Inching Our Way Towards the Day ~ Raul Ries

“Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations,
as He fights in the day of battle.”
Zechariah 14:3

Though the Battle of Armageddon will be the bloodiest war (and the deadliest) that the world has ever seen, it will not culminate the way Satan would have it be. In their book, Fast Facts on Bible Prophecy, Thomas Ica and Timothy Demi say, “In a sense, Armageddon is a battle that never really takes place. That is, it does not take place in accordance with its original human intent. Its human purpose is to gather the armies of the world to execute the Antichrist’s ‘final solution’ to the ‘Jewish problem.’ This is why Jesus Christ chooses this moment in history for His to earth to thwart Antichrist’s attempted annihilation of the Jews and to destroy the armies of the world who have been gathered.”

All it takes to end the final world war is the Word of God! Jesus will use the word of the Spirit to conquer his enemies! God’s Word is powerful. We need to use it daily to conquer the attacks, temptations, and schemes of the enemy!

Thought for the Day:

“…And so it is that history is moving toward Armageddon.”
--Thomas Ice and Timothy Demi

Jail Time for Peter and John ~ WOW the Bible in 7 minutes a day

Acts 3:11-4:31; Psalm 115:1-3; Proverbs 20:18

Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

"Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name."

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

'Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the LORD and against His Christ.'

"For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Acts 3:11-4:31

WORSHIP

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
Why should the Gentiles say,
"So where is their God?"
But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.
Psalm 115:1-3

WISDOM

Plans are established by counsel;
By wise counsel wage war.
Proverbs 20:18

Remembering who paid the price for salvation~Mike MacIntosh

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.Romans 5:6-10


One of the best fishermen in the country lived in the state of Georgia; fishing was indeed his life. The story goes that one day he and his trustworthy dog of many years went out early in the morning to fish. The dog never caused any trouble as he would just sleep and hang his paws over the side of the boat while the man was fishing. But something this particular day caught the dog's attention; something was rustling wildly over on the grassy shore. The dog jumped up; his tail went straight. Then he started barking, to the fisherman's angst. There was no way that he was going to catch fish with all of the noise. As much as he tried to keep his dog from barking and causing a ruckus, it didn't help. The fisherman got so angry at the dog that he took his filet knife and cut the tips of the dog's paws off. So there was the dog, bleeding and in severe pain…all so that the man could catch fish.

Now how did that make you feel?

The point of the story is this: I bet you were more upset, angry, or had painful feelings about the dog than when you read the Romans 5 passage above, depicting what our Lord Jesus Christ went though on the cross for your sins. Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross, bled, and hung there in misery, pain, and ultimate death for your sins. I'm sorry that the story was so graphic, but sometimes we get so churchy and we forget what it meant for our sins to be washed away and forgiven. Jesus paid the price of a painful death for you! None of us deserve eternity in God's presence. But when we give our lives to the Lord, He forgives us. Ephesians 2:8 says that it is by His grace that we're saved. We don't deserve salvation, but He gives it to you because He loves you. May we never--ever--take our Lord's precious sacrifice for our sins for granted.

Is God your hearts treasure? ~ David McGee

Acts 14:11

"Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men! And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes."
NKJV

Life Lesson
Worship God and God alone.

We should be careful of worshiping others. "Pastor David, what do you mean 'be careful of worshiping others'? We live in an enlightened age; we are way beyond idol worship." Oh, Really? What about... NASCAR, MTV and Hollywood celebrities? Some people idolize Oprah or Dr. Phil; others worship movie stars, rock stars and athletes... All of which are people just like you and me. How easy it is to get sidetracked and take our eyes off the Lord! Some folks worship their children. They allow their children to decide what they do and when they do it.
Do not worship Mary, saints or angels. Angels are very sensitive to people worshipping them. Why? Because they saw many other angels get kicked out of heaven for rebelling. (Rev. 19:10; 22:9)
Be careful of worshipping people. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21, NKJV) So, where is your treasure? In Hollywood? In Wall Street? Then, I have to ask, where is your heart?
Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Please forgive me for placing other people and things ahead of You in my life. Please show me where I have idols and help me to get rid of them. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Speak the Word of God ~ Mark Balmer

Based on “Under His Influence—REALLY!!!” by Pastor Mark Balmer;
10/10-11/09, Message #MB392; Daily Devotional #3 - “Speak the Word of God”



Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Isn’t it amazing that people of the world accept the wickedness of Satan, yet a miracle of God or His supernatural blessing is ignored or explained away? People of the world submit to Satan, living as if he were all powerful. They are totally unaware of God’s greatness. So many are deceived into believing that God is not only powerless, but most likely does not even exist. The world sees Christ followers as foolish, but who is really foolish? “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). The influence of evil is practically all consuming in this world. Every day you see and hear about it. It can defeat, discourage, and even devour the weak in faith. Let that not be found among the followers of Christ.

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): The answer lies in the Christ follower being the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). Being saved and walking in the light of God’s illuminating Holy Spirit will confound, confuse, and often anger the world, but it will satisfy the thirsty soul. And God will lead the Christ follower to the one prepared and waiting for his or her Savior. It is sometimes a risky journey to reach the unsaved, but it is always a rewarding journey. God’s Word shall never return to Him void (Isaiah 55:10-11). There will be times that we may confront evil spirits, but we need not argue with them. We need only to speak the powerful Word of God, and they shall depart. For we know that the one who lives in the Christ follower is greater than the one who lives in the world (1 John 4:4). Knowing these things, it is imperative that we not allow ourselves to be pulled into Satan’s realm of evil. Remove yourself, guard your thoughts, and keep the light of God shining on your heart. We live in this world and will always be faced with evil. The influence of evil is everywhere, seen by everyone, but the influence of God is seen by a chosen few. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear (Job 42:5) are blessed and have seen beauty, touched wisdom, walked in holiness, discovered true peace, and are able to sing with joy. They have walked under the influence of the Most High God.

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): God’s glory shines brightest when His people worship in truth. Staying under the influence of God is rather like walking in a rainstorm while carrying an umbrella: you want to stay under the umbrella. Likewise, we want to stay under the umbrella of God’s protection. When we look up toward heaven, we generally lose sight of our former line of vision, which is the world around us, with all its troubles. When we bow our heads and get on our knees, humility grabs our soul, and our spirit flies free. We can’t be under God’s influence if we deliberately and consciously refuse to remove ourselves from evil influences. Flee all evil influences today. Instead, pursue holiness and fight against the things that would steal, destroy, or devour your faith, ruining your ability to bring others to the cross. Speak the Word of God and watch the power it has to change lives. Today is to be lived in victory, today is the day to take risks for God, and today is the day to stay safely under the influence of the Holy Spirit, who is committed to leading God’s people safely through the battles. What could be better than to choose today to repent of ungodly ways and secure your future in Heaven?

