Saturday, July 9, 2005
Is Our Country the Day of Sodom and Gomorrah?
Topic: Book of Proverbs
It is actually being said that there is sexual sin among you. And it is a kind that does not happen even among people who do not know God. A man there has his father’s wife. And you are proud! You should have been filled with sadness so that the man did this should be out of your group. (I Corinthians 5:1-2)
In Proverbs 5, we studied about how our cultural world becomes an adultery world. Since Eve refused God’s command until these days, we, as men, let give women to have dominion over the house of the family. Also, we looked at what our media is doing over the sin of adultery.
Revelation 2 explained that what one of the seven churches is going about to do something with this sin. The church of Thyatira, which we recognized it as the Roman Catholicism in today’s term (See Revelation 2:18-29), we see that many people are taking the role of adultery in seriously way. As it is written in the Holy Bible, we also see this action of sin takes place in today’s Catholic churches throughout the media.
Are we in the day of Sodom and Gomorrah that Genesis 19 explained to us? What is this mean? Are we going to see the appearance of Antichrist before the rapture of churches? Before we look these questions, let’s back up to the sexual conduct in the Jewish history and in the last portion of Proverbs 6.
“Marriage was the time for sexual relations, as premarital and extramarital relations were biblically forbidden. Both adultery and fornication were forbidden by biblical lawn. A girl found that not to be a virgin on her wedding night was liable to be stoned to death for disgracing her father’s house. (Deuteronomy 22:20-21.) Likewise, in the cases of a man found to be sleeping with another man’s wife, or with a woman in a city who is betrothed to be married, both the man and the woman were stoned to death.
“The biblical code is also full of regulations about unnatural sexual acts practiced by the pagan world and deemed ungodly and defiling for the Israelites. (Leviticus 18.) In the New Testament, there are many verses on the Church’s view of sexual conduct (I Corinthians 5:1-2; 6:12-20; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5, etc), including within marriage (I Corinthians 7:;3-7). Since the sexual standards of the non-Jewish, non-Christian world were very low, and Christianity attracted many social outcasts and prostitutes, the rules of sexual conduct needed to be clearly understood.” (Taken from “Almanac of the Bible” by Geoffrey Wigoder, Ph.D.)
This sexual conduct code was very aware to the people of Israel since they had Moses. In Leviticus 18, God gave Israelites some rules about not having sexual relations outside their marriages. It was a law that they needed to keep in their lives. “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Tell the people of Israel: “In the past you lived in Egypt, but you must not do what was done in that country. And you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their customs. You must obey my rules and follow them. I am the LORD your God. Obey my laws and rules; a person who obeys them will live because of them. I am the LORD.”’” (Leviticus 18:1-5.)
Unfortunately, they refused God’s law about sexual relations. After the day of Sodom and Gomorrah, their ancestors refused to have sexual relationship with the strangers. But when King David ruled over the land of Israel, people began to follow with the strangers and had been decided to get marry. In II Samuel 13, we read that Amnon, David’s son, was trying to have a sexual relationship with her sister, Tamar, who was a virgin. Of course, before Amnon committed adultery, his father, David, was fallen into that same trap. While David was in his palace and his armies went to war, he began to fall in love with Queen Bathsheba. (II Samuel 11.) As the Scripture was written, Queen Bathsheba was very beautiful looking woman to David and had a sex with him. As we read the rest of chapter, David married Bathsheba, who had a husband in her life, and the Lord hated what David had done. In II Samuel 12, we read that David came to the realization of his sin and received his punishment from God by the death of his one of sons.
After his punishment, “Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife. He slept with her and had sexual relations with her. She became pregnant again and had another son, whom David named Solomon. The LORD loved Solomon.” (II Samuel 12:24.) Then his son, Solomon, did the same act as his father did. Even God made sex in marriage; many of us have misused way since the years of King David.
The first 29 verses in Genesis 19 explained why and how the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. It was their lack of sexual desired to fall their cities. Although Sodom and Gomorrah wanted to have sex with Lot’s daughters, the “LORD sent a rain of burning sulfur from the sky… and destroyed those cities.” (Genesis 19:24-25a.)
According to Epistle Jude pointed out what would happen to those who are acting like Sodom and Gomorrah: “Also remember the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the other towns around them. In the same way they were full of sexual sin and people who desired sexual relations that God does not allow. They suffer the punishment of eternal fire, as an example for all to see.” (Jude 7.)
Even we are living on the earth, this act is still going on. This is not secret a crime of adultery. In Revelation 2, we see that Jesus gave Thyatira Church a warning about this sexual sin. But, we also see that today’s Roman Catholicism is carried this act to the local churches in the America. (See chapter on “Warning of Adultery” for more details.) Even Pope John Paul II is recognized as a global religious leader, he and his church leaders are ignoring this sin of adultery. As it is written in the revelation of Jesus, “The kings of the earth sinned sexually with her, and the people of the earth became drunk wine of her sexual sin.” (Revelation 17:2.)
Because the sexual sin is a dangerous activity in the world since the day of Sodom and Gomorrah, Solomon said, “My son, keep your father’s commands, and don’t forget your mother’s teaching. Keep their words in mind forever as though you had them tie around your neck. They will guide you when you walk. They will guard you when you sleep. They will speak to you when you are awake. These commands are like a lamp; this teaching is like a light. And the correction that comes from them will help you have life. They will keep you from sinful women and from the pleasing words of another’s unfaithful wife.” (Proverbs 6:20-24.)
Solomon wanted his son to have successful life without turning away from God. One of the reasons our cultural world is made disaster area is our country freedom contract. Since the United States gave women the right to have men’s position, we have forgotten what the Scriptures have to say about to have godly living with family. We see that many family members are going separate away to live life. We see that they are in danger with their children. We see that many public schools are teaching their children about sex, gay, witchcraft, occults, and other world religions. Even the entertainment is overflowing with these activities. For example, movies Harry Potter and Star War Epistles are contained fantasy and witchcraft, which God had forbidden to His children these activities; and we are allowing our people to watch movies for their entertainment and education.
Unlike the word of Solomon, we are pleasing to ourselves with these activities. Even though some of us have rejected these activities, we are overflowing to ourselves with jobs, family members, friends, and our materials like household, car, money, physical relationship, and entertainment. Solomon warned his children to listen and pay attention to their father’s advice, so they may have a successful life.
Solomon gave us some points to avoid adulteress life.
“Don’t desire her because she is beautiful.” (Proverbs 6:25a.) Even though you find a beautiful woman in your life, it doesn’t mean that you decide to marry her. Again, your woman may have a lack of interest you, as we studied Proverbs 5, or not.
“Don’t let her capture you by the way she looks at you.” (Proverbs 6:25b.) This is the most popular way a man draws to attention to the woman. This is the same trick method that Satan used to Eve. Listen: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden?”’” (Genesis 3:1 NIV.) Although Eve answered correctly, Satan (or serpent) gave her the second answer in beautiful and trickily way. Even today many women dresses sexy, they can trick some men into the physical relationship. And that is the dangerous activity for the most men to caught into. “A prostitute will treat you like a loaf of bread, and a woman who takes part in adultery may cost you your life.” (Proverbs 6:26.)
If you want a good relationship with your partner, then take Solomon’s advice. He wrote, “You cannot carry hot coals against your chest without burning your clothes, and you cannot walk on hot coals without burning your feet. The same is true if you have sexual relations with another man’s wife. Anyone who does so will be punished.” (Proverbs 6:27-29.) Even John the Baptist said that it is not lawful to Herod takes sexual relations with his brother’s wife. (See Matthew 14:3-5; Mark 6:17-20.)
“Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, thought it costs him all the wealth of his house. But a man who commits adultery lacks judgments; whoever does so destroys himself.” (Proverbs 6:30-32 NIV.)
If you are practicing adultery with the other people outside the marriage, then your relationship have been destroyed. Many American younger and older people, especially between ages 15 and 22, think that this sex practice will help them into the good marriage. Even the MTV and BET Channels show this as their ways to teach the young adults as education and entertainment. Then we see that many couples are showing on the Court TV programs to resolve the marriage and family issues. Again, we are in the generation where Sodom and Gomorrah had lacked the good sex in the marriage; and we are following them to the next generation.
