Tag Archives: Friday Proverb

Friday Proverb – Taking the Right Stance

Often, conservative Christians don’t discuss money situations, because it can be unseemly in the Body of Christ to dwell on such matters. Yet, the Lord does address money and all its entanglements. In today’s Proverb study, we examine what the Lord has to say about standing in for someone else – with money. And this is something that many believers will have to face in their lives, either within their own family, or in needing to advise someone else. And how good it is know that the answer to ALL of life’s questions can be found in our King James Bibles!

Proverbs 11:15

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it:

SU’RETY, noun Certainty; indubitableness. – In law, one that is bound with and for another; one who enters into a bond or recognizance to answer for another’s appearance in court, or for his payment of a debt or for the performance of some act, and who, in case of the principal debtor’s failure, is compellable to pay the debt or damages; a bondsman; a bail. http://webstersdictionary1828.com/

Co-signing loans are just the beginning of this problem. Our government makes a regular habit of surety to strangers! Not just strangers – but downright hostile, rogue nations and terrorist states. And, any reasonable person knows that this will come back to bite us. If you want to help someone – make them a gift. Don’t sign away in the expectation of repayment. The Bible is clear on this. Surety should not be practiced by individuals – or sovereign nations.

and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

Believers should hate the very idea of being indebted. We should hate the very idea of our country being indebted. If you would not consider putting up bail, or co-signing a loan for a total stranger – then our elected officials should not consider bailing out failing banks, corporations, nations, or any other “stranger” entity. Churches that take on debt in the “if you build it they will come” strategy of “church growth” are also being surety for strangers. They are anticipating that new church buildings and extravagant venues will offer a return in increased church memberships – never thinking that those who come for the glossy trappings will not actually be adding to the body of Christ at all. In fact, they may detract from it. Many churches have gone bankrupt by being surety for strangers.

Only Jesus Christ is qualified and capable of providing surety for anyone. And He does it perfectly, because He is the provider of everything. He backs us up, He intercedes for us, and He is our guarantor.

Hebrews 7: 9-25

⁹For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

²⁰And inasmuch as not without an oath He was made priest:

²¹(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by Him that said unto Him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

²²By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

²³And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

²⁴But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

²⁵Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

sage

Friday Proverb – Honoring the Lord

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The theme of last Friday’s Proverb, was man’s ego, and the idea that we should trust God before anything or anyone else – including ourselves. Today the theme is honoring God without reservation.

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Honoring the Lord with your substance means something deeper than throwing money in the basket every week. Your substance could be in reality – entirely different than actual money. We all need to realize that the Lord knows what is most important to each and everyone of us. If we have something, that we selfishly guard and hold to ourselves – that is not honoring to the Lord.

You may have a talent that you are very proud of. That is part of your substance. If it is easier for you to throw a couple dollars in the basket, than to give your talent – you are not honoring God.
You may make a great deal of money. If it is easy for you to write large checks to charity, or cover the church roof fund – that is not your substance. It may make you feel good, and even proud, but it is not honoring the Lord.

What are the “firstfruits”? It could be anything! It’s not just when you get a raise in pay- it is anything the Lord has added unto you.

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Proverbs: 3:9-10

Your barn may be your kitchen cabinets and refrigerator. Notice that the Lord never promises gold. He promises what will sustain you. He promises what you really need – not what you think you need.

How about the presses full of “new wine?” This will disappoint some, but the wine here is not fermented. “Tirosh,” (in the Hebrew) or “unfermented wine,” is health- giving purple grape juice. So much, in fact – that it is bursting out of its container. This is very important symbolically. Flowing new wine is mentioned throughout prophecy as being part of Christ’s millennial reign.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

Joel 3:18

Honor the Lord with what is most important to you.
Honor the Lord with anything He has added unto you.
Honor the Lord with your best.

If you do those things, the Word says that you will be blessed. Not with wealth! Remember that God told Abram that He, God Himself, was Abram’s reward. Anything else is fleshly and material. Even in the face of calamity and affliction, the Christian must keep in mind that God always sends what is needed. If chastening is needed – that too is a blessing. Your barns will be filled with plenty. But remember – your barn – is not the same as anyone else’s barn. It is unique to you.

sage

Friday Proverb – True Riches

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It saddens us when we see prosperity preachers at work. Just like state run lotteries, and “legalized” gambling casinos – the participants in these schemes are most often those who can least afford it.

Our blessed Savior lived His earthly ministry in poverty. His life was to be an example to us. There is no place in Scripture, that equates material wealth with spiritual wealth. Money is not evil – the love of money is.

Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.

Our spiritual father – Abraham – lived a spiritually rich life, in such close fellowship with the LORD, that he was allowed to speak directly to the pre-incarnate Christ! When we think of the faith of Abraham, leaving his comfortable life and venturing to an unknown land, and then offering his beloved son on an altar to the LORD, we must be humbled. How can we have this kind of richness – with no sorrow added? We must walk as closely with the LORD as Abraham did. With no interference from the world and its trappings. Abraham’s life in the desert, was “separated” from the surrounding heathen nations.

That kind of rich life, may entail separating your “tribe” from the pagans that surround you. He lived among them (surrounded actually!) but he did not live with them. That is an important distinction everyone needs to make note of.

Beloveds – do you live with the pagans? Or among them? If you separate yourself from the world – you will be spiritually rich, with no sorrow. We’re talking about overflowing abundance, so glorious that you are praising Him from morning till night – in any and all circumstances. This rich life may require you get rid of your cable, if you can’t watch it in good faith [ you know what I’m talking about.] It may entail purging yourself of many possessions – if they are controlling you. How much mental space is devoted to your source of bondage? Bondage being anything from your hair, your children, even to your mortgage payment. Abraham was willing to place his son on the altar – what are you willing to place on the altar?

Decide now to live for him, and only him, and you will be richly blessed – with no added sorrow.

sage

Friday Proverb – Mischief Makers

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Proverbs 10:23

It is as sport to a fool to do mischief:

It would be presumptuous and proud to think that only the behavior in the illustration qualifies as mischief. Any act of mischief – vandalism, gossip, back-stabbing, pilfering, cheating, cruelty, bullying, flirtations, or the host of evil things that people do qualify as mischief; because the persons who do such things, never think that what they are doing is of any consequence. It is “sport” to them.

They are fools!

but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is where true wisdom and understanding is to be found. As we can not sit at His physical feet at this moment in time, we can sit at His spiritual feet by going to church and reading His Word. The more His Holy Spirit fills us – the less chance we have of playing the fool. If we put Him on the back-burner, there is every chance that we will commit some sort of mischief, that we do not think is very serious.

