There are seven foundations to uphold the church to combat Satan.

Proverbs 9         June 9, 2012

Memory Verse: Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

Today’s lesson seems to speak to the seven foundation pillars upholding the house that Jesus built at this time.

1)      Preparation

2)      Planning

3)      Humility

4)      Communion is sought

5)      Hard Choices must be made

6)      Pride must be vanquished

7)      Proper counseling approach must be determined

He goes on to explain teaching a wise or just person will be more rewarding, but respect for His Word is essential to growth. Live wisely as explained and His wisdom will fill your very being.

Satan, the old prostitute, is then described here also. The seven things to look out for are: He is brazen, empty-headed or changeable, Frivolous, Beckons to momentary pleasure, Secrecy is demanded, Deceit brings pride, and these actions will lead to the straight, broad road to hell. In short, we must always ask, “What would Jesus Do?”

There is a newl lesson for us each timewe read His Word.

Proverbs 8                    June 8, 2012

Memory Verse: “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding; I have strength.”

I have probably read Proverbs 10-12 times in my life; but, I have never been moved so much as this time in Proverbs 8. I see things I have never noticed before, and I want to share them with you guys. We all know the story of Isaac being a model of the coming Christ; we have all read about the Christ that Isaiah and the Old  Testament prophets foretold, but never has the office or definition of Christ been more apparent than in this proverb 8:

1)      He starts by identifying Himself as Wisdom, Insight, truthful, and passionate

2)      He teaches his characteristics of Sanity; Knowledge; Discretion; hating evil, pride, arrogance, and lies.

3)      He defines what He does by offering good counsel, showing common sense, being understanding, and teaching Virtue.

4)      He tells about what He does through believers: leaders rule, lawmakers legislate,  governors govern –all due to His authority

5)      He loves ones that love Him and seek Him

6)      He promises honor and a good name

7)      He promises life to those who love Him

8)      He supports what He says; He was with God before anything was made or done

9)      He took part in and supported everything done

10)  He declared (as did God) that the creation of the human family was Good

11)  Then He makes clear what is expected of us believers:

A)    Embrace His ways

B)     Live wisely and with self discipline

C)     Don’t squander opportunities He presents

D)    Be blessed through daily devotions

E)     Seek Jesus and find real life through God

F)      If you reject Jesus (your choice), you are tempting Death

I was so moved when I studied these verses that I want to just tell everyone how much I love and trust Him. The Bible says it in such beautiful ways that we can always find a new lesson every time we study His Word.

Watch the temptor; use your wisdom and insight, ask WWJD?

Proverbs 7        June 7, 2012

Memory Verse Proverbs 7:2: “Keep my commandments and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.”

Today’s proverb does not break down as easily for study as the others. Initially, Solomon tells the son to keep his commandments and the law as his direct guide for his life and living. He again recommends wisdom and insight. The rest of the chapter tells the consequences of listening to smooth talking tricksters. In this particular case, he again uses a solicitous woman as the tempter, but it could be greed, jealousy, drugs, alcohol, or any of the seven things that God hates.

Various schemes are setup to trick the son into believing in the power of some other god. The false god flatters, attracts the weak, is loud, confident, and bold, offers temporary excitement, lies to tempt, disguises the temptation, challenges the son’s willpower and trust, makes excuses and promises, pitchs, woos, and tricks the weak.

In the final analysis, all is death; without proper use of available wisdom and insight, only death is certain. Once the false God sits on your heart’s throne, hell can draw you away from God’s promised rewards. We have 27 verses here that were planned, designed, and fully explained to show us an all important point. Do not give into the attractive lure of any false god. Examine everything done by wisdom and insight, and determine for yourself first “What Would Jesus Do’ in this particular situation? React properly!!!!!!!!!!!!

Follow the advice of your father; respect your mother's teaching.

Proverbs 6                   January 6, 2013

Memory Verse: 6:20  “My son, keep thy father’s commandment and forsake not the law of thy mother.”

I will touch lightly on this chapter because it defines the seven things that God hates.  I am looking forward to studying one verse at a time but a broad overview of the entire chapter helps us see what is important. Even though we realize that these seven hated things are all mind games that Satan tells us to justify, I think we need to list what Solomon tells us in this chapter.

1)      Don’t vouch for strangers; there is much to learn about them

2)      Don’t trap yourself with loose, gossipy, or quick responses before you think

3)      Get away from these associations

4)       Don’t procrastinate; move quickly away

5)      Study the ways of the ant –take initiative, store up, stockpile at harvest

6)      Don’t be lazy; get up and out

7)      Taking life easy brings poverty

8)      Riffraff and rascals talk out both sides of their mouth; they are always cooking up something or stirring up trouble

9)      One like them will be ruined

10)  Seven things God hates: Pride, Falsehood, Cruelty, Scheming, Mischievous eagerness, Slander, Strife

11)  Follow your father’s advice; respect your mother’s teaching

12)  Wrap yourself in them

13)  They will guide, guard, and direct you properly

14)  Sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is your light, and moral discipline is your life path

15)  They will protect you from wanton women and smooth talk

16)  Don’t lustfully fantasize

17)  You can buy a prostitute, but a wanton woman can eat you alive

18)  Can you set a fire in your lap without setting your pants on fire?

