Posts Tagged ‘god’

Proverbs 03:13 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 3, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 03, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding

How can you be happy? King Solomon told you how. The man who had everything knew more about happiness than anyone. What was his advice? Knowing that wisdom and understanding greatly affect every part of your life, he said to find and get them both.

Daily goals for your life should include seeking wisdom and understanding. They will do more for you than any other thing. They will bring you true happiness and many other blessings. What is your chief ambition in life today? Are you chasing vanity instead?

Solomon taught his son to search for wisdom (Pr 2:1-9); it would save him from much trouble (Pr 2:10-21). To encourage his son, and you as well, in pursuit of it, he described wisdom’s great blessings (Pr 3:14-18). It and understanding can make you happy.

Compared economically, obtaining wisdom and understanding is better than a prosperous business in gold and silver (Pr 3:14). They are of greater value than rubies (Pr 3:15). In fact, wisdom and understanding are more important than anything you could possible seek in your life (Pr 3:15). Financial gain does not give lasting happiness to any man, and it brings enormous worries and problems with it (Pr 23:4-5; Eccl 5:10-17; I Tim 6:9-10).

Wisdom and understanding will give you a long life, riches, and honor (Pr 3:16). They will bring you pleasantness and peace (Pr 3:17). They will be the source of a wonderful life; and if you keep them, you will be very happy (Pr 3:18). There is nothing this world has to offer that can compare. Why waste any more effort chasing their soap bubbles?

If this fabulous description of the benefits of wisdom and understanding were only half true, you should still make getting them a priority. Nothing else you are working for even comes close. But Solomon, king of Israel, knew what he wrote. Having tried every sort of project and pleasure to find profit and happiness in this life, he concluded that wisdom and understanding are the great goals (Pr 8:32-36). Trust his efforts (Pr 25:2; Eccl 2:12).

Wisdom and understanding know the basis and purpose for life and how to deal rightly with each situation life brings. Instead of the hopeless confusion of not knowing what man is here for nor how to handle life’s problems, those with wisdom and understanding find life a pleasant and peaceful experience with much happiness. They are successful and rich, as measured by noble standards, and they are honored among good men.

Wisdom and understanding are built on the foundation of fearing the Lord (Pr 1:7; 9:10). They are increased by rejecting your own ideas and trusting the Lord’s instruction (Pr 3:5-7), which is found in His holy scriptures (II Tim 3:16-17), especially Proverbs. God raised up Solomon and inspired these select proverbs to teach young men, and every reader, wisdom and understanding (Pr 1:1-4). Learning them should be your daily goal.

Every day should include begging God for wisdom (Jas 1:5), repudiating your own folly (Job 33:27), searching the Scriptures for it (Acts 17:11), and doing what you learn (Jas 1:22). With effort applied in these areas, you will find a liberal supply of wisdom and understanding (Pr 2:5,8; 8:17). But you must sacrifice to make this a priority (Pr 18:1).

Ultimate and infinite wisdom and understanding are in the Lord Jesus Christ (Col 2:3). He came to give His elect children the abundant life, as they believe and obey more and more perfectly (John 10:10). In Him is full and unspeakable joy (I Pet 1:8; I John 1:4). Believe on Him and follow His scriptures today for happiness in this world and the next.

Proverbs 1102 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: April 11, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 11, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Pride distorts decision-making ability. An arrogant, conceited, or haughty person will make costly mistakes, but a humble and modest man will clearly see right and wrong, truth and error, wisdom and folly. Your greatness depends on getting rid of all pride.

God inspired King Solomon to be your personal counselor. The wisest king that ever lived wrote down important advice for your success and prosperity. Pride will cause you to make foolish choices that will shame you; humility will lead you to make wise choices.

The worst thing you can have is pride. It will cost you more than any other character fault. Conceit will deceive you into folly, which will quickly and surely shame you. But humility leads to wisdom, which protects men from foolish mistakes and resulting shame.

Do you grasp the importance of this lesson? You will never hear or read a more important warning for your life. Pride will destroy you, but it will destroy you disgracefully and shamefully before all men. Humility will lift you up before both God and good men.

A fool is a horrible thing, as Solomon often taught. But there is a person worse than a fool – a proud fool! He wrote, “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him” (Pr 26:12). There is little hope for a fool – he is a loser; but there is no hope for a proud fool. His arrogance will refuse any instruction or correction.

Pride blinds men. They will not accept wisdom to avoid trouble and shame. They resent being taught or corrected by others. They are overconfident. They arrogantly rush on in their high opinion of their thoughts and ideas. Pride brings folly, which brings shame.

Hate pride and arrogance! Listen to your counselor. He wrote, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Pr 8:13). Fearing God, the key to God’s blessing, requires you to hate pride and arrogance!

Pride is a heinous evil. It began with the devil. It caused Satan’s downfall. Lucifer was not content as God’s anointed cherub; he wanted to be like the most High God (Ezek 28:14; Is 14:14). God threw him out of heaven to his everlasting shame (Jn 12:31; Rev 12:9,12). The smoke of his torment will be heaven’s incense (Matt 25:41; Rev 14:11).

Do you hate pride and arrogance? Pride is the devil’s sin. Pride ruined the glorious life of the universe’s highest creature. Pride caused his everlasting shame and torment. Pride is the worst thing you can have in your life. It will cost you more than any other sin.