If we think in our minds that “It’s not that big of a deal. It’s not like I killed somebody,” then we are making sport of the mischief we are doing, and are counted a fool.

Fill your time and mind with His Word – and there will be no chance for mayhem and foolishness.

sage

Friday Proverb – The Wicked Will Always Counter Attack

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Did you ever feel that every time something good happens – something bad follows? There is a reason behind that – and his name is Satan. Since the beginning, he has mustered a response for every movement the Lord has made. A close examination of the church ages, shows Satan made a counter attack at each significant uprising of the church. The same thing happens in individual lives, and in the national and international arena.

Proverbs 11:11

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted:

In every instance, even following the 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings – Satan has launched a counter attack almost immediately. What was the evil one’s response to the Age of Missions, Great Awakenings, and the Philadelphia Church Age? False philosophies, and cults. Higher “criticism,” Darwinism, progressive education, and Freudian psychology. On top of those four philosophies, which have infiltrated the education system – the major cults also rose during this time. Mormonism, 7th Day Adventism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, Unitarianism, and Armstrongism. Every single one – still active and growing in this time.

but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

We should not be disheartened or discouraged when the president vetoes the bill we want passed, or a judge overturns a pro-life, or pro-traditional marriage bill. A close study of the Bible and secular history reveals that the tide of evil will always thwart the upright, and will continue to do so until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to set things right. This is why beloveds – the evil one is working so hard, because he knows his time is short! Liberals and progressives may be riding high now – but I would not want to be in their shoes for anything in the world. Their victory is only temporary. Very temporary.

Revelation 20:11-15

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

sage

Friday Proverb – Where Do You Put Your Trust?

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The most miserable sin of self justification, is a sin we all contend with. Continually attempting to explain why we do the things we do (even alone in our minds) does not “sit well” with our Sovereign Creator. Oh – to be free of this flesh and with the Lord for ever . . .

Proverbs 11:28

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall;

At right you see the Parable of the Rich Fool aptly portrayed.

Luke 12:19-21

¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

The Lord in no way states that material possessions and riches are wrong. The issue at hand, is where we put our trust. Many Christians have fallen into the general hype of “hoarding.” It is interesting to note, that some of the super-stars of television’s “Extreme Couponing,” are professing Christians, one even a youth pastor! There are dozens of conservative news sites which have their own brand of food storage systems, and right leaning financial advisers beat the drum of buying gold and silver – from them – of course.

There is NOTHING wrong with stockpiling. Nothing. Joseph wisely stored food against the prophetically revealed famine. But we must never, never trust in food stores or caches of precious metals to save us. Our faith is not ever to be in anything of this world. If we are walking closely to Jesus – all of these things will grow dimmer and dimmer as we mature in Christ. We will not fear anything that “might” happen in the future – simply because we already know our future…

Together with the LORD in eternity.

but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Looks good! That is how we appear (metaphorically speaking) when we allow the righteousness of Christ to rule in our hearts. Every truly born-again believer possesses the righteousness of Christ – and is completely capable of bearing much fruit. The child of God may require a great deal of pruning in order to bear prolifically. This is chastening from a Father to a son. Praise Him for it. Take it and learn of Him. Is your trust in your IRA, or a basement full of freeze-dried food stores? Or is your trust in Him alone?

Jeremiah 17:7-8

⁷Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

⁸For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Keeping our hearts and minds on the Lord becomes easier the more we read the Word, fellowship with other believers, and turn from the world. In a sense, we need to repent of the world every moment of every day – because we are living in it while being housed in very weak flesh. To put it in perspective, we are not unlike sailors long at sea – being lured to their deaths by the call imaginary sirens among jagged rocks. Or a thirsty soul in the desert – seeing a mirage and swallowing mouthfuls of sand instead of water. What the world presents to us – is a trick of the devil. It has the appearance of something we are convinced that we need – but will in reality – only destroy us. It is of utmost importance to spread the Gospel. It is of very small importance to stockpile food and gold.

sage

Friday Proverb – Sowing and Reaping in Righteousness

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Television is replete with “ministers of prosperity.” They generally preach that sowing money to their individual ministries, will result in prosperity for those who give. Some, even refer to such funds as “seed money.” With a casual reference to this passage of Scripture, as well as others, they manage to convince even those who have very little, to give what little they have. But if we look at this Scripture closely, we can see, that it is not directed at the poor.

Proverbs 11:24-26

²⁴There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

Though progressives speak long and loud on matters of “social justice,” and caring for “the less fortunate,” reality says that those same people are rather stingy with their personal assets.

The godless in our government have impoverished many families in this country, through their pseudo-compassionate practices. Their kind of “withholding” leads to poverty. One only needs to study the staggering wealth of the Roman Catholic church, and be amazed that there are any poor Catholics. Yet – the majority of Catholics in Central and South America, as well as in India and other parts of Asia, are desperately poor. Why is that? Because, oligarchical entities like these, do not actually sow, they withhold. And what they withhold even more than money – is the Truth. The truth about abortion, about sodomy, and more importantly, the truth about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

²⁵The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Liberal in the above verse is not a political category, but rather a personality. It deals with those who give generously of themselves without expecting anything in return. I stress – giving of themselves – not to be confused with the notion of social justice and redistribution of wealth.

What this verse is describing is the abundant life that truly born-again Christians can experience. We know from His Holy Word, that whatever we sow, we will reap. How wonderful our Lord is, to add unto that with fountains of spiritual riches that no tongue can tell . . .

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

²⁶He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

One need only think of Joseph, and the God given wisdom he displayed. He sold the corn generously to the famine stricken populace. (he did not give it away) Now, try taking out the word corn, and replace it with – crude oil. Think how you feel when there is a contrived “gas shortage.” Now think how you feel when there is a nice drop in price at the pump! The life application is clear. What we sell, produce, perform, sow, should be done with a spirit of genuine generosity. It doesn’t matter if you are a home maker, or a garbage collector. What you have is what God has given to you. He allows you to determine how you will dispose of it. Do you “hold back?” Be honest. Is there somewhere you need to sow what you have, and you have been resisting? The Bible says, that kind of thinking and behavior will lead to poverty. And there is more than one kind of poverty. There is the material kind of poverty, which is very uncomfortable, but there is also spiritual poverty, which can be devastating.

