January 8, 2020
God’s Way is Best #
Proverbs 16:1-5
Intro.
LORD is used more times in this chapter of Proverbs than any other chapter in the entire book of Proverbs. It is used 11 times. There is probably something we should get from that.
Is. 55:6 ¶ Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Is. 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Is. 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Is. 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
I. Preparation towards the Lord (1) #
A. What is the heart #
When the Bible speaks of the heart, it speaks of the seat of the emotion, and center of our life. It is not speaking about the physical organ that we all have.
Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible says, “In the Bible the heart is a term for the center of man's thinking, emotions, and will. Man thinks in his heart (Ge. 6:5; Pr. 23:7). He understands with his heart (Pr. 2:2). He deviseth his way with his heart (Pr. 16:9). The heart meditates (Ps. 19:14), considers (De. 4:39), purposes (Da. 1:8), takes counsel (Pr. 20:5), reasons (Lk. 5:22), desires (Ro. 10:1), has intents (He. 4:12). From the heart proceed all the actions and motivations of man (Pr. 4:23-27; Mt. 15:18-20). The mind is used as a synonym for the heart (De. 28:65; 1 Sa. 2:35; 1 Ch. 28:9; Da. 5:20; Phil. 4:7; He. 8:10). The heart/mind is the source of the thoughts and imaginations”
B. What is the Tongue #
Represents the words that we speak, the answers that we give.
What is in the well of your heart will show up in the bucket of your speech.
What is in the heart will come out the mouth eventually!
Some people know the ‘right’ answers, and will give them because of diligent training, but most people will answer from their heart. The tongue is puppet to the heart.
- Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
C. From the Lord #
Proper preparation prevents poor performance.
How do we prepare?
2Tim. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Psa. 119:11 ¶ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Word of God, cleans, fixes, prepares the heart of man!
a) We need to read it, memorize it, listen to it preached, listen to it taught.
b) How many hours of garbage do we allow in our minds?
(1) Talk radio, TV, Entertainment, etc...
(2) How much time do we spend in preparing our hearts to give an
answer to all men?
(a) 15-20 minutes a day, you can read through the entire Bible
in a year!
c) If you heart is not right, your speech will not be right.
II. Purity from the Lord - (2) Clean #
“Never are men’s hearts in such a hopeless condition as when they are not sensible of their own sins.” - J. C. Ryle
A. Justified #
We are always looking for reasons to prove that we are in the right!
The prisons are full of people who think they have been wronged, and they are innocent!
Jesus gave a very clear lesson on this: [Lu 18:9-14]{.underline}
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
a) Justifies himself by comparison with the worst of society!
Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I
possess.
b) Justifies himself by good works!
c) It is human nature to want to THINK BETTER of OURSELF
B. Justly weighed #
-
1Sam. 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
God is the only one who can straighten out the heart, and life of man!
The sooner you realize you are floating a sinking boat on the seas of life, the sooner, you can abandon your vessel, and jump on board of God’s boat!
III. Purpose to the Lord (3) - Commitment #
A. Why do you do what you do? #
They why is just as important as the what!
Sometimes people do things without thought, and without reason.
Many times people have motive and reason for what they do.
a) Why did you come to church?
b) Why did you go to work today?
c) Why do you carry gospel tracts?
d) Why do you teach a Sunday school class?
e) Why do you sing in the choir?
f) Why do you clean the church?
Why?
g) The Motive is important!
h) Commit thy works unto the LORD!
i) Everything we do in life, needs to be committed to the LORD!
If you teach because you enjoy it, that is ok, but when it is no
longer enjoyable, you won't continue.
If you sing because it is enjoyable.... It will grow old.
What is the motive behind your actions?
If everything you do is committed to the LORD, then the results, and
will be based on God!
B. Established thoughts! #
If your motive for teaching, is for the Lord… when things are difficult, you can say, well, the Lord knows.
When we were on the mission field, I can assure you, there were things we didn’t like. There were days it was not enjoyable.
A soldier doesn’t enjoy bullets flying past his head, but he does it because he is motivated by the fact that he is ensuring freedom of America.
People are willing to pay a price, if the purpose is right.
IV. Power of the LORD (Pro 16:4) #
A. God Created Satan… #
He didn’t create Satan as the sinful wicked creature he is now… he became that after!
However, even with all the wickedness… it is not out side of God’s control and power.
Satan is powerful, but not more powerful than God!
God still rules over wickedness, and in the end, wickedness losses, and is bound up for all eternity in the lake of fire!
B. Satan rebelled, was lifted up with pride! (Is 14) #
WE won’t read it for times sake, but understand, that Satan, lifted himself up in pride and arrogance
Thinking himself better than God!
V. Pride, abomination to the LORD (Pro 16:5) #
A. Pride is born in the heart #
Uzziah’s kingdom become strong, his heart was lifted up with pride!
2Chr. 26:16 ¶ But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
B. Pride joins forces (hand join in hand) #
It doesn’t matter if you get others to agree with you in their pride!
C. Punishment #
Uzziah, was punished by God!
2Chr. 26:19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.
VI. Purging by mercy and Truth (Pro 16:6) #
A. Mercy #
God’s mercy is the only thing that can change people!