Proverbs 5

"His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin." (Proverbs 5:22)

Our text holds you and me responsible for our, "iniquities," and, "sin."  The warning in Proverbs 5 concerns fornication and adultery.  Most people think and talk as though the only ones with sexual problems are men.  But one out of every two adulterers is a woman.

The Proverbs speak a number of times of the serious danger of allowing passion to rule.  It led David to adultery and murder to cover up the consequences.  This is the man who, "had God's heart."  If it happened to him, it can happen to anyone.  O, Christian, beware.

It is no use to blame circumstances or mental state for our sin.  It is like murderers who are acquitted because of mental illness.  If I were on a jury, nothing would warrant acquittal for murder.  Continue to trust in and only  completely in the Blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin and deliverance from sin.  Billy Graham once said, "Given the right situation, the right circumstances, any one of us is capable of anything."

Father, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Proverbs 4

"When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble." (Proverbs 4:12)

Let's look at some selected statements of this chapter.  "Hear....Keep my commands.... Get wisdom!  Get understanding.  Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth....Get wisdom....Get understanding....Take firm hold of instruction....Do not enter the path of the wicked....Avoid it....Turn away from it....Let you eyes look straight ahead....Ponder the path of your feet."

Consider vv. 20-22, "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.  Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh."  Strong's says that the word for, "health," literally means "medicine, health, healing, cure, remedy, soothing, tranquil."  When a seminary classmate said to the professor, "That means spiritual medicine, right?"  The professor replied, "The Hebrews did not think like that.  They were very literal in their thinking and expression."  Okay, a liberal professor affirms that the words of God are medicine, health.  Why would this be difficult for anyone to grasp.  "The Word of God," Jesus Christ, Is our Savior, Deliverer, Sustainer, and Healer.  Remember when we really believed this?!? 

Time and delay, or what seems to be unanswered prayers wears on us.  We think, "Well, maybe as Paul, I sought Him three times and He just doesn't want to do this."  I never see Jesus in the Gospels saying that He did not want to do what is best for people, including healing them of their diseases.  In fact, we read in Matthew 8, "He...healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 'He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.'"  It cannot be any more clear than that.

Covenant with me to stop any other "theology," any other reasoning.  For most people, the older we get the more, "our infirmities and...our sicknesses."  I have a 55 year old football injury to my shoulder (yes, it is a football injury) which has been giving me a lot of problems, and, there are other "things."  I continue to believe that healing is "the children's bread."  We read that whenever hurting humanity came to Jesus in the Gospels, the "theology" was always, "According to your faith let it be to you."  The power and authority is in Jesus Himself, and He apparently delights to release all to us.  "According to []our faith let it be to [us]."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You see my "faith," or lack of it.  I believe You, nothing else.  Amen.
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Here are prayer Scriptures for our Fall Mission, October 27-November 23:
    Psalm 143:8-12; Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 4:3-6
   

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Proverbs 3

"My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for...peace they will add to you....Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct ('make smooth or straight') your paths." (From Proverbs 3)

May 10 of this year marked the 80th anniversary of the infamous "book burning" by the German Government in 1933.  The site of the burning is just across from the University of Berlin (later called Humboldt University).  I have visited the exact spot many times.  A whole culture of books were burnt.  Anyone who did not agree with the German Government was banished.  Now some may say, "Wait a minute.  It was the Nazis who did that."  Yes it was.  But they were the largest political party in Germany at the time of the November 1932 Election, and though not a majority, the National Socialists received the largest number of votes of the German people (There were over 50 political parties on the ballot!).  Hitler did not, as many historic sites and naive people say, "seize power."  He received the largest number of votes, i.e., he was elected by the German people.  Yet because the National Socialists did not receive a majority, as in any nation which has a myriad of political parties, President Von Hindenburg had to appoint Hitler as Chancellor and charged him to form a coalition government.  It is true that what transpired after that was intrigue and ultimately the abolishment of all political parties and the dissolution of the Reichstag.  But the German People were about to reap what they had sown.

It was classic Proverbs 3.  It can happen to any people group, anywhere, anytime.  Beware, Americans, lest you think we are immune to such debauchery.  People tend to observe life and come to the conclusion that since the wicked seem to prosper, the Bible just does not know what it is talking about.  The psalmist in Psalm 73 thought that way, "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end."  The Germany of the early Twentieth Century was, as William Shirer said, "a nation steeped in Christianity."  It was the dominate people group of the Holy Roman Empire, which lasted for a thousand years.  It was a main player in the overdue and much needed Reformation.  Yet, again as Shirer put it, Germany "descended into savage barbarism in the mid Twentieth Century."  What an awesome warning to you and me.  Our labels, our evangelism, our prayer and worship "movements," our mega churches notwithstanding, if we, "Lean...on your own understanding," and do not, "in all your ways acknowledge [Jesus Christ as Lord]," whether here or in, "the judgement to come," the same wrath of God which came to Germany will come to us.  I can guarantee you that if Hilary Clinton gets the Democrat Party's nomination for President, there will be many Charismatic "Christian" women who will vote for her for the same reason many black Charismatic "Christians" voted for Obama.  For far too many, gender and race rule over Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.   

Jesus calls us to, "Follow Me."  Our text is Jesus' call to Himself, not an ism.   The situation in America continues to deteriorate, and if you and I are going walk in, "direct...paths," have "smooth or straight" paths, then nothing, absolutely nothing can usurp the Supremacy of Jesus in my life.  If I yield obedience and loyalty for a moment to anything or anyone other than Jesus, I too, though "steeped in Christianity," will descend into...........  I feel an urgency about this, an urgency for the Global Church in general, and the American Church in particular.

