Book of Proverbs

The Wise Will Confess Their Sin

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom Leads To Confession Of Sin

Proverbs 28-31

Confession means to acknowledge our faults, or our guiltiness, or our failures.

The Catholic Church teaches that Christ Jesus forgives sins through the priests at confession.

This is taken from John 20:23

Joh 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

The truth is, the power to forgive sins cannot be given by Jesus Christ to any of His ministers!

Only God can forgive sins!

God forgives out of “Grace”!

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Our sins were nailed to the cross that Jesus Christ bore for each of us!

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

This forgiveness forever solves the problem of sin in our lives, all sins past, all sins present, and all future sin.

We must remember Jesus Christ died for the sin of unbelief!

It is unbelief that leads to all other sins!

Our salvation is secure BUT, we will need a daily cleansing to maintain fellowship with God.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

This is the truth of the Scriptures and our own wisdom begins with a reverent fear of the Lord!

It is the fear of the Lord that will lead to the confession of our sins!

*****Pro 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

What is the theme of our world today?

The wicked who forsake the Word of God then exalt the wicked and their evil deeds!

The righteous who keep the Word of God and are considered the enemy!

Those who forsake the Word of God will insist on leaders who are like-minded so they can build their carnal society!

They are greedy and self-serving and insists on their evil agenda!

This is the America of today!

When ungodly leaders and ungodly citizens prevail, any nation will decline and will also suffer the reproach of the world and the condemnation of God!

This is the America of today!

Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

It may be already to late to save America but we must not sit idly by while this wickedness dominates our society!

The Bible says to “contend” with those that reject the Word of God!

To “contend” is to defend and preserve!

Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you “that ye should earnestly contend for the faith” which was once delivered unto the saints.

We are to remain settled on the truth of the Scriptures, the facts of the Word of God!

We are to stand up!

We are to speak out!

What is the truth of the Scriptures?

*****Pro 28:5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

If we remember the words of Jesus on the cross we can understand this verse.

Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Jesus Christ was always thinking of others!

Those that reject the Word of God cannot be expected to make righteous judgments nor can they administer sound justice!

This is also a fact in America where as more and more of these people are appointed to seats of judgment in our justice system.

They are void of the knowledge and the wisdom that is needed and ignorant of the truth!

Understanding can come but from one place and that is knowing the truth of God!

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Without searching for the Lord, He will never be found, yet He is always near!

It is only those who are filled with the Holy Spirit of God who can have the understanding of true justice!

*****Pro 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

The truth is, the wicked are not so much those that are ignorant of God’s law as it is those that turn their ear away and ignore God’s law!

It is all those who are ignorant of God’s law that we are to witness too and not so much those that hear the Word of God and reject it!

This is why Jesus taught in parables!

To be able to go before God in prayer is an awesome privilege.

We may never have an audience with the President or even with a Governor but we can have an audience with our God at any moment in time!

God is a Father with a desire to do good and a distinct love for mankind and has great delight in hearing from His children.

Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

When we reject the Word of God, we forfeit the privilege to enter into the presence of God!

God despises the prayers of those who despise the Word of God!

Joh 9:31 Now we know “that God heareth not sinners”: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

It is wisdom that leads to confession and it is confession that leads to answered prayers!

*****Pro 28:11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

If we open our eyes to this world we will see that for the most part, the wicked are arrogant and they consider themselves to be wise.

They simply reject anything that goes against their perceived thoughts.

It is easy to see through their deceit when compared to the Word of God!

It is far better to be poor and have integrity than to be rich and have no integrity!

Most of the rich see themselves as being superior to others and they use their wealth as a sign they are simply smarter than the average person.

They deceive themselves into thinking that those who are beneath them are blind to their schemes.

The truth is money simply cannot buy character!

Money simply cannot buy true wisdom!

Their lack of wisdom can be easily seen in their selfish, permissive, and worldly lifestyle!

It is only those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, who can have a clear understanding of life and our world!

It takes a close personal relationship with the Lord to overcome the deceptions of this world!

Pro 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

*****Pro 28:12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

What’s the truth of our world?

When the wicked rule a nation it is divided and most all people will flee from oppression!

When the righteous rise to power more people will rejoice and most problems are solved.

But remember God says there will always be those who are poor in this world until He returns!

When our government is run by someone that fears the Lord, God’s people will celebrate openly and publicly!

When the wicked rule, God’s people are forced to hide because they know that oppression is coming.

This is the dread of America!

This is the truth of ISIS!

This is the truth of almost every nation other than Israel!

An unrighteous leader causes grief to all those who reject their agenda!

Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Pro 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

The Bible is very clear, it is the love of money that is the root of most all the evil in our world!

*****Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

The Bible is also very clear when it says that sin cannot be hidden!

Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: “and be sure your sin will find you out”.

When we are to arrogant to see our own sin and repent of it, we can be sure that our sin will be made known to those that it affects.

We should also remember that those that reject the Lord are already condemned to a sinner’s Hell!

If we spend our lives refusing to acknowledge our sin and confess it to God, we can never prosper spiritually!

We can have no fellowship with the Lord.

We will forfeit God’s benefits.

Our prayer life will be powerless.

We will stunt our spiritual growth.

Our service to the Lord will be fruitless.

Joy will be far from us!

We will never succeed and prosper in this life we now have.

We must deal with our sin first by confessing it to the Lord!

Confession is recognizing sin as sin, and admitting it to God!

Most people think it ends there, but to be truthful our confession must be accompanied with “repentance”!

Repentance is much more than saying “I’m Sorry”, repentance is an action word that means “I’m Going To Travel The Path Of Righteousness”!

Genuine repentance is a complete change of heart and of mind that results in a change of conduct!

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

When we confess our sin then we are in agreement with God that sin can only be atoned by the blood of Jesus Christ!

After confession, must come action on our part before we will ever see the mercy of God!

*****Pro 28:18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

What is the truth of the Bible?

Those that walk according to the Word of God “shall be saved”!

The upright are safe and secure while those who reject the Word of God “will fall”!

The upright are all those who are washed in the blood of Jesus, innocent and blameless.

Perverse, means to be turned aside, distorted, stubborn and contrary.

He sways right and wrong and also pretends to be pursuing one path while he is really taking another.

These are the traits of the Anti-Christ and they both will fall!

Once he falls he will never rise again!

*****Pro 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

The truth is that our character is in full display by the way we treat others!

Jesus taught that loving others is equal to loving God:

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Apostle Paul taught that loving your neighbor is the fulfillment of all God’s commandments:

Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The line that separates the upright from the foolish is by the way they treat others!

All those who stubbornly persists in sin will be suddenly destroyed.

God makes this very plain!

Without remedy means that it will be done and there is nothing that can be done about it!

1) There are those who refuse to hear what the Lord has to say and avoid any sort of relationship with Him.

These will be destroyed without remedy!

We can be sure that they have been approached by God.

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

At death they will be instantly banished to eternal destruction:

Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

2) Then there are those who have a relationship with God but have returned to their sinful ways.

They may suffer a premature death because of unrepented sin!

God does not ignore the sins of His children!

God will not allow us to willfully continue in sin!

We may eventually cross a line where God’s patience has ended.

We will not lose our salvation but we will lose any reward we could have gotten!

This is an act of judgment but it is also an act of love.

By releasing us from our corrupt flesh, God releases us from our temptation to sin, ruining our testimony, and we will no longer cause harm to the “Body of Christ”!

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

And again.

1Co 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

These things cannot be denied!

God will not allow His children to continue in unconfessed sin!

3) God may also destroy nations where sin has been allowed to run rampant!

Israel is a prime example but there are many nations that do not exist today in any form!

2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

There are many reasons God sends His missionaries to foreign lands and sometimes God wants that nation to repent.

*****Pro 29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

There are many things that are going on in our nation that most all of us do not understand.

It is a fact that our leaders need to be able to discern between truthful and untruthful information!

It seems our leaders today yield to lobbyist who do not have the good of the people in mind.

The truth is that it is mercy and truth that makes a true leader!

Pro 20:28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

Those that are in a position of responsibility must remember to verify all information in order to know what’s for the good of the people they represent!

As far as the people, we must take strong action against all those who are not honest in their duties to serve the people.

We are finding this more difficult to do because it seems our government is becoming more and more corrupt!

This has taken place because the public has been lenient in insisting on the truth!

Pro 25:5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Pro 16:12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

What is the truth? It is those who are right with God who will prevail!

*****Pro 29:16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

It is a fact that immorality will cause the spread of sin.

In a world where Satan reigns, sin will continue to run rampant because that is Satan’s goal.

This the nation and the world we live in today!

Psa 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Psa 37:36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

The truth is that we who know the Lord should never despair because a God who cannot break a promise, promises a future day when all His enemies will be destroyed.

Psa 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

When the Lord returns, He will reign in righteousness!

Knowing all these things should make us confess our own sin and repent.

*****Pro 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Pride says we are superior to others because human logic reasons the way to success is through self-elevation.

This is a false conclusion!

The truth is that pride will only result in dishonor and humiliation!

The Bible teaches us that those who are arrogant will certainly be humbled through a painful process.

Pro 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pro 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

We can boldly go before the throne of God but we better be humble when we get there!

Our pride will get in the way when we think we are in need of a Savior!

Our pride will get in the way when we think we must remain at the mercy of God!

The truth is that God will exalt us throughout eternity if we will humbly bow before Him in this life!

Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Here again, our example is the Lord Jesus Christ, who was meek and lowly in heart but most people today regard Him as the greatest man that has ever lived even if they do not recognize Him as God, which He is!

Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

You cannot be Christian if you cannot learn from the Savior!

We are all certainly unworthy of God’s Grace and God’s “Grace” is shown to us all by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Humility is not weakness, humility is strength under complete control!

We must exchange our yoke for His yoke.

We must exchange our burdens for His burdens.

We must exchange our pride for His teaching.

If we are struggling in our faith, then we must “learn of Jesus”.

Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

If we are struggling in our walk according to the Scriptures, then we must “learn of Jesus”.

Rom 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

If we are tempted to quit on God, then we must “learn of Jesus”.

Joh 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

As believers we are to walk humbly upon this earth just as our Savior did!

And we are never to partner with evil!

*****Pro 29:24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

A thief makes it his business to cheat, defraud, and steal the property of others.

If you become a partner to a thief, you come under double judgement.

1) You will be guilty of his crime!

2) You will be guilty of withholding information about his crime!

That’s what sin does, sin multiplies. One sin will always lead to another sin!

Psa 50:18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
Psa 50:19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

When we try to use that excuse, “I did not want to get involved”, we are already guilty in the eyes of God!

We have shown no real concern for our own soul and if we cannot care for our own soul how can we care for the souls of others.

God says it like this:

Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

The Lord our God put it this way:

Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

When we hear the cursing of those who have been harmed and who are the victim and we do not report what we know, how can we plead “not guilty”!

God never changes so He warns us again and again:

1Ti 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, “neither be partaker of other men’s sins”: keep thyself pure.

