CALVARY CHAPEL OF JONESBORO
  • HOME
  • Basics
    • Announcements
    • Giving
    • Who We Are
    • Just for Fun
  • Proverb a Day
  • Ministries
    • Children
    • Missions
    • Worship >
      • New Song Page
    • Youth
  • Biblical Stuff
    • Services
    • Articles
    • Apologetics Studies
    • A Call to Revival
    • Discipleship >
      • 1 - The Gospel
      • 2 - The Word
    • The Gospel
    • Links
  • Sign Up Area
  • Psalms For Life
  • Prophecy/News



​
Proverb A DAy

The Son-Effect! 

3/9/2017

1 Comment

 
Proverbs 10:1   The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
 
This is the beginning of the collection of the proverbs of Solomon.  Whereas the early chapters of Proverbs dealt with themes that lasted for multiple verses or the entire chapter, these will be the pithy statements that most people associate with a proverb.  It is only fitting then that the man God used to speak the first 9 chapters that often addresses sons – would begin this part of proverbs with a proverb about the joy and grief a son can bring to his parents.
 
Two things are contrasted here – a wise son and a foolish son.  What is it to be a wise son?  The word used for wisdom is “hakam” and it means to be skilled or experienced in something.  Since the opening of the book of Proverbs tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, we know that the skill or experience spoken of is moral and directly associated with living in a way that honors and pleases God.  The easiest way to understand wisdom is that it is the Holy Spirit given understanding of how God sees things.  Thus the wise man is the one who lives in light of God, Who He is and What He desires.  The word for fool is “kesil” and it means to be stupid or a dull person.  The fool is stupid because he sets his desires against God and His ways.  He is also dull and stupid when it comes to successfully navigating life itself.  He doesn’t seem to understand how things work – or doesn’t care.  He is unable to discern the good from the bad at all.  The fool is the consummate personal autonomy advocate – thinking that his own personal wants and desires are to reign supreme.  Thus he has little or no ability to figure out what is good in any greater sense than himself. 
 
The other contrast drawn here has to do with how this young man affects the demeanor of his parents.  The wise son is a joy to his father.  We’ve seen how proud a dad can be of his son when he is wise.  That father will talk endlessly about his boy and the good things he is doing.  It is not that the mom does not have joy – but usually her joy becomes something that shines from within.  I love when the gospels speak of how Mary “treasured” all the things she heard and knew about her son, Jesus.  As a dad, you just want the whole world to know about your godly, wise son.  A mom feels the same way – she just expresses it differently. 
 
But the contrast here is the way that the mother’s life is affected when this son becomes foolish in his actions and attitudes.  Over the years of watching my own wife respond to our children – it breaks a mother’s heart when her children begin to adopt foolish ways.  It’s not that it doesn’t affect me as a dad, but I cannot come within miles of the way my wife grieves when her children begin to turn away from the Lord and wise living.  I’ve watched as she is overwhelmed with sadness and begins to turn to prayer on their behalf.  She would write out pages of Scripture that she would then use as she prayed for them.  Her heart would not rest until she knew that they had returned to the Lord and to His ways. 
 
What should we take away from this first proverb of Solomon?  First of all there is a takeaway for parents.  We need to be wise in the way we rear our children.  If we want them to be wise as they grow up – we will need to teach them this wisdom.  That is what the first 9 chapters of Proverbs have already told us.  But there is also something for the son as well.  He is to realize that his actions affect more than himself.  The choices he makes and the directions he takes will have a tremendous affect on his parents.  Therefore he should make them carefully – being aware that wisdom has a blessing not only for him, but also for those who gave their lives to rear him as well.
1 Comment

Why Dad's Need to Passionately Speak to Their Sons about Sexual Immorality

1/16/2013

1 Comment

 
Proverbs 5:7  Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from the words of my mouth.  

Wisdom is something that should passionately be spoken to our sons. It is something they should hear from us with a sense of urgency and importance that should ring from what we say to them. If we do not speak with this kind of passion we may have our children go the way that the sons-in-law of Lot went.

