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1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
Welcome to The Daily, where we go through the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day. Today, we're looking at Ecclesiastes 10:18-20. Let's take this verse by verse today: Lazy Living Leads to Leaky Lives Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. — Ecclesiastes 10:18 Neglect never nurtures. A house ignored crumbles. A roof unrepaired drips. A heart left unchecked? It withers. Solomon warns us—sloth seeps into life like a slow leak, rotting our resolve and ruining our readiness. Work Wisely, Walk Worthy Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. — Ecclesiastes 10:19 Bread brings joy. Wine lifts spirits. Money meets needs. But none of these sustain a man who refuses to work, to build, to prepare. The fool folds his hands, watching opportunities pass like clouds in the wind. The wise man labors, understanding that diligence today prevents disaster tomorrow. Words Will Wander Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter. — Ecclesiastes 10:20 Watch your words—even in whispers. Gossip grows wings. Complaints catch the wind. What you mutter in secret may soon be shouted in the streets. Instead of cursing leadership, pray for wisdom. Instead of tearing down, build up. A guarded tongue protects a godly reputation. So, what's the takeaway? Diligence defends, wisdom works, and words wander. Don't let laziness leak into your life—build with purpose. Don't trust in bread, wine, or wealth—work wisely. And don't let reckless words take flight—speak with care. Today, take one step toward diligence. Patch the leaks. Guard your lips. Walk in wisdom. Because what you sow today determines what you stand on tomorrow. See you back here tomorrow as we continue walking through the Word—verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day! #DiligenceWins, #GuardYourWords, #WisdomWorks ASK THIS: What area of your life have you neglected that needs attention? How does diligence today shape your future stability? In what ways can you guard your words more carefully? How can you balance joy, work, and wisdom in your daily life? DO THIS: Patch one "leak" in your life today—whether it's a neglected responsibility, an unguarded word, or a habit of laziness. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to be diligent in my work, wise in my words, and faithful in my walk with You. Keep me from neglect and guide me toward purpose. Amen. PLAY THIS: Faithful Then/Now.
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
Text: Proverbs 20:13 (ESV) Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. LOVE NOT SLEEP Sleep is a gift from God. [Psa 127:1] Sleep and rest are good (Prov 3:21–24; Ex 16:23–30). However, it could be abused. Loving sleep is equated with laziness. And. Its consequence is disastrous - poverty. (Prov 6:4; 10:4). In contrast, the hardworking person is at much less risk of poverty than the person who is sluggish. However, the person who sleeps when they should work is at risk. Some people prefer to sleep rather than face reality. He presumes everything will be well. “Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.” (Prov 19:15). A common symptom of severe depression is unusual sleepiness or fatigue. But the reality is that God-honoring work is both therapeutic and essential. God mandated man to work and be productive. He said to Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”[Gen 2:27] The apostle Paul actively engaged in work. He was a tentmaker. He was contented but not passive like a lazy man. [Phil 4:11-13] He told the elders of the church at Ephesus, "I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he has said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive."[Acts 20:33–35] Listen and FOLLOW us on our podcast -------------------------Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
God's Word for Today12 Feb, 202515 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.-Prov 19:15 ESVTHE PERIL OF SLOTHFULNESSA lazy person is one like being in a deep sleep. He is oblivious to his surroundings and accomplishing nothing. The slothful is at great risk of poverty and hunger. “The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.”(Prov 20:4] . Solomon often condemns laziness in his writings for the perils it brings, like; A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.[Prov 10:4]The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.[Prov 12:24]Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.[Prov 18:9]Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.[Ecc 10:8]To work is part of his plan for each one of us. Work may not be pleasant always but it is beneficial. Even in the garden of Eden, before sin entered humanity, God assigned work to Adam. "The LORD God took [Adam] and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." [Gen 2:15] When Adam and Eve sinned, work became difficult and backbreaking for God placed a curse on the ground. He said to Adam, "In pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life" (Gen 3:17).The apostle Paul understood the sin of "laziness." He advised the church at Thessalonica to exclude giving handouts to those who were capable of work yet chose not to out of laziness. He commands, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." [2 Thess 3:10]Jesus strengthens the necessity of work in reference to our accountability as His servants.[2 Cor 5:10] He said, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.”[John 9:4]Watch in YouTube: https://youtu.be/lPuuvKVODmgListen and FOLLOW us on our podcast Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-googlepcastAudible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audibleFollow us on various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio#gospellightfilipino#godswordfortoday#bookofProverbs
Jared Athavle Matthew 24:14-30 Proverbs 6:6-11; 26:13-16 Slothfulness – The Seven Deadly Sins
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
Sometimes I have an endless supply of energy. But there are also times when my mind is sluggish, not bright. Life feels exhausting or boring or blah. Does this happen for you? The good thing is, when I turn my attention to the blah feeling itself, my mind wakes up. I can see how sluggish I feel, but I can also see that it's temporary, and even get interested in it, as yet another fascinating state of mind. When all of this happens, I also try to appreciate (with varying degrees of success)what the situation offers: a simple, powerful reminder to pay attention in each moment, even the slothful ones. That appreciation, when it's available, along with the attention when it's available, seems to brighten the whole mind.
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
A Fake Christianity (3) Judgments Bring Repentance (audio) David Eells – 11/3/24 Saints, I'm going to share some more revelations of the fake Christianity and some warnings of judgments that the Lord has shown us are coming on the apostate church to bring repentance. I believe the Lord has shown the Trump political revival has bought us some time for the Man-child revival to prepare the Church for the Mid-trib beast to make war on the saints in Revelation 13. President Trump will be our last president who will be with us until the corporate beast takes authority. Redeem the time to draw near to the Lord to prepare. Breaking Story Mary Clark - 09/10/2006 The Lord showed me a newspaper and I was scanning it for a story. Then I heard Him say, "Breaking story". Here is His breaking story: I am the Lord God Almighty. I know the news before it happens. I know exactly the slant that is going to be given to the news before the newscaster speaks. I know all. I see all. And I want you, beloved, to rest in the knowledge that nothing EVER escapes the view of your God. Nothing EVER catches Me by surprise. Rest in this knowledge. Rest in the knowledge that I know the "breaking story" before it is ever broken to you. I know it inside and out. I know it before the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted. In this hour, I see many doubting My existence. I see just as many of My own losing heart. I see you backing down on your allegiance to Me and My cause. This is no surprise to Me either, for I know your heart. I know your doubting heart. I know your dissatisfied heart. What am I going to do about this, you wonder? I will tell you quite succinctly: I am going to rip something open that has never been ripped open. That is what I am going to do. I am going to expose something that has never been exposed. I am going to show the world and My own something that you have never viewed, and when I do, I will not only have My beloved's attention, I will have the attention of ALL of the world, and when I say all of the world, I mean just that - ALL of the world. So watch for this BIG exposure as it comes forth by My hand, and know when it makes its appearance that the living God has called you to attention - signaled you that the end is near - signaled you that He is coming to take you home where you belong - home where His heart will envelop you in His forever love for all eternity. That is My breaking news, beloved. That is what I want to tell you. Consider yourself told. Consider yourself notified of this most unusual news, and know deep within that your God is doing you another favor - another kind favor is coming your way. Get poised for action, beloved. Again I say, get poised for action on My part - on My behalf, for you are now entering the twelfth hour - the twelfth hour when the Lord God Almighty shines forth His glory, exposes something that has been hidden, and enables the whole world to peer into this interesting Breaking News - this news that will light the way into action on My part - action that will benefit My cause and stir hearts in a most pronounced fashion. A fashion that the world has never seen - never realized – and is coming by way of My church. Get ready, beloved, for I am taking you into a new dimension of hope - a brand new dimension of My favor and hope everlasting!!! Enough Is Enough Prophecy through a prophet friend in east Florida - 12/02/2003 Today the people say, 'speak only smooth things, I don't want to hear anything bad'. Well the false prophets are saying 'prosperity, prosperity, prosperity, all is well. We will fly away; we will see no judgment. Put away the prophets of gloom and doom'. Well I say, 'Thus saith the Lord, judgment is coming; it is coming swift and soon'. I say to the prosperity prophets, 'You will be shamed. The people will walk away from you. The walls of your false prosperity will fall. The people will not listen to you anymore'. My true prophets have been rejected and put away, but it will not last. When all judgments come under the earth, they will call them out of their dungeons and say 'What else did the Lord have to say?' Gross darkness is coming and is coming very soon, people will fear and tremble and not know which way to go but the Lord will bring light, and light will be in that darkness. You will see who is of Me and who is false. Truth will come forth and the people will be brought to the light and in truth and the fear of the Lord will they come. Out of love and mercy I will restore and I will heal. I will take away your idols and you will put nothing before Me. I'm about to shake this earth. The earth is My foot stool and the heaven is My throne. Turn away from the darkness and this world so you can have Life. A great shaking is coming. I will put peace on My people that know Me and I will protect those that love and know Me. Enough is enough, judgment is coming. Thus saith the Lord! God Gave Time to Repent Vision given to Aritina Patlagica in Romania For some years now, each time our prayer group comes together, we set aside a time to pray specifically for America. One day after all the brothers had gathered together, we began to pray, and while we were praying I had a vision. I saw a large map, on which I read the words "United States of America". What could this be? I asked myself. Suddenly a hand appeared and it began marking certain places on the map. Then a man, dressed in white appeared beside the map, and he began to speak. "See, God has given them time to turn to Him, time to repent and make their path straight, but they did not obey. Therefore, instead of mercy He will show vengeance. Do you see the places that have been marked? Those are the places upon which His wrath will descend in different ways. God will not be mocked! Remember what I tell you, rather than mercy He will pour out vengeance." I was shaken to the very core of my being, not from what I saw or what I heard, but from the fact that I know God fulfills that which He speaks. I am 78 years old, and in my lifetime I have seen the word of God come to pass too often to ever doubt. "17" David Eells 12/03/2003 We appear to be hearing that a strong chastening is on the way. I received this verse from the Lord. Jer.51:8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. 9 We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country; for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. 10 Jehovah hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of Jehovah our God. Our own country is of course abiding in Christ our heavenly New Testament Zion (Heb.12:18-24). In the text Jeremiah is speaking of the judgment of Babylon because they have made the nations "mad" with the cup of wrath they have dealt to them (Jer.25:15,16; Hab.2:7,8). I also received: Pro.2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, And the treacherous shall be rooted out of it. Then I received: 2 Chron. 