Posts Tagged ‘theology’

Spiritual Training 14 March 2014

Posted: March 14, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
More than Conquerors

Romans 8:35-36 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

These words were written to a church that would soon undergo terrible persecution. In just a few years, Paul’s hypothetical situations would turn into painful realities. This passage reaffirms God’s profound love for his people. No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are, we can never be lost to his love.

Lets Bring it Home: Suffering should not drive us away from God, but help us to identify with him further and allow his love to reach us and heal us.

Proverbs 14:32 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: March 14, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 14, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Proverbs 14:32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.

All men die. But no one talks about it. Men distract themselves with jobs, politics, sports, music, drugs, etc. They act like death will not find them. But it is the surest thing in life!

All men die. But the wicked die much worse than the righteous. Death rips wicked men away from their toys and security and throws them into eternity without God or comfort. The righteous lie down in peace and choose to depart life for their destination of heaven.

You will die. How will you die? The King of Terrors, death itself, is stalking you now. He will rip you away from every relationship, from every helper, from every asset. You will stand alone, helpless, naked, and guilty before God. This is how the wicked die.

The world exalts the wicked over the righteous. They eulogize and memorialize persons like Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana until the difference of this proverb is not seen. You had better see the difference, lest the world’s lies seduce you to the death of the wicked, for these two examples were driven away by death from all their vain comforts.

Jesus described the death of a rich man, who had so much you would have thought he was living the good life. “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20). This rich fool was driven out of life by the King of Terrors without a single cent.

The wicked get their heaven now, for their portion is in this life (Ps 17:14). God allows them good things, children, and large estates. But even then they often are depressed, divorced, dysfunctional, and resorting to drugs and drunkenness for comfort. But David knew he would be satisfied when he awoke after dying with God’s likeness (Ps 17:15).

Dear reader, you will die soon. What have you done today to prepare for it? Solomon warned about it often (Pr 10:2; 11:4,19; 12:28; 13:14; 14:12; Ec 12:1-7). Jesus and Paul both taught the importance of making preparations (Matt 7:21-27; I Tim 6:17-19). The wicked die very differently than the righteous. Which are you? How will you die?

As in many of Solomon’s proverbs, two parallel clauses are contrasted by the adversative “but.” By comparing the two clauses, “driven away” is understood as death. A wicked man, though confident in his wickedness, will be rooted out of the earth by death. But the righteous dies comfortably and with hope, for death is the door to something far better.

Who are the wicked and the righteous? The wicked are those whose pride keeps them from thinking seriously about God (Ps 10:4; 14:1). They choose the popular way in life rather than God’s way (Matt 7:13-14). They do not care that the Bible condemns most of what they think and do, for they have committed their lives to what the world approves.

The righteous know they have a Creator. They want to please God in life, and they know they will give an account to Him after death (Eccl 12:13-14). They choose to live by the Bible, even though it may not be popular, for they know it leads to eternal life (Matt 7:13-14). They hate the world, for they know it is God’s enemy (I John 2:15-17; Jas 4:4).

The wicked are confident in life. They presume they will live forever (Ps 49:6-13). The worst thought to them is death, and they do all they can to ignore it and defer it. But God said, “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished” (Pr 11:21). There is no discharge in the war with death, and wickedness will not save a man from it (Ec 8:8).

Death drives the wicked away. “His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street. He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world” (Job 18:7-8). It happens fast, “Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath” (Ps 58:9).

“The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not. Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night. The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place. For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand. Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place” (Job 27:19-23).

But the righteous has hope in dying, for he has evidence of eternal life in his good works (Matt 25:31-40; I Thess 1:2-4; Rev 14:13). They know that death is only the temporary sleep of the body of those who shall live forever (Acts 7:60; 13:36). Their bodies simply wait in the grave for the great change of the resurrection (Job 19:25-27; Ps 49:15; 73:24).

The righteous believe and love Jesus Christ, Who died in their place, so that death has no more power over them (John 5:24; 10:26-29; 11:25-26). They know doing the will of God proves their salvation, not a sinner’s prayer (Matt 7:21-23). They add many good works to their faith to make their election to eternal life sure (II Pet 1:5-11; Jas 2:14-26).