Cultivating (Additional Reading): Psalm 49:3; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 4:12

Fear not ~ Joyce Meyer

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
— Joshua 1:5

I have heard it said there are 365 references to "fear not" in the Bible. I know there are at least 355, according to Dake's Annotated Reference Bible, one "fear not" for almost every day of the year.

Do you really want to obey the Scriptures and "fear not"? If so, you will be in good company because every person in the Bible who was ever used by God to any degree was told over and over by Him, "Fear not."

One of those people was Joshua. Joshua, the man God chose to follow Moses, had a big job ahead of him: to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land.

God wasn't telling Joshua to be like Moses; but that He would be to Joshua what He had been to Moses. God would not fail or forsake Joshua. He was saying, "Fear not, Joshua, I will be with you!"

When God tells you He will be with you, that means no matter what the circumstances are like, everything will work out all right because God will never fail you or forsake you

Endurance training ~ Jon Courson

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 2Timothy 2:3-4

Knowing they would be mowed down by Nazi machine guns, the first soldiers off the landing craft at Omaha Beach charged valiantly. Those who miraculously made it to shore safely began to climb the cliffs, knowing they were most likely climbing to their deaths.

What would cause a man to hit the beach or to climb a cliff knowing he would be gunned down in the process? Subsequent studies have shown that the heroes of D-Day did so out of respect and appreciation for their commanding officer and fellow soldiers.

The concept of fighting for one’s country is sometimes too big, too abstract. But risking one’s life for one’s commander or for the soldiers right beside him makes the goal worthwhile.

Paul didn’t give Timothy ten theological reasons why he should serve the Lord. Rather, he gave him only one: to please the Commanding Officer and fellow Soldier Who had laid down His life for him.

Loving the Lost ~ Jack Graham

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?”

-- Matthew 5:46

Have you ever wondered exactly why Jonah resisted going to Nineveh as God had told him to do?

We don’t know the exact reason, but it seems fairly clear that Jonah took issue with the people of Nineveh. Perhaps he believed they were somehow undeserving of God’s love.

Do we make that mistake today with the lost? I think we do. The fact is, a lot of believers simply don’t like lost people. I know that’s a harsh statement, but it’s true. I know people who don’t even like their neighbor, much less love them.

But as you speak out against the evil in society, as you and I are called to do, it is important that we never confuse the sin with the sinner. After all, sinners are just doing what sinners do on a natural basis: they sin. And God is calling you to do what he does. Love the lost!

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world….” This verse is so well known that it could almost sound cliché. But it is the heart of God revealed in Scripture! He loves the world! And God is calling you to love as he loves.

Today, ask God to show you the world through his eyes. You can begin by recognizing the unfailing love and compassion that God has shown you. Let his compassion work through you!

GOD IS CALLING YOU TO LOVE AS HE LOVES!

Short and sweet ~ Chuck Swindoll

James 4:13-17

Average life spans are shorter than most of us realize. For instance, a face-lift lasts only six to ten years; a dollar bill lasts for only eighteen months; a painted line on the road remains only three to four months; and a tornado seldom lasts more than ten minutes.

There are differences of opinion, but most agree that the human life span averages somewhere between seventy-five and eighty years. That may sound encouraging to the young and disturbing to those in their sixties, seventies, and eighties. The simple fact is, however, nobody knows for sure how long he or she may live.

When we read and believe the warnings in Scripture, there is little doubt that life is short. James pulls no punches when he writes, "You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away" (4:14).

The average life span may be seventy-five to eighty years, but who can say you or I have that long? We may have less than two years or, for that matter, less than two weeks. Vanishing vapors aren't known for longevity.

Since this is true, let's do our best to make the time we have count. Rather than live with reluctance, let's live with exuberance. Instead of fearing what's ahead, let's face it head-on with enthusiasm. And because life is so terribly short, let's do everything we can to make it sweet.

How? Three thoughts come to mind.

First, act on your impulse. Don't wait for the perfect moment. A woman in my former church took these words to heart and contacted a person she hadn't talked to for a long time. The person was surprised and thrilled. "You have no idea how much your call has meant to me," she said. Later the woman who had received the call admitted she had planned to take her life that very afternoon. The call had changed her mind.

Second, focus on the positive. Merchants of negativism may be strong and sound convincing, but their message is debilitating. Life's too short for that. Spread germs of cheer. Joy is contagious.

Third, traffic in the truth. Refuse to stake your claim on hearsay. Check out the facts. Be discerning. If you are a conduit of communication, speak only the truth. If you're not absolutely sure, keep quiet. Lies can outlive lives, unfortunately.

Short and sweet. That's the only way to go.

Have you been putting off something you really want or need to do? You don't have forever. Get at it!

Experiencing Success God’s Way ~ Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

The apostle Paul continually strove to be and do all that God wanted. This former enemy of Christians became a passionate worker for the kingdom who succeeded in his assigned tasks. For us to experience success, we need to have:

Clarity. Paul knew the key cities he planned to visit on each of his missionary journeys. His goal was to share the gospel and establish churches in each of them. The more clearly you can visualize the goal, the more sensitive you’ll be to opportunities for achieving it. In addition, you will become more aware of God’s timing. On Paul’s first trip to Ephesus, the people invited him to stay, but he declined (Acts 18:20-21), knowing he had to move on to the other locations. However, when he was able, he returned and stayed there two years, teaching and building up their faith (Acts 19:10).

Commitment. Paul was fully committed to God’s plan to spread the gospel in the Gentile world. He so valued his salvation that he wanted to share it with those who did not know Christ. His profound gratitude gave him a passion to carry out the Lord’s plan. Such godly fervor was not unique to Paul. The Bible is filled with stories of ordinary men and women who dedicated themselves to accomplishing the Lord’s plan for their lives.

Like the apostle, be sure to seek God on a daily basis so you do not wander from His chosen way. Ask for the Spirit’s empowering so you can move past your fears and insecurities. Allow Him to teach and lead you (John 14:26). He will accomplish more in and through you than you could imagine.

Jesus, our Faithful witness ~ Bob Hoekstra

Jesus Christ, the faithful witness…the Faithful and True Witness…And He…was called Faithful and True. (Revelation 1:5; 3:14; and 19:11)

Faith comes into our lives through the work of Jesus Christ: "Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Faith develops in our hearts when the name of the Lord is revealed to us (that is, an understanding of who Jesus is and what He is able to do). "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong…Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness" (Acts 3:16). We grasp to some degree how great He is, so we trust Him to do great things. Thereby, faith comes into our spiritual experience through Him. Our present verses are related to this development of faith, for they depict Jesus as faithful and true.

