The Winning Life: Proverbs for Moms                                      Restoration Fellowship

Proverbs 31:10                                                                     Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012

TEXT  ¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

Today we reach the end of our Proverbs study.  I hope it has been beneficial to you.  I hope we have saved the best for last!  I want to speak today from Proverbs 31.  We often hear messages on this chapter encouraging the ladies of the church to be the ideal wife, the ideal mother, the ideal woman.  Talk about guilt!  I do not want to pile guilt and expectation on you today.  I believe most of you are already the Proverbs 31 woman!  You see, this chapter is not a lesson to moms, it is a lesson from mom!

THE PRIMARY MESSAGE

¹The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

We are not certain who Lemuel is.  It is rumored that this was Bathsheba’s name for Solomon, but there is no proof.  Lemuel means: “belonging to God”.  In that sense, it applies to each and every one of us.

Psalms 24:1(NKJV)

¹ The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.

These are instructions from a Mom to her son.  These are more than just suggestions.  The word ‘utterance’ is the same Hebrew word translated “prophecy” or “burden”.  She is prophesying to her son.  She is giving him a word from the Lord.  Do we do that?

Proverbs 1:8(NKJV)

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;  

Proverbs 6:20(NKJV)

²⁰ My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother.

The word “taught” means to “chasten”, “discipline”, “instruct”, and “admonish”.

Dad gives instructions and commands, but mama lays down the law!

Lemuel is remembering what Mom said.  Do you remember the things your mom taught you when she laid down the law?  What are some?

² What, my son? and what, son of my womb? and what, son of my vows?

She is responding to a question from her son.  What are you asking?  It is almost as if we are eavesdropping on a private conversation.  She refers to him in terms of affection: son of my womb, son of my vows (marriage vows).

This is her natural-born son that came as the fruit of a marriage, an example of what God has in mind all along: one man and one woman for a lifetime, children coming from that natural relationship!  There is not an example of any other type of marriage in the Scriptures.  There are foster relationships (Samuel and Eli), adoption, (David and Mephibosheth), extended family (Timothy and his mother and grandmother), and single parents (Mary).  All of these are honorable and Biblical.  Other relationships that society today wants to call ‘marriage’ have no scriptural foundation.

First mom speaks to her son about how to be successful in the home and in the marketplace.  She addresses her son as a king, a ruler.  Men, if we want to rule and reign in life, we should listen to this mother’s three wise commands. 

Lesson #1: Live a moral life. 

³ Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

One only has to read Proverbs chapters 5-7 to see the impact that immorality has on a life and on a marriage.  Husbands, if you want the perfect life then make her secure in your faithful love, not that you love her, but that you love her only!

If a man will be unfaithful to his wedding vows he will be unfaithful to his business and other personal commitments.  What we really are is what we are in secret!

Lesson #2: Live a disciplined life

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; ⁵ lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted.  ⁶ Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart.  ⁷ Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

We can plug in any vice we choose in the place of drink.  Proverbs declares that gluttony and the drunkard are brothers; laziness will clothe a man with rags.

The issue is not what you may do, but what you should do!  We should live way beyond the sin issue.  Kids want to know how close they can get to the line before they sin.  Why risk it?  Live above the live!  Live a life that is beyond reproach.  Not out of legalism to be pleasing to God, but as a king who wants to rule and reign in god’s realm with honor and dignity and clearmindedness!

Lesson #3: Live to make a difference. 

Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves

⁸ Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die.

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Amos 5:24(NKJV)

²⁴ But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.

James 1:27(NKJV)

²⁷Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Mama then says, “Son, when you do these three things, you might be ready to find a wife.

THE PRICELESS WOMAN

I have found in almost 40 years of ministry that if a man will love his wife, cherish her, honor her, and nourish her, she will be a submissive wife.  Most of the women I know and have known want to submit to their husbands, but the men don’t have a clue!

1 Peter 3:1-9(NKJV)

¹Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, ²when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ⁵For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, ⁶as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

⁷Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

⁸Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be ^£courteous; ⁹not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Mama begins a beautiful poem about what the king’s wife is like.  How did she know?  She was one!  This poem in Hebrew is an acrostic.  Each of the 22 verses in this section begins with a successive letter in the Hebrew alphabet.

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain.

¹² She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

¹³ She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,she brings her food from afar.

¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.

¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night.

¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle.

