Tuesday, April 19, 2011

The Terrible Trio!



The Simple, The Scorner, and The Fool you will meet often throughout the book of Proverbs. In the twelve years that I have read through Proverbs I thought that these people were one in the same just called by different names. But, after reading a book commentary on Proverbs by Warren Wiersbe I realized that they are three separate categories of individuals. My thoughts then turned to “Why doesn’t the Bible talk about just the righteous?” and “Why does God teach us the ways of the ungodly?” Throughout most of Proverbs the ways of the righteous are compared to the ways of the wicked. God teaches us both characteristics, side by side, so we can make a comparison within our own lives. I like to think of them as”mirror” verses. Which part of the verse reflects who I am on the inside? Let’s look at the characteristics of these three types of ungodly people.

First, we meet the simple. The simple are naïve. They believe anything that is told to them. They don’t research the truth before acting upon it. They cannot discriminate between truth and lies. They "go where the wind blows them”. Because the simple do not take a stand for anything, they fall for everything. I like to think of them as gullible. “People everywhere enjoy believing things they know are not true. It spares them the ordeal of thinking for themselves and taking responsibility for what they know.” Brooks Atkinson. “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thoughts to his step” (Proverbs 14: 15). According to the simple, whatever may make you “feel good” is truth for you. There is no absolute truth according to the simple. How sad because Proverbs 1:32 says “For the turning away (waywardness) of the simple shall slay them.”

Secondly, we meet the Scorner a.k.a the Mocker. Scorners are the “know-it –alls”. Scorners are puffed up with pride. “Proud and haughty scorners is his name” (Proverbs 21:24). “Scorners can’t find wisdom even if they seek for it (14:6) because learning God’s truth demands a humble mind and an obedient will.” Wiersbe. When you try to teach the scorner the ways of God they will not heed it. You are just wasting your time. It can be compared to throwing pearls before swine or as my friend likes to put it: “It’s like putting lipstick on a pig.” How true!

Thirdly, met meet the Fool. Throughout Proverbs three different Hebrew words are translated “fool”. They are 1)kesyl – the dull stupid fool who is stubborn, 2)ewiyl – a corrupt fool who is unreasonable and morally corrupt, and 3)nabal – fool who is like a stubborn animal and brutish. Fools will not learn from God’s Word (1:7). They also cannot control their speech. “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness” (15: 2). Fools may do a lot of talking but never accomplish what they talk about. They spread lies and slander and do not bring honor to their parents or God. Fools do not control their temper (12:16). “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” (29:11). Fools are proud and self-reliant. Their confidence lies within themselves (28:26). They will meddle and argue with others about their own “rightness”. They tend to create problems and bring sorrows to others. They do not use their money wisely (21: 20); neither can they be given responsibilities (26:1). Fools do not learn from their mistakes but goes right back to the same old mess. They are likened to a dog going right back to its vomit (26: 11). Wise people learn from their mistakes but the fool does not.

These terrible trios will die at their appointed time just as the wise will also die, however, they will die without instruction. “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools” (Proverbs 3:5). The only fools who are “wise fools” are those that have put their faith, hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians are considered “fools” to the world for Christ’s sake when they become born- again believers but that is the wisest decision anyone can make.  (1 Corinthians 4:10). When it is our time to die, whose fool will YOU be?

Memorize:
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. (Proverbs 19:20)

Dear Father, It is my prayer this morning that you keep my feet on the path of the righteous. Lord I pray to I always listen to advice, to godly counsel. It is my prayer this morning to always accept and learn from your loving discipline because I know that You chastise those whom belong to You and whom You love. Teach me Lord so that I too may be counted among the wise.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Characteristics of the Wicked



“A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict. Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” Proverbs 6: 12-19.

This passage in Proverbs seems to sum up the characteristics that wicked people possess. The wicked is unproductive. The schemes of the wicked are detestable and evil in the sight of the Lord. Even the very anatomy of the wicked is doing wickedness by winking of the eyes, shuffling of the feet, feet that are swift to do evil and motioning of the fingers. The use of evil anatomy in movies is common in portraying the bad guy. You know right away who the bad guys are by the way they wink their eyes, their posture, and the fingers motioning evil schemes forward and so on. The message is clear. The plot of the wicked is about to unfold.

