Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category

Proverbs 4:4 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 4, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 04, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 4:4 He taught me and said, “Lay hold of my words with all your heart; Keep my commands and you will live

Here is the greatest gift of a father – wisdom and truth! What is your family transferring from generation to generation? Solomon admitted that his father, David, had taught him. So he taught his children to continue the perpetuation of knowledge from father to son. He stressed that a successful life required his son to retain and keep this knowledge.

Note the proverb’s opening words: “He taught me also.” Solomon was the favorite son of David, so the instruction David gave him came from a loving heart desiring the very best for his son (Pr 4:1-4). In faithful fulfillment of his own office as father, King Solomon appealed to his own children to hear instruction from him like he had from his father.

How is truth perpetuated in the earth? What is the greatest gift parents can give children? The greatest heritage parents give their children is wisdom and truth, which is how both are kept in the world. Two passages of Scripture carefully describe four generations as every man’s goal (Ps 78:1-8; Joel 1:1-3). Therefore, godly families should never repeat the same mistakes, and they should greatly increase in wisdom, generation by generation.

Fathers are to be teachers. This is not an option or suggestion. Under both testaments, the father was the designated teacher (Deut 4:9; 6:4-7; Eph 6:4). If a child remains a fool and shames his parents, it is because the father did not do his job (Pr 22:6; 29:15). It is a horrible shame that television, public schools, and peer pressure do most teaching today.

Sons like Solomon are not chance events. David and Bathsheba taught Solomon. While God blessed Solomon with much wisdom after he became king, it was David who had given him an excellent foundation from his youth up. Surely David had seen the dire consequences of neglecting his other sons, Adonijah, Absalom, and Amnon (I Kings 1:6).

David taught Solomon three things. First, retain what I teach you. Do more than hear me. Listen to what I say, grasp its meaning, agree in your heart with its righteousness and truthfulness, meditate on it, review the principles, and apply them to every case you see. Remember the lesson by careful comprehension at first hearing and by frequent review.

Second, keep my commandments. It is not enough to hear and retain a father’s advice, you must keep it – you must do it. As with the word of God, it is the doers of the word who are blessed, not the hearers (Jas 1:21-25). Parental rules are only good to the degree the rules are obeyed. Sons must be taught to obey, and their obedience must be enforced.

Third, the goal and result of this instruction is your successful life. You are not reading about minor things here – you are dealing with life, your life! Keep these rules and live. Live well! Live righteously! Live abundantly! Grow in favor with God and men. This is the good life. This is the blessed life. This is the protected life. This is the prosperous life.

Spiritual Training 01 November 2013

Posted: November 1, 2013 in 1 Timothy, 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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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 6:11-12 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.   

Paul uses active and forceful verbs to describe the Christian life: flee, pursue, fight, take hold.  Some think Christianity is a passive religion that advocates waiting for God to act.  But we must have an active faith, training, working hard, sacrificing, and doing what we know is right.  Is it time for action on your part?  Christian service, like athletics, requires, training and sacrifice. Our discipline and obedience largely define whether or not we will be contributors or merely spectators

Lets Bring it Home:  How would other believers rank your contributing role on Christ Team?

Proverbs 1:12 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 1, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 01, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 1:12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

Fools and sinners are arrogantly confident. A band of cutthroats here tried to lure an innocent youth to join it by boasting of certain success. Such lazy, murderous thieves, bloated with ambitious and ignorant pride, are beyond hope or help (Pr 26:12,16).

Solomon knew evil friends were the greatest danger to his son and all young men, so he began Proverbs by warning against them (Pr 1:10-19). This proverb is part of a parable about a gang of murdering marauders, who declared their plans positively to entice a new member. Solomon concluded the parable by guaranteeing their ruin (Pr 1:17-19).

The murderers speak in this proverb. Though such things are rarely said openly, Solomon exposed their true intents for the purpose of his warning. Full of malice and violence, they intend to find victims with assets (Pr 1:11-14). They will kill the innocents easily and swallow them as thoroughly as the grave. The united band will kill quickly; there will be no opposition; any incriminating evidence will be destroyed. Success is certain!

The haughty confidence and lying words of these cutthroats are old. Sinners have always thought their crimes would be easy and without consequences. They are sure of success in their evil ambitions. Foolish and naïve young men fall for their boastful plans and join them. They do not see the certain destruction that is waiting for all such wicked rebels.

David was confident he could successfully kill Uriah in battle for his wife, but he forgot God seeing the deed and letting him grieve over the death of his son (II Sam 12:14-23). He never thought it could lead to Amnon’s incest and Absalom’s sedition and whoring.

A strange woman, an adulteress, guaranteed pleasure and success for a sinful liaison (Pr 7:18-23). She detailed how they could get away with the heinous crime against her husband. The idiot that joined her ended up dead and in hell (Pr 2:18-19; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18).

