Amen. Proverbs chapter 24, and we're coming to the final part, the ending few chapters
of the book of Proverbs now, and it goes up to chapter 31. We're in chapter 24 now, and
if you notice they're just starting to group together a bit more some of these proverbs,
so it's not quite when we were doing sort of 15, 16 in a row in the longer chapters
of single proverbs. There'll be a few less subjects, but there's still quite a few there,
like I said earlier, make sure you've got a pen, make some notes if you can on these,
hopefully there'll be some that apply to you especially today that will help you,
you can be edified by at least. We're in Proverbs 24 and verse one to two said this,
be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them, for their heart studieth
destruction and their lips talk of mischief. And I'm going to pray before we get going with this,
Father thank you for your word, thank you for the book of Proverbs, thank you for the wisdom
we can get from it. Please help me to preach this first half of this chapter in a way that
people will be edified, will take in your word Lord, will grow from your word, will
Lord just, you know, be able to apply it to their lives as well, help me to preach them
accurately and boldly Lord, and fill me with your spirit as I do that please in Jesus' name,
pray Amen. Okay so he said, be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them
for their heart studieth destruction and their lips talk of mischief. Evil men here isn't just
talking about sinners, okay, this is talking about children of the devil in their various forms from
smiling false prophets to corporate psychopaths to the vilest criminals and as the last days
approach there are more and more it seems of these types of people. They're what the Bible
also calls reprobates and notice how he didn't say find them and win no souls, did you see that?
He didn't, he said neither desire to be with them, he didn't say go and hang out with the most vile,
disgusting, filthy people out there and you might be able to save them. No, he said neither desire
to be with them, okay, he said keep away from them, get away from them, okay. He said neither
desire to be them and in Matthew 7 and 6 Jesus said give not that which is holy unto the dogs,
neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn
again and rend you. In Matthew 15 14 he said to the Pharisees let them alone, they be blind
leaders of the blind, he said let them alone and if the blind lead the blind both shall fall into
the ditch. Paul said to these people in 2 Timothy 3 7 never learning and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth. Yet there are still all these so-called Bible believing Christians out
there that seem so incensed by this truth, don't they? Livid by it, so angry, that reprobate doctrine,
get them, you know, how dare they teach that reprobate, it's all over the Bible,
it's all over the Bible, just read your Bible, it's all over it. There are people that are given,
there are people that Jesus Christ said, he said give not that which say don't give anything only
to these people, don't cast your pearls before them, he said let them alone about the Pharisees,
he didn't say just try and win them somehow, just spend your whole time and effort trying to win
people that can't be won. He didn't say that, did he? He said get rid of them. Paul said they're
never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, there are people that are never able to come to
the knowledge of the truth, that's biblical, that's the Bible, like it or not, that's a
Bible old fag hag out there, like it or not, deal with it, that's the Bible, that's the Bible,
you little queer sympathizers, the Bible says they can't be saved, sorry, they've been given over,
sorry, that's what the Bible says, are we a Bible believing church? We don't care, look,
it doesn't matter what's going on in other churches and other stuff, we still believe the
Bible here, don't we? What does the Bible say? The Bible teaches the reprobate doctrine, clear as day.
So if there are people that are of their father the devil, why would you be envious of them?
You ever wondered that? Why would you be envious of people that are of their father the devil?
Why would you be envious of reprobates? Because they often seem to prosper in what is the devil's
world, don't they? They do. Turn to Psalm 73 whilst I read Psalm 37.1, you turn to Psalm 73.
Psalm 37.1, it's the psalm of David and it says, fret not thyself because of evildoers,
neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. So the workers of iniquity is another
word for these people, evildoers being used interchangeably there, and he said, fret not
thyself because of them. He said, neither be thou envious against these people, don't envy them.
And in Psalm 73 a different psalmist, this is Asaph the Levite that was leading David's choir
by the way, he wrote some of these psalms and he said in verse one, truly God is good to Israel
even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well
nigh slipped. Why had his feet almost gone? Why had his steps well nigh slipped? Verse three,
for I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. See, it's one of the
tactics of the devil, okay, lifting up the wicked, making them prosper in this world. That's one of
his tactics, okay, and people get envious of that stuff, don't they? And what happens is God's people,
they're watching their riches, they're watching the popularity of wicked people out there in
various places, especially in the public eye. The devil likes to promote these rich wicked people,
promote their so-called success in the world and people envy that stuff. They look, I wish I had
that, why do they get to have that and not me type attitude, right? They start to envy their things,
their stuff, their popularity, their fame, their so-called, you know, riches and all the things
that they seem to have in life. But he said it and he said in verse four, for there are no bands in
their death but their strength is firm. So sometimes they even seem to die peaceably,
in their sleep perhaps, because sometimes you look at some wicked people in the public eye and you
think, how do they make it to that age and seem to die in a peaceful way? Because it does happen,
doesn't it? Thinking, well, what on earth? He said they're not in trouble as other men,
neither are they plagued like other men. There are rich, wealthy, wicked people out there that
don't seem to be in trouble as other people, they don't seem to be plagued like other people,
therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain, violence covereth them as a garment,
their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish,
they are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression, they speak loftily, they set their
mouth against the heavens and their tongue walketh through the earth, therefore his people return
hither and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. So people are just thinking, what on earth,
you know, they're seeing all this going on and they're getting more and more it seems,
and they say, how does God know and is there knowledge in the Most High?
Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world, they increase in riches, verily I have
cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency. So he's saying that's how it feels
sometimes, doesn't it? You just feel like, what's the point in all this? Look at these wicked people
prospering, look at how they seem to get by in life and they don't seem to go through what we
go through, they seem to just have an easy ride of it. Verse 14, for all the day long have I been
plagued and chastened every morning. It sometimes feels like that, doesn't it? In life sometimes it
feels like that, you just feel like, man I seem to be just getting chastened a bit right now, right?
Every morning, all the day long I've been playing, I'm chastened every morning.
If I say I will speak thus, behold I should offend against the generation of thy children. So he's
saying, I can't behave like these people, I behave like these people, I'm going to get, I'm going to
get trouble for this, from the Lord. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me.
What's the answer? Verse 17, until I went into the sanctuary of God, then understood I their end.