This passage also states seven characteristics of the wicked in which the Lord hates and is detestable to Him.

First of all, the Lord hates haughty eyes. Haughty means disdainfully proud or snobbish. Haughty also means scornfully arrogant. A person with haughty eyes is showing great pride in his/herself. They scorn others and hold them in contempt. Pride is usually the motivation for all other sin.

God also hates a lying tongue. When we lie, we are opening ourselves up to do the devil’s work. When we tell the truth, we are opening ourselves up to the Spirit so he can move through us. God also hates “hands that shed innocent blood”. Murder. God permits capital punishment to be exercised by governments to impart justice but nowhere in the Bible is murder allowed of innocent people.

Fourthly, God hates “a heart that devises wicked schemes”. God gives us our imaginations but he wants us to use it for good and not for evil. Our imaginations need to be kept pure and clean so God can work through us to do mighty things that bring glory and honor to Him instead of bring destruction and heartache upon people.

God also hates “feet that are quick to rush into evil”. The feet of the wicked are ugly, impure, unprepared to do service for God, and disobedient. The feet of the righteous are in sharp contrast to those of the wicked. The feet of the righteous are beautiful (Isaiah 52:7), pure (1 John 1:9, John 13:1-17), prepared (Ephesians 6:15), and obedient (Genesis 13:17).

A wicked person is also “a false witness who pours out lies”. This harms the innocent and can even be deadly to the person. Without truth, everything starts falling apart. God is truth and he detests lies.

Finally, God hates “a person who stirs up conflict in the community”. Sowing seeds of discord cause division. These seeds are pride, gossip, anger, hatred, a quarrelsome spirit and foolish questions. The wicked do not want there to be unity and pleasantness among God’s people. Those who stir up conflict hate unity and peace. Discord among church members is terrible and is contrary to the spirit of unity that Jesus prayed for. Proverbs 22:10 says “Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife, quarrels and insults are ended.” Troublemakers wreck unity among the church, the community and individual families. Drive them out to achieve peace and unity once again.

Throughout Proverbs God gives wisdom for us to use to recognize the people the righteous should not hang around with. “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26). Over one hundred times in Proverbs the wicked is contrasted with the righteous. We must learn to recognize wickedness and wicked people so we are not led astray by them.

Memorize:
“A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26).

Dear Father in heaven help me to recognize my enemies so I can stay far from their paths. Help me to choose my friends carefully so I can keep being an open vessel in which would allow You to work through me. Help me to stay on the path that the righteous are on and please do not allow the devil to tempt me to sway to the right or the left but keep me on the straight and narrow path.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Characteristics of the Wise






The entire book of Proverbs is a guide to attaining wisdom. But what good is all the wisdom in the world if you do not use it? Today I want to look at applying wisdom to your life. What are the important characteristics that wise people display according to God? How can we use this information and apply it to our own lives?

I must start off with what I believe to be the most important characteristic of a truly wise person. He is a born-again believer and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”(Colossians 2:2-3). Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God. One can have all the training and knowledge in the world but without Christ it is worthless. He may make a “good” living but apart from Christ he will never be able to succeed in making a good life that brings glory and honor to the Father. The wise put their trust and hope in Christ and live obediently to Him.

Wise people listen to wise instruction and gain knowledge constantly. “A wise man will hear and increase his learning” (Proverbs 1:5). “Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge” (19: 27). “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding” (23:23). Wise people diligently seek God’s Word. Knowledge and wisdom is not something that is gained haphazardly. It is work, diligent work. In order for us to gain wisdom, we too must spend time in God’s Word soaking up wisdom and applying its commands to our lives.

The wise fear the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7). They respect God, seek to obey His will and honor His name. The fear of the Lord is “a fountain of life” (14:27), leads to life (19:23), gives security (14:26), gives hope (23:17-18), and gives the promise of long life (10:27).

Wise people associate with other wise people. “He who walks with wise men, will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). “A righteous man is cautious in friendships, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” (12:26).

The wise will preserve the knowledge they have gained and apply it to their lives. “Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction (Proverbs 10:14). “The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions” ( 12:27). A truly wise person will treasure up the knowledge and skills they have worked diligently for and use their wealth of knowledge to bring honor and glory to God instead of puffing themselves up. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (16:18).