Judas thought 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus was an easy score. In his profane pride, he did not see Satan leaving his guilty bowels scattered across a field (Acts 1:18). He never imagined that the severe curse of Psalm 109:6-20 was for him and his crime.

The Jews hated Jesus, so they demanded Pilate to crucify Him. When he sought to avoid His innocent blood, they begged for it on themselves and their children (Matt 27:24-25). God and Titus made sure it happened (Matt 21:33-41; 22:1-7; 23:29-36; I Thes 2:15-16)!

The way of transgressors is hard (Pr 13:15), the way of murder harder. Solomon wrote, “A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him” (Pr 28:17). Gang members of all kinds that practice violence will be destroyed.

The proverb’s lesson is for you to wisely assess the boastful claims of sinners and reject them. They are ignorant liars or malicious liars, and only a fool would believe them. The reasons for their arrogance are wicked pride and the desire to deceive other fools to join them. Your skepticism and rejection should apply to gangs, churches, or anyone with an agenda contrary to the Bible. Let God be true, but every man a liar (Rom 3:4).

Proverbs 31:18 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 1, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 31, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 31:18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

A great woman is confident and driven. King Lemuel’s mother described the perfect woman in detail, so her son would know what to look for in a wife (Pr 31:1-2,10-12). The fear of the Lord is the first prerequisite (Pr 31:30), and diligence is the most obvious character trait (Pr 31:13-31). This proverb shows a great woman’s confidence and drive.

“She perceiveth that her merchandise is good.” The virtuous woman knows her performance, productivity, and products are good. Her purchase of a field and investment in a vineyard are great ideas (Pr 31:16); she is committed to do what it takes to make her income-producing venture a success (Pr 31:17). She is confident of her plan and future.

Humility is not a defeated attitude about abilities. Humility is being strong and confident about plans, because you trust the Lord, not just yourself (Jas 4:13-15). Paul was a humble and meek apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, but he also declared that he worked harder than the other apostles, by the grace of God (I Cor 15:10; II Cor 11:5; 12:11-12).

Great women are not puffed up about abilities, nor do they brag about accomplishments. Never! But they know they have a good plan, what it takes to get the job done, and that they can do it. This confident and strong approach to domestic and outside-the-home pursuits condemns the timidity and weakness of many Christian women (Pr 20:4; 22:13).

A virtuous woman is a confident and strong woman. Jael is one of the greatest women in the Bible (Jdgs 5:24)! Why? Intimidation, false humility, timidity, and fear are not Christian virtues, no matter how piously they are presented. A skilled and gracious hostess knows when a meal is well prepared. To think otherwise is foolish slothfulness.

Confidence in personal ability and benefit to others is a strong source of motivation to work hard and extra hard. Knowing her efforts produce much, she is willing to put in extra effort and time. Knowing her productivity benefits her family and others, she is glad for the opportunity to serve and applies herself with focused intensity and perseverance.

“Her candle goeth not out by night.” The virtuous woman is driven. She knows there is profit in all labor (Pr 14:23). She does not waste time talking. Once she settles on a plan, she goes for it. When she has a job to do, she will get it done. Extra effort or extra hours do not discourage her. She finishes her projects. She completes her tasks. She is a success, because she will not quit until the goal is obtained. She does not faint (Pr 24:10).

She knows her family and she will become poor, if she is not diligent at her duties (Pr 10:4; 13:4; 21:5). She knows future freedom and opportunities for her family also depend on her diligence (Pr 12:24; 22:29). Everything at her disposal she uses wisely (Pr 12:27), wastes nothing (Pr 18:19), and leverages labor-saving devices or methods (Pr 14:4).

This great woman detests and rejects the pampered lifestyle of many wives, who live a leisurely lifestyle by their husband’s diligence and perseverance. She does not excuse herself by thinking of him as the only breadwinner and one to be productive and persevering. She will match or exceed him cheerfully in her own areas of responsibility.

Of course, this is a proverb. It does not mean she never sleeps, even if the words indicate she works all night long. This is hyperbole – an obvious exaggeration. She puts forth whatever effort is called for to get the job done. She perseveres energetically. But she does not cross the line of reasonable labor, though extreme when compared to the lazy women around her, into that excessive effort that denies the Lord His role (Ps 127:1-2).

What is the purpose of Proverbs 31:10-31? It was written by a queen mother to instruct her son in the art of finding a great wife (Pr 31:1-2,10-12). Fathers and sons should learn the passage well and pursue only those girls that match the character and conduct found here. Mothers and daughters should see the inspired standard and choose to follow it. All of it is part of God’s divine library to give wisdom to His children for ultimate living.

