Posts Tagged ‘spirituality’

Proverbs 28:14 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: February 28, 2013 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 28:14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble

Are you happy? Are you as happy as you could be? When God and Solomon mention happiness, you should listen! Here is a rule for life from the wisest king about happiness. Those who have tried both sides of this proverb know it is perfectly true. Be happy today!

All men want to be happy and avoid trouble, and here is how. You need a relationship with your Creator. Without Him, you are a lost speck in the universe. If you always fear God, you will be happy. But if you rebel against Him, your life will fill with trouble. May Almighty God of the Bible bless you with grace and strength to fear Him starting today.

Is it the fear of God here? Yes, for that is the theme of Proverbs (Pr 1:7); it is the whole duty of man (Ec 12:13); no other fear brings happiness (Pr 29:25); it is the opposite of hardening your heart (Is 63:17); mischief results from not having it (Ps 36:1-2); and it properly follows the confession of sins to God necessary for prosperity (Pr 28:13).

How often or for how long should you fear God? You should always fear Him, even when you are not happy. The LORD may withdraw temporarily from a God-fearing man, like Job, thus reducing his happiness; but He will return with additional blessings in the end, like Job as well. Your happiness and success depend on always fearing God.

What is the fear of God? It is to love God. Everything you do should be for His glory (I Cor 10:31). You should guard your life carefully, lest you break His commandments and displease Him. You should circumspectly examine every thought, word, deed, and plan. You should ask, Is this choice agreeable to Him? Will this activity bring Him pleasure?

Can happiness and fear coexist? Yes, for fearing God is a reverent desire to please Him by keeping His commandments and hating sin. There is no pain or torment in this fear. This is fear that hopes in God’s mercy (Ps 147:11) and rejoices with trembling (Ps 2:11). This is fear compatible with coming boldly to His throne of grace for help (Heb 4:12-16).

Fear that caused Adam to hide among Eden’s trees was the ungodly fear of guilt and rebellion. The fear of a child of God is like a child’s fear of a loving father. It is a strong desire to please and a powerful check on disobedience, but it also includes affection, trust, and security (Pr 16:20). Knowing God correctly casts out painful fear (I John 4:18).

Your fear of God should cause you to mistrust yourself, for self-confidence leads to sin and mischief (I Cor 10:12). Wise men do not trust themselves, but learn to despise their hearts as their most dangerous enemy (Jer 17:9). Peter’s confidence in his own strength and courage before denying Jesus Christ should humble you to beg for help and strength.

Since God’s commandments are life and prosperity themselves (Pr 3:1-2) and keeping them brings His favor and blessing (Ps 147:11), these two factors produce human happiness. Keeping the rules for success and having God prosper your life is a wonderful combination. Rejecting His commandments is to choose folly and death and bring His judgment. Do not deceive yourself – for you will certainly reap what you sow (Gal 6:7).

If you want to love life and enjoy many good days, then fear the Lord and depart from evil (Ps 34:12-16; I Pet 3:10-12). Men pay large fees for counsel and therapy to be happy, yet here is the perfect explanation from your Creator. And it was written by the man who experimented with every purpose and pleasure known to man. His conclusion here is the same as he concluded at the end of his philosophical and practical research (Eccl 12:13).

Read Psalm 112:1-10 or Psalm 128:1-6. See if there is prosperity in fearing God. What more could you want? Of course, Hollywood will try to sell you its version of happiness, but wise persons see past the bright lights, moving soundtracks, and lying content to the divorces, drugs, drunkenness, disease, and dysfunction that haunt its so-called stars.

If you stubbornly refuse God’s way, you will bring on yourself His severe judgment (Pr 29:1; 1:24-32; 6:12-15; 28:18). The way of transgressors is hard (Pr 13:15; 4:19; 19:16; 22:5). Lot and Saul compromised God’s commands, and they both lived miserable lives that ended in horrible disgrace, quite unimaginable a few years earlier. What a contrast between Abraham and Lot! What a contrast between Saul and David! What a waste!

