The Winning Life: Knowing God’s Will; Proverbs 3:5-6

For the last 6 weeks we have focused on the search for wisdom that is found in the Word of God, the Voice of God, and the Walk of God.  Today we want to begin applying these tools to various questions, problems, and needs that confront the human condition and the Christian profession.

For the next weeks Alba, Sip, Tony, and I will teach what Proverbs has to say on various topics such as parenting, relationships, temptations, addictions, business, and character.  We will hear testimonies from fellow RF members as to how God has given them insight and victory in these various areas.

First up today: How do I know if I am doing God’s will?

Background: Most asked question… even asked at JCS chapel this week… Christians want to know if they are in the will of God!  They want to know if a certain decision they are about to make is the will of God.

First: The Word of God

Proverbs 3:5-6(NKJV) ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

One of the most quoted passages in the Bible.  Charles Stanley related a story that this verse played the instrumental Scripture direction in his going to First Baptist church, Atlanta.  It played an important role in our moving to El Paso.

Trust: lying helplessly face down; like a child on your chest;

Heart: seat of mind, will, and emotion; the soul

Lean: rely on; rest on for support

Understanding: comprehension; discernment

            There is a way that seems right…

Acknowledge: know intimately

Direct: make smooth and straight; remove hinderances

Second: The Voice of God

Proverbs 16:3(NKJV) Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.

Commit: roll off onto

            Psalm 37:5; 55:22

Works: work; deed; workmanship

            We are His workmanship…

            God is at work in us…

            He who began a good work…

Thoughts: thought; device; plan; purpose’ intentions

Established: stand up; be firm

Third: The Walk of God

Proverbs 16:9(NKJV) A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

Heart: Soul; mind, will, emotions; complete person

Plans: invent; consider’ reckon

Way: journey

Directs: same word as ‘established’ in v. 3; stand up’ firm up

Steps: actual steps or distance; success in life

            Jeremiah 10:23

God is more concerned about His will than we are!  He takes responsibility for us and will lead us ultimately in His will.

God led me to Wayland by closing all other doors; led me to Lazbuddie; shut me in to teaching school so that I could meet Jack, which led to our coming to El Paso and ultimately to starting Restoration Fellowship!

God will give us the desires of our heart!  We felt a call to missions, possibly Cuba.  God led me to minor in Spanish in college so that we would be prepared to minister in a Spanish speaking mission field!  Who would have known that we would end up in Ft. Hancock and El Paso!

I pray you are encouraged today to understand that God will keep you in His will if you seek Him.  He will not let you miss Him!

The Winning Life: Wisdom; Proverbs 4:7

TEXT - Proverbs 4:7(NKJV) ⁷ Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding

Have you ever done something stupid?  What if I told you that you could begin today and go the rest of your life and never make another foolish decision?  I believe that God can so give us His wisdom that we can live life and always make right decisions!

3 questions...

1.      What is wisdom?

2.      How do you get it?

3.      How do you pass it on to others (especially your children)?

People have always been on a quest for wisdom: Genesis 3:6.  We are instructed not be wise in our own eyes: Proverbs 3:7.  Jesus said the Greeks seek for wisdom; Paul said that professing to be wise they became fools...

The Bible has to much say about wisdom: Exodus 28:3; Exodus 31:1-10

Wisdom can mean skill to do a task.  Exodus 35 declares that all the gifted artisans were filled with wisdom from God to do their job, even the women who spun goat's hair into yarn and linen!  James wrote that every good and perfect gift comes down from above.  This tells me that we have in the church to do whatever He has called us to do!

Where does wisdom come from?  Job asked that question and God answered it: Job 28:12-28

This is such an amazingly beautiful and poignant section of Scripture...  It is part of what in the Bible we call "Wisdom literature": Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.  Our focus is Proverbs: Proverbs 2:1-11; Proverbs 3:13; Proverbs 3:19; Proverbs 4:5;

What is the ‘fear of the Lord’?  Reverential awe?  Being afraid of God?

The Bible some wonderful things to say about the fear of the Lord: 1 Samuel 11:72;  Chronicles 14:14; Psalms 34:11-18; Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10-11; Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 14:26-27; Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 16:6; Proverbs 19:23; Proverbs 22:4.

                        

Here is the definition: Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.  The Scriptures will explain themselves if we will let them!

Are there some things that you hate?  Brussel sprouts?  Rattlesnakes?

If the Fear of the Lord is the beginning place?  How do we start?  The same place that wisdom starts.  

Three sources: Proverbs 6:23(NKJV) ²³ For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

The Word of God...  The Voice of God...  The Walk of God...  Let’s look at them...

The Word of God produces the fear of God and the wisdom of God: Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Deuteronomy 31:10-13; Proverbs 3:1-4; Proverbs 4:20-22; Proverbs 6:20-22; Proverbs 7:1-4;  Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:15.

How does this happen?  How does this all work?  David Ingles wrote:

The Word is working mightily in me; the Word is working mightily in me

No matter what the circumstances, what I feel or see

The Word is working mightily in me

There is a practical side.  We learn what God likes and doesn't like.  We learn what God blesses and what He doesn't bless.

