Week 9

Healing Spiritually

Every time you make a choice towards healing your spirit, your mind and your body you are turning your focus towards Heaven. C.S. Lewis

If only I could just be “spiritual” all the time. You know, living unto the Word of God and being wise; acting with the Spirit’s guidance instead of emotional reactions. How do I do that? How do I stop the emotions from ruling my behavior? I need to get back on “The Way!” It is a very dark and dismal place to be when I allow my mind/emotions to control my behavior. How quickly we can be sucked into the pit of despair. I do not like it there at all. I know in my heart that the results of emotionally controlled behavior are not pleasing to the Lord. I desire to please my Father. HELP ME Lord!

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJ) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NLT) Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24 God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this.

God’s Word clearly divides us into three segments: spirit, soul and body. We are a three-part being, but very few Christians understand the distinction. Understanding originates from knowledge. We must first learn about these distinct parts and what function each has in order to understand who we truly are and why God created us.

We must continue to learn about our spiritual being. Your spirit is your innermost part. It is invisible to the naked eye. We are first a spirit, who has a soul, that in housed in a body….three distinctive parts.

We are always aware of our physical body and our soul. For instance, if I ask you how you feel, you would reply right away with either a physical response (body) (I have a headache, my joints are aching, or my neck hurts because I slept on it wrong) or with a mental response (soul) (I am really angry, or I am depressed, or I am really feeling good today).

But our spirit cannot be accessed in any natural way. In other words, we are not constantly in tune with our spiritual self. Sadly, we spend our time in the emotional and physical part of us. I want to know my spirit more than my soul and body.

John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”

What did Jesus mean by this statement? He meant that there’s no direct connection between the two. You simply cannot contact your spirit through your emotions or your physical body.

Complicated? It may seem like it. But actually it is just “TRUTH” and we have never been taught it.

The Bible says that we are a brand new creation who can do the same miraculous works that Jesus did. You say, “Well, how can I be the same as Jesus?” It is your spirit that is the same as Jesus. The soul and flesh will die but it is your spirit that lives on throughout eternity. So why is it that we waste so much time and money on the beautification of our externals? Why is it that we waste so much time worried, sad, depressed, martyring, speaking negatively about ourselves? I don’t know, perhaps it is because we don’t realize that 1/3 of us is complete, perfect and destined for Heaven. I want to change my focus!

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

John 14:12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

You see, we really do not believe or understand what this Scripture teaches because we do not understand the Spirit that resides within us.

I want to unlock the spirit realm of me. I do not want to live my life controlled by my chaotic emotions. The only way to unlock the spirit is to ask God to reveal His Spirit to you through reading His Word.

John 6:63 says: It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father. 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

(NKJV) 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.

(NLT) 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing.

With our eyes we see our physical external body. It is obvious. When I am talking to you, I see your body but I am speaking to your soul (your mind, your will, your emotions).

When we read the Bible, we are seeking to find our spirit.

James 1:23-25 For if you just listen and don’t obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 BUT if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

My problem is, I forget what I heard. I blame it on Alzheimer’s or Menopause or lack of ginkgo biloba!

We know that when we look into a mirror, we see a reflection. God’s Word perfectly reflects who you are in the spirit.

Let’s go back to 2 Cor 5:17-18

NKJ - If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,

NLT – What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun. 18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did.

It does not say that “all things are becoming new” or that all things have the potential to become new, it says: all things have become new.

So now what we do is say, “Well that verse isn’t true!” I am still depressed, overweight, angry, I still act stupid, do stupid stuff, still act emotionally, still think bad thoughts.”

That is why it is important to understand that some day when we die we will receive a brand new glorified body.

But for now, today, we are stuck with the same physical body and soul that we had before we accepted Jesus Christ. What changed then?

It was our spirit. We received a born again spirit.

That born again spirit is what transforms our attitudes, our personality, our mind. We now must commit to studying God’s Word so that when we look in the mirror we will begin to see a reflection of Christ.

THIS IS NOT NATURAL MY FRIEND. We are so used to being conformed to the world. The transforming of your mind will only come by seeking your born again spirit. (Romans 2:2)

It is our goal for this class to rely only on our born again spirit to transform us. Our will power to lose weight, our will power to exercise, our will power to change our thinking, our will power will fail us every time.