Fearing God is not a light matter. It is life or death. It is happiness or trouble. It involves eternity. Only fools treat God’s things lightly, and they will reap the reward of their folly. Only fools take confidence in outward religious rituals, for God will destroy the hypocrite (Job 20:4-9). Wise men will pass the time of their sojourning here in fear (I Pet 1:17).

Where have you hardened your heart against God? What does He require that you do not want to give? Do you stubbornly resist the teaching of His pastors? Have you examined yourself today? Is your entire life grounded in the fear of the Lord? Where are you compromising His public worship? Where are you compromising your private life? Have you confessed and rejected your secret sins? Do you search to see if they are all gone?

If you presume to think you can get away with rebellion, if you think you can have peace in disobedience, He will furiously bring curses on your shameful life and blot out your name (Deut 29:18-20). Be sure your sin will find you out! Kiss the Son! This is not the happiness or disappointment you may encounter on a trip – this is life and eternity!

Jesus Christ feared God His Father always and did those things that pleased Him (Heb 5:7), and He is forever seated on His throne in heaven enjoying fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore (Ps 16:11). You may be there soon as well, if you give diligence to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12-13; II Pet 1:10-11).

Proverbs 15:07 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: February 15, 2013 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, not so the hearts of fools

Communication is a great privilege. It is an opportunity to spread knowledge by talking (or typing). It is also a serious responsibility, because God resents a foolish use of either. Wise men acquire truth and wisdom to share with others, but fools merely make noise. What will you do with this great gift, especially since God has told you how to use it?

Your mouth is for much more than taking in food. It is also for sending out knowledge. Since your heart supplies your mouth with the things to say, it must be kept with all diligence and filled with excellent content to share with others (Pr 4:23; 22:17-21). Since keyboards do much of the talking today, the lesson applies to texts and emails as well.

Your speech is evidence of your character, and it determines your effect in the world. Wise men use their mouths to spread knowledge, but the speech of fools helps no one. If you are wise, others will benefit by your words; if you are foolish, others will not profit. You need to choose wisdom for yourself and then choose to also share it with others.

A simple figure of speech is here. The two pink muscles decorating your mouth cannot give knowledge and neither can the fist-sized pump in your chest. These are metonyms for speech – your heart creates words, and your lips pronounce them. Wise men use speech to help others, but fools do not, for their hearts and mouths are empty of value.

The lesson is to fill your heart with wisdom and truth and to direct your mouth (or keyboard) to communicate it. A fool’s heart is full of folly, so he can help no one. His speech is like the barking or yelping of a hyena or jackal, and his heart is no better. The difference among men is what they put in their hearts in order to have profitable speech.

The faculty of speech is a great privilege. Consider that you can form words that God Himself in heaven can hear and delight in. For this reason He calls the tongue of wise men their glory (Ps 16:9; 30:12; 57:8; 108:1)! Men can gloriously give Him glory with their tongue by forming good words. But fools curse, jest, and talk foolishly. God forbid!

How will you affect others today by your talking? Will you increase their knowledge? Or will you fill their ears with noise and not profit them at all? God gave you a heart and lips to praise Him and help others. He also gave Scripture to fill your heart with knowledge, so you can have wonderful words to speak (Pr 22:17-21; Ps 119:146; II Tim 3:16-17).

Words carefully chosen and wisely spoken are beautiful, for which both God and men will hold you in high esteem and favor (Pr 12:14,18; 15:23; 16:13,24; 22:11; 24:26; 25:11). Wise men use such words to feed many (Pr 10:21; 11:30). They are trees of life to those around them, but fools are traps of sin and death (Pr 15:4). How many do you feed?

Fools talk a lot, but their words are just noise (Eccl 5:3; 7:6; 10:12-14). God cannot stand the so-called gift of gab, for that blustery noise is sheer nonsense or worse. Therefore He condemned foolish talking and jesting as sins comparable to fornication and filthiness (Eph 5:3-10). Let every disciple of Christ reject all such speech. Judgment is coming!

What is knowledge? Knowledge is not trivial facts; it is not news about others; it is not casual conversation; it is not insignificant chatter; it is not worldly discourse; it is not the weather forecast. Knowledge is understanding and counsel that glorifies God and leads a person from sin and toward heaven and holiness. It is truth and wisdom rightly applied.