Death is a mercy to the righteous, and they know it (Is 57:1-2). They consider it far better to depart and be with Christ (Phil 1:23). They know death is a blessed event and precious in the sight of God (Ps 116:15; Rev 14:13). They believe the day of their death is better than of their birth (Ec 7:1). This is hope! Glorious hope! And only the righteous have it!

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
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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?

Spiritual Training 13 March 2013

Posted: March 13, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
More than Conquerors

Romans 8:29-34 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What than, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

If God gave his Son for you, he isn’t going to hold back the gift of salvation! If Christ gave his life for you, he isn’t going to turn around and condemn you! He will not withhold anything you need to live for him. The book of romans is more than a theological explanation for God’s redeeming grace-it is a letter of comfort and confidence addressed to you.

Paul says that Jesus is interceding for us in heaven. God has acquitted us and has removed our sin and guilt, so it is Satan, not God, who accuses us. When he does, Jesus, the advocate for our defense, stands at God’s right hand to present our case.

Lets Bring it Home: Do you ever think that because you aren’t good enough for God, he will not save you? Do you ever feel as if salvation is for everyone else but you? Ten these verses are especially for you.

Proverbs 12:25 Wisdom for the Soul

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

Proverbs 12:25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

What is the cheapest and easiest gift? Giving a kind word away! It can make a sad heart glad! Such love will not cost you anything. What a cheap way to be rich to others! You could send a person skipping down the street. You could lay another brick for eternal life.

Your mouth can do more than swallow food. It can cheer a heavy heart. You can learn kind, complimentary, encouraging words of truth to do it. Can you spot a heavy heart or sad spirit? Do you know good words it needs? Will you get excited to fulfill this proverb?

Christians are to love one another (Jn 13:34-35). Church members are to consider one another (Heb 10:24; 13:3). Both are one-on-one duties. Speech is often used to cut and hurt, but considerate words in love can be very healthful (Pr 12:18; 16:24; 25:11; 27:9).

Have God and Solomon got your attention? But God knew something important Solomon did not. He knew you would have ability to communicate a kind word easier than ever e.g. phone, email, text, Facebook, tweet, etc. You could lift a heart right now. Do it!

Most men are too selfish and preoccupied with their own lives to notice others, and most do not have the affection or concern to say something kind and helpful. They are too lazy to consider another person and do something about it. The rest are too fearful or ignorant.

Sad sacks cannot be justified: saints should be the happiest people on earth (Ps 4:7; 63:5; 92:4; I Pet 1:8). Great men get cast down, but they are not overwhelmed (Ps 42:1-11; II Cor 4:8-10). An unruled melancholy spirit is a devilish curse (Pr 15:15; Jas 3:14-16).

But for those justly cast down, you have someone deserving attention and affection. A heavy heart carries weighty burdens that make it stoop; it is a soul pressed down by cares, circumstances, and troubles. King Lemuel’s mother suggested wine to help (Pr 31:6-7)!

Think of this wine! Mary Magdalene, a sinful woman Jesus had forgiven, was crying after finding her Lord’s tomb empty. But a Man appearing to be the gardener said, “Mary.” With one good word, she was better and said, “Master.” Read it (Jn 20:11-18).

Think of this wine! Zechariah was a prophet to encourage Jews that returned to rebuild Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. He saw a vision of a great angel asking God when He would be merciful to Jerusalem. God answered with “good words and comfortable words,” which lifted Zechariah to a great message of hope (Zech 1:12-17).

It is cruel to dance around those cast down. It is like taking away a coat in cold weather (Pr 25:20). This cheap affection does more harm than good. “Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,” are good words; but men with real burdens and sad hearts need more (Pr 14:10; 15:13; 17:22; 18:14). Weep with them instead of dance (Rom 12:15; I Cor 12:26).

A book of the Bible describes Job’s three self-righteous friends, who did not have a good word to gladden his heavy heart. Instead, they joined together in accusing him of hypocrisy. No wonder he called them miserable comforters. But many often follow their lead and blame trouble on God’s judgment, though it may only be an affectionate trial.

When did you last compliment someone directly and sincerely? How often do you do it? A kind thought about another not expressed – is worthless! If you have a good thought about someone, tell them! How much better would the world be if people complimented those deserving it? How much would righteous men be encouraged in righteousness?