35:17 And the children of Israel that were present kept the Passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. The pass-over of judgment is for those who have eaten all of the Lamb, Jesus, the Word of the unleavened bread (Exo.12:10). "Our Passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ" (1 Cor.5:7). (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus... Believe what the unleavened bread teaches and claim the blood over your doorposts. The above verse (17) is also the number of preservation through judgment. On the "seventeenth day" the flood came when Noah was in the ark (Gen.7:11). Genesis 7:17) is when the ark lifted off. Joseph was 17 when he was sold into slavery and accused wrongfully in Egypt but God preserved and promoted him to save many alive. Pray for the elect. Spiritually Starving Christians K H. - 09/21/2008 (David's notes in red) I had finally reunited with a friend whom I haven't seen in several years; we went to the grocery store for some things to make for dinner. As we began to get the groceries at this huge grocery store which reminded me of Wal-Mart or Costco, I noticed to my left there was a very large group of people sitting at long tables, eating food. I then turned to my friend and asked her if she had any idea what was going on; she did not. As we continued to get the things we went to the store for, I was still very concerned about the group that was eating in this grocery store. My friend and I then decided that we were going to leave our basket and go over to talk to some of the people who were eating to find out what was going on. My friend then walked up to a man who was eating with his family and asked, "Why are you eating here?" He then proceeded to tell her that it was because he and his family were starving and this was the only way to provide food for his family. This puzzled me as I looked back at the huge store full of groceries; it just didn't make sense to me that there were so many starving families, yet there was an abundance of food for them to have. (The Church is starving to death while there is an abundance of food for the soul to be had in God's grocery store of His Word.) After my friend and I talked to that man, I glanced up and saw that there was this long line along the wall and there were people going into this room that was off to the side and were coming out with food. My friend and I decided that we would get in line to get a closer look at what was going on. As we inched closer and closer to the door, I saw that there were three military men in the room; this concerned me because I knew that this wasn't right. I thought, "Why is the military providing this food?" (In Jesus' day, as in the coming days, the military of the beast enforces the dictates of the apostate religious leaders in exchange for their favor in keeping the religious pacified. In this way, the harlot rides the beast and is guilty of the blood of the saints [Rev.17].) When we were the next in line, I saw a military officer sitting at a table that was lined with cups of some kind of meat and two soldiers standing on either side of him with their rifles in hand. I then saw rows of opened bags of Texas-style bread just lying on the floor, which I thought was odd because I would've thought that would be on a table, along with the meat that was being provided. (Bread represents the Word of God and is not highly thought of or valued and therefore takes the lowest position, the floor. Meat, on the other hand, represents doing the works of God. Joh.4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work. Society as a whole puts more value on doing what they call the works of God, which is really dead religious works like the Pharisees did.) As my friend and I got up to the officer, he asked my friend if we wanted some and she said, "Sure", so he handed her two cups of meat and a handful of bread. We then went to sit down at one of the tables. After we sat down I asked the Lord to bless the food. I took a piece of the meat which I then saw was crab meat and placed it in my mouth. When I put the piece of crab meat in my mouth, I could tell that it had a very weird rubbery texture and it tasted rancid. The weird thing was that it didn't smell rancid at all but it was definitely rancid. I then spit it out of my mouth and turned to my friend who was eating her cup of rancid meat and bread like there was nothing wrong with it. I was shocked and asked her, "Don't you taste that this crab is rancid?" She then stopped eating it and told me that now that she thought about it, it did taste a little off and she stopped eating it. (Crabs were considered unclean in the Old Testament. They are scavengers and will eat anything, just like a lot of religious people, and we are not to partake of their lifestyle. Crabs are hard-shelled and you cannot get through to them, like many religious people. On top of that, this meat was rotten, indicating their works were rotten before God.) I then turned to a little girl who was sitting next to me and asked her if she realized that the crab meat was rancid. She told me that she did but she was so hungry she was eating the meat anyway. She also added that they were told that the meat was about two weeks past its expiration date. (Many have made of no effect the scriptures by their traditions and therefore do not know that the Word was given to show us how to do the works of God. To them, their traditions are all there is and they don't know that they are partaking of garbage. Since we reap what we sow, we are partaking of our own works.) After speaking to the little girl, I decided that it was time for us to go and we left that area of the store and just left without getting the groceries that we had come for. I was so grieved as my friend and I left the store because of all those starving people who were eating food that they knew was not okay to eat just because that's all that they knew to do. (They are starving for the bread and meat of Christ, the Word. We have heard it said that we are what we eat. The Word should be spiritually consumed so that it creates in us the life of Christ. Joh.6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. (Father is speaking of the meat and life of acting on the Word, which is not from man.) 54 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven: not as the fathers ate, and died; he that eateth this bread shall live forever.) When I woke up, the first thing that I thought was this dream must have taken place during martial law because that is the only way I would think the military would be providing food like that to the masses. Also, I was reminded of Pro 19:25 which says: Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger. After I shared it with a few people and prayed about it more, God revealed to me more of what the dreamt meant. He later showed me that the military men were there representing the authority in the apostate Church, like the pastors who are feeding the sheep rancid meat (A defiled Word of God) and are being led astray by not seeking out the truth in the Word, working out their own salvation with fear and trembling and seeking Him. Also, He revealed to me that these people or the apostate church are seeking out the physical bread for nourishment (following another Jesus), rather than the bread of life, Jesus. John 6:35 Jesus said unto them. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. The apostate Christians are still looking to their pastors to feed them; meanwhile, the true Bread of life and Word of God is right there for them to have. Maybe the grocery store full of food represents that? (Yes it does) Resistance to the Spirit of Truth The Water Glass Vision Russ Lewis - 09/01/2007 I wanted to share this vision with my brothers and sisters in the Lord. A friend of mine referred me to UBM about a week before I had this vision. I appreciate the teachings and the faith UBM shares in our Lord Jesus Christ. I was sitting in church, listening to a sermon on January 14, 2007, when I saw a vision that left a vivid and lasting impression on me. In this vision, I saw a crystal pitcher full of water being poured into an overflowing crystal glass. The water kept pouring endlessly out into the glass, even though the glass was overflowing. The pitcher and the glass were suspended in midair. There was a constant stream of water flowing from the pitcher to the glass. The whole vision was shown with a black background and there was some kind of light from above that really made the crystal look bright and clear on that black background. The first thing I thought was, "I know this picture, Lord. It is from Psalms 23:5: My cup overflows". I had heard many teachings about this one verse, how God's Spirit, His grace and His mercy are poured out in us until our cups overflow. In other words, it is abundantly more than enough and more than we need. He pours it out in us freely. You don't deserve it and you can't earn it. I was intrigued, so I started to take a closer look at the glass in the vision. I noticed there was something covering the glass that resembled clear plastic wrap. As I looked closer, I noticed the plastic wrap had sealed the top of the glass and the water was just pooling up on top and pouring over the glass. I was a little confused. The cup looked from the outside like it was all full and overflowing, but the water didn't appear to be getting into the glass. I then thought, "If it is not getting into the glass, what is inside the glass?" When I looked at the side of the glass, I could see that the glass was only half full and that the level of water in the glass was slowly dropping. I asked the Lord, "What does this mean?" The Lord showed me that this was the way I was living my life. I had busied my life up so much with the things of this world (hobbies, sports, computer stuff, etc.) that I had put my hands up to God and said, "Not now Lord, I am kind of busy", or "I will do that real soon, Lord", or just plain ignored Him. Eventually I had built a covering over my glass (vessel) that was keeping Him out, so I could do the things that I wanted to do (worldly things, sin, etc.). The level of water in the glass slowly dropping was representative of the grace and mercy being used up in my life and not being replenished. The Holy Spirit is very much like the water. (Which is the water of His Word) If we are full of the Holy Spirit (water), then there is no room for sin in our lives (so be vessels of honor). However, there is a more devious side to the plastic covering. When I first saw the vision, the cup "appeared" to be overflowing (the appearance of "All's well"). I ask the Lord, "Am I just a fake, coming to fill a pew and having the illusion of being a 'Good Christian' (my cup overflowing for all to see), when inside I am just spiritually drying up and dying and no one knows it?! " The words "Whitewashed Tomb" in Matthew 23:27 came to mind! The Lord also showed me that it was not just me that was living this way, but most of the Christian world was living this way (meaning, in Apostasy). I refused to continue living in this dead way! I decided to pray and asked Jesus to lift off this covering from my "glass" and to let His Spirit flow back in my life and to fill me up until I overflowed! (With the Spirit of the Word) He did it, just like I asked! He has completely changed my life! Again! I have been filled ("refilled") with His Holy Spirit, His love and His compassion. My cup, once again, is overflowing with His grace and mercy! I feel like I have had my eyes opened. I can see so much better, what is going on around me and in the world! I have an unending desire to read and consume His word! When I read the scriptures, the Spirit makes His word explode with meaning to me. What used to be unclear is now very clear. It amazes me how much the things of this world do not matter to me any longer when I am filled with His Spirit. There is a great thing happening and how could the mindless dead things of this world even compare to the awesome powerful epic events that are unfolding before our very eyes! Over the next couple of days, the Lord was keeping me up late at night and saying over and over, "Share this with My people". Then He said, "Share this vision with My church and then pray for My church". So the next Sunday I shared it with my local church. Although some responded, I know that there is a battle going on out there for our very lives! Since that Sunday, I have been sharing this vision with most every brother and sister in the Lord Jesus that I come across. And now I am sharing it with you. I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will remove any covering you may have over your "glass" and I pray the He will fill you until you overflow with His Spirit (and Word), His grace and His mercy. Amen. Peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ. Note from B.R.: I believe that our Father is calling His people out of the harlot church and into the true church. The true church is a body of believers that are producing the fruit of Jesus Christ. Maybe that thin plastic wrap preventing the living waters to fill us is the teaching of the harlot church. I believe that is much more insidious and hidden than those other things which keep us in the world for the harlot church is full of dead men's bones and denies the power of our Father through His Son Jesus Christ. "Come out of her my people". Fleecing the Sheep Dr. Mary Dooley - 03/12/2011 (David's notes in red) I had a dream just before waking this morning at 6:00 am. (Six is the number of man and flesh.) I was in a car driving in a wealthy neighborhood that had detailed landscaping for homes that were close together but each one on top of its own steep hill. (The rich denominations or sects of Christianity with their own little kingdoms and sectarian ways are actually very close in their apostate ways. Those who worshipped the golden calves and falsely called them Elohim represent those who worship a false prosperity Jesus and made their houses in the high places. They were not of Levi, meaning they were not ordained of God to be priests and leaders. 1Ki.12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. ... 