The world is full of false and foolish noise – spoken and printed! Where are wise men and women to communicate knowledge, truth, wisdom, and understanding? Where are those that will boast in the Lord and praise Him (Ps 34:1-3; 145:1-12)? Where are those that will have ready answers of words of truth for those with questions (Pr 22:17-21)?

Every believer can teach. They should teach. The apostle rebuked the Hebrew saints for their ignorance and continued need for teachers and simple instruction. It was time for them to be able to teach others, but they had squandered their learning and faculty of speech (Heb 5:12-14). Before speaking, you must hear, meditate, study, and apply it.

The blessed Lord Jesus Christ had the tongue of the learned and knew how to speak well (Is 50:4). He used His faculty of speech to comfort, feed, warn, and rebuke many (Is 61:1-3). His speech rejoiced His friends and confounded His enemies (Matt 7:28-29; 22:46; Mk 12:37; Lu 4:22; Jn 7:46). Will you learn to speak like Him (Ep 4:29; Col 4:6)?

Dear reader, ignorance abounds, and others need you. Will you disperse the knowledge of God today with your mouth? Or will you fill the air with noise and foolishness? Remember this warning: “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matt 12:36). Lord, help!

Spiritual Training 14 February 2013

Posted: February 14, 2013 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Struggling with Sin

Romans 7:21-25 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

The “law at work in the members of my body” is the sin deep within us. This is our vulnerability to sin; it refers to every thing within us that is more loyal to our old way of selfish living than to God.

There is great tension in daily Christian experience. The conflict is that we agree with God’s commands but cannot do them. As a result, we are painfully aware of our sin. This inward struggle with sin was as real for Paul as it is for us. From Paul we learn what to do about it. Whenever he felt overwhelmed by the spiritual battle, he would return to the beginnings of his spiritual life, remembering how he had been freed from sin by Jesus Christ.

Lets Bring it Home: When we feel confused and overwhelmed by sin’s appeal, let us claim the freedom Christ gave us. His power can lift us to victory,

Proverbs 13:12 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: February 13, 2013 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Hope is a precious and wonderful thing! Here is a glorious and important proverb, if you will consider it carefully at length. Without hope, men get desperate and will do most anything to escape their hopelessness. With it, men can endure most anything, no matter how desperate their conditions become. Wise men will appreciate the great value of hope.

Here are several lessons about hope. Do you know where to find it? How to keep it? Do you know how painful it is when others lose it? Do you know how to give it to others? Will you get it for yourself and give it to others? Wisdom is the power of right judgment – knowing what to do in any situation. Wisdom includes these crucial lessons about hope.

Hope is expectation of something desired. If the thing you desire is not obtained in the time expected, your heart and soul are grieved and pained by the delay. But when the desired thing finally arrives, it is a tree of life: your heart and soul are encouraged and revived. These two aspects of hope are true in all matters, both spiritual and natural.

Hope can be a pleasant thought, if you are confident of your desires being fulfilled on time. But it can also be a painful reminder, if you are disappointed with delays or difficulties in obtaining your desires. Hunger is an example. It makes food delightful, when you eat on time. But it can be quite torturous, if you are kept from eating on time.

Hopelessness is one of the most destructive and painful feelings in the human experience. It must be avoided at all costs, because it will destroy a man’s outlook and performance. A wise man sets his hope on sure things, and he avoids any desires or expectations for the vain things of this world that lead to despair or frustration. He understands human frailty, avoids setting expectations too high, and learns contentment (Ps 146:3-5; Heb 13:5-6).

Since hopelessness is so destructive and painful, a good man will work to keep those around him full of hope, like his wife, children, employees, and friends (I Sam 23:16; Ps 123:2; Eccl 4:9-12; II Cor 2:2,6-11; Col 4:1; I Thess 5:11). Training his son for the throne, Solomon taught the wisdom of keeping citizens filled with hope, lest they become discouraged and desperate enough to revolt (Pr 16:15; 19:6,12; 20:28; 28:16; 29:14).