In Revelation 18, we see that many nations will be fallen into adultery as the fall of Babylon (or Roman Empire) is approached. “After this I [John the Divine] saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. For all nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the grew rich from her excessive luxuries.’” (Revelation 18:1-3 NIV.)
Some scholars think this passage refers to United States of America as reference to Babylon, this is why. As we live in USA, we see that many Christian activities are going around the 50 states and this country has a lot of merchants and stores that many of us can purchase. Pastor Chuck Smith, in Costa Mesa, California, pointed that we have more automobiles is available than in any other countries of the world. In additional to this information, we see many sexual clothes in variety stores and sexual activities are going on across U.S. As we looked at the last couple months, the American Catholic priests had been abusing the children sexually. If we look into the Roman Catholic churches (There are differences between the Catholic churches and the Roman Catholic churches. The original catholic or universal church began since apostles of Acts. But the Roman Catholic church is a religion that is mixed with Christianity and Paganism.), we see that they are teaching many false doctrines and worshipping Mary, mother of Jesus, as Queen Mother (see Jeremiah 44:19-25), and saints. Over 900 years, the Roman Catholicism practiced sexual abuse in the church secretly; and, now, it opens to the public communities. How this terrible thing happens? We have been so focused on the world and not have realized that the Book of Revelation is beginning to fulfill to this generation—a generation that we are living today.
What would you do if you commit adultery in your life? Solomon said, “He will be beaten up and disgraced, and his shame will never go away. Jealousy makes a husband very angry, and he will have no pity when he gets revenge. He will accept no payment for the wrong; he will take no amount of money.” (Proverbs 6:33-36.) Have a good relationship with your partner in your life rather than committing adultery with the other people. God has a plan in your partnership or marriage in your life.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, July 2, 2005
Dangers of Being Foolish
Topic: Book of Proverbs
My child, be careful about a giving a guarantee for somebody else’s loan… (Proverbs 6:1a)
What are some dangers of being foolish? What are some traps that the people can rob you? Over 1,000 TV commercial ads desired you to buy their merchandises with the low interest rate. They wanted people to buy their merchandises to gain more money. Many people spend more than $1,000,000 on the TV commercial ads. Many people have made guarantee commitments for their customers to buy their products. Are there dangers going on behind the guarantee commandments?
Nowadays, the Psychics Network Reading is commercialized over the hundred channels throughout U.S. The sponsors always say that they can help you to predict your feature. Like the magi and witches (see Daniel 2 and Matthew 2), they have the power of witchcraft to make many feature prophecies. Unfortunately, a CBN Founder Pat Robertson, who invites some occults into his TV program, explained that those psychologists helped the only one percent of the American people to make their dreams come true. Those who practice witchcraft are in real danger to the American people, because their guarantee commandments are falsely used. Not only they are in the danger from the people, they are doing what God said that it’s wrong. (See Deuteronomy 13:1-11.)
Are you aware when someone made guarantee commitment to you? For example, your neighbor wants to offer you a $1,000 to pay your house mortgage. Then you said that you will pay the money back to your neighbor within 30 days. But, after 30 days, you decide to ignore the guarantee commitment and decide to buy a $1,000 worth of car.
What would be your neighbor saying about his money property? Think about it. What would your neighbor is going to you? Solomon said, “My child, be careful about giving a guarantee for somebody else’s loan, about promising to pay what someone else owes. You might get trapped by what you say; you might be caught by your own words.” (Proverbs 6:1-2.)
Even today in this country, many political leaders, even our current president, George W. Bush, and commercial ads want to give some promises that would make the people happy. Then their promises would never happen. Former President Bill Clinton made some lies about his sexual scandal to the nation. Even he committed adultery outside his marriage; he proclaimed that he didn’t have the affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Why these events are happening in the America and rest of the world? Why the lies are popular to these days? One of the reasons of the words of lies is the one of the signs will appear at the scene of the coming of Antichrist after the rapture of the church. In Revelation 13 explains us many people will worship the beast, who will be going to pretend like he is Christian and Christ. Even today, we see that many Christian TV and radio programs proclaim that pastors and reverences can heal the disease upon the people or force the demons out from the person in the name of Jesus Christ, although they rush into the demons without recognizing that they are in the spiritual war with Satan. Or they make a prediction of the second coming of Jesus, although Jesus said that no one, even His angels, can tell the time of His arrival to the earth. (Matthew 24:36.)
When you caught by your neighbor, Solomon gave the rule to get free out of the death of guarantee. He said, “My child, if you have done this and under are your neighbor’s control, here is how to get free.” (Proverbs 6:3a.) Most of the American parents may have the lack of giving a good tip of advice to their children. They may give children some advice how their children have the successful life after their schools. But when the children come to the hard decisions, such as alcoholism, materialism, religion, and paganism, most parents may come to the conclusion of their decisions before the children ask another question. Unlike the modern day of parenting, Solomon gave his child a step of instruction.
First, doesn’t be a proud person (Proverbs 6:3b). God hates a person who has pride herself. Although He loves the people are in the earth, He hates those who are self-sinners and be in proud. In Epistle John said, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If you love the world, the love of the Father is not in you. These are the ways of the world: wanting to please our sinful selves, wanting the sinful things we see, and being too proud of what we have. None of these come from the Father, but all of them come from the world.” (I John 2:15-16.) There are three things that God hate in this passage:
- Wanting to please our sinful selves: Misusing sex, using alcohol, night parties, and etc.
- Wanting the sinful things we see: TV and movie with pornography, violence, romance activities, and etc.
- Being too proud of what we have: Family, marriage, awards, money, car, house, and etc.
Second, go to your neighbor and beg to be free from your promise (Proverbs 6:3c). This is the hardest thing to do in the America today. As we live in today’s society, many teenagers and parents are fighting each other to get what they want. Many parents have decided to divorce from their spouses because of their disagreements. Many teenagers have frustration in their minds because their parents are in the war zone.
But Solomon gave away the secret to get the freedom from these distractions. That is asking them for forgiveness. This is the same way that Jesus forgave our sins. If there is no forgiveness, how we beg for freedom? Jesus didn’t just die on the cross to show that He is the King of kings. He didn’t just die over and over again, like the Roman Catholicism believes. He died once on the cross to pay our sins and resurrect to His Father, so we can be with Him for eternity. Paul wrote, “When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our needs, Christ died for us, although we were against God. But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:6, 8.)
Are you hurting inside of your life? Are you trying to hide something from your neighbor, co-worker, or family? Why not asking them for forgiveness? “Don’t go sleep or even rest your eyes, but free yourself like a deer running from a hunter, like a bird flying away from a trapper.” (Proverbs 6:4-5.) Don’t excuse yourself without asking them for forgiveness.
Are you a lazy person or obedience person when your father asks you to do something for him? In John 6 recorded the situation with more than 5,000 people. We do not know the exact number of people. There may be 1,000 people came up to Jesus or 10,000. Men, women, children, grandparents, and grandchildren may show up to Jesus. But Jesus fed all the people with five loaves of breads and two small fishes. (John 6:1-15.)
Before Jesus fed them bread and a fish, His disciples questioned Him about how they could feed all the people on the field. Of course, Jesus knew what He is going to do, but He wanted to test His disciples. “Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread, so these may eat?’ But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.” (John 6:5-6.)
What would you do when Jesus ask you to feed the multitude of people with your small amount of money? What would you do when your parents ask you to clean the whole house within one day? You may say, “You are crazy. I cannot clean all around the house in 24 hours.” And you may ask your parents to have another day of extension. That was the same reaction to Philip’s situation with Jesus’ question. “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” (John 6:7.)
Solomon said, “Go watch the ants, you lazy person. Watch what they do and be wise.” (Proverbs 6:6.) Go to the smart person and learn from him. Remember when Jesus gave us the illustration of two ways to build a house. One is a wise builder and another is a foolish builder. (See Matthew 7:24-29.) In Psalm 1, there are two ways of living in life on the earth, but only one of them is what God wants us to live by. Like the ants, we can live by God’s rule. “Ants have no commander, no leader or ruler, but they store up food in the summer and gather their supplies at harvest.” (Proverbs 6:7-8.)