He is the reliable witness, who tells us the truth: "Jesus Christ, the faithful witness…the Faithful and True Witness…And He…was called Faithful and True." As the ultimate witness, Jesus gives us testimony of the truths that are essential for every person. He tells us about the kingdom of heaven. "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). He warns us about the judgment of hell. "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:49-50).

He also tells us about the heavenly Father. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11). He warns us about the "father of lies." "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:44). He tells us what true living is all about. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3). We have faith in Him and all that He bears witness to, because He is "the Faithful and True Witness."

Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You for being the reliable witness. I trust in You because You are faithful and true. Your trustworthy witness has rescued me from hell and headed me toward heaven, protected me from the father of lies and made me a child of the heavenly Father. Your witness has brought me to life everlasting. I praise You with unending gratitude!

Everlasting King ~ Bob Coy

"And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."-2 Samuel 7:16 (NKJV)

The Israelites were governed by a series of judges after they settled in the Promised Land. This period in Israel's history is recorded in the book of Judges and was marked by a deficiency of strong moral leadership among the people as they went through a cycle of falling away and returning to the Lord. Eventually, the Israelites cried out for a king to rule over them. So they appointed Saul, who had the "look" of a king but lacked the spiritual character to lead the nation.

Enter David. God forsook Saul and raised up David to assume the throne. David was a skilled warrior, but his most valuable attribute was a heart after God (1 Samuel 13:14), which anchored him throughout the ups and downs of life. It sparkles and shines like a precious gem amid the rest of the Old Testament.

There was a special bond between God and David, so much so that the Lord gave him a personal prophecy concerning his lineage. Although there would be periods of failure and even captivity, God promised David that his kingdom would be established forever. Unlike other empires the earth has witnessed, the kingdom David established will extend into eternity. At first, this seems impossible because every man is mortal, but not when your heir is the King of Eternity!

Jesus perfectly fulfilled the prophecy that David's throne would last forever because He came into this world as an heir of David (Matthew 1:6) as well as the Son of God who will rule for all eternity.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth . . . .-Philippians 2:9-10 (NKJV)

Discuss with your group the relationship between David and the Lord. David was described as “a man after God’s heart.” What does this statement mean to you? Who do you know that could be described that way?

Dig into 2 Samuel 7:8–16. What do you find interesting about this prophetic message? How was the prophecy concerning David’ s kingdom fulfilled? How does this declaration from Nathan reflect the generous heart of God? How does this passage deepen your appreciation for God’s chosen people?

Decide as a group how you might support and encourage those who are leading your church. Bless them by praying for them and offering some expression of thanks or service back to them.

God's longing ~ Greg Laurie

"As surely as I live," says the Sovereign Lord, "I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live."
— Ezekiel 33:11


We wonder about the fate of people who have never heard the gospel—would God send them to hell? To me this indicates an incorrect view of God, because the idea is that God would somehow want to send someone to hell, or at the very least, wouldn't care if someone went there. But that is not the God of the Bible.

If we learn nothing else from the Bible, we should learn that God loves humanity and longs for fellowship and friendship with us. God doesn't want any person to go to hell, and the best evidence of this is the fact that He poured out His wrath on His own Son. No father wants his child to be harmed and would gladly take that harm upon himself if it were possible. But God loved us so much that He put His judgment on His Son who had never committed a single sin so that we would not have to go to hell.

God doesn't want anyone to perish but instead wants everyone to repent (see 2 Peter 3:9). God longs for fellowship with humanity. He longs for friendship with you.

If you want to see how God feels about people, then look at the trio of stories Jesus told in Luke 15. God is compared to a shepherd who has lost a sheep, a woman who has lost a coin, and a father who has lost a son. God searches for us. He cares for us. And He wants us to know Him. We will be judged according to the truth we have received; we will not be held accountable for what we do not know. This doesn't excuse us from all responsibility. The fact of the matter is that God will reveal himself to the true seeker.

Twitter Proverbs from Rick Warren

• P:Church to BURN @RickWarren books.Also by BGraham,Piper,MacArthur& all Bibles except KJV! http://bit.ly/3LjoYfabout 13 hours ago from web

• The strongest shield against any sin is always humility.Bad news:humility grows best thru painful experiences.Isa.38:15 NIV8:41 PM Oct 13th from web

• NEVER follow a pastor who belittles other’s success,doubts other's motives,or criticizes other's efforts 4 Christ. Rom.14:48:32 PM Oct 13th from web

• "Addiction is finally about idolatry.The addict will do anything for his idol"- Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. A Breviary of Sin3:06 AM Oct 13th from web

• When u die, u wont regret your unfulfilled dreams,just your unattempted ones.The 1st is reality;the 2nd is tragedy.Matt9:2910:05 PM Oct 12th from web

• "God isn't a God of the edges,with only an interest in beginnings.He is God of the whole show"- Quarks,Chaos&Christianity7:42 PM Oct 12th from web

• Never waste energy trying to be well-known.Today’s hero is tomorrow’s zero.U work on character & leave reputation to Him6:09 PM Oct 12th from web

• “Promotion comes neither from the east nor west nor south.God is the judge:he puts down one & sets up another” Ps75:6-76:08 PM Oct 12th from web

• Tues Oct 13 Open-Participatory Conf.Tweet ur insights on Eph. 3:8-11. End w #Eph33:04 PM Oct 12th from web

• "The world’s poor feel we ate the appetitizers,entrees&dessert,then asked them to tea & said‘Let's split the bill"Freidman2:59 PM Oct 12th from web

• Pastors should wash their own clothes,dishes & change diapers.You may be annointed but you're just human. Acts14:15a10:42 AM Oct 12th from web

• Speakers like travel because it feeds the ego. Always being in the spotlight blinds u. Watch VH1's Behind the Music to see the harm10:35 AM Oct 12th from web

• TRAP:More interest&time speaking elsewhere than caring for ur flock.“My own vineyard I've neglected”Song1:6 Breeds hypocrisy10:31 AM Oct 12th from web

• Today our deeds,not the creeds,need a reformation: "NOW REFORM your WAYS & your ACTIONS & OBEY the Lord!"Jer26:139:46 AM Oct 12th from web

• Only antidote to radical evil is radical love,radical good,radical grace.FEB 9-11 RADI'CALIS camp will shake u to ur core.9:30 AM Oct 12th from web

• For some a cliche,for me a conviction:YOU CANNOT OUTGIVE GOD! I've lost the giving game for 34yrs,raising the bar every yr8:22 AM Oct 11th from web

• RT @KayWarren1: He loves each one of us, as if there were only one of us. Augustine7:53 AM Oct 11th from web

• You can't change the world if you are afraid of it. 1 John 5:4-52:28 PM Oct 10th from web

• Dimtwit=not worth reading,Halftwit=out of space,Nittwit=picky,Outtwit=funnier reply,Twitness=gospel,Twiticism=flame others11:40 AM Oct 10th from web

• @kenwhitten Rick ur tweets are so good u should do a book of them called "You will be my Twitnesses!" FUNNY KEN!11:05 AM Oct 10th from web

Just How Much Spirit Does God Give? ~ Kay Arthur

Life in the Spirit Series - part four

Just How Much Spirit Does God Give?