It's about being in God's house, isn't it? He said, it's when I went into God's house, when I went into
the things of God, when I heard what God had to say about it, then I understood it. Surely thou did
set them in slippery places, thou castest them down into destruction. How are they brought into
desolation as in a moment? They are utterly consumed with terrors. So God's house should
remind us where they're going, shouldn't it? It should remind us that they will end up in hell.
That's really it, isn't it? These people that are twice dead, that are plucked up by the roots,
that whatever happens in this physical life, whether they get their just desserts at some
point in their life or not, they're going to go to the lowest depth of hell. Don't envy these people,
which is why back in Proverbs 24 he said, be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be
with them. And it's not just that God's people envy them, they often want to be around them,
okay, around the charming psycho in his various capacities. And nowadays that applies probably
more than, well it does apply more than ever, but it applies in a big way through our electronic
devices, doesn't it? Many people spend more time with celebrity weirdos than God, don't they? Spend
more time with celebrity freaks, with celebrity wicked people, celebrity reprobates than they do
with God himself, than they do in the Word of God, than they do in the House of God, than they do with
God's people. They're just staring, looking, watching, listening, listening to the thoughts,
the musings, the teachings, whether it's by song, whether it's standing on whatever, you know,
soapbox of these, of just pure wicked people. I mean the one that always just comes to mind,
for example, just because he amazingly just got so popular, was that Andrew Tate?
I mean what a joke! I mean that guy is an absolute clown, I mean he's more than a clown,
if he's not a sodomite I'd be amazed. I mean he's as effeminate as they come, he's as wicked as they
come, he's teaching absolute nonsense to people who are hanging off his every word. I mean it's
unbelievable, isn't it? And people are listening to him, God's children are listening to him,
instead of listening to the Word of God. It's unbelievable. They desire to be with
these people, whether it's through their devices or whatever it is, right?
Why is it such a problem? Verse two, for their heart studieth destruction and their lips
talk of mischief. Because they're wicked people, because their goal is to destroy you.
You hang off every word of clowns like that guy, it will destroy your life. Destroy your relationships,
destroy your life. If you even can get in a relationship you follow the advice of
hall monger Andrew Tate. I mean unbelievable these people, the influence they have on people as well,
but yet people lap it up. They lap it up because they're charming, because they ear tickle,
because they make them feel good about themselves, because they're clever with how they do it
in various areas of life. They destroy people through their music. I mean how many people
just have horrific lyrics to songs just going off in their head? You know, long after they've
listened to it, just repeating through their head of stuff that you don't want to be thinking
about, right? Stuff you don't want to be going on through your head, through their music, through
their movies, through their series, through their false teachings, through their negative influence.
Their lips talk of mischief, whether subtly or not. Again, a lot of the time it's not even subtle.
Sometimes it is, sometimes not at all. They eternally destroy the unsaved and they will destroy
the spiritual lives of the saved, okay? Just make that clear. They will destroy your spiritual lives
these people. They will wreck your life. They'll stop you doing the things of God. They'll draw you
into their ways. He said in verse one, be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with
them, for their heart studieth destruction and their lips talk of mischief. How do we do that?
Well, like the psalmist said, by going to God to understand their end. How do you avoid them?
By being in the things of God, by reading your Bible, by being in God's house, by reminding yourself
of where these people are going, what these people are. Don't be envious of these people. Verse three,
through wisdom is a house building and by understanding it is established, and by knowledge
shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Now, although of course we
should all want to build our houses, our homes, our families through the wisdom and understanding
of God's Word, okay? Because that's where ultimately it comes from. I think that this
applies mostly to a house of God, really. I think really, you know, eternally speaking, and I know,
I understand that obviously, you know, there was one house, there was one temple back when this was
ridden, but I think, you know, going forward that's how we would apply it most now, because it's the
only way that that house is being built, isn't it? Through wisdom is a house building. That's the only
way you're going to build a real house of God, is through that wisdom, through God's Word.
And there are a lot of places that call themselves churches, but most of them
aren't a house of God, okay? In 1 Timothy 3.15, Paul said to Timothy, but if I tarry long, let
thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in a house of God, which is a church of the living
God, the pillar and ground of the truth. So if that so-called church doesn't believe the Gospel,
is it really a house of God? And I know, look, you might have heard this stuff regularly, but
it does need preaching, because a lot of people, they just don't get this point, right?
If they don't even believe the Gospel, if it's meant to be the pillar and ground of the truth,
and they teach a false Gospel, which damns people to hell, it ain't a church, clearly, right? Whatever
version of their false Gospel it is, however subtle, however just slightly false it is, however
much it just slightly damns you to hell, it's damming you to hell, right? Okay? It's a false Gospel,
it's not a house of God. If that so-called church uses some corrupt perversion of the Bible, is it
really a house of God? Is it really a house of God preaching and teaching a false version of the Bible?
Oh well, you know, King James only cult members, are you? No, we just believe that God preserved
his word, right? And we have it in the King James Bible, and if I'm going somewhere where they're
just teaching just some latest version of the Bible, is that really the pillar and ground
of the truth? If it's not the truth, surely not. No, because an house is builded through wisdom and
without the Gospel, okay, it's not true wisdom, is it? Firstly, turn to Job 28, and that house
established by understanding without the word of God, there is an understanding, okay? Proverbs
2, 6 says, for the Lord giveth wisdom. You're turning to Job 28, Proverbs 2, 6 says, for the
Lord giveth wisdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. It all comes from the
word of God, doesn't it? Which is why the reading and preaching of the word of God is the centre of
our service. Like it or not, that's why it's centre. It's not, look, you know what, these services would
have been much easier if it wasn't the centre of our service, for me at least. If it was like, you know,
everyone had a little sing-song, we get a few different things, maybe get the kids to do a
little acting piece up here, and get someone else to do like a little special, and everything,
you know, that would make life a lot easier, believe me. That would make my weeks a lot easier, right? But
we're trying to do what we know God wants, and God wants us to teach and preach his word,
and the word has to be central to a real house of God's church service, doesn't it? Because it all
comes from the word of God. That's why it's the centre of it. But it's not just the reading and
preaching itself, okay? To build that house, it's also the results of that. Job 28, 28 said,
and unto man he said, behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil
is understanding. So that's how that house is established, by the results of the word being
preached. Because the word of God gets results, doesn't it? It's the word that gets the results.
