Voice of Salvation Proverbs 1:20-33

To whom does wisdom speak to in this passage? To three classes of sinners : the simple ones, the mockers and the fools. The simple are naive people who beleive anything but examine nothing. They are gullible and easily lead astray. They have not taken ownership of their faith and so every new idea or thought leads them astray. Mockers think they know everything and belittle, ignore or even laugh at the things that are really important. The simple ones may be lost or confused the mockers wear a sneer. Fools on the other hand are people who are ignorant of the truth because they are dull and stubborn. Their problem isn't a low IQ or poor education; their problem is a lack of spiritual desire to seek and find God's wisdom. Fools enjoy their foolishness but don't know how foolish they are! The outlook of fools is purely materialistic and humanistic. They hate knowledge and have no interest in things eternal .
How does wisdom respond to them? First she brings a charge agaisnt them and asks how long they plan to remain in their dangerous spiritual condition. wisdom has spoken to them again and again but they have refused to listen, and this will make their judgment even more severe. After this wisdom issues an invitation that they turn from their evil ways and receive her gifts. This is really a call to repentence and faith. She promises to change their hearts and teach them the wisdom of God from the Word of God.
Tragically the simple, the mockers, and the fools refuse to obey her voice. They laugh at her warnings; and mock her words. Note the word "also" in verse 26. Because they laughed at Wisdom, one day Wisdom will also laugh at them. Because they mocked her, she will mock them. Wisdom sees a storm of judgement coming that will bring distress and anguish to all who reject God's invitation. When that judgment comes sinners will call upon the Lord but it will be to late. How tragic that day will be. "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (Isa. 55:6). They turned away their ears from hearing the truth and were complacently comfortable wit beleiving lies. In contrast to the judment promised to unblievers, wisdom promises security and peace to those who will listen to her and beleive (Prov.1:33). Question what is wisdom sayinng to you?

The voice of Temptation Proverbs 1:11-14

Looking at these friends in these four verse its easy to say there not friends at all. Anybody who makes it easy for us to disobey God certainly isn't a friend. Lets be honest and say sin is appeasing to the eye and our flesh, if sin wasn't then nobody would do it. In Hebrews 11:25 it says, "He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time." Sin sounds exciting to our flesh but it only leads to disaster and death. How tragic that a group of people would find enjoyment in doing evil; and how foolish they were for thinking their quick fix or their fast cash would satisfy their desires. That's the thing about our sinful desires there never satisfied. We as people don't realize how far we have strayed until its rock bottom. Sometimes it even feels like we have blinders on and we forget what's really important, and the only thing we care about is our sinful agenda. It seems like it's a bunch of small compromises that lead to bigger and bigger compromises of our choices and character. They rejected the eternal treasures of wisdom for the cheap trinkets of this world, and they lost their souls in the bargain. As I reread this passage I thought a lot about Judas and how he sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver. Question how many times do we sell Jesus out for less? How many times do we give up Godly blessings for worldly treasures? Something to think about.

The voice of Instruction? Part 1 Proverbs 1:8-32

I think one of the greatest tragedies is that there's so much noise that people can't hear the things they really need to hear. God is trying to get through to them with the voice of wisdom but all they hear are foolish voices that lead them farther away from the truth. This passage of scripture reveals three voices that we as he reader need to identify. I'm going to try and break it into 3 blogs so stay tuned for part 2, and 3.

The voice of Instruction (Verse 8-10, 15-19): This is a voice of a godly father, urging his son to listen to wisdom and to obey what he hears. Both the father and mother of this son have taught him well. Both parents warn him not to abandon what he's been told. These parents have obeyed the instructions of Moses (Deut. 6:6-9) and have faithfully taught their family the Word of God. But what will the children do with their fathers and mothers teaching? A question we all have to ask ourselves. There comes a point in all of our lives when we reach the point of making decisions on our own. How do we respond to those who have tried to instruct us spiritually? In Proverbs 1:15-19 The father tells his son how to avoid yielding to temptation. First: He says, check carefully the path you're on and don't walk with the wrong crowd. Bad company corrupts good character. Stop sticking up for those people in your life that really have a negative effect on you, 1 Corinthians 10:12, "So if you think you are standing firm be careful that you do not fall." No your limits.

