Proverbs 13-14

I hope you have been keeping up with your reading this week.  Remember that we have learned that a quality disciple - (and we all want to be a quality disciple right?) A quality disciple of Jesus is one who Worships Christ and Walks with Christ.  Walking with Christ is established by time spent in the Word of God!  Chisel out in your very tight and busy schedule a time to sit and read his word. But don't just read it, study it and memorize it.

Our church reading today is found in Proverbs 14.  I wanted to point out just two words today - Fool and Fear.

First Fool.  A minimum of 10 times in chapters 13 & 14 the word fool appears.  If something is repeated that much in the New Testament in two chapters we would be highlighting it an preaching a 5 part series on it.  Sadly though, the term fool is repeated over and over again in the book of Proverbs but we fail to learn anything from it.

I think the word is lost on us in our modern language so maybe the best place to start is with a definition.  In the Hebrew, Fool or Foolish is translated from two different words. 

The first is kes-eel’ which means - "Fool, stupid fellow, dullard (a slow or stupid person), simpleton, or arrogant one.” 

The other word is ev-eel’ which means - "be foolish, foolish, of one who despises wisdom, one who mocks when guilty, of one who is quarrelsome and of one who is licentious.”

Now can we agree, this is not a characteristic of a believer right?  (SAY I AGREE).  So when we see the word fool used in the text, we should instantly determine not to be like that person.  (SAY I AGREE)  Good!  Look at some of the verses attributed to fools just in chapters 13-14:

• 13:20 - “…but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
• 13:19 - “…but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools…”
• 14:3 - “By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back…”
• 14:7 - “Leave the presence of a fool for there you do not meet words of knowledge."
• 14:8-9 - “…but the folly of fools is deceiving. Fools mock at the guilt offering…"
• ONE MORE - 14:16 - “One who is wise is cautious and turns way from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.  A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.

Now, in contrast, the other word that appears frequently in several chapters of the book of Proverbs is the word “fear”. When you see it -  almost every instance is coupled with the phrase "FEAR of the LORD". 

Fear in the Hebrew is the word - yir-aw’ which means: "terror or fear, causing fear, the object causing the fear is awesome or terrifying, respect, reverence and revered."

Now I do not subscribe to the theory that when we read, “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…(1:7),” that what it is say is God is just to be respected or reverenced.  I think that softens something that was never, ever mentioned in scripture.  Think about those that had an encounter with the living God.  Samson’s parents believed they were doomed for being with the Deity.  Elijah felt the strong hand of God on Mount Carmel in the fire at the altar and on Mount Sinai in the storm and in the wind and had to hide himself in the cleft of the rock.  Moses longed to see God, but was only permitted to see his glory pass by and that caused his face to shine so much the people were afraid and covered it in fear.  Isaiah was undone in Isaiah 6 for seeing into the thrown room of God for just a moment.  Peter saw the transfigured Christ and was so amazed he babbled out of shear fear and nervousness.  The disciples were taken back by Jesus as he calmed the storm.  Again the disciples were fearful when he came to them in the storm, walking on water.  Paul was blinded and radically changed by his encounter with the risen and glorified Christ on the road to Damascus.  Point is, over and over again in the scriptures, God was never just respected as being the best, but feared because of his awesomeness. 

As we read through Proverbs together, take time to circle these text, like verse 27 of chapter 14.  “..the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death…”  As you read another one in another chapter - take a pencil and connect the statements and meditate on them.  There is great wisdom in understanding what God likes and what he hates.  Fools have no fear of the Lord.  Wisdom is grounded in the fear of the Lord.  “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight…” (9:10)


Two Words - Fool and Fear.  You will see them in almost ever chapter.  Don't be a fool, understand what God is instructing you in the Proverbs and Fear the Lord.

It’s all about that Walk!

Christian Author Oswald Chambers once said: “If we obey, and do the task that He (God) has placed closest to us, we will see him…”  Yesterday the challenge was "Your Walk with Christ."
Take a moment and rate your past year in walking with Christ.  Did it look like a roller coaster at Kings Island or was it a steady climb with the occasional flat spots?