Due to pride, Pharaoh, the greatest king of that time, destroyed himself, his family, his nation, and his army (Ex 5:2). Men have laughed at his destruction and shame for the last 3500 years (Ex 15:1-21; I Sam 4:8; 6:6; Neh 9:10; Ps 136:9,15; Rom 9:17). Even children rejoice and laugh at the frogs in Pharaoh’s bed and bread for his pride (Ex 8:3)!

Due to pride, the Philistines fought against Israel, in spite of remembering what God had done to Egypt 500 years earlier (I Sam 4:7-9). After capturing the Ark of God, they put it before their idol Dagon, which fell down and worshipped it (I Sam 5:1-5). God then gave the whole nation an epidemic of hemorrhoids, and the only way they could find relief was to return the Ark with five golden hemorrhoids as a peace offering (I Sam 6:1-5)!

Consider their shame! The whole nation scratched their secret parts (I Sam 5:9), and there was no Preparation H. Their only relief was to mold five golden hemorrhoids. God laughed at their shame! He inspired Psalm 78:66 for this event, which rejoices, “And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.” Indeed! They were put to perpetual shame for pride. What a peace offering! Who modeled for them!

Due to pride, Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest and most glorious king of all time, spent seven years crawling around a field on his hands and knees. He ate grass like an ox; his hairs grew out like eagle feathers; and his nails grew out like bird claws (Dan 4:33). And he wrote the whole story down and sent it to his entire empire in their languages (Dan 4:1-3)! What trouble! What shame! And it was all because of pride (Dan 4:30-31)!

Due to pride, Herod Agrippa I, the King of Judea from 37-44 AD, who killed the apostle James and tried to kill the apostle Peter, was struck by the angel of God and eaten of worms, for proudly receiving excessive praise from the citizens of Tyre and Sidon (Acts 12:1-4,20-23). Josephus confirms his death in his history (Antiquities; Book 19; 8:2).

Do not forget the Tower of Babel, Miriam, Korah, Balaam, Uzziah, Haman, Absalom, and Belshazzar. These are other examples of shameful consequences for pride. But now, celebrating the shame of others, which is truly an act of holy worship to God, is over. It is your turn. Where is pride in your life? Look closely. Look carefully. Do you ever feel pride puffing you up? Does it cause you to bristle or burn with envy at success of others?

What is pride? It is a high or conceited opinion of your own qualities, accomplishments, or assets, which leads to feelings and an attitude of superiority over and contempt for others; it is inordinate self-esteem. What is conceit? It is an overweening opinion of yourself, overestimation of your own qualities, and personal vanity or pride.

Pride thinks you are important. Pride enjoys conversations and events about you. Pride believes your thoughts and opinions are right. Pride resents correction and instruction. Pride envies the advantages, abilities, or honors of others. Pride ignores asking others for advice. Pride looks down on others. Read this description again, dear reader.

God is jealous. His name is Jealous (Ex 34:14). He is able, and He will, abase those who walk in pride (Dan 4:37; Job 40:11-12). He sees and knows the very thoughts and intents of your heart (Heb 4:12). You must examine yourself closely, find the seeds of pride in your life, and root them out quickly and completely. He will help you, if you will ask.

In God’s sight, you are nothing, and less than nothing (Ps 39:5; 62:9; 113:6; Is 40:17). You are a worm before Him (Job 25:6). You are a mere creature whose breath is in your nostrils (Is 2:22). Therefore, He hates the proud, and He will crush them like a moth and melt them like wax (Pr 6:16-17; Ps 39:11; 68:2). Wisdom learns to love this truth.

Pride is a temptation for every man, and one of Satan’s favorite devices (I Jn 2:16). He tempted Eve to be like God, and he tempted Jesus Christ with the kingdoms of the world. Your depraved heart is filled with it by nature. You are already a proud fool, if you think you do not have a problem or temptation with it. Only those who know they are proud are learning humility. To think you have beaten pride is to prove your arrogant conceit!

Today pride is exalted and promoted by calling it self-esteem or self-confidence, and then it is taught as the cure for many of man’s problems. Books are sold about looking out for number one, and songs are sung about self-love as the greatest love of all. Social media is considered nearly necessary for life, though it is little more than narcissistic conceit.

You must start at home. You must root pride out of your own soul, and then you must root it out of your family. Parents must make it the highest priority to teach humility and eliminate visible pride from their children. Pastors must root it out of their churches.

Ministers cannot have pride or self-will (I Tim 3:6; Tit 1:7), for it will cause them to run amok in the work of God. They cannot be self-promoters. Teachers and rulers must first be humble enough to examine themselves critically and to learn from others, before they should be put in a position to teach and examine others (I Tim 4:16; II Tim 2:15).

Pride causes folly, which brings shame. It blinds men, because they presume they are always right (Pr 12:15; 14:16; 26:12; 28:26). So they reject and resent counsel and correction that could help them (Pr 21:24; 22:3). They disrespect those in authority. They make hasty decisions, for they cannot possibly be wrong (Pr 14:29; 19:2; 28:22; 29:20).

Pride causes strife, for proud men will fight to defend their ideas or position (Pr 13:10; 21:24; 28:25). They cannot stoop to serve others, unless it serves them best. And they will not admit mistakes to God or men. Such a course will lead a man to foolish decisions and stubborn rebellion and their horrible consequences – destruction and shame!

Lowliness is wisdom. The humble man does not trust his knowledge or motives, trembles before God’s word, appreciates and esteems the advice of others, takes correction cheerfully, quickly confesses mistakes, and alters his life accordingly. He will be blessed.