We do not need more government and political laws to survive our needs. We need Jesus Christ and His Word in our lives. The pages of the Bible are filled with God’s promise and truth. It is the only book that explains us about our daily life in pass, present, and future. But God may ask us, “How long will you lie there, you lazy person? When will you get up from sleeping?” (Proverbs 6:9)
Even when we are doing our earthly tasks, God asks us these two questions. “Yet we know that a person is made right with God not by following the law, but by trusting in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus, that we might be made right with God because we trusted in Christ. It is not because we follow the law, because no one can be made right with God by following the law.” (Galatians 2:16)
Are you sleeping in your job as it described in Proverbs 6:10-11? “Some people are wicked and no good. They go around telling lies, winking with their eyes, tapping their feet, and making signs with their fingers. They make evil plans in their hearts and are always starting arguments. So trouble will strike them in an instant; suddenly they will be so hurt no one can help them” (Proverbs 6:12-15.)
Are you one of them?
“There are six things the LORD hates. There are seven things he cannot stand…” (Proverbs 6:’16.) What are they? Why God cannot love the seven things that we are enjoying doing? Let’s go through them:
- A proud look. God hates a proud looking person. He is a jealous God,. He hates a person who says, “I did this or that…” In Isaiah 14:13-15, Lucifer was trying to make a proud look upon himself by saying “I will…” for five time.
- A lying tongue. When the serpent tricked Even in the Garden, Even and Adam had lied to God that they didn’t eat the fruit o9n the middle of the Eden. (See Genesis 3.) From the beginning of sin until now, many people have been used to the “white lie” and it became the growth of the worldwide.
- Hands that kill innocent people. They are abortion, murder, kidnapping, and etc. The first person in this action was Cain, who murdered his brother, Abel, because God didn’t accept Cain’s gift. (See Genesis 4:1-15.)
- A mind that thinks up evil plans.
- Feet that are quick to do evils.
- A witness who lies.
Someone who starts argument among families. (See Proverbs 6:17-19.)
Which of these are you needed to avoid in your life? If you surrender to Jesus Christ with your sins, He can forgive your sins and will make you His child for eternality.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Warning about Adultery (Proverbs 5:1-23)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Do not commit adultery.' But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye--even if it is your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand—even if it is your stronger hand--causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30 NLT)
In today’s media, we see many dangerous activities are going around the world. We have heard that many teenagers have already decided what they would like to do with their futures. We have heard many rumors of crises among families throughout the media.
In Matthews 5, Jesus taught a lesson about adultery to the multitude of people. He gave them a warning about having sexual sins in their lives. Even today, some churches take this teaching seriously, because our bodies are only for God and not for the world. But, nowadays, some of us take this warning too lightly and would have decided to take some opportunities to go into exploration with the strangers outside the marriage.
As we continue studying with the Book of Proverbs by each verse, Solomon gave his children a warning about adultery. In Proverbs 2:16-19, he gave his children a brief lesson to stay away from unfaithful wives, who would try to lead them to commit adultery.
If you are a man, it is very important to know and understand about the world’s ways to have sexual intercourse. In Genesis 1, God gave a man to have a dominion over everything on the earth and not the woman. (See Genesis 1:26.) Paul said to Timothy that there are different rules among men and women according to God’s creation. (See I Timothy 2.) Unfortunately, some church leaders would refuse to teach to the congregation. Nowadays, we see that more women are going to workplaces outside their homes than the men.
It is important to listen and understand what the Bible has to say about sexual life inside and outside the marriage. Sexual relationship is only made from inside the marriage. The Book of Hebrews says, “Marriage should be honored by everyone, and husband and wife should keep their marriage pure.” (Hebrews 13:4a.) The word pure means having nothing do with sin and committing adultery.
The first marriage was held in the Book of Genesis, between Adam and Eve. As we read in Genesis 2, “So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one body. The man and his wife were naked, but they were not ashamed.” (Genesis 2:24-25.) God gave Adam a partner, Eve, from his bone. (Genesis 2:23.) We read from these verses that God allowed Adam and Eve to have a sexual relationship with each other inside the marriage. And we understand that they weren’t ashamed or embarrassed with each other being naked until we read Genesis 3, when they broke God’s convent because of the serpent.
As we read the first two verses in Proverbs 5, Solomon told his child to listen to his words of wisdom fully, so he would not fall into the sin of adultery. “My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen to my words of understanding. Be careful to use good sense and watch what you say.” (Proverbs 5:1-2.)
Remember that Solomon had experienced the sin of adultery when he ruled over the land of Israel. (See I King 11:1-14.) “He had seven hundred wives who were from royal families and three hundred slave women who gave birth to his children. His wives caused to turn away from God.” (I King 11:3.) That was how his problem seriously occurred. He would have about 1,000 kisses to his 1,000 women a day. We don’t know how Solomon survived with his wives. Only God brought him out of this adultery.
So, Solomon wrote these proverbs on “warning of adultery” to his children.
Even today, many men are very attracted by the women. Most women are trying to have their sexiest style appearances at public communities. As Solomon said, “The words of another man’s wife may seem sweet as honey; they may be smooth as olive oil.” (Proverbs 5:3.)
If we examine the women in the world, we see how they dressed by their appearances. Today, many music channels (MTV, BET, VH1, etc.) show how the women are by how they appeared in the TV and their words in many songs. Even on the radio, the women would try to make men attention to them. “But in the end she will bring you sorrow, causing you pain like two-edge sword. She is on the way to death; her steps are headed straight to the grave.” (Proverbs 5:4-5.)
What is the adultery means? Quoting from the Holman Bible Dictionary, "ADULTERY is the act of unfaithfulness in marriage that occurs when one of the marriage partners voluntarily engages in sexual intercourse with a person of the opposite sex other than the marriage partner."
Even you, man, are falling in love with your woman, she might bring you to many pains in physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This goes for opposite sex as well. The person may not concern for her partner’s needs. She only knows what she/he needs. Even you are not married with your partner; your mate may have the lack of interest in you.
If you have wife or girlfriend, you need to consider yourself with spending the time with your partner; otherwise, she means nothing to you. “She gives little thought to life. She doesn’t even know that her ways are wrong.” (Proverbs 5:6.)
Much adultery contains with homosexual diseases, HIV, cancer, AIDS, and other diseases that are related to the sexual relationship with opposite sex. Unfortunately, many of us, even we are called “Christians,” encourage ourselves to learn about having sexual relationship without going through marriage. We can learn these activities from TV, movies, Internet, merchandises, and even from children’s toys.
We even can see that many marry women are working full-time as employment outside the houses. About 80 percent of the women are working at their churches or at their workplaces. That’s why the most of men are depending on their housewives or women to charge at their homes.
Paul wrote, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.” (I Timothy 2:8-15.)
In Proverbs 5:7-14, Solomon told his children about how they need to bewared having women in their lives. He didn’t want let the women to lead his children to adultery. Solomon said, “Now, my sons, listen to me, and don’t ignore what I say.” (Proverbs 5:7.)
If you find a woman that you desired, but, later on, you might find out that her plan is hurting you. She may plan to abuse you in sexually, emotionally, physically, and/or spiritually. There are many ways to abuse each other. The world contains this virus to fight among the people.
Even today, we heard that the priest from the Catholic Church abuse the children. Look in Revelation 2:18-29 and see how does Thyatira Church relate to that particular Christian denomination and their sexual practices. “The Church of Thyatira is known by Bible scholars as the Pagan Church—A.D. 606-End of Tribulation. This Church is also known as the Roman Catholic Church. It was at this time that many, many pagan practices were brought into the Church, "Christianized", and then called Christian and Biblical. If you read the verses [Revelation] 2:19-26, you will see that Jesus is calling this church a whore, a prostitute, and He says that He shall throw her into her bed and kill her and her children!” (Article: Did You Realize that Jesus Christ Commended the Church of Philadelphia for Being Fundamental? It's Absolutely True!“ from Cutting Edge Ministries.)
Abortion. Now, the women have the right to kill their own baby before the child is about to come out from the mother’s womb. God clearly said that you “must not murder anyone” and you “must not be guilty of adultery.” (Deuteronomy 5:17-18.) These commandments are from the Ten Commandments that God gave to the people of Israel. These commandments are that we should keep in our lives with the rest of eight commandments. But what our Supreme Court and ACLU do? They give women the right to murder unborn child. They let the school students learn the sexual behaviors in their public classrooms, which they also learn how they abuse each other sexually.