If we are wise we will have an unwavering faith in the Lord and His Word!

*****Pro 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

When our fears turn us away from serving the Lord then our fears will actually be greater!

We are to obey human authority in order for there to be a civil society.

If we have trusted in the Lord then we will live righteously and living righteously is doing things the right way!

We also will not be afraid of what people will do to us when we take our stand on the Word of God!

The truth is that many who say they trust in the Lord are compelled to lie, or to compromise to avoid any unpleasant repercussions.

Remember even Peter denied Christ Jesus because he was afraid of what those people would do to him and when he realized what he had done he got alone and wept bitterly.

We must remember God takes responsibility for His Words!

And it will always be impossible to live for Christ and avoid persecution!

Someplace everyday some of those that love the Lord are slain just because they trust Him for their salvation.

If we truly love the Lord then we will not have a fear of what man can do to us.

God said to take a stand and stand firm:

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

When we are threatened we simply need to call on the Lord and place it in His hands.

We are in God’s hands and it is He that is in control of our lives!

We must remember, we have already been judged and justified by the Lord, we do not need the favor of any ruler of this earth or any other person!

*****Pro 29:26 Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD.

When we trust in the Lord we must not fret when justice is not served in human courts.

We know that the Lord is the ultimate and final Judge and no sin will go unpunished.

It is not in our hands to seek revenge!

The day is coming when the Lord will correct all the wrong that has been done in this world!

It is a fact that human government cannot bring a perfect justice.

There are those that seek a rulers favor but the truth is, what God has appointed for them will surely come to them!

Pro 19:6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

Those that pay for a favorable judgement here on earth are not rich enough to sway the judgment of God!

The truth is an unjust man is an abomination to the Lord!

*****Pro 29:27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

The title of our lesson is that “wisdom leads to the confession of sin”.

No one can be justified until they can make a confession!

When we walk in God’s righteousness we will refuse to compromise with the things of this world!

We will then be despised by those who reject the Word of God!

When we take our stand for the Lord we will see opposition.

In many cases it will be bitter with much anger!

Fearing the Lord, gives us the conviction to do right and leave the results with Him!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

God Shows His Love

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom Exemplifies The Love Of Christ

Proverbs 24-27

To exemplify means to show by example!

God has shown us by the life story of Lord Jesus Christ!

God has shown us by the truth of the Word of God!

God is showing us daily, if we have allowed the Holy Spirit to be our Guide!

God is showing us by His chastising of us when we do wrong.

God has shown us example after example of what He will do when certain things are done or are not done in the stories in the Bible.

The theme of the Bible is the love of God!

1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

If we are God’s children and are led by Christ’s example then we will also show the Love of God!

Mic 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

There is no excuse for our ignorance on these matters!

In the very first Book of the Bible it says:

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

God takes us throughout the Scriptures to show us His image.

God is love and this is the most important part of His image and the example we are to show to all those who cross our paths in this life time!

*****Pro 24:1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Pro 24:2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

We are to witness to those who cross our path if at all possible but we are never to associate ourselves with those who are evil or that do evil!

1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

In this day and time it is a fact that we cannot move away from evilness.

In all walks of life there are people who prey on others.

Today the story is terrorism throughout the world.

This thing distracts us from those, our own politicians and leaders, who are trying to destroy our nation from within.

There are also the local criminals who destroy everything they touch.

And then there are also those who preach and teach a false gospel.

All these not only destroy the innocent but in the end they destroy themselves!

Because their thoughts and conversations are always on evil things and their lips always speak of mischief.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

If we are truly wise we will not be associated with sinful evil people.

*****Pro 24:3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

That word “house” not only means a place to live such as a structure but it also means the people that live inside that structure.

A strong home does not just automatically exist!

A strong home is the product of wise planning and hard work!

We have already established that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.

A strong home must be built on a solid foundation!

Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

There is only one foundation that can be built on today in this world, that can survive the evils of it!

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

This is the foundation of salvation!

Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

This is a home built by obeying the Word of God!

Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

A strong home is built when we follow these principles in this Book of Proverbs!

Pro 22:17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Pro 22:18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
Pro 22:19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

We can see that wisdom involves the proper treatment of not only our friends but also our enemies but wisdom also shows us how to treat ourselves.

There is no better example that Jesus Christ.

*****Pro 24:15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Pro 24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Pro 24:18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

This cursed world has made men to be enemies of men. This was never God’s intention!

But God warns all those who would cause harm to His children!

To spoil is to rob and plunder.

Those who are wicked may cause a just man to fall but those who are justified will not stay down.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Those that are justified, need only to repent to be raised back up!

But the same is not said of the wicked, they will fall without a remedy!

For all those who are interested, this means that the wicked will never be able to totally destroy God’s people!

Those that are justified are on the winning side!

2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Since we know all these things it would be easy for us to gloat over our victory.

We are never to gloat over God’s judgment over our enemies!

We are to hate sin but we are never to hate the sinner!

The truth is that seeing God’s judgment served should cause us all to fear the Lord even more!

We are never to forget we serve a powerful God!

Jer 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

Nothing much displeases God more than when His children rejoice over God’s judgment on those who are lost!

Many of those will be some of our own family members!

Verse 18 does not mean that God’s wrath may be turned from the enemy and toward that righteous person who is rejoicing but it certainly can mean that He will execute judgement on both.

It is true, that as we recover from some evil thing it is hard not to rejoice when God’s justice is served.

But this is the reason Jesus said we must love our enemies as we love ourselves.

We will never rejoice over those we love when we see God’s justice!

Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

There is a reason God will wipe away all our tears in Heaven and this may be one of those reasons!

*****Pro 24:19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Pro 24:20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Again the Lord teaches us not to worry about things we cannot control.

We are not to be jealous of the prosperity or in any way envious of those who are evil and wicked.

We must not become angry with God because of these things.

Why? Those who are wicked have no hope beyond this life, they are condemned!

There is no prospect of future happiness or fulfillment!

They will be eternally separated from God!

They will suffer the wrath of God throughout eternity!

There is no reward for those who are evil!

Instead of worry, we should trust in the Lord.

We must remain committed to the Lord.

We can rest in the Lord.

We can wait patiently for the Lord’s return!

God does not want us to worry!

God certainly does not want us to strike out in anger.

God does not want us to be their judge.

Pro 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Pro 23:18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

How do we describe the world we live in today?

*****Pro 24:24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

Our legal system has faltered in the name of politics, personal relationships, favor, bribery and even fear and the wicked are defended while the innocent are forgotten or even punished!

Even our own Supreme Court bows at the whims of politicians!

They forget that they all will answer to the Supreme Judge of this earth!

Gen 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right”?

It is only those that judge b y being faithful to justice that will be esteemed by those who know the truth and the knowledge of God!

And there is no Scripture that approves of the Sharia Law of the Muslim!

Pro 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

America and her leaders have fallen into this trap along with most of the world!

And people wonder why God allows such evil to happen.

Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Even many who claim to know God but their actions do not show that truth.

Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

God is nowhere near this sort of justice!

What is the first thing we need to do in America?

*****Pro 25:5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

The greatest responsibility of any leader is to protect their nation.

They must also protect that nation from the influence of wicked people.

Any leader that brings to his council such evilness is no leader at all!

2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

The leader that rejects the Word of God is an unfaithful man and should be regarded as such!

*****Pro 25:19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

An unfaithful leader will cause us pain as that of a toothache and be as useless as a runner with a broke foot.

Those that are wise know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!

This wisdom will make them dependable and trustworthy!

This wisdom will make them do the right thing!

We should not put confidence in any man unless our confidence is already in the Lord, so we can discern right from wrong!

*****Pro 25:20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

We should never be insensitive in trying to cheer up someone with a heavy heart!

When sympathy is needed, cheerfulness can sometimes cause harm!

When our neighbor or our friend are hurting, they do not need jokes or merry songs, they need loving sympathy.

Sometimes there are no words of comfort and they just need a silent friend by their side!

Job 2:12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
Job 2:13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

When these so called friends of Job did begin to speak they ruined all the good they had done by their silence.

Nitre is like baking soda and when vinegar is poured on baking soda, it produces a terrible reaction!

Sometimes our words, even though well intended, can produce a terrible reaction to those with a heavy heart!

*****Pro 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Pro 25:22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

It is in the Old Testament where God laid down His basic principles of building human relationships!

Doing good to an enemy is a difficult thing to do!

We cannot defeat our enemies by being good to them but we must never sink to their level of wickedness.

We are to treat our enemies no different than we would treat the poor.

If he is hungry feed him.

If he is thirsty then provide him with water.

In the days of Solomon, people used a fire to cook and to eat and even other purposes.

If for some reason you had allowed your fire to go out it was necessary to borrow some coals from your neighbor.

Giving some coals, in a coal pan to carry home on his head was a kind and a neighborly act!

“Coals of fire” are a metaphor for remorse and repentance and symbolizes overcoming evil with good!

Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

This is also a specific place where the Lord said a reward could be earned, here on earth and also in Heaven!

Pro 11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

There is never a place in the Scriptures where God says it is alright to do wrong even to our enemies!

*****Pro 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

We must always be aware of self-pride!

Bragging is thinking we are better than others!

Being humble prompts others to think more highly of us!

God’s eyes are on us at all times and we are always to be humble before Him!

Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

If we are truly wise in the ways of the Lord, then we will also know the example that our Lord set when He walked among us.

Jesus said:

Joh 8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

If we are truly wise, we will let others praise us.

It is far better for a stranger to approach us and say “you seem to be a Christian” than for us to brag about it.

It is far better to be known for actions than for what we say.

Paul said “I am what I am but only by the Grace of God”.

If we are not praised by others then we should be satisfied with no praise!

If we cling to the Word of God and wise in the fear of the Lord, then God Himself will praise us.

1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: “and then shall every man have praise of God”.

It is far better to patiently wait on the Lord and stay busy in the work that He has given us to do, for that will also bring His praise and that should be all our goal!

*****Pro 27:11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

As wise children of God, we can bring great joy and gladness to the Lord.

It should be our goal to be a testimony to the wisdom and the character of the Lord.

Everything we say and do will reflect on our testimony of the Lord!

We can earn the trust of the Lord by being obedient to His commandments, always being truthful, and making good decisions.

We can earn the trust of the Lord by never being ashamed of the Lord nor being ashamed of the Word of God!

Proper behavior is based on keeping the commandments of King Jesus!

Jesus said:

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

In other words “Wisdom Exemplifies The Love Of Christ”!

We are the representatives of the Lord and we need to act in His best interest.

It is the will of God that none would perish but the truth of our world is, that so many of this world will never respond to the “Gospel” but it is still our job to take the “Gospel” to all that cross our path!

*****Pro 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Hell is the place of the dead and destruction will come to all those in Hell when they face the Lord at the White Throne of Judgement.

Hell is always hungry and is always craving for another soul.

All those that reject the Word of God are never satisfied to stand alone and they will take as many others with them to Hell as they possibly can.

It is the Church that stands in the gap and it is us who know the truth of the Lord that need to take our stand on that truth.

