Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher - Jim Rickard Sunday, February 16, 2014

Prov 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”

Proverbs Chapter 13 Contrasting Righteous and Wicked Lives!

Chapter Outline 1) Vs. 1-6, pertain to speech: vs. 1-4 the use of the mouth, vs. 5-6 action and reaction regarding our speech.

2) Vs. 7-11, pertain to wealth and the ambiguity of riches.

2) Vs. 7-11, pertain to wealth and the ambiguity of riches. 3) Vs , pertain to longings satisfied, hope fulfilled.

4) Vs , pertain to eternal destiny and provision for the family.

Vs. 1-2 Heeding Wisdom and Avoiding the Treacherous!

Verse 1 Another exhortation to be wise and receive Bible doctrine, and not reject it as the fool does.

When we reject God’s Word, what is “bad” is labeled as good and what is “good” is considered bad.

Based on this “new way of thinking” the choices we make get us into all kinds of trouble.

Prov 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

Attentiveness to God’s Word will cause you to stand for what is truly right and have the courage and confidence to oppose that which is wrong so that you do not enter into sin and folly. Psa 119:9-16

God’s Word is like a shield against doubt, despair and foolishness when it is the foundation of your life.

Prov 28:7, “He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.”

Prov 23:26, “Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.”

When we delight in the way of Christ, we are protected from all kinds of folly and our own self destruction.

Believers who are attentive to God respond to His Word in a way that communicates its value to them as they demonstrate its importance to others.

Whoever is wise enough to respond correctly to a rebuke will grow more wise, cf. Prov 19:27,…

… and the scoffer, by refusing to listen, in arrogance increasingly confirms his own opinion, cf. Prov 9:7f; 26:12, and faces Divine discipline, Prov 29:1.

Verse 2

Verse 2 The contrasting consequences of our speech and actions determined by whether we heeded our Father’s instructions or not.

The wise know how to speak so that their words strengthen, heal and calm others, or rebuke appropriately at the right time, Prov 25:11f; 28:23.

When we are guided by God’s Word in our speech it results in Divine Good production, and we will receive God’s blessings for both time and eternity.

The Contrast!

The Contrast! The deceitful person desires to cause harm to others and does not produce good fruit for anyone, including themselves.

The righteous positively affect those around them and reap the reward of their righteous speech, the wicked are filled with a desire to do evil and cause harm to others which also causes harm to themselves, Prov 10:6; 11:27b, 26:6.

Recognizing treachery and wisdom, and therefore avoiding the one and seeking out the other characterizes the wise believer.

Grace Offering 2 Cor 9:6-8, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”

Lesson #: Grace Fellowship Church