No where in Scripture does it say we need to be someone’s doormat, or personal punching bag. What it does say is clear in the above Proverb. Everything we do as believers, must be done in the right spirit. Never for personal gain, yet even if we are doing it for a salary – it should be to His glory. Joseph did not sell the corn for personal gain – he did it in obedience to the Lord. Like Joseph, within His will and righteousness, we may be showered with such blessings that will only bring us closer to Him every day. What bliss!

sage

Friday Proverb – The Desire of the Righteous

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As believers, our natural inborn tendency leans towards works of self-indulgence, rather than works of righteousness. The struggle within us, mirrors the twins (Esau and Jacob) wrestling within their mother, Rebekah. It is a continuous battle between our flesh, and God’s Holy Spirit. The strength of one over the other, depends entirely on what we feed them. If we indulge our flesh with worldly fare, the Spirit will become weaker. These Proverb studies, and other such materials, are intended to feed the Spirit of true believers.

Proverbs 11:23

The desire of the righteous is only good:

As born-again Christians, we have the Righteousness of Christ within us. We Have no righteousness of our own. The holy righteousness living inside you, desires only good. If the Holy Spirit is your dominant “twin” you will desire only good. On the other-hand, if the flesh is the dominant twin, you will desire the opposite of what is good.

For example, when pondering the evil antics of worldly politicians and other leaders, do you sometimes fantasize that a lightening bolt, or some other act of God, would strike them down, and put them out of your misery? If someone has wronged you – do you long for them to “get what’s coming to them”?

Beloveds – that kind of attitude is your flesh talking. The best thing to do is rebuke it, and turn to the Lord in prayer. Rather than wishing for revenge, or “inexorable justice” on the workers of iniquity, why not pray for them? Pray for the most evil of them. Yes, it is true, that some individuals are beyond redemption, but that is not for us to determine. It is for us to pray, and pray, and pray.

but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

The lost have a truly bleak future in eternity. As the children of God, we should not desire that for anyone. Though your prayers for the wicked may seem like they go unanswered, it is a fact, that if your heart is right with the Lord, He hears all your prayers, even if you are praying for the worst miscreant in the world. We should desire their good, and the only good for them, is salvation in Jesus Christ. It is a terrible, awful, thing – when someone dies in their sins. And when you pray for that lost soul – make sure you mean it.

1 Timothy 2:1-3

2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

²For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour

Please reread verse 2 again – do you see what that says? It is conditional. If we don’t pray for those in authority over us – we will have persecution! Obviously, the Body of Christ has dropped the ball on this one.

sage

Friday Proverb – Causing Calamity to Your Children

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While it is one hundred percent certain, that each member of the human race is responsible to the Creator for their own sins, there are things sheeple do, which can adversely affect their offspring – or seed. The obvious things are consuming drugs and alcohol during pregnancy – but there are the more subtle – and equally devastating things mankind does which seeps down to their kids. Global leaders, politicians, business owners, school boards, churches leaders, voters, and every other sort of human interaction that you could imagine – regularly compromises in agreement with the Devil. It is tossed off as a “necessary evil,” “choosing the lesser evil,” or “better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know.” We sinners may make light of such agreements, but our Heavenly Father takes serious note.

Proverbs 11:21

Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished:

These compromises, treaties, contracts, and agreements may give us a temporary feeling of success, but in the long run, we and our children will suffer for it. Legal maneuvers are frequently mentioned in the media as “burdens placed on our grandchildren.”

President Trump’s daughter (Ivanka Trump) and Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter (Ella Emhoff).

President Donald Trump’s son, (Barron Trump) and Former President Barack Obama’s daughter (Sasha Obama).

Thankfully, if we are walking closely to the Lord, His Holy Spirit will guide us farther and farther away from the worldly things and into the deep things of God. But the perpetually infantile Christians who continue in the world without spiritual growth, in every way resemble the pagans they contract agreements with. And it doesn’t matter what kind of contract it is. From marriage to global treaties – any contract that omits God is a deal with the devil.

but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Young people are like sponges and mirrors. Whatever they see and hear becomes an integral part of them. When they live with televised politicians who don’t know the difference between right and wrong, hypocritical and ignorant teachers, and parents who are lazy, liars, and compromisers – they will both reflect and absorb such ungodliness in their teenage and adult lives. Additionally, they develop a hardness of the heart against the things of God. Believers have the ability and opportunity to give their offspring a great example to follow. While this is not a guarantee that your children will be saved, in my observation, those parents that are steadfast in their devotion to the Lord (with minimal hypocrisy) are respected by their adult kids. And many, many times, even those children who have walked the Prodigal trail, return and repent. If you live prudently, gently and without avarice – you are doing a wonderful thing for your descendants. Salvation is an individual’s choice. At the same time – we are doing God’s will in helping our children along the path to Godliness. What a kindness you are doing for them, when they see you praying and reading your Bible! And as our children walk closely to the Lord – our families are a wonderful testimony to a lost and dying world.

Don’t ever stop praying for your children. . .

sage

Friday Proverb – Are You His Delight?

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We will begin by first looking at the definition of the theme words of this Proverb study.

FRO’WARD, adjective [Latin versus:turned or looking from.]

Perverse, that is, turning from, with aversion or reluctance; not willing to yield or comply with what is required; unyielding; ungovernable; refractory; disobedient; peevish; as a froward child.

ABOMINA’TION, noun

1. Extreme hatred; detestation.

2. The object of detestation, a common signification in scripture.

3. Hence, defilement, pollution, in a physical sense, or evil doctrines and practices, which are moral defilements, idols and idolatry, are called abominations. The Jews were an abomination to the Egyptians; and the sacred animals of the Egyptians were an abomination to the Jews. The Roman army is called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24:15. In short, whatever is an object of extreme hatred, is called an abomination

Proverbs 11:20

²⁰They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord:

This image is of Nadab and Abihu, the priestly sons of the first High Priest – Aaron. Their story is well known. As priests of the Most High God – they offered “strange fire,” before the Lord. Whereupon the Lord sent out fire from heaven and consumed them.

The significance of this event should not be overlooked. What should the Christian take away from this? Quite simply, that our God is very, very Holy, and we can not offer “strange fire” to Him. Rock music, back beats, sensualized “praise teams,” speaking in gibberish, being “slain in the spirit,” – these and many other offerings and worship practices are strange fire. They do not conform to the Scriptural outlines for worshiping the Almighty Creator of the Universe.

The Charismatic movement is creeping into even the most conservative churches via the music. Make no mistake – this is “strange fire.” Country, CCM, and Southern Gospel music is inherently sensuous. And God will, in fact, rain down fire again on the apostate church, only this time, instead of the two sons of Aaron, it will be worldwide and they will “die before the Lord.” True worship music is reverent and respectful. It should not give you the sensation that you “really worshiped God!!!!” Rather, it should put you in a place of adoration and humility before your Savior, and convict your soul.

but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

Heads bowed, and sincere prayer are His delight. Before you “lift up holy hands,” be sure that your hands are indeed holy! I never feel that mine are. Not even for a second. I am too proud of what I can do with my hands. It is also important to realize, that at the beginning of this country, the Pilgrims allowed no musical instruments into the congregation. Why? Because of the natural tendency of musicians to “spice things up.” In the same fashion that a good cook will enliven what they make, a musician will do the same thing with music.