We read in Genesis of this sad event in Genesis 19:14, "Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, and said, 'Up, get out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city.' But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting." Unfortunately for Lot - a passionate plea too late seems like little more than a bad joke. The lack of passion concerning the immorality and ungodliness of the people was palpable. He rarely spoke out, though his righteous soul was tormented by their behavior. But Lot decided not to speak too stridently about sin in his day. The result of his lack of conviction about the sin that ran rampant in his town was that no one took him seriously when he came with a warning about God's judgment. He never seemed too disturbed about the sin before - so maybe he was overreacting to the situation at hand. In the end the men who would have been his daughter's husbands laughed him off - and were destroyed when the fire and brimstone fell from heaven.

This is why we need to speak with the passion of this father. When he says, "listen" he uses the word that speaks of listening to obey. He wants his words regarded, heard, and followed. When he says, "do not depart" he uses language that is strong. The idea behind this admonition is like a military leader urging his troops to not desert him or quit fighting. Strong words are employed by this father to call his sons away from sexual immorality. Do we use words this strong when speaking with our sons on such issues? Do we use any words? Do we even speak with them about such things?

Our sons need us! We live in a day of loose morals and lying promises. The morals of our day are loose because our nation has abandoned the words of the Lord. Schools forbid us from speaking such things to students. In the places where an abstinence message is allowed - a Scriptural one is forbidden. It seems almost insane to keep such a message from our young ones considering that over 40 different incurable sexually transmitted diseases run rampant in our society. But the real danger, according to our lawmakers, is that someone might harm them by speaking a religious message to them. What is allowed more and more is the lying promises of our society. Safe sex is promoted - with the thought that they are going to be sexually immoral anyway. The problem is that the so-called safe sex message relies primarily on condoms - which have a 1 in 6 failure rate. Their message of safety is about as effective as playing Russian roulette with a six-shooter. Come on - there's only one chance in six someone is going to blow their brains out! Keep your morality off of our pistol! We'd consider such talk sheer insanity if it were uttered to our kids about playing Russian roulette. But for those who offer the same message with an incurable sexually transmitted disease - well, that's open thinking and progressive education. Honestly . . . sounds like a gathering of idiots to me.

Dad's - this was NEVER to be a matter handed over to school and governmental officials. Sex education and far more importantly sexual morality was and still is to be taught by a father to his son. That way we cannot only teach them about their sexuality as a gift from God. We can also let them know of the perversion of it by the Fall - and the dangers that come from ignoring the Word of God.

1 Comment

The Best Protection for Sex - The Wisdom of God! - Proverbs 5:1

1/8/2013

0 Comments

 
Proverbs 5:1  My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding;

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears." This was the way Shakespeare began the speech of Mark Antony in Julius Caesar. It was a cry for people to listen and to pay close attention because something very important was going to be said. Proverbs has its own soliloquies as well - but they come from the mouths of mothers and fathers to their sons and daughters. This is how the father begins his speech to his son - by calling him to listen and to pay close attention to what he is going to say.

Give attention, pay heed, pay attention, listen is what the father is saying to his son. But he is not calling him to attention to just anything - he is calling his attention to the wisdom that the father shares with him. Wisdom is the familiar word "chokmah" in the Hebrew meaning, which means not just seeing or knowing things from God's perspective - but having a skill and experience in using this wisdom to make moral and practical decisions. We are not to turn the education and en-wisening of our children over to others. That is what western culture has done too often. We turn our kids over to the school - even to their Sunday school teachers and youth leaders. Let them teach our children wisdom - that's what they're for right? WRONG! They are there to only add to and embellish the core teachings that should have come from us. When we do not do our jobs as parents - believe me - no one else can make up for it. 

The father calls his son to bend his ear close when he speaks and when he instructs. "Incline your ear" is like Shakespeare's, "Lend me your ears," comment. It is saying to the son that he needs to stretch out his ears - bend them toward what the father is saying. He is to extend and lean his ears to what is being said - but even more to that - to understand his father's words and see how they apply to all of life! We talk about how the younger generation is leaving the church. They are leaving because they see very little relevance to their lives from what is being taught. They see the Bible as stories told to them when they were little - as an antiquated book that no longer applies to today's world. Why? Because they did not hear from dad - nor see in dad a daily pursuit of the truth - as well as a daily understanding of how that truth applies to making decisions in the everyday life that he leads. Of course they are going to think it is of little value. Oh, but when a father teaches his children these things - calls them to listen and bend their ear close as he instructs them. When dad reveals to them a life lived from the perspective of God and of Scripture - that - dear brothers and sisters is a life that will call a son to follow. That child will value what he has heard and SEEN in his father. He will listen because he has SEEN how important this book - the Bible - is to how his father lives. That, my brothers is how we recapture this generation. We do so by living according to God's wisdom - then calling our sons to listen as we recount time after time when that wisdom guided us through the minefields of life. 

