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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2019 6:14:43 GMT -6
“They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge” (Proverbs 8:9).
Wisdom is again speaking, and it has been established that wisdom is a personification of the Lord Jesus Christ. In John 1 we see that Jesus and the Word are synonymous. Jesus is the Word of God, and we continue to have the Word of God in written form—our preserved, perfect Bible.
Much is made of the modern teaching that we simply must have Bibles that are written in such a way as that anyone can understand it. Well, truth be told, the learned man can’t understand them: “Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid” (Isaiah 29:14).
The Word of God is hidden from the worldly wise: “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Luke 10:21). In fact, the unlearned man cannot even understand them because “he hath no heart to it” (Proverbs 17:16).
Yet, it is a wide-open book to babes in Christ. Those that are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit are given an eye toward spiritual things. A lost man is unable even to understand John 3:16 except the Holy Spirit reveal it’s meaning to them as is evidenced by so many that have a deer caught in the headlights stare when the verse is shown to them. Only by a blinded mind can one read, “ye must be born again” and equate that with infant baptism.
The Lord has ordained that no matter how “down to earth” translations get, Bible ignorance increases, unbelief in the Bible multiplies, and rejection of the Bible becomes nearly universal. “A clearer translation” in the “language of the people” does not increase love for the Bible, real knowledge of the Bible, or understanding of the Bible unless the Holy Spirit is the reader’s guide. That Holy Spirit is only available to those that are washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ and saved by His atoning death on the Cross.
“They are all plain,” “Hell” is a plain word, so it is altered to “hades.” “The secret of the Lord” is not with “scholars.” “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him” (Psalm 25:14).
As paradoxical as it might seem, no one can truly believe or understand the Bible unless he is already a Christian. The Holy Spirit comes to regenerate the believer, He indwells the believer, and then He illuminates the Bible for you. “He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:47).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2019 6:18:48 GMT -6
“Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled” (Proverbs 9:5).
With as much of the Book of Proverbs a prophetic examination of the Person and Work of our Lord Jesus Christ, should it be found strange that one of the most well-known words of invitation often uttered by God seeking lost sinners should be used? I refer, of course, to the word, “Come!”
“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation” (Genesis 7:1). This first invitation was only heeded by eight people, while the rest of humanity chose to reject it and perish.
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). God’s great invitation to man; though he be drenched in blood and entrenched in a life of sin to be washed, purified, and made whiter than the freshly-fallen snow.
Our verse before us today speaks of eating bread and wine. We have another verse that speaks to the very same invitation.
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).
This is the great invitation to come and dine freely at the Master’s table where grace is bestowed liberally and without cost—the exact price of salvation. How is it possible for God to offer so rich a gift and expect no payment from man? Because the price has been paid by Himself and the payment was “God’s blood”: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
Due to our limited space, we’ll look at one more example of the word “come,” one which is surely the best known of all and is still an open invitation to you, if you are not sure that you have a home in heaven and sins forgiven—the invitation is open to you and to “whosoever will come.”
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
By the way, another use of the word “come,” is found in the phrase “it came to pass.” Bless God, this reminds us that in the midst of turmoil and trials, these things shall pass. One day, happily, we’ll be able to look back on these things and know how they were used of God to make us stronger, if indeed we remember them at all in our new heavenly home.
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2019 6:59:45 GMT -6
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Proverbs 10:4).
As we all can agree, the Bible is a big book with many wonderful promises—but about the only thing we know immediately after being saved is that Jesus died for me, and that is about the sum of our Bible knowledge. Eventually, we read (or hear) great and wonderful verses, such as: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17).
When I became a born again believer back in 1976, one of the first things that I began to notice about myself is that I had a new attitude toward personal responsibility. Whereas before I was rather notorious of doing just enough to get by, I began to take personal pride in myself because I didn’t want to make my Saviour ashamed of me.
Verse 4 is rather like one of those before/after photos we see in advertising. You look at these ads for diets and you usually see a man with fat folds followed by a picture of the same guy with six-pack abs. Then, of course, you are invited to buy the product so you too can look like him. There were also those ads of my childhood where this guy gets sand kicked into his face at the beach, but he buys the Joe Weider plan and then we see him hoisting barbells over his head in dramatic fashion.
