34:31-32; I Jn 1:9). Your glorious Master will receive you, the angels will celebrate, and your fellowship will be restored.

Spiritual Training 29 May 2014

Posted: May 29, 2014 in 1 Corinthians, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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PAUL ADDRESSES CHURCH PROBLEMS (1:1-6:20)

1 Corinthians 4:6-13 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it, when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

The Corinthians had split into various cliques, each following its favorite preacher (Paul, Apollo’s, Peter, etc.) Each clique really believed it was the only one to have the whole truth, and thus felt spiritually proud. But Paul told the groups not to boast about being tied to a particular preacher because each preacher was simply a humble servant who had suffered for the same message of salvation in Jesus Christ. No preacher of God has more status than another.

Lets Bring it Home: The book of Hebrews encourages believers to persevere in their Christian faith and conduct when facing persecution and pressure. We don’t usually think of suffering as good for us. But it can build our character and our patience. During times of great stress, we may feel God’s presence more clearly and find help from Christians we never thought would care. Knowing that Jesus is with us in our suffering and that he will return one day to put an end to all pain helps us grow in our faith and our relationship with him.

Spiritual Training 28 May 2014

Posted: May 27, 2014 in 1 Corinthians, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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PAUL ADDRESSES CHURCH PROBLEMS (1:1-6:20)

1 Corinthians 4:6-7 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

How easy it is for us to become attached to a spiritual leader. When someone has help us, it’s natural to feel loyalty. But Paul warns against having such pride in our favorite leaders that we cause divisions in the church. Any true spiritual leader is a representation of Christ and has nothing to offer that God hasn’t given him or her.

Lets Bring it Home: Don’t let your loyalty cause strife, slander, or broken relationships. Make sure that your deepest loyalties are to Christ and not to his human agents. Those who spend more time debating church leadership than declaring Christ’s message don’t have Christ as their top priority.

Proverbs 28:26 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 27, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 28, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 28:26 – He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.    

For many people, the rugged individualist is a hero. We admire the bold, self-directed men and women who know what they want and fight for it. They are self-reliant, neither giving nor asking advice. What a contrast to God’s way. A person can’t know the future and can’t predict the consequences of his or her choices with certainty. And so the totally self-reliant person is doomed to failure. The wise person depends on God.

You are your own worst enemy. You have inside you a voice that is dearer than the voice of God or any angel or man. This voice can comfort and convince you against any teaching or warning. This voice is with you twenty-four hours a day, and it always tells you what you want to hear and believe. It helps you make most decisions. You are a fool!

Your heart has a strong opinion on most any topic, whether you know anything about that topic or not. Your heart reacts in an instant against criticism or reproofs, and it controls you with passionate desire for something it wants. Your heart can lull you to sleep about matters it says are unimportant, and it can keep you from sleeping out of envy or hate.

Solomon used heart in this proverb as a metonym for your affections, inclinations, and thoughts. It is your internal set of desires and needs that affects your decision-making. This is not your conscience. This is your anti-conscience! This is the set of passions that drives most men and women. God has spoken about your heart. He said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9).

If you listen to your heart, you are a fool! If you follow your heart, you are a fool! If you make decisions even partially influenced by your heart, you are a fool! You are submitting to the most deceitful, depraved, and dangerous source of information on earth. Your heart has gotten you into more trouble in the past than all your enemies combined. You are your own worst enemy. Wisdom is the power to choose truth against your heart.

Adam died in the Garden of Eden the day he ate the forbidden fruit, according to God’s promise and warning (Gen 2:17; 3:6-8). Since he physically died 930 years later, what happened to him the day he took the fruit from Eve and ate it (Gen 5:5)? What died? Not his intellect. He was as intelligent after sin as before sin. Not his power of observation. He could perceive naturally as well after sin as before sin. He was still mentally sane.

But his affections for God and spiritual inclinations died. He was then morally corrupted without any desire to seek God, please God, or obey God. Rather than beg for forgiveness, he made aprons of fig leaves. Rather than repent, he hid in the garden. Rather than confess his sin, he blamed God and Eve for the mess. He was now motivated by selfish impulses that were dead toward God and others (Ps 14:1-3; Rom 3:9-18).

Adam became totally depraved, as theologians call it. Though his brain still functioned intelligently with logical connections based on observations and perceived consequences, his affections and desires were totally different – they were anti-God, anti-truth, anti-wisdom. He hated God and godliness; he loved all the sinful lusts of body and mind now in him. He was now an eager follower of the devil – spiritually dead in sins (Eph 2:1-3).

