Devotion 12/19/08

Proverbs 19

Pro 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

-Often we do see lies as an escape. When you are in a tight situation where the truth is the last thing you would say, a lie seems like a life raft. Once we lie, we confess, and say we will never do it again. But this verse is the catch to lieing. No matter what, you will be caught. Of course, yes, we are forgiven by what Christ did on the cross, but that is eternal. We still have earthly consequences to answer to.

Pro 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

-Given God said it twice, I think we should get this principle down.)

Pro 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

(Matthew Henry puts it better than I ever could)
Pro 19:11
A wise man will observe these two rules about his anger: 1. Not to be over-hasty in his resentments: Discretion teaches us to defer our anger, to defer the admission of it till we have thoroughly considered all the merits of the provocation, seen them in a true light and weighed them in a just balance; and then to defer the prosecution of it till there be no danger of running into any indecencies. Plato said to his servant, “I would beat thee, but that I am angry.” Give it time, and it will cool. 2. Not to be over-critical in his resentments. Whereas it is commonly looked upon as a piece of ingenuity to apprehend an affront quickly, it is here made a man's glory to pass over a transgression, to appear as if he did not see it (Psa_38:13), or, if he sees fit to take notice of it, yet to forgive it and meditate no revenge.

Pro 19:21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

-Devices meaning plans or purposes. We make so many plans and purposes outside of God's will and counsel. We think we are wiser and our way is better or more convenient. Isa_14:24; Isa_46:11. )

Pro 19:25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

-Back in the day, this Biblical principle had a much different meaning, mainly because there were people who had no education. Nowadays, everyone is guaranteed at least a 9th grade education. This is a simple explanation on the different ways to let someone know they are being stupid. For someone who is not too wise, not very learned Biblically, spouting off Bible verses and doctrine is going to go right over their head. However, a nice smiting will do the trick! Okay, so what is a modern day smiting? Honestly, I don't know. But when the opportunity arises, and you can tell it is one of the "simple" ones, smiting is relative and not in any way literal. However, someone who does have understanding and has a degree of Biblical truth; You can spout off Bible verses and get into doctrine, and they will love you for it.

Pro 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

-For me, that sums up Biology class. At least that is how it pertains to me. Having evolution shoved down your throat will cause you to err from the words of knowledge. It can also be doctrinal. Many people have fallen from the faith because they allowed the "world's" way of thinking to impenetrate their already fragile minds. They embrace that colorful box that sits in the place of honor in their living rooms. They faithfully gather around it every evening, allowing all kinds of "instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge" to poison their thinking. I want to go as far to say that television has become the biggest gap between people and God nowadays. Television has more devoted followers than any religion. So who controls the television content? Take a wild guess.)

Zechariah 4

This is the fifth vision that was given to Zechariah. The Angel of the Lord is Christ. The candlestick represents Christ.

Bro. Brad says it a lot better than I do:
The idea expressed is that there was an unlimited amount of oil supplying the oil stored in the bowl to each of the seven lamps in order to keep it lit. In other words, the continued light that Israel would need to finish the rebuilding of the Temple would come from the Spirit of God within Zerubbabel and Joshua (i.e., the two olive trees). Spirit-filled men are always the answer to keeping Christ’s work ablaze (Acts 1:4-8/Jn 15:26 and Lk 24:49).-Strand Study Bible

24:49).
4:3 The “two olive trees” (Zerubbabel and Joshua), filled with the Spirit of God, would be used by God to finish the rebuilding of the Temple.
4:12a The reason Zechariah was made to ask twice was to show us the two different prophecies involved in the vision.
4:12b “Oil” in the Bible is symbolic of the SPIRIT OF GOD (Isa 61:1, Zech 4:1-6, Heb 1:9, Psa 133:2 and II Ki 4:2).
4:14 The reason for the fifth vision was to show God’s people that His work (saving sinners) required two ingredients:
1. Anointing (God’s SPIRIT - vs. 6)
2. Men (God’s men - vs. 14) (Rom 10:14-15 and Prov 29:18)

The work of God continues at the hands of spirit-filled men.