Have you ever looked at another Christian and maybe had a little bit of, what shall we call it, holy envy? Because you looked at them and you thought God, they have more joy than I have, it seems that You.re working more in their lives than You.re working in my life. What is going on? Does God give the Spirit in portion to people? Oh no, Beloved; He pours Him out lavishly on all who will believe in Jesus.

Some times we do look at other, don.t we Beloved? And we think God, You.re partial, God, You.re playing favorites. Beloved, it.s not that God is partial. It.s not that He plays favorites. Rather, do we know and do we give our whole selves to God or do we just give ourselves partially to God? Have we surrendered to the Holy Spirit? Have we asked the Holy Spirit to fill us? You say, “But how does that happen?” Well, that.s what we.re looking at as we look at life in the Spirit.

Now remember, we.ve been in the Old Testament and we saw in Genesis, chapter 1 how the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters. We saw that the Holy Spirit is energy. We saw that when man sinned God left man, so to speak. He came out of man and man became a sinner and he was unable to be all that he should be.

But then we saw that God made promises. First of all He made a promise that Jesus Christ would come. And when Jesus Christ would come, the Holy Spirit of God would rest on Jesus. Then we saw in Isaiah, chapter 44 that God would pour out His Spirit on His people. Well we.ve seen that now. And we.ve gone to Jeremiah 31 and we.ve looked at the new covenant. We.ve gone to Ezekiel, chapter 36 where God has said that He would put His Spirit within them, and that he would cause them to walk in His commandments and to keep His statutes.

But now what I want to do is I want to take you from Jesus and the Jews and the promise that He makes to Israel, I want to take you to the promise that He.s going to make to all mankind. And do you know where you find that? You find it in the book of Joel.

Now the book of Joel is a very very interesting book. In that we don.t know exactly when it was written, but we know that it happened after a plague. So there was a locust plague and then God told them that they were to fast and they were to call a solemn assembly and they were in essence, to get their hearts right with the Lord. Then we move to Joel, chapter 2 and in Joel, chapter 2 he tells them about another judgment that God is going to bring, either literal locusts, or an army that in a sense has that destructive effect of locusts. And he tells them again to fast and to pray and to seek the Lord. He tells them that the day of the Lord is coming.

But then before he goes on, he gives them an awesome incredible promise. And that awesome incredible promise is the promise of the Holy Spirit. I want us to go to Joel, chapter 2, Joel, chapter 2, verse 28. And it says, “And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind.” (Joel 2:28a)

Now that is good news because that means that God is not going to just give the Holy Spirit to the Jews, to His chosen and elect nation, but He.s gonna pour the Holy Spirit out on all mankind. And all mankind includes you and includes me. Now remember we.re marking the word Holy Spirit. Like one side of a triangle with the base and then coming up and then putting a cloud around it. And we.re doing that all the way through all these scriptures that we.re looking at, so that when you look down you can spot and see if the Holy Spirit is mentioned on that page.

Well let.s read Joel, chapter 2:28-32. And you want to listen very carefully. We.re going to come to a time phrase. When we come to a time phrase you wanna put a clock around it so that you can see God is telling you when something is going happen. All right now, verse 28: “And it shall come about after this.” Is that a time phrase? Yes, so you would put a clock there. “…that I will pour out My Spirit,” God is speaking, “…on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy…,” (2:28)

And this is very very exciting and different, because this wasn.t happening in Old Testament days. It was just the kings that would sometimes prophesy. It was the just the prophets that would sometimes prophesy. But he.s saying hey, something new is going to happen; your sons and your daughters are going to prophesy. Now prophesy does not mean, hey, I.ve got some word from God that is contrary to this word, or different than this word and I.m going to give it forth.

Basically, when you go through the scriptures and you study it carefully, you see that prophesy means to speak. You see in 1 Corinthians, chapter 14 that when a person prophesies they speak to edification or exhortation. In other words, they build you up or exhortation, they.re saying now listen, you better do this, you better go forward, let me come along side and tell you; or they speak to edification, exhortation or they speak to bless a person. And so let.s look at it, because I think it.s very important for you to see. 1 Corinthians, chapter 14, verse 3. But it says, “He who prophesies speaks to men for edification, exhortation, and…,” what, “…consolation.”

In other words you come along and because the Holy Spirit is a Paraclete, because He comes along side another person, then He.s always there and He.s known in John, chapter 14 as the comforter. So He comes along and He consoles you, and He warms you, so to speak and He says it.s all right, it.s going to be okay, I.m gonna to take care of you. Now can you imagine having a person like this inside of you that is going to do these things for you?

Well, when the Holy Spirit comes upon mankind, then the young men and the young women or the old men and the old women will be able to speak for God, to say, hey, this is what God says. All right now, he says, “…your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions and even on the male and female servants….” (2:28) In other words, there.s no class distinction. And listen; there is no distinction with God. God is not a respecter of persons. It.s not male versus female with God. There is neither Jew, nor Greek. There is neither bond, nor free. There is neither male, or female when it comes to God and His Spirit and what He wants to do in our lives.

And so he says, “…even on your male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (2:29) So once again you want to mark Spirit. You want to mark, with a clock, “in those days.” So there is a time frame. There.s an expanse of time when God is going to pour out His Spirit. And then it says, “And I, God, will display wonders in the sky and on the earth…,” He says, “…blood, fire and columns of smoke.” (2:30)

Now these are very important things that you don.t want to miss, “blood, fire, columns of smoke.” Now He.s giving this, along with these days when He.s pouring out His Spirit. He says, “And the sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before that great and awesome day of the Lord.…” (2:31) Before, hey, you.re right, put a clock there. It.s a time phrase.

So He.s saying this is what I.m going to do. Now all the way through Joel, he.s been talking about the day of the Lord. In chapter 1 he mentions it. In chapter 2 in several places he mentions it. And so he.s saying the day of the Lord is coming. But before that day of the Lord comes what I.m going to do is I.m going to pour out My Spirit on all mankind. And then he says, “And it will come about …,” and this is so important, “… that whoever calls upon the name the Lord will be delivered; for, on Mt. Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape.