What is the particular "minefield" that the father is so intent on teaching to his son?  It is the minefield of sexual immorality.  He is talking to his son about women - actually about a certain kind of woman - the immoral one.  He is also sharing much wisdom with his son about the battle that will ensue when he deals with women like this.  He does not hide such things from his son - he teaches them honestly and very straightforwardly.  This is not something that is relegated to the sex ed teacher - it is something the father teaches his son.  I'm about to say some things that will probably offend some - while at the same time making others shout for joy that someone is saying them out loud.  

Sex education was meant to be taught at home and in the church.  Never was this meant to be a topic brought up without very clear moral underpinnings.  If you look at the first 9 chapters of Proverbs you will see that this issue was raised BY THE FATHER to the son several times.  God intended for a godly father to teach his son about sex - and about the pitfalls of being a fallen male in this world.  The Bible is not squeamish on the matter of sexuality.  It faces it head on - sharing general teaching, instruction, warnings, as well as cautionary historical examples of sexuality running wild and causing great destruction.  I've long held that if the whole Bible was ever to be put on film - it would carry at least an R rating.  The perils of heterosexual sin, homosexuality, and perversion are not hidden from us.  They are displayed in such a way that we see their destructive power and desire to avoid them.  

Dad, are you teaching your son these things?  Have you sat down and taught him about his sexuality - with a proper moral foundation underneath so that his sexuality does not run rampant and destroy relationships and possibly even his health and welfare?  Because the church has not stepped out in front on such issues - and because fathers have not taught their sons and instructed them in how to wisely deal with their sexuality - the world has taken over.  The result is sexuality taught without biblical morality.  How's that working for us so far?  Have we brought about a safer, wiser, more responsible sexuality among our children and youth?  It has been a disaster because teaching sexuality without morality has led to a sex-crazed society that has cheapened sex and made it accessible and acceptable in every situation.  

Dads . . . YOU are responsible for how your son and daughter views sexuality.  If you do not teach them the truth - they most likely will not know it.  The television and movies will not tell them about such things within a biblical context.  Magazines and books won't do it either.  They will promote the perversions of sex passed on by our society and those who view sex as an anything goes activity - just so long as you use protection.  Fathers!  Nothing will protect your child from the dangers of unbiblical sex.  There is not a condom or a safety device made that protects the heart and the spirit from the devastation and destructive power of sin.  May God grant us a revival among fathers - that we will call our children to listen - and we will talk to them frankly and honestly about their sexuality.  May we also give them a godly, biblical framework in which to enjoy their sexuality as God intended.  If we do not talk to them and teach them - I can promise you others will who have no intention of offering them the greatest protection we can have in sex - the wisdom of God.
0 Comments

How to Get a Delightful Son - Proverbs 29:17

11/26/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
Proverbs 29:17  Correct your son and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul. 

It is a common error for parents to think that if they discipline their children, they will not like them later in life. This is especially the case when at the time of the discipline the child makes a comment to the effect that they hate you. Another winner at this juncture is when a child announces in overdramatic fashion that you are ruining their life. Let me assure you from having reared 6 children of all personality types - when you discipline them you are not ruining their lives. What you are doing is insuring that at a later date you will find comfort and delight in a child who knows how to control himself and make wise choices.

Correcting your son involves discipline. The word here is "yasar" and it means to discipline, chasten, instruct, teach, and even punish. This process of correction therefore takes into account all the aspects of rearing a child. It means so much more than just spanking or punishing a child when they do wrong. It involves instructing and teaching them even as you chasten and punish them. It is not enough to tell a child something is bad - you have to eventually explain why something is bad or a wrong choice. When you do this, you take the time to encourage them toward godly, right behavior.