What is the spiritual application? The church of Jesus Christ is His bride and wife. She should perceive that the spiritual blessings, truth, and wisdom committed to her care and defense are incontrovertibly great (I Tim 3:15-16). She should put forth whatever effort it takes to defend and promote them against carnal Christianity (II Tim 4:1-4; Jude 1:3).

Spiritual Training 31 October 2013

Posted: November 1, 2013 in 1 Timothy, 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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1 Timothy 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment.  We should honor God and center our desires on him (“godliness,” see Matthew 6:33), and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives (Philippians 4:11-13).

  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s. 

 Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, most people still believe that money brings happiness.  Rich people craving greater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only ends in ruin and destruction.  How can you keep away from the love of money? Paul gives us some guidelines:

(1)   realize that one day riches will all be gone

(2)   be content  with what you have

(3)   monitor what you are willing to do to get money

(4)   love people more than money

(5)   freely share what you have with others (6:18)

Lets Bring it Home: It is often helpful to distinguish between needs and wants.  We may have all we need to live but let ourselves become anxious and discontented over what we merely want.  Like Paul, we can choose to be content without having all that we want.  The only alternative is to be a slave to our desires.

Proverbs 30:32 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: October 30, 2013 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 30:32 “If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth!

Do not speak, unless you have something peaceful and righteous to say, for words of either pride or sin will produce greater evil and harm. If you are guilty for anything, let your words come out very carefully and very slowly. Let every word count for good.

If your conscience or others correct you for arrogance or wickedness, do not attempt to excuse or justify your sins. Humble yourself, confess your error, and thank the reprover. Do not add to your guilt or shame by opening your mouth and making matters worse.

Your mouth is the vent of your heart and mind. If you have not ruled your thoughts, at least rule your mouth by keeping your folly or wickedness to yourself, lest it harm those around you and spread your sin further. This rule is so valuable that even fools can be thought wise by restraining their words and remaining silent (Pr 17:27-28).

Your tongue can be a flame that fires the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell (Jas 3:6). Words can be deadly poison (Jas 3:8). You hold the power of death and life in your mouth (Pr 18:21). Much talking always includes sin (Pr 10:19). You will give an account for every idle word (Matt 12:36), including filthy, foolish, and jesting words (Eph 5:3-7).

Doing foolishly in lifting up yourself is to be puffed up with pride and vaunting yourself against authority or over others. When you have foolishly gone this far, the best choice is to stop talking, otherwise provocative things will be said leading to a greater conflict. Pride is the cause of all fights (Pr 13:10), so the fewer arrogant words spoken the better.

Thinking evil is your imagination fantasizing or lusting for forbidden things, assuming evil motives for another person’s actions, purposing to rebel against authority, or related sins of the mind. Even the thought of foolishness is sin (Pr 24:9). If you have failed to rule your thoughts, you can still rule your mouth to keep your evil from spreading.

Laying your hand over your mouth is a Biblical expression for ending your speech and being silent. Job told his three friends to do this rather than continue their accusations against him (Job 21:5). Job did this himself when confronted by God (Job 40:4). It is what you should do when you feel pride welling up inside or sinful thoughts at work.

The context describes a great king’s authority (Pr 30:31). Wise men will not provoke him with fighting words, for he has the power to destroy (Pr 16:14; 19:12; 20:2; Ec 8:2-5; 10:4). This warning even includes thoughts or private conversations in your bedroom (Ec 10:20). Retorting against authority is folly, but especially against civil rulers (Tit 2:9).

The context also describes the certainty of a fight or war if wrath is pressed (Pr 30:33). A wise man is quick to hear and slow to speak, for he knows that anger does not work the righteousness of God (Jas 1:19-20). He knows that strife in the heart leads to confusion and every evil work, so he refuses to add grievous words to the fire (Pr 15:1; Ja 3:14-18).

The general lesson is valuable. Words take pride and evil imaginations further than intended, provoke others to respond in kind, are impossible to retract, and the damage is difficult to repair, as with offended brothers (Pr 18:19). Therefore, your tongue should be silent in your mouth until and unless there is something peaceful and godly to say.

When pride or evil whet the tongue, its sharp words pierce others, cutting them needlessly and/or starting a fight. It is so much better to choose the tongue of the wise, dealing grace and health to all who hear (Pr 12:18; 10:20-21; 16:24; Col 4:6; Eph 4:29).

What a peacemaker you could be, if you were always first to lay your hand over your mouth (Pr 15:1; 25:15). But alas, the fire that burns inside often forces release and causes damage (Ps 39:1-3). Be quick to hear and slow to speak to make peace (Jas 1:19-20).

