Wisdom Guides Us To A Confident Life
Proverbs 11-14
A guide is someone or something that will instruct and direct us in the correct path in this life.
We already know that in typology it is the Lord Jesus Christ who represents true "wisdom"!
We should also know that Jesus said when He returned to Heaven, He would leave us with another "Guide".
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.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
With these things in mind let's continue in the Book of Proverbs.
*****Pro 11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
The Book of Proverbs is a collection spiritual principles to apply to the practical life of God's people.
A basic fundamental of this book is that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap".
This one thing is denied by modern day humanism!
We cannot live as we like and expect moral results!
History has told us all, that this thing cannot be true!
The trouble with this is, that our leaders forget history and history repeats itself over and over again.
There has only been one perfect man and He is the Lord Jesus Christ!
Notice it is only the righteousness of the Lord that can direct our way because we simply have no righteousness of our own!
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
The righteous man who is not blinded by his own passions, can follow the safe and direct path of true life by his own "faith" in the Lord.
Those who are wicked, those who are evil in their principles and their practices, will fall by their own wickedness!
Job 27:7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
Life is much more than this short period of time we spend on this earth.
True life means no death!
True life comes only by Jesus Christ and only by His righteousness!
*****Pro 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
All the ways of the world lead only to false hope.
The way to life is to conform to the ways of God and the will of God, which is holiness.
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
To be holy is to be perfect and we can only be perfect because Jesus Christ is perfect!
True life is not only life along the way but it is life in the end!
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
There is no death along God's pathway!
*****Pro 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
The truth is anyone who despises the Word of God will bring destruction upon themselves!
Destruction is not just an arbitrary act of God, destruction is the self-ruin or the suicide of the unbeliever!
It is the same with reward!
We have it within our own selves to be rewarded by God, it comes from being guided by the Lord and led by the Holy Spirit!
*****Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Walking with the wise is sharing the wisdom of God with each other!
This why we should gather together more often and not less often in these end times.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
We must not be fooled, the "day of the Lord" is fast approaching!
Walking is a motion that we all choose.
Walking with others shows friendship.
Walking with the wise shows wisdom!
Walking in the ways of the world shows foolishness.
Wickedness is useless for the greater purposes of life!
We may have the right to free speech here in America but that does not mean that we are to make enemies of those around us!
The company of others should be used to temper and form the manners of each man.
We may not agree on everything but we should have a desire to come to an agreement.
This is what is lacking in our government today, everyone wants to have things their own way without yielding at all.
The only One who is always right is the Lord and the Word which He gave us!
Bad men and fools are not only useless for the greater purposes of life but they downgrade our society and we can see this happening in our world today even in America.
We must be very careful in our choice of friends and companions!
Bad company creates confidence in sin!
Wisdom creates an earnest concern for salvation!
Society is necessary to human life.
Remember Adam could have lived his entire life in innocence but Adam was not complete until he had a companion.
Society is necessary for human life but a society without the wisdom of God is doomed to failure!
The truth of society is that a man is known by the company he keeps and God says a companion of fools will lead to a life of destruction!
*****Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Mankind may be the greatest of God's creation but it seems that we are always stumbling in life!
Man did not evolve from the animal kingdom because man is much more complex than any animal!
The truth of mankind is that everyone is born as equals!
All mankind are born into this world in a state of helplessness and ignorance!
Everyone that is born then begin to find out the ways of life!
All the ways of life are not safe and there are many things this world does not show until we have gotten older.
In many cases while they are young, our children are deceived in the ways of life and this is a major problem in this day we live in.
There are ways that seem to be right to them but they will not realize the wrong in these ways until they have experienced the wrong of them!
It is also a fact that wicked and evil men are busy to beguile them!
Everyone of us were taught the way we are suppose to act in this life but these things only recognize our external life.
We may never understand right from wrong with this method because we will only imitate what we have learned.
Most of the Scribes and the Pharisees of the Bible were super religious and most all of them were rotten to the core!
Religion is no more than a mechanism just as the teachings of this world!