²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet.

²² She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants.

²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.

²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.

²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.”

³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Guys, we need to give our wives liberty to be who God created them to be.  They are industrious, creative, wise, resourceful, strong, buff, and beautiful.  When we exalt them, we are exalted!

1 Corinthians 11:7(NKJV)

⁷For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

When we take care of the ladies in our life, it makes others think good of us!

One more thing…

THE PRECIOUS BRIDE

In that last verse we saw that man is the image and glory of God!  As the Bride of Christ, we can read these verses and apply them to all of us.  Look at them again in this context… 

How did we do?  Use this as a measuring rod of your devotion to Christ!

Matthew 5:16(NKJV)

¹⁶Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 15:8(NKJV)

⁸By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

The Winning Life: Proverbs on Business                                   Restoration Fellowship

Proverbs 11:24-26                                                                                          May 6, 2012

Explore what Proverbs, and Bible in general, has to say about money, wealth, and business.  “A fool and his money are soon parted.”  But not a Scripture!  Quote from 16^th century English poet and farmer, Thomas Tusser…

Proverbs 11:24–26 (NKJV) ²⁴ There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.  ²⁵ The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.  ²⁶ The people will curse him who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

Multitude of Proverbs dealing with business…

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJV) ⁹ Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first-fruits of all your increase; ¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Proverbs 10:16 (NKJV) ¹⁶ The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.

Proverbs 11:1 (NKJV) ¹Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.

Proverbs 13:11 (NKJV) ¹¹ Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase.

Proverbs 13:22 (NKJV) ²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

Proverbs 15:6 (NKJV) ⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

Proverbs 22:29(NKJV) ²⁹ Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.

Proverbs 28:20 (NKJV) ²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 28:22 (NKJV)

²² A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

Proverbs 28:27 (NKJV) ²⁷ He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

I am not going to teach today.  Instead we have four of our members who either own their own business or serve as the executive officer of their business.  I am going to interview them and let them share some of their story.  Let’s meet them now:

Bill Appleton, Claudia Green, Dan O’Leary, Travis Tacker

First: I want to interview the participants and ask the following three questions:

1.  How did you get into your present business/job/position?

2.  Did you feel the Lord's leadership and direction in getting to your present business/job/position?  If so, in what way?

3.  What Biblical principles have made an impact on the way you do business?

Feel free to add anything else you might want to share about personal and business finances.

Second:  We have had the congregation write down some questions and we will answer them as long as we have time.

The Winning Life: Proverbs on Relationships                          Restoration Fellowship

Proverbs 6:16-19                                                                                          April 29, 2012

FAMILY

Proverbs 6:16-19(NKJV) ¹⁶ These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: ¹⁷ A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, ¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

            Husbands

Proverbs 5:15-18(NKJV) ¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own well.  ¹⁶ Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets?  ¹⁷ Let them be only your own, And not for strangers with you.  ¹⁸ Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth.

Proverbs 18:22(NKJV) ²² He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 19:14(NKJV) ¹⁴ Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

            Wives

Proverbs 2:17-18(NKJV) ¹⁷ Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God. ¹⁸ For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead;

Proverbs 11:22(NKJV) ²² As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

Proverbs 12:4(NKJV) ⁴ An^£ excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

Proverbs 14:1(NKJV) ¹ The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

Proverbs 19:13(NKJV) ¹³ A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

Proverbs 21:9(NKJV) ⁹ Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Proverbs 21:19(NKJV) ¹⁹ Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman.

Proverbs 25:24(NKJV) ²⁴ It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Proverbs 27:15-16(NKJV) ¹⁵ A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; ¹⁶ Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

FRIENDS

Proverbs 12:26(NKJV) ²⁶ The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Proverbs 13:20(NKJV) ²⁰ He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Proverbs 17:17(NKJV) ¹⁷ A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 18:24(NKJV) ²⁴ A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 22:24, 25(NKJV) ²⁴ Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, ²⁵ Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.

Proverbs 27:6(NKJV) ⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 27:9(NKJV) ⁹ Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.

Proverbs 27:10(NKJV) ¹⁰ Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

Proverbs 27:14(NKJV) ¹⁴ He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him.

Proverbs 27:17(NKJV) ¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.


AUTHORITIES

Proverbs 14:35(NKJV) ³⁵ The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

Proverbs 17:2(NKJV) ² A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

Proverbs 22:11(NKJV) ¹¹ He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips,

Proverbs 22:29(NKJV) ²⁹ Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men. The king will be his friend.