In my case, it is a picture of a man that walked in darkness and fear, doing only what was necessary to get by, now to one with a joy unspeakable and full of glory as I knew that I was heaven-bound, forgiven, and a desire to live the rest of my life in the service of God. The change that took place in my life can be summed up in this verse: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31).
Now, as much as the wicked flesh would like to take credit for all this and boast of my great self-improvement plan, it just isn’t possible. I knew me then, and I know me now—and I can only brag on Jesus Christ: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
The best way that I can describe it all is, “under new management!”
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2019 7:26:16 GMT -6
“He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart” (Proverbs 11:29).
This verse should be read along with its companion in verse 17: “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh” (Proverbs 11:17).
The house that resembles a battle zone with its shouted curses and unkempt appearance shows that inside that home is an attitude of “every man for himself.” A family should be united, a cohesive unit, a reflection of heaven—but where Christ is not welcome it is instead a foretaste of hell and the second death.
“He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind,” like being a bad example to his children. Men that take the attitude, “Do as I say, not as I do,” are reaping to inherit a whirlwind. And a great wind leaves nothing but devastation in its wake. How many mothers have raised a kid up, but cursed and drank and smoked in front of that child—and was not a good example—and that kid is now in jail and a mess. That woman has reaped the wind. And how many a parent cries out, “If only I had it to do over again!” Well, if the heart isn’t changed, the actions aren’t going to change. Jesus Christ is the answer, yes, but living their testimony is the only guarantee that history won’t just repeat itself.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV).
No one hopes to be the mother of someone like the guy that one day walked into a McDonald’s and shot 42 people and killed 22 of them, but that mother can look back over years of spiritual darkness in that home—she reaped the whirlwind, and many families were devastated as a result. By the way, the last thing that guy said before he went out was, “Society had its chance.”
“. . . and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart,” that’s sure the truth. Look at any man that is slaving at some fast-food restaurant that should be out working in a well-paying job and you can bet he is doing that because he squandered away his youth, working for the guy that was smart enough to purchase for himself a franchise. The wise generally end up owning things and running things, while the fool ends up working for the wise man getting paid minimum wages.
Another sense whereby one might “inherit the wind” is to learn nothing of value from the experience. Young men learn to be good fathers from the example of their own father that both loves the Lord and his family. A rebellious son that rejects his father’s instruction is guaranteed to be the head of the war-torn house that opened this study.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2019 7:03:35 GMT -6
“A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones” (Proverbs 12:4).
One of the most endearing references to a wife and mother in the home is that she is “the Holy Spirit of the family.” Whether for good or for bad, every woman determines the spirit and the atmosphere of any place where she is present.
“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:21-24).
Notice, woman was not taken from man's head to lord over him, nor from his heel to be crushed by him, but this magnificent creation of Omnipotence was taken from man's rib, near his heart, so she could be loved and protected by him. She can make her home like a garden of Eden, or she can curse the home. She can bless her husband as Sarah did Abraham, calling him “Lord,” or she can by her actions and attitudes resemble the wife of Job whose best advice for him was to “curse God and die.”
“A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,” it is her place to make her husband a king and she takes her place as his queen.
“. . . but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones,” in the verses from Genesis quoted earlier, God intended that the man and the woman be one flesh. She completes her husband, when she is walking side-by-side with her man. When that changes and she becomes critical of him, it as if a cancer has struck the home.
Husband and wife confess your sins before God and plead the blood of Christ. Restore your relationship to Him and your fellowship with one another will be healed. Blinders are placed on a yoked team so that they can look forward and plow straight. Put your eyes upon Jesus, and not one another, so that you can focus on the goal of His purpose for your lives, and you’ll not bite and devour one another.
God put you together, Satan would tear you apart. "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2019 7:37:57 GMT -6
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat” (Proverbs 13:4).
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing,” that isn’t always true in America. He probably has government housing and food stamps. This is a general truth, but America is the exception and not the rule.
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing,” this could apply to spiritual truth as well. A man is too lazy to go to church, a man is too lazy to study his Bible, he has a desire to be approved unto God, but he has no desire to do what he needs to do to get there, and he has nothing.