31 And he made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, that were not of the sons of Levi.) The grass, etc., was well-watered and lush. (Peter said, "All flesh is as grass," so they are feeding those who walk in flesh their version of the water of the Word.) As I was driving, I was surprised to see one or two small animals at the bottom of the hill of the property, near the bottom of the driveway, which went up on the left side of the property. (Those sheep are not highly esteemed by the apostate goats from the left.) I slowed down to see what they were doing. They were digging their heads into the moist dirt to try to get water. They were very weak and were not finding water. (They were dying for lack of the water of life, which is the Word of God. This water cannot come from the earth but from heaven.) I got out of my car to get a closer look and realized they were small sheep. They were lying on the dirt, barely able to move their heads. There was an older woman at the top of the hill who had just watered the yard and I thought I would go up there to get water, but surprisingly the yard was loose dirt and very steep, and I was unable to climb it. (There is no solid foundation to receive any word from the sects of apostasy.) I noticed the landscaping that lined the driveway; it was white and fluffy. Then I stepped on it as I was going back down the hill and realized it was sheared sheep's wool. (The sheep get deceived and plundered by the rich leadership, as the world accurately calls it, "fleecing the sheep" for their tithe.) I picked up one sheep at the bottom of the hill, thinking I could take it to water. I turned it over in my arm, like holding a baby, and realized they were also weak from starvation. (The sheep spend years supporting the wicked leadership of these sects and they never grow up for lack of the real Word of God. These rich in the ways of the world rob the sheep to feed themselves, their egos and their pocketbooks. The Lord says He will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.) I headed for my car to take it with me to find water and food. I also knew I had water in my car. (Many, as vessels of the Lord's Word, will rescue these famished sheep in the days to come and they will be taught of the Lord.) Eze.34:1 And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, even to the shepherds, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill the fatlings; but ye feed not the sheep. 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought back that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with rigor have ye ruled over them. 5 And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my sheep were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and there was none that did search or seek [after them]. 7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah: 8 As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely forasmuch as my sheep became a prey, and my sheep became food to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my sheep; 9 therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah: 10 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my sheep at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore; and I will deliver my sheep from their mouth, that they may not be food for them. 11 For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture; and upon the mountains of the height of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie down in a good fold; and on fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord Jehovah. 16 I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice. 17 And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, the rams and the he-goats. 18 Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have fed upon the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture? and to have drunk of the clear waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? 19 And as for my sheep, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. 20 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto them: Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because ye thrust with side and with shoulder, and push all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; 22 therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 24 And I, Jehovah, will be their God, and my servant David prince among them; I, Jehovah, have spoken it. 25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause evil beasts to cease out of the land; and they shall dwell securely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. In the parable of the sower the good shepherd was the Lord who sowed the good seed in their hearts and yet 3 of 4 fell away. How much greater is the loss when the shepherd is an apostate? Come out from among them. Jesus Is Calling His Sheep Out Again Doug Hanson - 11/22/2009 (David's notes in red) Before I share this dream, let me give you the background of the two people I saw in it. The two people were 1) The son of the pastor of the institutional church I used to attend. His name is Jordan, which I believe refers to death to self. (A type of those who have every reason to stay and inherit the traditions and authority of the traditional church but accept their baptism of death to enter the Land of Promise.) And 2) A teenage girl from that church who was very innocent and godly. Her name is Jessica, which, according to Google, means "God is watching" or "The Lord Beholds". (A type of many who have served the Lord to the best of their knowledge and conscience in traditional religion and are the "apple of God's eye".) The thing about these two is that both of them were raised in the institutional church system virtually from birth and were very loyal to the church building, pastor and what was taught in the church building. So in the dream these two people, the pastor's son and the young girl, were actually at an Unleavened Bread Bible Study and I saw them sitting at a table with a microphone and I saw it like they were on a TV screen. (This will be very public and heard by many.) They had come out of the institutional church system and were announcing on the microphone that they were renouncing most of what they had been taught in the church building, including the pre-tribulation rapture teaching, and they were embracing a lot of truths taught at the Unleavened Bread Bible Study. As they were talking, they did have kind of a serious look and tone about them as they knew that they would be ostracized and rejected by the people and system that they were renouncing and coming out of. (Historically, in a great revival, there is great persecution from those who are stuck in the traditions of men.) Despite this rejection, they were determined and single-minded to come out of the old way that they had been raised in. History is about to repeat. "The things that have been are the things that shall be". At the end of the Jews' covenant, Jesus, the Man-child, came to lead those with eyes and ears out of apostate Judaism. Now, at the end of the Christians' covenant, the Man-child of Revelation 12, in whom Jesus lives by Word and Spirit, will call forth these same people out of apostate Christianity in another great revival, which will be spoken against. As it was in the former rain, so it will be in the latter rain. Joh.10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. Those who lead by the authority of men, rather than God. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (This story is told in Ezekiel 34.) 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. Rescuing the Sheep Lorrie Deeter - 07/22/2007 (David's notes in red) In a dream, a little cat with what appeared to be a cat mask on was seated in a high-backed throne with a crown upon its head; it appeared to be adorable. He was seated high, as on a platform above people. He had a ruler in his hand and was pointing to different people, as if giving orders or instructions. From out of nowhere a great big lion (Lion of Judah) appeared and leaped upon the throne of the little (rebellious) cat and placed it before him and then under his feet, as a footstool. (The ruler represents measurement. Mat.7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.) Then what appeared before me were sheep, cattle and goats, all sitting in rows in what appeared to be a building. Some fat, some skinny and some bloated. Some had blindfolds on, some had earmuffs on and some had earplugs placed within their ears. Some appeared to be blind and others deaf. A man then appeared before them, dressed in a suit and tie. I could not see his face but as the sheep would come forth he would bend down and take from them what appeared to be money and lay hands upon them as he looked up. (A pay as we pray preacher.) I then saw a face as a wolf turn into view. Then out of nowhere the sheep were plucked out of his hand one by one, as the eagles swooped down and snatched them from him and all the sheep disappeared! (The Lord will deliver His sheep.) As I went back to lay down, I thought on the cattle and goats... and then this was spoken: "The cattle are raised up for destruction. (Cows only eat grass, which Peter said represented flesh, and they only feed milk. They represent perpetually immature Christians.) The goats are those who pretend to be of the sheepfold. (They represent the rebellious. (Eze.34:10) Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my sheep at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore; and I will deliver my sheep from their mouth, that they may not be food for them.) Then this is what was spoken forth: "The fur shall drop and the masks shall be pulled away!" (The true sheep will see the false shepherds for what they are.) Word Given: Luk.6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? MY daughter, I have many woes and this MY first of many woes is to the shepherds and also to the leaders and to those who speak (falsely) in MY name, sayeth the Lord. Woe to those who have raised themselves up, led many, many of MY people astray. (Self- or Babylon-ordained preachers, as in Jesus' day) These are they who have erred from MY TRUTH, MY WORD. I shall bring down the crown of their pride. I will bring down the haughty and those high minded, who have not sought counsel from ME nor sought MY FACE, says the Lord, but of themselves and that of man. To those who have sought counsel from man shall I bring down, for they have not spoken the TRUTH of MY WORD. I, the Lord thy God am sending MY sons and daughters forth and they shall surely take from the leaders and bring back that which is ALL MINE and bring them forth unto ME, says the Lord. (The "eagles swooped down and snatched them".) For these are the ones who have deceived MY children and are deceived of themselves, continually deceiving MY people, MY chosen! These are they who have not walked in MY ways, for they did NOT bring to ME MY sheep. For they have kept them for themselves and led them away from seeking MY FACE, MY WORD. For I shall surely bring the wicked down and tear down from them all their high places. You are MINE, says the Lord. For BEHOLD, I AM coming quickly and MY reward is with ME! Isa.28:3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: ... 9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. ... 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. ... Isa.29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. ... 15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? ... 18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. ... 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: Sonship or Persecutor? Golda Meyer - 05/14/2006 Children, carry forth this message, for truly the time is no more. Hours in the day are crunched. Mercy time is crunched because of My chosen ones. For long you have walked in the wilderness, hoping for more, groaning for more and crying for more. I have seen your tears and I know of the cries in your hearts. Children, the time is here. Like Mary accepted the seed of the Holy Spirit in her womb, so did you. But travail came in a terrible way in her young life, but she rejoiced in the Birth of the Sign - Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Sign, but even the Sign had to be fulfilled in the Promise. And this is happening. Children, it is happening still, for the Promise is fulfilled with many sons of God coming into Sonship. Children, this is that time now. It is Sonship time. Now you will see the true Sonship. Men and Women of God on this earth truly walking like Jesus did. By this you can see who sons are and who are not. Discernment will be so easy, and the works wrought by their hands in perfection, is driven by Love. And this Love is from God, for no man, does not matter how long and hard they try, and muster this Love up from their own will. These sons are sent by God, and cannot by their own will achieve anything. They have died and given over fully their wills to God. Deep in the river do they abide, knowing only the Love and Strength and Life of their God. You will see them appear - all of them. From the quiet and the secret places are they coming forth, and in great strength, for all in them is from Me. And they shall rule, in the way I want them to rule. No tolerance for evil or flesh will they be able to show, for the mere idea stinks with rot. For I AM in them, fully employed and in Power. They will not tolerate any mediocrity either and harsh will be their words sometimes, but it is for healing only, motivated by Love. You shall see their strength and their beauty in the LORD. Only those who have abided in the LORD, can follow this road. Abiding in the Vine, the Vine of all Life-giving. Only those can move to Sonship, for in fellowship and intimacy of God, only herein could they grow into maturity. That time of Maturity is here. And they will mature simultaneously, in great numbers, to impact this world. This world will know of the Glory of the Lord, for it will be shown in great and splendid public display. (The Man-child reformers.) How this shall be? Oh you shall see, for ALL will be healed in the Presence of God, in Mine Glory and ALL shall be delivered in the Presence of God, of those that will accept the LORD Jesus Christ as their Savior. The Healing and Deliverance is for ALL, who will receive Me. For ALL. They will walk talk and do like Jesus, and even more so. For much splendor will I bestow on this earth and great is the Glory of God, for Mine Presence will fill this earth, and even the sinners will know that I AM God. So children, eyes wide open, for those that will see, shall see, and those that will hear, shall hear. The others shall be veiled, unless My intercessors intercede and stand in the gap for those that are lost. Children, hear your Father's Heart. I will not that anyone goes astray, so stand in for those that you know are not with Me. For I long to feel them in My Heart, for I have created them in Love. Don't let them die, children, but pray for them to Live, and have Life abundantly. You are greatly blessed with the Light; now shine that Light unto others, so they may live. Dearest children, this, your Father, asks of you today, to be merciful unto others as I AM merciful to you. Pray earnestly for those and I shall save them, for the prayers of the righteous avail much. Love Me first and love others as you love yourself, and truly your rewards are great in Christ Jesus. Now then, My beloved, pray for unity, for I want My Church together in great strength, for in unity there can be no division and if no division, then comes forth great Strength in Christ. Accept then each other, and do not cuddle dominion loyalty, but be loyal to your God and to each other. As I AM, so you shall be. Now see My sons, for you shall truly say: show us the Father? How long have I been in your midst? See then Me, in My sons, for this is who I AM. ALL in ALL. Dearest ones, be faithful to My commands and be blessed in Christ Jesus, for truly, great is the time upon you. Great is the Grace upon you and great is the Glory of God upon this earth. So it shall it be. AMEN. Rom.8:16 [Amplified] The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. 