Actions to Avoid Proverbs 17: 2-26

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V 2 1) A son that is unruly to parents

          ( A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame. )

v 3 2) Acts that are unequal with God's justice or which have impurity.

         ( The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord testeth hearts. )

v 5 3) Making fun of the poor.

         ( Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his maker; )

v 5 4) Taking delight in man's failings and difficulties.

          ( and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. )

            No mercy shown

V8 5) An attempt to take unfair advantage of another.

         ( a bribe ... whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth. )

v18 6) Guaranteeing another man's actions.

          ( A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of 

           his neighbor. )

v19 7) Exaltation of the violent.

          ( and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction)

v21 8) Aiding the foolish, contributing to foolishness .

          ( He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; )

V26 9) Unjust assessment.

          ( Also to punish the just is not good, )

v26 10) Tearing down of justice. 

            ( nor to strike princes for their equity. )

Entrapped Judges 14: 15-18

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v.15 1. Enticed by his own plan.

(And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife,

Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee 

                and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? Is it 

                not so?)

v.15 2. Used by one of his own choosing.

v.15, 3. Entered into a divided house.

  16

v.16 4. Vulnerable to a trap himself.

(And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and 

lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and

hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father 

                nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?)

v.16 5. Weak in argument.

v.17 6. Deceived.

(And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to

pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and 

she told the riddle to the children of her people.)

v.17 7. Compromised.

v.17 8. Encumbered.

v.18 9. Outdone, undone.

(And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went

down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he

said unto them, if ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my

riddle.)

v.18 10. Plowed up, rather that tilled.

Mary's Availability Luke 1: 38

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                           (And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according

                           to thy word.)

           

            1.            She was available for God to declare Himself to.

            2.            She was accepting of all God declared to her heart.

                           v.30-37

            3.            She willingly offered her heart and life to God for Him to use.

            4.            She imposed no boundaries before God.

            5.            She had full trust in God’s wisdom and choice and power.

            6.            She sought God with no fear nor doubt.

            7.            She gave evidence to God of her willingness.

Could we simply declare to/before God our willingness and desire to be used for His purpose and glory.

Lord, please so use me! Could we say to the Lord. Lord use me …

Mary concluded what God said was right. She was God’s vessel to use.

She trusted fully in God’s will.

When Temptation Leaps Out at You Judges 14: 6-9

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v.6 1. Rely upon God’s spirit.

(and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, …)

Samson didn’t.

v.6 2. Overcome the temptation immediately.

(and he tore him as he would have torn a kid.)

v.7 3. Remove yourself from any desires of the flesh.

(and he went down, and talked with the woman;)

v.8 4. Be alert to temptation’s reappearance in subtle form.

(And after a time…behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass

of the lion.)

v.8 5. Remember temptation is deceptive, no matter the appearance.

(bees and honey)

v.9 6. Temptation is to be resisted wherever and whenever it appears.

(and he took thereof in his hands, …)

7. To fail to resist temptation is to be caught in its snare.

Know that temptation’s sting is dreadful.

Application:

The enemy does not always leap out at us. We would be more alerted.

The way of the enemy is subtle erosion of commitment. i.e.:

worldliness in the church

moral compromise

appealing to fleshly desires

Little by little there is an erosion until the bank caves in and a mudslide results.

Temptation in whatever form is to be resisted.

It is the power of God unto salvation.  It is the power of God that is required to live

        Godly.

We as believers are so dependent upon the Lord.

He is life itself. We cannot live spiritually without Christ.

Being Harnessed by God Exodus 13: 17-22

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                   (v.18 and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.)

v.17,           1. Willingly being under His control.

  18                  (God led them …)

v.17            2. Not having a desire outside God’s bounds for your life.

                       (…they return to Egypt)

v.21            3.Not going except God lead.

                      (cloud and fire)

v.21            4.Not going beyond God’s leading.

                      (cloud  and fire)

v.21            5. Not missing God’s leading.

                       (cloud and fire)

v.21            6. Not presuming leadership is of God when it isn’t.

                       (cloud and fire)

v.22            7. Living a life reflecting God’s leading.

                       (He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night)

Don't Be Foolish Judges 14: 7-19

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v.7 1. Don't pursue interests contrary to God's will.

(and he went down, and talked with the woman;)

v.7 2. Don't develop a taste for worldly pleasure.

