Saturday, November 30, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 14:15-18


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Pursuit Of The Wise: Godly Discernment: Proverbs 14:15-18
15) The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh well to his going.
16) A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
17) [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18) The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.


EXPOSITION:
15) The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh well to his going.
1.  Those who are easily seduced will trust and follow any message
2.  A wise man will examine the true nature of any message and will watch over the path of life that he will take.

Wise discernment will lead us to Godly teachings and holy living.

16) A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
1.  A wise man will recognize the harmfulness of sin and will purposely walk away from any temptation to sin.
2.  A fool will anger over accusations of error and sin and will be self-assured of his wicked lifestyle

Wise discernment will cause us to seek out and depart from sin and temptation that enters our life.

17) [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
1.  A man who is short tempered will labor without great value or purpose.
2.  A man who exhibits sinful methods and motives is the enemy of those around him.

Wise discernment will improve the usefulness of our actions and enhance our relationships with others.


18) The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
1.  Those who are naïve will have distributed to them worthlessness. 
2.  Those who are wise are rewarded with increased truths from the Word.

Wise discernment will lead us to lifestyles that bear useful fruits.  Those who use the truths of God wisely, applying them to their lives will be rewarded with increased knowledge.


SUMMARY:

In this text we have seen some very important results to exhibiting Godly discernment in our lives…
1.  Wise discernment will lead us to Godly teachings and holy living.
2.  Wise discernment will cause us to seek out and depart from sin and temptation that enters our life.
3.  Wise discernment will improve the usefulness of our actions and enhance our relationships with others.
4.  Wise discernment will lead us to lifestyles that bear useful fruits.  Those who use the truths of God wisely, applying them to their lives will be rewarded with increased knowledge.





By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.




SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 14:10-14


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Pursuit Of The Wise: Absolute Peace Proverbs 14:10-14
10) The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
11) The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
12) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
13) Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness.
14) The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.


EXPOSITION:

In this text, we find that wise people will seek to absolute security that is only found in our Lord and Savior.

10) The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
1.  No man can recognize with certainty the spiritual disposition of others.  It is only one’s own mind and set of desires for his life that one can recognize when his life is unfulfilling and filled with dissatisfaction and emptiness.
2.  Likewise, others cannot share in our experiences and emotions.  They can only observe them from a distance.   

This principle applies to our peace with God.  Our spiritual condition is a personal issue between us and the Lord.   Our actual condition before God can only be known by our own heart and the Spirit’s witness within us.  Although our outward fruits that are borne are an indication of our spiritual condition, no other person can know with certainty our standing before the Lord. 

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!  For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.  For the arrows of the Almighty [are] within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
(Job 6:2-4)

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


11) The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
1.  Those who remain in their sinful condition will be overtaken and brought to desolation. 
2.  In comparison, those who are aligned with God’s desires, through repentance of sin and submission to His Lordship, will be blessed in his life and peace knowing he is right with the Lord.

True peace and security comes from a certainty of our right standing before the Lord.  This certainty comes into being based upon the witness of our human spirit and the Holy Spirit that is within us.

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.   And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.   (Matthew 7:24-27)




12) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
When the human spirit is left without the Lord’s intervention, it can mislead us to follow the well-trodden path of the world.  In our spirit it appears to be the path that leads to happiness and contentment but, in actuality, it is the path that leads to continued spiritual death (separation from the Lord due to our sin) and coming eternal death (permanent separation from the Lord in the Lake of Fire due to our sin).

This proverb helps us to understand our desperate need of the gracious intervention of Christ to obtain peace with God.   Through the Holy Spirit’s workings, the Lord can open our spiritual eyes and show us the true way that leads to salvation.  Without His intervention, we are like a blind man unable to find what he so desperately needs.

Enter ye in by the narrow gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many are they who enter through it.  How narrow is the gate, and restricted the way, that leads to life, and few are those who find it.   (Matthew 7:13-14)


13) Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness.
1. There are many lost men who outwardly appear happy and content, while being empty and miserable within.     
2.  Without Christ, it makes no difference what hypocritical joy we may display outwardly; within, we only find emptiness which will result in a burdensome misery of our spirit.  

The lack of a personal relationship with Christ guarantees an emptiness and misery of the inward man.  Despite outward displays of joy and happiness, the lost man only experiences a void and unfulfilled longing within.  This is why a wise man will seek out a relationship with the only source of genuine fulfillment, peace and joy …. The Lord Jesus Christ.