(Strand Study Bible) According to the Bible, there are six visible evidences of the Spirit's filling:



BOLDNESS:


Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive 12power, after that the 8HOLY GHOST is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,
and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth.


Acts 2:17,18 -9And
it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my 10SPIRIT upon all flesh: and your sons and your 11daughters
shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall
dream dreams: 18 9And on my servants and on my
handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my 10SPIRIT;
and they shall fprophesy:


Acts 4:8 -Then Peter, filled with
the 2HOLY
GHOST, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,


Acts 4:13 - Now when they asaw the boldness of
Peter and John, and perceived that they were 6unlearned and
ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had
been 7with JESUS.


Acts 4:29-31 - 29 And now, Lord,
behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all 14boldness
they may speak thy word, 30 By
stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by
the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And
when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together;
and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God
with boldness.


Acts 9:17 - And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house;
and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that
appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest
receive thy sight, and be filled with the 12HOLY GHOST.


Acts 9:27 - But 5Barnabas took him, and brought
him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the
way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at
Damascus in the
name of Jesus.


Acts 14:3 - Long time therefore
abode they speak-ing boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of
his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.


Acts 19:6-8 - 6 And when Paul had 7laid his hands
upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with 8tongues,
and 9prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve 8 And he went into the synagogue, and
spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things
concerning the kingdom
of God.


Luke 1:41,42 - And it came to pass,
that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb;
and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she 1spake out with a loud voice, and said, 2Blessed art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb.


Luke 1:67 - And his father Zacharias
was filled with the Holy Ghost


Numbers 11:26 -But there remained two of the men in the camp, the
name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the SPIRIT rested upon them; and they were of them
that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in
the camp


I Samuel 10:6,10 - 6 1And the SPIRIT OF THE LORD will come upon thee, 2and thou
shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 10 And when they came thither to the hill,
behold, a company of prophets met him; 4and the SPIRIT OF GOD came upon him, and he prophesied among them.


I Samuel 19:20-23 - 20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when
they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as
appointed over them,the 3SPIRIT OF GOD was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also
prophesied.


21
And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied
likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied
also.


22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well
that is in 4Sechu: and
he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at
Naioth in Ramah.


23 And
he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the 5SPIRIT OF GOD was
upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in
Ramah.


Ezekiel 11:4,5 - 4 Therefore
prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man. 5 And the SPIRIT OF THE 15LORD fell upon me, and
said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O
house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of
them.


Ezekiel 37:1-4 - 1 The hand of the
LORD was upon me, and carried me out in
the spirit of the LORD, and set me down
in the midst of the valley which was
full of bones, And caused me to pass by
them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and,
lo, they were very dry. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these 9bones
live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O
ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.


Micah 3:8 - ­8 But truly I am full
of power by the 7SPIRIT OF THE 8LORD, and of judg-ment,
and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.


Rev. 11:3 - 3 And I will give power
unto my atwo witnesses, and 19they shall
prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in
sackcloth.





JOY:


Ephesians 5:18,19 -1822And
be not drunk with wine,wherein is excess; but be afilled with the SPIRIT; 19 23Speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 24singing and bmaking melody in your
heart to the Lord;


Acts 10:46 - 46 For they
heard them speak with 23tongues, and 24magnify
God. Then answered Peter,








THANKSGIVING:


Ephesians 5:18-20 - 1822And
be not drunk with wine,wherein is excess; but be afilled with the SPIRIT; 19 23Speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 24singing and bmaking melody in your
heart to the Lord; 20 25Giving thanks always for all things
unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;





SUBMISSION:


See Ephesians 5:18-20 above


Ephesians 5:21,22 - 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the
fear of God.


22
26Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto
the Lord.


I Peter 5:5 - 5 Likewise, ye
younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be 14subject One to another,
and be clothed with humility: 15for God resisteth the
proud, and giveth grace to the humble.


Romans 12:10 - 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly
love; in honour preferring one another;





ONENESS:


Acts 4:31-37 - 31 And when they had
prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were
all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.


32
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:
neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his
own; 1but they had all things common.


33
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.


34
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of
lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,


35
And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made


36
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted,
The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,


37
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.


LIBERALITY:


See same scripture above for
‘ONENESS’.