“. . . but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat,” we have too many fat, obese people that can’t control their physical food intake, but we don’t have enough Christians fat from the overabundance of spiritual truth. We have a lot of believers that are addicted to the things of this world, but not enough Christians addicted to the things of God: “. . . they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (I Corinthians 16:15).
Christ said, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of” (John 4:32). He certainly wasn’t getting fat off of physical food, but He was sure fat off of the Word of God.
Some folks work all day and then drive quite a few miles to go to church. It can be a real weariness of the flesh to do those things, and then you consider those 8-day revivals that start around 7:00 p.m. and don’t let out until 9:30-10:00—I’m telling you, there are some pretty tired saints! But bless God, they are pretty fat because they have been diligently feeding on the feast of the Word of God and fellowship with the saints. While the old physical flesh is getting worn down, that spiritual man on the inside is getting built up. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (II Corinthians 4:16).
Folks get tired and can barely make it, but they keep coming. You take those old camp meetings of a generation ago and they would go 3-4 weeks and often go all day long. That would take that old flesh and bring it under subjection and sometimes they would just beat it to a pulp—but the inward man grew strong and fat.
“. . . but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat,” can be applied to the working man who works hard and puts in a full day. Paul said that we are to “study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing” (I Thessalonians 4:11-12).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2019 6:37:59 GMT -6
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
When Jesus Christ had something very important to say, He prefaced his words with “Verily, verily.” He used this phrase twenty-five times in His recorded ministry as recorded by the Gospel writers. In using these words, Jesus was saying, “truly, truly” or “Amen and Amen!” What he was saying was important, it was true, and He had firsthand knowledge about the subject. He was certainly presenting Himself as the final authority over it.
The verse before us today is repeated twice in our Bible, indicating its importance. It is found in today’s passage and in Proverbs 16:25. It is an Old Testament “verily, verily.” Truly, truly are there two paths, or ways. God’s path and man’s path, or a right way and a wrong way. It is vastly important that we see this fact as the eternal destiny of man rests upon which path a man chooses.
Jesus presented these two “ways” in Matthew: “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 thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
God’s way is narrow because only one person may go through the door at a time, and that door is not a thing—it’s a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. It was He Himself that said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Not Mary, not the saints, not some church, not water baptism, not one thing apart from Jesus Christ who suffered and died a sinner’s death (though He knew no sin) in order to purchase our pardon with the Father. He could not have been more emphatic when He stated one of His “Verily, Verilies” when He said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1).
Those things mentioned above which are not acceptable comprise the other way—man’s way—the way of religion. By the way, religion is man’s attempt to appease an angry God through his own efforts and is a waste of time. Christianity is distinct in that it is God reaching down to sinful man with an offer of eternal life through His Son. Religion is part of the broad road which leads to destruction, and to attempt to use it to gain entry into heaven is to climb over the wall as a thief and a robber.
If there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, know for certain that there is a way which is absolutely right in the sight of God. That door is wide open and whosoever will may enter through that door and have everything that God has as a child of His, and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. Come in, while the door is still open.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2019 7:56:24 GMT -6
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
At times we hear an expression or an axiom that seems so obvious on the surface that we wonder why it even needs to be said. It is like someone suggesting that if we don’t breathe, we will pass out and perish. That might be said about this clear piece of advice, but then, there is another phrase that is just as true which says, “easier said than done.”
When harsh words are spoken in our direction, it is our human nature not to back down. Unless we are terrified of the speaker, as a wife in an abusive relationship might be of her husband, our first instinct is to stand our ground and give as good as we get. Usually, both sides in a conflict feel that they are in the right and to back down when they know they are right only sends a message that they are weak or a pushover. Note that these are the normal response of our human nature.
Our verse is a general truth, which means that it is applicable to both saved and unsaved alike, but only the saved have a new, divine nature which assesses every situation from the standpoint of how Christ would respond to this situation—and preferably that would determine our response. Unfortunately, no Christian is immune from the world’s influence, and far too often we find ourselves more carnal than spiritual.