The good news is your born again spirit is perfect and complete as it’ll be with you throughout eternity. You won’t get a new spirit when you get to Heaven because it is already new. You will get a new physical body and a new soul. Your spirit is now as perfect and complete as Jesus Himself.

We just need to understand this knowledge and apply it to our lives. I will help you if you help me. I will hold you accountable to this truth if you will hold me accountable.

Why is it so easy to be pulled back into old thinking? It is because we have been hearing it wrong for so long incorrectly.

I truly desire to experience the life God intended for me to experience, not a life filled with regrets.

Do this with me.

Draw a circle and inside the circle, label it spirit. This is your spirit. Now draw another circle around the spirit circle and label it soul. Again, draw another circle around the soul circle and label it body.

Notice that your soul touches both your body and spirit but your spirit does not touch your body.

For your homework for next week, I want you to take this diagram and look up the following verses:

James 2:26
Gen 2:27 - find out what the word breath means
Job 26:4
Proverbs 20:27

Answer this question: When did life come to Adam’s body? When was Adam able to walk and talk with God? What happened when Adam sinned? How long did it take before mankind was about to walk and talk with God again?

We will discuss these answers next week. It is fascinating!

Mental Healing (Soul, will, emotions)

Although I divide the Spiritual section from the mental and physical, I am hoping you start to see how the three flow together. The interrelationship between healing spiritually, mentally and physically will be quite evident as we continue to learn. It is all controlled by your born again spirit. Are you born again? Do you know for certain that if you died today that you would be in Heaven? It is not about being good and acting better than your neighbor. It is not about going to church or being raised in a Christian home.

It is between you and God.

1 Peter 1: 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever 24 because….all flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.

I believe this verse means that we will all die regardless of who we are. We humans are replaceable, disposable, and dispensable. When we die, life will continue. The Word of the Lord is the only thing that endures forever.

Unfortunately we live as though we will not die. We live sad, fearful and sick. I’m sick of not living the abundant life God intended for me to live because of fear.

Homework answers for Week 9 were discussed during class.

Week 9, Chapter 9 Homework
Due November 28, 2007

1. Many numbers have a spiritual significance in the Bible. What spiritual significance does the #7 have? Completeness, or perfection; a number representing earth crowned with heaven (Rev 1:4) Seven suggests that wisdom is essential for a perfect world.
   
2. Basically what verses 1-5 mean are this: Now is the time to start chewing on the word of God to become wise by doing what? Studying and praying. Vs 6 Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise!
   
3. What do vs 7-9 mean? The wise accept rebuke, (to criticize sharply, reprimand) learn from it, and become even wiser. A scoffer (one who mocks, ridicules, laughs at, makes light of, belittles, makes game of, puts down) will never accept correction and therefore cannot grow or change.
   
4. Who does God correct? Proverbs 3:12 Those He loves…Praise God!
   
5. vs 10 is often quoted. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Why is the fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge? Fear: reverence, deep respect, honor, awe, regard, wonder, Do you remember what understanding meant in our knowledge, understanding, discretion, wisdom discussion? _____Any information that comes to us through our senses. Seeing, touching, hearing, feeling, tasting__
   
   vs 7-9 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get a smart retort (reply sharply, counter, return, rebut; give answer, say, respond, reply, answer, come back with, fire back). Anyone who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. 8So don’t bother rebuking mockers; they will only hate you. But the wise, when rebuked, will love you all the more. 9 Teach the wise, and they will be wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn more.
   
6. vs 11 and 12 Why should we want wisdom? __I want godly wisdom because I am sick of reacting emotionally, defensively, and wrongly. Plus wisdom will multiply my days and add years to my life. If I become wise, I will be the one who benefits. If I scorn (mock, make fun of, ridicule) wisdom, I will be the one who suffers.___
   
7. There’s that loud woman again! The woman named Folly! Folly: foolish, brainlessness. Won’t she ever go away?
   
   NLT vs 13 The woman named Folly is loud and brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t even know it. 14 She sits in her doorway on heights overlooking the city. 15 She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business. 16 Come home with me, she urges the simple. 17 Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best! 18But the men don’t realize that her former guests are now in the grave.
   