A wise person flees from sin instead of running head strong into it. “To fear the Lord is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13). “A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (14:16). The wise do not take unnecessary chances nor play in the devil’s playground. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7).

The wise discipline their speech. “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction” (Proverbs 16:23). “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips are wise” (10:19).

Wise people are diligent in their work. “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth…” (Proverbs 10:4) Throughout Proverbs God tells us that lazy people are disgraceful. Wise people work hard, making the most of every opportunity God blesses them with.

Wise people influence other people. The wise person influences wayward people so they put their trust and hope in Christ also. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Wise Christians are “fishers of men” (Luke 5:10). Wisdom leads to righteousness, and righteousness produces fruit which entices others to partake in it. The wise want their words and actions to be an example for others to follow and lead them into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Christians should want to follow in the ways of the wise because this will bring glory and honor to Christ. Wisdom leads to an everlasting life with our Father in heaven. The wise person is promised to inherit glory (Proverbs 3:35), bring joy to others (10:1), bring help from God (12:18), never be in want (21:10), and have the strength to wage war in both the spiritual and physical realms (24:5-6). The wise has great power and strength that is coupled with the desire to bring glory to God and God alone.

Memorize:
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning.” Proverbs 1:5.

Dear Father in heaven I seek today to gain more understanding from You. I diligently seek wisdom because it is like a precious stone more valuable to me than anything else in the world. Lord I want to seek Your ways and not my own for my ways are foolish. Lord open my ears so I can hear Your instructions. Open my eyes so I may see what Your perfect will for my life is. Open my heart so I can search for You and Your ways with all of my heart and apply it to the very depths of my soul.

Friday, April 8, 2011

The Crafty Harlot



Proverbs five, six and seven have much to say about the enticing ways of the harlot and how the Christian is supposed to deal with her; but it all boils down to this: RUN!

God invented sex and sex was intended to be fulfilling within the walls of marriage alone. “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” Hebrews 13:4.

Sexual sins have many consequences that you will not be able to escape. Sexual sins will ultimately lead to disappointments, destruction and death.

When God’s children disobey His commandments they will be heartily disappointed. It would be wise for us to look ahead and see where our disobedience will lead us but often too many times we are caught up in the moment and newness of the sin that we cannot see that far down the road. We have our blinders on, blinding us to the reality of our sin which leads to a stronger bondage between us and that sin. Satan’s temptations always look promising. The lie he crafts up about sin allows the sinner to bask in the false assurances that the sin will be a pleasant experience. But sin, no matter how great or small, has a price tag to it. That price is death (Romans 6:23). Sexual sins have that same price tag. Sexual improprieties leave the marriage bed defiled. Purity will give way to pollution.

Sexual sins are also highly destructive. They can destruct a person financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually. People who commit sexual sins will lose the Word of God, wealth, enjoyment, their good sense and their peace of mind. Numerous times adultery results in scandals, lawsuits, divorce, depression, sexually transmitted diseases and even death. Christians must not forget that they are not their own: “Ye are not your own: for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."(1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The presence of temptations and desires will never go away but we are under the authority and lordship of Christ. Therefore, whatever we do we should do as “unto the Lord” (Col. 3:23). Gratifying sinful sexual desires will be a Christian’s downfall and you can never undo the mistake you have made. The consequences of your sins will follow you for the rest of your life here on earth.

Sexual sins are ultimately deadly. Sin is a result of a heart problem. You have it and I have it:”For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our hearts are not right with God. Sin separates us from God. God is holy. God is just. God cannot look upon sin. He must judge our sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23). We deserve death for sinning against God. While our earthly consequences of being sexually defiled may lead to a physical death because of Aids or a murder from a jealousy enraged spouse, the spiritual consequences of our sins are far worse. We lose favor with God. We lose God’s blessing upon our life, but most importantly we lose fellowship with God.

So dear ones in Christ, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8). Just because our society smiles upon sexual sins does not make it right. Wrong is still wrong and it is a stench to God’s nostrils.

Memory verse:
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8.

Dear Father, help me to keep my eyes focused on my spouse. Help me enjoy him and be infatuated with him as I was in the days of my youth. Help me to love my spouse unconditionally and to keep myself pure for him so our marriage bed stays undefiled.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Hear no evil, Love no evil, Speak no evil, See no evil



“Hear no evil; speak no evil; see no evil and love no evil” is not talking about a the Tendai-Buddist legend nor is it talking about the "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" [that] is commonly used to describe someone who doesn't want to be involved in a situation, or someone willfully turning a blind eye to the immorality of an act in which they are involved.” Wikipedia. Proverbs four lists four areas where the Christian needs to keep constant watch on.