There is no true religion beyond Christianity which is a living faith in Christ Jesus!
When we try to go our own way we will only find the way of destruction!
What is wrong with America today?
Pro 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
No humanistic reasoning can ever lead us to true life which comes only by Christ Jesus!
*****Pro 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
The truth of the Book of Proverbs is that what is good in Heaven, is good for this world we live in now!
In order to leave this world in happiness we must first be wise in our choices while we live!
As far as our labor in this world, whatsoever we do in this world "that is worth doing" then do it well!
What's wrong with the humanism and liberal movement of today?
They seem to forget, that for a nation to survive and prosper there must be many more workers than there are talkers.
No doubt we need those with the ability to talk and to teach but we cannot sustain a government with more talkers than workers!
The largest employer in America is the government who are supported by the tax payer who is struggling to make ends meet.
Penury is poverty and this the life that socialism offers.
When labor no longer provides a profit then there is little enthusiasm to perform that work to the best of our ability and to be quiet honest this is sin against God and ourselves.
Our labor should be profitable to our physical health.
Our labor should be profitable to our character.
Our Labor should be profitable to our comforts.
The only talk that truly profits is that of God's called preachers who teach the truth of God but even that will not be of profit if we lack faith.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
In most every case, hard work will give our mind a rest from the troubles of this world.
It is those who are weak in faith and weak in Spirit who try to talk themselves out of work!
Ecc 5:3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
Wisdom truly has it's riches!
*****Pro 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
We must remember, the wise are those that have a reverent fear of the Lord.
It is this wisdom of the Lord that becomes a crown for others to see.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
The wisdom of the Lord wears like an ornament, a thing of great price for others to see and the gift of knowledge and understanding of the Lord are certainly of great value.
The truth is foolishness can never be anything but folly!
Folly is always sin!
The folly of fools can never be considered wealth!
Riches to a foolish man, can never make him wise!
Pro 27:22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
Most all things of wisdom are wasted on a fool because his foolishness will not depart from him!
*****Pro 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
The truth is a faithful witness will not lie!
Those that speak the truth of God show forth their righteousness.
Therefore a true witness saves persons who are in danger of false accusations!
Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
So a witness of the truth of Jesus Christ, a faithful minister of the "Gospel", not only saves himself but saves them that hear him!
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Soul-winning is the object of each child of God!
The Lord Jesus had these words for all His disciples:
Luk 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Those that are deceitful speak only lies who serve the god of this world!
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Those that fear the Lord are of the truth!
*****Pro 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
The fear of the Lord is much more than just "faith"!
We must have "faith" or we cannot begin to please God!
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The "fear of the Lord" not only includes "faith" but also includes "hope", "love", a godly walk, and every "grace".
**Those the fear the Lord are in awe of His majesty:
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
**Those that fear the Lord are very aware of God's presence.
Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
**Those that fear the Lord understand His might:
Luk 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
**Those that fear the Lord are aware of His displeasure:
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
**Those that fear the Lord have strong confidence in the truth of the "Gospel"!
Our God does not ever change, what He did in the past, He will also do in the future!
Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Num 23:20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
A "refuge" is a shelter for protection from danger or distress!
We see that it is not the father or the mother who have refuge but it is His children!
Every child that comes into this world is God's child but it is impossible to be God's child and not know that you are!
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Our true place of refuge is the heart of Christ Jesus and if we ask Jesus, He will let us into His heart!
Psa 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
We are never to young or to old to seek refuge in Christ Jesus!
*****Pro 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Life is somewhat like a fire.
A fire needs some form of energy to keep burning.
Life cannot continue without food!
Spiritual life is similar in that it needs the fear of the Lord which is our fountain and is continuous, is inexhaustible and is pure!
A fountain is a natural source of living water.
What did Jesus tell the woman at the well in Samaria?
Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
And Jesus added these words:
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.
Jesus Christ is the key to avoiding the snares of death!
*****Pro 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
If we could get our own president to understand that a happy people, dwelling safely and securely, is a much better honor than a divided nation!