It's not really, it's not the preacher, it's not, you know, whatever, it's not, oh well that, you know,
it's just such nice music, that's what got the results. No, it's the word of God that gets the results.
Because the word of God, Isaiah 55, 11 says it like this, so shall my word be that goeth forth
out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it
shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. That's why this church is established. That's why
people's lives are transforming in this church. That's why record salvations are coming into this
church. It's because the word of God is being preached. It's because of the word of God, it's the
effect of the word of God going out for this church into people's lives, cleaning up their
lives, sanctifying them in the word, through the word of God, and the results of that, right? He said
through wisdom is in house building, and by understanding it is established back in Proverbs
24, and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. And what are
the most pleasant and precious riches out there? Eternal life. It's eternal life, isn't it? They're
the most pleasant and precious riches you could have, and what is a real church filled with?
Saved people. Filled with those riches. Filled with people with eternal life, with the gift
of eternal life. That's what a real church should be filled with. Not a load of unsaved heretics of
varying descriptions. I don't know about you guys, but I've been in many churches over the years
that are full of unsaved heretics of varying descriptions, all believing something else,
all but having a different version of the Gospel, a different version of this and that. You've got
a little bit of a smattering of Calvinism over here, a little smattering of Pentecostalism here,
a little smatter, and they all come together and just kind of get by because they don't really
make a stand in the Gospel there. Well, that's not really a house of God, is it? A lot of the time
then when you look back, you look back, you think, I don't think they even believe the Gospel there.
That's probably why it wasn't filled with those pleasant and precious riches. Why is this church
full of saved people? Because the word of God is being preached. That's why. If it wasn't being
preached here, if it wasn't, if it was fun club, if we would just kind of avoid it, if it was a
false, it wouldn't, if I started getting out the NIV next week, if I got out the NIV next week and
the RSV the next week and I started getting out the different Bible perversions, this church would
quickly empty, wouldn't it? Would it last another couple of weeks? I hope not, because everyone
should just walk out. How's that the house of God? How's that the pillar of ground of the truth?
But with the word of God being preached, then what happens? People sought out their lives,
they're sharpening up themselves, they're getting people saved, people are coming into the house of
God, saved people are coming in. He said, through wisdom is in house builded and by understanding
it is established and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant
riches. So I think this proverb should remind us all what builds, establishes and fills
a legitimate house of God, the word of God. And the next proverb kind of goes together, I think,
and also follows on from here, it says this in verse five. A wise man is strong,
yea a man of knowledge increaseth strength, for by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war,
and in multitude of counselors there is safety. Wisdom is too high for a fool, he openeth not his
mouth in the gate. So verse five said, a wise man is strong, yea a man of knowledge increaseth
strength. That's also how that house is builded and established, okay, it's due to the strength
of those lively stones. So again the reason it's built up is because of the lively stones,
because those individual saved people getting stronger from the word of God, right, that's how
the house is built, because that's what strengthens God's people, okay, it's the wisdom from God's
word, that's how we get stronger. If you're putting more time into your exercise routine
than the word of God, you've got it all wrong haven't you? Look, bodily exercise profited little,
but godliness is profitable under all things, right? So look, yeah there's some benefit of
doing a bit of exercise and stuff, but if you're putting more time into that than into the word of
God, well really ultimately it's counterproductive, it's counterproductive, you're going to actually
be getting weaker. So you're doing all that, you're bicep curling away and you're doing all
your exercises, you know, your tricep extensions and everything else, get those guns going, you
know, and like it's like man the guns, yeah, those guns going in, but the whole time you're getting
weaker, because you're not putting the time and effort into the things of God, you're not putting
the time and effort into the word of God. You're pumping all that iron, but you're getting weak,
you're getting flabbier, you're pumping iron all day, but you're getting flabby, spiritually
speaking, okay? Just like the gym, when it comes to spiritual strength,
you either increase or you decrease, that's the way it goes. So you start cutting down the things
of God, you're not doing enough of the things of God, your spiritual strength will just decrease.
You start doing more for God, the spiritual strength increases, but it can either go up or it
can go down, right? A wise man is strong, yeah, a man of knowledge increases strength, it increases,
it keeps increasing, gets spiritually stronger and stronger and stronger. I'm sure many people here,
many people that have been now, you know, part of church, getting involved with church, they look
back to how they were years before and be like, yeah, I've got stronger, I know I've got stronger.
I'm sure many here could say, yeah, I've got stronger, being in the things of God, reading the
Word of God, being involved in church life, in soul winning, in the preaching, in the teaching,
my prayer life and everything else, it makes you stronger, doesn't it? You look back and you think,
yeah, I was a bit of a spiritual weakling before actually, yeah, I was a bit spiritually flabby,
but now I'm getting strong, because that man of knowledge increases strength. The more you live it,
the stronger you get, the more your spiritual muscles adapt and grow, the more you live that
life, the more those spiritual muscles adapt to what you're giving them, to what you're
making them do, to the life you're making it live and the more they grow, the stronger you get.
The knowledge and the wisdom comes from fearing God and living for him and that takes effort.
Okay, fearing God, living for him, that's not easy. Getting saved is easy.
But fearing him and living for him, that takes effort. Proverbs 18 15, Proverbs 18 15 said,
the heart of the prudent getteth knowledge and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Okay, so it takes effort, being prudent, putting time, effort, thought into it all, being careful,
cautious with how you get it, that all takes effort. But that's how you get strong in life
and that's how you can then deal with the spiritual battle as it comes. Verse 6 says,
for by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war and in multitude of counselors there is safety.
So this is a bit of a common theme in the book of Proverbs. Okay, Proverbs 20 and verse 18,
Proverbs 20 18 says, every purpose is established by counsel and with good advice make war.
And we also saw something similar in Proverbs 11 14, which is similar here to chapter 24,
about that counsel. It said where no counsel is, the people fall, but in the multitude of
counselors there is safety. And one way that we can apply this is to make sure that you're
around God's people for when you need that godly counsel. Okay, you need counsel, you need spiritual
counsel, you need help with many things in life, then it's good to go to God's people. But with
that you could say that the wiser people in this church become, the more the wisdom grows in this
church, the more successful we'll be as a whole, as a church. The more counselors, the more wise
people, the better. But another way that you might have heard me apply this, and I believe ultimately
is how you apply this, okay, and other similar proverbs, is that true wisdom comes from the
word of God, doesn't it? Okay, it comes from the word of God and that is your best source of counsel,
the word of God. In Psalm 119 verse 24, the psalmist said, thy testimonies also are my delight
and my counselors. So the word of God, the testimonies of the Lord, of the psalmist's delight
and his counselors, plural, and that's where the wise counsel is. But some verses, passages, some
teachings aren't always so clear, are they, in the Bible? I might interpret a passage slightly
different to you might, certain passages, certain applications of them, even just the explanation.
