June 19, 2019

Warning #

Pro 4:14-19

Intro.

We go from a great contrast of blessings and benefits of wisdom, to the great extreme wickedness and absence of wisdom. Wisdom is life, the absence of wisdom is death, and destruction. It is clearly shown, and very strong advice is given here!

A friend of mine visited the ruins of Pompeii outside of what is today Naples in Italy. The Roman City of Pompeii was destroyed in A.D. 79. The explosion of Mount Vesuvius was so sudden, the residents were killed while in their routine: men and women were at the market, the rich in their luxurious baths, slaves at toil. They died amid volcanic ash and superheated gasses. Even family pets suffered the same quick and final fate. It takes little imagination to picture the panic of that terrible day. The saddest part is that these people did not have to die. Scientists confirm what ancient Roman writers record--weeks of rumblings and shakings preceded the actual explosion. Even an ominous plume of smoke was clearly visible from the mountain days before the eruption. If only they had been able to read and respond to Vesuvius’s warning! There are clearly outlined warnings in the Word of God that countless amounts of people ignore on a regular basis!

I. Caution (14-15) (Outward Appearance) #

A. Do not enter (14) - Path #

There is a real need to rescue people before they enter the path of destruction!

Once they are on that path, it is very difficult to stop.

I wouldn’t say impossible, because God can do the impossible, but very difficult!

B. Do not pass by (15) #

Appearance - Wickedness and sin is always made to look good!

Satan is the master of deception! Garden of Eden, Eve

1. “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to they eyes”.

   Lot leaving Sodom and Gomorrah, was commanded not to look at it! - His wife did.

2. “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.” (Proverbs 23:31)

   It is no different today!

C. Do not stand around! Stop flirting, and start fleeing! #

1. “Flee fornication.” (1 Corinthians 6:18a)

2. “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:14)

3. “But thou, O man of God, flee these things” (1 Timothy 6:11a)

4. “Flee also youthful lusts:” (2 Timothy 2:22)

1. We need to stop flirting with the path, and flee from it! #

2. Avoid it, pass not by it! #

3. There may be some places you need to avoid to keep from temptation! #

II. Consider their motive(16-17) #

A. Sleeplessness to attain - Haman’s hatred for Mordecai, #

Again, it is sometimes hard for us to imagine the absolute wickedness of people.

Haman’s hatred for Mordecai in the Book of Esther was so strong, he devised a plan to kill the jews!

The same night king Ahasuerus couldn’t sleep, Haman couldn’t sleep! He wasn’t happy about Mordecai, and wanted to cause evil on him!

B. Cause others to fall! #

People like to be surrounded by people doing the same thing as them!

Wicked people, like others to do the same thing they do. They can ease their conscience with others doing the same.

C. Eat & Drink wickedness! #

Bread and wine were considered stables of life.

The staple in this path, is wickedness!

I cannot understand the motive behind this to help illustrate it. We can clearly see what is being warned against.

The Character of these people is vile, wicked. It is consumed with wickedness!

III. Contrast (18-19) #

A. Light - Righteousness #

Shining light (18)

a) John 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

If you are following Jesus, you will have good understanding.

A true follower of Jesus is not going to just 'claim' to follow, but
will actually let their life be changed by God and His Word!

Contrast -

The world thinks it is ok to: lie, live together, steal, fight, be
prideful, be selfish, drink, do drugs, what ever makes you feel
good.

These are all opposite from what God teaches!

Growing brighter (18)

We are to be growing in Christ! The more and more! Year by year.

We need to be open to God's will in our life!

The more you attend church, the more you learn.

The more you read the Bible, the more you learn.

b) Phil. 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

B. Darkness #

Darkness - unknown

Darkness causes fear

Darkness hides truth

Darkness will keep you from advancing

Darkness will isolate you