First of all, the Christian should guard his ears (vs. 20). Whatever we hear directly influences our mind, our heart and ultimately our decisions. We should guard ourselves against mainstream media sources, ungodly counsel, unsound doctrine, obscenities, foolish talk, coarse joking and blasphemies against God lest we fall into sin. We should instead be able to hear God’s voice and obey His commands just as sheep follow their shepherds’ voice. (John 10:4).

Secondly, Christians should guard their hearts (vs.21). “Whatever the heart loves, the ears will hear and the eyes will see” Wiersbe, Be Skillful! If you love evil, you seek out evil things. If you love righteousness, you will seek out things that are righteous. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (vs.23). We should not pollute our heart with worldly things but keep it clean before the Lord. Our prayer should be that we ask God to search our hearts and rid us of all unrighteousness.

Thirdly, Christians should guard their lips (vs. 24). Perverse and corrupt talk should never come out of our mouths. Whatever is in our heart comes out of our mouths. “For out of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45). Our speech should always be seasoned with the salt of the Gospel. Our words should always be pure and honest.

Finally, Christians should guard their eyes (vs.25). The statement that our outlook determines our outcome is very true. Our vision determines our values, our actions, and our plans. We should not allow our eyes to divert from the Lord but always be transfixed on Him. We should keep our eyes focused on Him so we do not divert from the path God has set before us.

Memorize:
“I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching” Proverbs 4:2.

Dear Father, though it may cost all that I have I will faithfully gain understanding. Lord I will exalt You with my eyes, my heart, my lips and my ears. I want my whole being to glorify You Lord. I will not forsake Your wisdom. I will protect the wisdom You have bestowed upon me by guarding myself from the evil schemes of the devil who wishes to snatch away my crowns of splendor and the garland of grace that you have placed upon me head. I will keep Your commands as long as I live.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Wisdom’s Blessings!



Proverbs 3 lists several blessings Christians will receive when we trust and obey our Father in heaven. The first of these blessings is the true wealth the believer will receive when following Wisdom (vs.13-18). The true wealth of the believer cannot be bought because it isn’t materialistic items. True wealth is having happiness, hope, pleasantness and peace. These things can be guaranteed to the person that follows after wisdom.

Another blessing is being in harmony with God’s creation (vs.19-20). No, this isn’t the “New Age” doctrine of being “one” with “Mother Earth”. This blessing comes to those that are good stewards of His creation and will use His gifts for His glory. “The person who walks according to God’s wisdom can sing, “This is My Father’s World”, and really mean it” Wiersbe, Be Skillful!

A third blessing is the Father’s providential care (vs.21-26). When God directs our path, He will also protect our path. When you surrender wholly and completely to God you will be protected by Him. He will help you keep your eyes from wandering (vs.21), your neck from turning (vs. 22), your feet on the right path (vs. 23, 26), and your sleep sweet (vs. 24). I have heard many people say that the sweetness of your sleep depends in how much you trust in the Lord!

A final blessing will be having a positive relationship with others (vs. 27-35). When Christians walk with the wisdom God offers us, we will have the tools necessary to walk in harmony with our neighbors. We will be able to be generous to them (vs. 27) and show hospitality to them (vs. 28). Our lights will shine upon our neighbors so that they can see God and His love for them. God will bless the “home of the righteous” (vs.33). We will be salt and light and make a world of difference within the lives of the unsaved and be a powerful witness to the lost.

Memorize:“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding” Proverbs 3:13.

Lord, bless those who search for You out of the abundance of Your riches. Bless those for faithfully gain prudence and understanding. Lord, bless us as we search for Your holy and perfect ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Wisdom’s Wonderful Assurances



Within chapters two, three and four of Proverbs you will be able to spot three assurances that wisdom gives to those that search for her. Chapter two assures us that wisdom will protect our path, in chapter three, wisdom will direct our path, and in chapter four, wisdom perfects our path.