So he says if you cry out to God then God is going to pour forth His Spirit. It.s going to happen in Zion. It.s going to happen in Jerusalem. Now Zion is Jerusalem. So it.s like repeating it. It.s in this area. And he says, “And there will be those who escape….” (2:32) Now he.s talking about those that escape because in the day of the Lord there.s going to be judgment that.s going to begin with the house of Israel. There.s going to be judgment upon all the nations. And Joel goes on to talk about that in chapter 3, but we.re not looking at that. But I want you to see the timing of this prophecy.

And then he goes on to say, “There will be those who escape, even as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.” (2:32) Now this is a passage that is going to find fulfillment in the New Testament. But I.m not gonna tell you that yet, because we need to see okay, how is this gonna be effected.

We see that man who was made in the image of God. Who was filled with the Spirit of God, now, when he sins is devoid of the Spirit of God. And God.s image in man is distorted. But God wants to come back in and God wants to dwell inside man. God wants to give man power. God wants to give man the ability to live the way God ordained for man to live. God wants to take man and form him again into His image. Now how is He going to do that? Well the Holy Spirit, who is the energy, is going to affect that. Now, how is it going to happen? Well this is what we want to look at, when we come back after this important announcement.

Welcome back my friend. Now what we.re going to do is we.re going to Luke, chapter 1. In Luke, chapter 1, and remember Luke is the chronological gospel, Luke is writing to Theophilus and he says, “It seemed fitting for me, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning to write out for you in consecutive order, O, most excellent Theophilus, so that you might know the exact truth about the things that you have been taught.” (Luke 1:34)

And see, that.s what this program is about, helping you to discover the exact truth about the things that you.ve been taught so that you can sift them through the Word of God and see, hey, are these true, or are they not. So now he.s going to tell us in verse 36, it says, “Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph.” (1:26) And you know that the angel of God comes to tell Mary that she.s going to conceive a child. So she says, “…How can this be since I am a virgin?” (1:34) How can I be pregnant I.m a virgin? I.ve never known any man. And then the angel explains it. In verse 35 and, “The angel answered and said to her, „The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God..” (1:35)

So how is she going to conceive the Son of God? We don.t know any details except we know that it.s through God.s Spirit. We know that God.s Spirit is energy, that God.s Spirit is power. And so the Spirit is going to come upon her. She.s going to conceive a child. That child is going to be the Son of God. Now, I want you to go to chapter 2, verse 4. And in chapter 2, verse 4 this is what we read: “Joseph went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David.” (2:4) Now what to we know about Joseph?

Well we would go to Matthew, we would know that Joseph was skittish about this and so the angel came to Joseph and explained to him, hey, the child that is in Mary.s womb is from God. And this is the Son of God and this is what you are to name Him; Immanuel, God with us. And so now Joseph has taken Mary, but they have not consummated their marriage. A decree has come along for the people to be taxed. In order to be taxed they have to go back to their city of origin. So now he.s taking Mary back to Bethlehem, to the city of David.

Now remember in Isaiah, chapter 11 we saw that a stem will come from Jesse, a branch will come and that branch is coming from Jesse through David and it is Messiah. And so they come down to the city of David. And in verse 7 it says, “And she gave birth to her first-born and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (2:7) So we have now the birth of Jesus Christ. But just before Mary gets word that she.s going to have a child, that she.s going to bring forth the Son of God, her cousin Elizabeth, who is an older woman, hears that she is going to have a child. She has been childless all these years. It.s been a reproach to her. So the child that she is going to bring forth. He.s the one that.s going to come and announce that Messiah is coming. We call him in the scriptures John the Baptist.

All right now, we want to go to Luke, chapter 3. Moving through Luke, this chronological gospel, and in Luke, chapter 3, verse 1 it says, “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch or ruler of the Galilee and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene.” (3:1) What is God doing here?

God is saying, listen; this really happened and it happened in a specific place and it happened at a specific time. And it happened when all these men were ruling in these various areas. “In the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John. Now this is John who is the son of Elizabeth and Zacharias.” And it says “…it came to him when he was in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (3:2-3)

In other words, he.s saying to them, you.re a sinner and you need to repent of that. And to show that you are repenting, that you.re recognizing that your sin is sin in the eyes of God, I want you to come and be baptized. And so he was going around, doing this because, “… it was written…,” now listen to this, I love it; “…it was written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make His paths straight.” (3:4) And so he.s quoting Isaiah, chapter 40.

All right, now you come down and you find him baptizing and these different people and classes of people coming to him. And one of „em asked whether he was the Christ. Are you the Christ? Are you the Messiah, the One that we.ve been waiting for, the One that Isaiah talked about, the One on whom the Spirit of the Lord was going to rest, the One who was going to give us His Spirit and pour it out on us, are you the One? See they knew Messiah was coming. They knew the Anointed One was coming, that the Promised One was coming and they were looking for Him. And so, “John answered and said to them, „As for me, I baptize you with water, but the One who is coming is mightier than I. I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire..” (3:16)

Hey, there.s One coming and that One that.s coming is going to baptize you, unite you with, identify you with the Holy Spirit. Baptize means to take a cloth and dip it into dye and when you pull it out the dye has been absorbed in the cloth, so it.s a picture of identification. It.s a picture of uniting two things. And so he.s saying that the One that.s coming is going to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Now go to Luke, chapter 3, verse 21. And it says and it came about, “When all the people were baptized by John, that Jesus also was baptized. And while He was praying heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. And God said, „Thou art My Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased..” (3:21-22)

Well what happens next in Luke? You find in, chapter 4, Jesus full of the Holy Spirit. Do you know, Beloved that there.s a command in the scriptures, it.s found in Ephesians, chapter 5 and it says, “Be filled, keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit?”

You say how do I get the Holy Spirit? Well, we.re going to talk about that in the next program. But what I want you to see and I want you to understand is this: that God does not give the Spirit by measure. He gives the Spirit fully to all of us who believe, who receive Him, who act upon that promise in Joel. And we.re going to see that as it.s fulfilled. But He gives the Holy Spirit to each believer.

Now what we do with the Holy Spirit, if we.re filled with the Holy Spirit, then we.re going to see that power, then we.re going to see that joy and that love and that gentleness and that faithfulness and that goodness, all the fruit of the Spirit. We.re going to see God using us. We.re going to see God directing us. We.re going to see God moving us, not because He.s a respecter of persons, because He gives the Holy Spirit to us in abundance, in fullness.

But some of us, what we do is we squelch the Holy Spirit or we grieve the Holy Spirit. And that.s why some people seem to have more power and more of the fruit of the Spirit than others. Oh, Beloved, I.m so excited about what is to come. Read through Luke now, and then we.ll talk about it.