Second: don't play with temptation, because temptation always leads to a trap. Lets not play the game how close to the line of sin can I get to without actually sinning. Thats a losing battle avoid the line altogether!! We should always have an exit strategy in mind there is no temptation for us that is to much to bare. Lets be honest whatever the temptation is we always linger to long with the thought after the thought we try to justify our sin to make it sound okay before we actually sin. Then we commit the sin and regret remorse and guilt always follow. Proverbs 1:17 "Birds don't take when they can plainly see the trap," we should be smarter then birds. Be aware of the traps!!

Third: When you disobey God by harming others, you only harm yourself (verse 18-19). You're free to take what you want from life, but eventually you'll have to pay for it , and the price you pay is higher than the value you gain. You end up sacrificing the permanent for the immediate, and thats an awful investment. There will come a day when we will all stand before God what will your investments show??

What in the World Does a Christian Do? Luke 10

Have you ever asked yourself this question? I'm a Christian now what? What's supposes to be different? Where gonna take a look at Luke chapter ten because it displays three points that answer this question, and I'm gonna break it down over the next couple of blogs. The first thing we notice is that we are the Lord's ambassadors, sent to represent Him in this world (verse 1-24). The 72 people that were sent out were about to embark of a difficult calling. Harvesting is hard work, even when there are many people helping you, but these men were sent into a vast field with very few workers to help them reap a great harvest. Instead of praying for an easier job, they were to pray that more laborers would join the Masters cause, we today need to echo this prayer. It's interesting to point out that it is laborers, not spectators, who pray for more laborers! To many Christians are praying for somebody else to do a job they are unwilling to do themselves. IT'S TIME TO START WORKING AND STOP WAITING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT!!! LETS GET IN THE GAME! I don't mean to yell but the older I get the more tired I get and I'm tired of living a mediocre christian life. I want to be used by God to do amazing things in his name!! Its time to get off the sidelines and step out in faith. I respect the 72 so much they were given a task to go and reap a harvest they weren't promised a Holiday inn or a great meal everywhere they went they need to rely on the Lord for there blessing, provision, and their comfort. Lord help me realize the security in which I seek can only be found in You! They're calling was a dangerous one. As They invaded enemy territory they would be like lambs among wolves. But as long as they relied on the Lord, they would win the battle. It would require discipline and faith for them to do the job. They were ambassadors of peace, bringing healing to the sick, deliverance to the possessed, and the Good News of salvation to lost sinners. We can understand the joy of the Seventy-two as they returned to report their victories to Jesus. He had given them power and authority to heal, to cast out demons and to preach the Word, and they were successful!! In the midst of their great joy, they were careful to give God the glory. Christ's ambassadors were indeed privileged people. They were able to see and hear things that the greatest saints in the Old Testament ages yearned to see and hear but could not. The Messiah was at work, and they were a part of His work! Here I sit thousands of years later and I yearn to be a part of that work. I want to be obedient to what God has called me to be and do. I want to end this blog with Ruth 1:16 Ruth in this passage is talking to Naomi but as I thought about it I pray Ruth Response would be our response to our Lord and savior. Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth 1:16

Enduring, (Luke 9:37-62)

"How long shall I stay with you and put up with you?" Is one phrase that is mentioned in this passage of scripture by Jesus. When you look at this portion of scripture you can better understand why Jesus spoke those words: He was grieved over the failures of His followers. He had given His apostles authority over Satan, yet they were to weak to cast out a demon (vv. 37-45). In feeding the 5,000 Jesus gave them an example of compassion, yet they persisted in manifesting selfishness and lack of love (vv. 46-56). He taught clearly what it meant to follow Him, yet the volunteers turned out to be "me first" disciples (vv.57-62). It's starting to make sense why Jesus is grieved.

Lack of Power(vv.37-45): The disciples had the power and authority to heal this boy but they did not have the success why? When you study all three reports (Matt. 17; Mark 9), you discover what was lacking in their lives. The first thing that was lacking was faith (Matt.17:19-20); they were part of an unbeleving generation and had lost the confidence that they needed in order to use their power. (If I can be honest and say their generation sounds a lot like the one in which we find ourselves in today). But prayer and fasting were also lacking (Mark 9:29), which indicates that these men had allowed their devotional disciplines to erode during their Lord's brief absence. No matter what spiritual gifts we may have, their exercise is never automatic. Jesus restores the boy gives him back to his father then took the twelve aside for another lesson about the cross.

