Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Sunday, March 3, 2013

The Book of Proverbs Chapter 5 “Avoid the Adulterer”

Prov 5:3 Lips Dripping with Honey and Smoother than Oil!

Doctrine of Flattery: I. Definition: Flattery is a form of Verbal Sin where you practice excessive, false or sycophantic praise; complimenting excessively trying to arouse favorable or gratifying attention towards yourself.

Psa 12:2, “They speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.”

II. Flattery is related to the Arrogance Complex of Sins: Jude1:16, “These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.”

A. Arrogance Definition: An excessive preoccupation with self; self-admiration with excessive desire to be admired by others; lofty assumption of superiority; exaggerated estimation of one’s abilities and attainments.

B. Emotional Arrogance, (Rom 16:17-18) C. Denial and Self Deception, (Js 1:23-24) D. Inferiority Complex E. Clique Syndrome, (Psa 12:2) F. Inordinate Competition G. Sexual Arrogance, (Prov 5; 2 Tim 3:6) H. Flirtatiousness, (Eph 5:3-4) I. The Constant Complainer, (Jude 1:16)

III. Cosmic Evangelism (C.E.) and Flattery

C.E. is when a reversionistic believer or unbeliever tries to lead you away from your relationship with God and into sin, human good or evil, (Satan’s Cosmic System).

C.E. appeal is generally conducted through arrogance disguised by a façade of flattery, intellectuality, affection or even passion.

Prov 27:14, “He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him.”

1 Cor 15:33, “Evil friends corrupt good morals.”

Just as a wolf resembles man’s best friend - the dog, so does a flatterer resemble a friend.

C.E. can be an appeal by the moral person leading you to legalism, (human good), to propitiate God, or by the immoral person leading you into licentiousness. 2 Cor 6:11-18; 1 Peter 4:1-6

IV. The Men-Pleaser Syndrome. Eph 6:5-6

Someone who tries to please, “butter up”, their boss on the job in order to maintain their position or get ahead by flattery and fawning. The true sycophant.

Every believer must do his job as unto the Lord. Col 3:22

“Eye Service”, working hard only when the boss is watching and then loafing when he is gone. This is a principle of hypocrisy and flattering the boss.

“People-pleasers.” Doing your work with the desire to please men, which to is hypocrisy of flattery!

Sometimes you are going to have an unfair boss who mistreats you, but, you are to do your job as unto the Lord regardless of the type of boss you have.

The flatterer loves to praise excessively for self-interests or self-promotion, therefore he is smooth; something that the Word of God warns us against.

Psa 55:21, “His speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”

You will never get ahead as a Christian by patronizing and flattering others for your promotion.

Those who hold any form of leadership position must never be sucked into bad advice, or be manipulated by flattery or patronizing from ambitious people.

Beware of: The yes man; The sweet talker; The deceiver; The complimenter; The backslapper; The back-stabber; (Who smiles in your face but only wants to take your place!)

Communion

Grace Offering 2 Cor 9:6-15, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Grace Fellowship Church Sunday, March 3, 2013 Tape # Proverbs Chapter 5 Doctrine of Flattery, Part 4 Prov 5:3; Eph 6:5-6; Col 3:22; Psa 55:21 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2013