Wisdom's Virtue ~ Bob Caldwell

Proverbs 13:1-14:35 Wisdom's Virtue 13:16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly. Just as there is an extreme contrast between the results that come to the righteous and the wicked, so there is between the wise man and the fool. Wisdom is elevated above all other treasures acquired in life. Wherever wisdom has taken root, it will intrinsically bring prosperity and good. No matter what area of life you choose, if you pursue God's wisdom for that area, you'll be amazed at the results. From discovering God to building a business, from developing a healthy emotional life to coping with your enemies, wisdom will bring you to a path that is honorable to God. I would like you to take the time to do what we did with righteousness and wickedness in chapters 11 and 12. Go through chapters 13 and 14 and make your list, contrasting what wisdom will do for you versus what foolishness will do. From there, give yourself time to meditate on and integrate the wisdom that you have discovered. An exercise such as this could literally transform the destiny of your life. Wisdom Folly 13:16 acts with knowledge lays open his folly 13:20 walks with wise men/will be wise companion of fools/will be destroyed 14:1 wise woman/builds house foolish woman/tears down with her hands 14:3 lips preserve wisdom mouth is rod of pride 14:8 understands his way folly is deceit 14:9 finds favor mocks at sin 14:16 departs from evil rages and is self-confident 14:29 slow to wrath impulsive
Proverbs 13:1-14:35 A wise son heeds his father's instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. 2 A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. 3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. 4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. 5 A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. 6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner. 7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. 8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke. 9 The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out. 10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. 11 Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase. 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. 13 He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. 14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. 15 Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard. 16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly. 17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health. 18 Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored. 19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil. 20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. 21 Evil pursues sinners, But to the righteous, good shall be repaid. 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. 23 Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste. 24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. 25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want. Proverbs 14 1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands. 2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him. 3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them. 4 Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox. 5 A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies. 6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, But knowledge is easy to him who understands. 7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive 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 mock at sin, But among the upright there is favor. 10 The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy. 11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish. 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. 13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief. 14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above. 15 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps. 16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. 17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated. 18 The simple inherit folly, But the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 The evil will bow before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20 The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends. 21 He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he. 22 Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good. 23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatterleads only to poverty. 24 The crown of the wise is their riches, But the foolishness of fools is folly. 25 A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies. 26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. 28 In a multitude of people is a king's honor, But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince. 29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly. 30 A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones. 31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy. 32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge in his death. 33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known. 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. 35 The king's favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
Proverbs 13:1-14:35 v. 1 a wise son – A wise son is one who cherishes the words of his parents. Because they are wiser and more experienced than he is, his obedience of their instructions gives him the appearance of a young man with great wisdom. To the foolish son, the correction and advice of his parents are a joke. He does not listen and continues in his way (see 12:1 study note.). v. 2 by the fruit of his mouth – Wholesome speech used correctly will bring forth good fruit. "A soft answer turns away wrath" (Prov. 15:1) and "a good word brings gladness" (Prov. 12:25). The cruel and insensitive tongue will be avenged by other evils. v. 3 guards his mouth – "I will guard my ways lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle" (Psalm 39:1). The foolish man cannot hold his tongue when it is necessary and it leads to his demise. "Be swift to hear, slow to speak" (James 1:19). The wise man listens and observes when it is the right time to speak and when it is right to remain quiet. Proverbs 17:28 says, "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive." v. 4 lazy man desires – The lazy man will always long to be filled. He has nothing because he does nothing. His laziness leads him to poverty and keeps him there (Prov. 6:10-11). The diligent works hard to fill his needs. His diligence promotes him and brings him riches instead of poverty (Prov. 12:24). v. 5 hates lying – The righteous love what is good. He cherishes that which is godly for he longs to be close to the heart of God. Thus he clings to what is good and abhors what is evil (Rom. 12:9). A wicked man is the antithesis of the righteous. His cruel heart and lying tongue make him loathsome and he is disgraced by his neighbors. v. 6 righteousness guards – Righteousness is the state of being in the right/doing the right thing. God is the One who defines what is right and thus protects and approves of the one who believes Him and obeys Him. The wicked, by contrast, are hostile toward righteousness. It is not the righteous they oppose, but He who set the guidelines for righteousness. Their wickedness will always place them outside of the hand of God's protection because He is the very One they refuse and resist. v. 7 makes himself rich yet has nothing – "What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" (Matt. 16:26). A man who toils to gain many riches and burns all of his bridges in the process has nothing. He will never be satisfied with what he has (Prov. 27:20). Though he is rich he is his poorest of all. Spiritually it is the same; his joy is lacking because he is missing the gifts of impoverished in the treasures God gives to those who love Him. v. 8 ransom of a man's life – Men will go for money and possessions first because they stand out as means of retribution/ ransom. The poor man will never be threatened in this way. He has nothing to take and cannot pay it. Note that "he does not hear rebuke" does not mean the same thing as Proverbs 13:1. It is not that the poor man is not listening. He will literally never hear this kind of rebuke because he does not have anything to take. v. 9 the light of the righteous – Note the distinction between the use of the words light and lamp. The righteous have the true light and it will forever shine from generation to generation. The temporary lamp of the wicked will be extinguished before long. Some passages have used the word "light" to speak of a man's posterity (1 Kings 11:36, 15:4). If this passage is speaking either about the lives of the righteous and the wicked or their legacies, it is stating that righteousness is eternal and wickedness will someday cease to exist (Prov. 10:25, 10:30). v. 10 by pride comes