Solomon said, “Stay away from such a woman. Don’t even go near of her house, or you will give your riches to others, and the best years of your life to some cruel. Strangers will enjoy your wealth, and what you worked so hard for will go to someone else. You will groan at the end of your life when your health is gone. Then you will say, ‘I hate being told what to do! I would not listen to my teachers or pay attention to my instructors. I came close to being completely ruined in front of a whole group of people.’” (Proverbs 5:8-14.)
Are you in troubled in your marriage? Are you afraid that what your church leaders are doing to your family members? Nor are you afraid what our state government is doing? Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. The teaching that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30.)
If you want that load in your life that Jesus likes to offer you, just give up all you have to Jesus Christ by trusting Him. Do you have your personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you want the gift of wisdom that God is waiting to give you? If you are willing to deny yourselves to God, then pray this prayer in your heart, “Dear Lord Jesus. I am sorry for my sins. Now, I know You died for my sins because You love me so much; and You raised on the third day to be with me for eternity. Lord, I confess my sins to you and want to have my personal relationship with You. Lord, now I want to trust You as my Savior and King and walk with You in all the way of my life. I prayed in the name of Jesus, Amen."
“Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.” (Proverbs 3:16-18 NIV.)
Do you have a faithful wife or faithful girlfriend in your life? The Roman Catholic Church is an example of what your unfaithful spouse could do to you and your family. But I do believe that God may bring some of His children out from the Catholic Church to show the truth and the light of His kingdom. In that same way for your own wife, he may use both of you to reach the people.
Man, be “faithful to your own wife, just as you drink from your own well.” (Proverbs 5:15.) Be patient with her when she is having a rough time with you. Listen to her complain and give her some advice to live a godly life. “…husband, you don’t know; maybe you will save your wife.” (I Corinthians 7:16b.)
Don’t give yourself to another woman if you sincere love your first wife or girlfriend. Solomon said, “Don’t pour your water in the streets, don’t give your love to just any woman. (Proverbs 5:16.) If I have sex with another woman, for example, and being still bond with my true woman, then those HIV, AIDS, or other virus (that the second woman has) transfer to her life. More than that, I would just destroy the relationship with my true woman. Having a relationship with your woman must be private from the outside your home. This is just for you, your woman, and God inside the marriage. “These things are yours alone and shouldn’t be shared with strangers.” (Proverbs 5:17.)
In Proverbs 5:18-20, Solomon gave his sons a good advice to have a great marriage. To have a good marriage, you and your spouse must have similar interests, be happy in your marriage, have a biblical foundation in your relationship, and have encouragement to help each other. Finally, we must not be cheated each other with adultery. If you are married or non-married with your girlfriend, you need to have this warning of adultery in your personal life. Since Sodom and Gomorrah committed adultery (see Genesis 19), today’s America has been played alone with sexuality in the public community. Now, it’s nation wide to play this addiction and have not awake from the day of Sodom and Gomorrah.
“The LORD sees everything you do, and he watches where you go. An evil man will be caught in his wicked ways; the ropes of his sins will tie him up. He will die because he does not control himself, and he will be held captive by his foolishness.” (Proverbs 5:21-23.)
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Wisdom is Important (Proverbs 4:1-27)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding. Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great; hold on to it, it will bring you honor. (Proverbs 4:7-8)
Witchcraft. Magic. Henry Potter. Occults. Religions. These are some of the belief systems are happening to the world today. Many people or some Christians believe that these practices are the only way to get happiness. They put these practices for their entertainment. What they valued have nothing do with God, but upon themselves. Is their wisdom coming from these or more practices? What is the Bible has to say about the importance of wisdom?
Today, many children are learning about good and bad in their schools. What the schools are teaching have nothing do with wisdom of God. Even today, many youngsters have already learned to enjoy to have the sexual relationship with their friends or learning about witchcraft by reading the Henry Potter books. There are historical documents behind the Henry Potter books and have nothing do with fun reading and English class after you learned the background and the biblical viewpoint of witchcraft.
In Proverbs 4, Solomon gave his children advice about how they could have successful life with receiving wisdom of God. “My children, listen to your father’s teaching; pay attention so you will understand. What I am telling you is good, so do not forget what I teach.” (Proverbs 4:1-2.)
Solomon is about to announce the lesson from his own childhood. His lesson is important to give his children, so they could apply to their lives and pass it to their children and grandchildren. It is the legacy that could last to many generations. Unlike the period of Solomon, we miss opportunity to teach our family member the legacy that our Heavenly Father taught. The legacy that Jesus taught, we have forgotten to pass His words to our family members, love ones, friends, and neighbors. Now, we come with our new legacy, legacy that comes from our media, Satanism, occult, and even from our own denominational churches. It is sad thing that some of us do not apply Jesus’ legacy to our lives.
Solomon wrote “When I was a young boy in my father’s house and like an only child to my mother, my father taught me and said, ‘Hold on to my words with all your heart. Keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom and understanding. Don’t forget or ignore my words. Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you. Love it, and it will keep you safe. Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding. Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great; hold on to it, and it will bring honor. It will be like flowers in your hair and like a beautiful crown on your head.’” (Proverbs 4:3-9.)
What if that was coming from Jesus to you? Are you going to listen to Him? Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.” (Revelation 4:20.)
God wants let us to have happy and long life while we are still living in this physical planet. But we need to listen to Him and accept what He has to say to us. “My child, listen and accept what I say. Then you will have a long life.” (Proverbs 4:10.) Unlike those days, we would miss to listen and accept what our Sovereign Father has to say about us. Instead, we feel go to what our pastors said about God’s Word on Sunday morning.
Does God say that He is guiding us from the darkness of the world? Listen what Isaiah wrote about the people of Israel, “Before those people lived in darkness, but now they have seen a great light. They lived in a dark land, but a light has shined on them. God, you have caused the nation to grow and made the people happy. And they have shown their happiness to you, like the joy during harvest time, like the joy of people taking what they have won in war.” (Isaiah 9:2-3.)
God is a God who leads us into right direction of the life. The psalmist wrote, “Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105.) God is not a God of laziness, but He is a God who leads us to the truth of the gospel of the living God. The Bible is our manuscript to live a holy life with Him. It’s a foundation of the book that leads us to the successful life that God wants. “I am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path. Nothing will hold you back; you will not be overwhelmed.” (Proverbs 4:11-12.)
Are you let God leads you to the abundant life that He wants you to have for eternality? Or are you following your own agenda and/or your own religious system (Buddhism, Muslim, Judaism, Catholicism, Baptist, or other religions or Christian denominations) that leads you to the happy life? Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b NKJV.) Today, Jesus is knocking your door of your heart and wants to show you the road to the life.
Even today, many of us are trying to earn ourselves the glory. Our world system teaches us how to guard our lives to ourselves. We learned the world histories and cultures that could lead us the cultural life and not according to God’s plan. The children learned that practicing of the magic is having something to do with their entertainment; and their parents are allowing them to practice the magic tricks, watch the TV programs, and read the books that contain the witchcraft.
What Solomon is trying to accomplish with his children is having nothing do with witchcraft that God hates, but having to do with their successful lives. Solomon wrote, “Always remember what you have been taught, and don’t let you go of it. Keep all that you have learned; it is the most important thing in life.” (Proverbs 4:13.)
What have God taught you in your personal walk with Him during the last 10 or more years of your life? God has shown me what I can do to glorify Him through the gift of prophecy (teaching) and making some Disciples of Christ. He has taught me the purpose of my disabled life through the difficult circumstance. I believe what Apostle Paul says about God’s power: “With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.”(Ephesians 3:20.)
Even though I am disabled, God can do anything with my life. Even though I am disabled, He has provided me to continue to have the life on earth to reach the people to Him. Even though I can’t make true friendship before November 2000, He provided for me before I arrived to Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center.
If you are in the situation where you cannot find the purpose of your life, stop doing your own ways and begin your life with Jesus Christ. “Don’t follow the ways of the wicked; don’t do what evil people do. Avoid their ways, and don’t follow them. Stay away from them and keep on going, because they cannot sleep until they do evil. They cannot rest until they harm someone. They feast on wickedness and cruelty as if they were eating bread and drinking wine. The good person is like the light of dawn, growing brighter and brighter until full daylight. But the wicked walk around in the dark; they can’t even see what makes stumble.” (Proverbs 4:14-19.)
God may say to you, “Pay attention, my child, to what I say. Listen carefully. Don't lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning. Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” (Proverbs 4:20-27.)