Instead of conceited or corrupt speech, choose the gracious and learned tongue of Jesus Christ, Who spoke better than any man ever (Ps 45:2; Is 50:4; Lu 4:22; Jn 7:46). It is gracious and humble words that win the hearts even of kings (Pr 11:16; 22:11; Ec 10:12).

Spiritual Training 30 October 2013

Posted: October 30, 2013 in 1 Timothy, 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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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing, He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 

Paul told Timothy to stay away from those who just wanted to make money from preaching, and from those who strayed from the sound teachings of the gospel into quarrels that caused strife in the church.

Lets Bring it Home: A person’s understanding of the finer points of theology should not become the basis for lording it over others or for making money.  Stay away from people who just want to argue.

Proverbs 29:26 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: October 29, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 29, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 29:26 Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.  

If the sheriff, governor, or president were your friend, he might help you a little, if you needed protection, provision, or avenging. But those who wait on the LORD will receive perfect help in all situations. The LORD by providence dispenses perfect equity and justice to all men. So your great trust should always be in the LORD. Seek Him today.

Natural man looks down. He trusts other men, like parents, employers, legislators, magistrates, or pastors. He expects them to help, when he is in trouble. But their abilities are limited; they also have troubles; their judgment is distorted; and they are often fickle.

Though parents generally love their children very much and want to help them, David said the LORD would still be there when his parents forsook him (Ps 27:10). Men should look to the heavens, from whence cometh their help (Ps 121:1-8). Looking horizontally is foolish, for all you can see are other potsherds, or broken pottery, like yourself (Is 45:9)!

Favour and judgment in this proverb have similar senses. The judgment here is not punishment, but fair and right treatment. Men love friends in high places, for they think that will be an advantage when in need. But promotion, prosperity, and protection are from the LORD. His favour far exceeds what any man can do for you. Trust Him today!

Do you have enemies? Vengeance is His; He will repay (Rom 12:19). Are your cares too heavy? He will bear them for you (I Pet 5:7). Are you lonely? He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:6). Do you have needs? He knows them and will supply (Matt 6:25-33). Are rulers oppressing you? He is higher than they (Eccl 5:8)! Are you afraid? He will hide you in His pavilion and protect you from your enemies (Ps 27:1-6).

Esther married Ahasuerus, King of Persia. She should have been safe. But her husband ignorantly signed a decree into law to exterminate her and her people. She went to the LORD with fasting and prayer, and He wonderfully delivered her and her people. Glory!

Precious Hannah was beloved by her husband Elkanah, but his other wife tormented her painfully. So she took her complaint to the LORD. What Elkanah could not rectify, the blessed God did. Hannah had the great Samuel and five other children to boot! Glory!

David said it well. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish” (Ps 146:3-4). “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes” (Ps 118:8-9).

The only Ruler you should seek favor from is Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He holds your life now and your destiny in the future in His hands, and His approval and blessing are far more important than anyone else’s, no matter how powerful an earthly ruler might be. Obey Him today and seek His blessing with all your might.

Spiritual Training 29 October 2013

Posted: October 29, 2013 in 1 Timothy, 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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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 5:22-25 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others, Keep yourself pure.  Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.  The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.  In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.    

Paul says that a church should never be in a hurry about choosing its leaders, especially the pastor, because major problems or sins might be overlooked.  It is a serious responsibility to choose church leaders.  They must have strong faith and be morally upright, having the qualities described in 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9.

It is unclear why Paul gave this advice to Timothy, Perhaps contaminated water had led to Timothy’s indigestion and so he should stop drinking only water.  Whatever the reason, this statement is not an invitation to overindulgence or alcoholism. (If anyone can explain this please feel free to hit me back)

Lets Bring it Home: Not everyone who wants to be a church leader is eligible.  Be certain of an applicant’s qualifications before asking him or her to take a leadership position.

Spiritual Training 28 October 2013

Posted: October 27, 2013 in 1 Timothy, 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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1 Timothy 5:19-21 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.  Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.  I charge you, in the sight of god and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. 

Church leaders are not exempt from sin, faults, and mistakes.  But they are often criticized for the wrong reasons-minor imperfections; failure to meet someone’s expectations, personality clashes.  Thus Paul said that accusations should not even be heard unless two or three witness confirms them.  Sometimes church leaders should be confronted about their behavior, and sometimes they should be rebuke.  But all rebuking must be done fairly and lovingly, and for the purpose of restoration.

Church leadership is a heavy responsibility, As difficult as it might be, Timothy was not to waver on any of Paul’s instruction (and particularly the instructions about rebuking elders).  Any needed discipline or rebuke must be administered without regard to Timothy’s personal inclinations or favoritism.

Lets Bring it Home: Leadership in the church today must be handled with maturity, faithfulness, godliness, and lack of favoritism.  The health of a body of believers is far more important than playing favorites with someone who is not meeting the standards wet forth here.

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