Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher - Jim Rickard Sunday, January 26, 2014

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

Proverbs Chapter 12 Contrasts between the righteous and wicked in thoughts, speech and actions.

Section 2, vs Vs Contrasting the Use of the Tongue! Pt. 4

Prov 12:23

Prov 12:23 It begins with the positive of the prudent believer who conceals other people’s sins, secrets or even their own anger. Cf. Prov 10:12: 11:13; 12:16.

Here the prudent man conceals what he knows about sin and folly in general and that of other people, keeping it all to himself.

He is not driven by pride to parade his knowledge around and has the self-control to wait for the right situation, with the prudence to know when to keep silent and when to speak up. Prov 3:7; 10:14a; 11:13.

Prov 11:13, “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.”

Eccl 3:7, “A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent and a time to speak.”

Amos 5:12-13, “Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps silent, for it is an evil time.”

Mat 7:6, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

The Contrast!

The Contrast! The seat of folly is the heart of the fool.

Jer 10:8, “But they are altogether stupid and foolish in their discipline of delusion—their idol is wood!” (Today we would say it is “green” = money.)

The fool blurts out his folly to everyone which includes all kinds of moral and immoral degeneracy.

Prov 23:7, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.”

2 Tim 3:9, “But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’ and Jambres’ folly was also.”

Doctrine of the Fool. In Scripture the fool is willfully and obstinately walking down the wrong path, portrayed as a self-confident (arrogant), and self-deceived person.

1. The fool does not seek wisdom (Bible Doctrine) seriously, but rejects its advice, Prov 23:9.

2. He assumes he can get wisdom as easily as purchasing something, but there is an inner deficiency that keeps him from actually gaining it…

… he lacks the heart or inner being to receive it, Prov 17:16.

3. He thinks he can find the secrets of success in faraway places, ignoring the true wisdom that is right before him, Prov 17:24.

4. He does not want to listen and learn, Prov 26:9, but merely talks to display his own ideas, Prov 18:2.

5. In reality, the fool has none of the knowledge of which he boasts, Psa 92:6.

6. His problem is his heart, that has inner rebellion against God that produces outward foolishness, Prov 12:23.

It flows out in his words, Prov 15:2. Even a proverb is meaningless when he says it, Prov 26:7.

7. His downfall is complacency, Prov 1:32.

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.”

Grace Fellowship Church Thursday December 26, 2013 Tape # Proverbs Chapter 12 Contrasts In The Use Of The Tongue, Part 4 Doctrine of the Fool, Part 1 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2013 Grace Fellowship Church Thursday December 26, 2013 Tape # Proverbs Chapter 12 Contrasts In The Use Of The Tongue, Part 4 Doctrine of the Fool, Part 1 Prov 12:23; 11:13; Eccl 3:7; Amos 5:13; Mat 7:6 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2013