What are you going to do with His Word? The choices are yours.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Thursday, June 9, 2005
Do Things Right (Proverbs 3:27-35)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Do you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)
"Whenever you are able, do good too people who need help." (Proverbs 3:27.) Whenever you are free, what are you going to do when you see the poor in the street? Are you going to ignore the person who asks for money or to help the person to meet his/her needs?
Do what is good in the eye of God. If we hate what's poor, then God will hate our actions. "If you have what your neighbor asks for, don't say, 'Come back later. I will give it to you tomorrow.' Don't make plans to hurt your neighbor who lives nearby and t6rusts you." (Proverbs 3:28-29.)
This is true. We do not need to make our love ones or neighbors feel bad or hurt their feelings. When I hurt to my love ones, she would feel bad about me. In this passage, Solomon is talking about how we need to be watchful when we meet and talk to the other people. In Proverbs 3:28, we do not need tell other people that they need to come bake here or there later to pick up something. No. Instead, we must help them with God's love.
As we see on the media, we heard about the war is going on from person to person, nation to nation, and country to country. Recently, we heard about abusing a child from the one of the church leaders and it brought attention to the nation wide. The most hateful act was brought to this time of period that God hates.
"Don't make plans to hurt your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts. Don't accuse a person for no good reason; don't accuse someone who has not harmed you." (Proverbs 3:29-30.) Instead, we share the love of Jesus Christ and share each other's problems and solve them with His love.
If I am being jealous that my friend has weapons in his side pocket, do I need to ask him where he got them from? I might decide to buy a gun to show who I am. It's show down.
God's Word said we must stay away those who use violence, mistreatment, and misusing sex to show off to the world. It's easy that we see the other person who has much greater idea than ours. Then, we may decide to put them into the competition. The world teaches us that we need to protect ourselves and we need to have power, wealth, and fame. The world also leads us that we need to have more political leaders and economic systems to survive our lives in this country. We so often forget what Jesus said to have the eternal life and would decide to follow the world occults' ways of living.
"Don't be jealous of those who use violence, and don't choose to be like them." (Proverbs 3:31.) If we decide to follow and love them, than we are waiting for God's punishment. This is the most God hate to punish us, but we are making Him to do in us. If God say to me no to sex before my marriage, but I decide to do it anyway, then I'm being trouble. "The LORD hates those who do wrong, but he is a friend those who are honest." (Proverbs 3:32.)
Yes, God allows let's us to decide what we like to do, but He can't take our serious mistakes. Instead, He may call us to take out from our mistakes or He maybe waiting for us to be realized what we did wrong.
‘'The LORD will curse the evil person's house, but he will bless the home of those who do right. The LORD laughs at those who laugh at him, but he gives grace of those who are not proud. Wise people will receive honor, but fools will be disgraced." (Proverbs 3:33-35.)
Are you be in right with God? If you are unsure, ask Him to come to your life by repenting your sins in your private room or home.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Creation of the World (Proverbs 3:19-20)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5 NKJV)
The first book of the Bible, Genesis, explains us how the earth and heavens were formed. The Book of Genesis, which is the first book of Moses or Torah, tells us that in "the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 NKJV.) This is the scientific evident is that the most scientists are trying to prove that there was an existence of Big Bang Theory. Of course, we may don't believe the Big Bang Theory. Instead, we may believe what the Bible say about the creation.
In Genesis 1, it shows the evidence that there was someone created the heavens and the earth. That someone was God. "In the beginning God…" Not Jim. Not someone who was popular person in the world over the last decade. It was God who created the universe in the six days (Genesis 1:3-31). He is the Author of the creation of the world. He also created us in His image.
Let's look at the couple passages on God is the Creator:
In Prophet Nehemiah described that He created everything of this world and outside of the earth. "You are the only LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, with all the stars. You made the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; you give life to everything. The heavenly army worships you." (Nehemiah 9:6.)
In Job 26:7 describes that God stretch everything out over the empty space. "He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing." (NKJV.) He didn't left out anything of His creation.
In Psalms 102:25 says, "In the beginning you made the earth, and… the skies."
Now Solomon says, "The LORD made the earth, using his wisdom. He set the sky in place, using his understanding. With his knowledge, he made springs flow into rivers and the clouds drop rain on the earth." (Proverbs 3:19-20.)
God created the heavens and the earth. These are the foundations of His image since the beginning of the earth time. Also, He created us in His image. Even today, the earth and universe are still belonging to Him. We cannot change the founder of the Creator. Yet, most people cannot find who made the heavens and the earth and the living beings. Instead, most of them find the theory of the creation evolution as the foundation of the earth. Yes, I believe that we need to believe the both science and Bible to see the whole picture of the creation, but we need to go more toward to God's Word than what we should think or believe.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Do Not Against God (Proverbs 3:11-18)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
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. (II Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)
The Bible that we are holding, God wrote it through His people. It is the book throughout many generations. Now, about many thousand years later, the Bible is still the number one best-selling book around the world.
I don't know Moses wrote all the first five books in the Bible. But it gave us some insights how the Lord was working through His people. Only God through His chosen people wrote all the 66 books.
In II Timothy 3:16, Paul said that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. This means that the Bible is the perfect written by Him for us. The Word of God inspires us in our lives. Not only God's words tell us what happened in the past or what will be happening in the future, He also tell us what we should do now. In fact, some of us would think that the Bible hasn't anything to do with our religion or us. That answer is fault.
Do we know why many of us decide not to read the Bible?
The first reason, I believe, is the words are too difficult to understand. The Bible was published in early AD and has been translated into many their original languages over years. Many people tried to understand the Bible but they had really difficult to read it. Nowadays, many Christian authors tried to come up with better words to understand the Bible.
The second reason is simply the lack of their faiths in Jesus Christ. Read with me what Paul said, "Now the Holy Spirit clearly says that in the later times some people will stop believing the faith. They will follow spirits that lie and teachings of demon. Such teachings come from the false words of liars whose consciences are destroyed as if by a hot iron." (I Timothy 4:1-2.) Some people may reject Christ because they like to do their ways of life. Or some people are called themselves as Christians, although they decide to follow the religious rituals and laws that aren't appeared in the Bible. Or some Christians would decide to give up to follow Jesus because it has too many rules and disciplines.
Yes, God has rules and has desired to discipline His children. But God knows we don't remember all the rules that He made, He tells us to remember only one law. That is loving Him and each other. "'Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?
‘'Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. 'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.""'" (Matthew 22:36-40 NLT; See also from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.)
When God disciplines us, He loves us so much that He wants us to come to Him. His Word is not only for love, but He also wants to discipline us. If we don't have discipline, it means that God doesn't care about us. Also, it means that the Bible is teaching us that God is a liar.
"My child, do not reject the Lord's discipline, and don't get angry when he corrects you. The LORD corrects those he loves, just as parents correct the child they delight in." (Proverbs 3:11-12)
If you are seeking for happiness in your life, search for the wisdom that will be lasted long time. Do not get so wrap into the world. Paul said, "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2 RSV).
If you are seeking for happiness through finding your mate, invite Jesus Christ in your life. He loves to have you in His kingdom. Many of us may search for someone to love. This could have to do with sex, self-interest, self-happiness, and lack of faith.
Solomon said that we only could find the happiness through the wisdom of God.(See Proverbs 3:13-15.) There is no other way to find the happiness except having your personal relationship with Christ. Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:1-8 NKJV.)
Do you have your personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you want the gift of wisdom that God is waiting to give you? If you are willing to deny yourselves to God, then pray this prayer in your heart, "Dear Lord Jesus. I am sorry for my sins. Now, I know You died for my sins because You love me so much; and You raised on the third day to be with me for eternity. Lord, I confess my sins to you and want to have my personal relationship with You. Lord, now I want to trust You as my Savior and King and walk with You in all the way of my life. I prayed in the name of Jesus, Amen."
"Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed." (Proverbs 3:16-18 NIV.)
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Honoring God (Proverbs 3:9-10)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
Honoring the LORD with your wealth and the firstfruits from all your crops. Then your burns will be full, and your wine barrels will overflow with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10)
One of the most important laws in the Old Testament is the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20) that God gave to Moses after the Israelites freed from the Egyptian. The laws tell us to obey and respect God and people. But we have taken His-given laws too lightly. As we see today's world, many of us have disrespected God in our homes and communities.