The simple fact is that if we are not walking in the Spirit and clothed in the armor of God prior to these confrontations of the will—we will fail every time. If we are not in the right frame of mind, and for a believer, that is to have “the mind of Christ” (I Corinthians 2:16) our natural response will be to speak “grievous words” that “stir up anger.”
Christianity, however, is a supernatural power that comes from God, but it is only victorious when our supernatural God is in control of our mind and emotions. Often our responses are split second reactions to stimuli, and we speak before we even have had time to measure our response. How much better when words are filtered through the Holy Spirit, and He is standing at the doorway of our house and answers for us. “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated” (Proverbs 14:17).
When we let God control our emotions, we will not speak words that might never be taken back. Friendships are wrecked, homes are destroyed, and wars are fought over words that once spoken are wound that can never be healed. Why do we so often neglect to let God have the lordship of our lives? It is because of pride. Pride is believing that we are strong enough to handle our own business. Pride is the basis for anger. Pride is the very thing that precedes destruction.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2019 6:40:21 GMT -6
“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits” (Proverbs 16:2).
When men purposely set out to deceive others, especially in a religious setting, it is indeed a heinous crime against God. One must truly pity the “preacher” that is preaching a false gospel in order that he might wear a diamond ring and drive around town in the most expensive car on the lot. One shudders to think of his end as he has exchanged his very soul for the comfort not worthy of a creature. And how sad will be the end of those that chose to trust a man for their eternal destiny rather than to trust God and His perfect Word.
Religious deception is indeed tragic, but by far the greater tragedy is self-deception. No man need be fooled by a religious charlatan but that he has first deceived himself into rejecting what once he knew in his heart to be absolutely true. This is the message that Paul gives us in Romans 1.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 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” (Romans 1:18-20).
On the authority of God’s Word, I can say categorically that every man once knew the truth of the existence of God, but they rejected it and shoved the truth out of the way in order to deceive themselves into believing that they were “clean in his [their] own eyes.”
Atheists once knew of a certainty that God was present. When and how clear that message was is open to some conjecture. Did God communicate with us in the womb? There are 100 verses in the Word of God that speak of God’s knowledge of us in our mother’s womb. Did we hold conversations with either Him or our angel? Do babies in their cribs recognize the face of their guardian angel? Scripture says that we “understood the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so they [we] are without excuse.”
There is one way, and only one way to God and that is through His Son. It was Jesus Christ Who lived a perfect life and died a perfect death, and supernaturally rose from the grave so that He might stand before God as our Redeemer. It was Jesus Christ that purchased man from the slave block of sin and offers to each and every one of us an absolutely free pardon and gift of eternal life. It is free because it is paid for by another.
“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (II Corinthians 6:1-2).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2019 7:49:05 GMT -6
“Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth” (Proverbs 17:24).
“Wisdom is before him that hath understanding,” right in front your face, in your Bible. In other words, wisdom comes as we spend some time in the Book: “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach” (Romans 10:8). If you want it, it is right there! “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Now, do we have a biblical example of how one might ask God for wisdom? Yes, we do: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalms 119:18).
It costs tens of thousands of dollars to go to a public state university to find out that we came from monkeys. How about we save all that money and go to the source of wisdom where all it costs is a few hours in the Book? Give those thousands of dollars to missions instead. I mean, that’s a lot of money to find out you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know what you are doing here, and you don’t know where you are going. The only thing you come out of there knowing for sure is that the government is bad, and communism is good.
That’s a lot of money to find out that you really don’t know anything and not learning anything. Well, that’s the way of the world and they really don’t know any better.
“. . . but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth,” in other words, he is looking all over the world for the answers and there it is right in front of his face. All he has to do is to ask God for it. Instead of simply asking Jesus Christ to be his Saviour, he is way out in some archaeological dig looking for the answers. He doesn’t have to “substantiate” all the historic evidences of the Bible, just take God at His Word that He preserved His Word for us in our King James Bible. All he needs is an open Bible, get down on his knees, and he’ll find more secrets than he ever could have imagined. Instead, these “fools” are “ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Timothy 3:7).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2019 7:20:29 GMT -6
“The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook” (Proverbs 18:4).