Some aren't always so clear and how to apply them to your life isn't always so clear. Many people
make bad decisions based on the bad interpretation of a verse. Have you noticed that in life?
A lot of people do. You hear people go, well, the Bible does say this, so that's why I did this,
right, or based on taking, based on taking one verse and not considering other verses. So,
for example, in Matthew 6 31, you don't have to turn there, Jesus said, therefore take no
thoughts saying what shall we or what shall we drink or wear with or shall we be clothed? And
obviously there's a passage there where he talks about that. So, and there are people that will
look at verses like that, maybe they won't go as far, some probably do, as giving up their jobs
and like waiting for the manna to appear on the front lawn or something, or at the least they'll
be like, oh who cares, you know, do I really have to go to work today? God's going to provide for me
anyway. And I have heard people come out with similar things like, God will provide for you,
don't worry, it's all fine. But part of seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, which
it tells us to do, is not being lazy but working for a living. That's part of being righteous,
that's part of seeking his righteousness. Second Thessalonians 3 10 says, for even when we were
with you this week commanded you that if any would not work neither should he eat.
How do you marry it up? Well, you marry it up because you have to look at, you have to get more
than one verse as your counsellors. How do you, how do you get that counsel by looking at more
than just the one verse by having a multitude of counsellors?
And when it comes to that wise counsellor, it's in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
So I think when you put them together, when you do that and you do that with many verses,
you do start to get then the full counsel of God's word. But you can't do that if you're just
taking a verse. If you're taking a verse you don't know what anything else says, oh well that verse
said this, I'll just go. Yeah but how does it, look God's word you have to compare it. It is,
it should be compared line upon line, line upon line, that's the whole point, here a little,
there a little. Okay and that's where you'll get that safety from that multitude of counsellors.
And when you put them together, okay, that for me is the primary application with that wisdom
and knowledge coming from the word of God. He said a wise man is strong, yeah a man and knowledge
increases strength for by wise counsel, for by wise counsel, where does that strength,
where does that come from, it's the word of God, for by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war,
and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. And this is especially important when you talk
about spiritual warfare isn't it. So when we're going to war, when we're battling for the Lord,
and none more so than soul winning, having that multitude of verses, being armed and ready to
answer any objection, that multitude of counsellors helps doesn't it? Yeah. You notice that, you notice
when, you know, when you're, when you're preaching the Gospel and when you just have that multitude
of counsellors, you have that multitude of verses to just show why what you're showing, why that
grace through faith is the only way of salvation, why their work salvation is wrong, that multitude
of counsellors is just safety in that isn't it? But how many people take one verse and run with
work salvation off one verse? He said wisdom is too high for a fool, he opened his mouth in the gate,
and the fool who can't access God's wisdom, who can't access that multitude of counsellors, he
can't open his mouth in those situations. And that's something, I don't know if you ever noticed that
at soul winning, you know, on that same topic, think how those fools just get silenced by the
word of God. You know, it's that those people that are just, you know, they just want to argue with
you, they want to row with you, they think they're like, oh yeah, well how about, and then they kind of,
whatever, maybe they go to James 2, or maybe they, you know, try and come up, you know, Matthew 24,
enduring to the end, or whatever. You explain it, you show them a multitude, a multitude of verses,
and eventually they just go quiet. They don't always get, in fact a lot of the time they don't get saved.
If they're there to be contented, they just want to row it, but they cannot argue with those multitude
of verses can they? Because it's not just one verse, they go, well you're, have you ever had people say,
well you're just reading one verse? How about the whole passage? I've had people do that with things
like Romans 4, and you're like, do you really want me to read the whole of Romans 4? Because,
I'll make it very clear it's faith alone. Do you really want me to read the whole of John chapter 3?
Because it's really clear that it's faith alone. I can if you want, right? Because in the multitude
of Councillors there is safety. In the multitude of those Councillors there's safety in our salvation,
isn't there? We know, we know what we believe. And when you do that, the wisdom, it's too high for
these people, but they just have to shut their mouths, don't they? In that battle, in that, in that battle
that they're in, they just have to shut their mouths, because they can't, they can't argue against it.
A wise man is strong, yeah, a man of knowledge increases strength, for by wise counsel thou shalt
make thy war, and in multitude of Councillors there is safety. Wisdom is too high for a fool, he
openeth not his mouth in the gate. And the lesson is to get strong from the Word of God, get your
multitude of Councillors from the Word of God, don't be a fool. Verse 8, he that deviseth to do evil
shall be called a mischievous person. So someone who deviseth to do evil is someone plotting and
planning bad things. To do harm to people is what it's talking about, okay? Now you might say, well
who really does that? Well, a mischievous person apparently, which isn't talking about a naughty
child, like it might be used more now, okay? Some people go, oh he's very mischievous, like it's kind
of, you know, he's just a bit naughty, it's maybe almost a bit like fun with it, okay? No, mischievous
is harmful, hurtful, injurious, making mischief. So I believe that this proverb is just a reminder
that what we do will define us to others. So aside, you know, from just a black and white view of life,
with either good or bad people that we, you know, can often be tempted to look at, there are people
that you just know are troublemakers. They're not necessarily the worst people, they're just
troublemakers. They seem to always be in the centre of grief. You've never known people like that, yeah?
They're always trying to harm or hurt someone and you kind of at least end up mentally labelling
them as such, don't you? You know, there's people that just constantly have the latest row, the latest
problem, the latest trouble that they've got into, the latest grief. You just start to think in your
head, yeah, that person's a troublemaker. They're a troublemaker. Doesn't mean they're completely wicked, you just
get to know, yeah, they're a troublemaker. And even if they just, even if they seem to feel
justified in their hundredth drama with their planning of revenge, you know, you get these people,
they're just always planning revenge with someone, always trying to get revenge. They've always got
like another drama, another issue, another problem, another person that's wronged them, another issue.