8. Ask yourself this question. “How hard have I committed to change?” We are in going into our 2nd trimester. There are only three trimesters! (Well that makes sense!) Remember we are dividing into three segments: Spirit, soul and body! 1/3 of us became perfect when we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. 2/3 of us needs work! But praise God we are at least 1/3 perfect and that 1/3 is all it takes to be a child/heir of the King!!! So dance and praise God that He called you by name and you will spend eternity in Heaven.
   
   Just as committed as I am to eating whole foods and exercise, I must be as committed to the renewing of my mind. I am the one who gets defensive when someone says something that to fun at me. I am the fool. What I find repulsive in others in what I can’t stand about myself.
   
9. I do want to encourage you to reread chapters 1-9 over again during this long break. Perhaps you may rediscover a new truth that you overlooked on one of your busier days of studying. Write it down and let the class know what you learned.
   
   Wisdom comes from God alone. Wisdom comes from constant exposure to TRUTH, not religiosity.
   
10. Curtail your desire to overeat. You will kick yourself later if you do not. Eat with discipline and commitment to “The Way to Go Lightly”.
    
    
    Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night! See you on the 28th!
    
    

YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE KING! J LIVE ACCORDINGLY!
HOMEWORK due December 5th, 2007 (Chapter 10)

December 5 and 12th (Chapter 11) we will have class as usual. December 19th we will share dinner together and discuss (Chapter 12). In lieu of a $10 gift exchange, everyone will be asked to donate the $10 to go to a designated family.

We will not meet December 26 or January 2nd but will resume class on January 9th. (Chapter 13)

December 7th there will be jewelry displayed at my house for purchase. This is a local artisan I met at a craft show. Time is 6 – 8:00. It is an open house so come anytime during those hours. Call me for directions.


Chapter 10

Contrast between the Godly and the Wicked

1. What is the definition of grief? _________________________ Also define foolish? _______________________________
2. What is an example of “treasures of wickedness?” _________________________
3. vs 2 What can save your life? Or in other words: deliver you from death? ____________________________________________________________
4. Is that eternal death or natural death? ______________________
5. vs 7 NLT We all have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. What legacy do you want to leave behind? Scary thought. __________________________________________
6. vs 9 People with integrity have firm footing, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall. How again is it that we follow The Way? ________________
7. vs 12 Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offenses. _________________________________________ Would this verse come in handy the next time you feel a quarrel coming on? Who amongst us needs to win the quarrels? Could I possibly stand to lose just one battle?
8. vs 17 Are you seeing a repeated command here? We are to accept correction. Define correction and does this differ from criticism? Or intentional ragging on for humor? _______________Am I able to evaluate the correction for validity?
9. vs 19 Where was this verse hiding on Monday when I talked too much about my “unrealistic” expectations of a Cinderella Thanksgiving? It fostered sin alright. Forgive me Father. Your Word teaches me righteous living. I ignored it.
10. The fears of the wicked will all come true, so will the hopes of the godly. Whoa. As a man thinks, that He will become. What are your fears? Be careful. According to this verse they will come true.
11. 26 Are you a pain to your employer because of your laziness? _______________
12. vs 27 We have seen this before. Why do you suppose Solomon keeps repeating himself to his son?
13. 29 The WAY of the Lord is strength for the upright! I am on the Way to go Lightly!
    Who will not inhabit the earth?
14. What do you want written on your epitaph? (gravestone)…How about this: Here lies a woman that brought forth wisdom. Wow!
15. Do you want to reflect the image of Christ in that mirror you look into every morning? Just as a tree naturally produces the fruit of what type of tree it is, so you will naturally produce the fruit of wisdom if your roots flow deep into the TRUTH of righteousness.
    Verses 30, 31, 32 describe a godly woman.
    
    -A godly woman will never be disturbed
    -A godly woman gives wise advice
    -A godly woman speaks words that are helpful.
    
    Write these three characteristics on a piece of paper and put it in your pocket. Read it throughout the day. Put it into action. All advice must be wise (from scripture). All words must be helpful. You are not to get disturbed by anyone or anything!
    
