The Church Must Deal with Moral Virtues

 Wisdom's Instructions on Moral Virtues

 Book of Proverbs Chapter 18

 We can say that virtue is acting according to the "Will of God" for our lives.

 The Bible tells us that only fools walk outside the will of God!

 Rom_12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 1Jn_2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

 Each of us must come to understand what the will of the Lord is!

 Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

 We should come to an understanding that:

 1) We should stand in awe of our Creator, who is wise, powerful, and loving.

2) We can entrust our entire lives to our Almighty God.

3) We can rejoice in the wonder of His salvation.

4) We can rest in peace while the world goes through turmoil after turmoil.

5) That God holds people accountable for their sin.

6) That God opposes the pride of mankind.

 Man, in his pride, desires to run his own life and refuses to recognize that God is God of all creation, but He has a humble Spirit.

 We must avoid having a sinful attitude.

 We must understand that the Book of Proverbs declares that fools walk a path of death.

 *****Pro 18:1  Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

Pro 18:2  A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Pro 18:3  When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.  

 There are many interpretations of this verse, but the most accurate interpretation seems to be that people who think only of themselves, who are selfish and antisocial, are fools.

 They are foolish because they have a great desire to live as they wish, but they will meddle in the affairs of all others.

 We are to separate ourselves from the world: 2Co_6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

 We are not to live a life like an isolationist, which is foolish behavior!

 Gen 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 

 We are social people, and we will not develop properly by self-discipline in solitude.

 To depend upon us for all things is not beneficial, and it is not good, but to do this while we intermeddle in the business of all others is downright sinful.

 Pro 20:3  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. 

 Pro 21:24  Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. 

 What is being obstinate? It is stubborn, having only your own opinion, your own purpose, your own resolutions.

 Not yielding to reason nor in arguments. Having your own way at the expense of all others.

 This fool has no desire to listen to what others have to say, as they have made up their minds that they are right and everyone else is wrong.

 They are interested in only their own opinion.

 They will not listen to the arguments of others.

 They are so full of pride in themselves that they want to impress others with what they have to say.

 These are not people who should be allowed to stay in the Church.

 The Church is far better off without wicked people in the Church.

 This is not to say that we should police all who come into the doors of the Church, but the Bible does say we will know them by their fruit.

 One pastor said that these are blessed subtractions.

 Wicked people may contribute to some organizations but not to the Church.

 They bring contempt to the Church.

They bring ignominy or shame to the Church.

They bring reproaches or disgrace to the Church.

 They will also bring this same damage to themselves and to their families, unless they repent.

 It is the wisdom of God that will bring blessings.

 *****Pro 18:4  The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Pro 18:5  It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 

Pro 18:6  A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 

Pro 18:7  A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 

Pro 18:8  The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 

 It is the mouths of those who fear the Lord that will edify the Church.

 Pro 20:5  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. 

 Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 In contrast, if that wicked person is allowed to stay in the Church, then there will be problems.

 Pro 10:11  The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 

 When we accept this person, we are showing partiality and not considering the right and wrong of it.

 Anytime we show partiality to the wicked, we are wrongly judging the righteous man!

 These wicked people may seem to be very wise in the Scriptures, but so was Satan.

 Mat 4:6  And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 

Mat 4:7  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

 The Bible teaches us against such things.

 Psa 82:2  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 

 This wicked person may be the richest man in the congregation, but we are to act according to the Word of God.

 These things have divided many Houses of Worship today.

 The Bible says we are never to show partiality to the wicked, nor are we to speak against the righteous and the innocent.

 Fools bring on most of their problems because they cannot control their speech.

 In most cases, it is their quarreling over matters we consider evil that sets them apart from the Church.

 Many churches today are accepting the testimony of certain movements when there is no repentance, which goes against the Word of God, when the Word of God is the foundation of the Church and not the words of man.

 God calls for repentance!

 Jhn_3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jhn_3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

1Pe_1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 Many denominations are quarreling over these things today when the Lord Jesus says, "ye must be Born Again".

 When we throw the Lord Jesus out of the Church, we have no Church!

 We are warned: A fool's mouth ends in destruction!

 Their senseless, uncontrolled words will be their downfall.

 If they could keep their mouths shut, they might even fool the Church.

 Pro 17:28  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

 Talebearers or those who go around whispering about others also cause divisions in the Church.

 We call it gossip, and it will destroy the reputation of the righteous man.

 Spreading rumors inside the Church is an abomination to the One we come together to worship.

In fact, the reason we gather together is to worship the Living God!

 Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 

Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 

Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 

Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 

 We must avoid selfish attitudes and sinful words that hinder our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ and cause division in the Church.

 We are to love one another and seek our security in the Lord, who is the foundation of the Church.

 *****Pro 18:9  He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. 

Pro 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 

 Being slothful is being lazy, being idle, and it is destructive!

 Those who are wise are people who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for life now and eternal life in the future.

 This is a never-ending life of "Grace".

 Fools trust in themselves, some in their wealth, and others in this corrupt world.

 I used to think our own government, no matter which party was in charge, would be far above corruption, but I now know this is not so after seeing the Democrats do everything they could to destroy are nation and our Republic.

 Things are getting worse just as the Lord has said.

 2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 

 We can blame a lot of these problems on the Church because the Church has become weak and lazy, and slothful.

 The Church has become a great waster of the work the Lord Jesus has done to save us!

 Many in the Church purposely tear down rather than build and preserve the Gospel.

 This is why God will first judge the Church before He judges the world.

 God will separate the goats from the sheep in the House of God, and the goats know who they are, but the sheep have become far too docile to take a stand on the Lord Jesus and the Gospel.

 We can trust that our Lord God knows what He is doing and run to Him for safety.

 God is The Almighty God.

He is the great I Am Yahweh.

He is Jehovah.

He is the Lord God.

He is wonderful.

He is the everlasting Father.

He is the Prince of Peace.

He is our Counselor.

He is the High and Lofty One.

He is the Lord Our Righteousness.

He is Emmanuel.

He is the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning, and the End.

He is my Savior and Redeemer.

He is my Strong Tower of safety.

He is my Rock and Fortress.

 Those who reject these things are fools.

 *****Pro 18:11  The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 

 There are not enough riches in this entire world that can save those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ from the wrath of my Heavenly Father.

 The rich think that their wealth can save them from anything, and they are wrong when it comes to the wrath of God.

