I'm Following Jesus – Page 1424 – Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2020
Chapters: Proverbs 4-6
Message: Get Wisdom

Hello My Friend,

Wisdom; The right use or exercise of knowledge. The wisdom we receive through the Word of God is true religion, for it is what teaches us the knowledge and fear of God, and sincere obedience to His commands. Let me tell you, just because we know something that does not mean we have wisdom, in order to have wisdom from the things we know we need to understand how to use that knowledge correctly. Anyone can read a drivers manual and have the knowledge to drive a car, but unless we are instructed the right way, we will not be wise enough to drive. Do you know why God gave us His Word with ungodly people in it? These people had the knowledge of the Law, and learned what happens when they disobey it. Therefore, the God’s Word gives us the knowledge to know what is right and wrong, the examples give us the wisdom when we use that knowledge to please God and not our flesh. Old or New Testament times, God never changes, and neither does His Law.

[I Corinthians 10:1-6 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.]

[to the intent we should not lust after evil things,] We know that lust is the extreme desire to feed the flesh, whether we desire that piece of cake, diamond ring, or position at the top, lust works the same way, it is to gratify the extreme desire of the flesh. Lust never gratifies, and often leads to evil in an attempt to obtain what the flesh desires. Just look at all the oppression from Covid and now all the violence going on, these are prime examples of what happens when people lust after evil things. What are evil things? [I Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.]

Knowledge truly is power, it is what we do with that knowledge that makes one wise or foolish. God gives us the knowledge on how to live a blessed, prosperous, and virtuous life here until He brings us home, in order for it to become wisdom, we need to understand and heed that knowledge, not ignore it.

[Proverbs 4:1-6,10-12 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.]

[thy steps shall not be straitened;] Do you know how twisted the road is fir every faithful Christian? The gate may be straight, and the path narrow, but the road definitely is crooked, and we really do not want it to be that way either, for it is the crooked paths that lead us to the best in life, [Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.]

You see, the wicked, while they may seem like they know what they are doing, are actually fools. They hide their faces, do everything in the dark, and are oblivious to the fact that the life they are living will send them to hell if they do not repent. Those who are really smart find faith in the Word of God, and those words are like eye opening and life giving. [Proverbs 4:19-27 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.]

[For they are life unto those that find them,] There is nothing more livelier to the soul than hearing the Gospel of Christ. Let me tell you, there is not one person who believes in God that has not received knowledge of the Gospel, but that is where it ends for many. Look at Satan, he definitely knows the Gospel, and yet his pride is going to take him straight to hell too, and do not think that Satan is not scared, he is very scared, [James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.]

[Ponder the path of thy feet,] Ponder; To weigh in the mind; to consider and compare the circumstances or consequences of an event. Every step we take needs to be thought out, and by far, taken with the Word of God upon our heart, especially when we are facing trials such as these. Life is full of trials, we need God’s words to learn how to handle them, otherwise, we will end up making decisions that could lead to dire consequences. Trials of faith tend to bring a lot of temptation, all Satan needs is a little inch of pride, jealousy, envy, lust, anger, or whatever it is that weighs on our heart for him to introduce temptation, and before you know it, we fall.

[Proverbs 5:14-17,21-23 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. 15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. 22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. 23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.]

[I was almost in all evil] Now, we all have a little bit of evil in us, and are very capable of getting the things we want by using the knowledge we get on how to get things. Just think about it, even when we are babies we learn to cry to get the things we want. While that is really not evil, sadly, there are many people who will take knowledge and use it for evil. Just look at Satan, all the knowledge he has, and it is all used in an attempt to destroy the very creation that means more to God than anything else He created, and that is man. We were almost in all evil until we heard the sweet Gospel of Christ, believed it, and it gave life to our soul, [Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.]

As we consider the path that God leads us on, we must think about who we are walking with, and if they have the knowledge that we have or are going to be trouble for us. Now, we all learn at different levels, so do not think that just because someone is not aware of something in God’s Word that they are wicked. I say that my boyfriend is a babe in Christ because he has a lot to learn about God’s Word, but he knows the Gospel, and I will tell you what, he shows more love and compassion toward others than I do. And for the first time since I dedicated my life to Christ, God has finally gotten me to see that a prosperous life is not about knowing everything His Word has to say, it is about getting wisdom by exercising what I do know.

Proverbs 6:16-23 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:]

[and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:] God does know everything about me, He made me, He knows my strengths, weaknesses, talents, skills, demeanor, my heart, my spirit, what I feel, and what I am going through. I often wonder why God allowed me to learn something that perhaps was never intended for me to learn, but I now realize our past experiences were never meant to condemn us, although all sin leads to death, they were meant to bring glory to God as we draw near to His Son to overcome it, [Romans 8:36-37 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.]

Today’s Prayer: God, You tell us time and time again that if we want a blessed and prosperous life we need to follow Your commands. While we are saved by grace You still want us to follow Your commands and live, and it is really the only way we can truly enjoy the gifts that You gave us. Lord, lead me and guide me on the path that You have for me, search my heart, try me, and see if there be any wickedness in me. Let me ponder all the paths I take, and if they are not led by You, turn me around and get back in the right direction. Fill me with Your wisdom, understanding, mercy, grace, and let me never use my knowledge of You for evil. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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