16. Weigh yourself. Exercise harder than your flesh desires. Eat only foods that God created. Resist the devil and he will flee.
17. Make someone happy by doing a random act of kindness everyday this week. Compliment the checkout person. Take muffins/cookies to the neighbor with your phone number on it.
18. Park as far away from the store as the parking lot allows. Walk around the store once before putting one thing in your basket. Are you an impulse shopper? Look at the items you have in your basket before checking out? Is there a food item that is not beneficial to your body? Put it back. Is there a food item that is processed, full of additives and chemicals? Put it back. Is there a drink in your basket that will give you headaches, stomachaches, and high blood pressure! (coffee J)! Put it back!
19. Pray without ceasing. I need your prayers. You need mine. Commit more time to prayer than to worry. Christmas will still be on Tuesday, December 25th regardless if we get the cards mailed, the packages wrapped, the tree decorated. What’s truly important? Prayer. Pray for wisdom in knowing who to bless, not out of obligation, but because we want our mirror to reflect the image of a godly wise woman!

Recipe
Honey Nut Banapples

1 large crisp apple per person (your choice)
1 banana per person
¼ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup of raw sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
1 tbsp raw, unfiltered honey or maple syrup
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Sprinkle of nutmeg

Plain or vanilla yogurt. (Stoneyfield brand)

Cut apple into slices putting into cereal size bowl. Combine remaining ingredients and drizzle over apples. Dollop each serving with yogurt.

Note: This recipe is nutritionally balanced and will sustain you until lunch. Your blood sugar should remain constant without the usually energy surge from fruit alone.

Week Eight, Chapter 8

Spiritual Healing in Proverbs Chapter Eight

Before we delve into Chapter 8, I want to do a short review.

The commitment we have agreed upon for ourselves is to always turn to the Word of God for all spiritual, mental, and physical healing of our bodies. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)

1Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

Although we often act like we are in control, this verse indicates that we are not our own.

1 Cor 6:20 - For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body

This is not an option. We are not our own. We belong to God. We were bought with a price. Therefore, we are to honor God with our body.

How do we do that? We make the decision to allow God to do it for us. We cannot change ourselves. Only God through the Holy Spirit who lives within us as followers of Jesus Christ can do the changing.

Remember our theme verse? It is 1 Thessalonians 5: 23, 24

May God Himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.

The ministry of “The Way to Go Lightly” is all about teaching women to keep their whole spirit, their whole soul, and their whole physical body blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He created us and has called us to remain faithful with and through our bodies.

If God’s only desire for us was our eternal salvation, we would have died the day we accepted Christ as our personal Savior.

But we are still here so obviously there must be a specific purpose for us to be alive.

Are you a Christ follower? Can you remember the details of your conversion, the day you proclaimed that you believe that Jesus Christ is God and that God sent His Son to this earth to die for the sin of the world?

Once you proclaim Him as Lord of your life, you are on “The Way”. We are a people of “The Way” and we believe that the Bible is God’s inerrant Word to those left on the earth to follow.

Matthew 7:14 says: Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, there are few who find it.

You have chosen to follow the way to spending eternity in Heaven. Sadly, the majority will choose the way to destruction spending eternity in hell.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

What are we really doing to “pass away” old things.

When we begin recognizing the dirt in the hidden chambers, our transformation begins. What we choose to use as cleaning material will make the difference as to whether or not we become well.

Maybe you are using an old fashion broom and dust rag...or maybe you are a little more advanced and are clean your hidden chamber with a swiffler mop!

But we all know there is only one way to clean house.

The following is a recent devotion from Pastor Jeff Hoy that ties in exactly with what we are talking about.

We have to clean out the hidden chambers.

1 Peter 2 [1]
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

Eugene Peterson, in The Message, renders our verse this way: So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. That says it well.

But exactly what is it we are to clean out of our house as we follow Jesus?

Malice means evil intentions. When our intentions do not match those of God, we may have malice in our hearts. When we do something that appears to be right but we have ulterior motives. When we pay a compliment with the intention to gain favor, give a gift with intention
to control, or speak a blessing with the hope to influence we may have malice.

Deceit means anything hidden or crafty, done with stealth or in secret. Anything that cannot be done in the open is deceit. Anything we hide from others is deceit. Even parts of our life deemed to be "private" that are really just sin, are deceit.

Hypocrisy comes from the Greek word for drama or actor. In Greek drama the actors wore masks to portray the character in the play. Jesus had scathing words for people who wore religious masks. We are not to act the "religious" role and then live differently when off of the stage of church.

