Choosing Wise Company

Choosing Wise Company

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

The definition for "seducing" given to us in the Strong’s Concordance is: roving (as a tramp), that is, (by implication) an imposter or misleader–deceiver, seducer. Jesus tells us to "take heed that no man deceive you" (Matt 24:4). Paul warns his young disciple Timothy that "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Tim 4:3-4). There are many warnings given to us concerning false prophets and, as the children of God, it is very important that we do not give heed to seducing spirits that can draw us from the truth of Jesus Christ. In this short study, we will see the contrast between the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of seduction by comparing "Lady Wisdom" of Provervbs, Chapter 8, and the "strange woman" in Provervbs, Chapter 7.

Read Proverbs 7:4-27
v7. We can see that the young man is void of understanding.
v9. The scene takes place in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night.
v10. The seductress is wearing the attire of a harlot (which would be very appealing to a young man, void of understanding, in the "dark night") and has a subtil (crafty) heart.
v12. She is lying in wait for the simple young man who is void of understanding.
v13. She caught him, kissed him, and had an impudent (shameless, bold) face.
v14. She has her share of a peace offering. She is under the guise of serving God. The peace offering had to be eaten on the same day it was offered. She is inviting him to share her part of the peace offering. She is doing this with an impudent face. (No shame)
v15. She is looking for this young man in particular (or one like him–void of understanding).
v16-17.Her bed is adorned to be attractive to the young man. She is deliberately trying to appeal to the thing he is desiring most.
v18. She is not only enticing the young man with what he is physically wanting, but also with the offer of finding solace(an easing of grief, loneliness, etc.) in one another.
v19-20.She is stating that the "goodman of the house is gone and will not be back until the time appointed. (Jesus said "Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord doth come"–Matt.24:42)
v21. She causes him to yield with much fair speech and with the flattering of her lips.
v22-23.Just as an ox is unknowingly led to the slaughter by the one who feeds him, so is the simple young man led to his own death by the "strange woman". Just as a bird may be tempted to enter into a snare by the lure of the bait, so is the young man tempted by the deceiver, not knowing that his life is in danger.
v24-27.Wisdom sends a warning against the perils of the harlot, but often she is ignored. She warns that the way of the seducer is the way to hell! Let not your heart decline to her way, go not astray in her paths. She has cast down many wounded and slain many strong men. (see also James 1:14-15)

Read Proverbs 8:1-14
v1-3. Wisdom cries aloud, puts forth her voice. She is where everyone can plainly see her as she makes her appeal.v3–She is even making herself known to the wisest and chief men of the city. This is in contrast to the "strange woman" who made her appeal at night in the shadows.
v4-5. She is calling to all men, encouraging the simple and foolish to get understanding. Obviously, all men are simple and foolish until they get wisdom. The "strange woman" is described as one who "lies in wait" and "comes forth diligently seeking." She does not want the simple young man to get understanding, she wants him to remain vulnerable.
v6-9. Wisdom speaks excellent things, right things, truth–speaking wickedness is an abomination to her lips; all her words are in righteousness with nothing froward (contrary or unsavory) or perverse in them. They are plain to him who has understanding and right to them that find knowledge. The "strange woman" speaks with flattering lips and fair speech. Her purpose is to seduce, Lady Wisdom wants to instruct for edification and correction.
v10-11.Wisdom proclaims that instruction is better that silver and knowledge is better than choice gold. She esteems wisdom to be better than rubies and nothing that a man could desire is comparable to it. The "strange woman" adorns her bed with beautiful things so it will be more desirable to the young simpleton.
v12. Wisdom dwells with prudence. Prudence is the ability to exercise sound judgement in practical matters. Someone who is prudent is cautious in conduct and sensible. The companion of the seductress is impudence; meaning that she is shameless, bold, loud, arrogant, and has no respect for others.
v13-14.We can see that Lady Wisdom reveals the fear of the Lord; the "strange woman"
exemplifies those things which are contrary to wisdom, showing no respect or fear of the Lord and finding pleasure in deceiving those who are simple and unwise. She even uses the facade of serving God as a tool of seduction–the peace offering.