17 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! 19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]. 29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. 30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. Exhortations from the Father Glenn Jackson - 05/14/2006 This is the aforementioned time of "a series of final judgments"! A series of final judgments that will expose the "true" condition of one's heart - as I send My "vessels" of My consuming fire throughout the congregations of My people. Up until now, the vast majority of My children have come to "accept" a "mediocre Christian life". At a time when the deepest desire of My heart is to reveal Myself in My "absoluteness" - in every aspect of My children's lives - many are "content" with a continued mixture of My Word and the "world". But truly I say to you, this shall end "abruptly"! and all those who continue to "dishonor" My Word shall be "cut off", and they shall move further and further out into darkness (the world). They pridefully proclaim that they are still in the "way", but truly I say to you, their "way" is not of Me! And thus they shall "allow" themselves to be used as vessels of persecution against their very own brothers and sisters (The factious)- who are walking in the faith and obedience that pleases Me so. And though they are "family" there shall result a "clear separation" between those of My children who love (obey) Me and those who do not, and it is certain that "all" those who seek Me shall know which group of My children is truly of Me and which group is not. And so shall each man be presented with a clear option. On the one hand, My spotless and unblemished Church - an ever-expanding "vessel" of My Glory and Light and Truth - and on the other hand, the dead and lifeless form of "religion" that acknowledges Me with their lips, but whose hearts are far from the place that they should be - considering their "relationship" to be with Me. But even in their folly I shall not forget them, and I shall send forth My holy apostles and prophets and they shall "devastate" the "strongholds" of the doctrines and traditions which have been a product of the "mental ascension" of those ones who have not drawn near to Me - a mental ascent made continually stronger by their "fellowship" with the world and its ways - a fellowship which gives Satan a continual "inroad" into their lives. Fear not! All those of you who are concerned for those "caught" in this position, for truly I say to you, whatever happens in the midst of My people from here on in shall be for the "greatest eternal benefit" of "all" - both individually and corporately! Starving Under the Modern Pharisees? Jerry Mooneyham - 12/07/2005 (David's notes in red) As I meditated upon the things of the Lord this morning, the Lord gave me an open vision. I was suddenly standing and looking at what appeared to be an altar. Upon the altar was a lamb, slain. Blood covered this beautiful ornate, golden altar. I was struck with the look of the lamb, and how innocent it looked, almost as if it were sleeping, yet the wounds were apparent, and blood was everywhere. Much to my surprise, a metamorphosis began to take place. The dead lamb began to change. At first it seemed as though there was a blurring of my eyesight. Then the lamb began to take on the shape of a baby lion cub. As I stood there in amazement, it began a rapid change from cub to adolescence; from adolescence to young adult; from young adult to a fully mature male lion, beautiful beyond my limited ability to describe Him. (The opportunity for grace to God's enemies is coming to a close. God is turning from mercy to judgment.) As I watched, He sat upon the beautiful altar. My eyes once again gave the sensation of blurring, and a very large, beautiful, ornate Crown appeared upon His head. It was as if it were made for Him. Then a very large purple robe with gold trim and markings appeared upon His shoulders. It flowed to the floor, over the altar, and down His back. Then, as if on cue, He roared...a deafening roar. All of heaven and earth must have shook for my very insides shook with the intensity of it, and I fell to my face in fear and awe. (The fear of the Lord will soon be restored. Notice His roar represents the shaking of heaven and earth. Isa.5:26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss for them from the end of the earth; and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly. 27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: 28 whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent; their horses' hoofs shall be accounted as flint, and their wheels as a whirlwind: 29 their roaring shall be like a lioness, they shall roar like young lions; yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and carry it away safe, and there shall be none to deliver. 30 And they shall roar against them in that day like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold, darkness [and] distress; and the light is darkened in the clouds thereof. Notice the Lord uses the wicked to fulfill His roar. The devil is the serpent and the "hiss" of the Lord's judgment to draw the nations against his rebellious people. 1 Pet.5:8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, 9 whom withstand steadfast in your faith...) Then I felt someone behind me but I feared to look up for the awe of that mighty roar, yet somehow I knew I must look. As I turned my head ever so slightly and looked behind me, there were untold millions of people from every walk of life, every color and description, young and old. Then once again there was a mighty roar, and people began to come to the front of those who already stood there. To my amazement they were dressed as the priests of old and as the Pharisees. They were handsome, well-dressed, men of apparent stature. But, as they approached this Mighty Animal, He looked down at them and began a low growling. It was deep, and threatening, and seemed to come from deep within this awesome specter. Yet, the people continued to approach Him as if it were their right and privilege. Suddenly, The Mighty Lion Roared again! Everyone fell to the ground and His Mighty right paw swiped the air right in front of those who approached Him, and they fell to the ground, crawled back to some invisible line, and once again stood up, looking at the Mighty Animal as if shocked and disturbed. They spoke to each other, seeming to get angrier by the moment. Some even shook their fists at this Mighty Lion, which seemed so foolish to me, for if He had leapt down none of all those present could have withstood His attack! (The Pharisees of our day believe they have the favor of Christ but He will soon prove differently. They are so self-righteous that they will take no correction from the Lord Himself, His Word, nor His servants. Anyone who does not feed their ego, their idolatry with their sectarian religious spirits, they fight with. Mic.3:5 Thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that make my people to err; that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and whoso putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him: 6 Therefore it shall be night unto you, that ye shall have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you...11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet they lean upon Jehovah, and say, Is not Jehovah in the midst of us? no evil shall come upon us.) As I continued to lay there pondering this mystery and wondering what I had seen, fear still gripped my heart, and I could not understand what I was seeing up to this point. I did not understand what I was to do. Then, the Mighty Lion began to roar again. This time there were three roars, each one exceeding the other in volume...and then complete quiet. A sudden peace flooded over me. The stress of what I had felt melted away, and I somehow knew I could stand up. (The Lord will shake heaven and earth and His true people will come.) As I stood there, suddenly I began to move by some unseen force through the hundreds of people who had crowded before me and through the ranks of the Priests and Pharisees. As I looked to my left and right, others too were moved to the forefront, men and women and children! It says in Hos.11:10 They shall walk after Jehovah, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children shall come trembling from the west. 11 They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith Jehovah. Remember the roaring is the shaking of heaven and earth. Hag.2:6 For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations; and the precious things of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts. Literally this is "the desire of all nations shall come" meaning that those that God desires will come out of the nations through the shaking and being filled with His glory and come into His house. This makes Jesus in His body the "desire of all nations". These people represent the gold and silver vessels that were taken captive to Babylonish religion being restored to the new spiritual temple. Ezr.6:5 And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, everyone to its place; and thou shalt put them in the house of God. This seemed to make the Priests and Pharisees much angrier and they began shouting at us, telling us to stand still and not to move or go any further. Some took hold of the arms of those who now stood before them in an attempt to hold them back. (Mat.23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter. The modern-day Pharisees will begin to lose the elect among them and will raise up a persecution against them.) Then, the Mighty Lion looked down at each person who had moved to the front and, as He did, they moved forward to stand before Him on an individual basis. (Phl.2:12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. And Gal.6:3 For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor. 5 For each man shall bear his own burden.) Again my eyes blurred for but the briefest moment, then a crown began to appear upon the heads of each man, woman and child. Some had larger crowns than others and some of the children's crowns were the largest, yet seem to be born with no problem. Upon receiving their crowns they walked yet closer to the Lion. He lifted His Robe and they went into it, disappearing from sight. (Notice that the crowns are for those who come out from among them; the true meaning for Church.) I too stood before Him, and went through the process, feeling a peace I have no words for. I was motioned to turn around and look at the sea of faces and those of the multitude of angry Priests and Pharisees. Then once again, as before, there were three more roars, each growing in strength and intensity. At the moment the third ended, I watched as a multitude of people came forward. They looked as though they had never eaten. They were emaciated, as though they had come from the prison camps of the Nazis. The Priests and Pharisees became even more angry if that were possible, and began fighting with the emaciated ones, holding on to them and trying to restrain them. Yet, as weak as they seemed, the emaciated found the strength, broke free, and walked to the Mighty Lion, disappearing under His beautiful robe. Then, He looked down at me, somehow summoning me without words, and as I entered His Robes, there was a blinding flash of light, and I found myself once again within the natural realm. As in the Gospels and Acts, the elect will come out of the Pharisees' prison camps where they are spiritually starving to death when they see the true food being offered. The shakings of the Lion will cause many to run for the shelter of the true temple, Jesus Christ. Judgment Has Come Ruth Lang - 01/13/2006 I was meditating on Matthew 10:15 for a few days. I asked the Lord, "Lord, what judgment is there, that is to come upon the nations, that shall be worse than that of Sodom and Gomorrah?" Then the Lord revealed to me suddenly that the true judgment was that they were utterly consumed & given over to their perverted flesh or reprobated. The Lord is saying earnestly to me that, likewise, judgment has come upon the nations and it is, THE DRUNKEN REVELLERY OF THE FLESH THAT IS CONSUMING THE NATIONS. The Saints of God shall know this hour and be sobered by it. (Many will receive much money and have no limits to their ability to sin and be reprobated.) Our God shall NOT BE MOCKED. Mat.10:15 "Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city". (“Prosperous ease” was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah – Eze 16:49.) Judgment is upon the nations. TAKE HEED! FOR IT IS SO, DECLARES THE LORD. Judgment has come, HAS COME, HAS COME, ... IT HAS COME. This is truly the Hour of Judgment, I SAY IT IS SO declares the Lord!!! This is worse than that which destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, for in my mercy, says the Lord God, I destroyed Sodom, but in this hour, I SAY, that the judgment that IS and IS TO COME, shall be far worse! It shall be to the utter depths of darkness! The judgment of Drunken Consuming Flesh is upon the nations! Beware and take heed unto THIS HOUR... BE SOBER, BE SOBER, ... As the world revels in a drunken stupor all around their flesh, I say unto you, ... BE SOBER! ... I SAY UNTO YOU, BE SOBER AGAINST THE DRUNKEN HOUR OF JUDGMENT. Be sober, for YET the depths of darkness WILL BE KNOWN, and this world will be consumed & overtaken I say consumed and drunken in their pursuit and possession of flesh. I say, I say, Judgment HAS INDEED COME. Beware, take heed unto this hour and Be SOBER against the DRUNKEN HOUR. The disciples of Jesus Christ shall know that truly this is the hour! They shall know this is the hour of judgment, I tell you shake the dust off of your feet!" (Beware materialism is an idol and is judged. God can gift the Bride and will but He must be number one every day and hour.)