2 Timothy 3:16, 17 (NKJV) All Scripture  is  given by inspiration of God, and  is  profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

But there is a also a mystical side...

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)For the word of God  is  living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Voice of God produces the fear of God and the wisdom of God: Psalms 25:12-14; Isaiah 50:10; Proverbs 8:1-36; Matthew 7:24-25.

God is calling out to us, to speak to us in our everyday situations.  He wants to speak to us about our business, our family, our personal lives, our futures.  He knows what will happen and can lead us.  We need His rhema word to be the sword of the spirit in our lives.  Jesus said, “the words that I speak to you are spirit and life!”

The walk of God produces the fear of God and the wisdom of God: Proverbs 3:5-6; Proverbs 3:11-12; Proverbs 9:1-10; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Colossians 2:6.

As we encounter the reproofs of life, we learn.  Did we hear or not?  Did we obey or not?  Did we discern or not?  Hebrew teaches us that spiritual gifts are given in an immature state and are developed by reason of use!

APPLICATIONS

Read God’s Word every day

Spend time with God every day

Walk with God every day

                                           

We must learn that just one of those areas is not enough.  The Word without the Voice is just ritualistic legalism; the Voice without the Word is just un-balanced emotionalism; and both without the Walk is just hypocritical intellectualism.

The Winning Life: Purpose; Proverbs 1

As we proceed with this study, you may be asking: What can I expect to get out of reading, studying, and meditating on the book of Proverbs for several weeks?

Good question!   The reason we study the Bible is not just to add to our abstract knowledge.  Just having pure knowledge puffs us up and makes us arrogant: 1 Corinthians 8:1.

There is an overall purpose in Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16.

Anytime we study the Bible the final test is what difference does it make in our life.  Bible study is not just about information but about transformation!  It's all about the path, where we got off the path, how to get back on the path, and how to stay on the path.

Solomon speaks to these questions right here in the first chapter of Proverbs.

THE PURPOSE: Proverbs 1:2-6

There are five infinitives that tell what you can expect from all this.  Let's name them together.  There are two in verse 2; one each in verses 3, 4, and 6...

1.      To know

2.      To discern

3.      To receive

4.      To give

5.      To understand

THE PROCESS: Proverbs 1:2-6

How does this infusion of knowledge and wisdom and discernment and prudence and understanding take place?  It is not just an academic exercise, it is the result of meditating and hearing the word of the Lord.

As we are intimate with the Lord, His voice speaks to us.  He reveals things to us.  As with any act of intimacy conception takes ace no we give birth to vision an dreams, words do wisdom and knowledge rise up in our spirit.  We learn to listen and discern truth from error.  We begin to understand how God works and how men can fulfill God's purpose for them.

THE PRINCIPAL: Proverbs 1:7

What is the fear of the Lord?  We will deal with that in detail in the next couple of weeks, but it is defined in Proverbs 8:13.

THE PATTERN: Proverbs 1:8-9

THE PLOY: Proverbs 1:10-19

THE PLEA: Proverbs 1:20-23

THE PROMISE: Proverbs 1:24-33

The Winning Life: Introduction; Proverbs 1:1-7                                                                                 

For the past several years we have started the year with a series of studies taken from a book of the Bible or a specific section of a book.   We have studied Romans, Mark, Colossians, Acts,and the Ten Commandments, among others.

This year I wanted to do something very practical.  These are tough times and we all need good advice.  Everyone is looking for an edge today.  People have mentors, life coaches, personal trainers, and spiritual directors.  These are all good.  Paying attention  to those who are older and wiser, those who have more experience, those who have been successful in areas can give us that edge we may be looking for.  . 

The most practical book in the Bible is The Book of Proverbs.  It has a lot to say about a whole range of topics.  Let me give you some examples...

MARRIAGE: Proverbs 4:6, 8-9; Proverbs 5:18-19; Proverbs 12:4; Proverbs 18:22

RAISING CHILDREN: Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 23:13-14; Proverbs 29:15; Proverbs 29:17

FINANCES: Proverbs 3:9-10; Proverbs 6:1-5; Proverbs 22:7; Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 22:26-27 

BUSINESS: Proverbs 10:16; Proverbs 21:5; Proverbs 22:29; Proverbs 27:23-27 

Proverbs deals with over well over 100 different topics and themes: such things as honesty, laziness, greed, relationships with family, friends, neighbors, bosses, servants, anger, speech, and justice, just to name a few...

Proverbs is not just a haphazard collection of “tips and tricks.”  It is the core knowledge and experience that God promises will bring successf in life.  That's why we are naming this series:

"The Winning Life: God's Guaranteed Steps to Success

In Your Future, Your Family, and Your Finances."

TEXT  Proverbs 1:1-7

1.       What is a proverb? 

The Eastern world is known as the home of proverbs...  Confucius and other Chinese philosophers...  How about fortune cookies...

A saying that conveys a specific truth in a pointed way

Short sentences drawn from long experience;

A truth couched in a form that is easy to remember;

A philosophy based on experience; a rule for conduct;

Sayings taken from everyday life intended to serve as practical guidelines for everyday living.