 1Ti 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 

1Ti 6:18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 

 To all others, the Holy Spirit says.

 *****Pro 18:12  Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. 

 The rest of the world seeks salvation in their own abilities.

 That word haughty means proud and disdainful with contempt for all those who trust the Lord.

 They are proud people who trust only in themselves.

 In their own strength, in their own intelligence, in their own abilities.

 As fools, they will not even be able to stand against the storms of this life, and it will break them.

 Pro 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 

 *****Pro 18:13  He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

 We must first hear the whole story before we can speak to a matter.

 Only a fool thinks he has all the answers!

 This is being arrogant and putting yourself above others.

 A wise man will wait until he has heard the whole story of the matter and then see if he can help in some way.

 Only God and His Word have all the answers to life!

 *****Pro 18:14  The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

 Our spirit can only sustain us if we live according to Christian principles.

 Christian principles give us the strength to look past our troubles to our future, and this will make all our troubles bearable.

 Pro 17:22  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. 

 Those who are deep into depression and despair are difficult to rescue.

 *****Pro 18:15  The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. 

 God has no respect for those who are ignorant except for the fact that He will send someone to tell the ignorant the truth so they can decide for themselves.

 If a person desires to avoid harm to body, mind, and soul, then that person must acquire knowledge both in relation to things of this world, which are material, and seek spiritual things that are from Heaven.

 Most of us who have tasted the wisdom of God are now trying to find out more.

 We know we need to grow in wisdom, but it requires our faith, our belief in the truth of God!

 Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 

Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 

 If we truly begin a search for wisdom, it will lead us to fear of the Lord, the place of true wisdom.

 1) Our hearts must be dedicated to obtaining this knowledge.

2) Our ears are open to receive this great knowledge.

 Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 

 Our security can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ have nowhere else to turn for lifesaving knowledge!

 They are open to all the destructive forces in this world, which is the domain of Satan.

 Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

 Joh 12:31  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 

 Only those who are filled with God the Holy Spirit is secure in this world and the world that is to come.

 2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 

2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 

 God has a purpose for everything we face in this life, every problem and every difficulty.

 This does not mean He causes all our problems; that is what Satan does.

 We must keep our focus on Heaven and not on our problems!

 2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

 When we become too ashamed to ask for God's help, we will suffer more than we could have.

 Our Heavenly Father does much more than just listen to us; He will answer every prayer that reaches into Heaven.

 We must live our lives in such a fashion as to make sure our prayers reach Heaven, and it begins when we have the "Fear of the Lord".

 We must never seek an unfair advantage over others, because God will not allow it.

 We must seek that God's righteousness is at work in us as we go about the business of serving the Lord!

 God's wisdom will affect our behavior toward others!

 *****Pro 18:16  A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. 

Pro 18:17  He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 

Pro 18:18  The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. 

Pro 18:19  A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. 

 It is a proven fact that generosity and politeness have opened many doors.

 There are two kinds of gifts, the gift of selfishness and the gift of kindness.

 A man sometimes bestows a favor on another to get back something of a higher value. This gift is a bribe.

 Bribery is the cause of much corruption in our world.

 The true children of God will not offer bribes, nor will they accept them!

 The gift of kindness is the true gift and is the real power.

 It makes room for the giver in the heart of the receiver, and it bringeth him before truly great men. Great men recognize and honour the generous.

 We may be able to use gifts here on this earth to help open doors, but we never need gifts to go before the Lord!

 The door of access to our Heavenly Father is always open to His children!

 We must be very careful when we hear something that seems bad about someone.

 God's children must hear both sides of each story.

 The first one to plead their case usually seems right. When we hear from the first side, we often feel that the first one to plead their case seems right, and we are quick to take their side.

 Our neighbor may come and judge us for our quick reaction without hearing the story from the other side.

 Our judgment may be different once we have heard from the other side.

 We may have to demand cross-examination of both parties before we can know the truth.

 In the Bible, the casting of lots was used to find answers and make decisions, and they had every faith that God would be involved.

 Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. 

 As true believers, we should be able to settle disputes just as peacefully as they did; we supposedly have the mind of Christ and have the Holy Spirit living within us.

 We should never turn to the world for help!

 As we witness to the lost, it is important that we argue and defend the truth of the Scriptures before all whom we may face, giving exactly what God has said and the meaning of it.

 As Christians, we are wise to do everything we can to prevent conflicts in the Church before they arise.

 Once it has taken place and relationships are harmed, it will be hard for them to be restored.

 People who are angered and hurt are difficult to win back.

 These things divide churches if not solved before they get out of hand.

 We see that to please God, we must make it clear that we cannot be bought; we are not for sale.

We must never take sides based on partial information.

We must handle differences of opinion according to the Scriptures.

We should do everything we can to live peaceably with others.

 *****Pro 18:20  A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 

Pro 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

 There is sometimes great power in the words that we say.

 We need to think before we speak and try not to wound the spirits of those around us.

 Some people indeed make their living speaking words, and most of them do not care what they say if it gets a laugh or causes some dispute.

They just laugh at those who do not think the way they do

 It is far better to seek to encourage and build up people.

 We are commanded to show respect for each other.

 Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

 What we say comes from the heart, so impure words come from an impure heart.

 Pro 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 

 Each of us is responsible for our own spiritual growth.

We are responsible for getting our children headed down the right path.

Pro_22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

The families of our nation are failing in this command of God.

If we keep our minds focused upon the Lord, we will think right.

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

There is certainly death in the power of the tongue, but there can also be life if we think before we speak.

The great example we have before us is the Word of Life, the Love Letter that God has given to us.

God just speaks, and things happen.

God does not speak bad things because it is out of His character and goes against His goodness, but He does not hesitate to tell us the truth of this world and the world that is to come.

*****Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 

When we find that wife that God designed for us, we know we have a good thing.

This is also pleasing to our Heavenly Father, and He will bless this marriage.

Unfortunately, not every wife is a good wife, and not every husband is a good husband.

To be honest, we will not know how to choose a good wife until we become children of God.

Besides salvation, the choosing of a good wife is one of the most important decisions we will make in this life.

What does God actually say: 2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 

We should understand that God ordains each marriage for life, so we must be wise when we are searching for a wife.

1Co 7:10  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 

1Co 7:39  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

These things go for the husband also.

If our marriage does not work out, we must be careful to observe the Word of God and allow God to decide if we need another wife or another husband.

God is very good at leading two people together and making it a blessing.