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
Sunday School Service
In this episode, we search the Scriptures to gain a clear perspective on both laziness and diligence and to obtain guidance on the virtues of hard work and the pitfalls of slothfulness.Please leave a comment or review for this episode to help us share this content with others! Connect with us: Website: https://www.upstreampursuit.com/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/upstreampursuit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpstreamPursuit/
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
A new MP3 sermon from Victory Baptist Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Foolishness and Slothfulness Subtitle: Proverbs Series Speaker: Robert W. Reed Broadcaster: Victory Baptist Church Event: Midweek Service Date: 6/26/2024 Bible: Proverbs 26:13-19 Length: 25 min.
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
See, we have been laughing for some time at the liberal Left. We laughed when young people went to university to receive degrees in “the performance of self”. We have been laughing at those who contend that everything is racism, even losing weight is racist apparently. We have been laughing at this small segment of society. Now, we must be watching what takes place as these confused people multiply. Take a look at Massachusetts, where a man pretending to be a woman attacked children with a knife, laughing the entire time. We cannot take this madness lightly.What does God's Word say? Proverbs 19:15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.1 Timothy 5:13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.Proverbs 31:27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.Episode 1,630 Links:These are real people talking about their real “degrees.” Wanting to go on a diet and lose weight is rooted in racism. Is anything not racist at this point?Watch the girls on the podium cheer for the rightful state champ vs when the boy is announced. Stop saying girls are okay with this. They're CLEARLY not, but the risks & threats they face for even daring to oppose this are real. My heart breaks for them. Would you look at that...the thing that never happens happened again. Veronica Garcia (Donovan Brown) just won the Washington State Championship in the girls' 400m in total domination.In Washington & Oregon this past week, the fastest "girl" in the each state has been a boy.The Pentagon just said none of the aid from the U.S. Navy pier they built off the coast of Gaza has actually gotten to the Gazans. $320 million U.S. tax dollars and the efforts of 1,000 soldiers and sailors were wasted on this. Another blunder by Biden.Joe and Hunter Biden used a visit to Sandy Hook memorial service to set up secret meet with Chinese over $10m-a-year deal, new emails reveal4Patriots https://4Patriots.com/Todd 3-Month Survival Food kits are back in stock plus get 9 FREE gifts with your order Alan's Soaps https://alanssoaps.com/TODD Use coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price. Bioptimizers https://bioptimizers.com/todd Use promo code TODD for 10% off your order. Sharpen your edge and reach your potential with Mushroom Breakthrough by Bioptimizers. Bonefrog https://bonefrogcoffee.com/todd Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions. Bulwark Capital Bulwark Capital Management (bulwarkcapitalmgmt.com) Join Zach for his LIVE “Inflation” Webinar TODAY at 3:30 pacific time. Sign up now! EdenPURE https://edenpuredeals.com This week only! Get Buy One Get One free pricing on the Thunderstorm Air Purifier with code TODDBOGO. GreenHaven Interactive Digital Marketing https://greenhaveninteractive.com Your Worldclass Website Will Get Found on Google! Liver Health https://getliverhelp.com/todd Order today and get your FREE bottle of Blood Sugar Formula and free bonus gift. Native Path Krill https://nativepathkrill.com/todd For a limited time get Native Path Antarctic Krill Oil for as little as $23 per bottle. Renue Healthcare https://renuewellcation.com Register today for your Wellcation with Todd Herman June 7-11, 2024. See site for details
A new MP3 sermon from Bible Believers Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 565 Slothfulness & A Deep Sleep (Proverbs 19:15) Our Daily Greg Subtitle: Expository Study: Proverbs Speaker: Gregory A. Miller Broadcaster: Bible Believers Fellowship Event: Devotional Date: 5/30/2024 Bible: Proverbs 19:15 Length: 5 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Bible Believers Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 565 Slothfulness & A Deep Sleep (Proverbs 19:15) Our Daily Greg Subtitle: Expository Study: Proverbs Speaker: Gregory A. Miller Broadcaster: Bible Believers Fellowship Event: Devotional Date: 5/30/2024 Bible: Proverbs 19:15 Length: 5 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Portglenone Free Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The blight of spiritual slothfulness Speaker: Rev David Stewart Broadcaster: Portglenone Free Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday - PM Date: 5/19/2024 Bible: Proverbs 24:30-34 Length: 54 min.
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com--Series: Wisdom for Work from DavidDevotional: 3 of 7In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war…David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba”...Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (2 Samuel 11:1-4a)Many historians believe that this famous scene took place towards the middle of David's 40-year reign as king of Israel. And today's passage suggests that David was growing lax on the job. Samuel says that “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war,” David didn't. He “remained in Jerusalem.” Then we're told that “one evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace.” The picture Samuel paints is of David being bored. He couldn't sleep (perhaps due to a lack of exhaustion from a hard day's work) and now he appears to be moseying around the palace roof aimlessly.That's the context for David's most notorious sin. Boredom. Slothfulness. A lack of hard work. David is Exhibit A, supporting the old adage that “idle hands are the devil's workshop.” This passage reminds us that one of the reasons Christians should celebrate the gift of work is that God often uses it to keep us from sinning. How should we respond to that truth?For those of us who frequently complain about being “too busy,” (hand raised) I think we should respond by giving thanks to God. Is it wrong to lament about the “thorns and thistles” that make our work “painful” (see Genesis 3)? Absolutely not! But if you're feeling swamped at work today, David's story should compel you to also praise God for using even painful things like overwhelm for your sanctification and his glory.But maybe you don't resonate with feeling “too busy.” Maybe you, like David, have started to coast through life. Or maybe you dream about spending your final years on cruise ships, beaches, and golf courses. With all due respect, there is no biblical support whatsoever for this version of “retirement.” Now, could God be calling you to trade the work you do for pay as a marketer, therapist, or general contractor for unpaid work as a mentor, tutor, or guardian ad litem? Absolutely! But to quit being productive altogether in the work of the Lord is a recipe for disaster and unfaithfulness as David so vividly demonstrates.May we be people who accurately reflect the image of God who “is always at his work to this very day” (John 5:17) and join the Apostle Paul in saying, “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me” (Philippians 1:22).
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
John 8 on State of the Union?; Warring against Christ's way; "Devil"; Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; vs Tree of Life; Man's dominion; Manipulating knowledge; Making poor choices; Holy Spirit enlightenment; Followers of Moses; Fascism; State of the Union = Bondage; Corvee; "Legal title"; Christ's criticism of government; "I am"; Burning bushes; Avoiding speculation; Hearing God's instructions; Doing God's word; God doesn't owe you; Accusing of own faults; Providing for whole truth; "Fascism" defined; Demonic deception; Modern Israel vs God's Israel; Israel/Hamas conflict; Historic Judea; Passports and allegiance; Israelites and Canaanites; Oppression; "Internationals"; History alteration; Biblical alteration; Seeking His kingdom and righteousness; Learning God's will; Rom 16:17; 2 Pe 2:18; 1 Cor 1:10 No division; Leaving judgment to God; Death of a loved one; Allowing others liberty; 1 Cor 11:18; Don't censor; Gal 5:13-21 inheritors of the kingdom; 1 Cor 3:3-9; Public religion of Social Security?; Income Tax on labor; US Constitution; Deut 17; Appetites for benefits; First Civil War troops mission; Repentance; Siding with righteousness; The "way" of Abraham, Moses and Christ; Democracy vs Republic; Free assemblies; Desiring a ruler?; Defending the rich; 14th Amendment; "personhood"; Corporations; Tending to the living with righteousness; Law of nations; Excise tax; Waiving your rights; Sureties for debt; Debt to Jesus?; "Tens, hundreds and thousands"; Decrying the constitution; Titular authority; Landed Americans; Gold/Silver/Gun confiscation; Slothfulness; Militia; Campaign financing; Walking according to Holy Spirit; Christ's "weightier matters"; Cleptocrats; Taxation due to covetousness; No excuses; Monitoring your minister; Knowing everyone in your free assembly; Public education; Law of Nature; Freewill offerings; A New Rome; Turning your back on God; Returning every man to his family and possessions; President = Caesar; "Apotheos"; "Free" benefits?; Have conversations; Gather with others; Empowering the people; Bringing light into the room; Love requires sacrifice; Sharing/charity; Reassemble God's kingdom.
Slothfulness is the most deceptive & destructive vice to our spiritual walk. Slothfulness is more than just laziness. It is failure to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. How does this impact our spiritual walk and how do we overcome it?