Lack of Love (vv. 46-56): The disciples did not have much love for each other, or they would not have argued over who was the greatest. I'm not sure why this arguement started was it pride or was it envy, either way the disciples where more concerned about who is first instead of really listening to Jesus. In His kingdom, the example of greatness is a little child. somebody who is dependent, without status living by faith. There is a big difference from being child like and childish. The disciples showed a lack of love for beleivers outside their own group. Maybe John was trying to impress Jesus with his zeal for protecting His name, but the Lord was not impressed. John thought they were the only group that was blessed and recognized by Jesus that was not true then and its not true for us today. Beleivers who think their group is the only group God recognizes and blesses are in for a shock when heaven is revealed to them. Nor did the disciples love their enemies (51-56). James and John had seen the Prophet Elijah on the mount, so they thought they might imitate him and call down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1)! The Samaritans and Jews had been enemies for centuries so it would make sense for the village to reject Jesus as he traveled toward Jerusalem. Samaria would be later reached with the Gospel in (Acts 8).

Lack of Discipline (vv.57-62). Three man could have become disciples, buy they failed to meet the requirements that Jesus required. The first man had to deny himself which he was not willing to do. The second man was called by Jesus (what an honor!) but he was rejected because he would not take up his cross and die to self. Jesus is not suggesting here that we dishonor our parents, but only that we not permit our love for family to weaken our love for the Lord. The third man also volunteered, but he could not follow Christ because he was looking back instead of ahead. Jesus saw that this man's heart was not wholly with Him, but that he would be plowing and looking back.

After reading this passage it seems like what Jesus taught His disciples and the multitudes had done them little good. They lacked power, love, and discipline, and they grieved His heart. These spiritual essentials are available to us from the Lord. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power, of love, and of self-discipline" (2 Tim. 1:7). So the question I have for you is what are you lacking?? Are we a joy to Jesus Christ, or are we breaking His heart?

Teaching Luke 9:18-27

In The Roman world, the cross was a symbol of shame, guilt suffering, and rejection. There could be no more despicable way to die. Crucifixion was not mentioned in polite conversation. Jesus laid down the stern requirements for discipleship. We must first "say no" to ourselves not simply to pleasures or possessions, but to self-and then take up our cross and follow him daily. This means to be identified with Him in surrender, suffering, and sacrifice. You cannot crucify yourself; you can only yield your body (Rom. 12:1-2) and let God do the rest. This life seems foolish to the world; but to the Christian it is wisdom. To save your life is to lose it, and how can you ever get it back again? But to give your life to Christ is to save it and to live it in fullness. If a person owned the whole world, he would still be to poor to buy back a lost life. Discipleship is a daily discipline: we follow Jesus a step at a time, a day at a time. Our motive should always be to glorify Christ. Anyone who is ashamed of Christ will never take up a cross and follow Him. But if we are ashamed of Him now, He will be ashamed of us when He comes again and we will be ashamed before Him. Jesus asks Peter two questions in this passage and as I think about I think he's asking the same questions to us. 1.Who do people say that I am, 2. And who do you say that I am. So I want to leave you with that question who is Jesus to you??

Feeding Luke 9:12-17

In the crisis hours of life, when your resources are low and your responsibilities are great, it is good to remember that God already has the problem solved. Jesus started with what they had, before we ask God to do the impossible, let's start wit the possible and give Him what we have. The Lord looked up to heaven, the source of our daily bread (Matt. 6:11), gave thanks, and blessed the food; and the bread and fish were multiplied. Jesus was the producer and his disciples were the distributors. Were in the same role today Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith and we our the distributors of the grace that He has shed on us. The amazing thing is that everybody was served and satisfied, and there were twelve baskets of leftovers, one for each of the disciples. This miracle was more than an act of mercy for hungry people, although that was important. It was also a sign of our Lord's Messiahship and an illustration of God's gracious provision for man's salvation. The next day, Jesus preached a sermon on "the bread of life" and urged the people to receive Him just as they had received the bread (John 6:22-59). But the people were more interested in their stomachs than their souls, and completely missed the spiritual impact of the miracle. How often is that true in our lives. God maybe directing us, or leading us, or revealing something to us and all we see is the small picture and miss the real miracle. Their desire was to make Jesus king so He could give them bread for the rest of their lives! (John 6:14-15.)

I often have wondered after Jesus returned to heaven did the disciples ever sit around and reminisce about all of Jesus miracles? This miracle teaches us to have compassion, to look upon problems as opportunities for God to work, and to give Him all that we have and trust Him to meet our needs. If we do all we can, He will step in and do the rest. Corrie Ten Boom said, "Let God's promises shine on your problems." That is good counsel for us to rely on.