What Does Proverbs Say For Today Part 15

 

What Does Proverbs Say For Today Part 15 

Creation

“The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. ‘I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion. The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth; while as yet He had not made the earth or the fields (outer places), or the primal dust (Lit. beginning of the dust) of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there, when He drew a circle on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the fountains of the deep, when He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside Him as a master craftsman (a Jewish tradition one brought up) ; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in His inhabited world, and my delight was with the sons of men.’ The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom (Lit. evil). The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.” (Proverbs 3:19-20; 8:12, 22-31; 16:4; 20:12)

 

Genesis 1:1,26a, “In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth. Then GOD said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;’” John tells us that JESUS is the Living Word as seen in the chapter The Word, and that He made all things that exist. As seen in the chapter Living Wisdom, Wisdom is one of the seven SPIRITS that always stand before the LORD. Solomon, as the man that GOD gave more wisdom to than any other (Ecclesiastes 1:12-17), understood that the SPIRIT of Wisdom watched and assisted GOD during the creation. Isaiah says in Isaiah 42:5, “Thus says GOD the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and SPIRIT to those who walk on it;”

Nothing exists except that GOD made it, that means the devil and therefore evil. Paul teaches in Romans 9:22, “What if GOD, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction.” Repeating what King David said in, Psalms 86:5,15, “For You, LORD are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. But You, O LORD, are a GOD full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” Peter says it most clearly in 2 Peter 3:9, ”The LORD is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us (NU you), not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Creation is about redemption! “And all on earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of The LAMB slain before the foundation of the world.” “Father,  I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My Glory which You have given Me; for You Loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

(Revelation 13:8; John 17:24) Also study Genesis 1-2; Job 26:5-14, Psalm 104:5, 24-26; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:14-20; Isaiah 11:2, 43:7; Romans 9:14-24; 11:34-36; Revelations 4:8-11.

If you do not believe that GOD created everything that exists just as the Bible reveals it then you cannot believe that CHRIST was crucified before the foundation of the earth was laid. Therefore you cannot believe in the salvation gift of GOD to man through JESUS CHRIST; therefore you are condemned to the lake of fire for eternity; which was created for the devil and the fallen angels (Matthew 25:41). Study 1 Peter 1:17-21.

 

To avoid the lake of fire and have your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life study Romans 10:8-11, “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’”

 

No matter what you want to believe there is only one GOD, JEHOVAH the GOD of the Jewish and CHRISTian faith and there is only one way to avoid eternal damnation in the lake of fire. That is through believing in and confessing JESUS CHRIST is the Son of GOD and that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, willingly went to the cross to die for our sins, took our punishment and went to hell where He defeated death and hell, taking the keys of their kingdoms. That He by the Power of His Own SPIRIT (The HOLY SPIRIT) rose from the grave and ascended to Heaven to be seated at the right hand of GOD.

 

 

 

Humility In Serving

 

Humility in Serving

 

JESUS never taught about leading, He taught about serving!

 

“And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – just as The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His Life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:27-28 (Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45; Romans 12:9-21)

 

“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what is our duty to do.’” Luke 17:10 (Luke 17:5-10; Proverbs 27:18; Romans 12:1-2)

 

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” Matthew 25:21 (Matthew 25:14-30)

 

“Then The King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit The Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:’” Matthew 25:34 (Matthew 25:31-46)

 

“If any one serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” John 12:26 (John 12:20-26; Matthew 16:24-27; John 14:1-6)

 

“For you brethren, have been Called to Liberty; only do not use Liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through Love Serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this: ‘You shall Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:13-14

JESUS taught this principle, “Teacher, which is the Great Command in The Law? JESUS said to him, ‘You shall Love The LORD your GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the First and Great Commandment. And the Second is like it: ‘You shall Love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40

 

“I, therefore the prisoner of The LORD, beseech you to walk worthy of the Calling with which you were Called, with all Lowliness and Gentleness, with Longsuffering, Bearing one another in Love, Endeavoring to keep the Unity of The SPIRIT in the Bond of Peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