Wise legislation can foresee and remedy many difficulties that arise.
These are the signs of a good government!
To push a single agenda designed to alienate a people will bring his downfall and also those that follow who keep the same agenda!
This proverb is true for any and every nation!
The unique blessings of God on America can be attributed to our founding fathers and the early Christian pioneers. The farther we stray from the wisdom and the principles of these people the closer we get to the downfall of our great nation.
America was founded by people seeking a place to worship the Lord Jesus Christ not a place to worship just any false religion!
*****Pro 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
It is not a sin be get angry!
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
The downfall of anger is that we become angry at the person rather than the action they caused!
Unjust anger is always sin!
Excessive anger is always sin!
Selfish anger is always sin!
Personal anger is very seldom without sin.
God said if you get mad "get over it quickly" before it becomes sin!
The truth is that those that are slow to anger show great wisdom!
The downfall of anger is a desire for vindication, which will lead to sin!
Those that are hasty for vindication only seek revenge which then becomes the sin of pride and it was pride that was the downfall of Satan!
Pro 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Remember "folly" is a sign of weakness and the actions of a fool!
Pro 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
*****Pro 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
A sound heart is a heart that has been given to the Lord Jesus Christ.
All other hearts are rotten!
Even physical health requires a strong heart!
With the influences of emotions such as grief, disappointment, anger, jealousy, and revenge, which spring from envy and pride, derange the the bodily system and become a major health risk.
This is the truth of science.
BECAUSE, This is the truth of the Scriptures!
Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Envy, is the uneasiness that comes when we have made someone else our superior!
We are fools when we envy those who are wicked!
Envy only keeps the mind at a continual boiling point and wastes the body till the "rottenness of our bones"!
There is no confidence in our own life when we allow others to influence our own good health!
*****Pro 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Every society should be an organization of rational people but we already know that this is not true as much today as it was in the past.
God says it's only going to get worse in all societies!
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
This is God's warning to the Church but the Church is remain obedient to the commandments of Jesus even during this time.
It is not only a crime in most places to oppress the poor but it is more important, a reproach to our Maker, our Creator!
No matter what we think of our leaders and our politicians and no matter what they have said, the truth is, the poor have gotten poorer and the rich have gotten richer!
This is a reproach to our Maker and to society!
No matter what social programs have been put in place, our leaders have only allowed those in need to grow up around those programs with no end in sight and in most cases this is because they are only kept on a leash for political purposes.
This is a reproach to our Maker and to society!
Our leaders have allowed and even caused the truth of Christian principles to be abandoned in favor of the lies of false science and philosophy and the great minds of our youth have been brainwashed so that mankind will continue to struggle in the future.
This is a reproach to our Maker and to society!
It is because God knows the hearts of man that He gave us this Scripture:
Deu 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
No matter what this world does or our own politicians do, we are always to help the poor with their needs.
Those that hate God also blame God for the evil things that happen in this world and it is because the Church has not done many of the things that God has said for us to do!
Helping those who are poor and in need is included as a part of our worship of the Lord!
Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Those that honor the Lord will also have mercy on the poor!
*****Pro 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
For the most part, the child of God is full of peace and comfort and hope for a wonderful future.
We know at our death we will join Christ Jesus in Heaven!
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
For those that do not know the Lord it is not the same!
Wickedness is the real foundation of guilt and fear!
Wickedness is the real foundation of horror and despair!
Those that die in their wickedness, die in a hopeless state that most only realize as they get closer to death!
What do we know to be the truth of those that die without Christ Jesus?
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments", and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
It is only those wise in the fear of the Lord who miss out on Hell!
*****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.
Those that are wise in the Lord should not always be making a display of that wisdom.
We cannot just shove the Bible down the throats of everyone we meet.
We cannot just rub Hell in their faces!
It is only our job to show them the way to get to Heaven!
God has already condemned the lost, it is our job to show them the path of righteousness!
If God is not already working on that individual, what we say will not make any sense to them!