You were conceived and born this way – dead in sins, hating God, loving the world, obeying the devil, and fulfilling your lusts in every choice. This is the reality of humanity. This is the truth about all men and women, boys and girls. Without a second birth, one by the Spirit of God, they remain in this state of spiritual death and enmity against God. You must be regenerated by God with a new spiritual life to do any good.

Any doctrine of salvation must deal with this fact. Evangelism must deal with this fact. There are no means to influence a person in this dead condition (John 8:43-47; Rom 8:7-8; I Cor 2:14; Luke 16:31). He or she must be given life first; they must be born again first; they must be regenerated before they can or will believe (John 1:13; 3:8; 5:24; 6:44,63; 17:3; Acts 16:14; I Cor 1:18,22-24). Any other doctrine of salvation is false.

Today it is totally acceptable to trust and follow your heart. In fact, you are taught that your heart can decide what is right for you. One man will leave a church and say, “I did not feel right in my heart there.” A man will leave his wife and children for a younger woman, saying, “My heart was not in my marriage any longer.” A man will quit his job and become a homeless loafer by saying, “I am going to follow my heart.” All are fools!

The primary method of teaching today, even at the university level, is to trust your heart. After the professor presents several contradictory views of capital punishment, he asks the bright-eyed little students, “What do you think?” This is not teaching! This is corrupting youth by flattering the idiocy and pride of their hearts. This is conditioning them to think that their opinions are worth considering. This leads to hating anyone that criticizes or opposes them, especially a Bible preacher without a university degree!

Teenagers defy parents because their wicked hearts tell them they are right and their parents are wrong. Adulterers pursue other women because their profane hearts tell them they deserve it and no one will be hurt. The self-righteous leave a church because their hearts tell them their pastor had no right to criticize them like that. Pornography addicts justify another look based on their hearts excusing such an innocent thing.

Where does following your heart lead? To destruction, which is understood in this proverb by comparison to the parallel clause. Fools will be hurt and punished, for their decisions are based on the feelings, lusts, and arrogance of their own hearts. What felt so good in the beginning becomes painfully destructive in the end (Pr 14:12; 16:2,25; 21:2). But the wise man, who follows God’s wisdom rather than his heart’s lies, will be saved.

True wisdom is learning to mistrust your heart, reject its voice, and make all decisions on the basis of absolute and objective truth. Where is the source for such fabulous decision-making? In the inspired words of the living God recorded in the Bible. It is by learning God’s words and training yourself to make decisions based on them that you can be wise and saved from the deceitful impulses of your depraved heart (Ps 19:7; 119:130).

The purpose for ministers is to make war against your heart. They are to cast down all your imaginations and thoughts and bring them into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ (II Cor 10:4-6). You do not have a right to your thoughts; you have a responsibility to right thoughts! But most contemporary Christians are obsessed with their hearts and thoughts. They measure everything by how well it matches up with their hearts. Fools!

How wise are you, reader? Ready for a test? Whom do you have a grudge against? Is it right in the light of God’s word? If not, what will you do about it? If you are a Christian woman, do you always dress in modest apparel with discreet accessories and conservative makeup? If not, what will you do about it? The degree of your wisdom is the degree to which you can crush your heart to submit to the words of God in the Bible.

If you learn to walk wisely by the directions of God’s commandments, He will deliver you from all the pitfalls and obstacles that clobber and confuse your heart-following neighbors. If you will trust Him and not lean toward your own understanding, He will direct your paths in good ways. Your future happiness, prosperity, and success depend on your efforts to hate your vain thoughts and love the truth of His words (Ps 119:113,128).

Proverbs 27:20 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 27, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 27, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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 Proverbs 27:20 Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.

There is always room for one more fool to live a painful and dysfunctional life and die a miserable death. Hell and destruction are never full. So fools are always lusting after the evil things that will ruin their lives. The eyes of man are never satisfied. Fools rush to their own hurt and loss every day. There is always room for one more. Go on down, fool!

There is no limit to loveless marriages, foolish children, lonely hearts, underemployed sluggards, early deaths, starving dreamers, and other problems. You can join them, reader. Prisons have few vacancies, because another fool shows up to fill the house of pain. Divorce Court never closes, because one more fool chose to marry for lust instead of faith or chose to divorce for feelings instead of facts. A.A. always takes new members, for there is one more lush unwilling to drink water. Hell and destruction are never full.