Envy means to feel ill will toward someone because of jealously. It is a feeling that can sneak up on us. It may come disguised in a variety of spiritual sounding expressions.

Slander means any evil speaking. It does not even have to be false. Even if we feel right or righteous about our
cutting words, when we speak badly about another person, gossip behind their back, or just talk about them out of their hearing, we break a basic principle that Jesus set up. If we have a problem with someone we should always
speak first to that person.

Well how about it? Now be honest. As you look in the mirror of God's Word, do you see a person that you like? No? Then, clean house.

Do you see bad feelings toward someone? Bad blood between you and another? Bad thoughts? Clean house. Is there anything you have said or done in secret? Anything about which you have not been entirely in the open? Anything that you have had to whisper about because to say it aloud would be a shame? Clean house.

Have you been wearing a mask? Acting like one sort of person with one group but entirely different with another? Speaking out of two sides of your mouth? Clean house. Do you have places where you feel like you are on stage? Clean
house.

Have you let jealousy get out of hand to where you actually dislike people that you envy? Clean house. Have you spoken badly about anyone? Anyone? Clean house.

Make a clean sweep. Need some help? I can recommend an excellent cleaning service.

Lord, God. Sweep clean the corners of my soul by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Cleanse me from anything that is not an honor to You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

I do not want to get sick because of the dirt in my temple. Our journey together is to find the dirt and learn how to clean house through the power of the Holy Spirit that resides within us.

Homework Answers: If you are following along online, these questions were not available at our last posting.

1. The end of Chapter 7 tells us that temptation (seduction) is “the way” to hell. We are choosing each day to Go “the Way” that reflects the Light. Ask God to reveal all the hidden dirt that remains in your hidden chambers.
   
   Once it is revealed, then what will you do with it? Sweep it back under the rug? God just recently revealed to me that I am a martyr. Woe is me. No one understands me. All I am is a maid. I do all this work and nobody cares. Poor pitiful me. The dirt is revealed. Will I sweep it back under the rug and pretend like it doesn’t exist? Or will I cry out to Jesus and ask Him to cleanse me with water of life?
   
   Revelation 7:17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
   
2. vs 1 What does “Listen as Wisdom calls out” mean? God is whispering to us in a still small voice – we have to stop the madness and listen. We have to shut down the noise of the world and listen. We have to stop the busyness and listen. These things stop us from hearing. What else stops you from hearing?
   
3. In contrast, what would we be listening for if not for wisdom? We are listening to the world (Satan’s lies and deceptions). What are they? It’s all the dirt that is in your chambers. You listened to Satan’s lies long enough. They are making you sick. Now listen to what the Word of God tells you.
   
4. Wisdom is pictured as a woman (I) who _guides _us (1-13) and makes us __succeed___(14-21).
   
   Back up to the beginning … Wisdom calls us to guide us and if we follow its wisdom, we will succeed.
   
   Contrast to this is Chapter 7’s immoral woman who is trapped in the world’s pull.
   
5. We listen and hear knowledge coming at us all day long. This includes knowledge that lingers within the hidden chambers of our minds that continue to resurface (voices from our past/old nature).
   
   I woke up at 4:00 a.m. the other morning and all kinds of negative talk was going through my head. I got up and read Joyce Meyer’s book entitled: “The Confident Woman”. I stopped the crazies from taking over my day.
   
6. vs 2 says Wisdom stands at the crossroads and on the hilltop along the road.
   
   First I want to point out that some believe God and Wisdom are one in the same. Although it sounds like it because wisdom acts and speaks as God does. I believe wisdom is a characteristic or attribute of God. When we get to the hilltop along the road (top of our career perhaps or halfway through life’s journey) or at a crossroads (wondering which way to go), we have to fall back on the wisdom of the Word. How do we know what the wisdom of the word is? READ IT, STUDY IT, MEDITATE ON IT!
   
7. Who are simple people? Vs 5 Fools. Fools choose the way of the world.
   Who are foolish people? Simple people. Simple people choose the way of the world.
   
8. But God/wisdom invites all men and women to choose her path of life. Fools need her the most.
   
9. Who is “I”? Wisdom
   
10. What is personification? Representing as a person a quality that is recognized by all as not actually being a person.
    
11. What does vs 10 mean? Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; The things of this world have no weight in comparison to wisdom.
    