If you love proverbs, here is a classic. Identify Solomon’s three metonyms and one metaphor in this proverb. First, hope is a metonym for the things hoped for; hope itself is not deferred, or delayed; rather the objects of hope do not arrive on time. Second, desire is a metonym for the things desired, because the desire for the things was already there; it is the desired objects that finally come and bring great joy to the heart. This is metonymy.

There is a third metonym, the heart. It is substituted for the feelings and joys of the heart: the substitution uses the seat of your affections for the affections themselves. And there is a metaphor, where desires being realized are compared to a tree of life, which can energize and rejuvenate the soul with its fruit, though a fulfilled desire is not a real tree.

This proverb is an observation by Solomon, and the lessons are to be carefully searched for within it. While many proverbs give the lesson more directly, basic observations like this one must be explored and applied to learn the wisdom being taught. What can you learn about hope from this proverb in order to be wiser with God and men? Remember, God’s words are exceeding broad and may convey many varied lessons (Ps 119:96).

Those in authority must learn more about hope than others, for those under their rule can easily be broken and reduced to despair, if they are not given enough expectation for the future. Continually pressing duties without expectation of a reward destroys hope. In contrast, a person filled with hope will cheerfully fulfill duties. Wise men learn this lesson and often measure the hope of those under them to be more excellent managers.

A woman gives up much as a wife (Ge 3:16; I Co 11:9). “A man may work from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done.” How can she bear it? A critical, unaffectionate, or inattentive husband can steal her hope and reduce her to despair, no matter how hopeful she was when she married him. This marital abuse is common. God commands husbands in many scriptures to be considerate, forgiving, patient, and romantic to encourage their wives (De 24:5; Pr 5:19; Ec 9:9; Eph 5:28-29; Col 3:19; I Pet 3:7; etc.).

Children come into a family by God’s choice, not theirs. Critical, overbearing, harsh, or overly-restrictive fathers (or mothers) can discourage them by stealing their hope and leaving them without any expectation for the future. The excitement and vitality of youth can be sucked from their hearts and minds by such abuse. It is shocking that some parents think their children should submit indefinitely without reward. God commands fathers (and mothers) to not destroy the hope of their children (Ps 103:13-14; Eph 6:4; Col 3:21).

The God of the Bible, the LORD Jehovah, carefully protected hope for the lowest men and even beasts. Bless Him! Christian nations have always had the most hope, because they worshipped the only God of hope. Day laborers were to be paid daily, lest their hope for some cash be destroyed (De 24:14-15)! Oxen were not to be muzzled while crushing grain (De 25:4)! Arranged marriages required a one-year honeymoon (De 24:5)! Every seventh year in Israel was a year-long vacation, even for servants (Le 25:1-7,20-22)!

The wicked have little hope (Eph 2:12; I Thess 4:13). Their expectations always end in frustration, for they chase the lying delusions of Satan, who is the god of hopelessness (Eph 2:1-3; II Cor 2:6-11). He knows his days are numbered and his coming torment great (Matt 8:29; Rev 12:12). He wants his dupes hopeless with him. All things in this world are disappointing and temporal, which hurt those who pursue them (I Jn 2:15-17).

Every sin, movie, song, or thought of the world ends with the same result – there is no hope, there is only despair (I Co 15:32; Re 9:11). They try to ease the pain with activities, comedies and jokes, alcohol and drugs, movies for fantasy escapism, mind-numbing music, extreme sports for thrills, and even suicide. Then they die and discover in hell that their hopelessness was right (Pr 11:7; Job 8:13-14; 11:20; 27:8; Mark 9:43-48)!

Consider riches. Wealth does not satisfy, for when you achieve one level, you will covet another (Eccl 5:10). Those taking your wealth are always increasing (Eccl 5:11), and the rich cannot sleep peacefully (Eccl 5:12). Riches disappear by many factors (Matt 6:19), and you will not take one cent with you at death (Luke 12:15-21; I Tim 6:7). The more you make, the more the government takes. Why set your hope on the illusion (Pr 23:4-5)? You are only going to be disappointed, frustrated, and vexed by the effort (I Tim 6:6-10).

