The Fathers Challenge and Conditions
(Pro 2:1) My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
(Pro 2:2) So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
(Pro 2:3) Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
(Pro 2:4) If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
What I don’t see here is the instruction to just LISTEN to music or messages, or just ATTEND (church), or even just SERVE or just Do Right. Serving in a dozen ministries for 30 hours a week would not meet these conditions – service is an outpouring of our love for God. To love God how we should and to please Him with our service - then we must
(Pro 2:1) My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
(Pro 2:2) So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
(Pro 2:3) Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
(Pro 2:4) If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
What I don’t see here is the instruction to just LISTEN to music or messages, or just ATTEND (church), or even just SERVE or just Do Right. Serving in a dozen ministries for 30 hours a week would not meet these conditions – service is an outpouring of our love for God. To love God how we should and to please Him with our service - then we must
Receive His word,
Hide His word,
Incline our ears to His wisdom,
Apply our hearts to what He tells us
Cry out for His knowledge
Lift up our voice for understanding
SEEK and SEARCH HIS WORD for it as if for treasure – because that is what it is – of far more value than GOLD AND RUBIES – keep your yacht, keep your cottage, keep your Mercedes, keep your designer clothes – God’s Word is the great treasure – would that our thirst for it would be so strong that we'd have no other desire for stuff, that we wouldn't receive the least bit of relief or false satisfaction from anything but God…
The Fathers Covenant
Hide His word,
Incline our ears to His wisdom,
Apply our hearts to what He tells us
Cry out for His knowledge
Lift up our voice for understanding
SEEK and SEARCH HIS WORD for it as if for treasure – because that is what it is – of far more value than GOLD AND RUBIES – keep your yacht, keep your cottage, keep your Mercedes, keep your designer clothes – God’s Word is the great treasure – would that our thirst for it would be so strong that we'd have no other desire for stuff, that we wouldn't receive the least bit of relief or false satisfaction from anything but God…
The Fathers Covenant
If you follow the above - Then
(Pro 2:5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
1 Statement – 1 verse that expresses the covenant promise but Oh, what that verse contains – the fear of the Lord – the knowledge of God
Do you need the list of the benefits and blessings associated with the Fear of the Lord?
Wisdom
Knowledge
By Humility and fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life
(Pro 2:5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
1 Statement – 1 verse that expresses the covenant promise but Oh, what that verse contains – the fear of the Lord – the knowledge of God
Do you need the list of the benefits and blessings associated with the Fear of the Lord?
Wisdom
Knowledge
By Humility and fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life
By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil
the List of verses about the Fear of the Lord is big - DO A STUDY ON IT!
Do we need the verses from Paul and Moses and Jeremiah and other saying how there is nothing more important in all the universe than to KNOW GOD – Phil 3:7-10, Ex 33:13, Jer 9:23-24
The Fathers Cabinet
O the riches that God has reserved, the wealth, the wisdom, the power, the victory, the knowledge, the treasures that God has laid up – they are reserved for His children –
Treasure of thunder to discomfit those Philistines and make them flee, Samuel
Treasure of hail to vanquish those enemies, Joshua
Treasure of flies, and lice, and frogs and darkness to show His might and prepare the Egyptians to let you go, Moses
Treasures of fire to consume the offering and show who is the one true God, Elijah
Treasures of manna to feed you in the wilderness, children of Israel
Treasures of the Precious Blood of Christ to wash away your filthy rags, sinners (ME!!!)
Treasures of clean garments to cover you with the righteousness of Jesus Christ!!!
Treasures of forgiveness and cleansing by His faithfulness for those who will confess their sins
The Fathers Cabinet
O the riches that God has reserved, the wealth, the wisdom, the power, the victory, the knowledge, the treasures that God has laid up – they are reserved for His children –
Treasure of thunder to discomfit those Philistines and make them flee, Samuel
Treasure of hail to vanquish those enemies, Joshua
Treasure of flies, and lice, and frogs and darkness to show His might and prepare the Egyptians to let you go, Moses
Treasures of fire to consume the offering and show who is the one true God, Elijah
Treasures of manna to feed you in the wilderness, children of Israel
Treasures of the Precious Blood of Christ to wash away your filthy rags, sinners (ME!!!)
Treasures of clean garments to cover you with the righteousness of Jesus Christ!!!
Treasures of forgiveness and cleansing by His faithfulness for those who will confess their sins
And Brothers – He has treasures of Wisdom, and Knowledge and Discretion and Understanding that are offered to us through His holy BOOK!