Every person is called of GOD for a specific purpose in the earth and in GOD’s eternal Kingdom. Most of us will never know it or live up to it, even Christians. (Psalm 139:13-18; Matthew 7:21-23, Romans 12:26-36)

 

“There is one Body and one SPIRIT, just as you were called in the hope of your Calling; one LORD, one Faith, one Baptism; one GOD and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all and in you all. But to each one of us Grace was given according to the measure of CHRIST’s Gift.” Ephesians 4:4-7

There is only One GOD! (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Malachi 2:10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 18-27; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)

 

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and some teachers, for the equipping of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry, for the Edifying of the Body of CHRIST, till we all come to the Unity of Faith and the knowledge of The Son of GOD, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of CHRIST; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking The Truth in Love, may grow up in all things into Him Who is Head – CHRIST – from whom the whole Body, joined and knit together by what every join supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the Body for the Edifying of itself in Love.”

Ephesians 4:11-16 (1 Corinthians 12:28-31)

Resurrection Sunday!

 

 Resurrection Sunday!

 

The Time Line.

Sunday – Palm Sunday, JESUS enters Jerusalem for His last week of ministry, JESUS cleanses The Temple. (Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-46; John 12:12-19)

Monday through Wednesday – JESUS ministers and teaches in the Temple and surrounding area every day. (Matthew 21:18-26:16; Mark 11:12-14:11; Luke 19:47-22:6; John 12:20-50)

Wednesday – First Day of Passover, JESUS has Passover Seder with the twelve disciples; JESUS prays in the Garden of Gethsemane with the eleven disciples; JESUS betrayed by Judas and arrested. (Matthew 26:17-56; Mark 14:14-52; Luke 22:7-53; John 13:1-17:26)

Thursday – The Day of preparation, JESUS interrogated, mocked and beaten by High Priests Annas and Caiaphas; interrogated, mocked and beaten by the Sanhedrin and found guilty of blasphemy; interrogated by Pontius Pilate; interrogated, mocked and beaten by King Herod; interrogated by Pontius Pilate a second time. JESUS condemned and takes Barabbas’ place. JESUS beaten, mocked and scourged by Romans; Simon of Cyrene forced to carry JESUS’ cross; JESUS speaks to the weeping women of Jerusalem; JESUS crucified with two thieves; JESUS dies and is buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. (Isaiah 53; Matthew 26:57-27:61; Mark 14:53-1547; Luke 22:54-23:56; John 18:1-19:42)

Friday – Good Friday, Caiaphas asks for a Roman guard over JESUS tomb and Pilate sets one. (Matthew 27:62-68)

Saturday – A High Holy Sabbath Day.

Sunday – JESUS rises from the dead and shows Himself to the disciples; graves of the saints in Jerusalem open and they proclaim JESUS. (Matthew 27:50-53; 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-18; Luke 24:1-43; John 20:1-25)

For 40 days JESUS reveals Himself as The Risen LORD and Savior to the disciples and over 500 people at one time. (John 20:26-21:25 Acts 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

Thursday – the Day of Ascension, JESUS gives His last message to the eleven disciples, promises to send The HOLY SPIRIT and ascends to The Father’s right hand. (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:4-11)

 

On Sunday, the first day of the week, the third day after He was crucified and buried; JESUS, The Son of God – The Son of Man rose from the dead completing the task given Him by His Father; GOD Almighty, Elohim, the Creator of everything that exists; to redeem humanity from eternal damnation into GOD’s Eternal Kingdom.

 

If you believe in your heart that JESUS is LORD and confess that GOD raised Him from the dead, you are saved! (Romans 10:10)

Praise GOD for His Salvation through JESUS CHRIST!

Repentance, What Is It?

 

Repentance, What Is It?