The pop preachers of today, speak loud and clearly that “you can’t grow a church with the old ways.” Well, that’s not what the Lord God of Heaven and earth has to say. We are no different than the Jews of the Old Testament. We, in our sinful flesh, desire and lust after the “leeks and onions” of Egypt. We desire to feed the flesh rather than the spirit.

Jeremiah 6:15-17

¹⁵Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.

¹⁶Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

¹⁷Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

sage

Friday Proverb – Being Merciful is Healthy!

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Mature Christians rarely need to be reminded to show mercy. Young believers, on the other hand, can lapse into their flesh more easily. This Friday Proverb study is devoted to our young brothers and sisters in Christ, who are growing and learning in all the doctrines of God. As young Christians, you also need to know, that we were also young once, and can recall with vivid clarity how impulsive and unwise we could be in those early days of our earthly sojourn.

Proverbs 11:17-19

¹⁷The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Animal shelters unite pets with owners.
Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

This study by secular scientists agrees with what the Word of God has said all along. Kindness is a boon to your health. Those who are saved under the Blood of Christ, do not need a scientific study to tell them anything. The King James Bible is all sufficient for every life question you will ever have. Mean spirited people, will reap such nastiness in their own flesh. Our Lord in the Beatitudes said:

Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

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

Psychologists like to tell us that everything we do is a reaction to things that other people did to us. While this may be true for the flesh, it is not so for those who have been made free in Christ Jesus. The flesh tells us to justify what we do – because so and so did that to us. The flesh tells us to hold grudges and get revenge. This Proverb tells us that those kinds of machinations are wicked and deceitful!

My wife gained a lot of weight during pregnancy. She’s tired all the time, and doesn’t take care of herself. That’s not what I wanted from marriage. I think it’s OK for me to look at porn, because I’m not hurting anyone, and I need some kind of outlet.

My husband doesn’t give me any attention. I feel like eating because it makes me feel better. I also like to buy things I don’t need, because it’s self medicating for me.

My employer doesn’t pay enough for this terrible job. I’m not going to kill myself working for nothing. The company has enough money. They should give me some.

Hosea 10:12

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.

¹⁹As righteousness tendeth to life:

Make no mistake about it. Satan hates you. He will try everything in his substantial bag of tricks, to cause you to kill yourself before you can get saved, or, if you are saved, before you can lead any others to God’s salvation. Let’s look at the short list in Satan’s suicidal bag of evil. All of these will lead to death – eventually. Some sooner rather than later.

surfeiting (overeating, gluttony)
smoking (smoking anything!)
risky behavior (too numerous to list – including sodomy and drug use)
alcohol (Christians should not drink alcohol under any circumstances)

These behaviors are evil, and also appear evil to the unsaved world. They know in their hearts that it is wrong. All ungodly and fleshly desires are different forms of the sin of lust. We are to be separate and sanctified.

so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

James 1:15

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Personal holiness is something believers should strive for every day while wandering in this wilderness of sin.

sage

Friday Proverb – Godly Honor and Riches

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It is very distressing to see the continual corruption of the Laodicean church of today. The Word of God speaks to us on every aspect of how we should live in this sinful, fallen world – while being in the world – but not of it. This is Biblical separation – it is sanctification. And by living and walking with the Lord – our lives give testimony to His majesty and power. Full surrender to Him is the only means to true prosperity.

Proverbs 11:16

A gracious woman retaineth honour:

GRA’CIOUS – Favorable; kind; benevolent; merciful; disposed to forgive offenses and impart unmerited blessings.

Thinking of truly gracious women from the Bible, we have to acknowledge Abigail. She was 1 Samuel 25:3 – “a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” This does not mean she was a cover girl model – but that her inner beauty expressed itself in her countenance and behavior. Despite the fact that she was married to a churlish man, she kept her honor in every situation. For this reason – she was blessed by God. She became the bride of King David – who is an Old Testament “type” of Jesus Christ.

This same Biblical principle applies not only to Christian women – but to the Bride of Christ as a whole. We are to appear to the world, as Abigail did. With good understanding, and a beautiful countenance. The unsaved will judge Our Holy God by how the church behaves, and how we appear. If we act with wisdom and the kind of serenity that Abigail exhibited, we will testify of our King. She was not passive, but her positive actions were done in such a way, that they earned the favor of the King.

and strong men retain riches.

Ahh – money, money, money. That is not the kind of riches the Bible is talking about. Laodicea says God wants you to be rich. This is true – but only half true. When Solomon’s kingdom began to crumble, it was because of his personal weakness. Your home and family are your kingdom. Resisting temptation is the kind of strength the Lord is talking about here. And the riches? Well, such riches that we can only get a glimpse now.

Romans 11:33-36

³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!

³⁴For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?

³⁵Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again?

³⁶For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen.

sage

Friday Proverb – Seeking Godly Advice

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Many great and powerful men, have been brought to ruin through trusting bad advice. Conservative media outlets often express incredulous wonder at the kind of counselors the United States president keeps around himself. Any studier of sinful human nature would not need to ponder why this is. Birds of a feather DO flock together. We like to keep company with those who think like we do. If we are in darkness, we will be drawn to yet deeper darkness. If we are in the Light of Christ, we will be drawn to yet more of His light.

Proverbs 11:14

Where no counsel is, the people fall:

The infamous incident, wherein the nation of Israel began to divide, is prime example of the first half of today’s Proverb. In 1 Kings 12, the son and heir of Solomon, Rehoboam, is met with representatives of the congregation. They ask him, quite politely, if he will reduce the heavy tax burden Solomon had levied. He tells them to come back in three days, at which time he will give them an answer. Rather than consulting his father’s old counselors, priests or prophets, he turns to his “friends,” who are as young and inexperienced as he is. Perhaps even more so. In following their advice, he states – “My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” This was not received well! It is the spirit of rebellion at work.

1 Kings 12:15 states that the reason this happened was in the will of God – “the cause was from the Lord.” His purposes for Israel are not license to sin. Don’t make the mistake of justifying the use of ungodly advice via this Scripture. Born again believers are never to take the mistakes made by Old Testament persons as an excuse to sin. “David did it, Adam did it, Solomon did it. . .” There is no Biblical justification for following in the path of sinners. And, they were sinners all.