Humility is the sure road to wisdom, which saves a man from trouble and shame, but only the lowly ever find it. The proud are blinded from true wisdom by their conceit, and the jealous God of heaven will keep them blinded, so He can bless His humble and modest children with wisdom (Matt 11:25-27). Can you see the importance of getting down?

God will never bless a man with a proud spirit (Pr 16:5). He draws near to the man with a humble spirit (Is 57:15; 66:2; I Pet 5:5-6). If you choose pride, God will resist you and humble you painfully (Pr 16:18; 18:12). If you choose humility cheerfully, God will raise you up gloriously (Luke 14:11). It is far better to be a poor humble man than to be a rich proud man, for God will soon make a great reversal of fortune (Pr 16:19). Look for it!

Jesus Christ showed the greatest humility and wisdom, when He came from heaven’s glory to live in poverty and die in obscurity and pain (Phil 2:5-8). He despised the shame of His humility (Heb 12:2). But God has now highly exalted Him far above all principalities and powers, yea, even far above the devil and all his angels (Phil 2:9-11; Eph 1:20-23). There is no more humility in the Blessed and Only Potentate, for He is worthy of all your praise and adoration. Let Him be your glory and worship, not yourself.

Spiritual Training 10 April 2013

Posted: April 10, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Under Gods Command
Romans 09:11-14 Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad – in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls-she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “ I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Was it right for God to choose Jacob, the younger to be over Esau? In Malachi 1:2,3. The statement “Jacob I love, but Esau I hated” refers to the nations of Israel and Edom rather then to the individual brothers. God chose Jacob to continue the family line of the faithful because he knew his heart was for God. But he did not exclude Esau from knowing and loving him.

Lets Bring it Home: Keep in mind the kind of God we worship: he is sovereign; he is not arbitrary; in all things he works for our good; he is trustworthy; he will save all who believe in him. When we understand these qualities of God, we know that his choices are good even if we don’t understand all the reasons.

 

Proverbs 13:20 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: March 13, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 13, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Under Gods Command
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grow wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm

You are the company you keep. This well-known saying is a short and weak version of Solomon’s true warning. Here is one of the most valuable proverbs for your advancement.

Though you may be wise, foolish friends will eventually destroy you. Though you may be foolish, wise friends will show and teach you success. This is an easy way to prosper.

What a simple rule for wisdom and life! Get rid of foolish friends, and choose the wise for friends. You will grow in wisdom and avoid much trouble in life. Good athletes use superior competition to bring out their best, even if it means frequent training losses.

Giving up your friends is hard. You may believe the lie you can resist foolish friends. Or you may find your best friends are fools. Or your foolish friends may be popular, costing you status with peers. Or you may naively think you can help foolish friends.

The Bible declares, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (I Cor: 15:33). The warning about deception is to save you, since many think friends are not dangerous. But if you allow an evil input in your life, you will lose your good manners.

How did Lot, Abraham’s nephew, end up in a cave with nothing but his two daughters pregnant by his incest? How? He moved toward Sodom and made friends in that wicked city (Gen 13:12). What a disaster for him, his wife, and five daughters. Be not deceived!

The best parents monitor every friend, for foolish friends are a great threat to children and youth. Many decent parents make schooling decisions to protect their children, but fail to monitor individual friends from school, work, church, family, sports, and neighbors.

This is one of the most important things you can do for the success of your children. Read the proverb again. The results are certain, but children and youth are not wise enough to choose their own friends, so you must reduce their choices to those meeting the criteria.

Fools cannot be real friends to a child of God. It is impossible, for they are incompatible by nature. They have nothing of value to offer. What is a fool? They do not fear God (Pr 1:7; Rom 16:17-18). Ignore your feelings or past history, and cut off your foolish friends.

David rejected fools (Ps 1:1; 101:1-8; 119:115); he chose friends of those fearing God (Ps 119:63,79). Did he have good friends? He had Jonathan (I Sam 18:1-4; 20:16-17; 23:16; II Sam 1:26)! He had King Hiram (I Kgs 5:1)! He had Ittai the Gittite (II Sam 15:21)!

How can you get rid of foolish friends? Be unavailable. Or hang around wise people, and foolish friends will flake off, because they do not like wise people. Or say you cannot do former activities due to conscience or Bible. Or tell them plainly your friendship is over.

How can you find wise friends? Look in faithful churches of Jesus Christ around the world, though these churches are few in number with few members. It is in these churches that God’s faithful children gather around the God and truth taught there.

Godly men are lovers of good men, so you must learn to discriminate wisely (Tit 1:8; Ps 16:3). Men can easily be ranked on a scale of virtue and wisdom, so wise men move toward those on the top of the scale, even selecting friends from a church’s membership.

How far should you flee fools? Very far! Do not go in their direction (Ps 1:1; Pr 1:10,15; 4:15; 9:6), and have no fellowship with them (Pr 14:7; Am 3:3; Eph 5:11-12)! Your soul and future are at stake. Find the way of good men, and go in that direction (Pr 2:20-21).

Marriage is picking a companion for life! Use this proverb for a spouse. Carefully prove a personal and independent fear of God, the prerequisite of wisdom. If you do, wisdom will guide and bless your marriage and family. If you do not, both will be severely damaged.