(Pro 2:6) For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
(Pro 2:6) For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
(Pro 2:7) He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
(Pro 2:8) He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
WHAT A PANTRY
Giveth – you must have something to give it
Layeth up – What excess He has available for the asking – do you think God runs out – does wisdom go on back order
Keepeth – is his knowledge ever discontinued
Preserveth – is His word ever something that could be spoiled, could it go bad, could it no longer have value
Could this book have an expiration date somewhere? – “wait, is this it – nope – that's the ISBN number – oh HERE IS THE EXPIRATION DATE - 1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
The wisdom, knowledge, understanding, protection, judgment, and guidance of God for the saints is stored up and preserved within His word and through accessing it by faith in prayer…
The Covenant Continued
(Pro 2:9) Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
EVERY GOOD PATH is not understood without an understanding of His righteousness, His judgment, His equity, His fear and His knowledge – these are the covenants – the promised results to those who receive and hide and incline and apply…
The wisdom, knowledge, understanding, protection, judgment, and guidance of God for the saints is stored up and preserved within His word and through accessing it by faith in prayer…
The Covenant Continued
(Pro 2:9) Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
EVERY GOOD PATH is not understood without an understanding of His righteousness, His judgment, His equity, His fear and His knowledge – these are the covenants – the promised results to those who receive and hide and incline and apply…
The trendsetters, those that establish the precedents that others follow - how often are they followed, looked to and mimicked as a result of personality, popularity, profitability and persuasiveness while having little true understanding - think hollywood
God says - know my word, apply, seek, cry out for it and apply thine heart - then with wisdom you can understand righteousness, judgment and equity and establish Good Paths to follow.
(Pro 2:10) When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
(Pro 2:11) Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
DISCRETION – 1. knowledge and prudence; that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution; nice discernment and judgment, directed by circumspection, and primarily regarding ones own conduct.
A good man--will guide his affairs with discretion. Psa 112.
My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion. Prov 3.
OH FOR PERFECT DISCRETION – OH FOR THE PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF GOD – WHAT PLEASES HIM IN EVERY AREA SO THAT WHETHER I EAT, DRINK, SING, SPEAK, WORK, WITNESS, SERVE, PRAY, LEAD, LOVE ETC – THAT ALL OF IT IS DONE TO THE UTMOST GLORY OF GOD – THAT MY CHOICE OF SHOES FOR THE DAY WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THE TASK AHEAD – THAT EVERY LAMB, EVERY TALENT, EVERY MOMENT THAT I OFFER IN SERVICE TO GOD WOULD BE MY BEST – WOULD BE SPOTLESS AND ACCEPTABLE – IT IS OUR REASONABLE SERVICE
(Pro 2:10) When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
(Pro 2:11) Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
DISCRETION – 1. knowledge and prudence; that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution; nice discernment and judgment, directed by circumspection, and primarily regarding ones own conduct.
A good man--will guide his affairs with discretion. Psa 112.
My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion. Prov 3.
OH FOR PERFECT DISCRETION – OH FOR THE PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF GOD – WHAT PLEASES HIM IN EVERY AREA SO THAT WHETHER I EAT, DRINK, SING, SPEAK, WORK, WITNESS, SERVE, PRAY, LEAD, LOVE ETC – THAT ALL OF IT IS DONE TO THE UTMOST GLORY OF GOD – THAT MY CHOICE OF SHOES FOR THE DAY WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THE TASK AHEAD – THAT EVERY LAMB, EVERY TALENT, EVERY MOMENT THAT I OFFER IN SERVICE TO GOD WOULD BE MY BEST – WOULD BE SPOTLESS AND ACCEPTABLE – IT IS OUR REASONABLE SERVICE
Would that discretion will keep us and understanding preserve us today. Seek God to give you of His abundant treasures of wisdom.
The Fathers Assurance of Conquest
Why the need for this discretion?
(Pro 2:12) To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
(Pro 2:13) Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
(Pro 2:14) Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
(Pro 2:15) Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
(Pro 2:16) To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
(Pro 2:17) Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
(Pro 2:18) For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
(Pro 2:19) None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
(Pro 2:12) To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
(Pro 2:13) Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
(Pro 2:14) Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
(Pro 2:15) Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
(Pro 2:16) To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
(Pro 2:17) Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
(Pro 2:18) For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
(Pro 2:19) None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
Summary - Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
(Pro 2:20) That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
(Pro 2:21) For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
(Pro 2:22) But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
(Pro 2:21) For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
(Pro 2:22) But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Today - discretion tells me - STAY IN THE CAR - there really is a Lion in the street (and his friends!)
Have a great day! (Pics taken at African Lion Safari near Toronto - many years and many kids ago!)