Chapter two through four all begin with a warning to listen to God’s Word and take them to heart. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3: 5-6). The first nine verses of chapter two list eight commands for us to follow:

1. Receive (accept) God’s Word

2. Hide God’s Word in our hearts and mind (store them up)

3. Incline our ears so we can hear godly instruction

4. Apply our heart to understanding

5. Cry after knowledge

6. Lift up our voices for understanding

7. Seek for wisdom

8. Search for wisdom

To truly gain wisdom, you must listen to God attentively, obey His commands with a servant’s heart, ask Him sincerely and seek Him with all your being. You cannot obtain spiritual wisdom be haphazardly seeking it. Wisdom increases over a lifetime of diligently seeking it by digging deep into the Scriptures and prayer. By following God’s commands found in chapter 2 verses one through nine, the believer will be able to stay protected from the schemes of evil men. “He holds victory in store for the upright; he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones” Proverbs 2: 7-8).

Wisdom will also direct our path. The first condition that must be met in order to receive God’s guidance is that we learn God’s truth (vs. 1-4). The will of God for our lives is revealed within the Word of God and we must diligently study it and obey it. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverb 3:6). The word “trust” in verse before it means “to lie helpless, facedown”. If we don’t put our trust fully in Christ we will start to lean on our own understanding (the little we have) and will miss God’s perfect will for our lives. Yes, God gives us our brains and He intends for us to use it. However, God doesn’t want us to depend on our own wisdom and experiences of ourselves or others. He wants us to depend on Him. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Another condition that must be met is we must share the first fruits of our labor (vs.9-10). If we do not live faithfully nor give faithfully unto the Lord then we do not fully trust the Lord. Our tithes and offering show evidence of our faith and obedience not a payment to receive blessings from God. The Christian is also to submit to God’s chastisements. “Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:6). God will only chastise us in love and never to hurt or harm us.

Finally, Wisdom will perfect our path. “But the path of the just is like the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (4:18). God has a purpose for each of His children. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). Our path may not always be an easy one. There will be various trials and tribulations that we must face along the path but choosing to follow the path God has set before us will always be fulfilling. God perfects our path by “knowing God’s Word” (4:1-9), “trusting in God’s providence” (4: 10-19), and “obeying God’s will (4:20-27).

Memorize:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3: 5-6.

Dear Father I put my trust in You Lord. I put my hope in You. You alone can direct my paths, perfect my paths and keep me from evil. I devote myself today to learning Your ways and I pray You bless me with Your wisdom. Lord I will trust in You with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways Lord I want to acknowledge You and only You.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Two roads; Which One Are You On?



I have been thinking recently about the movie “The Wizard of Oz”. Dorothy needs to go to Emerald City and meet with the wizard to find her way home. The munchkins break out in a chorus of “follow the yellow brick road.” The words “follow the yellow brick road” keep popping in my head. I can picture so perfectly Dorothy coming to the crossroads and both paths are paved with yellow bricks but the way she must travel isn’t marked and she must decide which path to follow. Many religions can be likened to these crossroads. They each claim to get you to heaven and they each mark out a different road to travel on. So which of these paths are right? Can they all do what they claim to do and give you your ticket into heaven?

“The only way to end up at the right destination is to choose the right road” Wiersbe, Be Skillful!

The Bible frequently pleads with us to choose the right path but our society says there are many paths. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). Jesus made it clear that there are only two paths: the pathway of destruction or the pathway of life. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14).

Wisdom invites us to search for her and when we seek her we will find her. (Proverbs 2:3-5). We must seek the path of wisdom only for to do anything else would be foolish. In the KJV version “path” and “way” and their plurals are found over one hundred times. Wisdom is a path that leads to an everlasting life while Folly leads to destruction. While taking the narrow path that leads to life Wisdom will bless us with three wonderful assurances: 1) Wisdom will protect your path, 2) Wisdom will direct your path, and 3) Wisdom will perfect your path.

Every person in this world is on one of the two roads mentioned. Either he/she is on the narrow road that leads to life or he/she is on the wide road that leads to destruction. Other religions only offer a false hope. They cannot do what they claim to do. These other paths to ‘enlightenment” only steer people further and further into darkness. The people on these paths are headed to their destruction.

So I must ask now which road are you on? Examine your life; examine your heart. God said “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Memorize: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.

