Tag: Gospel

The Backslider – Part 3

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

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 1

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

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

‘The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.’ The backslider in heart will be satisfied with his ways, but a good man will be satisfied when he is free from his own ways (2Cor. 5:17-18).

‘Backslider’ [Hebrew: cuwg] to flinch; to go back; to apostatize. Backslider is used only once, but backsliding is found 16 times. We should always check our own state of heart and attitude against Scripture to make sure we are not backsliding.

The ways of backsliders: They will not listen to God (Lev. 26:14). They will not obey commands. They despise God’s statutes (Lev. 26:15). They abhor God’s judgments. They break God’s covenant. They forget God (Deut. 8:11). They forsake God (Deut. 32:15; 2Chr. 15:2). They provoke God (Deut. 32:16). They turn again to folly (Ps. 85:8). They turn aside to sin (Ps. 125:5). They turn from righteousness (Ezek. 3:20; 18:16-24; 33:12-18). They cast God behind them (Ezek. 23:35). They trust their own righteousness (Ezek. 33:13). They are bent on backsliding (Hos. 11:7).

To be continued…

Heaviness

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. 

‘Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.’ The sorrowful heart may hide behind forced smiles and laughter, but its heaviness will eventually be revealed.

In James 4:9 backsliders are commanded to be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness referring to laughter prompted by sin and joy founded on sin. There are ten commands given to backsliders: Submit yourselves to God (Jas. 4:7). Resist the devil. Draw nigh to God (Jas. 4:8). Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you doubters. Be afflicted, mourn, and weep (Jas. 4:9). Let your laughter be turned to mourning. Let your joy be turned to heaviness. Humble yourself before God (Jas. 4:10). Speak not evil of one another (Jas. 4:11).

The Ways of Death

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

‘There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.’ A man may persuade himself that his besetting sin, false religion, and selfish way are right, but whatever is not God’s way will end in death and hell. Proverbs 16:25 repeats this warning.

Many will not be saved because: They seek the wrong way – not striving (Luke 13:24; Rom. 10:9-10). They seek at the wrong time – when the door is shut (Luke 13:25; Matt. 7:21). They seek in the wrong place – stand without (Luke 13:25; Rev. 3:20). They seek upon the wrong plea – we entertained you (Luke 13:26; Matt. 7:21). They seek with the mouth, but their heart is far from God (Luke 13:26; Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:8).

‘Seems right unto a man.’ Four examples of following false ways: Jeroboam (1Kin. 12:27-33; 14:7-11); Josiah (2Chr. 35:20-24); Paul (Php. 3:4-7; 1Tim. 1:13) and the Jews (John 16:2; Acts 13:50).

‘The end thereof are the ways of death.’ Five examples of the end result of the wrong way: Nabal (1Sam. 25:36-37); Solomon (1Kin. 11:1-8; Eccl. 2:2); Belshazzar (Dan. 5:1-31); the Israelites (Amos 6:3-7) and Judas (Acts 1:25).

The Upright Shall Flourish

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 14:11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. 

‘The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.’ This is the 10th prophecy in Proverbs (14:11) and is being fulfilled. The godly will live on earth forever (Gen. 9:12).

Genesis 9:12-16 expresses an eternal pledge between eternal parties of an eternal covenant. “For perpetual generations” reveals the length of the covenant, plainly promising eternal generations of natural people. If one keeps in mind that there will be two classes of eternal people, eternal conditions on earth will be simple to comprehend. [1] Natural people will live from the future tribulation period through the Millennium and then on into the New Earth forever – if they do not sin or rebel with satan at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:7-10; Matt. 13:39-50; 25:46). [2] Resurrected people who have part in the first resurrection will be the eternal rulers of the eternal generations of natural people (Rev. 20:4). The resurrected people will not marry or give in marriage (Matt. 22:30). Still, the natural people who are alive at the second coming and who are permitted to be subjects of the eternal kingdom will marry, have children, and carry out the natural program as God intended when He created Adam. They will live forever by virtue of the tree of life (Rev. 22:1-2), not by virtue of a resurrection and a change from mortality to immortality as with glorified saints (1Cor. 15:51-58; Php. 3:21).

Bitterness vs Joy

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

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

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

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

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

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

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

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

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

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.