 

I have heard people saying, that those who just say a formulated prayer of forgiveness are not really saved. That there is no prayer of forgiveness in The Bible, actually there are, especially in the Psalms and Acts. JESUS taught us to ask GOD for forgiveness and that we must forgive others in Matthew 6:9-15 and that GOD sovereignly forgives for His own purpose, Matthew 9:1-8.

 

Psalm 51 is David’s prayer for forgiveness

Acts 1:37-39 many are convicted of their sin by Peter’s preaching and ask what they must do, he tells them to repent and be baptized.

Acts 8:14-25 a sorcerer is convicted of his sin and starts serving The LORD, yet there is still sinful habits in his life and he is told to pray for forgiveness and he asks for prayer.

 

Repentance does not just happen in a person’s life, it begins mostly when they are convicted of being a sinner and ask GOD to help them. Whether by a passionate cry for forgiveness or repeating a formulated prayer. Whether in an instance or over a period of time, forgiveness is the first step in repentance!

 

Repent basically means to feel sorrow or remorse for past or current actions or behaviour.

Repentance basically means to change the behavior that caused one to repent.

 

JESUS made it clear what repentance looked like in one who believed in Him, “When He had called the people to himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and The Gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give for his own soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him The Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in The Glory of His Father with the holy angels.’” Mark 8:34-38

 

Paul reiterated that, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is GOD Who Works in you both to will and to do for His Good Pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may be blameless and harmless, Children of GOD without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:12-15

 

At the moment of forgiveness some are delivered of their sinful habits and thoughts, some are not; some are healed and or delivered of demonic control and some are not.

 

Paul was a perfect Jew by lifestyle and religious practice, but he did not believe in JESUS as the Messiah. When he met JESUS he asked “What must I do?” he asked for forgiveness and direction. Over the next 3 days JESUS showed him and when he was truly repentant JESUS sent Ananias to pray for Paul. His repentance was to proclaim JESUS CHRIST as LORD and Savior for the rest of his life; which was not always easy and was often dangerous. Acts 9:1-30

 

When Philip, led by The HOLY SPIRIT joined himself to the Ethiopian and shared JESUS with him out of the passage the eunuch was reading in Isaiah 53, the eunuch asked “See here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” he was asking for forgiveness and started the process of repentance. Acts 8:26-39

 

The point is that repentance starts with forgiveness – the act of realizing we are a sinner and going to hell, then asking GOD through JESUS to forgive us our sin. Hopefully when that happens the person, either led by The SPIRIT or encouraged by a SPIRIT filled believer, is directed to a SPIRIT filled fellowship of believers where The Bible is taught and lived.

 

Coming to a place of asking GOD for forgiveness takes longer for some than others.

Working out our repentance in our life takes longer for some than others.

 

This is What Repentance Looks Like!

 

“I beseech you therefore brethren, by the Mercies of GOD, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1

“The altar means the destruction of every affinity that GOD has not started and of every attachment that is not an attachment in GOD. Tell GOD you are ready to be offered and GOD will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.” Oswald Chambers

 

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Matthew 7:1-2

“Therefore, put away lying, ‘Let each of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another. ‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole, steal no longer, rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is necessary for Edification, that it may impart Grace to the hearers. And do not grieve The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD, by Whom you were Sealed for the Day of Redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice And be Kind to one another, Tenderhearted, Forgiving one another, even as GOD in CHRIST Forgave you.” Ephesians 4:25-32

 

What Does Proverbs Say For Today Part 14

 

What Does Proverbs Say For Today Part 14

 

Counsel

 

¹ Counsel = n. advice; a lawyer hired to give legal advice…

v.i. and v.t. to give advice or advise; to recommend, as a course of action.

