Week 19, Proverbs Chapter 19

Welcome to Week 19. We are a group of dedicated ordinary women who want to gain spiritual knowledge through studying the Word of God. We know by studying God’s Word that we will hear God speaking to us. This is how we go about becoming the woman He has created us to be. Our goal during these 31 weeks is to begin the journey towards healing spiritually, mentally and physically. We are thankful for our inheritance into His Kingdom.

Our theme verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24 Now may the God of peace sanctify you through and through and may you whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who has called you is faithful and He will do it.
Stay on the Way! It is the only Way to Stay!

Homework

1. Study James 1:14 and write out what this verse is saying to you. “But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions)”. I never really know from week to week why it is that God has me put down certain verses for which to expound upon. We do not think of ourselves as evil or having evil desires. But we are. Evil is anything other than Godly focus. Evil is defined as sinful. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. So what is it that continues to cause sin in my life? For me it is lack of prayer and discipline. Whenever I am drawn away from God’s direction, I am being enticed and baited by the enemy to follow my own direction. What is God teaching me through my recent decision to help Kay with Abby? It is now that I must pray for His direction rather than being enticed by my disappointments with adults. I am to love these children and show them Christ’s love.

2. Also study James 4:4 (NKJ) Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Amplified version: You (are like) unfaithful wives (having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God}! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. These two verses are teaching us about being a true Christ-follower friend.

3. Now look up John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Two verses tell you not to be a friend of the world. One says to lay your life down for your friends. Write your thoughts as God speaks to you concerning what type of friend you are.
It just hit me. Laying down my life doesn’t mean to die physically for someone; it simply means to put other’s lives before your own. You are not your own, you were bought with a price. Our life has already been redeemed. We are living with eternity in mind. Not the here and now. When we are a friend to the world, we are merely existing for ourselves. When we are a friend of God, we are laying our lives down for others as John 15:3 indicates.

Amazing teaching! God through His Word is right there whenever life seems to come at you too fast. We are the bride; He is the bridegroom. The adulteress relationship is living for ourselves

4. Read Chapter 19 – make notes of what verse speaks the most to you.
5. If your last name begins with a “B”, then be prepared to teach 1-4
6. If your last name begins with a “C” then be prepared to teach verses 5 – 8
7. If your last name begins with an “E” then be prepared to teach verses 9 – 2
8. If your last name begins with an “H” then be prepared to teach verses 13 – 16
9. If your last name begins with a “K” then be prepared to teach verses 17 -20
10. If your last name begins with an “R” then be prepared to teach Verses 21 -24
11. If your last name begins with a “W” then be prepared to teach verses 25 -29
12. If your last name begins with an “L” then be prepared to sit and listen to what the other letters of the alphabet are going to teach from God’s Word. J

Everyone did a fabulous job in researching and studying their verses. I cannot include all of what they said, but what a blessing it was to hear how many things God taught each lady. The following is a brief look at all 29 verses.