A godly counselor, will always lead you to Living Water. If you tire of their reading relevant Scriptures to you, then you are not really wanting godly counsel. You more than likely want affirmation, as Rehoboam did. The desire to be accepted, colors all of our decisions. If you really want godly advice, really – then seek the counsel of the aged men and women in your church family.

but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

sage

Friday Proverb – Holding Your Peace

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Proverbs 11:12

He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour:

There’s a lot of talk in the media lately about “low information.” This or that politician or pundit is excoriated for making overreaching statements about things they don’t know enough about. Well, the same thing happens in the Church family. How often do we gaze around at what our brothers and sisters are doing and make judgments about them? I sometimes bristle when people try to tell me about music, most often scolding me for not liking jazz. There is an assumption that those heavily involved in classical music are also jazz lovers. This assumption is based on low information.

In the same fashion, when we decide that someone is a “bad” Christian because they don’t make it to church every Sunday, or don’t “pony-up” for the offering – we are als0 demonstrating low information. It is a sad state of affairs, when the family of God turns on itself.

When a brother or sister is struggling with sin, we have compassion and care for them. When a brother or sister is embracing sin, then, and only then, do we judge righteously. to do otherwise – is to be void of wisdom. . .

but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Wouldn’t you rather be a man or woman of understanding? There is no way, that we can know everything that is going on in the lives of our church family. Only God knows. Making petty statements about why this person is doing this or that, is gossip, and it is very harmful to the Church. If there is something serious going on, that is for the pastor and church elders to handle. If you notice someone struggling – then go over and talk to them! Don’t talk to someone else! Be Jesus’ representative in church as well as in the world. Your title – Christian – means “of Christ, or follower of Christ.” That is an important title to carry, with awesome responsibility.

Romans 11:33-36

³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!

³⁴For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?

³⁵Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

³⁶For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen.

sage

Friday Proverb – Truth vs. the Hypocrite

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Such a sad, sad reality for the Laodicean church age. The Body of Christ is teeming with hypocrisy. You would be very hard pressed – no – let’s go further and say it would be impossible to find a New Testament church that was free of gossip . . .

Proverbs 11:9

An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour:

This picture shows girls gabbing, but we all know that men are just as guilty of gossiping. What is most troubling about this activity, is the lack of church discipline for such a serious offense. Damage done by gossip is tangible and far-reaching.

Do you realize – ladies and gentlemen – that when you are disparaging your spouse to others in your church family, that you are guilty of this kind of hypocrisy? That when you confide everything that your teenager does to your neighbor, coworkers, “friends” at Bible study – you are gossiping? Yes – Christians gossip about their families. Parents say terrible things about their spouses to their own children! And if your family is not your neighbor – I don’t know who is! How utterly shameful.

WE ALL NEED TO BE VIGILANT ABOUT EVERY WORD

THAT COMES OUT OF OUR MOUTHS.

but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

Never fear beloveds. If you are being maligned by family members, church family, coworkers, neighbors . . .the truth will prevail if you are a child of God. His Truth is eternal, and completely just. As a child of God, you are covered by His righteousness, and are justified by your faith in His finished work on the cross. You will be delivered in truth, and justice.

1 Peter 4:16-19

¹⁶Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

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

¹⁸And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

¹⁹Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

sage

Friday Proverb – What Comes After the Church is Taken?

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Perhaps not many view the Proverbs and Psalms as being prophetic. After so many decades of Bible study, I see Prophecy in almost every line of the Bible. As is understood, the Lord reveals things to us in stages. Most often, Old Testament events and poetry, describe an actual event such as Passover – which is a picture of something far more dramatic in the future. Such is the case with this Proverb. At face value, it does not seem to reveal much to the casual reader – but we are here to see what it really says.

Proverbs 11:8

The righteous is delivered out of trouble,

Only those who are truly born-again of the Holy Spirit of God, will be delivered – because only the truly born-again – are considered righteous. When we repent, and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we obtain His righteousness – which guarantees our deliverance. None of the troubles, trials and tribulations of this present life and time, can compare to the Great Tribulation, and the judgments that will befall everyone on earth at that time.

Please do not allow the recent crop of preterists to worm their way into your faith in the deliverance promised to you by God in His Holy Book. It is described over and over again – even in this short Proverb. Every Word of the King James Bible is true – and you can trust it implicitly. Read it literally, and with faith.

and the wicked cometh in his stead.

That’s right. As soon as the church is taken up – The Wicked One will swoop in. Just as a vacuum needs to be filled – this will happen in such a way – that it will not be readily apparent to those who are not alert. Since mankind always seeks to worship something or someone they can see, it will happen all too easily. The Holy Spirit that is indwelling believers here on earth, will leave along with the righteous that are being delivered. Once this happens, the only thing that was restraining the power of anti-christ will be gone! It will happen, but, we will NOT BE HERE TO SEE IT!

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

⁶And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

⁷For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.

⁸And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.

sage

Friday Proverb – Riches Will Not Save Anyone

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Proverbs 11:4

Riches profit not in the day of wrath:

A great many articles are written about the underground bunkers of the elites and super-rich. These fortresses amount to vast underground cities, with every comfort known to man. Even the not-so-rich, have succumbed to the notion, that they can “ride-out” Armageddon. Bible believers should know, that those who are truly born again – will not need to “hide out,” because they won’t be here. Not only that – but it would be impossible to do so. This is not to say that you should not be prepared for natural disasters, and not so natural ones like losing your job. What is being discussed here is the Day of Wrath.

Revelation 6:16-17

¹⁶And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

¹⁷For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Zephaniah 1:18

Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord‘s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

but righteousness delivereth from death.

It is of utmost importance to understand, that you have no righteousness of your own. ZERO. When you are born again – you can possess His righteousness, and it is overflowing and enough! The good works and deeds you do after being saved, will gain you rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. And that is a wonderful thing to work for.

Philippians 3:9

And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Revelation 16:7

⁷And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgments.

James 5:1-8

5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

²Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

³Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

⁴Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

⁵Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

⁶Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

⁷Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

⁸Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

sage

Friday Proverb – The Importance of Integrity

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INTEGRITY =

1

: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values :  incorruptibility

2

: an unimpaired condition :  soundness

3

: the quality or state of being complete or undivided :  completeness

Proverbs 11:3

The integrity of the upright shall guide them:

It is sad, but true. Not many find their way onto the narrow path. Blinded by the god of this world, sheeple are drawn to darkness, and in turn, the darkness envelopes them and ultimately destroys them. They believe they have enlightenment, but the light that is guiding them, is the false light of the evil one, the deceiver. He leads the lost to eternal destruction.

