Category: - Shepherding the Flock Ministries

Go Not Forth Hastily to Strive – Proverbs 25:8

2/1/2013

Proverbs for Life

Proverbs 25:8 – “Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.”

A proverbial statement might be defined as a short, meaningful saying that expresses a significant, substantial truth for life. In the book of the Proverbs, a proverb is often constructed with two lines, presenting a comparison or contrast. However, Proverbs 25:8 is not contrasted in this fashion. Rather, Proverbs 25:8 presents a state-ment of warning concerning hastiness to engage in conflict. This warning is constructed with three consecutive lines.

The Proverbs & Our Right Treatment of the Poor

1/4/2013

Proverbs for Life

The book of the Proverbs has much to say concerning the rich and the poor of this world. Within this category of truths, it provides spiritual wisdom and warning concerning our right treatment of the poor and needy around us.

The Selfish Neglect of the Poor
The Unrighteous Oppression against the Poor
The Righteous Mercy for the Poor

Beware Material Blessing!

12/25/2012

Thought for Meditation

We must beware in times of material blessing and benefit,
for materialism (the love of material things) by definition
will turn our hearts away from the Lord our God,
and will bring our lives unto spiritual destruction.

Deuteronomy 8:10-18
When thou hast eaten and art full,
then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments,
and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied,
and all that thou hast is multiplied;
then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God,
which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness,
wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water;
who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not,
that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
and thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil:
which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Proverbs 15:2
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

Posted in Thought for Meditation, Godly Attitude, Sin of Materialism

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The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 7)

12/21/2012

Proverbs for Life

This is a companion post to a series of previous posts: The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 1)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 2)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 3)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 4)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 5)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 6)

A proverb is a short, pithy saying that expresses a significant, substantial truth for life. In the book of the Proverbs, the actual compilation of proverbial statements begins with chapter 10 and extends to the end of the book. In the following series of posts, I wish to present those proverbial statements that specifically mention our relationship with the Lord. Certainly, every proverb of God’s Holy Word concerns our relationship with the Lord our God; for every proverb concerns the character of our walk before Him. Yet the following list of proverbial statements make specific mention of the Lord and of our relationship to Him. In the first six parts of this study (see above), we considered passages from Proverbs 10-24. In this part of the study, we shall consider passages from Proverbs 25-31.

Spiritual Revival and Reality

12/18/2012

Thought for Meditation

Genuine spiritual revival has a transforming effect upon the spirit of our attitudes.
Thus if we claim to have entered into spiritual revival,
yet the spirit of our attitude has not been transformed in the privacy of our home relationships,
then our claim to spiritual revival is not a reality.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

James 3:13-18
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?
Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Ephesians 5:18 - 6:4
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things
unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church:
and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ,
so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle,
or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it,
even as the Lord the church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife,
and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself;
and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:
but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Posted in Thought for Meditation, Spiritual Revival, Godly Attitude, For the Sake of the Home

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The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 6)

12/14/2012

Proverbs for Life

This is a companion post to a series of previous posts: The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 1)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 2)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 3)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 4)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 5)

A proverb is a short, pithy saying that expresses a significant, substantial truth for life. In the book of the Proverbs, the actual compilation of proverbial statements begins with chapter 10 and extends to the end of the book. In the following series of posts, I wish to present those proverbial statements that specifically mention our relationship with the Lord. Certainly, every proverb of God’s Holy Word concerns our relationship with the Lord our God; for every proverb concerns the character of our walk before Him. Yet the following list of proverbial statements make specific mention of the Lord and of our relationship to Him. In the first five parts of this study (see above), we considered passages from Proverbs 10-21. In this part of the study, we shall consider passages from Proverbs 22-24.

Is That Anger Sinful?

12/11/2012

Thought for Meditation

Yes, there is a righteous, Spirit-filled anger.
Yet any anger (even the smallest measure) that is motivated by selfishness is sinful anger,
and by its very nature it cannot and will not produce God's righteousness
in our communication, in our choices, or in our conduct.
Furthermore, such anger cannot and will not produce God's righteousness
in our testimony for Christ or in our influence upon others.

James 1:20
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 14:29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding:
but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Proverbs 15:18
A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Proverbs 27:4
Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

Posted in Thought for Meditation, Godly Attitude, Walk in Righteousness

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The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 5)

12/7/2012

Proverbs for Life

This is a companion post to a series of previous posts: The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 1)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 2)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 3)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 4)

A proverb is a short, pithy saying that expresses a significant, substantial truth for life. In the book of the Proverbs, the actual compilation of proverbial statements begins with chapter 10 and extends to the end of the book. In the following series of posts, I wish to present those proverbial statements that specifically mention our relationship with the Lord. Certainly, every proverb of God’s Holy Word concerns our relationship with the Lord our God; for every proverb concerns the character of our walk before Him. Yet the following list of proverbial statements make specific mention of the Lord and of our relationship to Him. In the first two parts of this study (see above), we considered passages from Proverbs 10-19. In this part of the study, we shall consider passages from Proverbs 20-21.

Like A Broken Down City Without Walls - Proverbs 25:28

10/27/2012

Proverbs for Life

Proverbs 25:28 – “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”

In the book of the Proverbs, a proverb is often presented in two lines, presenting a comparison or contrast. However, Proverbs 25:28 is a single line that presents a comparative picture concerning an unrighteous characteristic.