Every child of God that seeks happiness in this world will be just as miserable, or worse, for he has set his expectations on things that cannot satisfy. Solomon, the writer here, found everything in this world to be vanity and vexation of spirit (Eccl 1:14; 2:11,17). Godliness with contentment is great gain, for such a man has his hope in God and heaven, which is the certain hope of prosperous saints (Gen 15:1; I Tim 6:6; Ps 73:25-26).

It is your wisdom to not hope for much from this world, but rather hope for much from the next (II Cor 4:16 – 5:9; Col 3:1-4). Therefore, you should be able to pray with Agur against riches (Pr 30:7-9). You should be able to be content with little and righteousness (Pr 16:8; Ps 37:16; Phil 4:11-13; Heb 13:5-6). You can avoid disappointment and keep on dancing, if you do not put your hope in things of this world (Job 1:20-22; Hab 3:17-19).

When a believer is discouraged, he has a simple remedy unknown to the world. He can remind himself to hope in God, just as David showed you (Ps 42:5,11; 43:5). The God of hope can give perpetual hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13). Even at the hour of his death, he can be filled with joyful and peaceful hope, for he knows about heaven and the resurrection of the dead, the blessed hope (Pr 10:28; 14:32; I Cor 15:19). The believer has hope, which the unbeliever will never have – confident waiting on God.

If you use the word of God to build your hope (Rom 15:4), others will ask a reason for it, since they have little to none (I Pet 3:15). When hope is deferred, you can hope against hope through faith in an omnipotent God (Job 13:15; Lam 3:24-26; Rom 4:18-20). And you can know you have the superior definition for hope – patient waiting, for the greatest expectation of the Christian will certainly come to pass (Rom 8:23-25; Heb 10:36-37).

Believers never give up, as long as they have life, for a living dog is better than a dead lion (Eccl 9:4-10)! Until God removes all hope, there is still hope, and even then there is hope! David prayed fervently for his sick son, and gave up praying when the child died, yet he knew he would see him again. He had hope, even after death (II Sam 12:15-23)! Paul was sure he would die at Ephesus, but hoped in a resurrecting God (II Cor 1:8-10)!

The Bible is filled with glorious examples of simple believers who put their expectation and hope in the Lord. Did Sarah give birth and nurse with a smile long after menopause (Gen 21:5-8; Heb 11:11)? How much was Joseph a tree of life to Jacob, when he discovered him alive and on Egypt’s throne (Gen 45:25-28)? How many children did Hannah have for loaning her long-desired son to the LORD (I Sam 1:19-28; 2:19-21)? And Israel was like them that dream after being recovered from captivity (Ps 126:1-3)!

Yet there is a greater illustration of fulfilled hope! For 4,000 long years, the sons of God waited for the arrival of the Seed of the woman to deliver them from sin, death, and hell. The desire of all nations did come. The angels shook the countryside with the announcement. Simeon rejoiced to see Him before His death. And His disciples believed not for joy, when He had risen gloriously from the dead. Christian, hope in God today.

Reader, if you are committed by faith to Jesus Christ, then you have a blessed hope, an impregnable hope, a glorious hope. You will be raised from the dead to an incorruptible inheritance in heaven, where it is reserved for you (I Pet 1:3-9; Acts 23:6; 24:15, 26:6-7; 28:11,20). Believest thou this? If you have this hope, it will purify and sanctify your life (I John 3:3). And it will be an anchor for your soul in the storms of life (Heb 6:18-19). None that put their trust in Him shall be ashamed or confounded (Rom 10:11; I Pet 2:6)!

Children can be taught to hope in the Lord when they are very young (I Sam 1:28; Ps 22:9; Eccl 12:1). By building a foundation for their lives on the ability and faithfulness of God, they will never be driven to depression or despair about life (Ps 27:13-14; 37:7; 42:5,11; 43:5; 71:14). How is this accomplished? By building faith and hope through constant instruction from the word of God (Ps 78:1-8; 119:81,114; Rom 15:4).

True love comforts others by building hope and taking away despair. Since hopelessness is one of life’s greatest evils, you should be faithful in all your dealings to keep others from losing their hope. God specifically commands you not to discourage those under you (Col 3:19,21; I Pet 3:7; II Cor 2:6-11). After edifying others by your faithfulness, you should then comfort them with the blessed hope of the gospel (I Thess 4:13-18; 5:11).

