Category: Inspiration

The Backslider – Part 4

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Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 

The ways of backsliders (continues): They fail to walk in the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-13; Gal. 5:16-26) and to stand fast (1Thess. 3:8). They hate other Christians (1Jn. 3:15). They serve sin (John 8:32-36; Matt. 6:24) and yield to it (Rom. 6:14-23). They sow to the flesh (Gal. 6:7-8). They fail to hold fast to the end (Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 4:1-11; 6:19) and come short of the goal (Heb. 4:1). They fail to labour to enter life (Heb. 4:11; John 6:27) and to put to death the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:12-13; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Col. 3:5-10). They refuse to walk in Christ as they receive Him (Col. 2:6-7). They continue in sin, thinking grace will abound (Rom. 6:1-23). They turn their heart back (Ps. 44:18) and decline to walk with God. They turn way back (Isa. 50:5; Jer. 38:22). They are rebellious (Isa. 50:5) and cast the law behind their backs (Neh. 9:26). They turn their back on God (Jer. 2:27). They turn back from the Lord (Zeph. 1:6) and slide back from God (Jer. 8:5). They refuse to return to God. They backslide many times (Jer. 14:7). They backslide like a heifer (Hos. 4:16). They go backward, not forward (Jer. 7:24).

All this indicates a man who once walked in the way of God but has now turned against Him; a man who fought the world, the flesh, and the devil and has retreated from battle and joined the enemy; a man who once belonged with saints, but is now removed from them; and a man who has been overcome by sin and satan and is filled with his own ways.

To be continued…

The Backslider – Part 3

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Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 

The ways of backsliders (continues): They become blind (2Pet. 1:9) and become barren and unfruitful (2Pet. 1:8). They forget purging from sin (2Pet. 1:9). They do not make their calling and election sure (2Pet. 1:10). They turn away from the holy commandment (2Pet. 2:20). They abide not in the doctrine of Christ and God (2Jn. 1:9). They abide not in Christ (John 15:1-8) and leave their first love (Rev. 2:4-5). They permit their hearts to depart from God (Jer. 17:9; Heb. 3:12). They give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons (1Tim. 4:1-8). They turn away from the truth (2Tim. 4:1-4). They fall from their steadfastness in Christ (2Pet. 3:17). They err from the truth (Jas. 5:19-20) and become cut off (Rom. 11:22). They become broken off (Rom. 11:17-24). They shipwreck faith (1Tim. 1:19) and neglect salvation (Heb. 2:1-4). They become castaways (1Cor. 9:27). They become corrupted from the simplicity in Christ (2Cor. 11:3). They fail to continue in faith (Col. 1:23). They fail to continue seeking life and immorality (Rom. 2:7-8). They go back and walk no more with Christ (John 6:66-68). They fail to take heed lest they fall (1Cor. 10:12-14). They sin against God (Ex. 32:32-33) and cast off their first faith (1Tim. 5:12). They defile the body (1Cor. 3:16-17) and draw back into perdition (Heb. 10:39). They do not endure (Matt. 10:22) and they move away from the hope (Col. 1:23).

To be continued…

The Backslider – Part 2

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Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 

The ways of backsliders (continues): They lose savour (Matt. 5:13) and grow cold in love (Matt. 24:12). They become offended (Mark 4:17) and fall away by temptation (Luke 8:13). They permit cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, and lusts of other things to choke the Word (Mark 4:18-19). They become ashamed of Christ (Mark 8:38) and look back to old life (Luke 9:62). They become defeated by satan (Luke 11:21) and are overcome by sin (2Pet. 2:20). They lust after evil things (1Cor. 10:6) and are idolatrous (1Cor. 10:7). They commit fornication (1Cor. 10:8). They tempt Christ (1Cor. 10:9) and murmur (1Cor. 10:10). They become filled with debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings and tumults (2Cor. 12:20-21). They remove from Christ (Gal. 1:6-8). They disobey the truth (Gal. 3:1) and fall from grace (Gal. 5:4). They turn again to the old bondage of sin (Gal. 4:9; 5:1; 6:1). They put away faith (1Tim. 1:9) and turn aside after satan (1Tim. 5:15). They love money (1Tim. 6:10-21). They err from the faith (1Tim. 6:10-21) and depart from the faith (1Tim. 4:1-8). They deny Christ (2Tim. 2:12) and love the present world (2Tim. 4:10). They depart from God (Heb. 3:12) and harden their hearts by sin (Heb. 3:12-13). They fall in unbelief (Heb. 4:11). They fall away (Heb. 6:4-9; 10:26-29) and fail God’s grace (Heb. 12:15). They permit roots of bitterness to defile them (Heb. 12:15).

To be continued…

Bitterness vs Joy

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Proverbs 14:10  The heart knows his own bitterness; and a stranger does not intermeddle with his joy. 

‘The heart knows his own bitterness; and a stranger does not intermeddle with his joy.’ The heart knows its own bitterness, and let no man hinder its joy.

From Genesis 37:11we see bitterness in the form of envy where Joseph’s brothers reacted towards his dreams and this envy was added to their hatred. Envy is a selfish grudging of what another enjoys (Job 5:2; Pro. 14:30; Rom. 1:29; 1Tim. 6:4; Tit. 3:3). It is associated with bitterness, strife, murder and other sins (Eccl. 9:6; Rom. 1:29; 13:13; 1Cor. 3:3; 2Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:19-21; 1Tim. 6:4; Tit. 3:3; Jas. 3:14-16; 4:5). Joseph’s dreams incited envy in his brothers but deep thought in Jacob who took them as divine indication of events that would affect his family. They also helped prepare Joseph for his coming sufferings in Egypt (Gen. 42:8-9; 45:4-8; 50:15-21). Ephesians 4:31 warns us to put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice, for these are the things that grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that the joy of the LORD is our strength, we thus cannot allow bitterness to steal His joy from our hearts. 