True satisfaction can only come by the “Fear of the Lord” and a close, and a personal, and a loving relationship with Him!

If we truly love the Lord, He knows it!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

Avoiding The Ungodly Lifestyle

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom Avoids Ungodly Lifestyles

Proverbs 18-23

Who are the godly?

Those that obey God!

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Who are the ungodly?

Those who do not obey the Word of God!

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, “what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God”?

The wisdom that comes from a reverent fear of the Lord, will teach us to avoid an ungodly lifestyle!

*****Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

We should not ever forget that words have the power of life and death; they can either kill or they can nourish life and the Word of God is life!

It is impossible to overestimate the power of the Word of God!

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

It is also just as true that all those who talk with other than God’s Words will eat the fruit of their own words!

If the words of each Christian do not expose a godly character then we are not who we say we are!

*****Pro 19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

It is true that we all do foolish things from time to time.

It is the foolish things we do that damage our health.

It is the foolish things that are done that can jeopardize a good marriage.

It is foolish things we do that jeopardize our employment.

In fact foolishness will most always affect every aspect of our lives!

Today in our world we see a people who refuse to take responsibility for their actions.

We may notice it more in our politicians but it has also spread throughout our youth!

We have a world, “do to a lack of wisdom”, that blame God for most all their troubles and then in their foolish minds think they have the ability to solve the worlds problems without God.

It is our own sin nature that causes us to blame our own mistakes or sins on someone else, rather than our selves.

The proof of that can be seen in Adam:

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

It may be true that Eve picked the forbidden fruit and and gave it to Adam, but it was Adam who chose to defy the Word of God and eat of the fruit.

This same characteristic exist in all mankind!

Foolish behavior always carries a price and most of the time a heavy price!

*****Pro 19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

Self love is righteous and healthy, when it does not come from sinful selfishness!

Life’s purpose, life’s success, and life’s eternal destiny will motivate most people to seek the wisdom to allow these things and that wisdom can come only from a reverent fear of the Lord!

Pro 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

*****Pro 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

What is the biggest problem with our youth of today? The parents have been brainwashed about true discipline!

Parents are commanded to discipline children in order to keep them from the deadly practice of foolishness!

This does not mean to abuse any child but note, this is a command just as much as any of the commands of God!

God says it is urgent that our children be shown the right way by using the verbal and the physical discipline that is required.

This discipline is to begin while our children are young because “that is when there is hope”, since there is little or no hope after they are grown!

Parents who neglect the discipline of their children will bear some responsibility for their foolish behavior!

In fact discipline while children are young is the best weapon to use to keep our children from harming themselves and others.

Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

To not chasten your children is to not love them as you should!

Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

The lifestyle of us all had it’s beginning while we were still babes!

*****Pro 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

A godly lifestyle begins with proper advice and proper instructions!

God is saying to “pay attention to what I am telling you”!

To prepare ourselves for the future we must begin in the present and the younger we begin the better!

We will never understand the value of God’s instructions until we are living a godly life!

*****Pro 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

What is the truth of a reverent fear of the Lord and a godly lifestyle?

1) There is the gift of life.

To be a Christian is to be immortal.

As the Lord Jesus has an endless life, so do those that trust Him!

Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, “but after the power of an endless life”.

Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

2) There is contentment.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

3) There is security.

1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

The Christian life is a life of true freedom!

As we submit to the Lord we can walk in the knowledge that we are saved!

Eternal life is not just a life that has no end but also a life that is lived in perfection.

Eternal life is a life in full communion with our Father in Heaven.

*****Pro 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Foolish choices will most always bring with them pain!

When we do not learn from the wisdom of these proverbs we will inflict pain upon ourselves!

We must avoid foolish conduct!

We must not be misled by alcohol.

Alcohol leads to reckless behavior!

Wine is made from fermented grapes.

Strong drink refers to alcohol that is made from fermented grains.

A mocker scoffs at what is is good in society and wine will make you a mocker.

Raging is as a brawler who causes commotion and turmoil.

Strong drink will make you a brawler.

In other words those under the influence of alcohol are often unrecognizable from their normal self!

Those that do not become mockers and brawlers still do and say foolish things and most will behave immorally.

Those who are wise will abstain from all alcoholic beverages!

Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

We must connect with the wisdom of God so we can see properly and not stumble in our ways!

*****Pro 23:19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

The word hear or listen means to obey!

To be wise is to be guided by wisdom and wisdom comes from a reverent fear of the Lord!

We must not allow our hearts to be our guide as the world says because the heart is wicked above all things.

We must not allow our desires to lead us away from the path of righteousness!

*****Pro 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

We must not associate with people who will influence us to follow after the lust of the flesh.

What are our greatest temptations?

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

We are commanded to avoid the company of drunkards and gluttons!

Why?

Because they have lost control of themselves!

They are ruled by the desires to their flesh!

They cannot control the activities of their flesh!

They allow their own passions to rule their lives!

What is their end, less they repent?

*****Pro 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

These two things can ruin the lives of all those who become addicted to these things!

The righteous life is a “step by step”, “day by day” walk with the Lord!

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

The cross is an instrument of death!

We must put our own will, our own desires, our own wants, our own ambitions to death and then follow Jesus!

Wisdom can only be seen through the life and the person of Jesus Christ!

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As long as we are alive on this earth we will never be able to become the complete master of our flesh!

We must face the fact that we are capable of backsliding at any moment.

If we think we have reached such a plateau in our lives, then that is when we are at our weakest moment!

1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Our churches are full of carnal, undisciplined Christians and even they can tempt us to stray from the path of righteousness as we try to help make them more mature.

There are also those who abuse Christian liberty and they are just as dangerous an influence as those who are lost.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Anytime we give in to our flesh and stray from God’s pathway, we have strayed from the wisdom of God!

The Lord Jesus teaches us to be very careful to avoid all these things.

Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

*****Pro 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

We already know the God is love and it is love that makes this request of each of us!

We can see that God actually begs and pleads with us to listen to what He says!

God has absolutely nothing to gain in this request!

God is already to great for any of us to make Him greater!

God is already to rich for any of us to make Him richer!

The wisest thing we could ever do is to take our hearts and give them to the Lord!

It is our eyes that get us in the most trouble so God says keep your eyes on the ways of the Lord.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

*****Pro 23:27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
Pro 23:28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

This whore represents immorality and everyone knows if you fall into a deep ditch it’s just very hard to get out.

Immorality is like a trap that will hold you captive and many never escape the clutches of immorality!

An immoral woman will use all her weapons to steal everything you have!

She will steal your family, your home, your career and your money.

She will take away your dignity and your honor, your health and even your life.

Those that fall into the traps of immorality can lose everything that has any real meaning in this life!

We live in a world of extreme immorality today!

We live in a world where the first thing provided to the teenager is birth control.

All manner of sexual sin runs rampant in our own nation!

A wedding ring, the circle of commitment, means nothing.

Modesty is a word that no longer exists!

The only way to avoid these traps is to wear the armor of God and prayer!

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

And we must remember that we are the “Body Of Christ” and we are never to take the “members” of Christ and join them to a harlot!

Immorality can only lead to sorrow and woe!

*****Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

There should be no doubt that the Word of God forbids the use of alcohol for consumption. God warns us over and over again against drunkenness.

God then ask for us to answer the question of, who has all these problems in their life?

“Woe” is crying out in despair and grief.

“Sorrow” is crying because of a want or a need, sorrow is pain of the mind.

“Contentions” or strife is brawling and fighting, quarreling and disputing.

“Babblings” or complaints is speech that is vain and meaningless.

“Unnecessary wounds and bruises” and the diseases of addiction.

“Red or bloodshot eyes”

Who then is God speaking of?

*****Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

Most would say that these verse speak to the alcoholic and that is true.

But in actuality these Scriptures speak to all who partake of alcohol and any other thing that is mind altering such as drugs.

Isa 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

These Scriptures speak of anyone who takes a drink of alcohol and then tarries for another.

These Scriptures speak of anyone who is craving and seeking these things which speaks of addiction.

There is only one remedy for these things!

To abstain!

*****Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

There is only one answer given to us by the Lord.

Do Not Even Look At It!

If we are not to look at it then we certainly are not to drink of it.

Many will say that the Bible speaks of moderation in the drinking of alcohol but that cannot be true because in the context of this passage it is a father speaking to his son and not some one speaking to a group.

He does not say “drink not too much”, he says “do not even look at it”!

The Bible does not speak of moderation when referring to alcoholic beverages.

God says NO!

And our God never changes!

We are not to be tempted by it because the danger to become addicted is just to great!

Alcohol is like that enticing harlot that we are also to avoid!

God says to flee all temptation!

1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

All those that have the wisdom of God, who are the wise, will not even consider drinking anything that contains alcohol!

What are the consequences?

*****Pro 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Alcoholic drinks are deadly!

A drink of any kind may quench the thirst and may even be pleasurable for a moment but in the end it can and will bring destruction.

It strikes with the fury of the serpent which can wound or even kill.

Alcohol is poison!

We know the serpent as the agent of temptation, which if followed will bring death.

We know the adder as a serpent that lies in wait to destroy!

Job 20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

Alcohol also alters the way the mind works!

*****Pro 23:33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

People under the influence of alcohol will hallucinate and say all kinds of crazy things.

They will stagger and stumble about like they were on a ship in the midst of the raging ocean.

Most all will get dizzy.

*****Pro 23:34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

Many of them will spend most of their night like they are on the mast of a ship where the tossing of the ship is much worse.

Many of them will become sick at their stomachs.

*****Pro 23:35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Many of them will not even remember what they have done.

They will have little or no pain!

During that hangover they will say, this will never happen again.

But even while they are recovering, they are already thinking about that next drink!

They have become slaves to their sin, because this is what sin does!

The truth is there is nothing more responsible for destroyed lives than alcohol and drugs.

Those who are wise will not partake of these things!

Every alcoholic began with a first drink!

Every drug addiction began with that first time!

All those that teach moderation must deal honestly with the Word of God.

Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Many will say that total abstinence is not insisted on in the New Testament.

But God says that abstinence is the goal for the Christian because the sinner should be under our supreme care!

The truth is that we are our brothers keeper!

Jesus said we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves!

If the Lord Jesus could come to this earth and give His life for every individual who has ever lived, surely if we are to follow in His footsteps we can sacrifice our own opinions and our own taste for the sake of not only our brothers and sisters in Christ but also for those who are lost and without Christ just as He did!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Power Of Words

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom Learns The Power Of Words

Proverbs 15-17

A word is a sound that comes out of our mouth that expresses an idea and is therefore a component of speech.

We can have a conversation with someone when we string words together.

Today here in America today it is our freedom of speech that has come under fire.

The word freedom means a person or a group to be and to do what they want instead of being controlled by others.

There are many today that say people do not have the right to say things that may hurt others feelings or say things that others do not agree with.

The Freedom of Speech Clause of the First Amendment is one of the most valuable and precious rights guaranteed to Americans in the United States Constitution. At the same time, it is one of the most abused rights by Americans.