It does make just people normally wary of them, doesn't it? I don't know if you, I get like that,
there are certain people that you kind of know in life, in your past life maybe as well,
you're just wary of them because you just know they're always finding trouble with someone.
And as believers, okay, should we really be plotting and planning against people?
Should that be said of us? However bad they are, however much they've wronged us, just plotting and
planning, trying to find a way to take them down, find a way to destroy them, find a way to get them.
Romans 12 19 says, dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath,
for it is written vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. Because when it's you
devising the evil, you'll be known as a mischievous or harmful person, won't you?
If you just keep devising evil, you're constantly trying to, trying to devise ways of taking someone
down, of doing something to someone, well you're going to get known as a mischievous or harmful
person. He that, he said he that devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
So the lesson is what? I think the lesson is just leave things to God. Leave things to God. Don't be
described as like these people get described as. Verse 9, the thought of foolishness is sin
and the scorn is an abomination to men. Okay, so many might show this verse to people out,
soul winning, or at least maybe quote this verse, I do often, as a way of pointing out that it is
impossible to be sinless. And maybe, maybe you're pointing out that it's not just impossible to be
sinless, it's impossible to be sinless on a daily basis, because we all have foolish thoughts, don't
we? On a daily basis. Okay, so there's a very legitimate truth there, the thought of foolishness
is sin, and that is a truth out of that, that therefore you can't even be sinless really on
a daily or at least a weekly basis for sure. And of course, okay, look, of course that's true, but
the proverb is specifically in the context of the scorn here. So we're going to look at that in
its context here. The scorn is someone that mocks and scoffs, particularly at the things of God,
and often with these people it's internal too, which I think is kind of part of this. Sometimes
when you try to talk about church, God, salvation, to what would be called a scorner, they don't
necessarily mock out loud. You know, speak to those people, you might just speak to those people
on the doorway, just try and invite them to the church. They might not say anything out loud,
but the scorning is written all over their face. People like that, you try and mention God, mention
the Bible, just anything, just try and, you know, invite them to church, and all over the face is
just scorning, scoffing. You can almost hear that, but they don't actually say anything,
and it just comes out in the eyes, isn't it? And those foolish thoughts of those of them are sin,
aren't they? That foolishness, that thought of foolishness is sin. You don't have to turn to Psalm
14 one, it's to the chief musician of Psalm of David, the full have said in his heart, he only
said it in his heart, it's a thought of foolishness, the full have said in his heart there is no God,
they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. So that
foolish thought that there is no God, okay, that foolish thought that the world is an accident,
I mean that is ultimate foolishness, isn't it? I mean, another miracle of life, a miracle of
modern society, something that I don't think really hasn't caught on probably in history
anywhere near as it has nowadays, is that the world that, sorry, not just that the world is
an accident, that people actually think they sound intelligent saying it, it is a miracle.
This is a miracle of today, that there are people all over this world who think that by saying,
I mean, there's no creator, you believe in a God, you know, an escorting scoffer, that stuff,
it's, they actually think they sound clever, that this world created itself out of nothing is some
sort of intellectual sort of position to have, that is a miracle, okay, but the old, the word of
God is fairy tales one, you've heard that one before as well, yeah, fairy tales, and so I mean
what foolishness is that, we tried reading it, fairy tales, anyway, but all of that, whether they say it
or not, if they just believe it in their, whether it's even in their heart, if it's just a thought,
because the ones who believe it in their heart are reprobates, that's what it's talking about
in Psalm 14 and in Psalm 53, I think it is as well, is that they're ultimately reprobates, okay,
these are people that are saying in their heart, if you're telling yourself in your heart there's no God,
that's why it's saying that they're corrupt, they've done abominable works, there's none that doeth good,
but even just the thought of that, just thinking that is sin, okay, and it's not just, it's not just
the differing belief, okay, it's willful rejection of God, really, okay, you just, the thought of that
is just a way of rejecting God, and no scorners are an abomination, not just to God, but to men,
that's what it's saying here, an abomination is something that you detest, you hate,
okay, it's an object of detestation, you hate, and no scoffing, mocking, arrogant, they know it all
types are an abomination, aren't they, when people scoff and scorn and everything, everyone's always
an object to make themselves feel clever about, and that's what scoffers do a lot, don't they,
they're mocking basically anything that they don't think, that they don't believe, they're not just
mocking things, and it's different when we're showing something compared to the Word of God,
but this is just based on their, they're wise in their own conceits, and everything else is
something to basically laugh at, to scorn, to mock, to deride, they're an abomination, those people, aren't they,
they don't just disagree, it usually includes a haughty look, a condescending comment, you know,
you had the ones that say things like this to you, they go, well, you know, some people need something
to believe in, you heard that one before, I like that one, you know, they ask you how you got, so what
happened before, oh okay, yeah, some people need that, don't they, after someone dies, or something
like that, okay, well, and before they even say any of that, those foolish thoughts are already sin,
and that's where sin starts, it starts with a thought, doesn't it, and before that scorn opens
his mouth to his own shame, it starts with thoughts, and how do we get control of our thoughts then?
Focus on the right things, James 4-8 said, draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, cleanse
your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded, so to get control of your
thoughts, you need to draw nigh to God, you need to purify your hearts, because it ultimately
comes from the heart, you need to stop being double-minded, because if you look, if you ever
looked at that, you ever preached it, you ever said, yeah, the thought of foolishness is sin, how do I
control my thoughts? You control your thoughts by getting close to God, and then you start thinking
of the things of God, you saturate yourself with the things of God, and then you're less likely to
have those foolish thoughts, because it's, you know, some people can even talk about it and just
be like, so yeah, thought of foolishness is sin, so there you go, we're all sinners, we all have foolish
thoughts regularly, yeah, but we don't want to sin, do we? We want to try not to sin, how do we try not to
sin? Draw nigh to God, he'll draw nigh to you, yeah, we're going to fail, I'm not saying anyone here is
going to be sinless, but we should at least try it, shouldn't we? Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and
purify your hearts, you double-minded, so I think this proverb, the thought of foolishness is sin,
and the scorn is an abomination to men, is a reminder to get control of our thoughts before we
end up acting like the scorner, I think. Okay, verse 10. If thou faint in a day of adversity,
thy strength is small. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are
ready to be slain, if thou sayest, behold, we knew it not, doth not he that pondereth the heart consider
it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according
to his works? So verse 10 said, if thou faint in a day of adversity, thy strength is small. What's the
day of adversity? Well, that time when there's affliction, when there's distress, when things are
going wrong, okay, that bad time, that's the time that many give up, don't they? Okay, when they're
having a rough time, when they're having a hard time in life, that's when many give up in various ways,
they faint, they stop serving, basically, they stop doing anything, they stop following,
and I'll tell you what those people are, they're weak, those people are weak, look, like in a lumpy,
you know, and you, how dare you call God's people weak, they're weak, that's what he says here.
