My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. Psalm 63:8 Do I enjoy sports? I do. Do I like to see a running back blast through the line for a big chunk of yards? I do. Do I want to see the teams I root for win? I do. Now with that said the night I got saved at my home at the age of thirty-six I was on my face before a holy and righteous God and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt if I was to die- on the backside of my last breath I would have been in hell. I called upon the glorious and matchless name of Jesus and He saved me, redeemed me, reconciled me and I was born again! Hallelujah! It wasn’t a religious experience. I didn’t turn over a new leaf. I didn’t get dunked in water. I got washed in the blood of the lamb! Amen and Amen. Now- How can I not get more excited about the Word of God, the Son of God and Sunday and Wednesday night church than a ball game? Let’s be a heavenly flame in a lost and hell bound world. Let’s get more excited about the Lord Jesus Christ than anything this world offers even those things that aren’t necessarily bad things. What will you do to turn the tide? | |
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In our study, we are going to bundle together six verses. Quantity does not always ensure quality but, in this instance I believe that it will. One stick of dynamite is sure to get the job done but, six sticks tied together will go above and beyond the desired effect. We are going to soak and saturate our heart, mind and eyes in and upon six powerful verses that I hope will breathe new life into our understanding as it pertains to true wealth and riches. Monetary riches can be a wonderful thing as long as the money doesn’t own the man or woman. Spiritual wealth and riches does not bring with it the baggage that far too often accompanies monetary gain. When ones spiritual wealth is based and built upon the foundation of God’s Word, your heavenly portfolio will paint a picture of Christlikeness. The riches will be pleasing to God and a blessing to those around you. “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay ahold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” Proverbs 3:13-18 I. The Happy Man Verse 13 Happy (blessed) will be the person who first finds wisdom. Many look and search for days and years on end for a way to live a blessed life. I am quite certain that wisdom has been shown to many and they turn their head and run in the other direction to get away from the very thing they are searching for. Those who heed wisdom’s call, they will be blessed. It sounds so simple, yet I myself ran for years from that which would have led me to happiness. Why is there happiness in such wisdom? It comes from God. Man’s deductions and philosophies are marred in the miry clay of his sin. They are formed on the potter’s wheel of iniquity. That which doesn’t have its origin from God will lead one further from the truth and nowhere near the blessed life. Proverbs 23:23 says, “Buy the truth and sale it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” There is not one investment that can give such a rich return as when one invests in God’s Word. That person will be happy. After wisdom is found, we need to grab ahold of it and let it take ahold of us. We must not just simply and lazily look upon it, but we should drill deep into it and plumb its bountiful depths and gain understanding. From wisdom we gain understanding and when understanding is married to application, we grow in the Word of God and live out the way and will of God; all this is worked out through God the Holy Spirit, but we must come to the Word of God. II.The Rich Man Verses 14-16 I know many people who are rich in possessions and position. They are well known, they are highly thought of. Recognized by many, but known by few. Their possessions help define their position. Nothing is out of their reach. They seem restless and relentless in their pursuit of joy and happiness. They seem to have it all, yet the pursuit never seems to end in their quest to find some kind of meaning in their lives. The inward storm of their souls is outwardly played out in the constant revolving door of new possessions and the unquenchable desire for another new position. These people in God’s economy are paupers. No amount of silver and no amount of fine gold compares to the riches one gains from the wisdom and understanding that is gleaned from God’s Word. I believe that the Christian will find true contentment in the wealth of knowing that their sins are forgiven and that they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have peace with God (Romans 5:1.) With this truth as an unshakeable foundation, the born again will see their heavenly portfolio expand as they spend more and more time in the Word of God. They will come to understand and embrace that what they have is more precious than rubies and anything (I mean anything!) that they could ever desire. The benefits of wisdom and understanding are pictured as one who holds out blessings in both hands. The right hand holds, ‘Length of days.’ I Timothy 4:8 says, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” The left hand holds, ‘Riches and honor.’ Remember the riches of rubies and gold are not to be compared to the gain that is found in wisdom and understanding. Many Christians will never find their names on list of the top wealthy people in the world, but God will provide for them in the here and now in a powerful way, monetarily as well as materially. Not only are riches found in the left hand but honour as well; a double portion of goodness and blessing. Proverbs 8:18 plainly states, “Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.” The main thrust of Proverbs eight speaks of God’s wisdom, understanding, instruction and knowledge. It is amazing how God’s Word from one verse to another will bear witness to the truths of God’s Word. I would much rather have honour that comes from God than the honour that has its origin in one’s self and man alone. III. The Peaceful Man Verses 17-18 The Bible says, “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:15.) I have often alluded to the fact that God’s Word often times gives us examples and illustrations of two different roads or two different paths, and teaches us what we can expect to find on those roads and paths we choose to take. The ways of the transgressors is hard, but the ways of those