The Freedom of Speech Clause of the 1st Amendment reads like this:

“Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech.”

The reason for all the controversy today over the freedom of speech is that words have power!

The truth is, no worldly conversation between two people have as much power as the Word of God!

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

This is the truth of the Word of God!

What is the truth of our own words?

Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

This true because our words can cause injury to others!

God expects us to think before we speak and to only speak the truth!

Pro 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Pro 12:19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Remember those that are wise are those that know and love the Lord Jesus Christ!

Let’s begin chapter 15 at verse 1:

*****Pro 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

The very first thing we notice is that an answer should always be given, if that speech has injured us we should not wrap ourselves up in silence but we also see that the answer should be gentle.

That word soft means tender, gentle or mild.

We all how hard this is to do at times but this is still the Word of God and Jesus said “those that love Me will keep my commandments”.

That word “grievous” means just the opposite, afflictive, painful, and hard to bear!

Those that are wise in the Lord will use their knowledge the way it was intended, for the glory of the Lord.

*****Pro 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

That word “aright” means that there is a right time and a right place for everything we do and if a soft answer will turn a tense moment into something more pleasant, then that should be our goal!

The truth is, it is very hard to argue in a whisper and very hard to argue with someone who continues to speak softly.

Why did crowds gather around the Lord Jesus?

Luk 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

That word “gracious” means that Jesus spoke in favorable words whenever He was around people and we know that His enemies were always present.

Why did Jesus speak this way, because that’s just what God does.

The Lord is always ready to pardon.

The Lord is always ready to be merciful.

The Lord will always show great kindness.

The Lord is always slow to anger.

Neh 9:17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: “but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not”.

The Lord expects us to be like Him as best we can!

If we cannot be like the Lord then we are more like the fool!

And the mouth of the fool pours out foolishness!

Foolishness is a lack of understanding the truth!

Those that are foolish are all those that do not realize that God is aware of everything that goes on in His created world!

*****Pro 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

The omnipresence of the Lord means that He is in every place at the same time. God has a universal presence!

The omniscience of the Lord means that He knows all things at once. God has universal knowledge, unbounded and infinite!

Jer 23:23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
Jer 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

God hears everything that comes out of our mouths and this should encourage us all to speak pleasant and gracious words just as Jesus did.

*****Pro 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

That word “wholesome” means something that promotes good health.

Wholesome advice contributes to good health.

Wholesome answers are kind and pleasing to those that ask.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, because the words that come from such a person bring healing and is soothing, and comforting to that one who hears it.

Jesus said:

Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The truth is, that a sick soul can be cured by the healing Word of God!

Perverseness comes from those that pervert the truth and is only falsehood and lies.

Falsehood and lies will only break a man’s spirit in the end because no healing can come from lies!

Falsehood is anything that goes against the Word of God!

Those who bring falsehood are corrupt in their doctrine and defiled in their own soul!

*****Pro 15:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

The English word “Hell” comes from the Hebrew word “Sheol” and is the world of the dead.

The English word “destruction” is translated from the Hebrew word “abaddon”.

In the Book of Revelation we find this verse:

Rev 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

To some this Abaddon is located in the lowest depth of Hell, the “abyss”.

Rev 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

This the same place that all those will go who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as there Savior!

Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Why would anyone one to go there?

Why would anyone even take the chance that they might end up in that awful place?

Hell is a real place!

Even in Hell one cannot escape the watchful eyes of the Lord who will make sure that the punishment will suit the crime.

Job said:

Job 26:6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

Even the deepest depth of the bottomless pit, is no secret to the God who created this place for Satan, The Devil!

Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Hell is a real place!

The Devil, Satan is a real person!

There were a third of the angels of Heaven that departed with Satan.

These are all real things and if you end up in Hell you will be a stranger or an alien, who was very foolish when God gave you the opportunity to miss out on this awful place!

*****Pro 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

The truth is, that sin is a strangely deceiving influence over those caught in the Satan’s snares!

It seems that most of us are always involved in things where we need advice.

There are also those caught up in special circumstances and in need of someone to rescue them.

A purpose is something that we set before us as an object to be reached.

In fact, the Bible teaches us that we all have a specific purpose given to us from our Creator.

Even Jesus Christ came to this earth for a purpose!

1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Even Jesus Christ did not come without counsel!

Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

This same counsellor of the Lord Jesus Christ must then be our counsellor and it is He who gave us our own purpose!

Pro 19:21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

If we try to make it through this life without the Lord we are doomed to failure!

And if we can be around others that were also counselled by the Lord then we all can be established.

2Co 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

To be established is to be founded on the Word of God, and then comes unspeakable joy!

1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

*****Pro 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Our joy comes when we realize that we can now be useful in the work of the Lord.

We can fulfill our purpose in life.

We can know the facts of everlasting life.

We can avoid the errors of sin.

We can know how to answer every man!

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

We will have words of comfort for those that are in distress.

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

We will know the way of life!

*****Pro 15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

We have seen the the message of the Book of Proverbs is about two paths.

1) The path of life.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

These are the wise who lead such a life as to preserve them from death!

Pro 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

The wise man’s path leads Heavenward.

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

God promises an eternally happy life to those that fear the Lord!

2) The path of death.

The path to death leads to Hell and a life eternally separated from the Lord!

*****Pro 15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

The wise child of God will think before they speak, taking time to consider their answer.

This is why they can rejoice in their answers as stated in verse 23.

The child of God does not want to say things that are false and the Word of God is always of the truth!

The very opposite is true of those who do not know the Lord.

We see people today who pride themselves for being outspoken who in reality have only followed others whose wisdom is in wickedness and lead to mischief and sorrow.

Those who pour out evil things without thinking have already rejected the truth!

Verse 2 said “the mouth of fools pour out foolishness”

We do not have to call people fools. Their own answers will show these things to be true.

Even in my own family there are those that think everyone that dies go to Heaven and that God will respond to all prayers.

The Bible says this is not true!

*****Pro 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

God will only respond to the prayers of the righteous and the righteous are only those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!

The Word of God is clear. God loved all people enough to send His Son Christ Jesus to die for their sins but until that fact is accepted, God is far from all who are wicked.

Prayer is a great privilege that is only given to those that know that prayer was purchased by Christ Jesus on Mount Calvary.

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

God has not obligated Himself to answer the prayers of those that reject His Son because they cannot have a relationship with Him until they accept the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the only salvation plan offered by the Lord!

Their is only one way into the throne room of God and that is by the blood of Jesus Christ!

God longs to hear one prayer from every human being before He will recognize them:

Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner”.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Until you realize that you are a sinner, you cannot be saved!

*****Pro 15:30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

We as Christians can be an encouragement to others and our eyes can say this as much as our mouth at times.

If we can express the joy of salvation. It can be uplifting when a scowl or a frown can crush any spirit.

If we are the bearer of the “Good News” of Jesus Christ and the “Gospel” then we certainly need to appear as we know we have and know the truth.

People want to hear something that will lead to happiness and good health.

Commercial television is designed around this one thought!

As believers if we do not appear as we have been “Born Again” into a new life then how can we ever lead others to the Lord?

To do this we must recognize our own weaknesses and have complete victory over them.

We must get a daily filling of the Holy Spirit who will lead us in a Christ-like manner.

We must pick up our cross daily, which means we must say no to the flesh. We must take off the old man and put on the new man.

We must walk the “Gospel” walk and talk the “Gospel” talk, even when we do not feel like it!

I’m sure Jesus did not feel like getting nailed to that cross but love was nailed to the cross that day!

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

*****Pro 15:31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

When the Lord shares His wisdom with us we certainly also want to know all things that are displeasing to
Him.

When we are doing anything wrong we certainly want to know it before it’s too late!

We understand the benefits of correction!

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Those who are wise in the Lord need instruction to grow in understanding but those who are foolish ignore instruction and harm themselves.

*****Pro 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

It is important that we care enough about our souls that we graciously accept the discipline of God!

A fool will fail to see how discipline can help them in any way!

Look how are world is going.

You can be locked up for child abuse, for disciplining your children, because the world sees no benefit in it.

Corporal punishment is being abolished because the world sees no benefit in it.

Criminals are being set free because the world thinks there is little benefit to incarceration.

Terrorist are set free because it is believed they are only defending a religion and are not really evil.

In reality those that hate discipline actually hate themselves and despise their own soul!

Pro 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Those that reject the wisdom of God will be destroyed!

God cannot make things much plainer than this.

*****Pro 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

When we humble ourselves before the Lord, changes just take place our lives!

It is not always an easy thing for the human being to volunteer to be humble before anyone because it is not in our sin nature to do so!

Our wisdom begins when we accept and appreciate the trials that God brings into our lives!

This make no sense to our flesh but we realize that God only does things that will be a benefit to us!

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Just as silver is refined by fire, the Christian is made purer by the chastening of the Lord!

Once we realize we are filthy sinners, we will gladly request the wisdom of a Holy God who loves us much more than we deserve.

Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

*****Pro 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

God expects us to have self-control!

He has born all our sin at the cross.

He has filled us with His Spirit.

He will share with us most all His wisdom.

To pick up our cross daily is to deny our flesh!

God says we must control our speech and our temper!

To be wise, is to hold our tongues and keep our emotions in check.

To many of us this is very hard to do especially in these last days.

But there are some things about us that only God needs to know!

And if we cannot be trusted by our brothers and sisters in Christ then how are we to fulfill the purpose that God has for us.

When we are engaged in conversations with others it is not necessary for us to be heard on every matter.

Jas 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

We must know when to speak and when to keep silent!

When we can do these things, then we will be able to keep calm and refrain from becoming upset.

Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

If we can manage our own tongues, then we can mange our whole body!

*****Pro 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

The truth is, even a fool can deceive those around him by keeping his mouth shut!

This image of him soon disappears once he begins to speak!

Ecc 5:3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

The truth is, that even a fool if he shuts his mouth and truly listens to those who are wise can be saved from his foolishness.

If this is not true then I would have never been saved!

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

Avoiding Disaster

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom Helps Us Avoid Disaster

Proverbs 5-7

A “disaster” is a sudden calamity, an unfortunate event we witness in our lives.

A disaster can come suddenly in our lives and many times it will break us and we will see no way out.

Pro 6:15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

It is in our best interest to not be the cause of our own disaster!

Sin will always lead to disaster!

The best way to avoid a disaster in our lives is to attend to the wisdom of the Lord!

The only way to overcome a disastrous life is to attend to the wisdom of the Lord!

*****Pro 5:1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
Pro 5:2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

That word “attend” means to “prick up your ears” or “pay attention to what is said”.

When God says to listen to His advice, then that advice must be very important!

We already know that wisdom is the proper use of knowledge.

Wisdom is as much about discernment and choices, as it is righteousness.

God has given us all the freedom to choose and no one teaches us the right way to choose better than Joshua.

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: “but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”.

When we choose right, we have a better chance of avoiding the disasters of life!