“The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters,” what a man says is very, very important and very deep because Matthews says that by a man’s words shall he be condemned, and by a man’s words he shall be justified. By a man’s own words, he can be saved forever. And by his own words he can reject salvation and be lost, forever. It is in the power of a man’s tongue to determine where he will spend his eternity.
Now, this is no little puddle or bubbling spring, these are deep waters. A man can actually seal his own fate by his own words. “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked” (Proverbs 10:11).
“. . . and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook,” the Psalmist says of the blessed [saved] man, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalms 1:3). Christ said that “he that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)” (John 7:38-39).
And that is where man gets wisdom. He gets wisdom from the Holy Spirit using this Bible to teach him and guide him through life. The Bible is indeed a flowing brook of living water. This brook from the Book will never run dry! There are times when we are going through this dry, thirsty land and you opened up this Book and God gave you something to refresh the soul, like a cool, cold glass of sparkling pure mountain water.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2019 6:51:45 GMT -6
“There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand” (Proverbs 19:21).
These devices are schemes, plans, gimmicks, and tricks. They are wily and subtle, like the devil is subtle and tricky, “nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”
It doesn’t matter what man’s schemes are, God’s counsels are going to stand. Satan has been planning to overthrow God’s kingdom for millennia, but God is going to win in the end—and we that are saved are on the winning team. As one fellow said, “I saw the back of the Book, and we win!”
Man’s schemes about equal rights, and a secular society that is productive without God, will not stand: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).
It doesn’t matter about all the plans of evolution, and all the charts, and all the plastic models they make at the museum—God’s counsels still stand.
Men in a human council meeting thought they could stop Christianity: “But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done” (Acts 4:17-21), but they passed away, and the Word of God is still living, active, and powerful.
Herod of Acts 12 took up against the church, killed James, and intended to kill Peter, but before the chapter was ended, he was dead, and in contrast to him, “But the word of God grew and multiplied” (verse 24).
Man’s devices of trying the correct the Bible, to change the Bible so that it agrees with man, instead of man aligning themselves with the Bible—man is trying to find or create new manuscripts—God’s counsels still stand. God’s Word is still perfect. God’s Word is still preserved unto all generations. God’s Word is still pure.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2019 7:06:43 GMT -6
“Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee” (Proverbs 20:22).
One of the first impressions one receives from the book of Proverbs is just how much is sounds more like the New Testament than the Old. How is this possible? And what is the reason for it?
Of the 234 times that the word “wisdom” is used in our English Bibles, 53 occurrences are found in the book of Proverbs. The word “wisdom” makes up the theme of the book, as opposed to the “fool”, “folly,” and “foolishness.” Wisdom is the embodiment of a Person, and that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). It is quite a study to trace the presence of Jesus Christ throughout the entire Bible, and to see the scarlet thread that runs from Genesis to Revelation. The first occurrence of our Lord in the Bible is Genesis 1:1, with the plural word “Elohim” denoting the Trinity.
The book of Proverbs sounds so much like the New Testament because wisdom transcends the Old. In the Old Testament, we read much of “imprecatory prayers.” To utter this kind of prayer is to “invoke evil upon or curse one’s enemies.” David prayed much in this fashion:
“Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them” (Psalms 55:15).
“Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous” (Psalms 69:27-28).
“Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow” (Psalms 109:8-9).
David often prayed for God to bring judgment upon his enemies. Yet, when we come to the New Testament Jesus taught His disciples to forgive and to love their enemies: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-48).
Paul wrote: “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 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. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21).
When we read the book of Proverbs we should always bear in mind the following couplet: The Old Testament is the New Testament revealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.”
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2019 7:32:09 GMT -6
“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead” (Proverbs 21:16).
We have heard of those that have escaped from a burning building only to remember some trinket left inside the blaze which caused them to run back inside the building and perish. The irony of the tragedy is that some worthless object was counted more precious than life, and the days that were remaining were forfeited. Now, there are those that have found themselves at the very border of life and death, but before crossing over to life—chose death.