The friends you need above all others are God Himself and Jesus Christ. Abraham was God’s friend for carefully obeying Him and passionately worshipping Him (Jas 2:23). Jesus loved Lazarus, Mary, and Martha for similar reasons (Jn 11:1-5). What about you?

Proverbs 11:30 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: March 12, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 11, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

What is a great life? A life well lived? A noble life with purpose and value? It is a man with this epitaph: “He loved God more than all others; he was a tree of life to all others.”

Why are you alive? What is your purpose? You have two goals – to love God and help others. Pleasure is not your goal, but fulfilling these callings brings the greatest pleasure.

Are you a tree of life? A righteous man affects the lives of others for good. Are you a soul winner? A wise man will work to save the lives of those around him. The second commandment in the Christian religion, after loving God, is to love others. The most loving thing you can do for another person is to help them to a godly and wise life.

Great persons are trees of life – winning souls from sin and folly to righteousness and truth. There is no higher calling, in your relationships with others, than to help them by providing correction and instruction to please their Creator and enjoy the abundant life of godliness and wisdom. The highest measure of love is perfecting others before God.

A tree of life bears all the fruit of godliness, truth, and wisdom. This helps men find the good and peaceful existence that pleases God and profits them. A soul winner has a life-changing effect on those around him. By example and counsel, he saves and improves the lives of those sick and dying in ignorance and folly. Jesus called it being fishers of men.

There are two clauses in this proverb. Are they merely repetitive, or is one slightly better than the other? Righteous men by their lives bear the fruit of godliness, which others are able to pick and have better lives because of them. But slightly better than that is the wise man who actively puts forth winsome efforts to attract and persuade others to godliness.

This proverb does not teach any man can save a soul from eternal hell to heaven. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can do that. The divine transaction that makes men accepted before God is only by His will, purpose, and grace and the singular obedience of Jesus Christ Himself (Jn 1:13; 5:21; Rom 5:12-19; 9:15-16,21-24; Eph 1:3-12; II Tim 1:9; Heb 1:3).

God chose His people to eternal life and will glorify every one of them in heaven soon (Ro 8:28-39; Tit 1:1-2). He assigned Jesus Christ to live a perfect life for them and to die a substitutionary death for them, and He will not lose a single one (Jn 6:37-39; 10:26-29; 17:2). But it is your gospel privilege to show this truth to God’s elect (II Tim 2:10; 1:10).

Solomon did not have any vain idea like modern soul winners that he could fill heaven by getting men to repeat the sinner’s prayer. He never spent one minute writing tracts to the Philistines to scare them to invite Jesus into their hearts. He wrote this inspired proverb to encourage God’s people to help each other advance in godliness, truth, and wisdom.

This proverb does teach you can save a soul from error and folly, which cost men their fellowship with God and lead them to trouble and destruction in this life. Wisdom leads to the good life (Pr 3:18; 4:13; 8:35), and righteous men help others find it. Folly causes men pain and death, and wise men will help others out of it (Pr 8:36; 11:19; 13:14-15).

James described soul winning, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (Jas 5:19-20). True soul winning is of brethren, from error to truth, which is conversion. Only God can regenerate a man from death to life. Men need conversion many times, after God regenerates once.

Parents can save their children from death and hell by using the rod and reproof wisely (Pr 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 29:15). Though Solomon used the words death and hell, he did not mean you can save your child from the eternal lake of fire by child discipline. But you can save him from hell on earth and an untimely death by use of reproof and the rod.

Solomon, as a loving father, spent many proverbs seeking to save his son from the death and hell of a whore or adulteress (Pr 2:18-19; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; 22:14; 23:27-28). Many lives have suffered the horrible pain of fornication and adultery, and it is death and hell in several respects. Good fathers save the souls of sons (and daughters) from this danger.

This loving father also warned his son about odious women, to save him from a painful marriage (Pr 12:4; 14:1; 19:13-14; 21:9,19; 25:24; 27:15-16; 30:23). King Lemuel’s mother lovingly gave her son a lengthy description of the virtuous woman to save his life with a great wife (Pr 31:1-3,10-31). Many parents shirk these clear duties (Pr 1:8; 6:20).

Think of your family! Men, you should be proactively leading (Gen 18:19; Deut 6:6-9; Josh 24:15; I Cor 14:34-35). Mothers, you have your role (II Tim 1:5; 3:15; Tit 2:3-5). Siblings, be like Andrew, who told his brother Peter about Jesus (Jn 1:40-42). Be like Philip, who found and told Nathaniel (Jn 1:43-46). Start first with your own family!

Forget foreign missions until you have been a missionary at home. You do not need to plant a church in another country until you have planted seeds of truth and wisdom with those around you. There are people right now that you could seek to save today from pain or trouble caused by error, folly, or sin. Do not look for greener pastures. Start at home.

Have you helped those deluded by Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism? Have you helped others get free from Sabbatarianism, the superstition that Saturday for Israel still applies? Have you corrected the damning delusions of Mariolatry and other heresies of Roman Catholicism? Have you protected family and friends from Benny Hinn and Joseph Smith?

Have you helped others have a better marriage by example, instruction, or warning? How about better finances by the same three means? How many have you helped with child training, career progression, getting along with others, submitting to government and avoiding rabble rousers, altering speech habits, honoring parents, and knowing the Bible?