When we choose the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Savior, we have chosen the best of God’s wisdom and knowledge!

Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ Jesus!

When we have chosen Christ Jesus, then we can have the ability in regard to discretion.

To regard is to establish in our minds the things that are important and things that are in our best interest and disregard all evil thoughts!

When our lips keep knowledge then we are able to speak of things worthy to be known by others!

We are not all chosen to be preachers, but we are all chosen to be messengers of God and to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

As ambassadors for Christ our lips should also keep the knowledge of salvation!

Mal 2:7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

But the lips of those foreign to Christ, will always bring disaster!

*****Pro 5:3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
Pro 5:4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.

The strange woman appears some 10 times in the Book of Proverbs.

It seems she is a foreign woman but the emphasis is on the fact that she has not been taught the Word of God,

She is also called the “foolish woman” and is in “typology” foolish as compared to wisdom!

In reality an adulteress is someone who does not regard family bonds or relationships to be important.

Those “lips” will speak words more enticing than a dripping honeycomb, in other words, she will flatter you with her conversation!

Flattering words are words of enticement and their intent is to cause us to sin!

Those words “smoother than oil” also describe treachery, especially the treachery of a false friend.

Wormwood is a plant with a bitter and nauseous taste and can be considered “poison” in reality and in meaning.

The thought behind the “two-edged sword” is a cutting that cuts much more than a sword with a single edge!

To fall into the trap of this adulteress, will leave you with self-condemnation, anger, anguish of heart, and destructive judgement.

*****Pro 5:5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Pro 5:6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

Just a an adulteress will lead to destruction of at least two families, false religion will lead those that follow it down to death and hell!

Pro 2:18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

Pro 7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Pro 9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

She will lead her victims to ruin!

To be led by false religion, is to ignore the wisdom of God!

Just as the adulteress offers the man the luxury of sensual joy without responsibility and commitment, so do the words of all false religion!

Her ways are movable, you will never know where she really stands on the issues of life.

Those who do not trust in the Lord, believe that life is just a game in which the rules are constantly changing and nothing spoils a good game more than those that take life to seriously!

God does not take all the fun out of life, God does certainly teach us to avoid destruction!

It is the intent of these Proverbs is to teach us to look ahead to see where our actions will take us before we fall into sins traps.

Sexual sin will most always lead to destruction of the body, the destruction of the family, and the destruction of the soul.

The world thinks they can violate God’s Laws and avoid the consequences of sin but violating God’s Laws can only lead to death and destruction!

We must have a clear understanding of the Word of God!

*****Pro 5:7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

Children includes both male and females.

The male child of God is not to partake of the adulteress and the female child of God is not to become an adulteress!

These things can only take place by keeping the Word of God!

Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

The only workable method to avoid sin is to steer clear of it!

*****Pro 5:8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

When we trust in the Lord we trust in the promises that He has made, knowing that Christ has never broken a promise.

Temptation also includes hopeful promises, other wise, people could never be caught in the Devil’s snares.

These are promises that are never kept.

Sin has no mercy but God is full of mercy and grace!

Removing our way means, to remove this thing from the thoughts of our mind, from the conversations of our lips and most important the path that we take!

We already know that the “fear of the Lord” is the beginning of wisdom, but “the fear of the Lord” is to also hate evil!

Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

This includes, evil thoughts, evil words, evil actions, evil company, evil worship, and all evil doctrine!

We must call sin what it is, Sin Is Death, and this death is the eternal separation from God!

We must avoid it, we must remove our way from it and we certainly must not come close to sins door.

This is where we were at, before we knew the Lord!

What will happen if we do?

*****Pro 5:9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Pro 5:10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;
Pro 5:11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
Pro 5:12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
Pro 5:13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

There are reasons we should strive to avoid sin while we are still young.

That word honor as used here, is not as much about reputation as it is about extending our years of tender youth.

Sometimes while we are still young, we do not realize how valuable those years are. Most of us who have aged will always say to the young to stay that way as long as possible.

This means to avoid the harlot and avoid lose morals and to avoid sin.

To just give those years away by some ever regretful sin to someone who is determined to end your days of innocence, will always bring bad memories and most of the time will completely change your outlook on life.

This is a cruel world we live in, stay innocent as long as you can because this world has no love for it’s youth!

Most of our youth have very few riches or wealth except for their innocence and energy, and to give these things up before they have reached a more mature age, will only make them slaves to their mistakes.

A life of impurity will only transfer innocence and energy into the hands of those who have no real concern for them.

Very few of us look back on our lives without realizing our foolishness in the days of our youth that have caused us so many problems as we have grown older.

Many of the reasons we suffer as we grow old are because of the things we did while we were young!

Most all of us will say, “if I had just listened to my parents or even my grandparents my life could have been so much better”.

In fact many of our youth today end their lives while they are still so young because they see no remedy for the mistakes they have already made so early in life.

They will say “if I had only listened to those who were trying to teach me the truth”!

*****Pro 5:14 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

We should all have a clear understanding of the truth!

God in His “grace” will forgive us of our sins but God in His “truth” will still see that we reap what we have sown!

We can confess our sin, even be disciplined, and forgiven, but the innocence and the energy of our youth cannot ever be restored!

Far better it is to save ourselves until we can find that true love of our life and that is first to be the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Pro 5:15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
Pro 5:16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
Pro 5:17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
Pro 5:18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Pro 5:19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

A cistern is a natural place that contains clean water. Running water represents clean, refreshing water.

When we are hot and thirsty, a drink of refreshing cool water is very satisfying.

When we have saved ourselves till we have met that true love, we will find that we can also find that special one to be satisfying refreshment sexually and affectionately!

Sexual sin is like drinking water from a sewer.

We can drink from the water of life, “The Lord Jesus Christ” or we can drink of the polluted water of this world.

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Verses 16 and 17 describe the children that come from a committed marriage.

The committed marriage is like the banks of a deep running river that keep the river from becoming a swamp!

A premarital affair or an adulteress affair, is like shallow water that is easily polluted as a marsh.

The fruit that comes from a committed marriage is children that can go forth to do public good and not illegitimate children who suffer for the lack of a real family!

We should always remember the first unit to receive the blessing of God was the family!

By being true to your own wife you can be sure your children are your own and not that of some stranger.

God’s intended purpose was for one man to wed one woman and that bond remain until the death of one or both.

Not multiple wives as both David and Solomon had and we know both had tragedy in their families!

Not a homosexual union which goes against the Word of God and is called an abomination!

Let the wife of your youth also be the mother of all your children!

There is rarely an animal as graceful and as loving as the doe to her young and those “breast” are the imagery of affectionate love for that husband!

These things are not the same for the adulterer.

*****Pro 5:20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
Pro 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

Because of all the advantages of the secure marriage, why would anyone give that up for a few moments of pleasure?

To forsake your spouse is to forsake the Word of God!

The truth is, if Christ Jesus be my fountain of living water, and He has given Himself to the church for eternity, why should I be so foolish to throw it all away for sin that will only give pleasure for a season?

Remember the strange woman is in typology one of your own culture who rejects the Word of God.

The stranger is in typology someone from another culture that not only rejects the Word of God but actually worship false gods!

Verse 21 assures us all that we have a “Judge” who sees all things that go on in His created world!

Secrecy is the hope of the wicked!

As sinners we always try to hide our sin.

BUT, Nothing escapes the the watchful eyes of God!

God says: Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and “be sure your sin will find you out”.

In most all cases God will allow our sin to be our punishment!

When we are so foolish to ignore the Word of God, and to ignore His watching eyes, God will allow our sin to trap us in it’s clutches.

It is only repentance that can begin to mend that transgression!

The most important fact we should realize when we are a child of God, is that when we veer from the path of God, we will live in misery until we return to the right path.

God smiles on goodness but God’s wrath is seen in evil!

Pro 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

*****Pro 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

If we would just realize that God knows everything about each of us, and everything we do and not only that, but everything we even think to do, will help us in the choices we make!

It will allow us to have a closer relationship.

It will make us think twice before we openly commit sin.

It will certainly increase our desire to repent.

It will be our strength in our daily walk!

There is nothing in this world as deceptive as sin!

Sin will always bring the judgment of God!

Only God can cut the cords of sin and that only by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Sin can never exhaust itself! Continual sin involves continual penalty!

No sin is acceptable to God!

We are to hate sin but not the sinner!

Sin brings death!

Death being the eternal separation from a Loving God!

*****Pro 5:23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

It is a fact that we are all born into sin and are all ignorant of the things of God!

It is in our best interest to learn of Christ Jesus as early as we can.

God’s says: Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Satan totally understands this also and he will use all of his methods to destroy our children.

We all need a time to rest but Satan never rest, he is always on the job and his job is death!

Satan uses every method he can to hinder the Word of God from reaching our youth!

The truth is, they will die without instruction!

The truth is, they will go astray and never return to the Lord and perish in their sin!

Children are apt to catch everything they hear and for this reason the entire world goes after them to lead them astray.

The truth is, children will never live as Christians unless they know the fundamentals of Jesus Christ.

This is the failure of the “Body of Christ” and our youth will surely be rejected of God, if we do not reach them!

To deny the Creator of our world is to believe that you are a product of chance and not part of God’s plan!

If you by chance believe in a Supreme Being of any sort, then why deny the Scriptures that He has provided for us all?

God says: Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

We must remember that God hates sin and all those that reject the Lord will die without any remedy to help them!

*****Pro 6:15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

God sees sin as an object of disgust, a detestable act, as pollution, as an abomination!

Pride is actually self-ignorance!

A lie is anything that is not true!

Those that shed innocent blood are heartless!

There are some hearts so bad that they are always inventing some new evil thing to accomplish. (ISIS and terrorists are perfect examples)

Those that have a greed to do mischief are eager to do so!

Slander is among the greatest of the social curses because it robs us of our reputation.

And false gossip destroys friendship, when God wants us all to live in love and in one accord.

All these things begin in the heart and God says: Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Only God can look into our hearts to see what we really are!

Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

The truth is we must keep the royal commandments of King Jesus to have life.

*****Pro 7:1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Pro 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

To “lay up” is to hide God’s Word in our hearts so it can never be lost!

Life does not exist in it’s own right!

True life is never spoken of as having been made!

True life exists only through Jesus Christ!

True life can only “be given” by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing “ye might have life through his name”.

There is no other means to have real life without the Lord Jesus Christ!

Life comes by faith and faith by the Lord Jesus Christ!

I would rather be an apple in the eye of God, than the richest man in this world!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Wisdom Of God Directs Our Path

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom Directs Our Path Through Life

Proverbs 3; 4

To direct is to point out a course of proceeding.

What is life?

Most people will say life is not being dead but that is only partially true.

The truth is that there is no real life without Jesus Christ!

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

True life then is a life that has no end!

Only those that know how to obtain true life will ever know real life!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

True life then comes only by Jesus Christ!

While we walk in this life on this earth then we will need some direction.

That direction comes from the same place that real life comes from, the “Wisdom of God”.