If thou faint in a day of adversity, thy strength is small. Do you know why it's small? Because they're
weak, they're not strong enough to make it through, and of course, look, people often have a scapegoat
and excuse, but giving up on the Christian life is weak, that's really what it comes down to, it's being
weak. That's why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16 13, watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men,
be strong, be strong. I'll tell you what's stronger than all this stuff out there, all this, you know,
look, we were talking about, like, all the, you know, strength stuff in the gym, all the sporting
achievements, all the tough guy image, all the riches, all the wealth, all that stuff, stronger
than any of that is being a man of God, stronger than any of that is staying strong in the Christian
faith. That's what takes real strength, it's real strength to keep serving, to keep, because you've
got everything coming at you, you've got it coming from different angles, from the pressure from the
world, the pressure from the friends, the pressure from the media, the spiritual angles coming in all
these different places, and if you could keep going, keep going, keep going, that's the sign of strength.
But it's not automatic, but you need to have that on your mind next time the temptation to quit is
there. It's just weakness, really. Don't be weak, be strong. And I'm not just talking to men, I'm
talking to women, I'm talking to children. Don't quit, don't quit on God. How do you get strong?
Because it's not automatic. Well, verse five, what we saw earlier said, a wise man is strong.
Yeah, a man of knowledge increases strength. The word of God, fearing and living for him, isn't it?
That's how we get strong. From the word of God, from fearing God, from living for God, for doing
the things of God, for basically just living for God. That's how you get strong. You want to be
strong in life? You're like, what's the secret to strength? It's the word of God. And it's doing it,
it's not just being a hero, it's being a doer. And what is it that we're hanging in there for?
I mean, what's the point of it all? What is it that we're being strong for? We're already saved, aren't we?
We're already going to heaven. You put your faith in Christ, you're going to heaven, you're saved.
What's the result of our strength? Well, look at verse 10. If thou faint in a day of adversity,
thy strength is small. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that
are ready to be slain, that's what it all comes down to. It's getting people saved. That's what it
all comes down to. It's getting people saved. It's delivering them that are drawn unto death.
It's those that are ready to be slain. That's your purpose. That's what we're here for. That's what
we're trying to be strong for. It's not to be strong to turn up at church on a Sunday and
forget about God the rest of the week. I'm just so strong this week. I turned up and I sung some songs.
Yeah, God wants you in church, yeah. God wants you praising him. But that's not what it's really
about, is it? I've just kept my strength up for those last 10 years because I still read
my Bible in the morning. Yeah, great, but what did you achieve? What's the point of that?
Yeah, you might have got some knowledge. Yeah, great, you might have got a bit of wisdom for that, but
what's the end goal? What's the end result? What's it all about? It's to deliver them that are drawn
unto death, and those that are ready to be slain. That's what our job is, to deliver the unsaved,
to show them the words of eternal life, to wield the sword of the Spirit when we're out getting
people saved. That's what it's about, and it's not just that. It's people in your personal lives as
well. It's people that you run into. It's opportunities you have, but ultimately it's to go out and preach
the Gospel. That's what it's about, isn't it? When you drop out of the battle, the knock-on effect is
people dying and going to hell. That's what it comes down to. When you don't even get involved in
the battle in the first place, when you got saved, you took that gift, you took eternal life, and you
said, thanks, but that's me done, the knock-on effect is more people going to hell. That's what
it comes down to. You go, oh, well, wait a second, you know, it's their choice and everything else.
Yeah, it's their choice, but how do they hear the Gospel? By a saved man, woman, child of God
preaching them the Gospel. That's what it comes down to. That's how people get saved. It goes from faith
to faith. How shall they hear without a preacher? It's not happening. When you choose to just, when
you choose to be just an armchair Christian or worse, when you choose to give up on the things
of God, when you choose to quit on the things of God, you're affecting other people's salvations.
That's what it ultimately comes down to. I mean, I'm sorry to say it, it's not always nice hearing
that, is it? But that's the reality of it. That's what it comes down to. If thou forbear to deliver
them that are drawn unto death and those that ready to be slain, that's what he's talking about.
So when you put money above God, the knock-on effect ultimately is people dying and
going to hell. That's what it comes down to. You go, yeah, but, but that life of luxury, that cash,
that big house, that car, that all those things that means I can't really turn up at church, I
can't really get involved with those things, I don't really have the time for God. More people
are going to hell. Bravo. Great. When you put your lusts before God, the knock-on effect is people
dying and going to hell. Whatever those temptations are in your life, whatever those things are that
pull you out of serving God, the result is more people going to hell for eternity. And they
ain't getting out of hell. Once they're there, they're there. When you fold like a cheap deck of cards,
and people do, don't they, sadly, in the Christian life. When you wimp out because you broke a nail,
because you got a splinter, or the spiritual version of that,
when you got your feelings hurt by the preaching.
Yeah, I mean, I know, like, you know, I could go on to, I know I could go on to get people saved, but
that offended me. I'm not doing anything for God anymore. I mean, think how ridiculous it really is.
It really is, right? You forbear to deliver them that are drawn to death.
And that includes all of those people out there that claim to not even know any better, by the way.
That includes all of those people that never did a thing for God. You go, what? Yeah, I mean, a lot of
these people, they just don't know. They don't know that it just comes down and people preach the gospel.
Look at verse 12. If thou sayest, behold, we knew it not, doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it?
And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to
his works? Look, if you got saved, then you're aware that someone preached you the gospel and got you saved.