12. Would you prefer rubies or wisdom? Vs 11 Can any materialistic thing be more valuable than wisdom?
    
13. vs 13 Love for God and love for ____sin______ cannot coexist. Why can we not enter the Holy of Holies and come face to face with God? Because are hidden chambers are filled with dirt.
    
14. Wisdom hates __evil___________ and __pride___________, __arrogance, corruption________ and ____perverse speech.
    
15. Who finds wisdom? Those who search. Wisdom is available to all but acquired only by those who love her.
    
16. Does wisdom just happen? Definitely not and it takes a lot of work and discipline to end the old and begin the new. Is it guaranteed as you age? Definitely not.
    
17. vs 20 If you are a wise person, what “WAY” will you walk? The path of righteousness. What is righteousness? Reflecting Jesus Christ.
    
18. vs 21 Does wisdom bring monetary wealth? There are preachers who teach prosperity using this verse. It makes me sad because I see it as lies from the pit of hell and many are being led astray. I believe this verse is talking about spiritual gifts and being able to give back to thy neighbor, not having expensive things. Things rust, rot, and cause destruction to relationships.
    
19. When was your beginning? Vs 22, 23 This “me” is referring to wisdom. It is the foundation on which life began. An all wise and knowing God created this world. I believe that God knew me way before I was conceived because He is all knowing.
    
20. vs 23-31 Wisdom existed …before the mountains were formed, before the oceans were created, before he made the earth and fields.
    
    I believe verses 22-36 are Jesus talking. He says in verse 22, The Lord formed me from the beginning before he created anything else.
    
    John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was made flesh. The Word was with God and the Word was God.
    
    God has no beginning and neither did Jesus. He was in the beginning with God.
    
    John 1:3-5 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
    
21. vs 33Listen to my _INSTRUCTION/COUNSEL and be wise. Vs 33 Don’t ignore it.
    
22. vs 34 Want joy? Do you remember from the study of James the difference between joy and happiness? Sounds like Solomon is saying the same as James. If you want lasting joy you must follow the instructions of His Word. (What is a godly woman? One who follows God’s principles)
    
23. vs 35 Watch for me at my gates. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. I want to find wisdom, don’t you?
    
24. vs 36 But those who sin against me …wrongs his own soul…injure themselves; All those who hate me love death.
    
25. Choose a Life of Obedience
    
    Or
    
    Choose a death of Disobedience
    

Hosea 6:3 Oh that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.

Philippians 3:12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.

Hebrews 6:1 So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.

Ezekiel 1:12 They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and they moved straight forward in all directions without having to turn around.

Week 9, Chapter 9 Homework
Due November 28, 2007

1. Many numbers have a spiritual significance in the Bible. What spiritual significance does the #7 have?
2. Basically what verses 1-5 mean are this: Now is the time to start chewing on the word of God to become wise by doing what? Vs 6 Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise!
3. What do vs 7-9 mean?
4. vs 10 is often quoted. Why is the fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge? Do you remember what understanding meant in our knowledge, understanding, discretion, wisdom discussion? _______________________________________
   
5. vs 11 and 12 Why should we want wisdom? ________________________________
   
6. There’s that loud woman again! Won’t she ever go away? Ask yourself this question. “How hard have I committed to change?” Won’t she every go away?
   
7. I do want to encourage you to reread chapters 1-9 over again during this long break. Perhaps you may rediscover a new truth that you overlooked on one of your busier days of studying. Write it down and let the class know what you learned.
   
   Wisdom comes from God alone.
   
8. Curtail your desire to overeat. You will kick yourself later if you do not. Eat with discipline and commitment to “The Way to Go Lightly”.
   
   
   Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night! See you on the 28th!

Week 7 1/2

This week’s lesson was a little late getting posted due to a computer and computer user malfunction. The following are the answers to last week’s homework. We spent the class discussing Chapter 7 in detail and did not have a mental or physical section. Also, don’t get confused if you see Chapter 7 written twice in your notes. I was getting confused with chapters and weeks. In order to line chapters up with weeks in session, I repeated week 7 twice. It’s all good!

Remember, if I can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to email me: dlewis@cfl.rr.com.