While we are still in our flesh, we are incapable of possessing true integrity of ourselves. When we are born again, of the Holy Spirit, we can possess His integrity in our new natures – the only true and completely sound integrity that there is to be had, despite what secular humanists preach. For the new nature in Christ is incorruptible, and when we surrender our bodies and souls to Him, we can live righteously through His power. We can be whole, sound, and complete in Him.

We must daily repent and confess our sins, so that we can stay in close fellowship with Him, and live uprightly. May we be beacons of the true light of Christ – and outshine the perverted, false light of the destroyer!

but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

If you feed your new nature with the Word of God, more than you feed the old nature, with the world, the flesh, and the devil – you will gain more and more of His integrity, and find greater strength to resist all the wiles of the devil. Let Jesus Christ dominate your thoughts, and the devil will not be able to get a foothold.

sage

Friday Proverb – Pride is Followed by Shame

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Proverbs 11:2

²When pride cometh, then cometh shame:

It is a fact – the bigger they are – the harder they fall. The Pharisee in the illustration was full of himself, totally unaware that he was doomed. We also, as believers, can fall to this sort of pride.

One pastor of a large and beautiful church, was a very confident man. He had a beautiful family, and was well received by his congregation. He was a learned man, and gifted teacher. This continued on for some time, and his pride grew along with his successes. One day, his teenaged daughter ran away from home. They had no idea where she was. Then his church began to splinter as he attempted to accommodate both progressives and conservatives within his congregation. The “blended” church service ensued, which was followed by uprisings within the sheepfold. Half the congregation left to join a contemporary worship church, while another half left to join a traditional church. His church went bankrupt, whereupon he was fired by the board.

How about us? Are we foolish and prideful enough to think we can accommodate the world in our hearts? The pastor in the story, is the story of each and everyone of us. He allowed his daughter to closely associate with worldly teenagers. He allowed young and fleshly people to hold sway in his congregation. We all try in varying degrees to accommodate the world. Perhaps our teenaged daughter has not run away from home, but put in perspective – we all have our own kind of “runaways,” don’t we? Take your pick – job? marriage? favorite sin? addiction? Do you know where they are?

but with the lowly is wisdom.

Daily, minute by minute, moment by moment, we must strive to keep the world, the flesh, and the devil under complete subjection. Any compromise or accommodation will lead to our shame. If we think we can master the devil without copious prayer and Bible study – we give the evil one mastery over us because we are accommodating him. Don’t think for one second that you can outfox the fox on your own. Humble yourself, and rely only on God’s wisdom and knowledge. Never attempting to put your own thinking or understanding into what you think God thinks. The only wisdom in this world is in God’s Holy Word – the Bible.

sage

Friday Proverb – All Manner of Cheating

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Proverbs 11:1

A false balance is abomination to the Lord:

but a just weight is His delight.

A brother in Christ from the Philippines, once related to me, how rice was sold in the poor village he was raised in. The rice merchant would first measure the rice into a large scoop – hold it up for the buyer to be reassured they were receiving full measure – and then, as he was lowering the scoop to pour the rice into their bag, he would subtly pour a small amount of the rice back into the large bin. This slight shaving resulted in more profit for him, since he did it to everyone.

SINCE MANKIND IS INHERENTLY EVIL< THIS STORY SHOULD NOT SURPRISE US. BUT< IT SHOULD SADDEN US.

We must admit, that we all “shave off,” here and there in our dealings with our fellow man, and with respect to honoring the Lord. Do we give “full measure?” Or, do we hold back somewhat? Just a little here and there? Does He have our whole heart? Or have we kept back a portion for the world? Do we cut corners in our worship and service?

DON’T SHVE OFF OR CUT CORNERS IN YOUR WORSHIP AND WITNESSING, FOR HE HAS GIVEN US THIS PROMISE –

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

sage

Friday Proverb – Speak Softly and Carry a Big Bible!

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Oh – those loud, attention seekers. They speak without thinking, and put their proverbial feet in their mouths at every opportunity. Well, as annoying as they may be – the jabber mouths will not go on forever. The ones who take delight in mocking and ridiculing the Lord and His people will not get the last laugh!

Proverbs 10:31-32

³¹The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

Recalling that only those who are under the Blood of Christ are considered “just” by God – it does not bode well for those who have a froward tongue!

adjective: froward

(of a person) difficult to deal with; contrary.

In point of fact – our blessed Redeemer made mention of this very thing, while He was here in the flesh:

Matthew 12:36

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

How do we know what is “acceptable?” By reading, studying, and memorizing the Word of God. Being a Christian does not automatically cause you to speak with wisdom! This kind of righteousness comes only with having the mind of Christ, and making His thoughts and Words a part of you. And to prove that our own words can not count as wisdom, we look to our Savior once again, and see how He responded to the Devil during the temptation.

Matthew 4:3-10

³And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

⁴But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

⁵Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

⁶And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

⁷Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

⁸Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

⁹And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

¹⁰Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Notice that the Lord ONLY used Scripture to respond to the Devil. This is especially important for those Christians who somehow think the Old Testament no longer has meaning or importance to the Church! If the Living Christ thought it was important enough to quote – how are Christians confident in not doing so as well? Are we responding to temptation with our own logic and reason? Are we foolish enough to think that our own resources can outfox the Fox? The Devil? The Tempter? This one thing – failing to use the Word of God against temptation – is the greatest weakness of the Church.

Don’t get bogged down in debate with the evil one and his minions – you can’t possibly win against a supernatural intelligence like that using your own abilities. Use the Word of God as the sword of Truth! Memorize it, inhale it, study it, devour it. The wicked will flee. . .

sage

Friday Proverb – Holding the Line

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Proverbs 10:29

The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Once again, the Proverbs make a clear demarcation between the saved and the lost. The pagan world is stymied when Christians repeatedly stand tall in the face of adversity. They would prefer, if when faced with calamity, that we collapse and fall into the abyss of sinful behaviors that they are mired in. But – the Proverb states that the Lord is our strength. We do not need to resort to the world’s accepted methods – we have the Word of God. Nothing more is required to see us through life’s darkest hours.

Psalm 1:6
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Proverbs 10:30

The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

That’s right all you Mother Earth worshipers, you do NOT inherit the earth. No matter how much you do to “save the planet,” it won’t help – because it’s not yours to save. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it – and He will give it to whom He chooses. It will not be given to the unrepentant, that is a fact.

Psalm 37:29

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

Revelation 21:6-8

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

⁷He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

sage

Friday Proverb – Our Life and Hope

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The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Proverbs 10:27

While the Word of God does not guarantee a long earthly life to truly born again believers, it does follow reason that those who fear Him, and forsake sinful lifestyles will have better health and greater joy in life. While we are in our flesh – we long to be with Him, and having the knowledge of His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence will prevent us from taking a detour into the dark side.