Dear Father in heaven I am eagerly searching for You. Open my eyes, my mind and my heart so I may truly see You for who You are and for who I am. I want to know You more. In your holy name I pray.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

True Wealth!

Prosperity preaching is the trend nowadays. All over the television prosperity theology is being broadcast to viewers all over the world. The belief is poverty signifies some type of sin you have committed against God while wealth is an example of God’s blessing upon your life. Preachers beg for money and promise to ask God’s blessing on your life if you send in a certain amount of money. They also teach “"believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth and that they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith and the 'sowing of seeds' through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings." "A Statement on Prosperity Teaching". Christianity Today. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/article_print.html?id=86009.
True wealth, however, is not found in perishable riches. True wealth offered by God is blessings like prudence, knowledge and discretion. True wealth comes from fearing the Lord. It manifests itself as humility, godly speech, wise counsel, and understanding. True wealth guides the believer on life’s path with the strength to endure the journey. It is “running the race” in a pleasing way to God that honors and glorifies Him.
In Proverbs eight, Wisdom calls out to sinners offering them this true wealth. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7-8).  That is my plea for anyone who is reading this.  Verses six through nine teach us that we can rely on Wisdom because her words are “trustworthy”, “right”, “true”, “just”, and “upright”.  “Wisdom’s word are plain, spoken clearly and openly so that there can be no confusion” Wiersbe, Be Skillful!
Wisdom doesn’t promise to put money in the bank but instead urges us to seek eternal wealth rather than gold and silver. What true wealth has to offer us, worldly riches cannot compare to.  True wealth stems from being wise in the things of the Lord. Wisdom’s riches cannot be bought, no matter how rich you are.
How can we obtain these riches from the Lord? First of all, there must be repentance. We must turn from our wicked ways and turn towards Christ. We must put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Without faith one cannot have this life-changing experience and cannot obtain the riches from the Lord’s blessings upon our lives. We can then secure this godly wealth by hearing the Word of God (attending a Bible believing church grounded in sound doctrine), receiving instruction from Wisdom (vs.10) by opening our Bibles and letting the words penetrate our hearts, souls and mind, seeking God’s wisdom daily. We must love truth and wisdom and once we have discovered it we must do our best to be obedient to it. We obtain these riches by mediating on the Word of God, worshiping Him, praying always seeking His will for our lives. Doing these things will give us the true wealth that we so desperately need and desire.
Once you have heard the truth you must make a decision. Will you bow your will to God’s will? Will you make Him Lord over your life? How people respond to God’s message is a matter of life or death. (vs. 35- 36).  Those who repent will find life. They may die a physical death but their souls will live forever with God. Those who refuse God’s call to repentance will die twice. They will not only die a physical death but will also experience a spiritual death where they will forever be separated from the Lord. You have heard the truth. What is your decision?
Memory verse:
 “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” Hebrews 4:7-8.
Dear Jesus, My prayer is that those reading this will not harden their hearts to the message but be obedient to the call of repentance. Lord I want everyone to experience true wealth. I want everyone to know what true wealth can offer them and the peace that comes from obtaining it. It is my desire today Lord that this message would touch just one lost soul…

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Are You Hearing Voices?

The problem many Christians have today is that they cannot discern the voice of God. There is so much noise in the mind of the believer that they cannot hear the things they need to hear. This noise includes distractions, world views, vain desires, false doctrine, and our confidence within us. We fail to discern when God speaks, how God speaks, and if he is truly speaking. When seeking God’s will for our lives we should talk less and listen more.

Proverbs 1: 8-33 records three “voices” that we should pay close attention to. The first one is the voice of a godly father. He is encouraging his son to heed Wisdom and obey what he hears (vs.8). Godly parents desire to teach their children in the ways of the Lord. When parents are actively seeking to teach godly doctrine and teach their children about God, they will be blessed. Wisdom will become an “ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about the neck” (vs.9). Teaching the Bible to your children will help them discern God’s will for their lives. They will have the wisdom they need to hear from God and know that it is He that is speaking and not be led astray which leads us to the next “voice” found in this passage; the voice of temptation.

The voice of temptation can be found in verses eleven through fourteen. The temptations that the world offers people today will lead them away from the One True God. Temptations will lead people to lust after the ways of the world and seek the lusts of the flesh. These temptations sound exciting but only lead to disaster and the inability to hear the Master’s voice.