You are to warn others about sin, which is true love (Lev 19:17). Read it. This is serious business. If you have opportunity, speak up about backbiting, bitterness, complaining, cremation, drunkenness, envy, evil surmising, foolish talking, fornication, gluttony, grudges, horoscopes, jesting, malice, mode of baptism, pagan holidays, pride, purloining, scorn, sedition, self-love, slander, sodomy, talebearing, temperance, witchcraft, etc., etc.

Reader, are you a tree of life? Are others thankful for you helping them please God? Do you win souls? How many have you turned to the truth? Are you known for wisdom hanging from your branches? Are you a lighthouse from life’s storms for those in need? Do you help others acquire wisdom and its benefits? You must answer these questions.

When you are with others, what do you talk about? Do you gently bring all conversations back to profitable purposes for their good and God’s glory? You should be conscientious on the phone as well. What is the content of your emails like? What do you text to others – the weather or a sports score? What could you text? What could you tweet? Get busy!

Are you ready to win others? There are two basics. First, you must set a godly example by total submission to God and good works (I Pet 3:15; Matt 5:16; Tit 2:1-10). Second, you need to learn God’s truth and wisdom to be able to give certain words of truth to those asking due to your successful life (I Pet 3:15; Pr 22:17-21). Will you win others?

It takes only a little knowledge to believe something. It takes more knowledge to be able to teach something – to be a soul winner like this proverb. Are you ready? It takes a great deal of knowledge to defend the truth against fools and scorners. Paul had to rebuke Hebrew Christians for not being ready for even level two soul winning (Heb 5:12-14).

The more you know by study and preparation, the less likely you will lose control and graciousness in a discussion (Pr 15:2,28; 13:16; 16:23; 29:11; I Pet 3:15). A godly man is gracious from a pure heart (Pr 22:11; Eccl 10:12; Col 4:6). His words are health and kindness (Pr 15:4; 12:18). He is never hasty but hears out a person first (Pr 18:13; 29:20).

How much have you truly helped those who have known you? Are they pleasing God with their lives, and much of that is due to your efforts toward them? Are they enjoying the abundant and prosperous life of a person walking with God? Are they thankful for the enriching effect you have had on their lives by showing them the truth in word and deed?

How many have you helped among your acquaintances? Ten? A hundred? How many are further leveraging your life by being trees of life to yet others? Many adore multi-level marketing for overpriced candles or cosmetics, but here is the best use of the concept. How big is your downline of those who know God’s truth and wisdom because of you?

God has great delight in those who turn others to righteousness. Daniel praised the coming ministers of the New Testament, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Dan 12:3). Is this a chief goal for your life? How well are you meeting it?

Earn your epitaph, “He loved God more than all others; he was a tree of life to all others.”

Spiritual Training 08 March 2013

Posted: March 8, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Under Gods Command
More than Conquerors

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the goo of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God works in “all things” not just isolated incidents-for our good. This does not mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long-range good. Note that God is not working to make us happy, but to fulfill his purpose. Note also that this promise is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Those who are “called” are those Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ. Such people have a new perspective, a new mind-set on life. They trust in God, not life’s treasures; they look for their security in heaven, not on earth; they learn to accept, not resent, pain and persecution because God is with them.

Lets Bring it Home: We always here that God works out everything for the good. But, remember, you have to love him. A lot of times I hear people leave that out. In order to love someone, don’t you have to get to know him do build trust (Faith) in the person? Don’t be like me when I first got save, shouting I love you Lord in Church when I really did not know him. Its when I told God “I don’t love you, but help me to get to know you” is when I started a real relationship with Him, when God directed me to read the 4 Gospels about his son Jesus. The more I read, the more I became in Love with Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Training 04 March 2013

Posted: March 4, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Under Gods Command
Future Glory

Romans 8:18-22 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Sin has caused all creation to fall from the perfect state in which God created it. So the world is subject to frustration and bondage to decay so that it cannot fulfill its intended purpose. One day all creation will be liberated and transformed. Until that time it waits in eager expectation for the resurrection of God’s children.

Christians see the world as it is-physically decaying and spiritually infected with sin. But Christians do not need to be pessimistic, because they have hope for future glory. They look forward to the new heaven and new earth that God has promised, and they wait for God’s new order that will free the world of sin, sickness, and evil. In the meantime, Christians go with Christ into the world where they heal people’s bodies and souls and fight the evil effects of sin in the world.

Lets Bring it Home: We need to keep fighting and hanging out with Christ, healing people and saving souls. Are you looking for your future glory, or are you searching for your glory here on earth?

Proverbs 27:12 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: February 27, 2013 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
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 27:12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it

Be careful! Be cautious! Do not get surprised! What could happen that might hurt you? Optimism is risky; pessimism is safe. Learn wisdom. Prudent men look ahead and adjust their lives to avoid loss, pain, or trouble. Wise men are vigilant to spot changes coming that could cost them, and so they avoid them. Foolish men live day by day without regard to the future and get caught by life’s frequent changes, and so they are hurt by them.

Some get laid off with savings, a transferable skill, and another job waiting. Others lose their jobs, have no financial cushion, are untrained, and hurt their families and do not know what to do. Some manage the number and timing of their children to be excellent parents. Others reproduce like rabbits not considering the cost, effort, time, or wisdom to get them all to adulthood with character, careers, clothing, cars, and noble spouses!

Do you believe most of what you hear or read? Are you decisive and opinionated? Be careful! Wise men are cautious, critical, pessimistic, and skeptical about unproven assertions or situations. They do not believe all they hear or read, and they do not make decisions without carefully analyzing possible danger (Pr 14:15). Only foolish simpletons naively view the future and rush forward optimistically. And they get punished for it.