Living the Holy Spirit filled life is a matter of surrendering our wills to His will. It is a matter of getting rid of our household gods and fleshly desires, and allowing the Holy Spirit to completely fill us. And while it seems that the wicked are holding sway at this moment in time – remember – that to God – there is no time! Time only exists here on earth – it is not a part of the heavenly realm.

The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

Proverbs 10:28

Yes – we must fear our Creator – but we must also hope in Him. One need only see the hard, brittle, look in the eyes of the abrasive atheists when they are attacking the Bible and Bible believers. It is a cold, dead expression – void of hope. And if the eyes truly are the window to the soul – what does that tell us? There is death where there is no hope – spiritual death. And then in the not so far off future – eternal death in the Lake of Fire.

We can be truly glad of heart, and take joy in the fact that our futures are already secure, and written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. There is no reason to fret over evil doers – because their future is already determined if they remain unrepentant. What a terrible thought.

The next time you hear news of murders, corruptions, and all the sundry evils that satan has in his arsenal, it would be wise to think where your hope is. It is not here! not in America, not in anything other than our blessed savior – Jesus Christ.

James 4:14

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

[Forgive me. I so wanted to post a video with the classic hymn – “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand,” but was unable to find one without a sensuous back-beat.]

sage

Friday Proverb – Sluggish Workers

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I’m sure we’ve all seen it – one or two people actually working – while the vast majority are standing or sitting around doing nothing. While it has always been sinful human nature to be lazy – certainly the death of the famous Protestant Work Ethic has elevated sluggishness to a lifestyle – perhaps even an art form.

Proverbs 10:26

As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,

Bitter and burning – that is what the sluggard is to employers and those in authority. And the taste of vinegar is long lasting and memorable – as is smoke in the eyes. Never will the sluggard be looked on in any other way, than as a sluggard or potential sluggard.

So is the sluggard to them that send him.

Do we really want the world to see believers that way? Think about that word – sluggard. Not at all a pleasant image to think about. And it is also unpleasant to recognize, that the sluggard does not only hurt himself and the image of the church – he leaves a slime trail.

Which means that though the sluggard is being self indulgent, he really is leaving a sticky trap behind him for others to see where he’s been, where he is going, and where to follow. . .

There are so many behaviors that qualify as sluggish, in the church, it would be impossible to list them all here. We could fully embrace the Lord’s perfection, and even recognize such sins as adultery and gluttony as sluggishness. For example, the lazy spouse will seek outside relationships, or even internet pornography, rather than working on their marriage. A sluggish body will eat copious amounts of easily obtained foods, rather than prepare healthy foods to eat – because the preparation (planning, shopping, cooking) requires effort and – work.

We are to blame for the situations we find ourselves in. Bad decisions are one thing – and sluggishness is its evil twin. Let us strive to put our best foot forward – and show to the sinful, fallen world, the radiance of a Holy Spirit filled life, and reflect outwards – the Light of the Son.

Friday Proverb – Envy not the Oppressor

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Last Friday’s Proverb was an exploration of who is our neighbor. So often we deliberately hurt the people that are closest to us through our own selfishness and pride. This week we look at another sinful tendency of mankind – envy.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

This would usually be termed as “picking a fight,” or “unwarranted provocation.” We see animals taking unprovoked swipes at each other all the time, as well as children. Adults usually hold themselves guiltless of this offense, but generally that notion is dishonest. Mankind’s striving without cause can be directly tied to – envy. The women who snipe at another woman simply because she is prettier, or thinner, or somehow seems better. The guys verbally taking out a coworker that was promoted, a supervisor or employer or some “big-wig” on the grounds that he doesn’t work as hard as they do. They perceive themselves to be oppressed by the person or persons they are attacking. This is striving without cause.

The next verse is interesting in that it relates to oppressors, but it is usually the case – that perception flavors the persona of the oppressor. As with Cain, who directed his anger at God towards his brother – our perception of who is oppressing us can be distorted.

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

In all human history, no people group has been more oppressed and persecuted than the Jews. In Moses’ time, Pharaoh and his advisers felt threatened by the Jew’s incredible prosperity. The Third Reich also envied the Jew’s incredible prosperity. They justified persecuting the Jews because they felt the Jew’s prosperity was oppressing them. Alternately – the Jews themselves were guilty of envying their oppressor’s gentile, pagan, way of life, free from the Law. Israel often sinned in choosing to emulate the pagans around them. Christians also do the same, and act just like the sinful fallen world we are directed to be separate from.

This is the power of the evil one holding sway over the hearts of men, because of his own envy of God. Certainly, Lucifer feels that God is oppressing him.

Are there rich, prosperous , elites oppressing us? Of course. But they can only do this because we allow them to by participating in their rebellion. The Lord terms these oppressors as “froward” = willfully contrary, not easily managed. Frowardness is an abomination to the Lord, as in one who transgresses the Law. The froward oppressor chooses to defy the Lord, despite His manifest love, mercy, and majesty.

32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord:

but His secret is with the righteous.

Proverbs 3: 30-32

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Psalm 37: 1-3

Friday Proverb – The Treatment of Neighbors

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Last Friday we covered the Lord’s admonishment to us about not fearing the wicked. It must always be present in our minds that the Lord is greater than the evil one and all his helpers – no matter how it is made to appear through Satan’s manipulations. Today we delve into the external representation of our faith. Doing good. . .

Everyone knows the parable of the Good Samaritan. Communistic politicians like to smugly refer to this teaching of Christ as their foundational platform for broad social restructuring. But the faithful of Christ understand that His teaching had nothing to do with money – but rather – who is our neighbor?

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

To whom is good due? This requires careful self examination. How often does the Christian hold back praise for someone else’s accomplishment, procrastinate on that visit to the nursing home, or diminish our spouses or children in front of others? The good we can do unto others is not always seen.

Sometimes it is money, but by far the greatest good that Christians can do unto others is to share their faith in Jesus Christ! Doing good comes from within us, and should be a natural expression of true spiritual conversion.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

What causes us to withhold good from someone else? Selfishness in all its many facets. Don’t feel like honoring your husband, or loving your wife? Wish you had different: parents, job, looks, talent? Wish you had more: money, talent, looks, friends? Tired of your existence? Angry at the world in general? Where do these feelings come from?

selfishness . . .

Did you ever plot evil against someone else? No? Never?

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

Proverbs 3: 27-29

Devising evil can encompass gossiping, coveting, lying, setting someone up for failure, withholding information, tricking someone, taking someone’s possessions or someone’s spouse, and conspiring with others against someone.