In Exodus 20, God tells us that we must not have any other gods in our lives. (Exodus 20:3.)
Why?
He is a jealous God. "Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations." (Exodus 20:4-6 NLT.)
God is a God of love, but He also is a God of justice. Some churches may teach us that He is the Creator and a loving God. But not on justice. If God only love us, why He sent Jesus to us?
As we see today's media, we see many people want to honor themselves. We can see their actions don't toward God. They have nothing to do with God. It's sad to see such people are seeking for other gods for their pleasures. Even it's also makes us sad that some of us like doing the same reactions to create the other religions rather than give the honor to the Creator.
One of the days, we all will face the judgment of the throne of God. He will judge us not according to our sins, but according to our salvation and faith. What we do with our salvation and faith?
Some of us may give honor to God by inviting someone to Jesus. Or some of us may give honor to God by sending e-mail the gospel of Jesus Christ. Whatever you are doing, give the honor to God.
Yes, God is a loving God, but He is also a God of justice.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Thursday, May 5, 2005
Moment of Salvation: Trusting God's Vision
Topic: Book of Proverbs
Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don't depend on your understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Remember when your parents give you some good advice to you between what is not good thing to do and what is good thing to do in your life? Why your parents give you good advice? Why is that? "My child, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in mind." (Proverbs 3:1)
You might think that your parents would try to control your life. You might say, "Do I have to?" The rules that our parents give us are not that they try to control over our lives. We have a freedom to choose whether to obey our parents or not. If I decide not to obey my parent, then my future will not be good. I would waste my time to hang with gangs or I would do not know what to do with my life problems. Think about what your future life will be if you decide to disobey your family's advice and going with your life. In Proverbs 5, Solomon talked about adultery. He gave a lot good advice to his son about finding a right woman for his son's life.
Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, our lives become limit. (See Genesis 3:17-24.) "Our lifetime is seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. But the years are full of hard work and pain. They pass quickly, and we are gone." (Psalm 90:10)
God has a promise for you and me if we choose to obey Him and our people. If we obey God, He will let us live a long time, and our lives will be successful. (Proverbs 3:2.) God knows and controls our lives. He knows when we would die. Remember when King Uzziah chose to refuse God; He struck him with a skin disease. (See II Kings 15:1-7; II Chronicles 26:1-23.) Uzziah choose to die by disobeying the Lord. God gave us some choices how we need to live until He calls us to go to our eternal home.
That's why we need to remember the word from our parents and from our God. "Don't ever forget kindness and truth. Wear them like a necklace. Write them on your heart as if on a tablet. Then you will be respected and will please both God and people." (Proverbs 3:3-4)
Jesus said in Luke, "If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches? And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own?" (Luke 16:11-12.) Who will you trust to meet your need?
Our lives seem to be tough when we face our difficulties. We may have problems occurred when we have a lot of the financial needs. Or we may have crisis in our families weather we share the gospel of Jesus Christ with unsaved love ones or in family situations. It is hard to solve the problems when the issues are big.
There are many of us who search for the answers to the problems. For example, some people may decide to enjoy the Psychic Hotline to look for the answers. In fact, God gave us a warning of these psychic friends in Deuteronomy 13:
"Suppose there are prophets among you, or those who have dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, and the predicted signs or miracles take place. If the prophets then say, `Come, let us worship the gods of foreign nations,' do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you love him with all your heart and soul. Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. The false prophets or dreamers who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in the land of Egypt. Since they try to keep you from following the LORD your God, you must execute them to remove the evil from among you.
"Suppose your brother, son, daughter, beloved wife, or closest friend comes to you secretly and says, `Let us go worship other gods'--gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known. They might suggest that you worship the gods of peoples who live nearby or who come from the ends of the earth. If they do this, do not give in or listen, and have no pity. Do not spare or protect them. You must put them to death! You must be the one to initiate the execution; then all the people must join in. Stone the guilty ones to death because they have tried to draw you away from the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery. Then all Israel will hear about it and be afraid, and such wickedness will never again be done among you. Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods." (Deuteronomy 13:1-12 NLT.)
So whom could we be trusted on? Read with me in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don't depend on your understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success."
If we want to be happy in our lives, then don't depend on our own interest or our own religious rules. Trust God and He will give us what we need for our earthly living. If you want to receive what He has a plan for your life, trust God with all your heart.
When we face the trials in our lives, are we trying to solve problems by our own ways? Sometime, we may like to depend on ourselves to solve the crisis. I know I do like to try to depend myself. Are we trying to be totally independent by ourselves while we are in human formed?
"Don't depend on your own wisdom." (Proverbs 3:7a) Our lives are not for ourselves. The life that we have is all about Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me." (John 14:6.) He is the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (end). (See Revelation 1:8.)
"Respect the LORD and refuse to do wrong." (Proverbs 3:7b.) If you want to follow Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, to do His will and refuse to do your own power. Again, the Christianity is not about learning all the rules and rituals, but having your personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.." (I Timothy 2:5-6 NKJV.)
"Then your body will be healthy, and your bones will be strong." (Proverbs 3:8.) Not just your body and bones that God will give you the strength, but He will also give you the strength of your spiritual body. That spiritual body is inside of you.
Although I am disabled man, God is working with me through many hardships. God does not see us outside of us, He sees us inside of us as the shadow of Jesus' cross. All of us have sinned and God knows we are struggling with sins these days. Although we are not worthy called as His children, He has provided the way. That is through Jesus Christ. We love because God loved us first.
If you have been turned away from God for while and have decided to go back to track with Him, or if you are new to the Christianity and would like to receive His salvation in your heart, then He has a great plan for you. If you want to accept Him as your personal Savior, I like to invite you to pray this prayer in your heart:
"Dear Lord Jesus. I am sorry for my sins. Now, I know You died for my sins because You love me so much; and You raised on the third day to be with me for eternity. Lord, I confess my sins to you and want to have my personal relationship with You. Lord, now I want to trust You as my Savior and King and walk with You in all the way of my life. I prayed in the name of Jesus, Amen."
If you have invited Jesus in your life, then you have the personal relationship with God. "...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9 NKJV.) Now, if you like to grow in faith through Jesus Christ, then go and find the local church friends who are strong believers in Jesus and His Word and tell them about your salvation. They may be able to help you in growing through faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Start your relationship with God by reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible. This book is God's letter to you.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Rewards of Wisdom (Proverbs 2:1-22)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthews 8:7-8 NKJV)
Have you seeking for the wisdom from God? If so, have you listened to what God say to you? We can receive the wisdom from Him if we are willing to listen and obey Him.
As we are studying Proverbs 2, Solomon began to open with the call of attention. "My child, listen to what I say and remember what I command you." (Proverbs 2:1.) In the previous chapter of Proverbs, Solomon said to his son to listen to him. (Proverbs 1:8.) Solomon might to say, "Listen to my advice what I am going to say. This might be useful to you." He said this because he cared of his son's life.
That is what exact God is doing for our lives today. He cares and loves us to make us attention to Him. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 NKJV.) In 2000 years ago, God brought Jesus to this planet for us. He wanted to be with us. But what we did to Jesus? Were we followed Him all the way? He came to the world that was his own, but his own people did not accept him. (John 1:11.)
Throughout Jesus' life, He experienced the painful moment of His earthly living because of all our sins. He had to die because His people were sinners. If He didn't resurrect after His crucifixion, are we living for God today? Are we going to be His people? Probably not. If Jesus didn't resurrect, we still have sins in our lives as our own idol. If He didn't resurrect, we still have experienced many sufferings in our lives.
So what is the solution?
Listen carefully to the wisdom… (Proverbs 2:2a.) Hear the words of the wisdom. Not only to hear the wisdom carefully, but listen to what God has to say. …set your mind on understanding. (Proverbs 2:2b.) Set your mind on above from the earth. We can focus on the earthly things carefully. Do our minds are on God as well?
If you want the wisdom of God, cry out for wisdom and beg for understanding. (Proverbs 2:3) God will hear to your cry and your desire. He knows what you want, but He may have much bigger plan for your life.
Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthews 8:7-8 NKJV.) If you want wisdom in your life, then search for it like silver. (Proverbs 2:4.) Then you will understand respect for the LORD, and you will find that you know God. (Proverbs 2:5.) That is what I want for my life. That is what God is expecting from you. "Only the LORD gives wisdom; he gives knowledge and understanding. He stores up wisdom for those who are honest. Like a shield he protects the innocent. He makes sure that just is done, and he protects those who are loyal to him." (Proverbs 2:6-8.)
Wisdom will teach us how to be honest and fair to your spouse and to your people. God is willing to give the wisdom as your reward. According to Proverbs 2:9-11, Solomon pointed out what the wisdom can do your life. "Wisdom will come to your mind, and knowledge will be pleasing to you. Good sense will protect you; understanding will guard you." (Proverbs 2:10-11.)
God knows that we cannot protect ourselves from the enemies of Christ. He knows where are our weak spots in our lives. Sadly, we try to cover our weakest strengths to ourselves. We learned that the pride can help us to cover from sadness. We learned that having our sins is the only way to survive. Sometimes, we would be like Lucifer. "You told yourself, 'I will go up to heaven. I will put my throne above God's stars. I will sit on the mountain of gods, on the slopes of the sacred mountain. I will go up above the tops of the clouds. I will be like God Most High." (Isaiah 14:13-14.) As a result, we fail to do our wills.
Wisdom also protects us from evil ones. "It will keep you from wicked, from those whose words are bad, who don't know what is right but what is evil." (Proverbs 2:12-13.) Are you turn away from wicked ones and listen and accept the wisdom that God giving you? Read the verses 14 and 15 and try to enjoy the activity. Are you happy with your life? If I am in this situation, I would be happy with my life until I die. When I meet Christ on the judgement seat, then I cannot go to His palace because of my sins, for instance. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23 NKJV.) If you are new to the faith, take a moment to recognize God's love. He loves us very much that He died for our sins.
Let me ask a question. Do you have a faithful or unfaithful spouse (including boyfriend or girlfriend) in your life? If the person is faithful to you in relationship, then you have a good solid foundation in your intimacy relationship with God. God is at the top of triangle relationship. You can have a good relationship with your spouse if God is the center of both of your life.
If your wife is unfaithful to you, to your children, and to God, don't make easy for yourselves by signing the divorce paper. God hates divorce from the relationship. Instead, use God's advice. To stay in relationship with your wife is not easy unless you would give your problem to God's hands. "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (I Peter 5:6-7 NKJV.)
Read the proverbs from the Bible before you would decide to engage and submit to your girlfriend or boyfriend. Solomon said, "It will save from the unfaithful wife who tries to lead you into adultery with pleasing words. She leaves the husband she married when she was young. She ignores the promise she made before God. Her house is on the way to death; those who took path are now all dead. No one who goes her comes back or walks the path of life again." (Proverbs 2:16-19)
The wisdom that God gives us will help us to equip our actions toward Him. It is His wisdom that we have the purpose of our lives. Have you decide which road you on? Do you need the wisdom of God to decide what is right thing to do in your life?
Read the last three verses in Proverbs 2 and think about how is going with your personal relationship with Christ. There is no other gods who can give you the wisdom rather than through Jesus Christ.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Wisdom Speaks (Proverbs 1:20-33)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God's sight. (James 1:19-20 NLT)
Have you hear the wisdom voice that is in your heart? If so, what advice does the wisdom give you?
In Proverbs 1:20, King Solomon describes the wisdom as a woman shouting in the street. Have you feel like you want to cry out something? Sometimes, I want to cry out to God while I'm in the devotion with God or when the message from the Sunday service touches through my heart. Or even I cry when I talk to someone who is special to me.
Does the wisdom do that?
I believe so. But it's the wisdom from God, who knows you and me before we came out from our mothers' wombs. It's God who gives us the wisdom. As we read Proverbs 1:20-21, we hear that the wisdom wants to something to say to us. But are we going to allow the wisdom to speak to us?
It's not fair that we prevent God to speak to us. Look in the world, there are so many things going on that we usually don't hear God's voice. We see that our economic system becomes great that we don't pay any attention to God. As we saw what happened on September 11, 2001, God gave us the warning to avoid worshipping our own idols. The destruction in World Trade Center and Pentagon might be just a sign of what He will be doing at the end time. Look what happened to the children of Israel when they turned against God:
"Heaven and the earth, listen, because the LORD is speaking: 'I raised my children and helped them grow up, but they turned against me. An ox knows where its owner feeds it, but the people of Israel do not know me; my people do not understand. How terrible! Israel is a nation of sin, a people loaded down with guilt, a group of children doing evil, children who are full of evil. They have left the LORD; they hate God, the Holy One of Israel, and have turned away from him as if he were a stranger." (Isaiah 1:2-4)
Are you listening to the wisdom that God gave you? Try to listen to the wisdom as you are listening to God, because the wisdom is from Him.
In Proverbs 1:22-27, King Solomon gave advice what God would do those who make fun of wisdom and hate knowledge. "You fools, how long will you be foolish? How long will you make fun of wisdom and hate knowledge? If only you had listened when I corrected you, I would have told you what's in my hear; I would have told you what I am thinking." (Proverbs 1:22-23)
Have God say to you to listen to what He's going to say, but you decide to ignore Him? You might say, "Not now, but can You put Your message on the recorder?" It's easy to what the other people say, but not to God. What if God says to us that He has a good plan for us? Do we choose to listen to Him or the opposite? We may turn on the rock music or the TV and make ourselves to be happy. Or we may shut every down and open our Bibles to begin to have conversation with God. God says, "…I know what I am planning for you… I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
It's hateful act not to listen to God. It's disobedience. It took the people of Israel 40 years to make to the promise land because of their disobedience acts. God has called them to turn to Him, but they decided not to listen to Him. "I called, but you refused to listen; I held out my hand, but you paid no attention. You did not follow my advice and did not listen when I corrected you. So I will laugh when you are in trouble. I will make fun when disaster strikes you, when disaster comes over you like a storm, when trouble strikes you like a whirlwind, when pain and trouble overwhelm you." (Proverbs 1:24-27)
What are you going to about it?
When we realized that we have been sinning while God was trying to call us to stop, is He going to accept our repentance? When we would keep sinning and after we realized that we have been sinning against Him, is He going to accept the forgiveness of our sins?
God knows when we would give ourselves up to Him after we finish to play with sins. For instance, when you decide to lie to your spouse that you arrived home late because of your work rather than tell the truth that you were dating with another woman/man. When your spouse find out that you have been lying, then there is a long solving process. I don't know that you might go through court process or talking things out. Think about what God did to the people of Israel when they were against Him and they realized that they needed Him. Did they think God forgive their sins easy? They might think that God forgive their sins after they played with their toys; and would decide to play them again later.
The answer is that there is a consequence of many sins. God is not just being easy with our repentance of sins. No. God knows when we would give up our sins completely. That is when we are going through hard time. The Lord said, "Then you will call to me, but I will not answer. You will look for me, but you will not find me. It is because you rejected knowledge and did not choose the LORD. You did not accept my advice, and you rejected my correction. So you will get what you deserve; you will get what you planned for others. Fools will die because they refuse to listen; they will be destroyed because they do not care. But those who listen to me will live in safety and be at peace, without fear of injury." (Proverbs 1:28-33)
God will answer us to our needs if we listen to Him. But He will let those are non-listeners experience the painful moment of their lives. God didn't create the disease in our lives but we did ourselves.
"Today you may be bombarded by people giving advice-talk show hosts, psychics, psychologists. Take more time to listen to God than to television. At the end of the day, assess which of wisdom you applied (or should have)."
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, April 16, 2005
A Good Warnings for Protection (Proverbs 1:8-19)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
What if your parents say to you, "My child, if your sinners try to lead you into sin, do not follow them." (Proverbs 1:10.)
You might think who are the sinners around me. What they would do with me if they lead me into sin?
There is no person in the world that is a perfect human. We all have sinned and are not good enough for God's glory. Everyday, we are living with problems. Nowadays, many children are learning some of the bad behaviors from the wrong crowd. The crowd of the people with bad attitudes. The crowd would say, "Follow me and I will make you happy." Or the crowd would think of you and make you into a trap. Listen to what Solomon say about that person:
"They will say, 'Come with us. Let's ambush and kill someone; let's attack some innocent people just for fun. Let's swallow them alive, as death does; let's swallow them whole, as the grave does. We will take all kinds of valuable things and fill our stolen goods. Come join us, and we will share with you stolen goods.'" (Proverbs 1:11-14)
These words may sound awesome to you. But you may know these actions are the most hateful acts and you decide to quit the team. It's not easy to overcome these traps with in nicer ways.