19)  Can you walk on hot coals without blistering your feet?

20)  Touching your neighbor’s wife is the same; no excuses

21)  Hunger is no excuse for stealing

22)  If caught one must pay it back

23)  Adultery is brainless self destruction; expect a clack and bloody nose

24)  Your reputation will be ruined

25)  Jealousy detonates rage over adultery

26)  Nothing to say or pay will make it right; neither bribes nor reason will satisfy

Set small goals to achieve your purpose in life.

Proverbs 5                                           June 5, 2012

Memory Verse: Pro. 5:7   “Hear me now, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.”

Today’s verses have one real goal –to keep ourselves pure and true to our first love. Though Solomon speaks as if this were a man choosing between his wife or a prostitute, it may very well be choosing between God and some other idol. It is very obvious that Satan draws one away easiest by the physical (which loose sex can do), so we will look at this also as a seventh commandment warning against the sin of adultery. In the later verses we can see the message is to never take a wife’s love (or God’s love) for granted.

I went up to the Converting Hearts Thrift Shop yesterday and saw where the CHM goal is posted. The picture of the projected end result (farm) keeps everyone working on the small goals to get to that one. That is goal setting and posting.

1) Paying attention to good advice teaches good sense and keeps us out of trouble

2) Seductive partners have sweet lips and smooth talk, but would your heart

3) The partner would take you on the road to hell with him or her

4) They’re not concerned with real life, identity, or where they are headed (only concerned with the moment).

5) Don’t treat this good advice lightly, pay attention

6) Stay away from such a temporary partner.

7) Don’t waste your precious life on such fleeting choices

8) Don’t let strangers take advantage of you in this way

9) Don’t be exploited by ones who don’t care for you.

10) Don’t end your life full of regrets; seek proper goals

11) Accept the advice; discipline your life

12) Listen to your mentors; take your teachers seriously; God put these here for you.

13) Or, you will have nothing to show for your life.

14) Protect your own spouse and your own property

15) Don’t show off for friends nor strangers

16) Enjoy thoroughly your time with your spouse

17) Take delight in one another

18) NEVER take their love for granted

19) Why trade intimacies for cheap thrills?

20) God does not miss a move you take. He loves you too much for that

21) The shadows of your sins will make you stumble in the dark

22) Death is the only reward for an undisciplined life

23) Bad choices trap you in a dead end

Study the Word to gain WIsdom and Understanding.

Proverbs 2                                                       June 2, 2012

MemoryVerse: 2:6  “For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

Today’s proverb continues the advice to young men. Wisdom is recognized not as a gained skill. We can learn knowledge and we can understand messages, but God must give us the wisdom to fully understand His meaning. It is like with Jesus; we can see what God intends for us to know, but without Jesus, we can not understand the meaning. To do this we must spend the time with His word and hold what we learn near and dear.

1) To understand or respect the Lord, we must dig the scripture

2) Insight is brought to the digger

3) The Lord pays close attention to His loyal ones

4)  Wisdom will help us to discern the truth

5) Good sense and insight follow knowledge – protecting choices

6) Without all this, a man lacks direction and purpose in his life

7) Wise friends protect and guide you and show you faith

8) Every step from wisdom, knowledge, insight, and faith leads astray

9) Walk the proven paths of tradition; reject change without purpose

10) The corrupt will lose all; the dishonest will be gone

Wisdom through studying His word is essential. The more time one can spend memorizing and living the Word is the easier, better life will be. Encourage the guys to spend free time with Him in reading and prayer.

Use His Word to prepare yourself for His Wisdom.

Proverbs 1                                                       June 1, 2012

Memory Verse: 1:7  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,. . “

Today’s proverb sets the tone for faithful growth in knowledge and service to the Lord. The first 6 verses define the goal of this manual for living, and then verses 7-19 dictates the first step is loving God and the rest of the chapter explains how wisdom will be the ruler of all.

1)      Proverbs were written to teach what is right and fair

2)      They will teach young people to hang on to reality

3)      They give fresh wisdom for all to probe and penetrate the truth

4)      First, we must bow down to God to be in a state to learn

5)      We must pay attention to what you father said, and what your mother did

6)      Hold on proudly to what they have taught

7)      Don’t be tempted to go along with bad companions

8)      Don’t pay attention to them, they ruin whatever they touch

9)       The more stuff you get, the less person you are

10)  Wisdom of God stands out above anything else

11)  Don’t refuse to learn, change yourself through this wisdom of God

12)  The wisdom of God always reaches out to us; don’t ignore it

13)  Don’t laugh at wise counsel or make a joke of the advice

14)  If/when your world falls in, it may be too late to seek wisdom

15)  No matter how hard you look, it may be fruitless

16)  If you distrust wisdom, hate knowledge, and ignore God, you asked for it, and you may just get what you deserve

17)  Carelessness kills, but complacency murders (must stay concerned)

18)  Pay attention to wisdom and you can rest. You are in good hands.

What a way to start off a new life today. God tells us He is waiting to help us; wants to give us wisdom, intends to take care of us---but, we must respect Him, pay attention to His warnings, and learn from our mistakes. We, the saved, are all forgiven and promised a place in the coming Kingdom; if we accept it. Happy Proverbs study, guys.