*****Pro 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

What is the most important thing for us to do in this life we now have?

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

God designed a purpose into each of us, our life has purpose!

So many today commit suicide because they feel they no longer have a purpose to live.

If they knew the Lord Jesus Christ, they would know just how wrong they are but even the saints of God are vulnerable to these thoughts.

God is the architect of life and God designs each of us to answer a specific purpose!

God had some end in view in making this cosmos where all life abides and in making each of us what we are!

The first thing we must all do when the Holy Ghost calls, is to get into the right relationship with God!

There is no one, God will not attempt to call before their physical death!

It is then that we must take the opportunity to learn the doctrine of God to a point where we can also teach others!

The heart is not only the seat of life in each human being but also the seat of affections, emotions, and passions but the heart is also the seat of our understanding!

In order to worship the Lord, we must cause our heart and our understanding to be in harmony with the Word of God!

We can immediately see the benefits of understanding the Word of God.

1) The length of days, not our existence but the time and purpose of our life.

2) A life of peace rather than commotion and turmoil.

3) A long life, the years we can serve the Lord that will extend into eternity.

*****Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

As the Word of God is filled with mercy and truth, then we are to exercise mercy and truth in every part of our relationships with all those that cross our paths.

And again since our heart is the seat of our understanding, we are required to write God’s law of kindness onto the tables of our heart.

God is well pleased with these things because these are the traits of Christ Jesus and we are to walk in His ways!

There is no other way to find favor in the eyes of God and others like us, will also notice these things!

Favor is like a friendly disposition!

Pro 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Understanding simply means grasping a hold onto the truth!

Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

*****Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

To trust in the Lord is to depend on Him!

The Old Testament uses “trust” as the New Testament uses “faith”!

This dependence on the Lord must be actual and factual, being persuaded that God is the only, all-sufficient object of our confidence and His faithfulness to do what He promises!

We must not make our own understanding a dart into our hearts!

The promise of God’s divine guidance in our life choices is conditioned on that complete trust in God’s “wisdom” as revealed to us all in His Word!

But we must also acknowledge Him before all men telling them of this trust we have!

God will direct us by the Holy Ghost who will never lead us astray!

God will bind Himself to us by His own covenant which He will never break when we honor His Words!

The truth is, as unforgiven sinners we simply have no means of choosing the right path for our life!

To repent is a complete change in direction and a complete change of mind, when we are wise in our own eyes then we are headed in the wrong direction.

The spirit of self-dependence is the opposite of “the fear of the Lord” and can only lead to evil!

When we were all babes within the womb of our mothers, the umbilical cord was the center of our strength.

In life, when we have that reverent fear of the Lord, He has become our umbilical and the center of our strength.

The marrow is the nourisher and the strengthener of our bones and it is said to moisten the bones making them less brittle.

Psa 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

Again God is promising physical well-being to all those that follow the Word of God, which will bring us all eternal spiritual health!

We must know that a broken spirit will dry up our bones!

Pro 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

And then God will meet all our needs.

*****Pro 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Pro 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Our substance is the things that God has provided for us to live and since God provided it, then it all really belongs to God!

To tithe is to give back a tenth of what God has provided for our own living!

To tithe is a sign of faith that God will continue to provide our every need!

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

By “Faith” Abel offered the firstfruits of his flock.

Jacob also realized that all of our substance is provided by the Lord and set the standard for the tithe.

Gen 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Our earthly substance is necessary for us to live but we are called to make no use of that substance till we have set apart of our substance for the service of God!

We are to honor the Lord by our “Faith” in everything we do and in everything that God provides!

The Lord expects and He certainly deserves the best and the first that we have, not the leftovers.

The tithe should not only include our substance but also our time, and our talent, and any other thing that God has given to us!

You can only give an offering after you have already given your tithe!

How does God reward the cheerful and faithful tither?

No one can out give God!

Very few people understand, that it is by giving back to God that will bring an increase in our own substance!

The barns of that day were storehouses for grain and God says those that had “faith” that He would provide for those that gave of their firstfruits those barns would be filled with plenty.

Plenty always means more than enough!

New wine from the wine press is fresh grape juice, still non-fermented.

God will never go against His Word and God said, to not even look upon fermented wine!

Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Pro 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Pro 23:33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Pro 23:34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
Pro 23:35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again

*****Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Though most people see chastening as punishment, to the child of God it is for instruction!

God’s chastening is always for the purpose instruction even if it is painful at times!

God’s chastening should never be ignored nor should it be resented.

Remember God only chastens those He loves!

And God chastens only as a loving Father!

God has already condemned those who reject Him as their Father to an eternal life of torment!

Those that are chastened should then be happy they are no longer condemned!

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

*****Pro 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Pro 3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Pro 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Pro 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Pro 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Pro 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

The truth is that all the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Christ Jesus!

That being true, then the greatness of wisdom appears in those gifts of the Lord beginning with His “Grace”!

We already know that wisdom brings with it a long and happy life.

The advantages of wisdom is that we will miss out on much of the chastening of the Lord.

The advantages of wisdom is that we will certainly miss out on the wrath of God!

The glories of Heaven are much more valuable than silver and gold.

The wisdom of God is much more precious than rubies.

There is nothing on this earth that can compare to the wisdom that comes only by the Lord Jesus Christ who is the author of true life!

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Wisdom is knowing our Creator!

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

*****Pro 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
Pro 3:20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Since Christ Jesus was the one by whom God founded this earth it should be clear that in this Book of Proverbs “Wisdom” is actually the person of Christ!

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

That word “depths” is the same word as “deep” in the Book of Genesis.

Following “Creation” the next great physical event in the history of this world was the great worldwide flood in the day of Noah.

This is the time when all the fountains of the great deep were broken up!

Gen 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Gen 7:12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

These are things that are facts and therefore require our understanding!

*****Pro 3:21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Pro 3:22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Pro 3:23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

The title of our lesson is that “Wisdom Directs Our Path Through Life” and this is the theme of the Book of Proverbs.

Since the wisdom of the Lord is so powerful, then this wisdom should be retained and guarded and never allowed to depart from our view!

Since the wisdom of the Lord designed and created our world, surely by knowing that wisdom, we can use it to live in His created world!

Since the wisdom of the Lord is life, and the way of life, then He is also our spiritual life and our eternal life of the soul of all those that look upon Him in “Faith”!

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

When we look away from Christ we look away from true “wisdom”!

Since the soul and the neck stand for the complete man in our sin nature and our eternal soul, eternal life is given to the soul rather than to sin!

When the soul is saved then there will be less sin, and this will be noticeable to those that cross our path thus an ornament of “Grace” about our neck!

Only then can we walk safely not veering to the right or to the left, but avoiding the pitfalls that could cause us to stumble in our walk of “Grace”!

Then comes peace.

*****Pro 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Pro 3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
Pro 3:26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

When our walk with the Lord is right, then we can rest in the safety of the His presence!

Confidence is a trusting reliance in the truth of God, an assurance of the mind in the facts of Christ Jesus!

The peace that the wisdom of God gives is surely pass all understanding!

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Jesus said this is the peace that I will give to each of you.

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

We should remember that shortly after Jesus said these words He was beaten, bruised, and crucified for our sins, because He had no sin of His own.

Because He is the all knowing God, He knew all these things were about to happen but the Lord Jesus was at peace with Himself for what He was about to do!

Jesus tells all His disciples that this is the peace that I leave with you.

No matter what we are about to go through or what we are already going through, we can have the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ!

When we lie down in order to take sleep and have committed ourselves into the hands of the Lord we do not have to be afraid of anything.

The worst thing that can happen, our death, is the best thing that could happen as we will wake up in Heaven, our sleep will be sweet!

Psa 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

When we are safe in the arms of Wisdom, we are under the watchful eyes of our Creator!

We have no reason to fear what this world can do to us!

Luk 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Luk 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

As we sit here today, there is a group called ISIS by most of us, who actually fit this verse as the wicked who bring desolation to many people of this earth.

We do not have to be afraid of terrorist when it comes to our shores, for the Lord shall be our confidence!

That confidence is that nothing can happen to us unless the Lord allows it and if the Lord allows it, we will be made better because of it!

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Satan has many snares:

2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

But the Lord will not allow our foot to step in any of them!

We can no longer be captured at the will of Satan when we possess the “wisdom” of God!

And we can be of a help to others!

*****Pro 3:28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
Pro 3:29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Pro 3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Pro 3:31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
Pro 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
Pro 3:33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

The wisdom of God will teach us the royal commandments of King Jesus to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

If we owe our neighbor a debt then pay it, if we have it.

If they are poor and in need, help them if we are able.

We honestly never know what the next day will bring!

Every child of God should devise ways to show the goodness of God and certainly not evil things!

If we have been the Christian we have said we are, then our neighbor will have no need to suspect us of evil, and that we will help them rather that cause any harm to them!

We should never be envious of anyone but especially someone who is an oppressor to others.

An oppressor is a man of mischief and we must avoid them and their ways!

Those that are froward are perverse and obey only their own laws and so are an abomination to the Lord!

It is only those that walk the right path of “wisdom” that know the secrets of the Lord!

The truth is that the curse of the Lord has been removed from every believer but we are all still exposed to the curse on this world!

The truth is, that the curse of the Lord is a real thing and will be fulfilled by the power of God!

On the house of the wicked lies the curse of God.

On the house of those justified lies the blessings of God.

These are both facts!

*****Pro 3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
Pro 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

A scorner is someone who scoffs at Christianity!

They hate the Word of God!

They mock sin as non-existent and claim their will be no judgment for sin.

They claim there is no Heaven nor a place called Hell!

God will be a scorner to those who are scorners to the Church!

Psa 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Psa 2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Those that have the “wisdom” of God shall inherit glory!

Psa 73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

On one side of the Christian is salvation and justification, on the other side is the hope of glory yet to come!

Shame is the painful sensation excited by the consciousness of guilt!

Those that reject the Lord will one day feel their own guilt knowing that Christ Jesus had paid their sin debt and they refused to accept that fact!

What does the Lord do? He begs us all to hear what He says!

*****Pro 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Pro 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

Godly parents are a true blessing to any family.

God our Father in Heaven clearly wants us to understand that He will never give us bad instructions!

Since we are the children of God once we believe, then we need receive those instructions and act on them!

We can just imagine, that it was in this manner that the Lord Jesus trained His disciples.

It is the “Gospel” that is called the “good doctrine”!

1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

The “Doctrine” of the Lord Jesus Christ is the God-given “wisdom” that we need and that this world needs!

We know not to forsake the law, but this is the law of Mount Calvary and not the law of Mount Sinai, we are not to forsake the royal law of King Jesus!

*****Pro 4:3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
Pro 4:4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

We know that Solomon’s father was King David, and David’s father was Jesse.

We also know that the Father of Jesus was God the Holy Spirit the only begotten Son of God!

We also know that Jesus was also 100% human and truly beloved in the sight of his mother Mary.

Luk 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Our Savior came to this earth to be obedient to His Father in Heaven.