Bearing one another’s burdens fulfills the law of Christ (Gal 6:2), and it might be as easy as an encouraging word. This includes comforting the feebleminded, which may be the result of a heavy heart (Ps 38:1-22; I Thess 5:14). If you are strong in the Lord, it is your duty to look for those who are weak and help them (Rom 15:1-3). Say something kind!

Solomon’s proverbs have been read for 3000 years. But no one could communicate so easily and freely over any distance as you can by phone, email, text, Facebook, tweet, etc. When you give an account to God, He will remind you (Luke 12:48; Rom 14:10-12).

The tongue has power of life or death; godly saints use it for health and life (Pr 12:18; 15:23; 16:24; 18:21; 27:9). Only a pinch of salt – criticism or rebuke – should flavor a wise man’s gracious words (Eph 4:29; Col 4:6). The goal is to edify, or build up, one another, as Jonathan built up David, when he was hiding in the woods (I Sam 23:16).

If you gladden a sad heart by a good word, you lay another brick for eternal life. Heaven is a free gift by God’s grace for His people, but you can assure your heart and increase your confidence of it by kindness to others (I Tim 6:17-19; I Jn 3:14-19; Heb 6:10).

Increase life expectancy and success by a good word to your parents (Eph 6:2-3). Secure your children’s obedience by a kind word (Col 3:21). Enhance your love life by a tender word to your spouse (Gen 34:3). Thank your boss by a good word (I Tim 6:1). Encourage a policeman (Rom 13:7; I Pet 2:17). Uplift your pastor by a word to him (I Thes 5:12-13).

Jesus during His life comforted and encouraged many, because God had given him a wonderful gift of speech “that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary” (Is 50:4). As He carefully placed himself to comfort Mary with a single word after His resurrection (Mark 16:9), you should think of someone right now you could lift.

Angels comforted and strengthened Jesus Himself several times, especially when His spirit was greatly troubled in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33-34). He sends His Spirit to comfort you, when you humble yourself before Him and cry for help. Follow His holy example and use the good words of His good Word to make many sad hearts glad!

Spiritual Training 12 March 2013

Posted: March 12, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
More than Conquerors

Romans 8:29-30 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Some believe these verses mean that before the beginning of the world, God chose certain people to receive his gift of salvation. They point to verses like Ephesians 1:11 that says we are “predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” Others believe that God foreknew those who would respond to him and upon those he set his mark (predestined). What is clear is that God’s purpose for people was not an afterthought; it was settled before the foundation of the world. People are to serve and honor God. If you have believed in Christ, you can rejoice in the fact that God has always known you; God’s love is eternal. His wisdom and power are supreme. He will guide and protect you until you one-day stand in his presence.

Lets Bring it Home: What is God’s purpose for you, or are you living out his purpose? If not, what is getting in your way from you doing God’s will in your life?

Spiritual Training 11 March 2013

Posted: March 12, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
More than Conquerors

Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brothers.

God’s ultimate goal for us is to make us like Christ (1 John 3:2). As we become more and more like him, we discover our true selves, the persons we were created to be.

Lets Bring it Home: How can we be conformed to Christ’s likeness? Buy reading and heeding the Word, by studying his life on earth through the Gospels, by being filled with his Spirit, and by doing his work in the world.

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
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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.”

Proverbs 08:1-3 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: March 8, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 08, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 8:01-03 (1) Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? (2) On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand, (3) beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud

A woman wants you! A fabulous woman! She wants to help you! She cries for you today. She is easy to find; she is right before you. You cannot miss her. She offers you wisdom and an understanding heart; she will tell you excellent and right things (Pr 8:1-6).

You are incredibly blessed today! Greetings! Lady Wisdom introduces herself as you read this sentence! She offers you pure truth, instruction, knowledge, and wisdom, which are better than silver, gold, rubies, and all the things you might desire (Pr 8:7-11).

She cries for your attention. If you two do not become close friends and companions, she will not lose – you will lose! You were born foolish and ignorant, and you will stay that way; she wants to save you from a dysfunctional and painful life and eternity.

Do not resent this proverb. Are the words boring and appear meaningless? God inspired each one of those words, and they are designed to discourage and offend foolish men, but wise men will rejoice that He sent Lady Wisdom to them today, and they will read on.

Solomon used various means in Proverbs to get your attention and teach you wisdom. He used threats, promises, pain, reward, short proverbs, long parables, observations, rules, illustrations, analogies, comparisons, social phenomena, lessons from animals, his father’s advice, the teachings of Agur, and even a letter from a royal mother to her son.