Well, just some Monday morning quarterbacking to help you get through.  If you want your Walk to be on a steady climb remember:
1) Establish your walk by Instilling some BASIC SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES.
A)READ YOUR BIBLE!  Learn to Study your Bible.  Memorize the Word of God.  Hide it in your heart so that during the moments of temptation you can bring up and win the battle.  And lastly - Meditate on the Word of God.  For instance - I have been thinking about Proverbs 12:15 - “the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”  Asking myself - “how have I acted like the fool and how have I acted like the wise man?  What can I do to be more like the wise man?  How am I at taking advice?”  Then I take time to pray over it.

B) TAKE TIME TO PRAY TODAY!  Get in the habit of praying and having more dependence on God for all your decisions.  Set aside a daily time to pray for the church and for it’s leadership.  Pray for our worship team and set up team.  Pray the ACTS model we taught in church yesterday. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication).  Let Harvest Bible Chapel be known for it’s passionate, fervent prayer.  THEN - Join the Prayer team that meets on Sunday Mornings at 10am.  We pray for the service and for God to save the Lost and lead people to repentance.

C) GET READY TO BE A WITNESS!  Nothing, I mean nothing test your faith like sharing it with a total stranger.  But you know what is harder - Sharing it with a friend of family member.  Take time to let them know why you are a changed man or woman and that they can receive this same gift through The shed blood of Jesus our Savior.

Then if you really want to kick your walk into high gear -
 
2) Strengthen your walk with others in small group.
No significant growth ever happened in isolation.  Men and women who grow in their faith are men and women who have put into practice the practice of being accountable to other believers on a weekly basis.  They don’t want to be the same old believers stuck in the same rut of sin and confess.  They want more!  They want victory and they want victory for you as well.  Small group isn’t a place of condemnation - it’s a place of true love and ministry  

As I said yesterday - A Christian who is unwilling to held accountable is a Christian who will never reach their full potential for God and I fully believe are headed for some type of moral failure in the near future.  Join a Small Group today and get know and loved and GROW!


“You can run with the big dogs, you can fly with the eagles, you can jump through all the hoops and climb your ladder to the top, but when it all comes down - it all comes down to THE WALK. 
DO JUSTLY, LOVE MECY, WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD…” (SCC)
 

Proverbs 8 WISDOM

Proverbs 8

Wisdom!  I think all of us would love another dose or two of wisdom.  But what do we really know about it?  In Proverbs 8 (and part of 9), we find a good bit of information about wisdom.

1. Wisdom was created by God before the foundations of the world.  v.22 - "The LORD possessed (or Created) me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.”
2. When Wisdom speaks, she speaks what is right. vv.6-8 “…Hear, for I will speak noble things and from my lips will com what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; All the words of my mouth are righteous…” 
3. Proverbs 1:7 says that wisdom has its beginnings in us when we fear the Lord.  “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (or wisdom), but fools despise wisdom and instruction…”
4. Those who seek after wisdom reap the fruits of her reward.  vv. 19-21 “…My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.  I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me and filling their treasuries.”
5. Finding Wisdom gives us favor with God.  Notice verse 35 - “For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord…” 
6. Lastly - failure to find wisdom, or even seek her, has consequences as well - v.36 - “But he who fails to find me injures himself; all who HATE ME love DEATH…” Wow! 

Wisdom is an important attribute to add to your spiritual life and walk.  How do we find it, or obtain it.  Seek it out.  It can be found first and for most in the word of God.  Read it, Memorize it, study it, meditate on it.  Secondly, ask God for more wisdom.  James 1:5 says that "if any of us lack wisdom, let us ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith without doubting…”

Church, seek Wisdom!

Proverbs 7

A couple of thoughts for today that stood out from my reading of Proverbs 7.