Aren't you? If you, if you're saved, you know that someone else got you saved. You know that someone
preached you the gospel in one way or another. You might have listened to it in a sermon. You might
have listened to it in bits and pieces here, there and everywhere, like some people say that. Or you
might have heard it on a YouTube video. You might have had someone actually stand there and open the
Bible and preach you the gospel. But you know that you're saved because someone else preached you the
gospel. You know that that's what got you saved. So what's your excuse? You're aware also that most
people don't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Now, don't get me wrong. When you're
first saved, you kind of get a bit conned by this at first. You're looking around and you're like,
yeah, look, I mean, they've got a cross. They must be a believer. He's wearing a cross necklace. Yeah, another
Christian. And then you talk to them and they're like, oh yeah, don't believe all that. Oh yeah, just like the
necklace. They're like, oh yeah, God and all that. Yeah, I believe in reincarnation. Or they're wearing
a crucifix or something, you know. But, but the reality of it is, you know, really don't you?
You know. You want to hope. You want to be optimistic and think there's more saved people than there are.
But you know what got you saved. And God knows your heart, okay. And by the way, it's him that
keepeth your soul. And he that keepeth thy soul is God that keeps your soul, okay. You don't keep it
yourself. He keeps it, okay. He holds you. He knows what choices you made to make you weak as well, by the
way, okay. Because that's what it comes, if you're going, well I'm weak, what do I do? You made choices
to make you weak. Because you could have made yourself strong. You could have made yourself strong
through the Word of God. Because that's how we get strong. It's the wisdom and the knowledge. So I don't
just, oh well, you know, some people are just naturally strong. No, it's a choice to grow and get
stronger through the Word of God and you can choose not to, can't you? It's not his fault. It's not God's
fault. And if that's not enough to motivate you, well here's another motivation. If you're still
sitting there going, yeah whatever, can't wait to get home, get out of all this, trying to pressure me to actually
want to get people saved. I mean, who does he think he is? He doesn't know my life. He doesn't know what I've
been through. There are people here probably, no, maybe not, okay. There's quite a lot of people here.
I could probably say that and not offend anyone. There are people out there that think that for sure,
okay. But we said here, and shall not he render to every man according to his works. How about that for
the incentive? How about that? He's ready to reward you too. Even though, even though, okay, even though
he's told you to do these things, even though he's commanded you to do these things, even though you
know that you're, the only way people are getting saved is you going out and preaching the Gospel to
them, he's still ready to reward you for doing it. And shall he not render to every man according to
his works? He wants to render to you according to your works. He wants to reward you for preaching the
Gospel. He wants to bless you in life. He wants to give you your fulfilled love and he even got
rewards waiting for you in heaven. 1 Corinthians 2 9 says, but as it is written, I have not seen
nor hear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them
that love him. That's a pretty crazy thought, isn't it? Or crazy in terms of a good thought, right? But it's
just, wow. I mean, what? You can't even imagine what he's prepared for those that love him. What rewards
he's prepared for you. So where it said in verse 10, if thou faint in a day of adversity, thy strength
is small. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death and those that are ready to be
slain. If thou says, behold, we knew it not, doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it, and he
that keepeth thy soul, doth he not know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works?
The passage of Proverbs is telling us to be strong, get soul, and get rewards, because excuses don't cut it
with God. They don't. And, you know, just a caveat there. I know some people do go through stuff
in life, some people have a hard time in life, some people do have some rough things that happen, but
ultimately, still, what else have we really got to do in life than serve God and get people saved?
That's our purpose here. Whatever's happened in our lives, right? Verse 13. My son, eat
thou honey because it is good, and the honeycomb which is sweet to thy taste. So shall the knowledge
of wisdom be unto thy soul. When thou has found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation
shall not be cut off. So he said in verse 13, my son, eat thy honey because it is good, and the honeycomb
which is sweet to thy taste. Now, before you take this verse, okay, cancel tonight's dinner and spoon
heaps of honey into your mouth, okay, because it does taste good, doesn't it? Don't forget the multitude
of counselors, okay? Proverbs 25 16 said, has thou found honey? Eat so much is this sufficient for thee,
lest thou be filled therewith and vomited. Okay, so honey is good, but don't overdo it, basically, yeah?
Honeycomb is great though, isn't it? I don't know if you've ever eaten honeycomb. Honeycomb's good, isn't it?
In fact, I discovered honeycomb several years ago, and it basically turns into like a healthy
version of chewing gum halfway through. It's pretty cool, isn't it, right? Honeycomb's great.
Well, verse 13 said to enjoy it, and that sweet taste of honey is often compared to, or even
represents the word of God in Scripture, if you're unaware, okay? So really, that's what we're seeing a
picture of here. For example, Psalm 119 verse 103 says, how sweet are thy words unto my taste,
yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. So he's comparing the words of God to honey in his mouth.
Proverbs 16 24 says, pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health the bones
and is there anything more pleasant than the words of God? Well, here in Proverbs 24 it's the same.
He said in verse 13, my son, eat thou honey because it is good, and the honeycomb which is sweet thy
taste, so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul. The comparison is to the word of God.
When thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
So the first part of that is salvation, okay? How sweet is salvation? How sweet is that, right?
Those are some sweet words, aren't they? I mean, John 3 16 is some sweet words, isn't it? For God
so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish but have everlasting life. How sweet are those words? I mean, there's some sweet words that
the God of this world gave his only begotten son so that we could have eternal life. Gave him to
us free gift. There's some sweet words. How sweet are the words of Ephesians 2 8 and 9?
They're some sweet words, aren't they? For by grace are you saved through faith and not of yourselves.
It is a gift of God, it's not of works, it's any man should boast.
How sweet are those words? They're sweet to, I don't know about you, but they're sweet to my taste.
They're like honey to my mouth, right? I mean, that is some sweet words of God, aren't they?
But after salvation, those words of wisdom continue to be sweet. There's a reward in life.
I mean, that's pretty cool, isn't it? There's rewards to be earned, there's, you know,
when you really understand God, that expectation of him and what he will and won't do,
his hand in your life, it won't be cut off. He said, so shall the knowledge
of wisdom be unto thy soul. When thou has found it, then there shall be a reward.
That's sweet. And thy expectations shall not be cut off. And firstly, you can apply that to
salvation, it's never been cut off. You have everlasting life, you put your faith in Christ,
it's done. But aside from that, aside from that, just what he will do, what he won't do, just
the work you've got in your life will not be cut off, but it comes from the Word. And
so many people get upset because their false ideas of God weren't realised, you know, they
get upset about that, okay? They get upset because their idea of God wasn't what they
thought he should be. You ever notice with these people when you're out or you're talking to people
and they're just so angry with God because their version of God didn't do what they wanted at this
point in their life, didn't save, you know, this from happening or didn't do this, and people get
angry with their version of God, don't they? But do you know Christians even do that as well?
