Proverbs 4:19-24

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 
Verse 19 reveals to us the truth of the wicked man’s way. The wicked man lives as if he is in total control of his life but the text pulls back the coverings of his life and shines a light on his reality. 
stumble = to cause to stumble, bring injury or ruin to, overthrow 1c2) to make feeble, make weak 
The wicked man is living a life of calamity and eventual destruction. They live in this world’s grasp without really knowing the true joy of Jesus. 
Verses 20-22 implores us to retain, remember, or to never forget the words of wisdom. Just as the darkness brings destruction to the wicked man, wisdom brings life. 

Verse 20
Attend = be attentive, hearken, pay attention
Incline =  to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, incline, bend, bow, to turn aside
These are words expressing the necessity for hearing and retaining wisdom… 
Here in verse 23 we are instructed to fortify our lives with wisdom. 
Keep = to guard, to blockade, preserve, garrison
Diligence = place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance 1a) jail, prison, guard-house 1b) guard, guard post, act of guarding

We are instructed here to guard thy heart… this has a very practical meaning. when we hear wisdom we should then keep it, or guard it. In simple terms it means to do what ever necessary that so that wisdom can guide your life. 
This will not be an uncontended task… the world will attempt to counterfeit and deceive you to think there is a better way or a new way. Younger generations are more easily persuaded in change. This is why it is so important to know your Bible… It is absolute truth. 

Keep thy heart with all DILIGENCE… when you get truth and wisdom lock it away so the world can never dilute the truth you live by, 
Vinegar straight out of the bottle can be very difficult to drink but when you add water and honey you can tolerate it… that is exactly what the world is attempting to do… add a little here and a litter there… to make you think God’s Word is impossible to live by unless you add a little of the world’s excitement to it.. or add a little of the world’s tolerance there… the world is attempting to dilute God’s Word.. 
The word diligence has the meaning of locking away or put in prison. When in prison a person has no influence from the outside world. That is the very idea… Don’t allow the world to have an influence in your life. 

Psalms 62:6-8
6 He only [is] my rock and my salvation: [he is] my defence; I shall not be moved. 7 In God [is] my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, [and] my refuge, [is] in God. 8 Trust in him at all times; [ye] people, pour out your heart before him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah.

Verse 6   Defense = security, stronghold... has the picture of a parent lifting a child above the ocean waves. 

Verse 7 Refuge = shelter, safety, protection. Picture of a child running to hide behind the parent. The child is frightened till it has safely found refuge behind the parent. 

Verse 8   Trust = confidence, feel safe, to be careless. The picture here is you don’t have to be on guard when you are trusting in the Lord. You can allow yourself to let down your guard knowing you are protected.

Verse 10 tells us that "if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." 

The word Entice means "to be simple, deceive, persuade, be naive, or seduce. We are given a heads up on the tactics of the enemy. They will attempt to seduce or persuade you. Thats exactly what satan did in the garden when he spoke to Eve. He deceived her, he seduced her and caused her to act against God's Word. 

But we do have weapons or tools to combat the enemies attack. Notice, this same verse tell us to "consent thou not." 

The word consent means to be willing, to yield to, to accept, or to desire. Here God's Word gives us wisdom to defend ourselves. We are told not to accept, not to be willing, or not to desire the enticements offered by the world. 

The old saying is misery loves company... Let's listen to God's wisdom and let misery be lonely. 

November 22, 2013 - Friday Morning



God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.2  We ... have access by one Spirit unto the Father.3 


O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.4 


The Spirit ... helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.5  This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.6  When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.7 



Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication.8 

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1Jud 1:20; 2Joh 4:24; 3Eph 2:18; 4Mat 26:39; 5Rom 8:26,27; 61Jo 5:14; 7Joh 16:13; 8Eph 6:18

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