The wisdom we have in the Lord cannot be used until God gives us the occasion to use it with effect!
Pro 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Someone of great worldly wisdom sees this to be an advantage and they will certainly make known their great intelligence in the fact of those that are wise in the Lord, therefore becoming even more foolish.
A wise man wrote: "the heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of the wise is in his heart"
The truth is righteousness, doing things the way God said to do them, is the only means of making a great nation!
*****Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
As Christians we understand why America became a great nation.
It is because our nation was founded on the principles of the Lord and according to the Word of God!
Since that time, evil men and seducers have allowed many evil things to take place in the name of freedom.
God did not give us the freedom to sin!
God did not gives us the freedom to abort innocent children!
God did not give us the freedom to live by immoral standards!
God did not give us the freedom to interact sexually with anyone we so choose!
God did give us the freedom to choose but only if we have been given the opportunity to hear both sides of good and evil and both sides of right and wrong!
Today America is not known as a righteous nation but only a powerful nation and many other nations despise us for that reason.
The moral standards of America has sunk so low that we are hated as much as loved in todays world because sin is a reproach to any people!
When any nation serves the god of this world, then that nation will die!
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
There is only one way to overcome the evils of this world!
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
*****Pro 14:35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
If we remember the story of Joseph in the Bible, he did not gain the favor of Pharaoh because he was a great man of God.
Joseph used the tools and the wisdom God had given him! It was the Lord that allowed Joseph to interpret dreams and it was this thing that impressed Pharaoh.
It was Daniel's great wisdom that came from the Lord that allowed him to used by Nebuchadnezzar and by Cyrus.
It was only while these two great men held these positions that they could be mighty in the work of the Lord.
If we use the tools and the wisdom God has given us to get in the right positions in society, then we can also do a mighty work for the Lord while being a benefit to our own nation and impress the king's favor.
When we foolishly cause shame to any leader, we will see his wrath!
Jesus said:
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
We are to be wise as the serpent while remaining harmless as the doves!
This is when God's wisdom will guide us to a confident life!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Proverbs 11-14
A guide is someone or something that will instruct and direct us in the correct path in this life.
We already know that in typology it is the Lord Jesus Christ who represents true "wisdom"!
We should also know that Jesus said when He returned to Heaven, He would leave us with another "Guide".
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.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
With these things in mind let's continue in the Book of Proverbs.
*****Pro 11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
The Book of Proverbs is a collection spiritual principles to apply to the practical life of God's people.
A basic fundamental of this book is that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap".
This one thing is denied by modern day humanism!
We cannot live as we like and expect moral results!
History has told us all, that this thing cannot be true!
The trouble with this is, that our leaders forget history and history repeats itself over and over again.
There has only been one perfect man and He is the Lord Jesus Christ!
Notice it is only the righteousness of the Lord that can direct our way because we simply have no righteousness of our own!
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
The righteous man who is not blinded by his own passions, can follow the safe and direct path of true life by his own "faith" in the Lord.
Those who are wicked, those who are evil in their principles and their practices, will fall by their own wickedness!
Job 27:7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
Life is much more than this short period of time we spend on this earth.
True life means no death!
True life comes only by Jesus Christ and only by His righteousness!
*****Pro 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
All the ways of the world lead only to false hope.
The way to life is to conform to the ways of God and the will of God, which is holiness.
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
To be holy is to be perfect and we can only be perfect because Jesus Christ is perfect!
True life is not only life along the way but it is life in the end!
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
There is no death along God's pathway!
*****Pro 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
The truth is anyone who despises the Word of God will bring destruction upon themselves!
Destruction is not just an arbitrary act of God, destruction is the self-ruin or the suicide of the unbeliever!
It is the same with reward!
We have it within our own selves to be rewarded by God, it comes from being guided by the Lord and led by the Holy Spirit!
*****Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Walking with the wise is sharing the wisdom of God with each other!
This why we should gather together more often and not less often in these end times.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
We must not be fooled, the "day of the Lord" is fast approaching!