Here he used personification – the literary tool of representing an abstract thing by a person – to present wisdom to you as a noble and wonderful woman, Lady Wisdom. She introduced herself and appealed to you to hear her (Pr 8:1-10); she described her benefits for you (Pr 8:11-21); she described how God used her in creating the universe (Pr 8:22-31); and she concluded by begging you to receive her or be punished (Pr 8:32-36).

You are blessed today! The Creator has sent a written offer for you to share knowledge, truth, understanding, and wisdom that He has? His is no vain religion of ceremonies, chantings, ritual prayers, superstitions, manmade traditions, dark mysteries, offering buffalo entrails to the Great Spirit, bathing in the filthy Ganges, kissing a meteorite in Mecca, or praying the Rosary to God’s mother. Here is eternal truth and wisdom!

Lady Wisdom is before you! She wants you to see her! She cries for your attention at the city entrance, where you travel every day. She pleads to help you (Pr 8:1-5). She offers excellent and right things – the only such things you will find in this foolish, blinded world (Pr 8:6). Her every word is truth and righteousness (Pr 8:7-8). Her instruction is easy to learn (Pr 8:9), and it is better than wealth and anything else desirable (Pr 8:10-11).

Nature plainly teaches truth in every language to all people (Ps 19:1-6)! But man rejected the Creator for his own hallucination – that you and everything else came from an explosion of cosmic gases in a purposeless universe; ocean slime became tree frogs; and baboons became your grandparents! From total ignorance at birth, man rushes downward to the institutionalized insanity of evolution. So God judges them (Rom 1:18-32)!

God sent much more truth by the Bible about Himself, man’s origin and future, and how to prosper in life and eternity (Ps 19:7-11; II Tim 3:16-17). But rebel man has burned it, burned its publishers, chained it in churches, read it in Latin, outlawed it in schools, ridiculed it for public office, removed it from courthouses, confused it by new versions, and relegated it to the shelf! So God judges them (John 12:47-48; II Thess 2:9-12)!

God sent His pastors to teach you His words and their right sense (Jer 3:15; 23:28-32; Acts 8:30-35; Eph 4:11-14). But the world fed them to lions, pulled them apart on the rack, burned them at the stake in Catholic inquisitions, banished them, and still scorns them today! Most Christians today have rejected them for popular and smooth operators that feed them entertainment and fables instead of sound doctrine (II Tim 3:1-7; 4:1-4).

Most men reject Lady Wisdom, whom they meet in creation, Scripture, and the ministry! And she is being rejected today. Do you tremble and rejoice at creation, knowing it is the handiwork of a Creator with eternal power and Godhead? Do you love and study the precious and true words of God in the Bible? Do you attend and support a church faithfully where a sober man preaches God’s words without compromise or distraction?

You are blessed today! Lady Wisdom met you at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Love her; she will bless you in time and eternity with incredible advantages and blessings (Pr 8:17-21). Reject her; she will mock as your life implodes on you. The choice is yours; the consequences are God’s! He has promised. If you neglect her offer of truth, she will laugh at your cries when your calamities come (Pr 1:20-33).

Is the proverb too boring? Its commentary too simple? You are not moved to repent of your foolishness and sinfulness, thank God for Lady Wisdom, and ask Him to show you His truth? It is better to be broken by repentance than to be ground to powder due to rebellion. Jesus Christ said about Himself, “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matt 21:44).

You cannot endure the sound doctrine of this commentary? Your church has replaced the pulpit with a praise band (II Tim 4:3-4)? What happens if you reject God’s offer of truth? What happens if you walk away from Lady Wisdom? “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thess 2:10-12).

Spiritual Training 07 March 2013

Posted: March 7, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Future Glory

Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

As a believer, you are not left to your own resources to cope with problems. Even when you don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for you, and God answers. With God helping you pray, you don’t need to be afraid to come before him. Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you “in accordance with God’s will.” Then, when you bring your request to God, trust that he will always do what is best.

Lets Bring it Home: Don’t allow yourself not to pray because you don’t sound like someone else, or you don’t know what to say. God is telling you right here that Holy Spirit intercedes for us. So, there is no excuse not to pray more. We got to trust the Holy Spirit and Gods word. Just drop your head and go into your secret place and talk to the Lord.

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