*****Pro 18:23  The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. 

In the Bible, the poor are those because of circumstances beyond their control, cannot work to support themselves.

God has very little pity on those who can work but are too lazy to do so.

God has very little pity on those who cannot work because of sin.

Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 

Those whom God has allowed to become rich are to help those who are poor.

1Ti 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 

1Ti 6:18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

How to use our resources is another thing we need the wisdom of God to do righteously.

*****Pro 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 

We should understand that one true friend is far more valuable than many who just claim to be our friends.

The one who gave us our first cigarette was not our friend.

The one who gave us that drink of alcohol was not our friend.

The one who gave us drugs was not our friend.

The one who talked us into doing something foolish was not our friend.

A true friend will stick by you no matter the circumstances.

Even in this, we have the Lord Jesus Christ as our example because He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who died in our place so we can live an eternal life.

Nothing can separate us from our Savior!

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

God bless the Word of God that gives us such great wisdom from the only source of true wisdom.

Amen

To Know Him is to Fear Him

 

Wisdom's Instructions About the Fear of the Lord

 Book of Proverbs Chapter 14

 What is the "Fear of the Lord"?

 If we go back to Adam, God's greatest creation, mankind, we know that Adam walked with God in the cool of the day. We can only imagine the conversations they had as they strolled through the Garden of Eden.

 Things changed once Adam had sinned!

 Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

 Those private walks in the Garden were over because Adam now had a great fear of the Lord, and this fear came to him because of sin.

 We see that Adam's fear stemmed from his awareness of his sin.

 God knew where Adam was hiding, but he wanted Adam to admit that he was now a sinner.

 It is the same thing we must all do to improve our relationship with the Lord God our Creator.

 It is because we have sin in our lives that we must have a reverent "fear of the Lord".

 Then the Lord Jesus came to save us.

 Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 Today, far too many live in fear of what this world is doing to them, and they have forgotten to fear the only One who can send us to Hell.

 The Bible teaches us that we want to avoid Hell, and the only way to do this is to listen to what God has to say and be a doer of the Word of God.

 *****Pro 14:1  Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

 Remembering that wisdom comes from the "Fear of the Lord", we can see that a wise woman makes her home her priority. Her primary focus is on her family.

 She has not built with hammers and saws but with the qualities that make a home a home.

 She builds an atmosphere that supports and strengthens her husband and her children.

 This should be the priority in a wise woman's home.

 Today, with so many single mothers, these things cannot take place as they should.

 God has ordained this role of the wife and mother.

 1Ti 5:14  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

 Tit 2:4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Tit 2:5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

 This does not mean that the husband should not be involved, nor does this mean that the woman cannot work or be involved in things outside the home.

 It just means her priority is the "Fear of the Lord," which makes her a wise woman, and then she can build with her husband a house that is a home.

 Today, there are far too many who destroy the home through neglect. The first thing they reject is the Word of God, which makes them foolish, and they have no "Fear of the Lord".

 This kind of woman will tear down the family because she puts everything else first before her family and her husband.

 Pro 31:10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Pro 31:11  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Pro 31:12  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

 It pays for the man looking for a wife to choose very carefully, and choose someone who has a reverent fear of the Lord.

 It is the same for a woman looking for a husband.

 *****Pro 14:2  He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

 If we have a reverent fear of the Lord, it will show in the way we live our lives.

 Remember, God will judge us by the way we look at His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

 People who have truly placed their trust in the salvation and redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ will live their lives according to the written Word of God.

 We must declare the Lord with our lips and demonstrate it with our lives!

 That word walketh means the way we live our lives, our conduct, and our behavior.

 All those who claim to be Christian and walk like the world are not telling the truth!

 Many denominations are split over this very simple truth of God!

 1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 Repentance is still the great Doctrine of the Bible that we are to keep.

 True repentance is a change of mind and purpose and life, with remission of sin is promised.

 Remission refers to the penalty of sin.

Forgiveness refers to the person.

 *****Pro 14:3  In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

 We can say that the fear of the Lord is also demonstrated by the way people speak.

 The words of a fool will bring his own destruction.

 Psa 64:8  So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

 Whatever power that an arrogant fool thinks he has in the end will be a tool in the hands of the righteous.

 They may cause us pain for a season, but in the end, they will bring their own destruction.

 It can be said that a fool is his own worst enemy!

 Pro 12:6  The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

 *****Pro 14:4  Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

 Nobody likes to clean up a stall where animals are kept, nor the feeding trough, which is a crib or a manger.

 If a farmer did not have an ox, he would have no crib to clean.

 The farmer who has to clean the ox's crib does so with a smile because the ox does all the hard work that allows his family to have plenty of food.

 The farmer who is taking care of hardworking animals is better off than using his own labor to provide for his family.

 A productive ox is far better than a barn that needs no cleaning.

 There is a great reward that comes from a well-fed ox!

 The same is true of Spiritual food. Walking by faith has its own difficulties, but we will not get to Heaven unless we do.

 1Co 9:9  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

1Co 9:10  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

 *****Pro 14:5  A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

 A faithful witness cannot be convinced to tell a lie!

 A false witness is someone God hates!

 Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 One of the things that is wrong in our court system today is the fact that so many lies are told, and no one seems to care, and no one is held accountable.

 By the world's standard, this may seem to be okay, but God's standards are much higher than the world's standards.

 A foolproof test of a person's heart is whether or not he or she will tell the truth.

 A witness is someone who gives testimony in court or some official proceeding.

 A Christian will tell the truth no matter the circumstance.

 We even do wrong when we deal with our children at the time of Christmas and Easter.

 Being faithful should mean much more than some lie for any reason, and we know that our Lord hates a liar, and there is no such thing as a white lie.

 No amount of money should convince us to lie!

No promotion or promises should convince us to lie!

No threat of harm or danger should convince us to lie!

 We are to remain as faithful witnesses no matter the cost!

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

 Pro 10:18  He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

 Pro 12:19  The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

 *****Pro 14:6  A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

 There are times when those who deny God and God's Word seek God's wisdom, but they will never find it.

 The Word of God will remain just another man-made book to them because they do not have the Holy Spirit to discern for them.

 Wisdom is given only to those who have a reverent fear of the Lord!

 Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

 1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

 *****Pro 14:7  Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

Pro 14:8  The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Pro 14:9  Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

 God shares His wisdom with His children so we can know how to move away from foolish people.

 No wisdom can be gained from a fool!