Walking is a motion that we all choose.
Walking with others shows friendship.
Walking with the wise shows wisdom!
Walking in the ways of the world shows foolishness.
Wickedness is useless for the greater purposes of life!
We may have the right to free speech here in America but that does not mean that we are to make enemies of those around us!
The company of others should be used to temper and form the manners of each man.
We may not agree on everything but we should have a desire to come to an agreement.
This is what is lacking in our government today, everyone wants to have things their own way without yielding at all.
The only One who is always right is the Lord and the Word which He gave us!
Bad men and fools are not only useless for the greater purposes of life but they downgrade our society and we can see this happening in our world today even in America.
We must be very careful in our choice of friends and companions!
Bad company creates confidence in sin!
Wisdom creates an earnest concern for salvation!
Society is necessary to human life.
Remember Adam could have lived his entire life in innocence but Adam was not complete until he had a companion.
Society is necessary for human life but a society without the wisdom of God is doomed to failure!
The truth of society is that a man is known by the company he keeps and God says a companion of fools will lead to a life of destruction!
*****Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Mankind may be the greatest of God's creation but it seems that we are always stumbling in life!
Man did not evolve from the animal kingdom because man is much more complex than any animal!
The truth of mankind is that everyone is born as equals!
All mankind are born into this world in a state of helplessness and ignorance!
Everyone that is born then begin to find out the ways of life!
All the ways of life are not safe and there are many things this world does not show until we have gotten older.
In many cases while they are young, our children are deceived in the ways of life and this is a major problem in this day we live in.
There are ways that seem to be right to them but they will not realize the wrong in these ways until they have experienced the wrong of them!
It is also a fact that wicked and evil men are busy to beguile them!
Everyone of us were taught the way we are suppose to act in this life but these things only recognize our external life.
We may never understand right from wrong with this method because we will only imitate what we have learned.
Most of the Scribes and the Pharisees of the Bible were super religious and most all of them were rotten to the core!
Religion is no more than a mechanism just as the teachings of this world!
There is no true religion beyond Christianity which is a living faith in Christ Jesus!
When we try to go our own way we will only find the way of destruction!
What is wrong with America today?
Pro 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
No humanistic reasoning can ever lead us to true life which comes only by Christ Jesus!
*****Pro 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
The truth of the Book of Proverbs is that what is good in Heaven, is good for this world we live in now!
In order to leave this world in happiness we must first be wise in our choices while we live!
As far as our labor in this world, whatsoever we do in this world "that is worth doing" then do it well!
What's wrong with the humanism and liberal movement of today?
They seem to forget, that for a nation to survive and prosper there must be many more workers than there are talkers.
No doubt we need those with the ability to talk and to teach but we cannot sustain a government with more talkers than workers!
The largest employer in America is the government who are supported by the tax payer who is struggling to make ends meet.
Penury is poverty and this the life that socialism offers.
When labor no longer provides a profit then there is little enthusiasm to perform that work to the best of our ability and to be quiet honest this is sin against God and ourselves.
Our labor should be profitable to our physical health.
Our labor should be profitable to our character.
Our Labor should be profitable to our comforts.
The only talk that truly profits is that of God's called preachers who teach the truth of God but even that will not be of profit if we lack faith.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
In most every case, hard work will give our mind a rest from the troubles of this world.
It is those who are weak in faith and weak in Spirit who try to talk themselves out of work!
Ecc 5:3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
Wisdom truly has it's riches!
*****Pro 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
We must remember, the wise are those that have a reverent fear of the Lord.
It is this wisdom of the Lord that becomes a crown for others to see.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
The wisdom of the Lord wears like an ornament, a thing of great price for others to see and the gift of knowledge and understanding of the Lord are certainly of great value.
The truth is foolishness can never be anything but folly!
Folly is always sin!
The folly of fools can never be considered wealth!
Riches to a foolish man, can never make him wise!
Pro 27:22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
Most all things of wisdom are wasted on a fool because his foolishness will not depart from him!