Today in the world, many teenagers are involved with sexual activities. They learned that having a sex is good. The most danger activities are on the Internet. Like what Solomon wrote, the Internet can trick you and separate away from your relationship with God. We also see that the people want to be happy by murdering someone.
If you are teenagers, listen to what your parents say about sex and other dangerous spots at outside your home and school. Try to avoid when the people say, "Come with me…" in a loving way. Instead, listen to the good advice from your family, friends, and neighbors. Read Proverbs 1:8-19 and reflect to your daily life.
"I know my life is tough. I have to follow the right choice of my life. But I don't know which road is the right path for me." Have you feel that way? Have you puzzled these thoughts? These thoughts are the tough to answer.
There are two ways to live our lives. One is the godly life and another one is wicked life. Life with godly respect is the one who follows God's ways. But the wicked ones is filled with confusions and sicknesses of your life. Listen to what the psalmist has to say about two ways of living:
"Happy are those who don't listen to the wicked, who don't go where sinners go, who don't do what the evil people do. They love the LORD's teachings, and they think about those teachings day and night. They are strong, like a tree planted by a river. The tree produces fruit in season, and its leaves don't die. Everything they do will succeed.
"But wicked people are not like that. They are like chaff that the wind blows away. So the wicked will not escape God's punishment. Sinners will not worship with God's people. This is because the LORD takes care of his people, but the wicked will be destroyed." (Psalm 1)
What if God say to you, "My child, do not go along with them [Paraphrase: who are trying to fool you]; do not do what they do." (Proverbs 1:15.) Are you willing to obey His command or refuse His voice and decide to follow the wrong crowd? It's so easy to listen to the people around you. It's so easy to like the people as you see what they do. But have you hear the voice of God to warn you something?
In Proverbs 1:15-19, Solomon gave some good advice to his son-not to hang around those who are gangsters. He wanted his son to be wise with God's wisdom. This would be the first advice that you may give your teenagers or your best friends. It's consideration to give the advice what your children need. Look at the today's media, many high school students are trying to make their own rules. Even before their marriage or not graduated from the schools, they are beginning to fall in love and decide to marry, because they have the lust to love. Their loves are not for God, but for themselves.
Also in verse 16, they are eager to do evil. In the last decade, we saw many people had desired to do what God says wrong. Again, they wanted to do whatever necessary to be happy themselves. "It is useless to spread out a net right where the birds can see it. But sinners will fall into their own traps; they will only catch themselves! All greedy people end up this way; greed kills selfish people." (Proverbs 1:17-19)
Are you in the situation which road can take you through your circumstances? Life is not easy. We see the tragedies that people are having. Only Jesus can walk with you through tragedies if you surrender your life to Him. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34 NIV.) Take His blood and rely on Him as you live your daily life on this temporary home, Earth.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, April 2, 2005
Educational Class (Proverbs 1:4-6)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
They make the uneducated smarter and give knowledge and sense to the young. Wise people can also listen and learn; even smart people can find good advice in these words. Then anyone can understand wise words and stories, the words of the wise and their riddles. (Proverbs 1:4-6)
Have you think the young children are smarter than the adults do? Sometimes, youngsters have knowledge of good advice from what they've learned. Not long ago, I received a book called Journey through Heartsong on Christmas. It is written by a 11-year-old boy, Mattie Stepanek, who born with muscular dystrophy. As I read his book, his words of the poetry were amazing. Amazing that how God could use this boy in the best-selling author of the book. If God can use Mattie, how come the world doesn't know about the movement of weakness people?
"God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. God did this so that no one brag in his presence." (I Corinthians 1:27-29)
In Proverbs 1:4, Solomon pointed that the Book of Proverbs is also for those uneducated people. This also means that the Bible is both the poor and rich people, and Christians and non-Christians. God's Word is for everybody.
Look in the verse 4 again. Listen to Solomon's advice. Not only for the people to read, but they also give knowledge and sense to the young. Sense to the young would probably means to be active to learn as children. Children go to the school to learn the value of living. Even as we are adults, we still need to learn the value of godly living.
We need to have the knowledge and faith for our daily walk with Jesus Christ. This part of the Bible section will lead us into what God wants from us-our personal relationship with Him.
I believe God choose Mattie Stepanek to write a poetry book on wisdom from Him. Wisdom is the precious gift from God. Proverbs will teach us that wisdom-God's wisdom. Even those who are well-educated and smart people can learn from the Book of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:5). Then anyone can understand wise words and stories, the words of the wise and their riddles. (Proverbs 1:6)
Take a moment to read the chapter of Proverbs from God's own perspective. It will encourage you daily to stand against your daily problem.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EST
Saturday, March 26, 2005
The Importance of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:1-3)
Topic: Book of Proverbs
These are the wise words of Solomon son of David, King of Israel. (Proverbs 1:1)
King Solomon, David's son, wrote the book of Proverbs. He was a third king of Israel after his father's death. These are the words of Solomon (Proverbs 1:1) after his experiences with his painful moments of his life.
King Solomon begins in his book with how the proverbs can apply to our daily life. In Proverbs 1:2, he told us the proverbs teach us "wisdom and self-control." They provide wisdom and guidance for obedience life. They "will help us to understand wise word."
It is important to us to learn wise words from these proverbs. Without understanding wise words, how can we go with our lives with tough decisions? We have challenged in our daily life, such as making a tough decision.
Everyday, I face a lot physical challenges. I have to drive my wheelchair and communicator to go around the school campus. Or I have to decide what kind of housing and accommodations I need after I would finish my training at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center.
We all need wisdom and self-control because they will help us to understand many wise words. The Bible, for example, has a lot of wise words. As I open the Word of God, I am reading many wise words from my Teacher. The book is not for the only professional Christians, because there are none in the world. The only perfect human in the world history was and is Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, the Book of Proverbs provides us advice for our livings.
What if we don't have guidance for our livings, then what would happen to us? What if we don't know how to be honest with our families, friends, and people? What if we don't know how to be fair and right?
The book of Proverbs will teach us how to be wise and self-controlled, and will teach us to do what is honest, fair, and right (Proverbs 1:3). This book will teach us many aspects of having right living with God while we still live in this planet. King Solomon was actually talking to his son as he wrote these proverbs.
In Proverbs 1:3, King Solomon had mentioned five view points that the book of Proverbs will teach us. Let's look through each of them.
This particular part of the Bible is all about wisdom. The wisdom doesn't come from the world, but from God. We cannot earn the wisdom from our own works. Nor we cannot add wisdom to our own life. Only God can give us the wisdom. James said, "...if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it." (James 1:5a.) There is no person in the earth who could give us the wisdom rather than God. Look at Solomon when he asked God for wisdom (see I Kings 3), he didn't ask for more than wisdom for his leadership. He was self-control. He was honest, fair, and right with God. What God did to Solomon? God gave him wisdom that was beyond his request. (See I Kings 3:10-14.)
Also, King Solomon had self-control when he requested his need to God. He didn't blow his temper to God nor gave up upon Him. He was patient with God. James also told us that we need to "be patient until the Lord comes again." (See James 5:7a.) Unlike Solomon, we sometime ask God for our needs without just to be patient. For example, I often want to have my work need to be done immediately. Nor we would want to have our needs to be met fast. Otherwise, we would burn to ourselves and not to God. His timeline is not like ours. He has his own time to give us the answers to our situations.
Not only the book of Proverbs will teach us how to be wise and self-control, but they also teach us how to be honest, fair, and right when we would use the wise words to the other person. They teach us important advice when we would use the wise words from any kinds of relationships or problems. They will help to build up our relationships, such as in marriage, workplace, counseling, and more, rather than tearing them down. For example, if you have a marriage problem with your spouse, don't break down each other apart. Instead, talk about the issue and solve them with your spouse by being honest, fair, and right. You cannot solve your marriage problem by grieving or arguing each other.
God hates divorce. We will look into relationship in further later of the book of Proverbs.
If you cannot think about wise words to say to your family, co-workers, friends, then read the book of Proverbs and apply to your daily life.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EST
Newer | Latest | Older