1. Solomon (God) devotes three chapters in Proverbs to the dangers of adultery indicating His seriousness towards the marriage covenant. I believe that as women, we can be seduced into adultery (immoral behavior resulting in damage to our marriage ..expanded definition) in ways other than another man. What are examples: _gluttony, neglecting to take care of our bodies physically resulting in disease, selfishness, career first instead of family, too busy for grow in Truth, busyness, being a Martha instead of a Mary, not preparing nourishing meals, comparing your husband to other men.
2. Keep my word, treasure my commands, write them on your heart, call them to mind. This is not an option.
3. vs 6-9 what causes the young man to be seduced by the crafty harlot? _putting himself in the wrong place, among the wrong company, where temptation lingers.
4. What causes us to be seduced by the ways of the world? _same answer.
5. vs 11 Are you loud and rebellious? _I talk too much and do not listen enough. It makes me feel smart, needed, important but actually the Word tells me to be compassionate and to listen to the needs of others. That’s being wise.
6. vs 11 Do you have trouble staying home and running your household? __It isn’t what is glamorous. I can see the importance of it, but I am struggling with the balance.
7. vs 12 At times she was at the mall when her money was none, at times she was in front of the tv mindlessly passing time, at times she was lying in bed wondering why she should get up, at times she pulled into the drive thru window ordering foods that were damaging to her body. She was being seduced by her sin nature vs 12 lurking at every corner.
   Men, idleness, food, depression...it doesn’t matter what it is; they will find you if you allow them to enter into your life vs 15. What have you allowed to enter into your life? _chaotic thinking, not living in the present, yearning for someone to approve of me.
8. Oh how these things “seem” so appealing. Vs 21 enticing…vs 22 go to the slaughter…you are a fool………and vs 23 it will cost you your life.
9. PAY ATTENTION: vs 24 to the words of my mouth (THE TRUTH/God’s Words) Do not stray into these paths.
10. vs 26 – you think you are strong enough to handle temptation, seduction, allurement? You are not. The flesh is weak.
11. vs 27 This path leads to hell, descending to the chambers of death.
12. Remember what calamity meant? Disaster/destruction/distress 2 Chronicles 7:22 Because they forsook (disobeyed) the Lord God and worshiped other gods therefore He has brought all the calamity on them.
13. Oh, it is so clear in God’s Word. Obey me and calamity (including disease) will not afflict you. Why is this so difficult to do?
14. Go deeply into the recesses of your hidden chambers and start/continue digging up the roots of sin that linger there. In order to totally heal spiritually, mentally and physically they must be dug up.

My personal confession: During my twenties, I ashamedly entered relationships with married men. I honestly do not know if I will ever be able to stop the emotional memories of how foolish that was and the emotional scarring that has resulted because of it. I know I caused a family to dissolve and I do not know the extent of the damage I have caused the wife and son. I have sincerely apologized to both of them. I honestly hate the person I was but by the mercy of God and His amazing grace, He forgave me. I was lacking understanding (Chapter 6:32). I can forgive myself only because God says He has forgiven me. What a fool I was.

Praise God that He saves filthy sinners and washes us clean with His Living Water. Praise God He chooses us in spite of our past. Praise God He forgives and forgets. Just how far is the east from the west? I have often asked Him. I just need to make sure I stay in constant communion with Him before I crawl back to the past and allow Satan to destroy my mind. He will if you do not keep yourself sealed up in the Word of God. No cracks in the surface to let the poison sliver in. Where does that get me?

Since we had a very short turnaround from week 7, week 7 ½ foods are being repeated.

1. This week’s harmful food to eliminate is: Candy of any kind.
2. This week’s food to add is: Eden plain or vanilla soymilk - There are a lot of soymilks on the market, but Eden is 100% perfect for your body. Drink at least 1 cup a day / 4 X during the week.
3. Next Wednesday is your first “Great Physician’s” doctor’s appointment. Everyone will be weighed, ph level checked, and an individual evaluation of progress will be given. Remember, we are all about change. Nine months towards a new creation.
   Exercise at least 5 times this week.
4. Go into the Hidden Chambers of your Temple and clean out the dirt that remains in there. Remember just dusting won’t cut it, you must clean it with the Water of Life.

Revelation 7:17 - for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes

This is a powerful verse. It helps me a lot whenever I get allow the dirt from the past to creep into my hidden chambers.

Go Lightly!

joanie