Prudence is the power of discernment. It is the discretion or practical wisdom to detect problems or dangers in any situation and avoid them by altering actions to find the most profitable course. Obviously, prudent men move more slowly than fools, because they know that hasty or heady decisions are risky (Pr 14:29; 19:2; 21:5; 25:8; 29:20; II Tim 3:4). This rule for wise living is so important that Solomon repeated it for you (Pr 22:3).

A prudent man – one with cautious discretion – looks ahead and sees fallacies or risks. He hides himself from their danger by altering his beliefs or his actions. He will never be caught believing lies or walking into a trap. On the other hand, simpletons blithely let life happen to them. They do not question what they believe or what they are doing. They keep going forward and get clobbered repeatedly by dangers and risks they overlooked.

Of course, your foolish spirit wants to do what it wants to do, and it wants to do it now! Foolish companions and peer pressure further encourage this insane approach to life. It is prudence – a component of wisdom – that slows men down to consider what they are doing. Only wise men look at every angle in a complete circle – circumspection – before making decisions (Eph 5:15-17). Fools rush ahead in blind zeal and ignorant confidence.

Wise men will not believe anything or do anything, until they prove God’s truth or will in the matter. The Bereans were commended for testing even Paul’s preaching, and the Thessalonians were commanded to do it (Acts 17:11; I Thess 5:21). It is fools that believe the evening news, Ben Spock’s childcare hallucinations, testimonials of any kind, think tanks of the left and the right, or any man because he calls himself a reverend or a doctor!

If it is not a matter of religion or morality, they practice the wisdom of Solomon’s proverbs (Pr 1:1-4), they seek safety in a multitude of counselors (Pr 11:14; 24:6), and they hide like the coney from risk (Pr 30:26; 6:1-5). They do not trust their own opinions (Pr 26:12; 16:2,25; 21:2). They could not care less what everyone else is doing (Ex 23:2). They do not believe anything without strong and tested evidence (Pr 14:15; 13:16).

The best way to become prudent is to learn the Bible (Ps 19:7-11; 119:98-100; II Tim 3:16-17). It contains the truth of God and His will for successful living. The book of Proverbs is Solomon’s inspired rules for a prosperous life. Without God’s truth and precepts, you will be vulnerable to the folly of feelings and vain ideas of men. Without instruction from God’s ministers, you will be tossed to and fro by crafty deceivers (Eph 4:14). You need to be in a Bible-preaching church to fully grow in prudence and wisdom.

Are you prudent to save some of all income, so future financial difficulties can be avoided (Pr 30:25)? Do you insure major assets against catastrophic loss, so you cannot be wiped out (Pr 22:26-27)? Are you very cautious about marriage, either your own or your children’s, to prudently avoid the odious woman (Pr 30:21-23; 31:30)? Have you looked ahead to see if your job, profession, or business will be needed in the future (Pr 27:23-24)? Have you trained your children to avoid them ruining your future (Pr 29:15)?

Have you acquired a transferable skill, or are you unskilled and subject to layoffs (Pr 24:27)? Do you invest in high-yield opportunities, or do you question deals that sound too good to be true? Have you been reading some new version of the Bible without examining its origin, text, and fruit? Do you prove everything you hear at church, or do you assume it to be right? Have you vigorously examined the training of your children to maximize its potential? Do you treat your spouse God’s way to build a lasting marriage?

Did you fall for Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” or did you recognize it as an animated crucifix for Roman Catholicism? Are you a purpose-driven Christian, or do you see the horrible compromise of seeker sensitive Rick Warren (II Tim 4:3-4)? Have you read the “Left Behind” novels, or do you know the antichrist comes before Jesus Christ’s return (II Thess 2:3)? Do you endorse Jim Dobson’s permissive child training, or do you stick with the old paths of inspired Scripture (Pr 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Jer 6:16)?

The book of Proverbs was inspired by God and written by Solomon to teach you wisdom. The rule of wisdom in this proverb is to be prudently cautious about everything you believe and do, lest you believe a lie or expose yourself to danger. Only fools press forward without critical and skeptical analysis. The Lord is offering safety from frauds and risk, if you will slow down and prove all things (I Thess 5:21). If you continue to let life happen to you without cautious inspection, you will be repeatedly punished.

The greatest future danger you face is the judgment throne of Jesus Christ, when He will examine everything you have done in life (Eccl 12:13-14; Rom 14:10-12; II Cor 5:10-11; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:11-15). It is time to wake up from sleeping and began living a holy life to hide from that day (Rom 13:11-14; Eph 5:3-7; I Tim 6:17-19). Only a wicked fool eats, drinks, and makes merry without regard for the Day of Judgment that is fast approaching. Those obsessed with the foolish pleasures of this life will soon be punished for eternity.

Proverbs 29:03 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: January 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
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 29:3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

Children can make or break parents. A son loving wisdom brings great joy to his parents. A foolish son befriending whores grieves their hearts, as they watch his ruinous lifestyle.

This proverb should demand your close attention. There is much more here than just an observation by Solomon. There is a lesson and warning for both parents and children.

Parents should fear this painful disappointment and great waste of their lives. They should soberly and faithfully fulfill their duties to commit their children to the Lord, pray for their children, exemplify godly living, and never relax Bible methods to train them.