 Time spent with fools is wasted time, and we are taught not to waste the little time we have on fools.

 Eph_5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 Col_4:5  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

 Fools are deceiving themselves, and they will deceive anyone who listens to them.

 When salvation becomes part of our lives, we can look back and see the flaws we were living with and do our best to fix those flaws.

 This is called repentance, and we will need the Holy Spirit to be able to do this.

 Spiritual blindness means the fool thinks he is acceptable to God just as he is and requires no change.

 This one thing is causing the split of many denominations, and we must not get caught up with fools.

 1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 As we see into the realm of the LGBTQ movement, fools scoff at the concept of feeling guilty for their sins and the need for atonement.

 This applies to every person on this earth!

 They deny the need to repent of their sins!

 They deny that their lifestyle is living in sin and refuse to repent.

 1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 There can be no righteousness unless we fully accept our accountability to God and are grateful for His mercy and His grace.

 God made a way for us to escape His wrath, and we must do the things He has commanded us to do to be saved.

 *****Pro 14:10  The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

 Neither our joys nor our sorrows can be wholly shared with another person.

 No one can know how we truly feel, to feel that which we feel.

 It is only our Lord Jesus Christ who can know these things about us.

 2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2Co 1:5  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

 This is the exact reason He took on that body of flesh, so He could know exactly how we feel in terrible or even joyous situations.

 We can be sure that as Christians, we will experience great times of joy, but we will also experience those times of mourning and heart pain.

 Those who love us and love the Lord will give us room to go through these times and be ready to come to our aid if we request their help.

 If we are in a Bible believing church, we can be sure that if we are going through some situation, there is someone in that church who has been through a similar situation, and this person will know the comfort that came from God when they needed it.

 It is only Jesus Christ who knows the truth about us!

 Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 We should have a routine that starts with the Lord every day to prepare ourselves to go out into this wicked world.

 We need that hedge of protection that God provides if we are His children!

 We need to spend some time in the Word of God.

 We certainly need to spend some time in conversation with God.

 We must consistently walk in obedience to the Word of God all day.

 We must not only avoid evil but also avoid looking like we are taking part in any evil or wickedness in this world we have become strangers to.

 *****Pro 14:11  The house of the wicked shall be overthrown but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

Pro 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Pro 14:13  Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Pro 14:14  The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

Pro 14:15  The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

 We must prepare for our own end.

 We must prepare for what will occur when our lives on this earth are over.

 We must prepare to meet our God!

 When our heart beats for the last time and our living spirit leaves our body of dirt, every individual will meet God in judgment.

 Heb_9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

 Ecc 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

 Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 Those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, their body is just a house.

 Those who have given their heart to the Lord Jesus, their body is a Tabernacle.

 A house is a permanent dwelling; a Tabernacle is just a temporary dwelling place.

A house is a place for those who are settled, a tent or tabernacle is a place for those on a journey.

A house is more stable than a tent.

A house is of earthly value and more expensive than a tent.

 To those who are lost, a house is more desirable, but the Word of God does not agree.

 An earthly house is the best a lost person can hope for.

 When they reach the end of their days without the Lord, that earthly house is destroyed, and they are homeless throughout eternity.

 That soul that cannot die will spend eternity in Hell.

 Those who love the Lord know their flesh is no more than a tent, and this life is only part of our journey, and we are only passing through this world to get to our permanent home in God's New Heaven.

 2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

 Those who are lost trust in their own judgment, which will lead to eternal torment and eternal death!

 Those who love the Lord Jesus trust in God's way, the way that leads to true life, which is eternal life!

 It is a tragic mistake to believe that there is no God who is our Creator, and we have to abide by His Word.

 All those who are deceived have been deceived by Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, and Shintoism, and the Dalai Lama, Joseph Smith, Charles Russel, and L. Ron Hubbard, and any salvation by works.

 Even those who are atheists have been deceived.

 Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 We may all travel the mountains and the valleys of this world, but to God's children, He will travel with them, and He is always ready to take them home at the end of that last breath here in this world.

 These things are not true for all the others who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

 These things are serious and not things that can be laughed at.

 The backslider in heart is the one who turns away from God, and he will reap the rewards of his wickedness: Pro 1:31  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Pro 1:32  For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

 We must understand that we will reap what we have sown while we are in these earthly bodies!

 The backsliders are those people who seem to follow the Lord Jesus, but in their hearts, they have completely turned away from God.

 1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1Jn 2:19  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.

 With the wisdom of God, we can take thought of our actions before we face them.

 Those without God will believe anything and follow anything.

 Even as Christians, it may be hard to see the concept of eternity, but it is real.

 How we spend eternity depends upon what we have done with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 If we are wise, we have prepared for eternity by believing the truth of God and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who opened Heaven's doors to accept those who have placed their faith in the Gospel.

 The ones we are to reach with the Gospel are not the ones who have rejected the Gospel many times, but the ones we are to reach are those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 *****Pro 14:16  A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Pro 14:17  He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Pro 14:18  The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Pro 14:19  The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Pro 14:20  The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

Pro 14:21  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

 We all know that things are going on in this world and in the heavens that we just do not understand.

 We have seen things discovered that no one can explain.

 Those who believe in the evolution theory have us all beginning as apes.

They have simple-minded people who could do nothing more than hunt game and raise a few crops just to survive.

 God says that from the beginning of time, humans were city builders.

 Gen 4:17  And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

 Gen 4:21  And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

Gen 4:22  And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

 We also know that after the great flood of this world, all the pyramids and ziggurats were built.

 Gen 10:32  These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

 Gen 11:4  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

 Gen 11:8  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Gen 11:9  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

 These things can be denied, but it does not make them any less true.

 Humans have always been able to build things!

 We who know the Lord fear sin because we now know the consequences of sin.

 Those who are fools are reckless and self-confident.

 Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

 Foolish people are quick-tempered and do not try to control their tempers.

 I know because I was one of them.

 Even later, with PTSD, I became worse, but the Lord Jesus has shown me the way out.

 Ecc 7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

 A fool is someone who has heard that there may be a God who is our Creator, but they will not take the time to find out more about Him.

 This is part of our sin nature we inherited from Adam. We are foolish by nature.

 We can quit being foolish by choosing the "Fear of the Lord".

 The Word of God is our "hedge of protection" if we abide by it!

 We must understand that the Devil will certainly bow before God on the day God chooses.

 Evil will bow before the Church at God's appointed time.