Proverbs 23:1-3(NKJV) When you sit down to eat with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you; ² And put a knife to your throat If you are a man given to appetite. ³ Do not desire his delicacies, For they are deceptive food.

Proverbs 24:21(NKJV) ²¹ My son, fear the Lord and the king; Do not associate with those given to change;

Proverbs 25:6-7(NKJV) ⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; ⁷ For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

The Winning Life: Putting It All Together                                            Restoration Fellowship

Proverbs 13 and following                                                                                       April 22, 2012

INTRO:  For several weeks talking about Proverbs.  Today I want to illustrate how to put it all together by illustrating how it has worked out in my life... 1984 Nelson Open Bible...

The power of the discipline is reading it over the span of months and years... Various topics are mentioned in each chapter.  As your life changes, the Word speaks to both new and old areas in bold, fresh ways...  Scriptura Divina, divine teaching or divine instruction...

Remember the three-fold cord we have in Proverbs: the Word of God, the Voice of God, and the Walk of God...

CHAPTER 13

The soul of a lazy  man  desires, and  has  nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. (Proverbs 13:4 NKJV)

Applies to spiritual as well as physical...

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But  when  the desire comes,  it is  a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12 NKJV)

The power of disillusionment...

Disappointment, disillusionment, despair, despondency, depression...

He who despises the word will be destroyed (bound painfully), But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. (Proverbs 13:13 NKJV)

But the person who does  anything  presumptuously,  whether he is  native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt  shall be  upon him. (Numbers 15:30, 31 NKJV)

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26, 27 NKJV)

Poverty and shame  will come  to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored. (Proverbs 13:18 NKJV)

A good  man  leaves an inheritance to his children's children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. (Proverbs 13:22 NKJV)

CHAPTER 14

Fools mock at sin, But among the upright  there is  favor. (Proverbs 14:9 NKJV)

The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man  will be satisfied  from above. (Proverbs 14:14 NKJV)

In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter  leads  only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23 NKJV)

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy. (Proverbs 14:31 NKJV)

CHAPTER 15

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 NKJV)

The way of the lazy  man is  like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright  is  a highway. (Proverbs 15:19 NKJV)

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word  spoken  in due season, how good  it is! (Proverbs 15:23 NKJV)

CHAPTER 16

When a mans ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7 NKJV)

It is  an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. (Proverbs 16:12 NKJV)

The silver-haired head  is  a crown of glory,  If  it is found in the way of righteousness. (Proverbs 16:31 NKJV)

CHAPTER 17

A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. (Proverbs 17:2 NKJV)

Children's children  are  the crown of old men, And the glory of children  is  their father. (Proverbs 17:6 NKJV)

He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. (Proverbs 17:9 NKJV)

A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 NKJV)

CHAPTER 18

He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer. (Proverbs 18:9 NKJV)

A mans gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men. (Proverbs 18:16 NKJV)

CHAPTER 19

Laziness casts  one  into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger. (Proverbs 19:15 NKJV)

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given. (Proverbs 19:17 NKJV)

A lazy  man  buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. (Proverbs 19:24 NKJV)

CHAPTER 20

The lazy  man  will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and  have  nothing. (Proverbs 20:4 NKJV)

The righteous  man  walks in his integrity; His children  are  blessed after him. (Proverbs 20:7 NKJV)

Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes,  and  you will be satisfied with bread. (Proverbs 20:13 NKJV)

He who goes about  as  a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. (Proverbs 20:19 NKJV)

CHAPTER 21

The kings heart  is  in the hand of the Lord,  Like  the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1 NKJV)

The plans of the diligent  lead  surely to plenty, But  those of  everyone  who is  hasty, surely to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5 NKJV)

He who loves pleasure  will be  a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich. (Proverbs 21:17 NKJV)

The desire of the lazy  man  kills him, For his hands refuse to labor. (Proverbs 21:25 NKJV)

CHAPTER 22

Do you see a man  who  excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown  men. (Proverbs 22:29 NKJV)

CHAPTER 23

For as he thinks in his heart, so  is  he. Eat and drink! he says to you, But his heart is not with you. (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV)

Do not remove the ancient landmark, Nor enter the fields of the fatherless; (Proverbs 23:10 NKJV)