The writer of Hebrews, I believe Paul (though some suggest it might have been Apollos) speaks of this in two of the more difficult passages concerning the eternal security of the believer. No doubt, we are all familiar with the phrase “once saved, always saved.” This was coined by those that do not believe that eternal means eternal--as a way to poke fun at those that do. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, God is able to impute Christ’s righteousness to all that will come by faith and receive the free gift of eternal life. Well, a gift is a gift, and that gift has been fully bought and paid for by the One that took our place on Calvary. It is free, and something that is free is not subject to recall.
Many understand this truth, and yet are not saved. They have the mental understanding of the concept of salvation by grace through faith and have come very close to receiving it for themselves—but they have done what so many others have done before them. They, like old Felix in Acts 24:25 said, “Wait a bit. Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” But they never did. They even trembled under conviction, as did Felix—but they told God “No!” Make no mistake, friend, to tell God to wait is the same as telling Him no.
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:4-6).
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries . . . Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:26-27, 38). Both of these passages speak of drawing back from the Word of truth. In a short devotional, it is not possible to develop the thought beyond this but suffice it to say that Paul was speaking not of the readers of his letter, but to another crowd. Consider:
“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak . . . But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 6:9; 10:39).
“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2019 6:51:01 GMT -6
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1 KJV).
If you have to cheat and become a thief, and a robber, and a mean man, and a miser man and a wicked man to get riches and you lose your reputation and your character to get it—you would be better off to keep your good name. You know what you can do with a good name? You can get a good job. If you have a good, honest name, and a name that is reputable and has character behind it, I guarantee you, there was a time in this country that you could borrow any amount of money on that name. Now I realize that our society has degraded to the point where bankers can’t trust folks with any name, because they can’t trust people any more.
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1 KJV). That is looking at it from a purely pessimistic viewpoint. I’m sure after you have tried everything that Solomon had tried and found it to be what he found it to be, you’d probably figure it’s better to be dead than to be alive.
The only thing that keeps some folks alive is the hope that things will get better. The problem is that things won’t get better—they’ll only get worse—the older you get, you fall apart, the world falls apart, and folks around you fall apart. It just isn’t going to get any better, unless you are saved, and you are on your way to heaven. But Ecclesiastes is not written from any but an earthly view of everything under the sun, not above it.
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,” and there are some good names . . .
“And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed” (1Ki 1:47 KJV).
God did that, if Solomon had done all that he should have done, his name would have been greater still.
“She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her” (Mar 14:8-9 KJV).
This is the woman that broke the alabaster box and poured the ointment of spikenard, anointing the Lord, He said she would never be forgotten—she had a good name.
Jesus is a good name, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Mat 1:21 KJV). We believe on His name, we are born again through His name, there is peace and power in His name. There is righteousness by His name, “. . . there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Act 4:12 KJV). Jesus had a great name, even though He didn’t have great riches.
In a material sense, Jesus had nothing while He was down here. He was born in a barn, had no pillow to lay his head, and he died with one coat. He was a poor man with a rich name!
“. . . and loving favour rather than silver and gold,” it’s better off to have people favour you and love you than to have all the money in the world. Money can’t buy love, it can pretty much only buy lust.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2019 7:48:34 GMT -6
“My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine” (Proverbs 23:15).
Good children bring great joy to their parents.
“A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother” (Proverbs 10:1).
“The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice” (Proverbs 23:24-25).
“Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance” (Proverbs 29:3).
Solomon is here telling his son, “If your heart is wise, my heart will be glad.” How it ought to be the desire of every child to please his parents. In America, in order to have a proud father, a child needs to hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win the state championship. In America, we have our priorities askew. Fathers do tend to live their lives through their children. If the dad desired to be an athlete, an athletic son will do him proud. Unless the dad desires to please God, a wise son can be a disappointment. If a man loves the Lord with all his being, it breaks his heart to see his son reject those godly, biblical principles.
The Bible believer senses throughout the verse the voice of God the Father speaking to him as a father speaks to a child.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:14-15).
What pleases our Father in heaven? Well, as the father of two young girls once upon a time, it pleased me when after they were hurt while playing, they would come to me to find comfort and to allay their fears. That meant that they trusted me and knew that I had the “daddy power” to make it all better. We fall also. When we fail to live up to this standard of life that God has set before us—it pleases our heavenly Father that we come to Him for forgiveness and to have our fellowship restored. It shows that we trust Him and know that He has the ability to restore us and set us back up on our feet. If our hearts are trusting towards Him, His heart will be glad.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2019 6:57:32 GMT -6
“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them” (Proverbs 24:1).