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

It is because Jesus was obedient to His Father that we can be saved!

Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Obedience will bring perfection to all those who trust in the Lord!

Obedience begins with “wisdom” and “wisdom” begins with the fear of the Lord!

*****Pro 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Pro 4:6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
Pro 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

The reverent fear of the Lord is something that we must possess and not willing to give up!

We must have moral wisdom which is lacking in society today.

We must have political wisdom of our civil government.

Much more important than either of these, we must have the wisdom that comes by Jesus Christ and the knowledge of Him!

Understanding these things is to take a firm hold on the real state of the truth of God!

Understanding is the only means we can obtain our knowledge of the Lord and the hope of His calling!

Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

How do we forsake true wisdom?

One way we forsake true wisdom is in our lack of gathering to worship the Lord!

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Psa 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

Another way is when we forsake the Word of God!

Psa 89:30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

After all “wisdom” is the principle thing.

The word “principle” means “the source”, “the beginning”, and that beginning is the “fear of the Lord”!

The power to use knowledge must come from something outside the knowledge itself!

It is only the wisdom that comes from Heaven that can allow us to use our knowledge in this life.

Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

*****Pro 4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Pro 4:9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Pro 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

True godly wisdom will allow us to choose what is best for us and will also cause us to select the best possible means of obtaining those things!

Many men exalt worldly wisdom as a means to improve the condition of humanity but these things begin outside.

God always begins inside with the heart!

Christianity is not just following the commandments of God, Christianity is a life here on earth and knowing the truth of eternal life!

Christianity is knowing the peace of God and showing that peace of God in the way we live!

It is the wisdom of God that brings honor to the Christian!

The wisdom of God will bring with it the honors of Heaven.

2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

It is a fact that a sinful life can impair the health and shorten the days of all those that follow in it!

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

It is also a fact that the wisdom of God promotes a healthy life!

It is the Word of God that teaches us in the ways of God’s wisdom.

*****Pro 4:11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
Pro 4:12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Pro 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Pro 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Pro 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

The object of every parent is to have their children fixed and established on the right path of life.

This is instilled in us because this is the way God works!

The difference being the ways of the world will not build a godly character, only the wisdom of God can do this thing!

The godly parent will lead by example.

The godly parent will lead by prayer.

The godly parent will keep their children under the influence of a godly church!

As we know, a path represents our walk in this life. We go through this life one step at a time, this is how we learn to walk.

The path of wisdom is the walk of Christ Jesus.

Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Once we are on that path before we take the next step we need to confer with God to know that next step.

Running in most cases is escaping from danger! God says:

Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

When God provides the way to escape, He certainly will not place a stumble stone in that path!

“Faith” means we have taken hold of God’s instructions and are relying on them to keep us safe until the Lord returns!

The truest of all wisdom is the revelation of God in the person of Jesus Christ and then the saving truths which God has set before us in His Word! Amen!

This is the wisdom of life!

This is the wisdom to avoid the path of the wicked!

This is the wisdom to avoid the ways of evil men!

To avoid means “pass not by it”, “turn from it”, and “pass away from it”!

This does not mean we are to be separatist, we are to avoid the ways of those that walk the way that this world walks.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Some of the reasons we are to avoid the ways of the lost are these.

*****Pro 4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Pro 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Pro 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Pro 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Those that God calls wicked, do not sin because of weakness, their sin arises from premeditation and a great desire to do evil!

The truth is, that when evil men have made a plan and put it into action, they will not sleep until they have accomplished what they set out to do.

This is the truth also of the terrorist!

As Christians eat the bread of life, the Word of God, provided by the Lord, wicked men eat the things they have obtained them selves, they make their own law.

As Christians are washed in the blood Jesus who took all our violence at the cross, wicked men drink of the wine of those that are innocent as they take their lives from them.

The light that shines on the path of those justified is the light of Jesus Christ!

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

That light shines through the Word of God!

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

This is the only light that will lead us to the land of the “perfect day” where there is no more night!

Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

It is the way of the wicked that leads to darkness and there will be no darkness in Heaven!

It is foolish to reject the Word of God. To stumble in the darkness will always lead to death!

*****Pro 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Pro 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Pro 4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Pro 4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Pro 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Pro 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Pro 4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

We must attend to the Word of God which means to have it in our presence!

We must keep the Word of God constantly in view.

We must cherish the Word of God.

It is the Word of God where we learn of the way of life!

It is the Word of God where we learn how to extend our days.

In Scripture, the heart is not only the physical organ of our circulatory system but it is also the seat of our emotions and our intellect.

The health of our heart and our circulatory system are essential to our earthly life and a heart that is right with God is essential to our Christian life!

Perverse lips is deceitful speech, which twists and distorts the truth of God!

We must fix our eyes on the truth of righteousness and not deflect to the left or to the right!

We must remove every obstacle that may impede our Christian walk!

To ponder is to consider and compare the right from the wrong and choose right!

If our gaze is not to deflect to the left nor to the right, then our hands and our feet will not turn to the left or to the right and if we depart from evil the Lord will make our paths straight!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Wise Will Seek Salvation

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom Leads Us To Salvation

Proverbs 1; 2

What is a proverb?

According to the Webster dictionary a proverb is a short sentence expressing a well known truth that has been gained by experience or by observation!

The Book of Proverbs is a collection of established truths on a wide range of subjects and should be used to aid us in practical living.

The Book of Proverbs lets us know that God expects us to use common sense and practical measures in our decisions.

When “truth” is used in our decision making then we will most often choose the right path!

The Book of Proverbs was written or at least gathered by Solomon, the son of King David and it is said that Solomon wrote some 3000 proverbs and those that are contained in this book may be a selection of those he wrote.

These proverbs can be used to apply the truth of God to our daily walk with the Lord!

In fact the Book of Proverbs is a book that needs to be taught to the younger generation as soon as they can understand the need for wisdom!

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge!

Some wisdom is gained by experience which sometimes may be harsh but wisdom that is gained by instruction can save us from a lot of those harsh moments in our life!

The greatest wisdom we can have is the knowledge of the truth of God!

Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Knowledge is a clear and certain perception of the truth!

We can have no knowledge of things that do not exist!

We can have knowledge in the things of God because God has a perfect knowledge of all His works.

Ignorance is the curse of God!

1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

*****Pro 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
Pro 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
Pro 1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Pro 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Pro 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The object of the Book of Proverbs is “to know”!

“To know” is to have a clear understanding of the truth!

The fear of the Lord is the foundation, without which all other knowledge is vain!

Those that reject the Word of God are so far from attaining true wisdom that they despise it and all the means of getting it!

The fear that is spoken of here is not the fear of punishment or of hell that every non-believer must realize but in this verse the fear of the Lord is that fear of a son or a daughter in relation to their parents!

This fear is the duty of a child toward his parents!

We are to understand the knowledge of God as a Father to His children!

We are to be confident in the truths of God, and the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ, with a humble, reverential affection for Him!

Without this we can never worship Him as we should!

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

*****Pro 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Pro 1:9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

When we have parents that are following the Word of God then that child should at least hear the instructions from that parent!

Notice the phrase “my son”.

This phrase emphasizes the importance of heeding to the Word of God!

The Word of God should be our teacher all the days of our lives.

This one phrase points us to the fact that we are to be “Born Again” into “newness of life” and become a child of God and listen to His instructions!

What is the truth of the Scriptures?

Wise children will handle constructive criticism in the right way!

Pro 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

To “hear” means to pay attention to what is said.

Moral qualities are the true adornments of a human being!

When that child loves, obeys, and respects godly parents it will show in the way they live their own lives!

Godliness is profitable unto all things!

*****Pro 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Pro 1:11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
Pro 1:12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
Pro 1:13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
Pro 1:14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

Peer pressure is the downfall of many of our youth in our own generation!

In this verse, sinners are all those that do not obey the Word of God and do not know the Lord Jesus Christ.

The truth is when we begin a sinful life it is hard to stop!

When we begin a sinful life we will find that it can be dangerous not only to ourselves but also to those we are close to.

When we begin a sinful life we will find it to be disgraceful to our parents and to our family!

The two places we fail the most to do are these:

1) We need to get rid of the sins we have committed.

2) We need to try to keep from sinning any more!

This world will entice us to do otherwise.

What is the greatest danger of Satan?

He does not threaten or argue, he simply entices with flattery, tells you how wonderful things could be if you just forsake the Word of God!

Dan 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

Satan’s tactics have never changed because they have continued to work for 6000 years!

Satan’s servants will lie in ambush waiting until you are vulnerable to Satan’s traps.

Satan has been hidden behind the scenes not yet willing to present himself because he knows that he would be rejected until God allows him his time.

Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isa 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
Isa 14:17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

Satan does not release those he has imprisoned easily!

It is Satan’s goal to cause the death of every human being before they have the chance to repent and be reconciled to God!

He wants to swallow them up while they are alive!

He wants to take all he can directly into the burning fires of hell as quickly as he can!

Num 16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
Num 16:33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

Satan entices with short cuts to wealth!

There have been very few that actually profit from crime.

There is nothing on this earth that can compare to the things of Heaven!

Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

What do we actually find to be the truth of our world?

1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It’s not the money or riches themselves that are so wrong, it is all the evils that are done to possess earth’s riches which in the end are meaningless!

Notice this thing that is first required.

The lies of communism and also socialism is that for equal hazards there will be equal hopes big lies to mankind!

Gain and pleasure are two of the great charms that have seduced all mankind and make all those that succumb, captives taken at the will of Satan!

2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

If we avoid all these things while we are young, we will not have to suffer so much when we are old!

*****Pro 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
Pro 1:16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

We must not walk in the ways of the world!

Whenever sin takes hold of any person it will soon become the master of that person!

Sin cannot exist without seeking to dominate and there is never one who is lost who will not try to make another like himself!

Satan is devious and he will not tempt you with the truth and the results of sin, but he will set before you some real or some imaginary pleasure which you can only obtain by a commission of that sin!

There is always a cost for going against the Word of God!

There is always a cost to assert your liberty to do as you please!

We must force ourselves to make the right decisions!

Those that reject the Word of God have an eagerness to commit crime against God and they most always will attack the innocent who have no means to protect themselves.

We would have to be blind to not see this truth in our world today!

*****Pro 1:17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
Pro 1:18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
Pro 1:19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Surely a bird with such keen eyes to see with can see the net spread for their capture, yet they still fly into that net and are trapped!

It is the same with sin!

God has clearly said that the “wages of sin are death”.

So it is for that bird!

Pro 7:23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

So it is for the sinner.

As they lay in wait for the innocent it is their own lives they are loosing!

As they lurk in private for the innocent it is their own lives that they have placed in jeopardy!

A sinner cannot see the traps they laid for themselves so we need to avoid associating with them!

*****Pro 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
Pro 1:21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
Pro 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Pro 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

If we can see wisdom as a person then that person would be Christ Jesus!

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

If that person be Jesus Christ then it is now the Church that should be crying out with the Word of God!

We should witness in the streets.