You know, Mother used to say.… ”

Some of those you may want to forget!

A penny saved is a penny earned.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

God helps those who help themselves.

Look before you leap.

People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

What are some other wise sayings you recall from your childhood?

No pain, no gain

“It’s not over ’til it’s over.”

“Don’t change horses in midstream,”

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,”

“Variety is the spice of life,”

“Blood is thicker than water.”

The English word "proverb" comes to from a Latin word that means “a word, speech, or discourse.”

The Hebrew is "mashal", which can also be interpreted as oracle or parable.  This is why the first nine chapters of Proverbs are of a different style from the rest of the book.

Much of Proverbs is in Hebrew poetry and shares with the poetry of many cultures a special use of words for effect, sound, imagery, and language.   Although the book of Proverbs is written in poetry, it is not the rhyming poetry we are used to in English.  In Hebrew poetry the basic form is parallelism: the repetition of related thoughts.  The core idea is “comparison.”   This comparison usually takes four forms:

Synonymous parallelism, the second line restates the first line in slightly different terms:

   A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches;

      Loving favor rather than silver and gold. (22:1)

Antithetical parallelism: the second line expresses the thought negatively, again reinforcing the positive idea:

   A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,

      But the simple pass on and are punished. (22:3)

Climactic parallelism: the second line completes the thought of the first line:

   The rich and the poor have this in common,

      The Lord is the maker of them all. (22:2)

Finally, many of the proverbs are based on comparisons between two parallel lines. These are the “better than” proverbs:

    Better is a little with righteousness,

      Than vast revenues without justice. (16:8)

2.  Proverbs of Solomon

Most of Proverbs is attributed to Solomon: Proverbs 1:1; Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 25:1

Others are also named as collectors and contributers: Agur, Lemuel, and, as we saw above, some assistants to King Hezekiah...

Who was Solomon?  Second son of David and Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 12:24

Succeeded David as King of Israel: 1 Chronicles 22:9, 10; 1 Chronicles 28:5-7

Prayed for wisdom: 1 Kings 3:4-14

Here is some good news: We also can call upon God for wisdom: James 1:5

Solomon became known as the wisest of all men: 1 Kings 4:29-34; 1 Kings 10:1-7; 2 Chronicles 9:22, 23

Now I have some weird ideas about the book of Proverbs.  One of these is that many of the Proverbs, especially the first nine chapters, are really the proverbs of David that he spoke to his son Solomon as he was growing up.  Look at the following passages: Proverbs 4:3, 4; Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 1:10; Proverbs 2:1; Proverbs 3:1; Proverbs 4:10; Proverbs 5:1; Proverbs 6:1; Proverbs 6:20; Proverbs 7:1

It is not really a big deal, but David did a lot of living and made his share of mistakes.  When you read the advice of the first nine chapters, it rings of a man who had lived life the hard way and is trying to save his children from the pain that he endured. 

The sad thing is that Solomon did not listen.  He had the advice of his father David  and his mother Bathsheba; he had the revealed wisdom of God, yet he went off into sin that was worse than what his father had done.  He did not fully follow the Lord: 1 Kings 3:3; 1 Kings 11:1-9

Solomon's son, Rehoboam, did not heed instruction either: 1 Kings 11:43; 1 Kings 12:6-8; 2 Chronicles 12:1; 2 Chronicles 12:14

What can we learn from this?  We can have the right ideas, all the wisdom of God and the world, but if we do not have the power of God then it is worthless! 

How many times in our own lives have we known what the right thing was to do, but we did what we wanted to do anyway!  This is the essence of the human condition: James 4:17

We need the grace of God.  Not in license but in power: Romans 5:2

As we look to Proverbs we will become aware that it is a book about wisdom, about seeking out wisdom.

We will see that wisdom is not adhering to a set of codes of action, but listening to and obeying the voice of the Lord!  Actually it is calling on and leaning on Jesus: He is the  wisdom of God: 

1 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:2, 3; Revelation 5:12

This study is all about seeking after Jesus!  It is not about filling in your checklist and just waiting for the blessings to come dropping down out of the sky.  If that is your attitude, the. You will just get puffed up and prideful and experience the chastening of the Lord.  If, however, we will seek after God as the very source of our life, then we can experience the fulness that Jesus said we could have: John 10:10

A few practical things...

1.      Read a chapter of Proverbs everyday.

2.      Turn the chapter into prayer,  Proverb Prayers by John Mason

3.      Categorize the verses under topics.

4.      Memorize the ones that apply to your situation.

5.      Cry out to God for wisdom.

6.      Seek to hear Jesus and know Him.

7.      Obey His voice!

8.      The Word judges us; we do not judge the Word.

Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge, because they have rejected knowledge.”

I often know what to do, but choose not to do!

Welcome to our new blog on the book of Proverbs.  We hope you will read a chapter of Proverbs every day from now until Mother's Day and record your insights here for everyone to enjoy.  I will be posting outlines and texts of the sermons from each Sunday so you can add those to your notes.