The third voice is the voice of salvation found in verses twenty through twenty-three. How does Wisdom speak here? She cries out (vs.20). Where does Wisdom speak? Wisdom speaks in the streets and public places (vs.20, 21). Wisdom doesn’t speak in secret places but cries out for all to hear and come to repentance. To whom does Wisdom speak? Wisdom speaks to sinners: the simple ones, the scorners, and the fools (vs.22). What does Wisdom say? In verse 22 Wisdom asks how long will they stay in their dangerous spiritual condition. Wisdom then invites them to turn from their wicked ways (vs.23). This is a call to repentance and faith in God. He actively seeks sinners to return to Him.

It is important for the believer to learn discernment. Are we hearing from the tempter Satan or are we hearing the very voice of God? We must weigh what we hear with the Word of God. Does it align itself with God’s Word? Will it bring us closer to Him or cause God’s judgment to fall upon us? Does it cause us to hate knowledge or embrace it (vs.29). Does it petition us to “fear the Lord” or to mock the Lord?

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” Isaiah 55:6. Christians should seek truth and knowledge always. We should “Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good." Rom 12:9. We do this by listening to the voice of Wisdom, the voice of God. We must mute out the voices of temptations and finely tune in to God’s voice so we may seek and do His perfect will for our lives.

Memory Verse:
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near” Isaiah 55:6.

Dear Father, I seek you today with all of my heart, all of my mind, all of my soul and all of my strength. I pray that I will search out Your will and Your ways for my life always. I pray that I will not listen to the evil voices of this world but be able to hear only Your sweet voice speaking to me. I pray that others will seek out Your voice as well and listen to the voice of Truth.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Making a Life!



Christians need to make a life that will glorify Christ. It isn’t about how long we live but how we live. As God’s children, we need His loving counsel and He provides that loving counsel all throughout the book of Proverbs. In order to effectually live life, you must first, have life. Profound statement isn’t it? One must be a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. You must honestly be able to claim God as your Father. He must be your “Abba”. Unless you are spiritually prepared, diligent, disciplined and obedient to what God says, you will not see much of a change in your life. Once you have been born again you are now ready to hear from the Lord and heed His words of wisdom.

“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:1-7.

The key verse in this passage is verse seven: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Fear.

When I think of the word fear I think of someone who is afraid and scared. I think of things that I fear like snakes, spiders and insects. But the word fear here does not mean to be afraid. It means to reverence or have high regard for. There are at least eighteen references throughout the book of Proverbs to “fear the Lord”. When we acknowledge from our heart that He is Lord, He is Creator, He is the Father, and He is the Master, we are showing respect for God and who He is! The six verses preceding verse seven explains in detail why Proverbs were written: to give us wisdom, instructions, understanding, subtlety, knowledge, discretion, learning and counsel.

Wisdom and folly want to control our lives. We must choose which path to take. To take the correct path, we must be committed to God because no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Christians cannot straddle the fence. We must choose: faith or unbelief, obedience or disobedience, wisdom or folly.

We will find throughout this study that the proverbs listed are brief and pictorial so that they can be quickly memorized. Once these proverbs are committed to memory we will have at our disposal the wisdom we need in making the right decision. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says it best: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We will find no less in the book of Proverbs.

My prayer is that you and I will grow spiritually and the Lord is glorified through the choices we make from day to day. I pray that we will grow in wisdom together and seek godly counsel always.

Memorize: Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:7.

Dear Father, Help me to meditate and apply each principle in this wonderful magnificent book that You inspired King Solomon to write. Help me to hide Your words in my heart so I may not sin against you but glorify Your holy and precious name. Amen.

April’s Abundance!

Throughout the month of April we will be studying the book of Proverbs. I have titled this month: Abundance of Alleluias in April. I want to tap into God’s guidebook for personal fulfillment and have a thankful heart while doing so! I believe we as Christians do not always show our appreciation to the Creator for everything he has given us and I want that to stop because a grateful heart is a thankful heart!  I hope you too will join me in my quest for a fulfilled life as we study and apply what the book of Proverbs has in store for us!
The book of Proverbs is about godly wisdom; how to get it and how to use it. It’s about priorities and principles, practical skills and making a life for yourself so you can live an abundant, fulfilled life. I don’t know about you, but I want my life to be a success! Come and join me in this quest and keep your Bibles handy!