who find wisdom and get understanding, and don’t miss this, and retains them, there is happiness. What are the attributes of such a person, pleasantness and peace. The quality of life will be far greater and meaningful for the one who travels the way that God’s Word leads. Let’s allow God’s Word to solidify our understanding when it comes to the pleasantness and peace that awaits us as we travel God’s way. Light- “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:28.) Life- “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord” (Proverbs 8:35.) Health- “For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all flesh” (Proverbs 4:22.) I never knew or was acquainted with peace or pleasantness that had any lasting power to it before I was saved. The path that one takes as they allow God’s precepts and instruction to be their guide is full of peace and is satisfying in its pleasantness for those who choose to tread down the way of the Lord. It is not free of trials and tribulations, but one is strengthened and sustained as they go about their way. Let this sink in, “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her.” Life, true life, sustaining life, an empowered life, awaits those who take hold of the wisdom and understanding that is available in the Word of God. Lord willing, I am looking towards and forward to 2014. The Lord has opened the door to many opportunities to preach His Word in 2013 and that makes me fired up and excited about what He will have planned for 2014. My desire is to be an encouragement and a blessing to the pastor and people of the local Church. Oh to see the saints stirred and strengthened. My friend, to see revival burst forth in the lives of the redeemed! To see victory in the lives of the reconciled! To see souls saved and lives changed. Pastor if you would like to schedule a meeting or are in need of pulpit supply for 2014 please contact me at tracykillinger@gmail.com and if you would like more information in regard to a Call to the World Ministries please go the doctrinal statement and visit any other page on the website to learn more about me and this ministry. Thanks for visiting and I Pray the Lord blesses you in 2014, Bro. Tracy “And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23 Andrew Murray wrote, “Taking up the cross and following Jesus is nothing less than living every day with our own lives and wills given up to death. The crucified Christ and the crucified Christian belong to each other. The Christian glories in the Cross because it makes him a partner in a death and victory that has already been accomplished and in which the deliverance from the powers of the flesh and of the world has been secured.” I believe that deserves an AMEN! We awake each morning with a decision to make before we ever jump out of bed or step out the door. What will we choose to do with our lives and wills? We have an opportunity to lay our lives and will on the altar each morning and echo the words of the Lord Jesus, “Not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:32-35). When we die to self, we will live powerfully, victoriously and vicariously in and through Christ Jesus because His death was our death and His resurrection was our resurrection. The Christian is a new creature (creation) in Christ Jesus and thus can live powerfully having victory over sin (Please see Romans 6:1-14). We need to begin each day with this prayer, O Father I desire to die to self and be filled with the Holy Spirit. We need to have a funeral each morning spiritually speaking. Please don’t miss the word “daily” in our verse. There is freedom in the crucified life. There is power in the crucified life. There is purpose in the crucified life. God will be found in the crucified life. When we look not at the ways of the world as something we miss but when we see them for what they truly are (see I John 2:15-17) we will readily, excitedly and daily come to the Lord each morning and say, “Not what I will, but what thou wilt.” “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:26 Lot was in Sodom and Sodom was in Lot. Genesis 13:12 teaches us that, “Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Lot was fully aware of the kind of men who lived in Sodom. The Bible says, “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly” (Genesis 13:13). This was the first step in the wrong direction because Lot eventually would have a home in Sodom (see Genesis 19:1-3). Sin is a lot like smoke the more time you spend in it the more you will begin to smell like it. Lots wife became so enamored with the world that she had to take a look back at that which consumed her and she turned into a pillar of salt (They were warned not to look back; God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and they were to flee). There is a great lesson we can learn from Lot and his wife. Don’t miss this- they became so earthly bound they were no heavenly good! “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is” Psalm 63:1 We must be careful or our desire for God will be dulled by all of the things we have going on around us. We have such wonderful technology today that allows us to communicate at the click of a button to people all over the world. The Lord has brought many into my life who have been both a blessing and an encouragement to me since I started my twitter account. I am thankful for the opportunities that the Lord has provided me to preach His Word. I thoroughly enjoy writing for the website, but I must keep a close watch to not allow that which is meant to be a blessing to become the center of my life. When the cell phone, the computer or the work of the ministry begins to come before my time with the Lord those things will have to be put in their proper place immediately. I recently came across these words,“What tragedy it would be if what you do for Jesus keeps you from Jesus." Too many times we allow ourselves to be like the pole in the photo we become overloaded and the Lord seems to be left out. Take some time to take stock of where the Lord and His Word are found in your life at this very moment. Get alone and quiet before the Lord and allow Him to search your heart. When our first desire is the Lord all of the other areas in our life will be found in their proper place. I am aiming at the heart of every believer not just those who are in the ministry. |
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