Fools are hilarious! They always want, wish, and lust for something to make them happy – which they never find! They think a man, a woman, a child, a house, an amount of money, a car, a boat, affection from another fool, marriage, an event, a promotion, or something else will make them happy. But they never find it, no matter how hard and long they look. They are doomed to misery, for they are on a treadmill to nowhere.

They are never content with what they have, even if it is much; they imagine there is something more exciting out there to make them happy. So they live frustrated and lonely lives, searching for Nirvana, and then they die and wake up in hell. What a miserable existence! Hell and destruction are never full! A fool’s eyes are never satisfied!

Hell and destruction are a miserable and painful life and an unnecessary death (Pr 23:13-14). The lake of fire is never full either. It always has more room. But the lesson here is about painful lives. You can destroy your marriage, fail with your children, or live with a lonely and frustrated soul. You too can turn your life into hell and destruction. The grave never says, “Enough” (Pr 30:15-16), so fools find new ways to live and die miserably. No matter how many bodies are cast into the ground each day, there is room for more.

The eyes of man are never satisfied, because man craves anything other than God. There is no end to the lust of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life (I Jn 2:15-17). Every foolish man thinks a little more of this or that will make him happy. He cannot relax; he dreams of something better; he needs another event to bring him a taste of excitement. He refuses to accept his present circumstances, for he thinks himself too good for them. He thinks in the near future he will discover something that will bring him peace and joy.

Give a woman a good husband: she wants a different man. Give him a good job: he wants to work for himself. Give her a warm home and children: she wants something to do. Give him a good income: he wants more. Give her a good body: she wants it better. The problem is not improvement; the problem is out-of-control priorities leading to sin. Why do men with beautiful wives divorce more often than those with average wives? Why are women that could be content with the Lord always frustrated and looking for more?

The strange woman – by her sins of fornication and adultery – takes men down to death and hell (Pr 2:18-19; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; Eccl 7:26). But there is always room for one more fool to use the cover of darkness to go near her house to taste her deceitful offerings (Pr 7:6-10). He sees her beauty and hears her flattery and is sure he has found the treasure of pleasure. Foolish men are not satisfied with their wives, so the punishing ruin of adultery always has room for one more fool to be accepted into its downward spiral to destruction.

Adam and Eve were not satisfied in Paradise, and it cost them everything. He that loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, which is vanity and vexation of spirit (Eccl 5:10). Covetousness is idolatry and a great evil, which leads to constant frustration and unhappiness (Eph 5:5). Men’s hearts always want something else or something more, and this evil fretting against God and lust for new things will take them down to destruction.

Godliness with contentment is great gain (I Tim 6:6). But fools cannot learn the lesson! They hear it, but they cannot learn it. For they have convinced themselves – deceived themselves – that there is something else that will excite and fulfill their little souls. But the blessed God will never let you find anything positive outside Him (Ec 7:14), so those who get their eyes and hearts attached to the things of this life are doomed to misery.

Reader! Are you discontent, frustrated, and suffering misery and pain in your life? It is your fault! You have chosen your own lusts over the things of God and heaven. You protect your pet sins; you resent correction by your teachers; you intend to do things your way. If you will make the blessed God your everlasting portion, you can always be content and filled with joy (Ps 16:11; 73:25-26). If you choose wisdom, you can find life and escape death (Pr 13:14; 14:27). There is always room for one more God-fearer!

Spiritual Training 27 May 2014

Posted: May 27, 2014 in 1 Corinthians, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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PAUL ADDRESSES CHURCH PROBLEMS (1:1-6:20)

1 Corinthians 4:3-5 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

It is tempting to judge fellow Christians, evaluating whether or not they are good followers of Christ. But only God knows a person’s heart, and he is the only one with the right to judge. Paul’s warning to the Corinthians should also warn us. We are to confront those who are sinning (SEE 5:12-13 BELOW), but we must not judge who is a better servant for Christ,

(1 Corinthians 5:12-13 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”)

(The Bible consistently tells us not to criticize people by gossiping or making rash judgments. At the same time, however, we are to judge and deal with sin that can hurt others. Paul’s instructions should not be used to handle trivial matters or to take revenge; nor should they be applied to individual problems between believers. These verses are instructions for dealing with open sin in the church, with a person who claims to be a Christian and yet who sins without remorse. The church is to confront and discipline such a person in love).