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
The Ant and the Slug Thank you to Coleman for his sermon last week on integrity and slander, and flattery, among other things. I listened to it a few days ago. Very well done! And I'm not trying to flatter him. Well, as we've gone through the book of Proverbs, one of the amazing things is how timeless the proverbs are. I think you would agree. This book was written almost 3000 years ago… But no matter whether you lived back then or you live today, the human condition is the same. It's just manifested in different ways. This morning we're considering the theme of sloth or idleness compared to diligence. In fact, it's one of the more prominent themes in Proverbs. Clearly in King Solomon's day, it was a significant issue. And I think that it's also one of our struggles today. Please take out your Proverbs reading insert. You'll see that we are starting with a few verses from chapter 6 this morning. The first half of chapter 6 was the only portion of Solomon's opening lessons that we saved for later. So we're coming back to part of it now and in a few weeks, we'll consider the rest of it. If you would like to read those first verses from you Bible, please turn to Proverbs 6. Please stand for the reading of God's Word. Reading of Proverbs 6:6-11 and selected proverbs------------------------------------------Proverbs 6:6-11 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. 10:4-5 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.10:26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.12:11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.12:27 Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.14:23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.15:19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.16:26 A worker's appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.18:9 Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.19:15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.19:24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.20:4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.20:13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.21:17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.21:25-26 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”22:29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.24:27 Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.24:30-34 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.26:13-16 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.27:18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.28:19-20 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.------------------------------------------ Prayer A few years ago, ESPN hosted a contest which they called the “Ultimate Couch Potato.” The goal was to see who could last the longest in a recliner watching ESPN. The rules allowed only one stretch per hour. You were not allowed to sleep… and you could only take a bathroom break once every 8 hours. Oh, and they provided all the food and soft drinks you wanted. The winner went 72 hours. Can you believe that? The guy received a new TV, a new recliner, and the coveted Ultimate Couch Potato trophy. By the way, it was the third year in a row this guy won. I suspect that's why they discontinued the contest. Our culture glorifies and enables laziness. Here are some statistics. Americans spend, on average, 3 hours and 9 minutes a day streaming video content. On average, we spend 4 hours and 25 minutes on our phones every day. And weekly, we average 8-12 hours playing video games. To quote the title of Neil Postman's prophetic book, we are Amusing Ourselves to Death. He wrote that in 1985. Imagine what he would say today. And social media and games are only one of the paths today to an idle and slothful lifestyle. As we read, Proverbs speaks to this. It warns against this. The problem is, such a life does not reflect the goodness of God's creation in you, nor does it reflect God's call for your life. Let me say that again, a slothful lifestyle does not reflect the goodness of God's creation in you, nor does it reflect God's call for you life. That's basically the summary for today. Let me tell you how we're going to work that out. 1. First, we'll analyze Proverb's account of the slothful and the diligent. What it says 2. Next, we'll look at the consequences. What it warns. 3. Third, it's very important to consider the cause. And let me say, there are some difficult things in life that can contribute to idleness. 4. And fourth, last, we'll talk through the cure. So, the account, the consequences, the cause, and the cure. That's where we're headed. 1. The account: The Sloth and the Diligent Number 1. How do these verses account for the slothful and the diligent? The first thing is that there's word here used over and over. It's the word “sluggard.” It's used 14 times here. Now, in English, the word “sluggard” is a derivative of the word “slug.” Slug, meaning, of course those slimy little creatures that move so slowly. In the Hebrew language, the word for sluggard and slug are totally different words, but the idea is similar. The Hebrew meaning of sluggard is someone who is slow to take action - someone habitually lazy with no discipline or initiative in his life. That's very similar to the second word used here. The word slothful… used 3 times. It's someone who constantly refuses work. He is the opposite of diligent. And we see these definitions worked out all through these verses. · First, a sluggard loves to sleep! As a door turns on it's hinge, so a sluggard on his bed. Or as we read a couple of times, “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest” He even sleeps during the harvest, it says. By the way, we all need sleep… but this is different. The sluggard wins the couch potato award. · Second, the one who is slothful is mere talk. That's how Proverbs 14:23 describes him. “Mere talk tends only to poverty.” He'll say something like, “Oh, I'll get to that tomorrow.” But tomorrow never comes. He talks a big talk, but never follows through. · Next, he also makes excuses. Like in 26:13 – This is a funny one… “There's a lion in the road!” In other words, “I can't go out there to work.” There are murder hornets out there! Or, the dog ate my homework. If you lived in our house, that could actually happen. · And a fourth description are his worthless pursuits. That phrase is there in Proverb 28:19. “…he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.” That's pretty descriptive of us today. We get sucked into the vortex of social media. Name your favorite – Tick Tok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. We get pulled into the articles, pictures, videos, and reading the comments. Then all of a sudden, hours have passed! Has that happened to you? It's happened to me. · There are some other descriptions in here as well. For example, work is drudgery to the slothful. Also he ignores the severity of his situation. So, he loves his lazy-boy recliner or his bed, always procrastinates, talks a big talk, pursues the unimportant, and cares not about working or his situation. Now, no one here that fits that full description. But I think we can each identify slothful areas or lazy tendencies, perhaps even significant ones, in our lives. The contrast here is with the diligent. That word means someone who is industrious in his work and focused. It's not just that he is diligent to do something, he is also thoughtful and intentional in his tasks. Look at Proverbs 27:24, you'll see that sense of priorities. “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.” The diligent understand when it's time to plant seed and when it's time to harvest. It's in between those times, that's when he will build or maintain his house. And, of course, the illustration is the ant. Now, at the time in Israel, one of the more common types of ants was the harvester ant. It was known to store kernels of grain during the harvest, which would last them the whole year. At other times of the year, these ants would expand their nest and care for the young. So likely, Solomon had these in mind. It's a picture of diligence and preparedness in the tasks at hand. You see, the diligent don't need a task master to keep them going, rather they understand and can accomplish their responsibilities. Kids, if your mom or dad are always reminding you, every day, to do your school work, then likely you are acting more like a slug than an ant. It's time to become like an ant. 2. The Consequences Ok, point #2. The consequences. All throughout these verses, we're given consequences. Let me say, these are generalities, not formulas. When the Proverbs speak about immediate consequences, it's not giving us a formula. We can't say, if you are diligent, the result will always be blessing and security. No, those Proverbs are rules of thumb. Look at Proverbs 10:4. “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” Is it the case that a sluggard will always find himself in self-inflicted poverty? No? Is it the case that the diligent will always have financial security? No. External circumstances can change the outcome. But the principal is generally true. It's important to understand that. For the sluggard, in many many cases, his carelessness and laziness will lead to poverty. Some of the language used here is “suffer hunger” or “have nothing” or he'll “be put into forced labor.” Or he'll have “plenty of poverty.” On the other hand, the diligent will in many many cases “reap a harvest” or “will have plenty of bread” or “will abound in blessing.” That's the language here. You can see the contrast – poverty versus plenty. Let me highlight another consequence. Being around a sluggard is no fun. Especially if you are responsible for him or her. This last week, Amy, Caleb, and I were in the kitchen, and Caleb said, “Mom, do you remember when you made us take a mouthful of vinegar and then you read us that Proverb?” Amy and I both laughed because little did Caleb know at the time, but that Proverb is on the list for today. Look down at Proverbs 10:26. “Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.” This was several years ago. The kids were all having one of those days. They weren't listening. They were not following through on chores or assignments. They didn't want to do anything. Parents, you know what I'm talking about. So Amy brought them out on our deck. She gave them each a little cup of vinegar, and made them swish it around in their mouths … and then she read Proverbs 10:26. Her point was this: That bitter and sour taste in your mouth is what it's like to those around you when you disobey and are lazy. Now, to be sure, Amy didn't make them swallow the vinegar, so please don't call family services. By the way, some of the other consequences listed here are similar. A sluggard brings shame and the diligent brings honor. To summarize: the consequence for the slothful include self-inflicted poverty, difficulty working with him, and often shame to his family. And for the diligent? Stability, security, leadership even, and honor. #3 The causes At this point, let's transition to the causes and the cure. We're going to focus on idleness and sloth. Now, is it possible that our diligence can become a problem? Yes! Absolutely. Work can become an idol. What I'm saying is that you should not use these verses to justify working 60, 70, or 80 hours a week at the expense of your family. Nor should you use these verses to turn work into your identity. Those are problems, for sure… but what these verses focus on is laziness. Also, I also want to acknowledge that there are difficult things in life which can lead to struggles with motivation. Grief is one of them. When you lose a family member or dear friend, some days it's hard to even get up out of bed. Depression is similar. Depression can be caused by many things. And I want to say, in those two situations, it's important to get help – that may be Godly counselling or other kinds of help. If that's your struggle, please reach out for help and guidance. I also want to say that idleness is different than rest. We all need rest. God has given us the pattern and focus of our rest. That's a topic for another day. What many of these verses speak to is the sin of laziness. It's being a dead weight on your family or friends or at work. It's when you are not contributing with your God given skills and gifts to labor. Let me add, this is not just about a career. Rather, we all have lowercase “c” callings. That may be a paid job. It may be caring for someone or a family. It may be serving the needs in the church or community. For example, children, at this point in your life, your responsibility is to be diligent in your schoolwork. On the other hand, if you are one of our older members and struggling with heath issues, your calling may be prayer. Whatever it is, we're to pursue it with diligence. But the problem is that sin has affected everything. That includes affecting our motivations and our work. And this goes way back to Genesis 3. Part of God's curse on all creation is that the ground will produce “thorns and thistles.” And as it also says, “by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.” Because of that, we often don't want to work. We don't want to deal with the struggles of whatever calling we have. And those thorns and thistles can come in many forms. And so, we cave in. We don't want to put in the effort. We distract ourselves and we make all kinds of excuses. But at the heart of it all, the heart of our laziness in whatever area of our life… is our sin. We don't want to recognize that part of God's call for us is to work. Again, work in a broad sense of our daily callings. You see, we were created to work. Every one of us. We read that earlier in the service from Genesis 1 and 2. Part of God creating man in his image, is the inherent responsibility to labor in this world… which is patterned after God and his work in creating all things. In other words, work is not a result of the fall. No, the toil of work is the result. And in our selfishness and pride, we would rather distract ourselves with mind numbing activities or a lazy lifestyle, than follow through on the gift of God in our callings. To summarize, what are the primary causes of our sloth? Sin in the world and the sin in our hearts. Let me add one more cause. And I'd like to use CS Lewis for this one. Some of you have read his book Screwtape Letters. It's a fiction and it's really unique. It's a series of letters written by Screwtape, who is a senior demon in the devil's army. Screwtape, the demon, is writing to his demon apprentice, Wormwood. Screwtape's goal is to get Wormwood to effectively distract his human patient from God and instead direct him to sin. His tactics are many including exploiting personal weaknesses, stirring up anger and strife, undermining prayer and the church, promoting despair and apathy, and elevating the patient's pride. Let me read what Screwtape writes in letter 12: “My dear Wormwood… You no longer need a good book, which he really likes, to keep him from his prayers or his work or his sleep; a column of advertisements in yesterday's paper will do. [or should I add, “a little screen time”] You can make him waste his time… [by doing] nothing at all for long periods… you can keep him up late at night… staring at a dead fire…. Nothing is very strong - strong enough to steal away a man's best years not in sweet sins but in a dreary flickering of the mind over it knows not what and knows not why in the gratification of curiosity so feeble the man is only half aware of them… You will say that these are very small sins… [but] it does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing.” He wrote that 85 years ago. You see, the devil has many lies and tactics and one of them is complacency or sloth. He wants to exploit your sin and the fallen world around you… He wants you to retreat into the world of idle nothingness and away from God. #4 The Cure So, where does that lead us? Well, it leads us to the cure. This is point number 4. The good news is that God is at work. He's at work redeeming. And one of the things that he's redeeming… is he's redeeming our labors. We don't often think about redemption being applied to our daily callings. Do we? Rather, when we think about redemption, we think about how Christ has redeemed us from the eternal consequences of our sin. Or we think about how we are reconciled to God through Jesus' atoning sacrifice. Or we think about how the resurrection gives us hope for eternity. Or we consider the grace that God gives us through Christ in forgiving us for the sins that we actively commit. Those are all amazing things. But we should also consider that God's redemption applies to our passive sins like sloth… and we should consider how God is redeeming our labors. Whatever you're called to do in this life. Many of you know I spent almost 20 years in a different career. I experienced the highs and lows of any job – difficult situations, demanding responsibilities. At times, I struggled with motivation. But at other time, I experienced joy in my work. And I will say, these last 10 years as a pastor, there have been highs and lows. Times of discouragement and times sensing the joy and passion of this calling. I'm thankful to God that most often it's been the later. Let me share four things I've learned over the years: · First, when we intentionally seek to honor God in our work, God often gives us a desire to work and a satisfaction in our work. That's the first one. By the way, I'll restate them at the end. · Second, when we recognize that part of what it means to be created in God's image is being created to work… when we recognize that, God often gives us purpose and meaning in our work. · Third, when we recognize that God's work of redemption includes our work, we are able with his help to endure the thorns and thistles. · And fourth, when we realize that God's grace in Christ through the cross includes forgiving us for our sloth, then we can be renewed to diligence… as we pursue our daily callings. Let me says those again. (1) Pursuing God's glory in what we do, often gives us desire and satisfaction in our callings (2) Remembering that we are created in God's image gives us purpose in our callings (3) God is redeeming our work which helps us persevere through trials in our callings and (4) God's grace covers all our sin, including our idleness. When we come to him with it, he will help renew our hearts in our callings. As we come to a close, let's consider one more thing - work in this life compared to eternity. You see, in this life, each one of us struggles or will struggle in our daily callings. That may include a struggle of apathy. You may have days or weeks or months where you are fighting to regain motivation and fighting against idleness. But beloved, if you are in Christ, there will be a day when work will no longer be a chore. A day when you will be in the presence of your Savior with all the saints. A day when you will enter his rest. His eternal rest. But it won't be a rest without work. No, it will be an eternal rest from the thorns and thistles… an eternal rest from any and all temptations to sin. Yes, we will be worshiping forever, but we'll also be working in some way. But our labors and service will be fully redeemed, with no toil or struggle. Whatever it is like, at every moment it will be fully satisfying to us and fully glorifying to God. May God give us an eternal motivation and perspective, as we labor in this life. My we forsake our sloth and idleness and instead hear the call to diligence – not for our glory, but for God. Amen?