 Evil will only profit in the world we live in now, but there is no evil in our future once God takes us home.

 Rom 16:20  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

 As the Church, we are to see every soul as equal.

 The rich may have many friends, but those friends are only there because of their wealth, and they all hate the poor man.

 It is not to be this way in the Church of the Living God!

 The Church will not be blessed unless the Church has "mercy" on the poor.

 The poor are all those who have need of help financially and spiritually.

 Psa 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

 The ways of the world will make us angry, but we are to do our best not to follow the ways of this world.

 *****Pro 14:29  He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Pro 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Pro 14:31  He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

 It is not a sin to become angry; it is a sin to remain angry.

 By remaining angry, we become fools: Ecc 7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

 It is called self-control; it could also be called being sober.

 Self-restraint means we are never to disregard the feelings of others.

 We cannot remain healthy without a healthy heart.

 He has a healthy heart, morally and physically, and is not cluttered up with anger issues.

 Pro_4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 Envy will eat away at our strength like heart disease and cancer eat away at our lives.

 Envy is like a deadly plague trying to destroy our nation.

 To oppress is to offer violence to the bodies, to the property, or to the conscience of others.

 This happens to the poor more than it happens to any other group, though the oppression of Christ is rising in this world.

 We can also see that protests have become nothing but a means to oppress those who do not agree with the agenda that is being pushed on them.

 We can see that these things bring on the wrath of our Maker, our Creator.

 No one has the right to oppress someone else in this world, and this includes wicked governments.

 1Jn 3:17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

 Those who are wicked do not even realize what is in store for them!

 ***** Pro 14:32  The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Pro 14:33  Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Pro 14:35  The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

 Once we claim the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior with all our hearts, our future is set in stone. It cannot change!

 We can live in peace knowing that no matter when death comes our way, it means life.

 As Christians, we can look death right in the his face and say: 1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

 Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 Those who reject the Gospel have no such hope. They may not believe in Hell, but they are in for a rude awakening on the day of their death.

 Luk 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Luk 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

 Almost every politician campaigns on making our nation better.

 Some truly try, and others had no intention but only sought to make themselves prosperous.

 Our nation cannot prosper through illegal immigration.

Our nation cannot prosper through the drug trade.

Our nation cannot prosper through lawlessness.

Our nation cannot prosper through corruption.

Our nation cannot prosper through immorality.

Our nation cannot prosper through spending more than it takes in.

Our nation cannot prosper through the profits of sin.

 Only one factor determines whether a nation rises or falls, and it is righteousness.

 Nations that follow God's standards, that are governed by the Word of God, are great nations.

 For America to be a great nation again, it must stop its downhill slide to Hell, and this goes for every nation.

 Good citizens serve the best interests of their nations.

 The wicked serve only themselves!

 God's principles will do the same for families, co-workers, and friends.

 How Christians are to behave is written in plain language in the Word of God.

 Wake up Church!

 Amen

When a Ruler Confesses

 David's Confession

Book of 2 Samuel Chapter 12

What is our confession to the Lord? It is an open profession of our faith.

When we confess our love for the Lord Jesus Christ and our faith in Him, we can be saved.

Luk 12:8  Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 

Luk 12:9  But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

After we are saved, we can confess our sins and know that the Lord will hear us and then forgive us, this is repentance.

1Jn_1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We already know the terrible things King David had done in his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah but up until this point David had not confessed his sin to the Lord and he had not been forgiven of those sins.

Repentance should  consist of four things: 

1) A true sense of our guilt and sinfulness.

Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 

Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

 2) A true knowledge of God's mercy in Jesus Christ. 

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

3) Actual hatred of sin

Psa_119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

4) Walking with the Lord after salvation.

Jas_2:22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Jas_2:24  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Who would have thought that David could have done such things as these? 

Adultery, murder, deceit, attempting to hide his sin for fear of the Laws of Moses.

We should clearly understand that our sin will eventually find us out.

Num_32:23  But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Our lesson describes to us how miserable David had become just because he refused to confess his sin.

David had spent the time up to this point trying to hide his sin from all of Israel and he had good reason to.

Two years had gone by and David had thought no more of Uriah.

This is also sin!

Our own national leaders show very little concern for that soldier or that serviceman who is willing to defend his nation.

In the laws of Moses, both adultery and murder had the punishment of death.

What would Israel think of him if they found out what he had done?

This is why our own government today tries to hide the things they do as they think they are above the average citizen.

All these things are secondary to what the Lord will do if we do not confess our sins to Him.

He already knows what we have done!

What did God do to David?

Did He remove David? No, David was still the best choice to lead the nation of Israel at that time since he had confessed and repented.

Did God raise up the enemies of Israel to come against David? No.

Did God rain down fire and brimstone upon David? No.

God sent a humble man of God to confront David, God sent the preacher.

We must keep in mind that David was King of all of Israel and David was the law in the land of Israel.

The prophet Nathan simply told a little story that King David could relate to and it, broke David from his stubbornness.

What is worse than sin itself? Being blind and insensible to sin is much worse because this proves just how depraved we really are!

We should also know that chastisement is never a joyful experience and God will never allow it to be because that would send the wrong message!

God will not condone sinful behavior from His children for very long.

Consistent sinful behavior from anyone, is a sign that they do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, no matter what they claim!

*****2Sa 12:1  And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 

2Sa 12:2  The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 

2Sa 12:3  But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

First Nathan tells David a make-believe story of two different men, one rich and one poor.

Riches of that day were determined by how many animals were owned.

David could relate to this story because he had been a shepherd who had kept the flocks of his own father, Jesse.

The rich man had many sheep but the poor man had only one sheep and he had raised it much like we do our pets and would never have killed the animal for any reason. It was a fine animal with no blemishes and kept more as a pet rather than merchandise.

This one ewe sheep was likened to a daughter to this man and was his only companion!

One day the rich man had a guest to entertain in his home.

*****2Sa 12:4  And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 

As this story continues, one day the rich man had a guest to entertain in his home.

Instead of slaughtering one of his own animals for the evening meal, the rich man stole the one and only lamb of the poor man.

He slaughtered this animal and served it to his guest having no concern for the property of the poor man.

It was at this point that King David became enraged with anger.

*****2Sa 12:5  And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: 

2Sa 12:6  And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 

David interrupted Nathan at this point and swore to Nathan the Prophet of God that this man should die and also pay for the lamb four times over what was dictated by the Law with animals of the same quality.

