…For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, “The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.” This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth…
Titus 1:10-14
Education
Discern What You Hear
Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, “He shall not die;” but, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” John 21:23
On this eve of a brand new year may we who are Bible reading, Bible believing, blood bought, redeemed believers in Jesus Christ be sure we hear Jesus, and all of Scripture rightly. Let us ask God to enable us to let the Bible say what the Bible means, and not what we think or feel that it means.
The above verse is the conclusion of Jesus’s conversation with the apostle Peter in verses fifteen through twenty two; which began with Jesus asking Peter “Do you love Me” and finishing up by telling Peter “Follow Me.”
O how we often miss what Jesus is saying. I am praying that I am a better listener to the words of all of Scripture, Genesis through Malachi, and Matthew through the Revelation. That I might rightly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ with the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit.
Persistent Asking
And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying,
“There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, ‘Avenge me of mine adversary.’ And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ “
And the Lord said,
“Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8
Wisdom; Preparation
The following verses are from my Scripture reading for today. Please note that our Lord Jesus Christ called on us to pray.
“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36
Grow in the wisdom and knowledge of God through the reading, study, application, and living the word of God.
The Righteous
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad Him, saying, ‘I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest thou to me?’ And Jesus answering said unto him,
‘Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.’
Then he suffered Him. And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying,
‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ ” Matthew 3:13-17 (KJB)
This near the of the ministry of our Lord as He came to present Himself as the sacrifice for the sins of Adam’s race. To fulfill all righteousness, and the demands of the law Jesus presents Himself, and submits Himself to the laws of God His Father.
Why? He gives John that answer; to fulfill all righteousness. What is righteousness? To be right and just before God the Father, and to be found without guilt, or shame of sin.
Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, God the Son and the Son of Man; the God-Man in flesh humbled Himself and became obedient to the requirement of the law (Philippians 2:6-10).
At this time He is presented as the righteousness of God in Person. The Father even declares it to be so by saying,
‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’
When any member of Adam’s race; that is any human being; calls on the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of their sin, and believes Him we receive the righteousness of Jesus Himself.
When Jesus died on the cross He took our evil, our sin, our unrighteousness and shame upon Himself and when we believe by grace we receive His righteousness. We are declared righteous by the Father Himself (Rom. 5:1).
Will you call on the saving, righteous name of Jesus? Will you do it now? Now is the time.
Four More Things
“There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: the way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.” Proverbs 30:18-20 (KJB)
Weights And Measures
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” Proverbs 20:9-11 (KJB)
A Cheerful Heart In Evil Days
“All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15 (KJB)
Be Wise And Depart From Evil
“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent looketh well to his going.
A wise feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” Proverbs 14:15-16 (KJB)
Departing From The Snares Of Death
“The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 13:14 (KJB)
The Righteous And Their Animals
“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” Proverbs 12:10 (KJB)
The Rejoicing and Exalted City
“When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.” Proverbs 11:10-11 (KJB)
The Mouth Of The Righteous
“The mouth of a righteous is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.” Proverbs 10:11-13 (KJB)
The Cry Of Wisdom
“She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, ‘Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:’ as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ‘Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.’ ” Proverbs 9:3-5 (KJB)
Eternal Wisdom
“I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old.” Proverbs 8:20-22 (KJB)
As If To Make It Right
“She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, ‘I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.’ ” Proverbs 7:11-14 (KJB)
For A Piece Of Bread?
“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.” Proverbs 6:23-26 (KJB)
Hear The Instruction Of A Father
“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
He taught me also, and said unto me, ‘Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.’ ” Proverbs 4:1-4 (KJB)
ON A SIDE NOTE:
We the people of the United States are celebrating 244 years as a nation, and I pray all who come here today, and those who are citizens of the United States of America will remember the God of this nation. He is the Creator of all that is, the seen and the unseen.
I thank Him for His word, and His work in this nation and the nations of this world. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, and He died on that cruel old cross, was buried, and He came out of the grave alive. The only hope for the U. S. of A. and any nation is to turn from your sins and rebellion against God and His word, and trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, Lord and God.
Be Not Afraid…
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. Proverbs 3:25-26 (KJB)
“Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.” Proverbs 3:25-26 (ESV)
He Preserves The Way Of His Saints
“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints.” Proverbs 2:6-8 (KJB)
Those Who Dwell Safely Hear Wisdom
“……Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:28-33 (KJB)
The Never Satisfied; More Of The Godly Wife
“The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, ‘Give, give.’ There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: the grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, ‘It is enough.’
The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.” Proverbs 30:15-17 (KJB)
THE GODLY WIFE
“Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Proverbs 31:23-28
No Rest
“Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.” Proverbs 29:8-9 (KJB)
Friends, Neighbors and Brothers
“Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.” Proverbs 27:10 (KJB)
As A Dog…
“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.” Proverbs 26:11-12 (KJB)
Broken Pieces 