Father, in Jesus' Name, grant me more and more grace to guard my walk in You.  I thank you for the promise that no matter what goes on around me, "[You] shall direct, 'make straight' [my] paths."  Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Proverbs 2: "If You Receive My Words....Then"

"My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within in you....Then...." Proverbs 2:1, 5a)

Verses 1 through 4 are the "ifs."  Verses 5 through 22 are the "thens."  Most people want the "thens" of life without any "ifs."  The Bible tells humanity that it does not work that way, even though a lot of voices who claim to speak for Jesus Christ and His Church say otherwise.  The Book of Proverbs is full and rich; it is the Word of God, Jesus Christ.  If people spent more time with Jesus in His Book, than they do in other literature and television gurus, they would put a lot of counselors out of business. 

I once asked a person who was coming for counseling quite frequently many, many years ago, "How much Bible do you read?"  The answer was, "Not much."  I decided (way too late, by the way) to have that person read at least three chapters in the Bible every day for two weeks, then we would talk some more.  I was wearing out with a person who had little heart for Jesus, His Ways, His Church, His Kingdom.  That person was just self-consumed, and wanted only self-consuming answers.  I really had nothing to say to that person.  The same is true today.  If a person will not "consult" the Word of God, why do they keep consulting us------------ and we keep trying to give them answers, answers which can only further delude them?!?  I might add very strongly here that far too many Christians quote Bible passages incessantly to people, and never challenge them to our text.

"Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (vv. 3-5).  Notice the object of our, "cry out for discernment, and...understanding,..as for hidden treasures," is, "then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."  There is absolutely no other way to, "understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God," but to, "seek...as for hidden treasures...." 

Verse 6 gives, if one needs it, a reason for the foregoing, "For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."  If you and I do not seek and receive, "from His mouth," then there can be no, "knowledge and understanding"; it does not matter the degrees or the golden-mouthed charismatic personally.  I only wish I would have taken Proverbs more seriously and to heart many, many years ago; but I did not.  When our son, Stephen, died, I was brought to the end of myself and leaning on my own understanding.  It was written in my heart that only, "from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I ignored so much of Your Word for too long.  I thank You for the season you changed that.  Amen.
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Fall 2013 Mission: October 27-November 23.  We have had some additional expenses.  If you would like to help in this mission, let us know.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

A Journey Through Proverbs

"....To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding....Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares....Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you."  (Proverbs 1 )

These are some verses in the introductory chapter of Proverbs. 

Let's look at the call to fulness in the Word of God in chapter 1.
    1. Wisdom
    2. Instruction
    3. Understanding
    4. Justice
    5. Judgment
    6. Equity
    7. Prudence
    8. Knowledge
    9. Discretion
  10. Learning
Throughout the Book of Proverbs the command is to attain to the aforementioned and more.  Verse 7 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  This the theme of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and, one could say, the Bible in general.  No matter what the theological attempts by pros and amateurs may be, there is a very important and grave reason to be in, "the fear of the Lord."  We do life in Jesus Christ and His Words, and justification is ours.  We do life as, "fools despise wisdom and instruction," and judgment/condemnation is ours.  How many "Christians" read with "evangelical" glasses and ignore Proverbs.  But in the Proverbs is He, "Who is made to us Wisdom from God." 

When one reads the Proverbs, he can never say that God is impracticable.

Father, in Jesus' Name, life just keeps affirming Your words.  I pray I can keep learning wisdom, instruction, justice, judgment equity, prudence, knowledge, discretion, and learning.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"Many Waters Cannot Quench Love

"Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it.  If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised." (Song of Solomon 8:7)

The NLT says, "If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned."  What rich man cannot agree with this?  What poor man cannot agree with this?  The old song, "We Ain't Go a Barrel of Money," says "but we'll travel along, singin' a song side by side."  I have seen very unhappy rich people, and, I have seen very unhappy poor people and all the in-betweens.  But I have seen people who love each other, people who live in countries and situations at which most people would shrink back in horror, yet they are people who, "utterly despise[]," any life without their love.

It is the sadest state for a human to live a life without the love of another.  Yet (yes, you know what I am going to write) in Jesus Christ we have the love of another.  What is sad, the "sophisticates" among us despise this love.  "It just does not satisfy.  It is too ethereal, too much like grasping for the wind."  There is no doubt that to the natural mind and heart this is true.  What is needed is an unnatural mind and heart, yes, unnatural.  The dictionary defines "unnatural" as "in violation of natural law, inconsistent with an individual pattern or custom, deviating from a behavioral or social norm, in violation of natural feelings; inhuman."  The problem with the "natural" life is that it is severely limited in what it can attain, "but with God all things are possible."

If you are lonely today, despair not.  Right there with and in you is the greatest Love, the Living Triune God Who is also, "Immanuel, God with us," the One of Whom Wesley wrote, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul."  Allow Jesus, Who Is Love, as in, "God is love," to be afresh to you today what, "many waters cannot quench.., nor...the floods drown," the love for which, "If a man would give...all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised."

Father, in Jesus' Name, today I first ask for forgiveness for ever seeking any other "love."  Thank You so much for the loves in my life, and thank You for being Love, "which many waters cannot quench, nor...the floods drown."  Amen.
  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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