Blog 12-09-2011

Friday

PRaP 12-09-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 10 of 31

Proverbs 10

 

Wisdom for all people, these are the Proverbs of Solomon who was a boy king that was right in the eyes of God.  But like all us other fleshy people he fell too but in his fall he fell up.  In his failure his wisdom was gained in a way like no other.  Goes along with the saying if it don’t kill ya it will make you stronger.  I can use the analogy of the Lunar moth.  If you help it out of it’s cocoon it will die because it needs the struggle of the exit to gain the strength it needs to survive.  In Solomon’s last breaths he said too that it is all worthless without God.  All the riches and wisdom of the world are utterly worthless without God.

 

These short verses are what are commonly recognized as proverbs.  They cover a wide range of topics.  This first part is written by Solomon but the second by others but were collected by Solomon.  These sayings give practical wisdom for godly living at every stage of live.  The first 9 chapters of Proverbs were for young people but for everyone to learn.  These are for everyone to take to heart to live.

 

¹ The proverbs of Solomon:

   A wise son brings joy to his father,
   but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

 ² Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
   but righteousness delivers from death.

 ³ The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,
   but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

 ⁴ Lazy hands make for poverty,
   but diligent hands bring wealth.

 ⁵ He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
   but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

 ⁶ Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
   but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.^[a]

 ⁷ The name of the righteous is used in blessings,^[b]
   but the name of the wicked will rot.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-08-2011

Thursday

PRaP 12-08-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 9 of 31

Proverbs 9

 

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly is what this Proverb is titled and for me one of the key verses is number 10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding.  This is so true and if you walk away with this one thing today then you will succeed.

 

This Proverb again speaks to us as if wisdom is a female and she has built her house and prepared her food and wine for those she calls in.  She calls out to the simple mind to eat and drink of what has been prepared and to leave their simple ways and live and walk in the way of understanding.

 

The way of understanding is that of the Holy One which is Christ.

 

Proverbs 9:1-6

¹ Wisdom has built her house;
   she has set up^[a] its seven pillars.
² She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
   she has also set her table.
³ She has sent out her servants, and she calls
   from the highest point of the city,
 ⁴ “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
 ⁵ “Come, eat my food
   and drink the wine I have mixed.
⁶ Leave your simple ways and you will live;
   walk in the way of insight.”

 

All of this begs the question:  Where do you eat and drink from?

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 12-05-2011

Monday

PRaP 12-05-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 8 of 31

Proverbs 8

 

Wisdom’s call is contrasted to the call of the adulteress that we read in chapter 7.  Wisdom is portrayed as a woman who guides us and makes us succeed.  Wisdom was present at the creation and works with the Creator.  God approves of those who listen to wisdom’s counsel.  Those who hate wisdom love death.  Wisdom should affect every aspect of our entire life, from beginning to end.  Be sure to open all corners of your life to God’s direction and guidance.

 

The more a person fears and respects God, the more he or she will hate evil.  Love for God and love for sin cannot coexist.  Harboring secret sins mean that you are tolerating evil within yourself.  Make a clean break with sin and commit yourself completely to God.

 

Wisdom calls out to us to embrace us and love us and prosper us.  Proverbs tells us that wisdom is more precious that gold or silver.  Tastes better than the finest foods but those whose refuse wisdom will fail.

 

¹⁷ I love those who love me,
   and those who seek me find me.
¹⁸ With me are riches and honor,
   enduring wealth and prosperity.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than fine gold;
   what I yield surpasses choice silver.
²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,
   along the paths of justice,
²¹ bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
   and making their treasuries full.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 11-30-2011

Wednesday

PRaP 11-30-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 7 of 31

Proverbs 7

 

Warning against the adulteress.  We have been seeing warnings against adultery several times and now a warning about the adulteress and how she works.  Seems that men even back then were not thinking clearly either and were easily swayed by women of the time.  I really like the first part of this Proverb verses 1-5

 

¹ My son, keep my words
   and store up my commands within you.
² Keep my commands and you will live;
   guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
³ Bind them on your fingers;
   write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
   and to insight, “You are my relative.”
⁵ They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
   from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

 

Guard these teachings as if they are the apple of your eye, a child or sibling that you will protect with your very life.  Wisdom and understanding gain them and embrace them and never stray from them for they are like a fine wine a beautiful woman or for you women a handsome man that you love and would protect from harm.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 11-29-2011

Tuesday

PRaP 11-29-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 6 of 31

Proverbs 6

 

Warnings Against Folly and Warnings Against Adultery again.  There are a couple things in here that just jump right out at me that are so overlooked today and so many fall under.  Proverbs 6:16-19:

 

¹⁶ There are six things the LORD hates,
   seven that are detestable to him:
    ¹⁷ haughty eyes,
      a lying tongue,
      hands that shed innocent blood,
    ¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked schemes,
      feet that are quick to rush into evil,
    ¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies
      and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

 

These are serious folks!  It will go well with you to avoid that list and the people who live that list.  The other part of this is again with adultery it is so important to not have another mans wife or another wife’s husband.  This part even starts out with, beginning with verse 20, My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  Bind them up in your heart forever; fasten then around your neck.  When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.  Much wisdom in these words bind them in your heart for your walk is important to the LORD.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

 

Blog 11-28-2011

Monday

PRaP 11-28-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 5 of 31

Proverbs 5

 

This chapter is called “Wisdom Against Adultery”.  There is great wisdom here for you to stay away from adultery.  I want to bring attention to verses 21-23 that say:

 

²¹ For your ways are in full view of the LORD,
   and he examines all your paths.
²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
   the cords of their sins hold them fast.
²³ For lack of discipline they will die,
   led astray by their own great folly.

 

The LORD see all we do in this life there is no place we can hide from Him.  Many people think they are doing things in secret yet one day those things we think we are hiding will be revealed to our own shame if we do not repent and stop doing them.  If we continue to do things in secret they will one day be shouted from the rooftops.  Be wary young people of the adulterer for their ways are for self-pleasure and not the things of God.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve

Blog 11-18-2011

Friday

PRaP 11-18-2011

 

“Wisdom” part 4 of 31

Proverbs 4

 

This Proverb is titled “Get Wisdom at Any Cost” and calls wisdom a “her” as if a woman.  Sounds important because I know Christ tells us that we are to love our women as He loves the Church.

 

¹ Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. ² I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. ³ For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. ⁴ Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. ⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. ⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. ⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.  Though it cost all you have,^[b] get understanding. ⁸ Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. ⁹ She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”

 

She doesn’t come cheap and we are told gain wisdom at all cost.  Give up all your worldly ways to gain the wisdom that is spoken of here.

 

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. ²¹ Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; ²² for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. ²³ Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. ²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. ²⁶ Give careful thought to the^[c] paths for your feet  and be steadfast in all your ways. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

 

Allow no evil to pass through your lips and do not turn right or left of wisdom stay the course of wisdom and you will be fine.

 

Peace and Agape Love,

Pastor Steve