Exo 22:1  If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 

Unknown to David, he had just condemned himself.

It was David who had over three hundred concubines and in reality, he could have had most any single lady in the kingdom of Israel if he had asked.

Uriah had only one wife, Bathsheba.

Nathan interrupted David before he could say another word.

*****2Sa 12:7  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 

We can see that our Lord will sometimes use different means than we would even think of to show us our own guilt in sin.

We must also understand that God will never go against His will!

The Lord sent the preacher, Nathan the Prophet of Jehovah, with this little story that once David understood it, he realized it was all about him.

Up until this point King David had no suspicion that he was this rich man and that he had acted, showing no concern for his neighbor Uriah, who was a valiant soldier and one of David's great ones.

Uriah had dedicated his life to King David and David had snuffed that life out as if it meant nothing to him.

David had now condemned himself!

David had been blind to his own sin!

We cause harm to ourselves when we refuse to repent of our sins!

God reminded David of how much he had already given to him and God reminds David that he would have gotten even more blessings if he had not done this thing.

*****2Sa 12:8  And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

David was horrified at the picture that Nathan had drawn of his conduct and we will see that David finally realized just how much he had sinned against the Lord against Uriah and against Bathsheba.

His greatest sin was against the Lord.

All sin is against the Lord because we are disobedient to what He teaches us in His Word!

We must realize that any sin we become a part of is against the Lord and that person.

When we do such things, we can expect God's judgment and God's chastisement!

We will reap what we sow which is what the Lord tells us!

As terrible as God's judgment may sound, we should also know that no sin is beyond the reach of God's mercy.

This is why God's grace is so prevalent in this the Church Age which could soon be over.

We will also see that in the remainder of David's life, that David learned this lesson well and he was no habitual sinner in such things as these.

David was never perfect while he was alive!

We sometimes forget the awesome power we have given to our rulers but the Lord keeps them in His sights.

A government for the people is far better than a government for themselves, which is what we have today!

Only David and Joab knew of these things and it had gone no further than this, other than a few of King David's dedicated servants who would have never turned against him.

What was God's judgment?

*****2Sa 12:9  Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 

2Sa 12:10  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 

2Sa 12:11  Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.  

Whether it was by his own hands or not, King David had murdered Uriah.

It was a premeditated murder!

David had lusted after a married woman, Bathsheba, this sin David committed before he even took the next step of laying with her.

The sin of adultery is a terrible sin!

David's greatest sin was disobedience to the Word of God as is all our sin!

Psa 51:4  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 

David had not only murdered Uriah, but a man also dedicated to the safety of the king, and it was as if David had done this himself, even if he had used the hands of others to do the deed for him.

In fact David had used the hands of his enemies to kill a valiant, dedicated soldier.

David had used the hands of the enemy of God's people!

Our greatest enemy is Satan and if we use the hands of Satan to cause harm to others we have sinned terribly.

The Lord is always ready to pardon once we have repented!

David had been able to get away with this thing in the world, but the Lord God of this world sees everything we do.

David later wrote this Psalm and gave it to the Chief musician, which was probably Asaph at that time.

Psa 139:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 

Psa 139:2  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 

Psa 139:3  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 

Psalm 139 is a great Psalm for us to read.

We can see that when David wrote in this Psalm that he clearly understood the power of God to see all our actions in this world.

How would we compare this judgment with the judgment others from God?

Jacob deceived his father, and his sons deceived him. Jacob cheated on his brother, and is cheated by his uncle Laban.

We will see that many similar things of David's sin will play out in the life of David until his death.

David would see most of these things in his own family, his own children included, and yet he would not be able to stop it.

David's son Absalom would do things never imagined by a loving son.

In some ways Absalom was guided by the grandfather of Bathsheba who had cared for Uriah.

For the murder of Uriah there would be a fourfold restitution by King David as he had stated himself.

Bathsheba's baby would die.

Amnon would rape David's daughter Tamar.

Absalom would cause a rebellion.

Adonijah would try to seize the throne David had given to Solomon.

In many ways King David faced open disgrace from his own family.

David had brought shame and dishonor upon the family of his neighbor, so his own family rights were violated by his own son.

We can believe that sins that follow sin are usually much worse than the sins that caused them!

This still holds true today!

God says to David, you tried to hide your sins, but God said, He would do all these things in the open for all of Israel to see.

*****2Sa 12:12  For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 

David had committed terrible sin, but God did not cast him away.

We find that when we commit such sin we may be of little use to the plan of God.

David would remain King of Israel but he was king only politically and no longer spiritually useful in the plan of God.

God did not take away his salvation. David still genuinely believed and trusted in the Lord!

On this one occasion he had yielded to the lust of his flesh and it would cost him dearly, but the Lord still loved David.

We must understand that the Lord will chastise us because He loves us!

If He did not love us, He would just send us straight to Hell!

It is a sure thing that no matter who we are, we will reap what we sow!

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 

1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 

And King David repented.

*****2Sa 12:13  And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 

We see that once we repent of our sin, we are forgiven and the Lord puts away that sin and He will never bring it up again!

The world will certainly bring it up, but not the Lord.

There is very little mercy in this world unless you are a child of the Devil and he will use you and toss you into the worldly abyss.

In humility and brokenness David confessed his sin, declaring that he had sinned against the Lord Himself.

David made no attempt to rationalize or to justify his actions or his sin.

David spoke from the depth of his heart because he knew his guilt and he knew he deserved to be punished.

The Lord offered up His mercy and it is His mercy we must respond to!

The Lord set aside the death penalty for David which was called for by the Laws of Moses.

David would not be condemned by the world!

Isa_40:18  To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

David is in Heaven today along with this child conceived through sin!

*****2Sa 12:14  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. 

What is the most awful result when a Christian sins? We give a great occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme!

When these things happen that lost crowd will broadcast it everywhere!

The child would die but all such children go straight to Heaven.

If that poor baby had been allowed to live, those non-believers of that day would rejoice in the fall of David and ridicule the Name of the Lord, just as they do today for anything, they see a Christian do that is wrong in their eyes.

There would be no respect for the Word of God, if we just continue in our sin, claiming that Grace is our ticket to forgiveness.

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 

Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

We should understand that it was not Bathsheba's fault her son had died.

*****2Sa 12:24  And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. 

2Sa 12:25  And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD. 

David had been comforted by the Lord and he went to Bathsheba to comfort her.