Remember what the lawyer said to Jesus in Luke 10: 29, when he was trying to justify himself?

AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

Good question for all of us.

Friday Proverb – The Lord’s Wisdom

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The wisdom of God, is the only true wisdom there is. Prideful, pagan mankind puts Gandhi, Buddha, Plato, and a host of other philosophers before our Sovereign Creator. In America we place our faith in a set of laws that are overseen by a Supreme Court covered with friezes of these philosophers. At right you see Moses in the center of Confucius and Solon. This sculptural frieze appears on the back of the Supreme Court Building (the east side). One would think that Moses might be on the front, since we are a “Christian” nation. Ten Commandments? There are entire websites devoted to exposing the “Zionist agenda,” and Israel’s occult Supreme Court building. Another case of the pot calling the kettle black!

On the left is Mohammed among 18 other “law-givers.” This frieze is above the Supreme court Justices bench. Notorious pagans such as Hammurabi, Menes, Lycurgus, Draco, Augustus, and Justinian also appear. Pagan gods and goddesses (Minerva, Zeus, Mercury, and Juno) are also memorialized in the Great Hall.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Three guesses Who is missing. . .

That’s right. Not one representation of Jesus Christ in the entire United States Supreme Court Building. The Supreme Court Building came into existence in 1933. (Great occult significance) Go here for a timeline of events that took place during this period. The New Deal is only a symptom of the real cause of the downfall of our country.

19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath He established the heavens.

20 By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Proverbs 3: 19-24

As we wrest with the kingdom of anti-Christ growing ever more powerful, we would do well to remember that the government we have, is the government we deserve. Putting your trust in our now completely pagan government is beyond foolish. No king can do it for us. No human law can reverse it. We must turn back, we must repent, we must put all our faith in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. He is our only hope. He is our only salvation. He is our only King.

. . . Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Revelation 22: 20b

Friday Proverb – Finding Wisdom

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Last week we discussed the ever popular subject of chastening. We now move on to a continuation of the wisdom theme, again personified as a woman. In this passage as in other Proverbs – the woman (wisdom) is an extraordinarily virtuous, extremely desirable female, who is pursued by everyone. Not easily seen, she keeps herself above the fray and is hidden from view. She is what every man wants, but very few find.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies:

and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Many men pursue after wealth – yet this verse says that even fabulous wealth beyond imagination is nothing compared to wisdom.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Verse 16 tells us that there is balance received from wisdom, long life in the strong right hand, and in the weaker left hand – riches and honor. The riches are not to be thought of as temporal ones.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

All her paths are peace.

Sigh. Think about that. That means – if we walk with wisdom – all our paths will be peace, not just peaceful – but peace itself.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her

It says “a tree of life,” not the Tree of Life. But what this is telling us, is that wisdom from God will sustain us, just as a food bearing tree would.

We are also told that holding steadfastly onto wisdom will give us happiness. Can we lose wisdom? Yes – if worry, fear, or besetting sin is allowed to displace it.

Proverbs 3: 13-18

Here is wisdom –

28 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

Matthew 11: 28-30

Friday Proverb – Chastening

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Last week we talked about honoring the Lord with our substance, which is something entirely different from tithing. Today we will focus on the Lord’s method of correcting us.

The atheists and secular humanists of the world rail at God – angry that the Sovereign would punish His creatures. Seeing themselves as virtuous, they become filled with anger at what they perceive to be a God Who is unjust, mercurial, and even cruel. Randomly selecting a verse from the Bible, they smirk and taunt Christians with this “contradiction,” or that “savage act.”

It’s just not so, says the Bible. In fact, He chastens because He loves us.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction:

Isn’t that just what the atheist does? Hate the chastening of the Lord first, and then progress to actually hating Him? How about Christians? Do we say – “Why me?” or “When am I going to get a break?” How about “But I haven’t done anything wrong!” or “Why would Jesus do this to me?” “I don’t think I deserve this.”

12 For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Proverbs 3: 11-12

The writer of Hebrews (Paul) expands further on this –

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.

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

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Hebrews 12: 5-8

I must stress that this only applies to those of the household of faith.

If nations have fallen into national idolatry, they have no protection. They are all born of Adam, with a sin nature, and must come to repentance to receive forgiveness.

God will use every means to bring the heathen to repentance. Please see here for a study on the heathen’s responsibility to God, whether they believe in Him or not.

Chastening is one of the means by which God perfects His saints.

This book by Harold S. Kushner feeds into the idea that people are inherently good. That is the mantra of Oprah Winfrey, Ekhart Tolle, Phil Donahue, James Cameron, and a host of other pagan talking heads. The reality is quite the opposite. People are anything but good. Only God is good.

How do we handle this chastening when it comes along? Get mad at God? Sink into self pity? Allow bitterness to consume us?

Ask yourself these questions:

Is there unconfessed sin lurking somewhere deep inside? Even from years and years ago. . .? Bring it all out, and confess it to Him.
Is there an area of life where the sinful, fallen world has taken hold, in the form of an addiction, pride, coveting, lust, laziness, greed, gossiping, or idolatry. . . Repent, repent, repent!!
If none of the above seem to be the problem – then you must consider that the Lord is afflicting you for another purpose, one that may not be clear to you for a long time.
Realize that the chastening is meant for your good, and that it is “but for a while.”

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Proverbs 11:15

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it:

and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

Hebrews 7: 9-25

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9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Proverbs: 3:9-10

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Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.

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Proverbs 10:23

It is as sport to a fool to do mischief:

but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

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Proverbs 11:11

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted:

but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Revelation 20:11-15

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Proverbs 11:28

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall;

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

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Proverbs 11:24-26

24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

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Proverbs 11:23

The desire of the righteous is only good:

but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

1 Timothy 2:1-3

2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour

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Proverbs 11:21

Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished:

but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Don’t ever stop praying for your children. . .

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Proverbs 11:20

20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord:

but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

Jeremiah 6:15-17

15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.

16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

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Proverbs 11:17-19

17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

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

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.

19 As righteousness tendeth to life:

so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

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Proverbs 11:16

A gracious woman retaineth honour:

and strong men retain riches.

¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

⁷Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

⁸For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

²⁴There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

²⁵The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

²⁶He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

²For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour

²⁰They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord:

¹⁵Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.

¹⁶Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

¹⁷Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

¹⁷The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

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

¹⁹As righteousness tendeth to life:

³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!

³⁴For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?

³⁵Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again?

³⁶For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen.

³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!

³⁴For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?

³⁵Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

³⁶For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen.

¹⁶Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

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

¹⁸And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

¹⁹Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

⁶And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

⁷For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.

⁸And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.

¹⁶And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

¹⁷For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?