Socrates defined envy as “the daughter of pride, the author of murder and revenge, the begetter of secret sedition, the perpetual tormenter of virtue. Envy is the filthy slime of the soul; venom, a poison, a quicksilver, which consumeth the flesh and drieth up the bones.”
In its most basic sense, envy is the desire to be like others. It could be their riches, their talent, their successes; but the bottom line is that they want to have their life. Do we desire their end as well? Evil men prosper at the cost of their souls. They have exchanged their eternal heaven for temporary joy on earth. There can be no comparison. Most of the advice that Solomon gives, is given to his son. When we are young, we make decisions that will affect not only our lives in this world, but also the one which is to come.
As one studies Proverbs, he comes to the conclusion that pride is the foundation sin for all others. It is what caused Lucifer to shed his holiness for the slimy scales of the serpent, Satan. Close behind pride in it’s severity, is envy.
Envy causes physical illness: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). When one is consumed with the lust for other men’s success, his very foundation is eaten up by bitterness over his own situation in life. The bile attacks many areas of one’s body to the point where they become sick. One may look at how Ahab was affected by his lust for Naboth’s vineyard: “And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread” (1 Kings 21:4). He became physically ill.
Envy harms its subjects: “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” (Proverbs 27:4).
Envy is the product of a carnal mind: “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (I Corinthians 3:3).
Envy is a work of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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” (Galatians 5:19-21).
Envy is a doctrine of demons: “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:14-16).
Solomon tells us to neither lust for their position, nor desire to be with them. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (I Corinthians 15:33). Be content with such as God has given you and understand that there is nothing on this earth that we can give up that God will not make up one day through our faithful service to Him. There is a sense where we can have it now, and lose it later—or lose it now, and have in abundance in God’s due time.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2019 6:14:57 GMT -6
“As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear” (Proverbs 25:12).
Anyone that has grown to be a strong, mature Christian is grateful for those people in their lives that acted as “wise reprovers.” Of course, unless the wise reproof falls on obedient ears, it goes for naught.
Scripture is vibrant with examples of wise reprovers upon obedient ears, though it may not have been pleasant at the time it was given.
Sarah and God gave Abraham wise reproach in the matter of Hagar: “Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Genesis 21:10-12). It was foolishness on the part of Abraham to give heed to his wife with regards to Sarah’s handmaid, as his acts only brought strife and confusion to Abraham. It was difficult to cast Hagar out of the camp, but the promise was to be fulfilled in Isaac, not Ishmael.
How it must have burned for David to listen to the reproof of Nation after his sin with Bathsheba, but had those words not been spoken, “Thou art the man!”, this man after God’s own heart may never have repented of his great sin of adultery and murder of Uriah.
God sent reproof to the King of Judah, Josiah which restored him to God’s good favor upon his repentance: “And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard; Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD” (2 Chronicles 34:26-27).
Thank God that he still reproves His children today, through His Word. Why read God’s Word? Because we need it to be convicted of our sins and brought to font that cleanses us from all sin and give us instructions to live right.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16-17).