Do not let your heart envy sinners, But  be zealous  for the fear of the Lord all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 23:17, 18 NKJV)

Truly God  is  good to Israel, But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I  was  envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psalm 73:1-3 NKJV)

Do not mix with winebibbers,  Or  with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe  a man  with rags. (Proverbs 23:20, 21 NKJV)

CHAPTER 24

Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemaking. (Proverbs 24:1, 2 NKJV)

For a righteous  man  may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. (Proverbs 24:16 NKJV)

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord  will be  a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness. Then  she who is  my enemy will see, And shame will cover her who said to me, Where is the Lord your God? My eyes will see her; Now she will be trampled down Like mud in the streets. (Micah 7:8-10 NKJV)

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the Lord see  it,  and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him. (Proverbs 24:17, 18 NKJV)

I went by the field of the lazy  man,  And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down. When I saw  it,  I considered  it  well; I looked on  it and  received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come  like  a prowler, And your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 24:30-34 NKJV)

For we are Gods fellow workers; you are Gods field,  you are  Gods building. (1 Corinthians 3:9 NKJV)

Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill. (Isaiah 5:1 NKJV)

Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. (Matthew 21:33 NKJV)

The Winning Life: Living by Your Spirit                                  Restoration Fellowship

Proverbs 20:27                                                                                              April 15, 2012

TEXT  Proverbs 20:27(NKJV)  ²⁷ The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the ^£inner depths of his heart.

Proverbs 1:23(NKJV)  ²³ Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

1 Corinthians 2:11(NKJV)  ¹¹For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

John the Baptist lived this way...  Luke 1:80 (NKJV)  So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Jesus lived this way...  Luke 2:40 (NKJV)  And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Background...  God made man and breathed into him the breath of life...

And the Lord God formed man  of  the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7 NKJV)

But  there is  a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. (Job 32:8 NKJV)

And when He had said this, He breathed on  them,  and said to them,  Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22 NKJV)

    

Benefits...

Proverbs 16:32(NKJV)  ³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 25:28(NKJV)  ²⁸ Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

Proverbs 18:14(NKJV)  ¹⁴ The  spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness...

We can live this way... 

Romans 8:1-17 (NKJV)  There is  therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God  did  by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those  who live  according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded  is  death, but to be spiritually minded  is  life and peace. Because the carnal mind  is  enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ  is  in you, the body  is  dead because of sin, but the Spirit  is  life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with  Him,  that we may also be glorified together.

Galatians 5:16-18(NKJV)  ¹⁶I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

¹⁷For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 6:7-9(NKJV)  ⁷Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

⁸For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

⁹And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

What if we have lost heart?  Let's go back to a previous passage...

Proverbs 18:14(NKJV)  ¹⁴ The  spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?

How does our spirit get broken?

Sin... Proverbs 15:4(NKJV)  ⁴ A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Sorrow... Proverbs 15:13(NKJV)  ¹³ A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Pride... Proverbs 16:18(NKJV)  ¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Stress... Proverbs 17:27(NKJV)  ²⁷ He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

There is some good news for those who are broken in spirit...

Proverbs 29:23(NKJV)  ²³ A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

(Psalm 34:18 NKJV)  The Lord  is  near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Psalms 51:17(NKJV)  ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

1 Samuel 2:8 (NKJV)  He raises the poor from the dust  And  lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set  them  among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth  are  the Lords, And He has set the world upon them.

Ephesians 3:16(NKJV)  ¹⁶that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

The Winning Life: Winning Souls                                              Restoration Fellowship

Proverbs 11:30                                                                                           March 25, 2012

TEXT  Proverbs 11:30(NKJV) ³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

It is amazing to me that right in the middle of our study on Proverbs the Lord reaches out and touches us with the overarching truth of the Bible: God is concerned about the souls of men!

God has been crushing my heart in recent days because I have forgotten that my primary purpose on this earth is to win souls, to introduce people who are far away from God to the truth that God loves them and has a plan for their life, to lead them to believe in Him and accept Him as their Lord and Savior!

2 Corinthians 5:17-20(NKJV) ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

When Jesus called His disciples, he called them to go after men.  The word “win” in the text means to grasp, sieze, bring in, capture,  or keep.  It is used figuratively of a mother bird rolling its young onto her wings and of a man taking (winning) a wife.