Go from the Presence

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Proverbs 14:7-9 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceives not in him the lips of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. 

‘Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceives not in him the lips of knowledge.’ Never associate with vain, empty, ignorant men who can neither convey nor receive the truth (Matt. 7:6).

‘The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.’ The wisdom of the prudent is to direct his way rightly, but the folly of fools is to live deceitful lives.

‘Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.’ Fools make sport of sin and live in disfavour with all who are good, but the righteous find favour.

A Scorner

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Proverbs 14:6 A scorner seeks wisdom, and finds it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understands. 

‘A scorner seeks wisdom.’ Rebels seek wisdom but don’t find it because they reject God, the source of wisdom (1:7; 9:10).

‘Finds it not’ – Three examples of not finding truth: the Jews in Christ’s ministry (Matt. 13:15); the Jews in Paul’s ministry (Acts 13:41) and the Athenians (2Cor. 1:23; 2:8).

‘But knowledge is easy unto him that understands.’ Knowledge is hard for the one who rebels and won’t believe the truth when he hears it, but it is easy for him to understand who is open to truth and will believe what he hears (Matt. 13:10-17).

A Witness

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Proverbs 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. 

‘Faithful witness’ – Five examples of faithful witnesses: Joseph (Gen. 37:2); John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1-17; John 1:7-28); Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:5); the apostles (Acts 5:32) and Paul (Acts 20:21-27; 22:15).

Joseph reported on his brother’s evil doings because of his dreams which made a deep impression on them. Envy, selfishness and pride were the roots of the crimes that they committed against him.

John the Baptist was sent by God to testify of Christ’s first ascension (John 1:6-8).

Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness as noted in Revelation 1:5. It is the Greek word martus, meaning witness and martyr. Jesus was both a witness and a martyr (Rev. 3:4; 1Pet. 2:24; Heb. 3:2).

The apostles were the witnesses of Christ whom God had exalted to His right hand to be the Prince and Saviour of the world. 

‘False witness’ – Four examples of false witnesses: Ten spies (Num. 13:32); False prophets (1Kin. 22:6-27); Jewish men (Matt. 26:60-61) and Tertullus (Acts 24:1-9).

Oxen

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Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. 

‘Oxen’ – The ox was the most profitable farm animal. It excels the horse in every respect except speed.

Twelve ways an ox is better than a horse: It lives longer. It is not as likely to be diseased. It is a more steady worker. It fattens and maintains its strength on what a horse will not eat. It costs less to feed. Its manure is more profitable. When worn out, its flesh is still good for food. Its horns are useful. Its hide is more valuable. It doesn’t need shoes. Its harness is cheaper and simpler. It is more patient and docile, and less dangerous.

‘Increase is by the strength of the ox.’ An increase in material prosperity comes by utilizing the oxen for labour.

A Rod of Pride

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Proverbs 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. 

‘In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.’ The words of the foolish man are a source of pride causing his fall, but those of the wise man keep him from falling.

The pride of life are mainly caused by: (1) Self-righteousness (Job 32:1). (2) Positions (Gen. 3:5; Ezek. 28:11-17; 1Tim. 3:6; 3Jn. 1:9). (3) Power (Lev. 26:19). (4) Riches (Ps. 39:6; Ezek. 28:5). (5) Beauty (Ezek. 28:11, 17). (6) War strength (2Chr. 26:16). (7) Constant boasting of one’s self; glorying in sexual activity; pleasures; and all the vanity of life (1Jn. 2:15; Ps. 24:4; 36:2; Isa. 3:16).

Walks in His Uprightness

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Proverbs 14:2 He that walks in his uprightness fears the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despises him. 

‘He that walks in his uprightness fears the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despises him.’ The upright fear the Lord, but the perverse man despises Him.

To fear God doesn’t mean the dread of a vengeful Being ready to punish man for the least infraction of His law. Rather, it has to do with respect and reverence for God as Father and Benefactor. Men must learn to respect God as the Lawgiver and Judge, keeping in mind the justice of God as well as His mercy and longsuffering. No man can walk with Him safely who has lost the fear of God.

Fourteen kinds of fear God delivers us from: [1] Fear of man (Gen. 15:1; Luke 12:5; Heb. 13:6). Referred to 35 times in Scripture. Fear of God is referred to 160 times. We are to respect, reverence, and honour God and have no fear of man. Man is told 80 times not to fear, referring to fears that should not distress anyone who trusts in God. [2] Fear of death (Gen. 21:17; 35:17; Heb. 2:15)[3] Fear of the future (Gen. 46:3; 50:19-21). [4] Fear of danger (Ex. 14:13). [5] Fear of idol gods (Jdg. 6:10; 2Kin. 17:35-38). [6] Fear of dreams (Job 4:14-16). [7] Fear of evil (Ps. 23:4; Pro. 1:33). [8] Fear of war (Ps. 27:3). [9] Fear of nothing – imaginative fear (Ps. 53:5). [10] Fear of enemies (Ps. 118:6). [11] Fear of punishment (Pro. 1:26-27). [12] Fear of darkness (Son. 3:8). [13] Fear of ghosts (Matt. 14:26). [14] Spirit of fear (2Tim. 1:6-7).