Wednesday Night September 04, 2013
scriptures: Ezekiel 33, Proverbs 22, Proverbs 6, Ecclesiastes 7, 2 Timothy 3
audio file: click to open in a new window or right-click to download
Ezekiel 33:30-32
These are people that spoke of wanting to go to church. Do you prepare yourself for attending service? Is your heart prepared?
You can even get some people to faithfully attend, but is anything going to change, be different because of the teaching.
We are now to introduce change, new behaviors because of the word.
If it is not making a difference in your life, then your religion is just exercise.
vs 31 – These people came and talk the things of God, but won’t do it.
Pure religion is to visit the fatherless and widows and to keep yourself unspotted from the world. We have to have plans to obey this – to do things in God to show God’s love and to fellowship with believers.
vs 32 – These people treat coming to church as listening to a concert.
They hear the things, but do not do what is said. If that is us, then things will be no better.
Based on last week’s lesson, we should be persons who have plans in God.
God is making commands, not mere suggestions.
Proverbs
God’s warnings about relationships and some of the lustfulness.
Slothfulness – slow to respond
Proverbs 22:13-14
You have to know that there is sexual game out there. Society wants to glorify lust and that attention. They want to look like they would
instead of wanting to look holy. What are you trying to sell, what are you marketing yourself as?
vs 14 Men are responsible if they don’t heed the warning and fall to temptation. The man is abhorred of the Lord.
God holds women accountable if that is how they operate, being the strange woman. Big trouble starts with a little inappropriate flirting.
Proverbs 6:23-26
This wisdom is for your life. Part of wisdom is knowing that dealing with a strange woman is dangerous. It is as if you are the prey and don’t
even know you are being hunted. Bait never looks dangerous, until you bite and are hooked. Do you find yourself saying, I can handle it?
Ecclesiastes 7:26
God does not like it. Never use your sexuality to try to get yourself ahead. God hates it. For the tempter and the victim. Man or woman.
Avoid the appearance of evil. Don’t want to look like a suspect instead of a prospect. Why do people who claim to be Christian want to look like things that are not Christian? Don’t be surprised when people expect you to act like what you choose to look like.
Sexual attraction and lust is killing men and women all over this nation.
Be wise and don’t be taken down by these situations.
Proverbs 22:15
Know the truth. Children, teenagers are not innocent. They need instruction and correction.
Leaving kids unchecked will let them bring out some strange things. A three-year old will lie and steal easily.
If you withhold correction, you don’t love children. If you wait too late, it becomes to late to correct them.
2 Timothy 3:1-4
There is a lot of self love, self-glorification present in the world today.
These characteristics describe a lot of people in the world. One of the characteristics is being disobedient to parents, meaning they can’t be persuaded to do anything. Cannot get through to them. Can’t talk any sense to them.
Proverbs 22:16
There are people that unfairly take advantage of poor people. Don’t take the side of wrong because it is easy. Don’t glorify riches or rich people.
Memory verse for next week
Proverbs 22:17
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Proverbs begins by telling us to seek wisdom. Do you have the heart to try to hear the word?