Thank God for His living Word!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2019 6:23:30 GMT -6
“A whip for the horse, a bridle for the a**, and a rod for the fool's back” (Proverbs 26:3). A fool is a person that walks after their own devices. They really don’t know any better. They have a mind, it is true, but it is not exercised to the point where it can discern clearly the costs of misbehaving. A fool is controlled by his wants. By nature, all children are fools in that sense of the word. A child, left to himself, will only grow up to become more foolish as the years pass, and a wicked person is really only an unrestrained fool: “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies” (Psalms 58:3). In the animal world, where beasts of burdens outweigh their masters by hundreds of pounds, an unruly beast could easily go its own way in disobedience. A horse obeys its owner through the use of a tiny riding crop applied to its rear haunches and the donkey or an ox will plow a straight furrow because of a small device placed in its mouth. Animals have their own agenda, and if left to themselves, they will spend the day chewing on the grass around it. When it is time for work, these little devices see to it that they follow the bidding of the farmer. In the case of a young fool, if left to himself, will spend his time in idleness and mischief. They really can’t help it, it is in their nature. As our society progresses ( ) one can now see children a young a couple of years old holding I-Phones and game pods, playing the day away. They grow up to sit on a couch all day with a hand-held game device. Our present young generation is losing all perspective when it comes to human relations. The tool that God has given parents in the daunting challenge of bringing up a child in the way he should go is here called a “rod.” Notice that the Bible does not say “hand,” as a mode of discipline. The hand is for love and comfort. No part of a human’s body should be used to chasten a child. The discipline should always be administered by an inanimate object. Note also that biblical discipline is not abuse, and there certainly is a line crossed where a parent doing his duty can turn into a parent committing a crime. In those cases, the state has every right to interfere. Saying this, however, one reason why corporal punishment is effective is because it involves a degree of physical pain. Pain is something that will be remembered. Simply talking to a fool resolves nothing, because a fool will not listen. If a child is taught to equate wrongdoing with pain, they will remember the lesson. Just a word, not so much. Both before, and after, corporal punishment is administered both parent and child should pray confessing their faults to God and asking for His forgiveness. The most important phase of corporal punishment is reconciliation. After the spanking, and after a short time where the child is left to ponder its ways, both must come together again to be reminded that parent loves child and child loves parent. Years later, a child will recall those painful meetings and thank God that he is what he is today because he had parents that loved him enough to see to it that he was corrected and molded in the way he should go as he contemplates the birth of his own child. This is the way that America remains a Christian nation. One of the hardest pills to swallow is being a biological parent trying to discipline the YOU out of your child. Detective Robert Surgenor wrote a book he called, No Fear. For years he has compiled statistics that indicate that when parents eliminate corporal punishment from their discipline plan, the child grows up with an attitude of “no fear,” even when other areas of discipline are administered, such as taking away privileges and grounding. He maintains that children who are spanked in the context of loving discipline don’t become violent. In contrast, some of the most violent youth never once experienced a spanking. Surely this law enforcement officer’s findings are in keeping with the principles of Scripture.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2019 7:28:22 GMT -6
“A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both” (Proverbs 27:3).
Not being a particular robust kind of guy, I can certainly identify with the first half of this verse. I remember one time setting out to mix cement in a wheelbarrow and I will tell you that it plum wore me out. It wasn’t long before I could feel it in my hands, my legs, and my back—actually, there wasn’t a part of my body where I didn’t feel it. One thing for sure was how well I slept that night once I took enough Ibuprofen.
I can only imagine what it must be like to work in a quarry or any job that requires a fellow to move rocks around all day. Now, I can appreciate the fact that good hard work makes for strong, healthy bodies but the effort it would take to get there is a bit more than I was willing to do.
“If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest” (Proverbs 29:9).
If anyone has ever been around an angry bear, after her cubs were stolen, he might have an understanding of what Solomon is trying to say here: “Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly” (Proverbs 17:12). Fortunately, I’m sure, no one reading these words have been that close to any bear (without a fence) but unfortunately, we all know what it is like to be too close to a “fool in his folly.” Walk down some deserted street at 3:00 A.M. on the wrong side of town and you’ll meet a fool that will waylay you, or even kill you just to see what you have in your billfold.
Simeon and Levi viciously slaughtered a city of noble men for the fornication of their sister Dinah (Genesis 34:25-26; 49:7). Doeg the Edomite slaughtered all God’s priests, their families, and their livestock, in rage against David (I Samuel 22:18-19). Haman sought to execute genocide for the offence of Mordecai not bowing to him (Esther 3:5-6). Joab unmercifully assassinated Abner, Absalom, and Amasa in jealous folly (I Kings 2:28-34).
The danger is clear! What can a wise man do? Avoid them for your life! Get away from fools and scorners. They will turn and rend you for some trifling thing, so wise men avoid them as much as possible. Cast out the scorner, and contention, strife, and reproach will end.
“Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding . . . Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge” (Proverbs 9:6, 14:7).
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