strife – Too proud to heed counsel and listen to rebuke, the fool consistently runs into calamity. To heed counsel, listen to a rebuke, and then weigh its value against the Word of God leads to wise decisions and educated choices. v. 11 Wealth gained by dishonesty – The King James Version uses the word "vanity" instead of dishonesty. This is a better rendering of the verse because dishonesty can be a form or vanity and the word vanity better depicts the ease by which a squanderer comes into his wealth. "Easy money, easy spending." A man who labors for his riches will not take them for granted. He will be more careful because of all the hard work that went into earning them. v. 12 makes the heart sick – This is a poetic description of disappointment. Hope raises our spirits in eager expectation of its arrival. When that hope is stripped away or delayed, we are let down and our hearts grow sick. Yet when it comes we celebrate its arrival with elated emotion. v. 13 He who despises the word – God has established the way to salvation and the way to a good life. As God, He has the authority to institute a right way and wrong way. Anyone who chooses to reject what God has founded to be right has willfully chosen the wrong way and the consequences associated with the wrong way. This verse makes the consequences of rejection and obedience clear. One yields destruction and the other a reward. v. 14 law of the wise – Verses 13 and 14 are connected in their themes. Verse 14 is elaborating on a portion of the reward for the righteous. God's wisdom is part of the incentive God gives for those who obey His word. It is useful for turning one away from evil and the snares of death. v. 15 Good understanding – Wisdom, knowledge and understanding are used interchangeably throughout the Proverbs. Remember in verse 14 that the "law of the wise" is a fountain of life. This is another portion of God's reward to those who love Him and His word. Not only does it give wisdom to the righteous but that wisdom leads to favor with God and with men. For those who reject the word of God, there is the barren and difficult life opposed to God waiting. In contrast, those who love him experience a the fountain of life. v. 16 acts with knowledge – a prudent man makes an educated decision about what he should do. He is well informed (see v. 10) and acts according to wisdom. The fool continues forward in his folly and displays his thoughtlessness to all. Proverbs 12:15 says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise." v. 17 wicked messenger – A messenger with ulterior motives or perhaps a streak of rebellion will endure the punishment of his crimes against the king. It is his wickedness that brings him trouble. A faithful ambassador helps his king rest easy. v. 18 him who disdains correction – A person who cannot listen or be swayed by words of wise advice is headed for destruction (Prov. 1:5, 20:18, 24:6). This is why God tore the kingdom of Israel from underneath the rule of King Saul (1 Sam. 28:17-18). v. 19 it is an abomination to fools – The first and second parts of this verse are nearly two different topics and seem to have an obscure connection. "A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul." Thematically this repeats what is stated in verse 12 of this chapter, "It is a tree of life" or a world of pleasure. The connection is that pleasure is sin's hook and a foolish person will find reason to justify his foolishness in order to keep on doing it. To some it becomes as a religion and they would be offended that someone would dare separate them from their evil pleasures. v. 20 he who walks with wise men – "Evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Cor. 15:33) and "the righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray" (Prov. 12:26 ). The friends we love and are near to have our admiration. Admire the wisdom of a wise man and grow wiser. Admire the foolishness of a fool and grow more foolish. v. 21 good shall be repaid – Evil will follow after sinful men and shall eventually catch up with them. Their wicked deeds will eventually be repaid back to them (Prov. 28:5). The righteous follow God's commands and will be rewarded for it (Rev. 22:12). v. 22 an inheritance – It is often the sins of the wicked that come back to them and catch them in their sinful works. According to the Jewish law, under certain circumstances, a man could have his possessions taken and given to the one he offended in order to pay restitution for his crimes (Ex. 22: 1-15). So in very real cases the goods of the sinner are taken and given to the righteous. A good man has no crimes to repay and thus his inheritance is given to the children of his children. v. 23 fallow ground of the poor – The impoverished farmer sweats and toils in order to eat. Because of his hard work and skill there is fruit from his grounds. The lack of proper management can cause the fruit of the hardworking farmer to go to waste. v. 24 hates his son – Metaphorically speaking, a man who does not discipline his son's life treats him as if he hates him. Withholding correction where it is needed is showing approval of the foolish behavior. That folly will stay in a child's heart unless he/ she is shown it is wrong (Prov. 22:15). God has even given us the model of chastening and it is proven to yield the fruit of peace and righteousness in the child's latter life (Heb. 12:7-11). v. 25 satisfying of his soul – The righteous has learned to be content with the provision God brings into his life. He is more enamored with the Provider than the actual provision, thus when God yields him sustenance he is contented in knowing that God will take care of him (Phil. 4:11-13). This is not so for the wicked. Their stomachs never have enough, their eyes are never satisfied, they will always want more (Prov. 27:20). Proverbs 14 v. 1 builds her house – A wise woman invests in her home in many fruitful ways (Prov. 31:10-31). The foolish woman promotes herself and her lusts. She is noisy and shameful (Prov. 12:4). Her deeds bring a bad name and division to her household. v. 2 fears the Lord – A man walks in uprightness because he fears the LORD. If there is no regard for God then there is no regard for what He established as righteousness and (Prov. 1:7). No regard for God will ultimately lead to a place of hopelessness and ill regard for humanity. God is despised by such men. They have convinced themselves that God is not true therefore there is no judgment for their perversity (Psalm 14:1-3). v. 3 rod of pride – The foolish man will speak pompous things and it will eventually bring down trouble upon him. The lips of the wise speak with discretion and humility. It is a help to them and not a harm (Prov. 2:11). v. 4 the trophy is clean – Labor happens with sweat, pain, and great effort and yields great rewards when it is done diligently. With no work to do things are clean and tidy but there is also no income. Getting dirty and sweaty under the hot sun is a part of the curse but God gives the payoff in the fruit that hard work yields (Gen. 3:17-19). v. 5 faithful witness – A faithful witness is a good and proper witness who can be trusted. He will speak the truth. A false witness is one with little moral integrity. He is questionable and deceitful. Who can trust him? (Prov. 25:18, 6:16-19) v. 6 scoffer seeks wisdom – A scoffer by definition is one who will degrade and curse. He takes that which is honorable and serious and makes a dishonorable mockery out of it. His pursuit of wisdom is not for learning but for better sneering. He will not find wisdom this way (Prov. 15:12, Prov. 22:10, Prov. 21:24). He who is hungry for knowledge and genuinely seeks it out will easily find it. v. 7 Go from the presence – A vain, empty person who knows it all but cannot receive instruction will add no more than strife to your life. Because he refuses to receive knowledge or a rebuke he should be left to himself. Avoid intimacy with him so you do not become polluted by his vanity. v. 8 wisdom of the prudent – A prudent man does his research in order to understand his role. When put to the test, he is familiar with what he is to do or how he is to behave. The fool does his best to fake it and appear to know what he is doing with little, if any, knowledge of the subject at all (Prov. 11:14). v. 9 Fools mock at sin – The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God" (Ps. 53:1). The latter part of that verse says that there are none who seek God. The fool has denied God and his justice upon sin. Thus his ways are purposefully corrupt and perverse in the face of God as to mock at his judgments (Prov. 1:22, 10:23). among the upright there is favor – God gives favor to those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chron. 