Children should consider the terror not stated in this proverb. From the rest of Solomon’s proverbs and the rest of the Bible, God clearly warns of horrible destruction coming to children that grieve their parents (Pr 20:20; 30:11,17; Deut 27:16; Eph 6:2-3; I Tim 5:8).

The warning that children affect parents – bringing them joy or sorrow – has been repeated in other proverbs (Pr 10:1; 15:20; 17:21,25; 19:13; 23:15-28; 27:11; 28:7). But there are details given in this proverb that expand the lesson for your learning.

As with many of the proverbs, there are two clauses that should be compared and contrasted, carefully and completely, in all their details. A hasty reading without due consideration will cost the reader the full lesson and warning that God gave Solomon.

A son pleasing his father loves wisdom, is sexually pure, and financially prudent. These three things are intended, though two are unstated, by reading the second clause. A son that hates wisdom, hangs out with whores, and is a spendthrift grieves his father, where hating wisdom and grieving his father is understood by reading the first clause.

A son that loves wisdom is a prince. Loving wisdom is as high as the bar can go – it proves a noble son and brings God’s favor in his life (Pr 8:17,21; Eccl 12:1). Wisdom is the principal thing, and it is a good man’s chief goal (Pr 4:7; 16:16; Eccl 7:12; 9:16-18). If a father wonders about his son’s heart, he only needs to measure his love of wisdom.

What is wisdom? It is the power of right judgment, including the knowledge that eternal things of heaven far outstrip the temporal things of this life. What is the love of wisdom? It is the aggressive zeal to sacrifice the things of this life so esteemed by others in order to obtain the better things of the next life despised by others (Pr 18:1; Heb 11:24-26).

What is wisdom? It is an independent, active, zealous fear of God (Pr 1:7; 9:10; 23:17). It is to hate evil (Pr 8:13; 16:6; Ps 97:10; 119:128). It is to study God’s word (Ps 19:7-11; Ps 1:1; 119:11; II Tim 2:15). It is the love of Christ, the Man of wisdom (II Cor 5:14-17; Col 2:3). It is to hate foolish and evil men (Pr 13:20; 29:27; Ps 15:4; 101:3; I Cor 15:33).

A young man’s wisdom will result in a disciplined and temperate approach to sex and money. He will be a virgin when he marries; he will marry only in the Lord; he will wait for his father’s approval; he will be faithful to one wife for life. He hates foolish and whorish women, and he avoids them with great care (Pr 2:16-19; 5:8-13; 6:20-26; 7:1-5).

He will work hard, give liberally, save frugally, avoid debt, and build his estate with a prudent eye to the future. Wisdom includes financial understanding, though by itself it proves nothing beyond ants and squirrels. But coupled with the fear of the Lord, strong men retain riches (Pr 11:16). He climbs professionally by godly methods (Pr 22:11,29).

Parents rejoice at such a life, knowing God is glorified, the kingdom of heaven served, and their family tree in good hands. They rejoice in heart; they praise him; they share their joy. They live confidently with his life defending them (Pr 27:11; Ps 127:5). They thankfully approach their departure from this life, knowing they have left a godly legacy.

On the other hand are parents stricken with grief and guilt – a calamity of pain and shame for them (Pr 17:25; 19:13; 29:15,17). The fool they created and formed hates wisdom, loves folly, rebels against authority, hangs with whores and whoremongers, and wastes his living and theirs. He is a shame to them and a stench to others. He breaks their hearts.

This young man rejects instruction and scorns those that try. He lasciviously approaches life, thinking he can pick his friends, including girlfriends, and live any way he chooses. He does not care what pain or shame he causes his parents, for he cannot think outside his own little worthless life. He does not fear God, and he mocks those that do. He is a fool.

This fool proves his ignorance by befriending whores, no matter what his IQ, for a wise man would not (Pr 7:7). One sin leads to others, in this case financial trouble, because whores seek a man’s money (Pr 5:10; Luke 15:30). If whores can destroy kings, they will surely destroy this ignorant simpleton (Pr 31:3). He wastes his assets and damns his soul.

Consider Esau. He grieved his parents Isaac and Rebekah by marrying Hittite girls (Gen 26:34-35), so they sent Jacob to their home country to get a real woman that feared God (Gen 28:1-5). On his way there, he promised God 10% of anything God gave him (Gen 28:20-22). But what did foolish and profane Esau do, wanting to please his parents in his perverse way? He married an Ishmaelite (Gen 28:6-9)! Amazing ignorance and folly!

Parents can rank children by wisdom, sexual temperance, and financial discipline, which ought to be of concern to children. They should realize they can easily rise in approval of God and parents by being wise. Child, let nothing hold you back from loving wisdom, from sexual integrity and marital faithfulness, and from financial prudence (Pr 23:15-28).

One Son gave His Father perfect joy – Jesus Christ (Matt 3:7; 12:18; 17:5). He perfectly loved wisdom, sought it, and obeyed it His entire life (Is 11:1-5). He only dealt with harlots to demand repentance, which He did with great success (Matt 21:28-32; Luke 7:36-50). He also demanded financial integrity of friend and foe (Luke 21:1-4; John 2:13-17; 12:1-8). Let Him be your example and ambition of pleasing your Father in heaven.

Proverbs 22:13 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: January 22, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 22, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
Tags: , , , , ,
0

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 22:13 – The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!” or, “I will be murdered in the streets!”

 This proverb refers to an excuse a lazy person might use to avoid going to work.  The excuse sounds silly to us, but that’s often how our excuses sound to others.  Don’t rationalize laziness.  Take your responsibilities seriously and get to work.