Matthew 4:18-20(NKJV) ¹⁸And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁹Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
²⁰They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Mark 1:14-18(NKJV) ¹⁴Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel (Good News) of the kingdom of God, ¹⁵and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” ¹⁶And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁷Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Luke 5:1-11(NKJV) ¹So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, ²and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. ³Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. ⁴When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” ⁶And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. ⁷So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” ⁹For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; ¹⁰and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” ¹¹So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

The message is pretty simple:  if you are following Jesus, you will be fishing for and catching men.  That is what Jesus did and that is what He is still doing through us!

Luke 10:1-2(NKJV) ¹After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. ²Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

John 4:34-38(NKJV) ³⁴Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. ³⁵Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! ³⁶And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. ³⁷For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’  ³⁸I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

When we started Restoration Fellowship almost ten years ago, the lynchpin of our decision were the findings in the 2000 census that revealed 90% of El Paso residents were un-churched!  I do not believe that has changed dramatically over the past decade.  In fact, I bet it has gotten worse!

God led us to start a church that would restore, refresh, and rebuild.  Our goal was to reach 1% of the population, or 6000 people, with the Gospel of Jesus over the next twenty years.  I don’t think we are on track to reach that goal.  I have not made winning souls a priority in my life.  Oh I talk about it; I give lip service to it, but the fact is that I am ashamed of how few people I have personally led to Christ in the past decade.  I can say that I am a pastor, or a teacher, or an apostle or a prophet, not an evangelist.  The truth is that Paul commanded Timothy to:

2 Timothy 4:5(NKJV) ⁵But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

There you have it: my work is not fulfilled if I am not being an evangelist?  What is an evangelist?  We think a T.V. preacher is an evangelist.  Maybe, maybe not!  An evangelist is someone who is consumed with telling others about Christ.  Phillip, one of the first deacons in the early church (Acts 6), was identified as an evangelist.

Acts 21:8(NKJV) ⁸On the next day we ^£who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

Why was he called that?

Acts 8:4-8, 12(NKJV)
⁴Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.  ⁵Then Philip went down to ^£the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were ossessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸And there was great joy in that city.   ¹²But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

Acts 8:26-40(NKJV) ²⁶Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. ²⁷So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
            ³⁰So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. ³²The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth.  ³³ In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”^{£
            34}So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” ³⁵Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
            ³⁶Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” ^37£Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” ³⁸So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.  ⁴⁰But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Philip was not a professional pastor.  He was a layman, a deacon, just a man approved of God.  Yet God used him to impact not just communities, but cultures, countries, and continents!  We can do the same!  We are all to be preachers!

Romans 10:13-15(NKJV) ¹³For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” ¹⁴How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

James 5:19-20(NKJV) ¹⁹Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, ²⁰let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Daniel 12:3 (NKJV) Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

 Luke 14:16-23(NKJV) ¹⁶Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, ¹⁷and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’  ¹⁸But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’  ¹⁹And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’  ²⁰Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ ²¹So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ ²²And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ ²³Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Revelation 22:17(NKJV) ¹⁷And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Let’s look again at the text: the fruit of righteousness is a tree of life.  When God gives us His righteousness, we become a tree that give life to others.

John 15:8(NKJV) ⁸By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17(NKJV) ¹⁴Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
¹⁵For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ¹⁶To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
¹⁷For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15(NKJV) ¹⁴For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

The great Texas pastor, Howard Conatser, had a dream shortly before his death.  He was in a car surrounded by throngs of people who were beating on the car windows and asking for help.  Brother Conatser was deeply troubled.  The Lord about it and the Lord said, “There’s not much time left!

38.500 addresses within 3 miles;

47% with children

10,000 within one mile;

Oasis Ranch;

Apartments all around us

Brothers and sisters: the time has come for me and you and all of us to rise up and live out our calling to take the Gospel to this city and to this region and to this state and the this nation and to the world/  There’s not much time left!

The Winning Life: Making Good Decisions                                           Restoration Fellowship

Proverbs 12:15; 14:12; 21:2                                                                                  March 18, 2012

INTRO: Much attention today is on two sports stories: NCAA March Madness and the travels and ultimate final destination of Hall of Fame quarterback Payton Manning.  In each of these instances you hear a term used over and over: making good decisions.  Basketball teams must learn to make good decisions in a split second as to passing and shot selection.  Payton Manning is valued not only for his arm and quick release but also for his head!  He almost always makes good decisions as to what to do with the football.