My thoughts on Chapter 19: 1-29
Vs 1 It is better to be poor with integrity (character), than a wealthy/self-confident perverse speaking fool.
Vs 2 I am often very quick to hastily offer to “fix” whatever situation needs fixing without (knowledge) checking to see if God desires for me to fix it! I often move too quickly because I do not like to hesitate whenever a need arises. But hasty decisions may not be the best. It may be the wrong decision.
Vs 3 Blaming God. It takes a developed matured spirit to agree with God sometimes. In my mind, it doesn’t always seem “fair”, but perhaps the result of foolish behavior is the cause of certain outcomes.
Vs 4 Wealthy people seem to have a lot of friends, but what are the “friends” wanting from a wealthy person? The popularity, the stuff, the food and parties? It there any substance to that friendship or just notoriety? Why do I want to be friends with someone who is Godly wise and poor? (James 2:2-3)
Vs 5 vs 9 is almost the same as 5. We are always caught somehow when we lie. Gossip is lying too because you do not know if it is the truth for sure or not.
Vs 6 Boy isn’t this true. Everyone wants to be friends with the prince. One of the saddest things is when someone is dying and how greed sets in to accumulate the dead person’s wealth.
Vs 7 We often just do not have anything to do with the poor. We just ignore them thinking they do not fit into our busy life. Politicians promise to help the poor, but cannot even relate to the poor. Can we believe that the man begging for money and food in a big city could go get a job? Should I help him? Doesn’t he have a choice to work and live “normally”?
Vs 8 Understanding – what are we to understand? The Word of God. That is when you will prosper for eternity.
Vs 9 same as 5
Vs 10 Solomon’s opinion or God’s truth? Not really sure.
Vs 11 Wisdom results in controlled anger. Overlook and forgive those who have wronged you and according to you have done some really stupid things. So have I. It does absolutely no good to hold onto an unresolved issue and to not forgive.
Vs 12 The King’s anger (God’s anger) is always justified when we are disobedient. Dew on the grass replenishes the dried grass as does God’s forgiveness. Ask for it.
Vs 13 We can be a foolish child to our Father. I do not believe God thinks of me as a calamity, but I do know that unrighteous behavior is not a good choice. Does a dripping faucet describe your annoying behavior of nagging your husband’s bad habits?
Vs 14 It is just plain to see that we women need to understand the definition of understanding for God wants us to be an understanding wife.
Vs 15 Can’t get much done sleeping but it is crucial for health to get enough sleep.
Vs 16 This is very important and many people believe that since the commandments are in the OT that they are not relevant to us today. This is simply not true and this verse reiterates the importance of following God’s directions for life.
Vs 17 Contribute what you can and bless someone else.
Vs 18 What age is there no more hope? This is so evident with kids today. They are so many troubled and neglected kids today that are having to become adults much sooner than we did. Shame.
Vs 19 This is indicating that it is important to stay out of the way of short tempered angry people because they are not going to listen to you.
Vs 20 Yes, shut up and listen. Read to educate and grow spiritually, mentally and physicall.
Vs 21 When you make plans make sure they line up with God’s plans
Vs 22 Loyalty is far more beautiful in a person than botox.
Vs 23 Fear and revere God. That is what gives life. Security and harm from the enemy that wants to destroy you.
Vs 24 I do not know anyone like that. But a lazy person wants everything handed to them without lifting a finger. I wonder how many street people could work somehow. Are they lazy or mentally incapable of keeping a job? Am I lazy? Sometimes I think I am spoiled more than lazy.
Vs 25 It is OK to defend your beliefs so that those who are unbelievers can see that you are strong in what you believe. Wise believers must strengthen and encourage other wise believers. Sometimes we just don’t feel that wise.
Vs 26 Am I a disgrace to my Heavenly Father? Am I a disgrace to the faith?
Vs 27 Knowledge. Continue to grow. Continuous knowledge. Never feel like you have arrived at a level of completion in your faith.
Vs 28 Before I allow too much evil to take over my mouth, it is crucial that I pray for God to get me back on the Way track.
Vs 29 By His stripes we were healed. Interesting that vs 29 speaks of stripes for the backs of {self-confident fools} {Isaiah 32:6}. A fool has a choice to allow Jesus’ stripes to take their place or they can choose to be forever beaten for their sins.

Homework Due March 12, 2008

Proverbs Chapter 20

We have 11 weeks left until we finish the book of Proverbs so that means that we are 2/3’s finished and have 1/3 left to go! Do you feel 2/3’s finished? J

What part of your body is 1/3 perfect?
Chapter 20 has 30 verses. You have 6 days to complete your homework. If you divide the verses equally by the number of days you have to complete your homework, how many verses do you have to complete each day?

What lust or passion is controlling your willingness to lay your life down for a friend? John 15:3
Evaluation time: Write out the obvious changes God has made in your spiritual, mental, and physical life since you began this class.
If nothing changes, nothing changes. When God changes, you change.
Read Chapter 20

vs 4 Define sluggard – repercussions of our previous choices are evident today. What area of your life are you seeing this verse scream truth to you?
vs 5 How deep is a deep well? Refer back to 18:4 How do we grow wise? Where do we find living water? What is understanding?
vs 8 – are you a queen on the throne of judgment?
vs 9 - look up Psalm 51:5; 1 John 1:8; 11Chron 6:36 and compare them to verse 9. What is God saying about your heart?
vs 11 - we are a child of God. What actions are we portraying that are making us know to a lost world? Friend or enemy to the world?
vs 14 How great a deal did you get at Belk’s, Walmart, Macy’s or Target this week? It will all be sold in a garage sell or thrown in the Goodwill bag. Worthless. Are you boasting of the “deal/bargain” you obtained? Is it the thrill of seeking or perhaps the thrill of passing time through sedating ourselves with stuff. Worthless. What has value?
vs 15 the lips of knowledge are far more important than gold or pearls. What does this mean?
vs 18 Would you pray for the upcoming leadership in Washington, DC that God will be the deciding factor as to when to pull out of Iraq. Will you pray for the leadership in your home that God will be the deciding factor regarding plans and purposes for everyone in your home?
vs 20 why is it so important to honor your father and mother?
vs 24 Do you believe that God has set the day and time you will die? Do you believe that you have anything to do with that outcome?
vs 26 God is our King. He is going to separate the chaff from the grain with the threshing wheel. What does that mean spiritually? Matthew 3:12 and Luke 3:17
vs 27 The spirit of the man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost part (1 Cor 2:11)
vs 28 What are the characteristics of your King? You are called to be loyal to the throne by displaying those same characteristics. Are you?
vs 30 What are your thoughts are vs 30?
Reread Chapter 20 and have a pen and paper close by. What do you hear God saying?