 

“A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain (acquire) wise counsel. Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy. By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom. Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established. A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season (Lit. in its time), how good it is! Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Plans are established by counsel; by wise counsel wage war. There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord. Have I not written to you excellent things of Counsels and knowledge, that I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may answer words of truth to those who send to you? For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 1:5; 11:14; 12:15, 20; 13:10; 15:22-23; 19:20-21; 20:5, 18; 21:30; 22:20; 24:6)

 

“There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord.”  “Why do the nations (gentiles) rage (throng tumultuously), and the people plot a vain (worthless or empty) thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed (CHRIST, Commissioned One, Heb. MESSIAH), saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” (Proverbs 19:21, 21:30; Psalm 2:1-5) Only the devil and those who follow him are stupid enough to make plans against GOD! James tells us, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will (M let us) go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:13-17. Study JESUS’ parable in Luke 12:15-21. Also study Psalm 33:10-11; Isaiah 8:9-10; 1 Corinthians 3:19-20; and Luke 14:31.

 

 

“’Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the LORD, ‘thought your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’” “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted (justified).” One of the names of JESUS is Counselor, “For unto us a child is born. Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 1:18, 9:6, 43:25-26 GOD wants us to take counsel with Him so that we can be saved from damnation and live our life in service to Him in the earth.. Notice how JESUS’ and JEHOVAH’s names are interchangeable.

 

There are two types of counsel, GOD’s and the world’s. There are times when we need the counsel of men but that counsel should always be tempered by the Word of GOD and our Counselor the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

Palm Sunday!

 

Palm Sunday!

 

The story of JESUS’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem one week before His resurrection from the dead.

 

“And it came to pass as He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you loosing it?” say to him, “Because The LORD has need of it.”’ So those who were sent went and found it just as He had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, ‘Why are you loosing the colt?’ and they said, ‘The LORD has need of him.’ Then they brought him to JESUS, and they threw their own clothes on the colt and they set JESUS on him.” Luke 19:29-35

“And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to The Son of David! “Blessed is He Who comes in The Name of The LORD!” Hosanna in the highest!’” Matthew 21:8-9

“Saying, ‘”Blessed is The King Who comes in The Name of The LORD!” Peace in Heaven and Glory in the highest!’ Some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, ‘Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.’ But He answered and said to them. ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.’ Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.’” Luke 19:38-44

“And when He came into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’ So the multitudes said, ‘This is JESUS, the Prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.’ Then JESUS went into The Temple of GOD and drove out all those who bought and sold in The Temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, ‘It is written, “My House shall be called a House of Prayer,” but you have made it a den of thieves.’ Then the blind and the lame came to Him in The Temple and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did and the children crying out in The Temple and saying, ‘Hosanna to The Son of David!’ they were indignant, and said to Him, ‘Do You hear what these are saying?’ JESUS said to them, ‘Yes. Have you never read, “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise?”’ Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.” Matthew 21:10-17

 

The SPIRIT of The LORD was upon the people so that they saw JESUS as the coming King and Messiah. They worshipped Him as He approached Jerusalem; they spread their clothes and palm branches on the road for the colt to walk over.

The SPIRIT of The LORD was so strong there that only the hardest of hearts rejected what was going on. The religious leaders wanted JESUS to rebuke the disciples because they were worshipping Him, but JESUS said that if they kept silent, even the stones would cry out in worship of Him.

Outside the city walls JESUS wept a prophesy over the city of its coming destruction in forty years.

Then He entered the Temple and chased out all the profiteers, again the religious leaders wanted Him to stop the children from worshipping Him, but He quoted Psalm 8:2 to them.

He taught the people and challenged the religious leaders in The Temple every day until His arrest.

 

What is the lesson for us? That anyone can be moved by GOD’s SPIRIT! We see the multitude doing what was prophesied would happen. And we see that anyone can resist The SPIRIT of GOD, the Pharisees rejected JESUS and less than a week later crucified Him.

 

So seek first The Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness which JESUS has made us. (Matthew 6:33; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Study the Word of GOD – The Bible (Joshua 1:8-9; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Pray (Matthew 6:5-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-22)

Fast (Matthew 6:16-18; Matthew 17:14-21)

Obey (John 6:38; Philippians 2:5-8)