Proverbs 5

Proverbs 5. Temptations! Where would we be without them?

Chapter 5 is a MUST read!

"1 My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may keep  discretion, and your lips may  guard knowledge.
3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil..."


This entire chapter focuses on 'temptation' and how to not follow it to our destruction!
Note verse 3 and the word, "forbidden!"  Why is it that which we know is wrong, bad for, and forbidden has such a powerful allure?  A proverb we will come to later openly declares, "Stolen bread eaten in secret is sweet indeed!"  A relationship we know is wrong, has such a dynamic, obsessive pull in us because it has a demonic anointing on it that feeds our flesh and our soul nature to have that which has been declared off limits!

Lucifer did it! Eve did it, and if honesty prevailed, we have all gone after that which we knew was "forbidden!"

How do you not give in to the physical, emotional and mental powerful pull of temptation?  At first, it will probably the greatest struggle of your life; the parts of you that has been feasting on the forbidden will cry out, demand and justify that the need is legitimate!  Demonic spirits will feed these ungodly flames and begin to torment your thought life. But God is more powerful than any temptation, temptress, or tormentor!

1. Study the Scripture. They will guide and strengthen you.
2. Flee places and people who you know are temptations to you
3. Pray!  Be honest with God about your struggles. He knows anyway but is waiting for you to ask and receive His strength
4. Get an accountability partner, someone who loves you but will address head on your walk and actions, as well as pray with and for you!
5.  Be in church every time the doors are open and live at the altar!
6.  Read the Word as a starving man. Gone are the times of picking and choosing what you want to read or listen to, you are in a fight for your eternal soul!
7. Finally, count the cost!  What will those brief moments of pleasure cost you?  Do not be deceived, they will cost you--and those you love!


This is Pastor John reminding you to Read the Word and apply it to your life!  You will be glad you did!

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Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4.     God's Sobriety Test

Most of us have seen on television scenes of an officer of the law pulling someone over, suspecting them of driving while impaired.  In the scene the officer has ask the individual a series of questions followed by a few simple activities such as closing their eyes and touching their nose. Another good one is counting backwards. Yet my all time favorite is where they have the person in question attempt to walk a straight line.  To prove it can be done the officer does it easily!

After a few waddling, swirling attempts they are determined to be "under the influence" and arrested.

Why? We all know the answer. They could wreck or cause a wreck that could injure or kill themselves, or even worse, some innocent family! Most of us have known this to be sadly true!

When you look in the mirror do you see someone who "keeps their heart with all diligence?" 

V23. Do you see someone looking back from that mirror that knows you cannot drink from Satan's cup without becoming under his influence! Our Lord commanded us to "keep our heart with all diligence.

v24, to "put away wrong speech, 

v26, and to ponder the path our feet are taking, 

v27. Judge yourself!  Examine yourself, your actions, the direction your life is going and ask, "Is this the life I really want for me? My family?

If not, God has provided the way out and the way up!  Read the Word!  Apply the Word!  I know denying the pull of old habits and beliefs can be difficult. But the life you want, and the life God has  for you is worth the temporary struggle! God's Word works!  

This is Pastor John reminding you to "keep your heart with all diligence;  only live under God's influence!

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Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3. Experiencing God's Best!

Verses 1-4 are reminders and verses of encouragement to stay focused on God and to stay steadfast in applying His teachings in every area of our lives. You can sense the words of warning to give all attention that we not wander from the path by following others.

I love the reward God promises to those who trust and follow Him! "So you will find favor and success in the sight of God and man!" Ever wondered how you could get God's favor on your life? 

Verse 1-4 make it very plain. Ever wondered how to get your life turned around? It is no mystery, God has told us! "Trust in..."

I don't know how many times I have quoted and stood on verses 5-10. Look at them with me:

V.5. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding. (Let go of control)
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,and he l will make straight”
“your paths. (Seek His will first)
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. (Don't be tricked that you have a better plan or that your situation is "different!")
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; (Are you returning to God His tithe? Do not rob God! You place your life under a curse and are easy prey for Satan!)
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”  (Blessings follow obedience!). 

This is Pastor John reminding you, "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word!"  Choose to be blessed, give God something to bless!

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Proverbs 2

Proverbs 2.    "Deliver Me!"

Be sure to read all of Proverbs chapter 2 today!  It describes in great detail how God's Word, and applying it, will deliver and protect us from those Satan would use to bring us down-or keep us down!

Verse 1-12 tells us "if you seek wisdom (wisdom from and of God) that God would respond and "speak to you wisdom" that will:
1. V.7.  Shield your integrity2.  V.8. Guard you3.  V.9-10. You will receive from His Divine understanding rightness with God, of justice, and equity in all our dealings with others.


These 'shut the door' to Satan because you "gave no place to the Devil!"  Read along with me those God protects us from:
V.12    Those who speak perverted things .   Corrupt language corrupts!  Remember, "Iron sharpens iron and a person's companions will shape who he becomes."  " He that walks with wise men shall be wise,". Beware of those you let or bring into your life!

V.13-15   Those who have turned away from God, the ways of God,  and try to get you to join in with them

V.16-19  Seduction!   Remember, Adam gave up his personal, intimate fellowship relationship with God for cute, warm and cuddly Eve!  Physical and emotional attraction are powerful tools in Satan's toolbox!  God created our desires, but we re not animals to be controlled by them.  Satan does not tell you of the loss and suffering giving in to seduction causes!

Verse 22 " warns us, yes, tells us ahead of time, that "the wicked will be cut off!"  You can not dance with the Devil and think you can lead!  Sin will take you further then you thought you would ever go, do what you never thought you would do, keep you longer than you thought you would stay, and cost you more than you thought you would ever pay!

