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!