And they do that because they don't really understand God because they haven't tried
to learn about God, so they get saved and then they take their false version of God and the
world's version of God, who's like a genie in a lamp, who you just kind of rub the lamp and tell
him what you want and if he doesn't give it to you, you should be like a sport brat and upset and
angry with him. And they take that into their Christian life, don't they? But the true knowledge
of God, the true wisdom comes from the Word of God. So he said, my son, eat thou honey because it
is good and that honeycomb which is sweet to thy taste, so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto
thy soul, when thou has found it, then there shall be a reward and thy expectation shall not be cut
off. So ultimately the true wisdom, it comes from the Word of God, that's how we really know God and
that's how then our expectation is not cut off and we can really rely on him. The lesson is to keep
reading, keep listening, keep learning from the Word. Okay, last one, verse 15 to 16 is, lay not
wait, our wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting place, for a just
man falleth seven times and riseth up again, but the wicked shall fall into mischief. So verse 15
said, lay not wait, our wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting place.
Now is Solomon really warning the wicked here? Is he writing to the wicked at this point? Is he writing
to the enemies of God? No, because the warning falls on deaf ears, doesn't it? The wicked aren't
reading through the Bible going, okay, thanks for that one, okay, I better not mess about with the
righteous. Thanks for warning me, Solomon. Most wicked people don't accept the wicked,
most don't. I mean, maybe deep down they know, but they don't accept it, okay. They justify it one way
or another, they justify their wickedness and will eventually be saying things like the works of
iniquity, in Matthew 7 22, where he said, many will say to me that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in our name, and in our name we can't say devils, and in our name have done many wonderful works.
They call him Lord, but they're works of iniquity. They're trusting their works, ultimately they're
like, but look at everything we've done, even though they're the vilest people, they're workers
of iniquity. So who's the warning for? It's to remind us that they do this, but that we can still win.
That's what this warning's about, okay, and where is it that the righteous dwell? What's it really
talking about here? Where is it that they will get their rest? He said, lay not weight, oh wicked man,
against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting place. Psalm 27 4, David said, one
thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord.
All the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord until we inquire in his temple.
And that's ultimately where the wicked lay weight against, isn't it? It's the house of God,
it's the house of the Lord. That's the dwelling of the righteous, that's our resting place. Isn't that
where we rest? Isn't that where we come to rest? Come to rest from the world, we come to hear the
word of God, we come to be around the things of God. That's where the wicked lay weight against.
That's where they want to spoil or ravage. He said, spoil not his resting place. We might maybe
say ravage, ruin, destroy even. That's really what they want to destroy, the house of God.
Now, they will convince themselves that it's a justified hatred. So, for example, the lose your
salvation false prophets down the road, they will convince themselves that we preach a false
gospel. So we've had a bit of a run and there's like some quite hardcore ones that we've dealt
with. We had one of their guys come in here as an infiltrator, we've had a few that we've run into
and they're convinced that we're actually apparently preaching a false gospel because
we're preaching that it's grace through faith alone, as the Bible says, and that you cannot
lose your salvation, as the Bible says, and they're convinced that somehow we're wicked
because we're not preaching what everyone else in the world teaches, that it's some form of works,
right? But they will convince themselves that they're right, don't they? I mean, we had one of
these guys with a microphone and a loudspeaker in the high street trying to stop
people listening to the gospel. But do you think he's going, he's just like, yeah, watch this wickedness.
He's telling himself, he's convinced himself that he's right, that he's in the right, yeah?
The infiltrator will convince himself that their personal vendetta that they've suddenly got is just
just so important. It's more important than anything else, just destroy, destroy, do whatever we can
to tear it down. But whereas, you know, whereas we will persevere, they will eventually get dealt with,
okay? Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting place.
For a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again, but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
So we can and do fall in different ways, don't we, okay? Maybe it's a bad day, a bad week,
maybe you let yourself down, maybe you got lazy for God, okay? But you can rise up again,
okay? 1 John 1 says, if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just, forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all our righteousness, bring it to God. When you fall, bring it to God,
rise up again. When you fall, bring it to God, rise up again. But when the wicked fall, and sometimes you
have to wait a while for this, like I was saying earlier, sometimes it might even be just at the
end of their life, but when they do fall, when it happens, when they fall, it's all down, it's all
downhill from there. He said, lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not
his resting place. For a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again, but the wicked shall
fall into mischief. And I think the lesson is to remind us what ultimately their target is,
don't forget that, but that we have the ability to beat them and their end will be painful,
okay, whether it's in this life or the life to come. And that was Proverbs chapter 24 verses 1
to 16, and hopefully there are some there that will help you in life, and you can apply hopefully as
soon as possible, and think about, maybe dwell on this week, and on that we're going to finish in a
word of prayer. Father, thank you for your word, thank you for the book of Proverbs, thank you for
the lessons that we got out of that first part of the chapter. Lord, please help everyone to just,
you know, dwell upon your word, Lord, think about your word, to apply it to their lives.
From today onwards this week, Lord, to focus on you this week, Lord, to focus on, you know, the
end result as well, which is that we just want to, we're serving you, we're, you know, in this church,
we're reading our bibles, we're praying, we're doing all these things ultimately to be stronger,
to be able to faint not in a day of adversity, to be able to win souls, Lord. That's what we're here
for, that's what our goal is, that's what, you know, what every believer's job is,
and for those that have never done that before, help them to learn, to grow, to get strong
enough to be able to do that, Lord, to keep on that upward curve, Lord, in their faith,
in their strength, in their knowledge, in their wisdom, to be able to get to the point of being
confident soul winners, and for those that are, Lord, to just help us to keep being strong soul winners,
help us, to everyone here, to just keep persevering, to keep growing, to keep increasing
their strength through that knowledge, Lord, and to not decrease, Lord, to not backslide,
to not go backwards, which sadly is a risk for every single one of us here, Lord. Help us to be
strong, help us to get home safe for Sand this evening, and to return on Wednesday.
In Jesus' name I pray all of this. Amen.