Good decisions are essential to having a winning team and a winning life.  Wrong decisions lead to losses on the athletic field and delays and devastation in life.

The book of Proverbs has many principles we can employ to help us make good  decisions as we walk through life.

TEXTS

 

The way of a fool  is  right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel  is  wise. (Proverbs 12:15 NKJV)

There is a way  that seems  right to a man, But its end  is  the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12 NKJV) (Proverbs 16:25 NKJV)

Every way of a man  is  right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. (Proverbs 21:2 NKJV)

An Old Problem

You shall not at all do as we are doing here today, every man doing whatever  is  right in his own eyes (Deuteronomy 12:8 NKJV)

In those days  there was  no king in Israel; everyone did  what was  right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6 NKJV) (Judges 21:25 NKJV)

A mentor of mine, Manley Beasley, once said that "if you want to know what God wants you to do, just think about what man would naturally do and do the opposite!".  I do not think he was far off!  Paul wrote that "the natural man does not receive the things of God because they are foolishness to him.

If that is the case, let's examine some keys from Proverbs 10-12 to see how we can make decisions that are pleasing to God and will bring us success in life...

1.      A good decision is a righteous decision...  

1.      Right, righteous, righteousness all come from a root meaning just, moral, clean

a.      Tesidke, tesidkenu, "The Lord Our Righteousness"

2.      How do we determine a righteous decision?

a.      A righteous decision is one that God can bless.

                                                                          i.      Blessings  are  on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:6 NKJV)

b.      A righteous decision is one that will bring good memories, not regrets.

                                                                          i.      The memory of the righteous  is  blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. (Proverbs 10:7 NKJV)

c.      A righteous decision is one that when you talk about it, life springs up.

                                                                          i.      The mouth of the righteous  is  a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:11 NKJV)

d.      A righteous decision produces life and fruit.

                                                                          i.      The labor of the righteous  leads  to life, The wages of the wicked to sin. (Proverbs 10:16 NKJV)

                                                                        ii.      He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.  (Proverbs 11:28 NKJV)

                                                                      iii.      The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.  (Proverbs 11:30 NKJV)

                                                                      iv.      The wicked covet the catch of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields fruit.  (Proverbs 12:12 NKJV)

e.      A righteous decision is filled with peace and hope.

                                                                          i.      The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted. (Proverbs 10:24 NKJV)

                                                                        ii.      The hope of the righteous  will be  gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish. (Proverbs 10:28 NKJV)

                                                                      iii.      And let the peace of God rule in your hearts... (Colossians 3:15 NKJV)

f.        A righteous decision will have have a lasting impact.

                                                                          i.      When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked  is  no  more,  But the righteous  has  an everlasting foundation. (Proverbs 10:25 NKJV)

                                                                        ii.      The righteous will never be removed, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth. (Proverbs 10:30 NKJV)

g.      A righteous decision will be a blessing to our city.

                                                                          i.      When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.  By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.  (Proverbs 11:10-11NKJV)

h.     A righteous decision will not be deceitful or manipulated

                                                                          i.      The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.  (Proverbs 11:18 NKJV)

                                                                        ii.      Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.  (Proverbs 12:20 NKJV)

i.        A righteous decision will be a blessing to our descendants.

                                                                          i.      Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.  (Proverbs 11:21 NKJV)

j.         A righteous decision will consider the innocent.

                                                                          i.      A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.  (Proverbs 12:10 NKJV)

2.      A good decision will be surrounded by good counsel.

a.      Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.  (Proverbs 11:14 NKJV)

b.      The thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.  (Proverbs 12:5 NKJV)

c.      The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.  (Proverbs 12:26 NKJV)

We should seek the counsel of our spouse, our spiritual authorities (parents, pastors, teachers), civil authorities, and most of all, the Lord (in prayer)!  Why...

3.      A good decision will have the touch of God on it.

a.      Let me quote Manley Beasley one more time, "If there is any other explanation for your life other than God, your are not living where He wants you to live."

b.      The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the wicked.  (Proverbs 10:3 NKJV)

What do we do when we know we have made the wrong decision?

          Acknowledge it.

          Confess it.

          Correct it.

          Turn it.

          Learn it.