They had both been reconciled to God and it was time for them both to seek reconciliation!

King David took Bathsheba to be his wife and God gave them another son who was Solomon and it is Solomon who would become the third king of Israel.

All the other sons of David were so caught up in sin they would never have made decent kings.

Note: we see immediately see that the Lord loved Solomon, but it does not mean that the Lord did not love the other child for He did.

That child is also in Heaven!

2Sa 12:23  But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? "I shall go to him", but he shall not return to me. 

This assurance lets know that every aborted child and every child that dies before they have the ability to know the Lord and know the penalty of sin, are all in Heaven.

The name Jedidiah means "Beloved of Jehovah".

Amen

We Must Repent Then Submit To Be Blessed

Repentance, Submission, and Blessing

Book of Job Chapter 42

What we will see in this last chapter of the Book of Job is that although Job had not sinned, there were many things that he did not have the right understanding of about the Lord.

Job did not have the Bible that we have today to guide Him, Job only had those things of knowledge that had been passed down from his forefathers and what he could learn talking face to face with the Lord.

Job was not very many generations from Noah, so the fear and the power of God should have been near to Job's heart.

We should clearly understand that we are to take the Word of God He has given to us, to learn all we can about our God and fools not to do so!

We are only temporary residents of this place called earth.

My mom is 91 years old, but many of us will not live that many years, but we will live eternally with the Lord so this little time we live now, is nothing compared to eternal life.

2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The one thing every child of God knows is, that our Heavenly Father has a plan, and we are smack dab in the middle of it and we will not be left out of God's plan.

We serve a Great Big God of All Power and we are blessed that He is a Loving and Merciful God!

The greatest wrong we do today may be the fact that, we speak too much before we have the right understanding!

This becomes really serious when we are speaking of our Lord and Savior.

*****Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

What is awe? Awe is fear mingled with admiration or we could say, fear mingled with reverence.

Psa 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

Psa 33:9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

In the days of Job, the rainbow had much more significance than it does today for it reminded the people of the awesomeness of God.

Today most people do not give the rainbow a second thought, but we should!

If we do not have these same thoughts that Job had, then we are the sinners, not Job.

There is nothing that God cannot do except sin. God cannot sin and God cannot lie, and God cannot be unrighteous!

It can never be said that God will do foolish things and it be true!

God can hear the smallest whisper because God can hear the thought that is in our heart before it gets to our mind and causes some action good or bad!

Job admitted he had talked about things that he had not clearly understood.

*****Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

What is the one greatest thing that Job had learned in all this?

We have no right to question the ways of God!

We have no right to complain to God for the things we go through!

We have no right challenging God's wisdom!

We have no right challenging God justice!

We should think about these things as we have seen the results of the recent elections!

Did we vote according to the Word of God?

God does what God does anytime God wants to do so!

What did Job learn?

That he must bow in humble submission before His Creator and admit, it is God who is sovereign!

Isa 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

Isa 46:8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Isa 46:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

To be honest, we must accept all the things that God does as the right things to do, no matter how we feel about them!

Jehovah is a righteous God!

We may not ever understand all the Word of God, but the more we study ourselves, the more we listen to the Preacher, the more we attend Sunday School, the more we will understand how our Lord works in this world.

In fact God will never go against anything He has given to us in writing!

We do need to have an accurate Bible written, according to the Greek and Hebrew Manuscripts of the Received Text.

We will never understand the Bible unless the Holy Spirit lives within us and we will never have the Holy Spirit live within us, until we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

The world can never know the truth of the Scriptures unless a child of God, led by the Holy Spirit, teaches them and of course the Holy Spirit is the greatest of all teachers and He will always, "always" lead us to Jesus the Messiah.

God has every right to demand we live according to His Word!

*****Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

We must also understand that we must be willing to live without our questions being answered!

This is what "faith" provides!

Faith allows to go on with our life knowing that everything that God does is the right thing!

We serve a righteous God!

When our "faith" is strong our suffering will be short!

Satisfaction comes with the knowledge of the truth!

We must clearly understand, that because we have accepted the truth of God, the truth of the Lord Jesus, we are the children of God and the Lord knows best what we need in this life, and He has prepared us a place for us to live in our eternal life, where there will be no problems at all.

Another thing we must know is that we are not perfect, and we always have some sin to repent of.

Our thoughts are not always pure!

Our actions are not always right!

Our non-actions can be sin!

There are always some things that we have not done knowing we should have done!

You see, the closer we get to the Lord the better we will be in this life!

The more we know about the Lord the better we will be in this life!

When we pray, we should have a greater knowledge of the Lord's answer, if we are familiar in what the Lord has done in the past.

If we are God's child, then we can know that He will answer our prayer and we will get what we ask if we ask in faith.

The key to our relationship with the Lord and answered prayer is our "faith"!

As one man wrote "we should be crushed under the weight of God's "greatness", if we think about it!

*****Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

As God had said, Job was the most perfect man on the earth at that time, yet Job had never grasped the greatness of God.

I believe we all fall short in this category!

It is a true statement "that we need to get off self and get on the Lord".

We are nothing more than a sack of dirt, yet in the eyes of our Savior and our Creator, we are the most brightest shining jewel, upon this earth.

He is not going to harm us!

He is not going to allow this world to harm us until it is time for us to go home!

The Lord never said it was going to be easy being a Christian in fact, the Lord said just the opposite.

Joh_16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We need to be over-comers of all the things that happen to us in this world!

The Lord teaches us to hate evil.

Joh_7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

The works of this world are always evil in some way!

The world sees an act of goodness as the first step of domination.

We must see sin as something that needs to be eradicated from this world!

We cannot allow corruption to be victorious!

For the most part we tolerate sin, when we need to express that hatred for sin the Lord teaches us to have.

This does not mean that human being, but it does mean that sin!

If Jesus testified of the works of sin, then if we are "like Christ" (Christian) then we need to testify of the works of sin!

The world does not see that being a Christian is being like Christ Jesus!

The world does not see that being a Christian is to live according to the Word of God!

We must always repent of any sin that we have, and this does not mean to tolerate the sin of others!

We are not found sincere in these things unless we have submitted to the Lord!

Now God speaks to Eliphaz.

*****Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

You see it was right for Job to reject the error of these three so-called friends and Elihu.

The things they had said to condemn Job, were wrong!

It was Job who had said things that were right according to the truth of God!

Eliphaz had been a bad example for those other three who followed after him in accusing Job.