*****Pro 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
The truth is a faithful witness will not lie!
Those that speak the truth of God show forth their righteousness.
Therefore a true witness saves persons who are in danger of false accusations!
Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
So a witness of the truth of Jesus Christ, a faithful minister of the "Gospel", not only saves himself but saves them that hear him!
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Soul-winning is the object of each child of God!
The Lord Jesus had these words for all His disciples:
Luk 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Those that are deceitful speak only lies who serve the god of this world!
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Those that fear the Lord are of the truth!
*****Pro 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
The fear of the Lord is much more than just "faith"!
We must have "faith" or we cannot begin to please God!
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The "fear of the Lord" not only includes "faith" but also includes "hope", "love", a godly walk, and every "grace".
**Those the fear the Lord are in awe of His majesty:
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
**Those that fear the Lord are very aware of God's presence.
Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
**Those that fear the Lord understand His might:
Luk 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
**Those that fear the Lord are aware of His displeasure:
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
**Those that fear the Lord have strong confidence in the truth of the "Gospel"!
Our God does not ever change, what He did in the past, He will also do in the future!
Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Num 23:20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
A "refuge" is a shelter for protection from danger or distress!
We see that it is not the father or the mother who have refuge but it is His children!
Every child that comes into this world is God's child but it is impossible to be God's child and not know that you are!
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Our true place of refuge is the heart of Christ Jesus and if we ask Jesus, He will let us into His heart!
Psa 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
We are never to young or to old to seek refuge in Christ Jesus!
*****Pro 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Life is somewhat like a fire.
A fire needs some form of energy to keep burning.
Life cannot continue without food!
Spiritual life is similar in that it needs the fear of the Lord which is our fountain and is continuous, is inexhaustible and is pure!
A fountain is a natural source of living water.
What did Jesus tell the woman at the well in Samaria?
Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
And Jesus added these words:
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.
Jesus Christ is the key to avoiding the snares of death!
*****Pro 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
If we could get our own president to understand that a happy people, dwelling safely and securely, is a much better honor than a divided nation!
Wise legislation can foresee and remedy many difficulties that arise.
These are the signs of a good government!
To push a single agenda designed to alienate a people will bring his downfall and also those that follow who keep the same agenda!
This proverb is true for any and every nation!
The unique blessings of God on America can be attributed to our founding fathers and the early Christian pioneers. The farther we stray from the wisdom and the principles of these people the closer we get to the downfall of our great nation.
America was founded by people seeking a place to worship the Lord Jesus Christ not a place to worship just any false religion!
*****Pro 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
It is not a sin be get angry!
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
The downfall of anger is that we become angry at the person rather than the action they caused!
Unjust anger is always sin!
Excessive anger is always sin!
Selfish anger is always sin!
Personal anger is very seldom without sin.
God said if you get mad "get over it quickly" before it becomes sin!
The truth is that those that are slow to anger show great wisdom!
The downfall of anger is a desire for vindication, which will lead to sin!
Those that are hasty for vindication only seek revenge which then becomes the sin of pride and it was pride that was the downfall of Satan!
Pro 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Remember "folly" is a sign of weakness and the actions of a fool!
Pro 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
*****Pro 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
A sound heart is a heart that has been given to the Lord Jesus Christ.
All other hearts are rotten!
Even physical health requires a strong heart!
With the influences of emotions such as grief, disappointment, anger, jealousy, and revenge, which spring from envy and pride, derange the the bodily system and become a major health risk.
This is the truth of science.
BECAUSE, This is the truth of the Scriptures!
Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Envy, is the uneasiness that comes when we have made someone else our superior!
We are fools when we envy those who are wicked!
Envy only keeps the mind at a continual boiling point and wastes the body till the "rottenness of our bones"!
There is no confidence in our own life when we allow others to influence our own good health!
*****Pro 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Every society should be an organization of rational people but we already know that this is not true as much today as it was in the past.
God says it's only going to get worse in all societies!
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
This is God's warning to the Church but the Church is remain obedient to the commandments of Jesus even during this time.