We should witness in places where people gather.

We should witness at the entrances and the passage ways.

We should witness in the cities.

And what should be our message?

How long will you people be so easily seduced by workers of Satan?

How long will you that mock the Word of God be fooled by the lies of Satan?

How long will you all be so foolish to ignore and to reject the truth of the Scriptures?

To turn is to repent!

To repent is not only to feel sorrow and regret but more important, to turn away from sin and turn toward God with a complete change of mind!

It is God Himself who will pour out His Spirit unto all those that repent!

So “WISDOM” then is God Himself who will make known His Words unto us all!

Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Those days are the “Church Age” in which now we live until the return of Jesus Christ!

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

What is the truth of most of this world?

God has called and most have refused!

God has warned of the coming judgment, but most just reject the Word of God!

*****Pro 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Pro 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
Pro 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Pro 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Pro 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Those that reject the truth of God will bring upon themselves the wrath of God!

Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

God says “as you mocked and laughed at the Word of God then on Judgment Day, I will mock and laugh at your eternal situation you have placed yourself in”!

Be not a fool all your life because it is a fact every knee will bow to the Lord Jesus one day!

Psa 37:12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
Psa 37:13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

What is the truth of Divine Judgment?

Calamity, terror, destruction, distress, and anguish!

What is derision?

The act of laughing in contempt!

Desolation is a place of waste, ravage, ruin, gloominess, sadness, and destitution!

These things of desolation will come as a violent wind moving in a circle.

The vicious cycle of eternal life of the burning lake of fire, will be a thing of misery and doom!

Why would anyone seek to go there?

Those that hate the knowledge of God and did not choose to fear the Lord, which by the way is the beginning of becoming wise, will certainly find themselves in a Devil’s Hell!

God’s rejection of sinners is carefully detailed in these verses.

Wisdom will one day turn a deaf ear to those who wait to late to call on the Lord!

What is the truth of God?

Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh:

To follow the Lord is to come when He calls!

God gives us a choice!

Choice means we have the option of choosing the way of God or the ways of this world we cannot choose both!

There are only two type of people in this world!

Those that love the Lord and those that do not!

Those that hate the knowledge of the Lord Jesus have not chosen the wisdom of the fear of the Lord!

God’s method of punishment is to let us punish ourselves!

When we will not accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit then God will grant our wishes and desires to show how foolish and miserable they are!

It is a fact that we are our own worst enemy!

The promises of God are conditional!

God has given every human being the dignity of freedom which involves the possibility that we may be disobedient to God’s Word.

Most everyone that looks back on their lives can trace most of their errors to making bad choices!

This should tell us all that we have a great need of a Savior and that Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Pro 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
Pro 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

The salvation of Christ Jesus is a simple thing.

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

It is the turning away of such a simple salvation that will slay all those that reject Him!

There is only one way to get to Heaven!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

In other words not my own but the Bible says, all wicked and vicious persons are fools.

When God gives us what we all desire, eternal life with Him, they perish even when it is so close to them.

Jesus Christ paid the sin debt of every human being but this must be accepted or He died in vain for your own sins!

There is no wealth of this world that is worth eternal damnation!

The secrets of life has been the quest of mankind throughout history, yet God has written down and given it to us in the perfect love letter from above and it is still rejected by most of this world!

The fear of evil used to be a constant in the life of men but it is now just accepted!

Now the world is beginning to see the fear of terror and we are told we must just accept that also!

It is terror that grows out of the acceptance of sin!

What does God teach the Christian?

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Those that hearken to the Word of God can still dwell in safety anywhere in this world!

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

So therefore, those that understand the fear of the Lord can truly find knowledge!

*****Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Pro 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly

The phrase “the fear of the Lord” occurs 14 times in the Book of Proverbs.

This fear implies reverence, such as a good son would feel for his godly father.

A reverent fear of God is truly the first step to true wisdom!

Here wisdom is described as a virtuous woman.

The truth is that a God-fearing man is a wise man but without a reverent fear of God it is impossible that to call any man wise no matter their intelligence level!

Wisdom is something that we must work for in this world but God freely gives the wisdom we need if we ask Him with a pure heart!

Heavenly wisdom is a great prize!

Heavenly wisdom goes far beyond our own thoughts!

Heavenly wisdom is far different from what the world calls wisdom!

Worldly wisdom may direct us in some things in this life but Heavenly wisdom direct us toward things which concern things of the life that is to come of those who have that “fear of the Lord”!

God and God alone is the author of true wisdom!

Those that are righteous are those that “walk upright”.

Goodness in all moral humans, is a walk that progresses as we grow in the knowledge and understanding of the Lord!

Those that are reconciled to God are His saints and set apart for His use!

As those that belong to the Lord are to be bright and shining lights in this world, the Lord is then the “Father of Lights”.

The wisdom of God will light up our pathway in this world!

*****Pro 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Pro 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

God is the protector of His saints!

It is God who keeps the path of all those He has justified!

It is God who preserves the way of His saints!

Psa 66:9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.

When we understand that once we are reconciled to God, we are under His divine protection, “THEN” we can understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity, and every good path!

And wisdom will enter into our soul!

*****Pro 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Pro 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Pro 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

Once we are wise enough to know we have a new owner then that wisdom will not only come into our soul but it will rest there forever!

Discretion means we will able to judge things correctly and properly with the right amount of caution.

We will know how to conduct ourselves in this world!

Understanding then is the faculty of the human mind that separates truth from fiction!

Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

What is the truth of evil men?

Their character.

Their speech is corrupt!

Their habit is corrupt!

Their heart is corrupt!

Their influence is corrupt!

The truth is everything dies under the influence of wickedness!

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

They refuse to walk the path of righteousness!

*****Pro 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
Pro 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
Pro 2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

The way of evil is following in the ways of Satan!

Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The path of darkness is the path of ignorance and error and the roadway to evil deeds!

To walk in the ways of darkness is to insist on a course of wilful ignorance and deliberately reject the light of true knowledge!

Those who are wicked not only rejoice to do evil themselves but they rejoice when they hear of evil done by others.

This is the world we live in today!

This is the arm of terrorism today!

They are just as crooked as their ways!

They are just as perverse in their thoughts!

They will always turn toward evil whether to the left or to the right!

Then there is the temptation that is most used against the righteous, the alluring female.

*****Pro 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
Pro 2:17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
Pro 2:18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
Pro 2:19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

The true wisdom of God will deliver His saints even from the strange woman!

The strange woman is the harlot and adulteress.

If we remember Balaam, God would not allow him to curse Israel but Balaam did offer King Balac a suggestion on how to cause Israel to sin.

It was women.

If we remember Job who was righteous in the eyes of God, even Job knew about strange women and had his own remedy!

Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Job said to himself that he simply would not look upon a woman to lust after her.

Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

A wise man once wrote “Gaze not on beauty too much lest it blast thee; nor to long, lest it blind thee; nor too near lest it burn thee. If thou like it, it deceives thee; if thou love it, it disturbs thee; if thou hunt it, it destroys thee. It is a wise mans bonfire, and a fools furnace”.

That “stranger” would be foreign women with other gods and other moral standards than those who were just the “strange woman”.

This also represents spiritual adultery, with God’s people not only consorting with strange women but also worshipping strange gods.

All those that forget the covenant that was made with the Lord when they prayed the sinners prayer!

We must be more like Job and less like the world.

The greatest danger of each and every human, is not the evils of this world and it certainly is not climate change, it is forsaking and forgetting God!

To the Christian ignoring and forsaking the “wisdom” of God is our greatest danger!

Today in the church, we loose our youth to the world at that age when the world entices them to forget the covenant they made with God!

All those that make their home with the wisdom of this world and reject the wisdom of God, incline to death rather than life.

Pro 7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

All those that follow the path of the wisdom of this world and reject the wisdom of God, walk on the pathway of the dead!

Pro 21:16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

The truth is, only God can resurrect the dead!

Those that choose the path of death, the wisdom of the strange woman or the stranger, almost never recover form their fall.

The sin of spiritual adultery is extremely hard to overcome!

Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

What is the path of life?

*****Pro 2:20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
Pro 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
Pro 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

The truth is that mankind cannot walk in good ways unless they leave the bad ones.

Good and evil are contrary to one another, one will keep out the other!

It is not enough to just avoid evil, we must also do good!

To Israel the promise to dwell in the promised land was their reward for obedience.

To the Church the promise to dwell in Heaven is the reward for obedience!

To remain means to eternally dwell in peace and harmony with the Lord!

Contrary to the teaching of liberal theology, the wicked shall be cut off!

The farmer knows that if he just cuts down a tree it will send forth new sprouts so to eliminate that problem that tree must be rooted out!

So does God deal with wicked men!

Wicked men are restless in evil because they remain in that body of sin.

This world provides an abundance of opportunities because it is led by Satan.

God will leave them on their own to run to death because He gives us all a choice.

Wicked men are never weary of their sin because they have rejected the wisdom of God!

To be wise in the ways of this world is to be a fool!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom

The Book of Wisdom, Proverbs let’s us know that there are 7 pillars of wisdom:

Pro 9:1  Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

And Job asked this question:

Job 28:12  But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

The Bible is the place to find “wisdom” and “understanding” of the things in our life.

The Bible tells us that "wisdom" is the principle thing, or the most important thing for understanding of the things of this world and of course God’s World to come.

Pro 4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

The Bible says that without wisdom we cannot even apply our heart to understanding.

The Bible tells us where to find this wisdom:

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

So what are these 7 pillars of wisdom so that we can build our house of understanding?

James the Half-Brother of Jesus gives these seven pillars of wisdom to us:

Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

1) The wisdom from God is first "Pure":

In other words these 7 pillars of wisdom must first be built on Jesus Christ:

Jesus is our foundation for wisdom:

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Remember it is not Peter that is the “rock” it is what Peter had just said!

Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

This can happen only one way:

Tit 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Without the purity of Jesus the other pillars will fall.

2) The wisdom from God is next "Peaceable":

The Bible says:

2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2Ti 2:5  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2Ti 2:6  The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

3.) The man of wisdom must next be "Gentle":

Every child of God must be a gentleman or gentlewoman.

Again the Bible says:

Tit 3:2  To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

4) The man of wisdom must next be "Easy To Be Entreated":

This is being reasonable when it comes understanding the Word of God.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

5) The man of wisdom must next be "Full of Mercy and Good Fruits":

This is being always helpful and considerate!

The Bible says:

Col 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

6) The man of wisdom must next be "Without Partiality"

The word “race” is not in the Bible. The word “tongues” meaning languages suggest only other cultures and “race” is irrelevant!

The Bible says:

1Ti 5:21  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

7) And the man of wisdom must be without "Hypocrisy"

Again the Bible says:

1Pe 2:1  Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Being a Christian is not putting a show but “It Is”being sincere in speech and in our actions.

We must be “doers of the Word” not hearers only!

There is no "Wisdom without the Lord" and your house of "Wisdom" will fall without these "Seven Pillars"!

Let’s Pray!