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
Slothfulness, it is a word that when we hear it we usually think means slow or lazy, but is that all it actually means? In this week's episode of Real Talk Christian Podcast, Marc Hyde and Chris Fuller sit down to discuss the 6th deadly sin in the series, that of Slothfulness. What does it actually mean, and how can we overcome it? Join in to the conversation to find out. Banter ends at 14:30 //Resources Used In This Episode// https://www.christianpure.com/learn/what-is-sloth //Other Episode You Might Enjoy// https://realtalkchristianpodcast.com/episodes/207-7-deadly-sins-envy/ https://realtalkchristianpodcast.com/episodes/081-the-seven-deadly-sins-pride/ https://realtalkchristianpodcast.com/episodes/089-7-deadly-sins-lust/ https://realtalkchristianpodcast.com/episodes/132-the-7-deadly-sins-gluttony/ https://realtalkchristianpodcast.com/episodes/162-the-7-deadly-sins-greed/ // Helpful Links // https://www.youtube.com/@realtalkchristianpodcast The Christian Standard Bible: https://bit.ly/3rulKqi Lifeway Christian Resources: https://bit.ly/3qka4Wv Got Questions?: https://bit.ly/3vSMJfq Dwell Bible App: https://bit.ly/3zUYq8E Cross Formed Kids from Ryan Coatney: https://bit.ly/3h19isZ RTC Quick Links: https://linktr.ee/realtalkchristianpodcast RTC Online: www.realtalkchristianpodcast.com Twin Valley Coffee: https://www.coffeehelpingmissions.com Revive festival : Music Festival | En Gedi Music Fest | Leonidas, MI (myrevivefest.com) Toccoa Coffee:https://toccoacoffee.com RTC Merch-https://rtcpodcast.redbubble.com
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. 3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh. 4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. 6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense. 12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him. 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death. 19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. 21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail. 22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble. 24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge. 26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity. 29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
This Sunday, Pastor David continues our series of "Things That Get In The Way" with the topic of "Slothfhulness". An all too common problem with believers - being lazy about developing their faith. Being slack in their dedication to knowing the Word of God. Being too chilled to grow spiritually. You will not want to miss this message.
Old Testament: Proverbs 19–20 Proverbs 19–20 (Listen) 19 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.2 Desire1 without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.3 When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.4 Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,2 and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.7 All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.38 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.12 A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.13 A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.27 Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.28 A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.42 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.5 The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?10 Unequal5 weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.612 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.16 Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.717 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.820 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.26 A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.27 The spirit9 of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.29 The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. Footnotes [1] 19:2 Or A soul [2] 19:6 Or of a noble [3] 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain [4] 20:1 Or will not become wise [5] 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23 [6] 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright [7] 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13) [8] 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips [9] 20:27 Hebrew breath (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 70 Psalm 70 (Listen) O Lord, Do Not Delay To the choirmaster. Of David, for the memorial offering. 70 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” 4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay! (ESV) New Testament: John 12 John 12 (Listen) Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany 12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound1 of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii2 and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it3 for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” The Plot to Kill Lazarus 9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus4 was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The Triumphal Entry 12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” Some Greeks Seek Jesus 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up 27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” The Unbelief of the People When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. Jesus Came to Save the World 44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” Footnotes [1] 12:3 Greek litra; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams [2] 12:5 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer [3] 12:7 Or Leave her alone; she intended to keep it [4] 12:9 Greek he (ESV)
Old Testament: Proverbs 19–20 Proverbs 19–20 (Listen) 19 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.2 Desire1 without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.3 When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.4 Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,2 and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.7 All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.38 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.12 A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.13 A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.27 Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.28 A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.42 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.5 The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?10 Unequal5 weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.612 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.16 Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.717 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.820 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.26 A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.27 The spirit9 of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.29 The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. Footnotes [1] 19:2 Or A soul [2] 19:6 Or of a noble [3] 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain [4] 20:1 Or will not become wise [5] 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23 [6] 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright [7] 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13) [8] 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips [9] 20:27 Hebrew breath (ESV) New Testament: Titus 1:1–4 Titus 1:1–4 (Listen) Greeting 1 Paul, a servant1 of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began2 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word3 through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Footnotes [1] 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface [2] 1:2 Greek before times eternal [3] 1:3 Or manifested his word (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 70 Psalm 70 (Listen) O Lord, Do Not Delay To the choirmaster. Of David, for the memorial offering. 70 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” 4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay! (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 23:19–21 Proverbs 23:19–21 (Listen) 19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.20 Be not among drunkards1 or among gluttonous eaters of meat,21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags. Footnotes [1] 23:20 Hebrew those who drink too much wine (ESV)
Morning: Proverbs 19–20 Proverbs 19–20 (Listen) 19 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.2 Desire1 without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.3 When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.4 Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,2 and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.7 All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.38 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.12 A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.13 A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.27 Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.28 A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.42 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.5 The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?10 Unequal5 weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.612 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.16 Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.717 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.820 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.26 A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.27 The spirit9 of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.29 The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. Footnotes [1] 19:2 Or A soul [2] 19:6 Or of a noble [3] 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain [4] 20:1 Or will not become wise [5] 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23 [6] 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright [7] 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13) [8] 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips [9] 20:27 Hebrew breath (ESV) Evening: 2 Corinthians 3 2 Corinthians 3 (Listen) Ministers of the New Covenant 3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our1 hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.2 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one3 turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord4 is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,5 are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.6 For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Footnotes [1] 3:2 Some manuscripts your [2] 3:3 Greek fleshly hearts [3] 3:16 Greek he [4] 3:17 Or this Lord [5] 3:18 Or reflecting the glory of the Lord [6] 3:18 Greek from glory to glory (ESV)
Proverbs 19–21 Proverbs 19–21 (Listen) 19 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.2 Desire1 without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.3 When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.4 Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,2 and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.7 All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.38 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.12 A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.13 A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.27 Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.28 A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.42 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.5 The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?10 Unequal5 weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.612 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.16 Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.717 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.820 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.26 A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.27 The spirit9 of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.29 The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.21 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp10 of the wicked, are sin.5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.117 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just.8 The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright.9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin.13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.14 A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe,12 strong wrath.15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.16 One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.24 “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.26 All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.28 A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.29 A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to13 his ways.30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. Footnotes [1] 19:2 Or A soul [2] 19:6 Or of a noble [3] 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain [4] 20:1 Or will not become wise [5] 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23 [6] 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright [7] 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13) [8] 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips [9] 20:27 Hebrew breath [10] 21:4 Or the plowing [11] 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death [12] 21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom [13] 21:29 Or establishes (ESV)
Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 21–23 1 Chronicles 21–23 (Listen) David's Census Brings Pestilence 21 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” 3 But Joab said, “May the LORD add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” 4 But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword. 6 But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab. 7 But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. 8 And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” 9 And the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, 10 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.'” 11 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Choose what you will: 12 either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 13 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” 14 So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15 And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17 And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.” David Builds an Altar 18 Now the angel of the LORD had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 So David went up at Gad's word, which he had spoken in the name of the LORD. 20 Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. 22 And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the LORD—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” 23 Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” 24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 25 So David paid Ornan 600 shekels1 of gold by weight for the site. 26 And David built there an altar to the LORD and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the LORD, and the LORD2 answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then the LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 28 At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon, 30 but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD. 22 Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the LORD God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.” David Prepares for Temple Building 2 David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. 3 David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, 4 and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. 5 For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death. Solomon Charged to Build the Temple 6 Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. 8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.' 11 “Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you. 12 Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. 14 With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD 100,000 talents3 of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add. 15 You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working 16 gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The LORD be with you!” 17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you peace4 on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people. 19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD.” David Organizes the Levites 23 When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel. 2 David5 assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. 3 The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men. 4 “Twenty-four thousand of these,” David said,6 “shall have charge of the work in the house of the LORD, 6,000 shall be officers and judges, 5 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the LORD with the instruments that I have made for praise.” 6 And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 7 The sons of Gershon7 were Ladan and Shimei. 8 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three. 9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers' houses of Ladan. 10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, therefore they became counted as a single father's house. 12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the LORD and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever. 14 But the sons of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. 16 The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. 17 The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second. 21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them. 23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three. 24 These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses, the heads of fathers' houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 25 For David said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God. 29 Their duty was also to assist with the showbread, the flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and all measures of quantity or size. 30 And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the LORD, and likewise at evening, 31 and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the LORD on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the LORD. 32 Thus they were to keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and to attend the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the service of the house of the LORD. Footnotes [1] 21:25 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [2] 21:26 Hebrew he [3] 22:14 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [4] 22:18 Or rest (see 22:9) [5] 23:2 Hebrew He [6] 23:4 Hebrew lacks David said [7] 23:7 Vulgate (compare Septuagint, Syriac); Hebrew to the Gershonite (ESV) New Testament: 1 Corinthians 16 1 Corinthians 16 (Listen) The Collection for the Saints 16 Now concerning1 the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. Plans for Travel 5 I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 10 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. 11 So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. Final Instructions 12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will2 to come now. He will come when he has opportunity. 13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love. 15 Now I urge you, brothers3—you know that the household4 of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people. Greetings 19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!5 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. Footnotes [1] 16:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1; also verse 12 [2] 16:12 Or God's will for him [3] 16:15 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 20 [4] 16:15 Greek house [5] 16:22 Greek Maranatha (a transliteration of Aramaic) (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 13 Psalm 13 (Listen) How Long, O Lord? To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 13 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.6 I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 19:15–16 Proverbs 19:15–16 (Listen) 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die. (ESV)
Psalms and Wisdom: Proverbs 19–20 Proverbs 19–20 (Listen) 19 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.2 Desire1 without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.3 When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.4 Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,2 and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.7 All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.38 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.12 A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.13 A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.27 Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.28 A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.42 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.5 The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?10 Unequal5 weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.612 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.16 Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.717 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.820 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.26 A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.27 The spirit9 of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.29 The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. Footnotes [1] 19:2 Or A soul [2] 19:6 Or of a noble [3] 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain [4] 20:1 Or will not become wise [5] 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23 [6] 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright [7] 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13) [8] 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips [9] 20:27 Hebrew breath (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Deuteronomy 22:13–30 Deuteronomy 22:13–30 (Listen) Laws Concerning Sexual Immorality 13 “If any man takes a wife and goes in to her and then hates her 14 and accuses her of misconduct and brings a bad name upon her, saying, ‘I took this woman, and when I came near her, I did not find in her evidence of virginity,' 15 then the father of the young woman and her mother shall take and bring out the evidence of her virginity to the elders of the city in the gate. 16 And the father of the young woman shall say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man to marry, and he hates her; 17 and behold, he has accused her of misconduct, saying, “I did not find in your daughter evidence of virginity.” And yet this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the cloak before the elders of the city. 18 Then the elders of that city shall take the man and whip1 him, 19 and they shall fine him a hundred shekels2 of silver and give them to the father of the young woman, because he has brought a bad name upon a virgin3 of Israel. And she shall be his wife. He may not divorce her all his days. 20 But if the thing is true, that evidence of virginity was not found in the young woman, 21 then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done an outrageous thing in Israel by whoring in her father's house. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. 22 “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. 23 “If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, 24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor's wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. 25 “But if in the open country a man meets a young woman who is betrothed, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. 26 But you shall do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no offense punishable by death. For this case is like that of a man attacking and murdering his neighbor, 27 because he met her in the open country, and though the betrothed young woman cried for help there was no one to rescue her. 28 “If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, 29 then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days. 4 30 “A man shall not take his father's wife, so that he does not uncover his father's nakedness.5 Footnotes [1] 22:18 Or discipline [2] 22:19 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [3] 22:19 Or girl of marriageable age [4] 22:29 Ch 23:1 in Hebrew [5] 22:30 Hebrew uncover his father's skirt (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Amos 6 Amos 6 (Listen) Woe to Those at Ease in Zion 6 “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!2 Pass over to Calneh, and see, and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory,3 O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? 4 “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall,5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,6 who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!7 Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.” 8 The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, declares the LORD, the God of hosts: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.” 9 And if ten men remain in one house, they shall die. 10 And when one's relative, the one who anoints him for burial, shall take him up to bring the bones out of the house, and shall say to him who is in the innermost parts of the house, “Is there still anyone with you?” he shall say, “No”; and he shall say, “Silence! We must not mention the name of the LORD.” 11 For behold, the LORD commands, and the great house shall be struck down into fragments, and the little house into bits.12 Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there1 with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood2—13 you who rejoice in Lo-debar,3 who say, “Have we not by our own strength captured Karnaim4 for ourselves?”14 “For behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD, the God of hosts; “and they shall oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah.” Footnotes [1] 6:12 Or the sea [2] 6:12 Or into bitter fruit [3] 6:13 Lo-debar means nothing [4] 6:13 Karnaim means horns (a symbol of strength) (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Matthew 4:1–11 Matthew 4:1–11 (Listen) The Temptation of Jesus 4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,' and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (ESV)
Andy Flattery does a solo mixtape episode commenting on the Coen Brothers' "Hail, Caesar!," the craftsmanship of Tally Ho Yacht restoration project, and Fr. Paul Scalia's lecture on leisure, the basis of culture. In making these connections he attempts to unpack the tension between workaholism, the dignity of work, diligence, and sloth. Episode page: https://simplewealthkc.com/hail-caesar-tally-ho-yacht-guy-the-dignity-of-work-podcast/Get the essential listening list of The Reformed Financial Advisor episodesIntro music is Ryan O'Connor'sFollow Andy Flattery on TwitterSend an email to andy@simplewealthkc.com
Games. Porn. Slothfulness. Escapism. Drugs. Aimlessness. Whether the boy has grown up in a Christian church, Christian school, or a homeschooling family . . . high percentages of young men are wandering aimlessly, spiritually anemic, or dead . . . and there's not much a homeschooling mom can do for him anymore. Now what? Aaron Boldman from HelpMyBoy.com has had 22 years of experience with hundreds of young men like this. What do these boys need more than anything else?
With family: Leviticus 4; Psalms 1–2 Leviticus 4 (Listen) Laws for Sin Offerings 4 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally1 in any of the LORD's commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them, 3 if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the LORD for a sin offering. 4 He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD and lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the LORD. 5 And the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it into the tent of meeting, 6 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle part of the blood seven times before the LORD in front of the veil of the sanctuary. 7 And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before the LORD that is in the tent of meeting, and all the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8 And all the fat of the bull of the sin offering he shall remove from it, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 9 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys 10 (just as these are taken from the ox of the sacrifice of the peace offerings); and the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering. 11 But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung—12 all the rest of the bull—he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up. 13 “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally2 and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt,3 14 when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting. 15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be killed before the LORD. 16 Then the anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the tent of meeting, 17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil. 18 And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is in the tent of meeting before the LORD, and the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 19 And all its fat he shall take from it and burn on the altar. 20 Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven. 21 And he shall carry the bull outside the camp and burn it up as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly. 22 “When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by the commandments of the LORD his God ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 23 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish, 24 and shall lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD; it is a sin offering. 25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering. 26 And all its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings. So the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin, and he shall be forgiven. 27 “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 28 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. 29 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering. 30 And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 31 And all its fat he shall remove, as the fat is removed from the peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. 32 “If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish 33 and lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. 34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 35 And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on top of the LORD's food offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven. Footnotes [1] 4:2 Or by mistake; so throughout Leviticus [2] 4:13 Or makes a mistake [3] 4:13 Or suffer for their guilt, or are guilty; also verses 22, 27, and chapter 5 (ESV) Psalms 1–2 (Listen) Book One The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked 1 Blessed is the man1 who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;2 but his delight is in the law2 of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. The Reign of the Lord's Anointed 2 Why do the nations rage3 and the peoples plot in vain?2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.9 You shall break4 them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Footnotes [1] 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface [2] 1:2 Or instruction [3] 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble [4] 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule (ESV) In private: Proverbs 19; Colossians 2 Proverbs 19 (Listen) 19 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.2 Desire1 without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.3 When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.4 Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,2 and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.7 All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.38 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.12 A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.13 A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.27 Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.28 A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools. Footnotes [1] 19:2 Or A soul [2] 19:6 Or of a noble [3] 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain (ESV) Colossians 2 (Listen) 2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Alive in Christ 6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits1 of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities2 and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.3 Let No One Disqualify You 16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,4 puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Footnotes [1] 2:8 Or elementary principles; also verse 20 [2] 2:15 Probably demonic rulers and authorities [3] 2:15 Or in it (that is, the cross) [4] 2:18 Or about the things he has seen (ESV)
Daily Radio Program with Charles Stanley - In Touch Ministries
Gain insight on how to overcome slothfulness—something that can make its way into any believer's life.
Daily Radio Program with Charles Stanley - In Touch Ministries
Dr. Stanley shows you how God views slothfulness and how to diligently rise above it.
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