Spiritual Training 13 February 2013

Posted: February 13, 2013 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do, For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.   

This is more than the cry of one desperate man-it describes the experience of any Christian struggling against sin or trying to please God by keeping rules and laws without the Spirit’s help.  We must never underestimate the power of sin.

Lets Bring it Home: We must never attempt to fight it in our own strength. Satan is a crafty tempter, and we have an amazing ability to make excuses. Instead of trying to overcome sin with human willpower, we must take hold of the tremendous power of Christ that is available to us.  This is God’s provision for victory over sin, he sends the Holy Spirit to live inside us and give us power.  And when we fall, he lovingly reaches out to help us up.

Spiritual Training 08 February 2013

Posted: February 8, 2013 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 7:9-11 Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, sizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

Where there is no law, there is no sin, because people cannot know that their actions are sinful unless a law forbids actions. God’s law makes people realize that they are sinners doomed to die; yet it offers no help. Sin is real, and it is dangerous. Imagine a sunny day at the beach. You plunge into the surf, and then you notice a sign on the pier. “No swimming. Sharks in water.” Your day is ruined. Is it the sign’s fault? Are you angry with the people who put it? The law is like the sign. It is essential, and we are grateful for it-but it doesn’t get rid of the sharks.

Lets Bring it Home: How many of us are swimming with the sharks due to not knowing Gods word which is a sign to stay away from sin? Yes, even Christians are swimming with the sharks, due to not reading the sign. It is very important that we spend time with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 8:27 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: February 8, 2013 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 8:27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep

How important is wisdom? God had it when He created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1). Lady Wisdom here encourages you to value wisdom highly because God does.

The modern and weak concept of Intelligent Design does not do the LORD justice, for He is infinitely wise with perfect understanding and creative genius far beyond mere intelligence or intellectual capacity. He is wise, and He calls you to be wise.

Intelligence, or fact calculation and application, falls short of wisdom. The only true God arranged and ordained every aspect of the universe when there had never been such a thing before. He also has the power of right judgment to discretely and prudently interact with other rational creatures. He inspired Solomon to write for you to get wisdom.

Who thought the earth was flat? The children of God have always known the earth was round. When the blessed and only Creator God formed the earth’s atmosphere, and when He wrapped it around the ball of water hanging in space, wisdom was there with Him. Lady Wisdom offers you wisdom today by this proverb and the rest of Gods scriptures. Will you accept her gracious offer (Pr 8:1-5,32-36; 9:1-12)?

How great is wisdom? After Lady Wisdom’s introduction and invitation (Pr 8:1-5), she described the excellence and truth of wisdom (Pr 8:6-11), the benefits that flow to those having it (Pr 8:12-21), and the presence and use of wisdom by God in the creation of the heavens and earth (Pr 8:22-31). She then concluded with a further invitation (Pr 8:32-36). Wisdom is the most precious thing you can obtain in life (Pr 3:13-20; 4:5-13; 8:10-11).

This proverb exalts wisdom by showing it was with God in the creation of the heavens and His arrangement of the heavens to circle and encompass the watery globe. God created the heavens, the earth, and light on the first day (Gen 1:1-5; Ex 20:11; 31:17). He created the earth’s atmosphere on the second day, which is the firmament of heaven that separated the water above the sky from the water covering the earth (Gen 1:6-8).

God created the universe. The interstellar and interplanetary spaces and the spherical globe of the earth were formed first (Gen 1:1). The earth was a formless ball covered with water hanging in the total darkness of space (Gen 1:2). God then added light, without light sources for three days, mind you, to complete the first day (Gen 1:3-5,14-19). The only big bang, if there was one, occurred when God said, “Let there be light:” – and there was light (Gen 1:3)! If God has given you faith, you understand it (Heb 11:3).