Be ye sorrowful, and mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into a downcast look.   (James 4:9)


14) The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.
1.  Those who mentally receive the Word of God in their minds (without the Holy Spirit applying it to their hearts) when they willfully choose to turn back to their own ways will receive their deserved punishment for their wicked deeds. 
Note:  These men did not “lose their salvation” for they never had it to begin with.  They simply mentally assented to the truth of God’s Word, and hypocritically reformed their outward actions.  However, over time, because they were never experience a Godly change within turned back to their old ways proving they were never saved to start with.  A hypocritical “acceptance” of the truth of God’s Word never releases a man from the judgment of God.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
 (2 Peter 2:21-22)

Why does the dog return his vomit and the sow return to the mire?  Because they were never changed within… they are still a dog and a sow.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.  (1 John 2:19)

What does it show us when a person willfully departs from the truth that he once claimed to believe?  It shows us that they were never really a part of God’s kingdom, family and fellow servants of Christ.

2.  A man who is genuinely saved and serving Christ will find, satisfaction, peace and contentment as he lives life on earth.  In spite of hardships and trials that he might face, he knows that his relationship with the Lord has secured for him eternal peace, security and a life with meaning and purpose.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.   (Galatians 6:8)

SUMMARY:

In this text we have seen some very important principles in a search for genuine peace and security:
1.  Our spiritual condition is an issue between us and God alone.  NO man can, with certainty, see the spiritual
condition of the heart
2.  Without repentance of sin and submission to His Lordship, we are destined for an empty life and separation
from the Lord
3.  To gain peace and security we are in desperate need of the gracious intervention of Christ.  We cannot gain peace of our own effort or merit.
4.  The lack of a personal relationship with Christ guarantees an emptiness and misery of the inward man. 
5.   Those who mentally receive the Word of God in their minds (without the Holy Spirit applying it to their hearts) when they willfully choose to turn back to their own ways will receive their deserved punishment for their wicked deeds.
6.  A man who is genuinely saved and serving Christ will find genuine, lasting satisfaction, peace and contentment as he lives life on earth. 

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.




Friday, November 29, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 14:5-9


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Pursuit Of The Wise: Speak A God Honoring Message: Proverbs 14:5-9
5) A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6) A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge [is] easy unto him that understandeth.
7) Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not [in him] the lips of knowledge.
8) The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way: but the folly of fools [is] deceit.
9) Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous [there is] favour.


EXPOSITION:

In this text, we find that wise people will seek to speak a God honoring message to all who will hear…

5) A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
1.  A witness that is worthy of our trust and attention is one that does not deceive with their speech.
2.  A witness that should be ignored is one that speaks falsely and deceptively.

For our message to be trusted and taken seriously, we must develop a lifestyle of honesty and truth.  How can others believe our message about Christ, when we are known to be deceptive in other areas of our lives?

Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.   (Exodus 23:1)


6) A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge [is] easy unto him that understandeth.
1.  One who holds the Word of God as dirty and useless, when he seeks genuine wisdom elsewhere will not find it.
2.  Those who perceive the value and truthfulness of God’s Word will swiftly find truthful facts when he seeks them.

For our message to be truthful and Godly we must recognize the source of all divine truth…. The Word of God.  For those who speak messages based upon other worldly sources will only be speaking sinful, fallen knowledge of this world.

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because 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.  All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].  (Matthew 11:25-27)



7) Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not [in him] the lips of knowledge.
We are to walk away from those we perceive are foolish teachers who lack wisdom in their teachings.  They are false teachers.  We are to not listen to them, consider their message, or encourage others to do so.  

We are to always guard our message from the influence of false teachers.  We are to keep in hearts and minds pointed to the Lord and His truth if we expect to continue increasing our knowledge of Him and to strengthen the foundation of our teachings.

Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causeth] to err from the words of knowledge.   (Proverbs 19:27)


8) The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way: but the folly of fools [is] deceit.
1.  Those who possess Godly wisdom place their attention on their life and their duty before the Lord.  They are making sure that their lifestyle matches the Godly message they proclaim.
2.  Those who are foolish do not care about their lifestyle but concentrate on how to mislead and deceive others for their own personal gain.

To have a fruitful message we must always be sure that our lifestyle mirrors that of the message that we proclaim.  To contradict our teachings by living in contradiction to them is only an exercise in futility and displeasure in the eyes of God.

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.   (Psalms 143:8)

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;   (Ephesians 4:22)


9) Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous [there is] favour.
1.  Those without wisdom will not take sin seriously, it will only be an object of their jest, excusing it and mocking it.
2.  Among those who take sin seriously and have lifestyles that reject sin, they will find favor with God and man. 

To have a Godly message of truth, we must always take sin seriously in our lives and our teachings.  To mock at sin or to take it lightly will only corrupt our message and bring displeasure of God upon us.  Our message should always include the harmful aspects of sin, the need to repent of that sin and the need to flee from its presence.

How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.   (Jude 1:18-19)

Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors [is] hard.   (Proverbs 13:15)


SUMMARY:

To possess a God honoring message we should pay special attention to:
1.  develop a lifestyle of honesty and truth
2.  recognize the source of all divine truth
3.   keep in hearts and minds pointed to the Lord and His truth
4.  be sure that our lifestyle mirrors that of the message that we proclaim
5.  always take sin seriously in our lives and our teachings. 

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.