Proverbs 19 - Path

April 29, 2020

Instruction #

Proverbs 19:20

Introduction

Last week we looked at: Path of Life: 1. Integrity, 2. Ignorance 3. Idleness 4. Intelligence

All the verses we will look at tonight pertain to Instruction. Proverbs talks a lot about instruction. Really, in the Path of life, we have access to a lot of instruction. We pick and chose the instruction we want to follow. As we study the Proverbs, understand that for the most part when instruction is mentioned, it is talking about spiritual godly instruction found in the Word of God. You will find no greater instruction.

I. Obtain (Proverbs 19:20) #

Prov. 19:20 ¶ Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

A. Hear “Hear counsel” (20) #

1. If you are listening to this tonight, you are hearing... Praise the Lord, that is a good thing! #

  • Going to church and listening to the preaching is of great importance.

2. Listening is sometimes difficult #

  • The time of preaching at church is the most important time. I have been taught since I was a child to not get up and leave service. -Distraction

3. Tune in! #

  • Some people come to church, and don’t listen to a word of the preaching!
  • Stay tuned in!

B. Heed - “receive instruction” (20) #

1. Not accepting the instruction - some people, listen, just to look for the reasons to disagree, or scoff. #

2. There is hearing the instruction, and then there is following the instructions. #

  • In school, I remember the teacher giving a test in school, she handed out the tests upside down on the desk. She then gave us the instructions, read the instructions at the top of the test, which simply read, “Read the entire test before answering the first question.” I’m a bit of a slow reader. So I started reading each of the 20 questions. I only made it to question 12 and people started putting their pencils down, and saying, I’m done. I started to get really nervous, they had already finished the test, and I hadn’t even finished reading the questions. I quickly jumped back to question 1 and started writing answers as quickly as I could. I didn’t even make it to question 7, and the teacher said, ok, everyone should be done by now. I was a good student in school and I was really concerned how this was going to affect my grade. The teacher then said, you should not have written anything on the paper. If you did, you didn’t follow the instructions. The last question, #20, said, “If you have read down this far, you are now done with the test.”
  • If you listen, and you don’t heed, that is your choice, however, clearly in the Word of God, a wise person would listen, and learn!
  • “...that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”

3. Some don’t heed, because of pride, “I know more” #

II. Obedience (Pro 19:16, 23) Obedience #

A. Keep #

Prov. 19:16 ¶ He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

1. Once again, it is to our benefit to keep, obey the Word of God! #

2. Keep is used quite often in the Bible, the same word is used in this verse: #

Gen. 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

  • This is guard, as in obeying, and continuing to obey and live by the Word of God.

  • Notice, individual responsibility is written in this verse too: “He that keepeth... keepeth his own soul.” - You are responsible for yourself.

    • You are not responsible for others
    • You cannot blame others for your sins.

B. Continue obeying #

Prov. 19:23 ¶ The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

1. 12^th^ time in this book… I think it is an important phrase that is repeated so frequently, because we need to hear it. #

  • Pro 1:7, 1:29, 2:5, 8:13, 9:10, 10:27, 14:26-27, 15:16, 15:33, 16:6

2. You can see God… ‘out of sight out of mind’ #

  • Keep the Book, before your eyes, because that is our window into heaven, and God.

3. Our life should be lived with God in mind at all times. #

III. Obstacles (Pro 19:21, 27) two obstacles #

A. Wandering Heart #

Prov. 19:21 ¶ There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

1. Devices – intention, plan, imagination, purposes… #

  • Your heart can certainly lead you astray.
  • Why do I repeat it so often? Because the world is constantly telling you to follow your heart!
  • Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing -
  • 3^rd^ verse

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;

Prone to leave the God I love:

Take my heart, oh, take and seal it

With Thy Spirit from above.

Rescued thus from sin and danger,

Purchased by the Saviour’s Blood,

May I walk on earth a stranger,

As a son and heir of God.

Prov. 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Gal. 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

B. Worldly influence #

Prov. 19:27 ¶ Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

    • C. The world’s philosophy and influence is everywhere! #

    • Radio, TV, Internet, Educational systems,

Tags: Preaching Outlines Proverbs Path Obedience Obstacles Choice Wisdom