God created the earth’s atmosphere. He separated waters on the earth’s surface by an expanse called heaven, which we call atmosphere, in which birds and planes fly (Gen 1:6-8,20). He gathered the waters on the earth and under this atmosphere into seas on the third day (Gen 1:9). The waters above the atmosphere remained there for the 1,656 years before rain (Gen 2:5-6; 7:4; Heb 11:7). It was not until the Flood that rain appeared; it was not until after the Flood that rainbows appeared (Gen 7:11-12; 9:12-15).

The Lord compassed, or encircled, the earth with this atmospheric heaven as part of His creative work on the second day. Included in these first two days of creation was the ordination of gravity to hold the waters and the atmosphere around the earth. Though the earth spins at 1000 mph, the atmosphere that compasses the earth moves right along with the earth, so you are not blown away! From the vantage point of spacecraft, you can see the aqua blue ball suspended by nothing in the firmament of heaven. Give God the glory!

The word “compass” in this proverb describes the circle, circumference, curve, arc, ring, or round shape of the atmospheric heaven that God wrapped around the ball we call earth. He set a compass, or a circle, over the watery earth before there was land (Pr 8:29; Gen 1:3-5). Though Solomon wrote these words 1000 years before Christ, he knew the earth was round by God’s inspired revelation to him. Isaiah, writing by inspiration about 700 years before Christ, also referred to the circular or round shape of the earth (Is 40:22).

Eratosthenes (276-195 B.C.), a Greek mathematician who knew the earth was round, calculated its correct circumference and the tilt of its axis. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543), who knew the earth was round, developed and promoted proofs for heliocentricism – the earth moves around the sun. Pope Urban VIII spanked Galileo (1564-1642) for endorsing such absurdities. But Newton (1643-1727) confirmed how a ball could keep us all feeling upright with gravity. But they were just refining old news!

What is the lesson of the proverb? If wisdom was with God in His creation of the heavens and the atmospheric curtain around the earth, then it is important enough for you! If God used wisdom to create the heavens and earth, then it would be a great thing to have for your decision-making! Are you committed to pursue wisdom? Is it more important to you than anything else? When was the last time you read the Bible? Heard a real sermon?

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is God in the flesh – the fullness of the Godhead in a human body (Col 2:3,9). He created all things, and without Him was not anything made that was made (John 1:3; Eph 3:9; Heb 1:2)! He has all wisdom and knowledge as a perfect King, Priest, Savior, and coming Judge. Humble yourself before Him this day! Beg Him for mercy and wisdom!

Proverbs 7:09 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: February 7, 2013 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 7:9 At twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.

Many sins occur at night, especially sex sins. God warns you about darkness and night. Here is a young man out at night looking for sin and is met by an adulteress. In a long parable, King Solomon described the ruin of a young fool by casual sex (Pr 7:6-27).

Young man, be careful and cautious. There is more temptation at night; the duties of the day that keep men occupied are over; you will foolishly think you can hide under the cover of darkness. Wise men go home early; godly men know to stay home after supper.

A young fool looking for a whore begins his search “in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night.” He does not go near her house in broad daylight, for he would be seen; and she is not as easily found then either, for she must also hide her activities.

Job described adulterers this way: “The eye of the adulterer watches for dusk, he thinks, No eye will see me, and he keeps his face concealed. ” (Job 24:15). In another place, Job goes much further to describe how various wicked men hate the light (Job 24:13-17).

Sin causes guilt and shame, and it brings punishment, so men hide sinful activities from view. Jesus said wicked men love darkness to hide their sins, lest the light reveal their evil (John 3:19-21). Adam and Eve tried to hide their nakedness with fig leaves and the trees of the garden (Gen 3:7-8). But darkness has always been the favorite cloak for sex.

During daylight, even bad sections of a city look free from sin and vice; but after dark, they are filled with wicked persons using the night to hide identities and activities. Drunkenness, fornication, prostitution, robbery, and murder all greatly increase at night.

Bars used to meet the opposite sex for fornication are called nightclubs for good reason – they would never work as dayclubs! Las Vegas, an American moral cesspool, does most of her business at night. Casinos are experts in human depravity and fulfill the proverb.

Restaurants and lounges at night turn the lights down and the music up, for any woman looks better in dull light after a few drinks with fleshly music. The boldness to pursue drunkenness, fornication, and other sins is greatly encouraged by the cover of darkness.