We see that Jehovah had chastised Job, but His wrath was against those three men.

God's own children will never see God's wrath upon them!

This is another type in the Book of Job.

God does chastise His children and will keep His children from His wrath to come.

Rom_5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, "we shall be saved from wrath through him".

But the children of disobedience will see the full force of the wrath of God.

Rom_1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against "all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness";

Rom_2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Job had remained true to God through the assault of these worldly men!

Eliphaz was a type of the world and those with him were his followers.

And the Lord does not ever change, He will reward those He has justified, and He will punish those who are disobedient sinners who refuse to accept the Lord Jesus Christ, and refuse to repent!

When we have been "justified" by the Lord it does not matter if we are wrongly judged by the world.

The world thinks we are all hypocrites, anyhow!

We are not of this world just pilgrims passing through this world!

The world that rejects the ways of God cannot then judge the godly!

1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Then God shows mercy to these men rather than "judgment" at this time.

*****Job 42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

As I said at the beginning of our lessons in the Book of Job, we see Job was considered a Priest in his day.

This is also another proof of Job's innocence.

Here again we see that Job was told to do these things before the 613 laws were given to the Jews.

2Ch 29:21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.

2Ch 29:22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.

That word "folly" means foolishness, but it also means wickedness.

Those who defend these three men should know that Jehovah said they were wicked!

Wicked people do wicked things, insisting they are only trying to help, just as corrupt people do corrupt things insisting that is was only for the good of our nation, and everyone to vote in our recent elections and they do not see the wrong in doing so to achieve their goal, a quest for power.

This is the same goal of the Antichrist, "power"!

These three men did exactly what the Lord told them to do, and we can be sure Elihu was watching and listening just as he had been doing all along, but was probably not near 30 years of age.

*****Job 42:9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.

Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Before Job could offer up a sacrifice for these three men, he would have first had to offer up a sacrifice for himself and God had accepted that sacrifice along with this sacrifice for these three men.

Remember these three men had been inspired and used by Satan, and God put a stop to it, and again placed that hedge of protection around His child Job.

What did Solomon teach after such things?

Ecc 9:7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

Ecc 9:8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

Ecc 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

We also see that the Lord also took Satan out of the picture for the rest of the days of the life of Job!

Once Job was healed and his grief ended, we see that Job was accepted again by his friends and family who had also been influenced by Satan.

*****Job 42:11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.

Job had suffered for no wrong that He had done and when we suffer in this way God smiles! Why?

Because we are growing to be more like His Son.

Again we see Job as a type of Christ.

1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Job was humbled by his conversation with the Lord and he now knew much more about the ways of God.

These are the reasons that the Book of Job, and all the wisdom books are in the Bible.

This is why the Book of Job is considered a wisdom book, because we can learn the ways of our God and we are very wrong when we do not try to learn about Him.

We need to understand the way the Lord deals with sin and His children.

We say the patience of Job and Job was a great man of God, but I still do not understand why the Lord puts up with us.

I do not know how God could have sent His Son to pay for my sin and all our sin.

Notice how Job's friends and family return, still blaming God for bringing evil upon Job, still not claiming God to be a righteous God.

They do now show the signs of true comforters.

1) They came in respect. We must show respect to our brothers and sisters in their time of need.

2) They brought food. We should bring food because many will not fix for themselves.

3) They brought money. When possible or when needed we may have to provide for their necessities.

2Co_8:14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

4) They came with the intention to comfort. We must come as comforters and not accusers!

Yes, God allowed these things, but we should be thanking God for these valuable lessons we have learned and can learn for the Book of Job.

Notice how God will always make us pay for the harm we cause our brothers and sisters.

Their comfort was not in their money nor that gold, their comfort was in remembering that they should have supported Job from the beginning and not have abandoned him.

It is God who blessed Job!

*****Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

Notice how Job was now twice as rich as he had been before.

We do not know the time frame for all these things that happened to Job, but I do not think it was a long period of time.

We see that God knew exactly how many animals Job had before they had vanished.

God knows more about us than we know ourselves!

As the children of God there are some things we need to understand!

1) All our earthly troubles will sooner or later have a blessed ending.

2) Our success in this life is not what we have in the beginning but what we have at the ending.

3) Our afflictions are not penalties but for correction and sanctification.

4) At the end of this day if it ends in peace, we should be devoutly thankful and press onward till we reach that ending that sums up our lifetime upon this earth, remembering that we need to cling to our integrity as a "Born Again" child of God.

5) All true blessings come from our Heavenly Father!

Jas_1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

The Lord also blessed Job again with seven sons and three daughters and this time we know their names.

*****Job 42:13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.

Job 42:14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.

The greatest treasure that God allowed to be restored was children.

Job again had seven sons and three daughters.

Some would say why not 20 as with the animals.

Job had the knowledge that those first ten were in Heaven!

As head of the family, it was still Job's job to try to make sure that these ten would live righteously and when Job got to Heaven and when their time on earth ended there would be twenty of Job's children in Heaven.

Jemima a beautiful child meaning "as beautiful as the day" some also say it has the meaning of "dove".

Jezia (Cassia) meaning, "sweet-scented".

Psa 45:8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

Kerenhappuch (Kehren Happook) meaning "horn of cosmetics" taken from the Hebrew words meaning "ivory" or a ray of light added to "glowing" as in "glowing eyes".

No doubt Job's three daughters were the fairest in all the lands in their day!

*****Job 42:15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

In the day of Job it was the men who were left an inheritance and the women were expected to marry and that husband provide for his wife but Job decided to go against the grain and he equally left all ten of his children an inheritance and Job was rich, that inheritance was great.

So many say that the Bible does not treat men and women equally but we see God always treats everyone equal but he also insist in the order of the family with the man the head of the family in a Christian home led by the Lord.

There will be order in the Church the Lord the Head of the Church and that Christ called man of God to be the shepherd of the Church.

But God was not through blessing Job.

*****Job 42:16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.

Job 42:17 So Job died, being old and full of days.

Job lived to see his grandchildren, his great grandchildren, and his great-great grandchildren and Job's life was full.

Full meaning, abounding in love and grace and peace for a hundred and forty more years.

Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

The Lord Jesus was very compassionate and merciful also, but today He has patience greater than Job as that old accuser is constantly in His ear accusing those Jesus died for.

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The Lord's patience has an ending and according to many scriptures the Lord could return at any time and redeem His children!

Amen!