Lets Bring it Home: When you judge someone, you invariably consider yourself better and that is arrogant.

Proverbs 23:31 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 23, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 23, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 23:31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!

Wine is very good (Gen 1:31). God created it to cheer the heart of man (Pr 31:6; Ps 104:14-15); Moses commended it for family worship (Deut 14:26); Jesus drank it and supplied it for a wedding (Luke 7:33-35; John 2:1-11); Paul endorsed it for communion (I Cor 11:20-22); faithful ministers defend its moderate use (I Tim 3:8; 5:23; Tit 2:3).

But unguarded or excessive affection for wine is condemned. Any thoughts toward drunkenness are sin (Pr 24:9; Eph 5:18), and only fools drink without sober regard for the danger and results of drunkenness (Pr 20:1; 23:29-30). Wine can be dangerous, if it is not kept in its proper place and used for its designed purpose, just like other creations.

After his warning about wine, there are two other lessons – how Pharisees pervert God’s word, and how to rightly divide it. Solomon wrote, “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red.” Pharisees are literalists – they cannot see a figure of speech, even if it were in blazing neon! They condemn even looking at red wine from a Bible verse like this!

Assume their perversion of the verse is correct. If so, you may freely guzzle red wine as long as you do not look at it! Bring out the blindfolds and pass me a bottle! You may both look at and guzzle white wine! Bring out the white zinfandel! The chardonnay! The sauvignon blanc! The Riesling! Their perversion of scripture is obvious to thinking men.

If you literally apply this clause to looking at red wine, you condemn God, Moses, Jesus, Paul, and faithful ministers. The literalists are wrong.  Solomon did not condemn looking at red wine. He condemned unguarded or excessive affection for any wine, but he used the color of the basic wine of Israel, which was very red, like blood (Deut 32:14; Is 63:2). There is a figure of speech here, whether you see an ellipsis or a metonym of the adjunct.

Job said about marriage, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1). Did Job never think about his maids? Could he think about a maid when hiring her? Could he bless her on her birthday? Could he think about giving her a raise? Of course! The condemnation of thinking there is to be understood sexually. Job’s covenant of marriage did not allow sexual thoughts or fantasies about a maid.

Jesus said about mental adultery, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman – hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt 5:28). He did not condemn simply looking at another woman, for that is approved and necessary in ordinary society. But He did condemn looking at another woman “to lust after her.” And it is this sense that is the proper and true sense of the proverb here. Let God be true!

Wine in Solomon’s day had several attractive features – red color; depth, reflection, and shades of color in a good cup, and bubbles moving to the surface. These same features make wine visually attractive today, especially in a beautiful wine glass with appropriate sunshine, room lighting, or candlelight to enhance it. He admitted a strange woman may be beautiful (Pr 6:25); he admitted wine has an appeal you must soberly guard against.

This proverb is in the middle of a passage where Solomon condemned drunkenness (Pr 23:29-35). He did not condemn moderate drinking, which God and the Bible approve and commend: he condemned those who “tarry long at the wine” (Pr 23:30) and those who have the symptoms of severe drunkenness (Pr 23:29,34-35). If a man’s religion is based on the Bible, he knows God commends moderate drinking, but condemns drunkenness.

The Bible does not recognize alcoholism – is there such a thing? Alcoholics are properly called drunkards in Scripture. Drunkenness is drinking past reason until your senses no longer rightly recognize good and evil. Your imagination and speech are degraded to folly and sin (Pr 23:33) – the opposite goal of this book of wisdom. Because drunkenness is deceiving, it is often only others who can perceive your drunkenness.

Reader, take heed. Wine is very good. It is beautiful in a goblet. Its properties to relax your central nervous system and cheer you are very pleasant. But Solomon taught wisdom in Proverbs, and wise men will guard against excessive infatuation with wine and drink it only with prudent discipline. Abuse of wine can make a wise man a fool, quickly.

The lesson of this proverb applies indirectly to all creations and their abuse also. Pasta or pizza is just as dangerous as wine, in that gluttony is as much a sin as drunkenness. Infatuation with food or intemperate eating must also be avoided, for a person preoccupied with eating, or often eating more than he needs, will sin with this blessing. Godliness is moderation and temperance in all things (Eph 5:18; Phil 4:5; I Cor 9:24-27).

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