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!"  Study these proverbs.  Question yourself, "How does this apply to me?  What is God speaking to me about through His Word?  What do I need to do?"   You will never get lost when you follow God!

This Pastor John reminding you to Read and Apply the Word!

www.nbcornerstone.com

Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1  Life's Got Questions!    Proverbs: is the Book of Answers

I am so excited about this 31 one day study of the Book of Proverbs. I will share with you what God is speaking to me in each chapter. Feel free to contact me at pastorjohn@nbcornerstone and share your testimonies of how you received a word of guidance through the study and how you applied it's divine direction!  Let's get started!

Proverbs  chapter 1: Our 'attitude' towards Scripture! What we do with God's Word treveals our heart attitude towards Scripture!

“The Beginning of Knowledge"


PROVERBS 1
1. The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 
2 To know wisdom and instruction,to understand words of insight, 
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing: in  righteousness, justice, and equity; 
4 to give prudence to the simple,knowledge and  discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and  increase in learning,and the one who understands obtain guidance,”

Those who study the Scripture as God's Survival Manuel, find and acquire wisdom for living, and peace in living!  Those who do not, live roller coaster lives, making one disastrous decision after another! All along they wonder "Why?"


Grab a pen and paper, a notebook or your computer and start today listing the promises and guidance from each chapter of our study that God's Word read, mediated on and applied will do in your life! Ask yourself, "How do I apply this?in what area do I need..."   You will soon find yourself "making wise decisions" and "avoiding tricks and traps of the enemy!"


This is Pastor John, be in church Sunday, and be in the Word everyday!  Treasure the Word!

www.nbcornerstone.com

Moses- Part 5

“For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord; The Lord swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Joshua 5:6

Good morning, before we get into the scripture I want to share with you a story from when I was in high school. It was my freshman year at East Wake high school where I was in marching band. We were learning how to march the box where I seemed to look lost while marching.  It caused my band director to call out “Hey Wiggins!” I responded, “Yes sir!” He then asked me “Are you Jewish?” A little bit confused at this part I said, “no sir” and he said, “Well then, why do you look like your moseying around in the desert”. I tell you this story because it is time we stop moseying around in the desert. 

Do we remember why Israel was wandering around in the desert for 40 years?  It was not just one act of disobedience. The Israelites were delivered out of slavery from Egypt, as soon as they got out of Egypt the built a golden calf and worshiped it.  The first time they saw the land that God had promised them they sent spies to check out the land all but two came back and said that the enemy was too strong and that they could not win the battle. Even Moses, the mighty man of God, disobeyed God (Numbers 20:11). Time after time we see the Israelites complaining and not following God despite the fact that it was God who delivered them from Egypt. In Numbers 16:25-32 you see the story of men who challenged Moses and whether or not he was sent from God. God opened up the earth and swallowed these men whole with their entire families. The point is they wandered in the wilderness because of their disobedience, and lack of faith in God. 

If we look at the journey taken by Israel to get to the Promised Land, we can compare it to our walk with God. As mentioned in the earlier devotions this week, Egypt can be looked at as our past lives. As my pastor would call it our BC lives (Before Christ). They were freed from their bondage by God and by miracles of God. But as soon as they were freed the disobedience kicked in. They decided it was better to live as a slave in Egypt than to go to the Promised Land. Take a look at our walk with Christ. How many of us fall into and get stuck wandering in the desert because of our disobedience to God? We know His word and His will but we don’t do it. God’s plan was not for Israel to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, they did that to themselves because of their lack of faith. 

So many Christians get stuck wandering in the wilderness and not advancing to the Promised Land. You have to understand that, personally, when I talk about the Promised Land I am not talking about heaven, I am talking about what God wants us to accomplish while we are here on this earth. Our promised land, whether it is a job that God has intended for us, or a certain city he wants us to be. Too many of us never make it to where God has intended our lives to go, because we are stuck wandering in the wilderness. It’s time to stop wandering and it’s time to become men and women of faith; to go where we are commanded to go to finish the race that God has laid out before us. To not put things into human perspective but rather to understand that all things are possible when God is involved.

Let us pray: Dear Father, teach us how to stop wandering around the desert Lord. Show us Your way and Your will. Teach us how to be obedient through Your word.  Bring the right people into our lives to help guide us along the way. Let us not be afraid to take the leap of faith Lord and remind us that you are always there with us. In Jesus name Amen. 

David Wiggins

Youth Pastor

www.nbcornerstone.com

Moses- Part 4

“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And where I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:13

Good morning, this scripture is based on the tenth and final plague. The Israelites were told take a pure lamb, kill it, and put its blood over their doors and the angel of death would pass over their house and allow them to live. This scripture is a foreshadowing of salvation and the cross. It is by the blood of a pure and spotless lamb (Jesus) that we are saved. It was because of Jesus’ death that death has lost its sting. It was through this plague that the Israelites were set free, just as it is through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that we were freed from our slavery to sin. Let us not forget the sacrifice that was necessary for us to gain salvation and freedom.

I want to encourage you to focus on your walk with Christ. But to also teach others about Christ so that they may gain the peace of knowing who our Savior is, so that death loses its sting on them as well.

Let us pray: Dear Father, I want to thank You for sending Your Son to die for me on the cross to save me and allow me to walk with You and serve You. Lord help me to teach others about You so that they can experience what I have experienced with You. In Jesus’ name Amen.

David Wiggins

Youth Pastor

www.nbcornerstone.com