June 26, 2016
Scripture:
Hymn 355 - Safe in Christ, the weakest child.
Prayer
We are going to be looking at a list in Proverbs today. This list isn’t the nicest one, but we can get some thoughts to help in our lives when we compare them to the opposites. This is a list of things God hates. God made the world perfect, but sin came into it. Jesus came to show God’s love, and bring blessing. So, if we look at the opposites we can find the good side.
Proverbs 6:16 - 19
There are seven things in this list. Number one on the list is a proud look. It can also be translated a haughty look. It comes from pride. Pride is thinking of yourself as the best. Naaman, the captain of the army in Syria, is a great example of this. He was a leper, and was trying to get healed. He visited the prophet in Israel, and was told to go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Well, Naaman thought he was too good and high up to wash in such a horrible river. He eventually did it, but he was originally very proud. The Lord didn’t come a someone who was proud. He was humble.
1 Peter 5:5
God resists the proud. He gave us everything we have. We should be humble and thankful- not proud.
Second: a lying tongue. Lying is not being truthful. If we are trying to hide something that we did wrong, and are afraid of the consequences, we might not tell the truth when asked about it. That’s wrong. Ananias and Sapphira found this out the hard way. They sold some of their property, and brought part of the money to Peter. But they told him they had gave him all the money. It was okay that they had only brought part, but they were wrong to lie about it. God struck them both dead.
Proverbs 12:22
God takes telling the truth seriously. He delights in it.
Third: Hands that shed innocent blood. This is serious. It usually makes us think of someone who killed somebody else. Jesus was innocent. Judas said that he betrayed innocent blood when Jesus died on the cross. But is could also mean a bully. A bully is someone who is constantly teasing, and being unkind to others. That is not what Jesus likes to see. He wants to see us showing kindness to others.
Ephesians 4:32
We are to be kind one to another. The Lord showed kindness to those who were unkind to Him.
Fourth: A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations. This is a plan for revenge when we’re hurt. It’s retaliation.
Romans 12:21
We are to be peaceful. We can overcome anything done to us by being peaceful instead of looking for revenge.
Fifth: Feet that be swift in running to mischief. This is someone who is always getting into trouble, and stirring up problems for others.
Psalm 34:14
This person had goodness in their heart. They depart form evil, and give others joy and happiness.
Sixth: A false witness that speaketh lies. This is trying to get somebody in trouble. It’s untruthful, and we want to have kindness rule in our hearts. Instead of being false have honesty. Do not bear false witness.
Seventh: He that soweth discord among brethren. If we hear or see something of someone else that is not good we sow discord by telling others about it. That’s not good either. It causes strife or problems between others. We can keep it to ourself.
Proverbs 10:12
We should be showing love in our lives. It’s all found in 1 Corinthains 13. Love is not puffed up or unkind.
So, we should follow what is right. Sometimes though we will slip, but we can confess it to Jesus and know we have been forgiven and can go on following what it right.
Philippians 4:10-23
Paul finally gets to the point of his letter here; it’s his thank-you note for the gift the Philippians sent. Epaphroditus brought it, but it seems something hindered them from sending it before. Paul saw it as an expression of their care for him, and was glad it was flourishing. We should each flourish in the things of the Lord. They are nurtured, like plants. Gardeners give their plants special care so that they flourish; dealing with pests and droughts and other things. We must care for our souls, and watch for what others need too, for there are many believers that are not flourishing.
This gift was a response to what the Philippians had received from Paul. He had brought them the gospel, and it’s possible many of these saints were saved under Paul’s ministry. They appreciated what Paul had given them, and wanted to give something back to him. Epaphroditus was the courier, and the gift caused Paul to rejoice in the Lord greatly. He didn’t rejoice in the gift so much as the fact that the work of God was flourishing in the hearts of the Philippians. May we cause much rejoicing that way as well!
Darby says the Philippians care “revived”. It seems like it had been a while since their last gift, but Paul didn’t blame them. It seems they had some affliction that kept them from sending anything. With no communication for a while, Paul was probably worried about their spiritual state.
In verse 11, Paul says that he had learned to be content in every state; in other words, it was a process that took time. His contentment wasn’t relative to what he had; the Lord had put him through abundance and bareness, but the circumstances didn’t make a difference. Instead, he took it all as from the Lord. God allows all of our experiences, hard or easy. Growing up, Brother Norman only saw his father one day a week, on Sunday. Every other day his father left early and got home late working delivering bread by horse and cart, making two dollars a week. Despite the small amount, the Lord provided, and they never lacked. Once, Brother Norm had grown out of his suit, but someone gave them a blue jacket that fit him. In faith, his mother went down to Eaton’s to see if she could find a matching pair of pants, and miraculously came across a pair that looked like it had been cut from the very same cloth! Those Depression days were abasing, but they learned lessons about God’s care. People today are less content than folks back then were. Paul’s abasement was a learning process, and God was his instructor. The prisons back then were tough places, but Paul even learned to be content in them.
The Lord took care of Paul. He wasn’t just needy, he truly suffered. He could do it all, though, for Christ strengthened him. Jesus told us, “Without me, you can do nothing.” Nothing means nothing! Yet we can do ALL things through Christ. We are dependent creatures, and we need the Lord every moment of every day. It’s by His grace we are able to carry on.
Often when we are abased, we are disappointed and forget the Lord. But when we abound, we are confidant and still forget the Lord. Paul was contented with the Lord in both situations. Job was abased, but didn’t forget the Lord, and King David often abounded, but didn’t forget either. Suffering drives some people away from the Lord, but drives other people closer. May we keep our gaze on the Lord.
Paul was an earnest and active person, and suddenly he couldn’t go anywhere or do anything. With his nature, that would be an affliction, and that’s what he calls it in verse 14. However he told the Philippians that they had “well done” in helping him. He could no longer go to them, but they could send Epaphroditus to him when he was imprisoned for the faith. May we, too, seek to be an encouragement to others!
Hymn 234 - Saviour lead me lest I stray
Prayer