16:9; Prov. 3:3-4, 8:34-35). They believe God to act and thus experience His promised blessings. v. 10 heart knows its own bitterness – There is solitude in the experiences of our emotions because no one can feel what we are feeling. We carry our own burdens within ourselves and no one else can know the sentiments of our heart the way we do. Even our outward joyful expressions are not the joy itself. Only we can truly experience it. Everyone else must wait for some form of expression to distinguish it. v. 11 wicked will be overthrown – Do not envy the prosperity of the wicked. Though their house is large and strong, its foundation is weak and brittle. It is made of deception, maliciousness and spite. These devices can overthrow a house from the inside out. The righteous will flourish even in the most meager conditions because their residence is built upon the foundation that endures forever; the righteousness of God (Matt. 7:24-27, Prov. 23:17-18). v. 12 a way that seems right to a man – "The way of the foolish man is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise" (Prov. 12:15). The ways of the Lord are above our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Is. 55:9). It is foolish to assume that we know better than Him or even that there could be another way other than what He has established. This sort of thinking keeps many from experiencing the salvation God gives. v. 13 the heart may sorrow – Even the sinner has a conscience and sometimes feels the sting of sin. Some who give themselves to drunken celebrations are seeking something deeper. Their emptiness and sorrow run deep within but they attempt to put the cheerful mask upon their face in order to cover up their heavy hearts (James 4:8-10). v. 14 backslider in heart – A man whose heart has turned away from the Lord is a man who has begun to view his will as more important than word of his Creator. He will be cursed to have all he desires without true and lasting satisfaction. That is reserved for those who walk with the Lord their God (Prov. 19:23). v. 15 considers well his steps – The simple buy into every word spoken to them and sometimes rush into their demise. They never looked into a matter (Ps. 119:6). The prudent man does his research and makes a judgment based on his findings (see v. 8 study notes). v. 16 departs from evil – A man is considered wise if he sees danger and removes himself from its path (Prov. 22:3, 4:25-27). He wants nothing to do with evil but his desire is for the good (Rom. 12:9). The fool sees the evil and rages on (Prov. 1:16, Is. 59:7). v. 17 quick tempered man – There is a contrast of evils here. "Quick tempers" or explosive reactions don't allow the man to contemplate the consequences of his outburst. He speaks foolish things and simulates a madman in his rage. "Wicked intentions" are developed by a vindictive and malicious thought process. It is thought out before the act takes place. Both forms of evil are meant to cause injury to the victim. v. 18 inherit folly – "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child" (Prov. 22:15). The untrained man has never had folly driven from him as a child. He has grown up with it and it keeps working in him to make him the scoffer. The prudent man has been trained to seek knowledge and it becomes his crown (Prov. 2:1-9). v. 19 evil will bow before the good – Some people are often reduced to begging because of their irresponsible lifestyle. They find themselves begging for food and for prayers from those who are good. Others, who are God fearing are blessed by God and have benevolent hearts because they are filled with the Word of God. They have it to give and they give generously to those in need, both good and bad. v. 20 poor man is hated – Proverbs 19:7 says that the poor man's friends abandon him even though he may pursue them to stay. Job knows this best. Once rich, having many friends, he loses everything and is stricken with sickness and those friends abandon him (Job 19:13-19). While there is wealth there will be many friends but poverty provides few who genuinely care. v. 21 He who despises his neighbor sins – This verse elaborates on the thoughts of the previous verse. The poor neighbor is he who is despised. We are told in scripture to care for the needy not despise them (Acts 20:35; 1 John 3:17-18). Luke 6 exhorts us to have mercy on the needy because God is merciful to the good and the evil (6:30-36). v. 22 mercy and truth – Those who do evil have gone astray. Should they continue in it they will be shown no mercy before the judgment seat of God (Prov. 12:2). Those who do good will be shown mercy and walk in God's true promises (Ps. 25:10, 61:7; Matt. 5:7). v. 23 in all labor there is profit – A diligent worker is a great asset to any team (Prov. 10:4). Putting in hard work, time and effort will have its payoff. The sluggard is exhorted to consider the diligent ways of the ant (Prov. 6:6). Otherwise, his ways will lead to poverty (Prov. 6:10-11, also see study notes on v. 4). v. 24 foolishness of fools – The foolishness of fools leads to more foolishness (Rom. 16:19). The lawless acts of the scoffer are his honor. They draw him into more lawlessness because his heart and mind are blinded to the light of the righteous knowledge of God (2 Cor. 4:3-6). v. 25 true witness delivers souls – A witness who is faithful and true is a good witness (Prov. 14:5, Rev. 1:5). A true witness helps him whom he defends to rest easy in the salvation of his testimony. Jesus is called the Faithful and True witness is Revelation 1:5 and 3:14. v. 26 The fear of the Lord – Consider King David's life. His confidence was in God. There he found protection against evil. David experienced the advantages of knowing and honoring God. This produces security and peace of mind. Those who make God their confidence by faith will be encouraged by the promise of God as their place of safety. Communion with God is an overflowing fountain of comfort to the soul yielding satisfaction, joy, and life abundant. v. 28 king's honor – It was not gorgeous dress, conquest, or splendor the eastern kings of old paraded their name by. It was a happy and a numerous people (Ex. 1:12, 1 Kings 4:20-21). A lack of people and a miserable kingdom were translated to mean a dishonorable king. v. 29 slow to wrath – denotes patience and understanding. A wise man holds his tongue and thinks a circumstance through before he responds to it (Prov. 11:12). A foolish man is (hasty of spirit) impulsive. Even the foolish are perceived to be wise when they keep their silence and don't react irrationally (Prov. 17:28). v. 30 sound heart – A sound heart is content, peaceful and satisfied. It is that in which emotions and desires have a good and healthy balance. An anxious, unhappy envious heart is a catalyst to all kinds of bodily ailments and poor decisions. v. 31 reproaches his Maker – Oppression upon the poor is directly in conflict against God's heart. God loves people too much to see their needs unmet. Pure an undefiled religion is to care for the widows and the orphans in their time of need (James 1:27). If God's people see a need and are able to fill that need then we are compelled to do so by God's exhortation (1 John 3:17). If anyone oppresses the poor they dishonor God. v. 32 refuge in his – The wicked long to cling to the lusts and possessions of this world but are torn away from it in death. His vain pursuit of worldly lusts has earned him nothing but a condemnable marriage to the sin incurred in his chasing (Ecc. 8:12-13; Prov. 10:30). The righteous are comforted in their death as their hope is fulfilled in the life to come; better things in another world that are unimaginable in this one. Though everyone is uncertain about death the righteous have hope even in it. v. 33 in the heart of fools – Jesus says to the Pharisees in one of many disputes that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34-35). He elaborates to say that an evil man brings forth evil things out of the treasures of his heart. Foolishness in the heart of a man will bring forth bring forth foolishness and that mans thoughts will be made known to all. v. 34 righteousness exalts a nation – Justice and honor are foundational for righteous national leaders. Impartial equity, practice of profession, preserving virtue and respect, all of these uphold a righteous nation and give them favor with God. National sin builds an offensive reputation and a dishonor before God. v. 35 The king's favor – Respect and preference are an advantage for any servant in the master's house. Those who behave wisely and are loyal to their masters shall have protection and honor before him. Those who behave foolishly and betray their masters and sow discord bring down the master's wrath against themselves.
"Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly." –Proverbs 13:16 We see how important godly knowledge is, Jesus, and we know that we can ask for this gift from You. We pray, Lord, for You to sow Your wisdom in our minds. We pray that Your knowledge will grow and choke out every weed of foolishness and folly that resides in our lives.