It is not only a crime in most places to oppress the poor but it is more important, a reproach to our Maker, our Creator!
No matter what we think of our leaders and our politicians and no matter what they have said, the truth is, the poor have gotten poorer and the rich have gotten richer!
This is a reproach to our Maker and to society!
No matter what social programs have been put in place, our leaders have only allowed those in need to grow up around those programs with no end in sight and in most cases this is because they are only kept on a leash for political purposes.
This is a reproach to our Maker and to society!
Our leaders have allowed and even caused the truth of Christian principles to be abandoned in favor of the lies of false science and philosophy and the great minds of our youth have been brainwashed so that mankind will continue to struggle in the future.
This is a reproach to our Maker and to society!
It is because God knows the hearts of man that He gave us this Scripture:
Deu 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
No matter what this world does or our own politicians do, we are always to help the poor with their needs.
Those that hate God also blame God for the evil things that happen in this world and it is because the Church has not done many of the things that God has said for us to do!
Helping those who are poor and in need is included as a part of our worship of the Lord!
Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Those that honor the Lord will also have mercy on the poor!
*****Pro 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
For the most part, the child of God is full of peace and comfort and hope for a wonderful future.
We know at our death we will join Christ Jesus in Heaven!
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
For those that do not know the Lord it is not the same!
Wickedness is the real foundation of guilt and fear!
Wickedness is the real foundation of horror and despair!
Those that die in their wickedness, die in a hopeless state that most only realize as they get closer to death!
What do we know to be the truth of those that die without Christ Jesus?
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments", and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
It is only those wise in the fear of the Lord who miss out on Hell!
*****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.
Those that are wise in the Lord should not always be making a display of that wisdom.
We cannot just shove the Bible down the throats of everyone we meet.
We cannot just rub Hell in their faces!
It is only our job to show them the way to get to Heaven!
God has already condemned the lost, it is our job to show them the path of righteousness!
If God is not already working on that individual, what we say will not make any sense to them!
The wisdom we have in the Lord cannot be used until God gives us the occasion to use it with effect!
Pro 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Someone of great worldly wisdom sees this to be an advantage and they will certainly make known their great intelligence in the fact of those that are wise in the Lord, therefore becoming even more foolish.
A wise man wrote: "the heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of the wise is in his heart"
The truth is righteousness, doing things the way God said to do them, is the only means of making a great nation!
*****Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
As Christians we understand why America became a great nation.
It is because our nation was founded on the principles of the Lord and according to the Word of God!
Since that time, evil men and seducers have allowed many evil things to take place in the name of freedom.
God did not give us the freedom to sin!
God did not gives us the freedom to abort innocent children!
God did not give us the freedom to live by immoral standards!
God did not give us the freedom to interact sexually with anyone we so choose!
God did give us the freedom to choose but only if we have been given the opportunity to hear both sides of good and evil and both sides of right and wrong!
Today America is not known as a righteous nation but only a powerful nation and many other nations despise us for that reason.
The moral standards of America has sunk so low that we are hated as much as loved in todays world because sin is a reproach to any people!
When any nation serves the god of this world, then that nation will die!
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
There is only one way to overcome the evils of this world!
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
*****Pro 14:35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
If we remember the story of Joseph in the Bible, he did not gain the favor of Pharaoh because he was a great man of God.
Joseph used the tools and the wisdom God had given him! It was the Lord that allowed Joseph to interpret dreams and it was this thing that impressed Pharaoh.
It was Daniel's great wisdom that came from the Lord that allowed him to used by Nebuchadnezzar and by Cyrus.
It was only while these two great men held these positions that they could be mighty in the work of the Lord.
If we use the tools and the wisdom God has given us to get in the right positions in society, then we can also do a mighty work for the Lord while being a benefit to our own nation and impress the king's favor.
When we foolishly cause shame to any leader, we will see his wrath!
Jesus said:
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
We are to be wise as the serpent while remaining harmless as the doves!
This is when God's wisdom will guide us to a confident life!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