1) vv. 1-5 - As much as it pains me to admit it, MY DAD WAS RIGHT! (There, I said it.) As I read the first 5 verses, I could see my father saying the same things to me.  But sadly, I had a hard time listening.  I was, after all, A teenager who by all accounts knew everything about anything.  Dad’s ways were old fashion -my ways were cool and exciting.  But in retrospect, I wish I would have treasured his commandments and kept them as the apple of my eye.  I wish I would have bound them on my fingers and kept them close to my heart.  Years of rebellion and frustration would have been less-existent and years of loss in my spiritual walk would have never taken place.  I can never get those back, but I can encourage my teens and you - pay attention to the admonitions of the Lord in his word.  Years from today you will be able to rejoice in the fact that they kept you from sin and strengthened your resolve to better worship of our King of Kings.

2) I was thinking of a phrase we love to use here at Harvest - “Choose to sin, Choose to suffer…”  Solomon is writing to his children to encourage them to flee the adulterous women.  Most of the chapter details how she stalks her pray and how he finally gives in to his lust for her.  It happens in a moment!  v. 22 - “All at once he follows her…”  He was close enough to see her and know what she wanted, but he made the choice and he follows.  How does God say that will work out for him?  Notice -
        “…as a ox goes to the slaughter,
        or as a stag (deer) is caught fast
        till an arrow pierces its liver.
        as a bird rushes into a snare (trap)…”

These are not pretty pictures.  Sin has a price.  Sin gives you your reward all up front - 110% of satisfaction and pleasure -  but it cost you everything, (conversely, Salvation cost Christ everything and is given as our reward, a reward that last for an eternity.)  The last part of v.23 I circled as a reminder of the cost of chasing something that isn’t suppose to be mine.  Notice what it says - In fact - get your bible out and look it up - I’ll wait… are you there?  Ok  - Here it is:

“HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT WILL COST HIM HIS LIFE…”

I don’t think that the Hebrew language had and explanation point, but if it did - I would think Solomon would have put 5 down, and if he had highlighters he would have colored over this to draw attention to it.  How tragic the life of the one caught in the cycle of sin.  Like Sampson of the Old Testament, unable to discern right from wrong and constantly putting their needs in front of what God desires for them.  Sin is blinding, binding and grinding.  Flee it, and do not set your eyes upon it ever church  - for it will eat you up and leave only a shell of a person you could have been for the Lord.

Blessing,
Pastor Nate

Proverbs 6

I hope you had a chance to read Proverbs 6 yesterday?!  I was a great reminder to me that there are things that God approves of and there are things that he hates.  (Yes I said hate - see verse 16.)  I thought we would look at those things today - what does God hate? Let’s start with this:

1) "Arrogant, haughty eyes…"- people who look at others in disgust or in a way that says “i am better than you.”  God has created us equal in his eyes and he wants us to live like that with other people.  This is especially true of Christians who are called to "Love on another”.  Looking down on others in a proud or arrogant way isn’t love.  I had a friend tell me last week his story of how he came to Christ.  #1 reason he went from a good lutheran boy to a atheist was the arrogance and lack of love that people in his church showed him.  #1 reason he opened his heart to the gospel was a couple who decided to love him as Jesus loved them.  
2) "A Lying tongue…" - We don’t talk about this much, but lying is so addicting, and you need to keep doing it to cover up the lies you have already told.  I don’t believe we believe it is a “bad sin,” it’s just a little white lie.  But God hates lying.  Be people of the truth.
3) "Hands that shed innocent blood..." - that’s murder.  God created life and does not give us permission to snuff out a life that he has created.  The trail of pain left when the innocent is taken is sad.  Think o fate years that parents invested into growing up there child just to have the life snuffed out before it even got started.  Or think of the life that is most innocent, the unborn baby in the womb.  God hates murder in any form.  It was God who opened the womb to allow them to get pregnant in the first place, and to murder for convenience because your too young or because you are hiding a sin is wrong - and something God hates.
4) "A heart that devises wicked plans…" There is so much we could say here.  Don’t think of it as the master criminal, but think of it in terms of how you might be planning to cheat your neighbor, or how you are going to get back at your family members who have hurt you.  Beware of making plans that in the end devise wickedness and have evil intent.  Let God’s word check your motives before you begin.  How will you ever share the love of Christ to someone you have systematically chosen to cheat out of something?
5) "Feet that make haste to run to evil…" - Sin is fun! But sin robs us of true joy. The problem is we don’t see that while we are engaged in the practice of sinning.  People who choose sin and evil choose to be outside of the will of God.  And God hates the feet that choose to run to evil and sin.
6) “A false witness who breaths our lies…”  - I get the picture in my mind of a court room and a person who take the stand under oath and blatantly chooses to lie about the events he saw to protect a family member or friend.  In our court system we call it perjury but God calls it sin and it makes his to 7 lists of sins he hates.  As we have already said, lies must build on more lies and often creates a story or scenario that we wished would have happened but in reality, never ever happened.  Bearing a false testimony hurts other people.  Either the innocent who, by your testimony is found guilty, or the guilty who goes free and the innocent or injured are left holding a lifetime of grief and pain at their loss.  God hates this!  We sometimes categorize sins as one being more dangerous and hurtful than others.  I wonder where lying falls in your list?  Twice, in God’s top 7 things he hates, lying has been addressed. God takes this very seriously.
7) “one who sows discord.” - Discord is defined as 1) a unpleasant combination musical notes or 2) lack of agreement between people.  One who sows discord in this text deals with the lack of agreement between people.  God hates those that twist the situation to make it uncomfortable for others, or one who spreads lies and petty jealousy to get others to like them more.  Sadly, we do to much of this in the church.  Sister Francis or Brother Bob doesn’t like the new couple, so they sow discord just enough to run them out of the church and into some other place of worship.  God hates discord, and he hates discord in the church.

Proverbs 6  has much more to say - I hope you had a chance to read it for yourself.  Solomon addresses laziness, and adultery, and listening to the teachings of you parents.  If you missed it, take the five minutes to read it over and take some notes.

Tomorrow - Proverbs 7

Here it is - the #1 Song for the remainder of 2014

#1 SONG

You thought I forgot - did not forget - just wanted to give you a little drama and keep you wondering.

Philippians 2 says that Jesus Christ “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  FOR THIS REASON also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of JESUS EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and theta every tongue will confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD to the GLORY of God the Father.”

Forever he is GLORIFIED!  Forever He is HE IS LIFTED HIGH!  Forever he is EXALTED!  He Has overcome the grave

THEREFORE - we sing Hallelujah, the Lamb has over come! 

Lift up praise -this song will change how you worship as we understand the greatness of Jesus Christ - the WORD who came to die as the substitutionary atoning sacrifice.  His Life in my place.  Redemption!  His death for me - Atonement!  His victory brings me home to him - Adoption!  His blood covers my sin - FORGIVENESS

MY God!

Here is the video - I know its long - but you have to watch it all - You will be blessed

#1 song we should be singing for the rest of the year -

FOREVER - Kari Jobe

Before we get to #1, here is two songs from the “classic video that never ceases to encourage” department:

Revelation Song by Kari Jobe.

Taken from Revelation 4 and 5, the Revelation song is a worship song period.  Bowing before him one day I will sing:
“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty…Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

I have included the passion 13 video because I love the middle part of this song.  The key change, the free singing, the hitting and sustaining of the notes…brings me to a place of worship.  What an amazing God, what a wonderful savior.  He is King of kings and Lord of Lords.  He is so worthy of this song and so much more!

                                         
Your Love Never Fails - Jesus Culture

Paul wrote: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword…NO! in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For i am sure that neither death nor life, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord…" (Rom 8:35-37)

His love never fails!  Enjoy this "oldie" but a goodie!

                                     

Tomorrow - The #1 song on the countdown!