(and she pleased him well.)

v.8 3. Don't defile your spiritual course-God's direction.

(and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, ...)

Stay away from temptation.

v.9 4. Don't be careless with your commitment to God.

(and he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating,...)

v.9 5. Don't allow deceit to enter any relationship.

(...but he told them not that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the 

lion.)

Protect your relationship with God and other relationships will fall under His

protection.

v.10 6. Don't mock God.

(Samson made there a feast ...)

a drinking party

v.12 7. Don't make light of (a joke of) God's involvement in your life.

(...I will now put forth a riddle unto you; ...)

v.12 8. Don't enter into a bargain with the enemy.

(if you can certainly declare it to me within seven (God's standard of perfection)

days...I will give you; ...)

v.15 9. Don't enter into unequal yoke.

(on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's wife, entice thy husband, ...)

Disloyal, self serving attitudes are encountered.

v.19, 10. Don't continue in transgression.

15:  4, 5 (slew thirty men, foxes...lighted tails...) 

Ch.16 Repent, get right, get out of it.

Jesus, God's Choice Hebrews 1: 2, 3

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V 2 1 ) JESUS, God's inclusive revelation. (everything).

 (spoken unto us by His Son)

Every  thing God has to say to man He says through His Son. (John 1: 1)God has spoken. 

God continues to speak. 

Everything God has to say to a believer He is going to say through Ch r i s t. 

There is no heavenly revelation  apart from Jesus. 

Anything we want to know about spiritual truth; anytime we need spiritual truth, we must
go to Jesus. Jesus is the Father's Son--the one who speaks to the heart.

V 2 2.) JESUS, God's inclusive heir. (everything)

(whom He hath appointed heir of all things)

Jesus is the heir of all the Father has. Believers are joint heirs with Christ. Rom. 8: 16 - 17

Child of God--what do you need? Jesus has everything!

V 2 3) JESUS, God's inclusive companion. (everything)

(by whom also He made the worlds)

Ever in touch with the Father.Included in all the works of the Father. An included part in
all the Father's plans. Inseparable from the Father's expressions. The substance of the
ages. Bed rock, but more deeper still.

V 3 4) JESUS, God's inclusive expression. (everything)

 (Who, being the brightness of His glory)

Jesus is how God expresses Himself. The brightness of His presence can not be ignored--
may be rejected . 

A believer should have no trouble finding such a bright and guiding light. He is the bright
and morning star. The light of heaven and of earth--the light of the world.

V 3 5 ) JESUS  God's inclusive likeness. (everything)

(and the express image of His person)

He perfectly mirrors the Father. They are one. John 10: 30.

Also Ch. 8, 10, 17. We see the Father through the Son.

Absolute likeness, perfect match.

V 3 6) JESUS, God's inclusive grasp. (everything)

(upholding all things ... )

As the Father wills so the Son keeps. By Him all things consist. Col. 1: 17 

Believers are secure in Christ. John 17: 11, 12. 

The Father holds all things in control, through His Son.

V 3 7) JESUS, God's inclusive power. (everything)

(by the word of His power)

The power of heaven transcends (higher than, greater than, excels, ) all other power. 

That is the power of Christ. All the power the Father has is vested in the Son. 

That is why if we ask anything in His Name, that will He do, that the Father may be 
glorified in the Son. John 14:13. 

Spiritual truth is upheld by His power.

God will uphold the truth and true works of His Son.

Matthew 28: 18, all power rests in Jesus.

V 3 8 ) JESUS, God's inclusive sacrifice. (all sins covered)

 (by Himself purged our sins)

No other needed. He alone satisfied the Father's justness. No other sufficient.

V 3 9 ) JESUS, God's incIusive labor.  (everything done)

(sat down)

His work completed. His Will given in His Word. 

Jesus has no more to do to bring His word to pass--no more to do to bring salvation.

His labor is complete.

Believers are complete in Him. Col. 2:10.

Jesus doesn't have to do anymore for a believer to have his needs met and to 
experience the fulness of Christ.

v3 10) JESUS, God's inclusive choice. (out of everything)

(on the right hand of the Majesty on high)

Heb. 1 :4-13;   Col. 1 :19

No greater honor could be bestowed than to share in the Father's glory at His right
hand.

How pleased should a believer be at the Father's choice!