Conclusion
As we read the contrast between the two "women", we can see wisdom crying out to warn the simple and the seductress trying to deceive him so she can satisfy her appetite at the expense of his life. One thing I want to emphasize from this study is the fact that "Lady Wisdom" makes her appeal to all men. By taking note of this, we must realize that the wisdom of men is not the same as the wisdom of God. It is only by the impartation of revelation given to us from God that we can know anything about God; because the nature of God is a mystery to the nature of man and no man can know Him unless He reveals himself (I Corinthians 2:6-16). There is only one way to understand the wisdom of God–that is the revelation of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, Paul said, " But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews an Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." So no matter how much knowledge we obtain or how much work we do, if it is not rooted in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and grounded on the Word of God, all of our efforts will ultimately come to an end. We may store up treasures on earth, but they will only become corrupted; this world is temporal and one day all of its glory will come to nought.

John Burkett

Necessity of Suffering

Necessity of Suffering

II Chronicles 12:1-8
2Ch 12:1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
2Ch 12:2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,
2Ch 12:3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.
2Ch 12:4 And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
2Ch 12:5 Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
2Ch 12:6 Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.
2Ch 12:7 And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
2Ch 12:8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

Discussion Questions

1. In verse 1, what 3 things did Rehoboam do?
Established the kingdom, strengthened himself, forsook the law of the LORD. When we establish our own kingdom and find strength in ourselves, most often we forget the goodness of God and we forsake HIS ways to follow our ways.

2. Why did Shishak come against Jerusalem?
Because they forsook the Law of the LORD. Shishak, the king of Egypt, was the instrument God used to afflict His own people. YES!! GOD did it!!!


3. What was God’s purpose in allowing Shishak to attack Jerusalem?
(v8) So that Rehoboam and all of Judah would know His service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries. God wants us to realize what He offers in comparison to the world. The yoke of the world is heavy–always trying to please everyone, always trying to fit into the status quo, always trying to "compete with the Jones" if you will–man is not easy to please. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden light (Matt 11: 28-30).

4. How was God’s wrath diverted from Jerusalem?
(vv6-7) Because they humbled themselves before the LORD. We have to come to the realization that we need the strength of the LORD; that we are men who can only achieve things in our capacity. We need to depend on the mind of Christ to help us establish things and understand things. Things that we would never even be able to conceive in our minds without Him revealing them to us. Jesus said without Him we could do nothing (John 15:5).

I Corinthians 11:31-32
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the best way to avoid chastisement from God?
If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. We need to examine ourselves to see if we are outside the parameters of God’s Word and, if we are, we need to take whatever means are necessary to try to step back within those boundaries. I’ve found that this always consists of humbling ourselves before God and acknowledging our shortcomings–realizing that we cannot walk by our own strength.

2. Why does God chasten us?
So we will not be condemned with the world!! God causes us to go through things in order to bring us to a place of realization and revelation–realization of who we are and revelation of who Jesus is. He’s going to perfect us, no matter what He has to do to accomplish it. If we don’t judge ourselves, God will judge us. If we belong to Him, He will weigh us in the balances; and if we are found lacking, some adjustments are going to have to be made. Do it LORD!! No matter what it takes!!

Conclusion

Last week in our study, we discussed the fact that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). As creatures of habit and comfort, we expect things in life to go exactly how we want and when we want it. Just like Rehoboam, many times we are trying to establish our kingdom and trying to find our own strength. Instead, we should be trying to establish God’s Kingdom and finding our strength in Christ. When we lean on our own understanding and our own strength, we will always fall short in the will of God. Hebrews 5:7-9 says this concerning Jesus:

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Now if Jesus had to learn obedience through the things which He suffered, how much more do we need to be brought under the subjection of trials for the perfecting of our faith? (James 1:2-4 and 1 Peter 1:6-7). Jesus said, "In this world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). That’s a promise we aren’t always willing to hold onto. If our master had to endure things which were contrary to what His flesh desired, we should be comforted in our trials, knowing that every gift from God is good and that every gift from God is perfect–even when we don’t think so.

I Peter 2:19-25
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.