Lazy people always have excuses! They see difficulty in any job. They arrogantly reject good explanations of successful men that a task can be done (Pr 26:16). They are lazy, and they use their conceited minds to convince themselves and others to avoid the work.

Challenges are opportunities! They mean the lazy will not be competing, so there is more for you. They mean the wages or profit will be more. They mean the honor for finishing will be higher. They mean the skill and experience acquired will be greater. Consider it!

Difficulties are challenges to the diligent, but excuses to the slothful. Adversity means a little more effort to the diligent, but it quickly defeats the slothful. Any difficulty is enough for him to cancel his plans and quit, for the lion in the streets might slay him!

He wants the good things of life, but his hands refuse to labor (Pr 19:24; 21:25), so he makes up ridiculous excuses to justify himself. He prefers his bed or toys (Pr 6:9-10). He dreads the thought of exertion, persistence, or pain. Though he and all wise men know that lions prefer the hills and woods, he makes up preposterous pretenses to avoid work.

These are the words of a lazy person. He knows the city streets are not this bad, but he uses his wild excuse to justify himself to others. The excuses lazy people use are Legion. As long as sluggards exist, lions and other dangerous beasts will roam cities and threaten lives! Such excuses are so common, the LORD left a twin for this proverb (Pr 26:13)!

Seven successful men might prove there is no lion, but a man that hates work will still argue that there is danger (Pr 26:16). He has convinced himself of difficulty in order to keep from making an effort; the sound reasoning of diligent men is easily brushed aside! Lazy men can explain away their responsibilities with a thousand ridiculous excuses.

His lazy lie may be self-fulfilling, for the slothful have a rough time with easy projects (Pr 15:19). The more a slothful man considers the difficulty of a job, the more difficult it will be. His half-hearted efforts make anthills seem like mountains! He claims fear of the lion, but forgets that men are the masters of lions and may hunt them for mere sport.

It has been said, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. These words did not originate with a lazy man, for tough going is his reason to quit and look for easier work. Diligent men believe and practice them, and they find great reward in their own souls and from one another for their zealous and persistent efforts in business (Pr 14:14; 22:29).

 

Procrastination and hypochondria are sins. They are excuses of cowardly and lazy men (Rom 12:11). Ask a lazy man why he is not happy, and he will fill your ears with his aches and pains. You would think Job exists in every generation! Ask a lazy man why he did not finish the job today, and he will fill your ears with how tomorrow is better and a sure thing. The problem is, he will say similar things tomorrow about the next day!

 

Distraction is a sin. If you have a job or business, diligence is God’s order (Rom 12:11). Faithfulness is a virtue (Pr 13:17; 25:13; 28:20). It is your God-given duty to apply effort as wisely as possible to make the most possible. In America, is your annual salary or net profit twice your age? It is an indicator. If you are behind, why? What has you distracted?

 

Dereliction is a sin. If you have a diligent and faithful spouse, that does not relieve you at all of your duties before God, unless it is by full mutual agreement after consulting with God’s word and wise counselors. Get up and get out – there is no lion! But the Lion of the tribe of Judah will stalk slothful men, for only diligent producers are in His kingdom.

 

What is the cure for fear and sloth? Get out in the street! Charge your duties with zeal! It will amaze you how empty the streets are of opposition, when you face them head on. The morning is only dark and cold while you cuddle in a warm bed with the light off. Get out of the bed and turn the light on, and you will be surprised at things are better already!

 

Ten fearful and slothful spies forgot God’s great works in saving them from Egypt and told Israel that Canaan would be too difficult for them to take (Num 13:26-33). Instead of the lion in the streets, they used the giants and grasshoppers excuse. “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Num 13:33). Poor boys! They died like dogs in the wilderness for their lack of faith and diligence to take the promise land!

 

Jesus gave varied funds to three men (Matt 25:14-30). Two invested theirs and earned a nice return and the high praise of their Lord. The other was a slothful loser, who buried his talent in the ground, out of intimidation and slothfulness. His excuse was that his Lord was too severe in His expectations. Poor boy! His talent was taken away and given to the man with ten. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer in the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus Christ has called you to carry your cross daily (Luke 9:23). How will you respond? Will you dread the effort and shrink from your profession into carnal backsliding (Phil 3:18-19; Heb 10:38-39)? Or will you count up the cost and labor to pay it in full for the glory of your beloved paymaster (Luke 14:25-33)? Will you take it up today, reader?

 

If you see a lion in the way of either natural or spiritual projects, remember His precious promise, “Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet” (Ps 91:13). Let it never be said of you, “The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle” (Ps 78:9).

 

When it comes to spiritual duties and pleasing God in heaven, there is indeed a lion in the streets that seeks to devour you – the devil himself (I Pet 5:8). But if you will resist him, he will flee from you (Jas 4:7). If you will get out of bed and take the whole armor of God that He has provided, you can stand against his wiles (Eph 6:10-18; 5:14-16; 4:27).

 

The promises of God are obtained by the zealous, not the slothful (Heb 6:9-12). Jesus obtained His crown by facing and enduring the lion in several encounters (Ps 22:11-21; Matt 4:1-11; Heb 12:1-3). Rejoice, reader, that Jesus did not hide from the lion without, or you would die in your sins. Consider His holy example and follow it in all your duties!

 

 

Older Entries
Newer Entries