Proverbs 16
When fighting the good fight of faith, you’ll experience adversaries such as the flesh, Satan, and your lust. It seems that no matter how many times you resist their tempting calls, they continue to attack. Like a boomerang, they return with tempting thoughts, gestures, or situations again and again. Now, if you’re not careful, you’ll fall for their subtle calls to give in. However, in Christ Jesus, there is victory because HE is the great overcomer (Hebrews 12:1-4).
1. Being tempted does not mean you sinned. Your response to temptation determines whether you will give birth to sin or to continue living righteously before God. Jesus lived without sin and was tempted by Satan (see Matthew 4:1-11). He overcame using the Word of God.
What is Doctrine?
Doctrine is considered an instruction or teaching that can be learned or developed through experience. Doctrine is associated with a person’s beliefs; the way they ‘see,’ perceive, or relate to the world around them. Each person has a countless number of doctrines on the issues, people, and situations they experience on a daily basis. The number of doctrines a person has is countless and continues to be shaped and expanded throughout a person’s lifetime.
Within Christianity, sound biblical doctrine is based on the biblical teachings, experiences, pastors, ministers, and interactions with fellow brothers and sisters in the local church community. Within the context of this message, doctrine will encompass God’s Word. God’s Word is the foundation of good sound doctrine:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
James 1:27 – Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The word religion above is translated from the Greek as religious worship; especially external, that which consists of ceremonies (religious discipline).1 When the word ‘religion’ comes up in much of our society today, it comes of thoughts of a rules-based life that does not lead one closer to God. At first glance, we would feel our initial thoughts were confirmed, but when we look at James’ writing, we discover something different.
A pure religion…AND undefiled before God and the Father.
There is a religious expression that is acceptable (undefiled) before God. The word undefiled is translated from the Greek as not defiled, unsoiled; free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed and debased, or its force and vigour impaired.2 That sounds a lot like pure and acceptable…
What is a pure religion that is undefiled before God and the Father?
Most people understand compromise to be a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles. Compromise is also known as an endangering, especially of reputation; exposure to danger, suspicion (Dictionary.com).
Each day we face numerous decisions that can affect our lives before the Lord. One choice decision can change the course of our lives on earth and beyond. There comes sometimes when you would want to please your spouse (1 Corinthians 7:32-33), children, family, friends, or associates when you know God’s will is entirely different. There is a compromise that occurs, but it is at your (and other’s) expense.
Matthew 20:25-28 – But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
In reading Matthew 20, after Jesus explains how the last will be first and the first last (in comparison to servanthood), the mother of Zebedee’s children comes to Him and asks a question. She asks for her sons to be given the right to sit on the left and right of Jesus in His kingdom. He tells her that those places will be given to those whom the Father has already prepared. (This is a paraphrase.) Now, based upon Jesus’ response to James’ and John’s mother (Mark 1:19), her reasoning for placing them to the right and left of Him was for them to be in positions of authority over people in His kingdom. Jesus then brought His disciples together and told them that they were not to exercise dominion over people. He gave the example of the princes of the Gentiles and those over them (the great)…and how they exercise authority over the people and one another. The disciples were not to live over people in such a manner. The great and chief among the people must be a minister and servant among them.
Don’t open your mouth when:
1. In the heat of anger- Proverbs 14:17, [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
2. When you don’t have all the facts- Proverbs 18:13, He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
3. When you haven’t verified the story- Deuteronomy 17:6, At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; [but] at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
There are many reasons why we make the decisions we do. When we look back at the outcome of some of the decisions we made, sometimes we can’t understand how we got into such predicaments, how to get out of them, or what we can do to live as God desires. Listed below is an outline of why we make the decisions we do; the consequences behind them; and how we can make good (and godly) decisions.
1. What consumes our decision making?
- Fear of Man (Proverbs 29:25; John 12:37-43)
- Motives (Proverbs 16:2; James 4:2-3)
- Friend of the World (1 John 2:15-17)
- Emotions (Proverbs 19:2)
- Sin/Temptation (John 3:19-21)
Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
One of the definitions of pride is a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.1 Pride causes someone to believe they have everything ‘right,’ while a situation (or things) around them are far from it.
When pride stands in the way, dreams die, relationship crumble, desires remain wants, and people are lacking.
Each day, you’ll encounter many different situations, problems, and people. Each one might require different actions, but it’s important to maintain a steady countenance. If you allow your circumstances to dictate your emotional state, you’ll ride a roller coaster of emotions that will keep you unpredictable, unapproachable, and eventually out of God’s will. Don’t allow circumstances to leave you an emotional wreck. It’ll only hurt you and those around you.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Proverbs 16:32 – He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Proverbs 19:11 – The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Photo courtesy of Stock.XCHNG.com/blary54
Matthew 5:38-42 – Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
At some point in our lives, we have all heard ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ When I was a child, I heard people say, ‘if someone hits you, hit them back.’ As children of God and citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus provided ‘guidelines’ for our behavior and actions (as illustrated in the scripture above). Though it may seem His ways are foreign, it is the world’s ways that are foreign to believers of Christ (Ephesians 2:18-22; Hebrews 11:1-13; 1 Peter 2:9-12).
12
Follow Us
Search the site
Disclaimer
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Website Information
Shopping cart
Total
Shipping and discount codes are added at checkout.
Checkout