Television programming after 9:00, the watershed hour, is carefully designed for adult audiences with intense and immoral shows or movies. With legitimate and productive activities over, adults can put the children to bed and fill their minds with ungodly images and conduct to corrupt their souls and thoughts during the night. Movie theaters also are mostly attended at night, and well into the night, with sinful sex a primary theme of both.

Your grandparents had a better routine before electricity brought television, movies, and countless activities at night. They went to bed with the birds and got up with them; there was no time or opportunity for cruising, carousing, or clubbing at night. They started each day early and worked hard, and they ended each day not long after supper.

They kept a schedule that promoted that sober time of quietness and resolve in the morning that is now lost. Their emphasis was on how much they could get done in the morning rather than surviving the day to be able to play at night. Their sobriety condemns this generation, which is addicted to amusements and pleasure, and most of it at night.

It was once an adage of America, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Christians could rightly add godliness to that formula, for it is generally God-approved activities that take place from morning until afternoon. Today’s Americans foolishly make fun of any “old fogey” that would go to bed before 9:00 P.M.

If David had stayed in bed with one of his beautiful and eager wives, he would never have seen Bathsheba using the cover of darkness for a bath (II Sam 11:2). What a foolish choice to leave his bedroom and go out at night from the safety of his house. The consequences of just one night out wandering around haunted him for the rest of his life.

Not all night activities are wrong, as Paul once preached to midnight and beyond (Acts 20:7-11). The Lord Jesus prayed all night on occasion, due to the demands of the crowds during the day (Luke 6:12). Shepherds were abiding in the field at night when they heard the announcement of the Lord’s birth. But these were exceptions and for godly purposes.

Curfews for youth are excellent rules, for the minds of foolish teenagers are more prone to the lusts of the flesh after dark, when their actions will be hid and their consciences emboldened to try things they might otherwise avoid. Getting them up early and requiring them to work hard will leave them tired and craving bed when night finally arrives.

Let this short proverb affect you two ways. First, be more aware of the sexual temptations at night. Second, consider adjusting your schedule toward mornings with a reduction of plans at night. Limit children’s activities after supper and teach them habits to reduce the temptations of darkness. May the Light of the world save you and your children.

Throughout the New Testament, Christians are described as the children of the day, not of the darkness. They are to live and walk as children of light in this dark world – the lesson of the proverb being used extensively by the Lord and His apostles (Luke 16:8; John 1:4-9; 3:19-21; 11:9-10; 12:35-36,46; Acts 26:18; Rom 13:11-14; I Cor 4:5; II Cor 4:6; 6:14; Eph 5:8-14; 6:12; Col 1:13; I Thess 5:1-8; I Pet 2:9; I John 1:5-6; 2:8-11).

If you are a child of God, you should remember and consider there will be no darkness or night in heaven at all, for the Lamb of God will be the perpetual and glorious light of that place (Rev 21:23,25; 22:5). But the wicked will howl in the black mist of impenetrable darkness forever, for there will be no light or day in hell at all (II Pet 2:4,17; Jude 1:13). They who loved darkness and night will have their fill of both, and then some, forever!

Proverbs 4:13-17 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: February 4, 2013 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 4:13-17  Hold on to instruction; do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked, or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it, turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

Even friends can make you fall. It is difficult for people to accept the fact that friends and acquaintances might be luring them to do wrong. Young people who want to be accepted would never want to confront or criticize a friend for wrong plans or actions. Many other people can’t even see how their friend’s actions could lead to trouble. While we should be accepting of others, we need a healthy skepticism about human behavior. When you feel yourself being heavily influenced, proceed with caution. Don’t let your friends cause you to fall into sin

Spiritual Training 01 February 2013

Posted: February 1, 2013 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Dead to sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 6:17-18 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you WHOLEHEARTEDLY obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

To obey wholeheartedly means to give yourself fully to God, to love him “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). And yet so often our efforts to know and obey God’s commands can best be described as halfhearted.”

Lets Bring it Home: Are you still serving your first master, sin? Or have you apprenticed yourself to God?

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