When you rear a child in this fashion you will find that your son gives you two wonderful things. First, we are told that he gives us "comfort." The word here means to give someone a sense of rest and repose. It can also mean a rest in the way you feel when you are satisfied with something. A well-disciplined child, although a chore during the process, will give a parent rest as they make godly, wise choices later in life. I know from a little experience and from helping others that when a child makes unwise choices - it can rob you of any sense of rest or relaxation. Some parents seem to spend a majority of their latter years rescuing a child from one disaster after another. That is not rest!

The second blessing that comes to parents who correct their children is delight. The Hebrew word here is "ma'aden" and it means something of beauty or when referring to food, something that tastes wonderful. One of the blessings that I have is that of thoroughly enjoying my children. We have 6 of them - and they are a delight to the soul of their mother and father. When they visit we speak deeply of spiritual things - and we have a blast together - often laughing and enjoying each other's company. That is what is promised here.

Now just a word in closing on this proverb. The delight often comes later in life - because rearing a child is a full contact sport! There were many times when we struggled to know what to do - and how to deal with rebellion in our children. There were times when my wife and I were dropped to our knees in broken-hearted prayer on their behalf. We both know that the reason they are godly today is because of God's grace and mercy - not our wonderful, book worthy parenting. So do not lose heart if at first you read this and wonder about such words as comfort and delight. That comes after you've spent 15-20 years of work together rearing them - praying for them - and often wondering what may become of them. That part is the "correcting" phase. It is not always delightful - but is very useful to God not only to bless your children - but to drop you to your knees for a few times of God's work in you as well.


POSTSCRIPT:  Recently, individuals have quoted articles from this section and stated that we teach child abuse at Calvary Chapel Jonesboro.  To this I feel the need to respond.  First, biblically, we are told that if we have a problem with our brother to go to our brother - not the internet - and confront our brother.  To date, these individuals have yet to contact me to discuss these things.  That should say volumes in itself.  
     Second, we do not teach child abuse at our fellowship.  This blog is an endeavor to teach what is in the Bible for the edification and upbuilding of God's people.  Anyone who has been to our fellowship knows that in our classrooms we administer NO physical discipline.  We correct with words and with "time outs" and eventually with a report to parents.  From our nursery throughout every age group our people are instructed NEVER to administer physical discipline.  We believe this right alone belongs to a parent.  Even then we teach the following about any application of physical discipline.
     Discipline is about the heart of a child.  Physical or corporal punishment is ONLY to be administered in a spirit of love for the child.  Teaching and loving verbal correction is key - as is prayer for the child's eventual salvation in Jesus Christ.  Any physical punishment administered due to anger or rage is out of line and wrong.  The parent is to discipline the child with appropriate discipline - not abuse.  In the end the child should be taught - and in every circumstance hugged, loved, and prayed with after any physical punishment to assure them of our love.  The idea of a "beating" is completely out of step with what the Scriptures are teaching.  Instead the idea of loving discipline is intended.  

1 Comment

A Call to Moral Sanity, part 2 - Spreading Our Seed Senselessly - Proverbs 5:16-17

7/11/2011

0 Comments

 
Should your springs be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets?  Let them be yours alone And not for strangers with you. Proverbs 5:16-17

Part of sexually sane living is realizing what is at risk when we begin having sex outside the bounds of our marriage.  Here we have a reference to where our seed as men will go when we decide to begin committing adultery. 

The father tells his son not to have his springs dispersed abroad - like streams of water in the streets.  The picture here is how a man's seed should be kept for his wife - and only his wife.  When a man begins committing adultery and resorting to women who do the same, he is risking pregnancy with a woman who is not his wife.  Unfortunately we have myriad examples of this in our current day.  Men, who do not care with whom they have sex, wind up impregnating women who are not their wives.  Thus their seed is like a spring dispersed abroad - like water in the streets.  The result is a society where there are illegitimate children running around - without fathers.  A man who does such things is a man who will have his name and his reputation damaged over time.  Since he does not care for the children properly they tend to go astray and to cause problems.  When people learn that they are the illegitimate children of a man - that man's name suffers greatly - as do the children whom he has sired - but does not rear for God.

God says to let our seed by ours alone - and not something that is shared with strangers.  God intended for a man and a woman to be married, then to share in sexual intercourse.  It was never His intention or will that men should have multiple children with multiple wives.  This creates very serious problems over time.  It causes problems for the family - for the husband and wife - for their children - and for the child who is uncared for by a father later in life.  There is also the problem of what happens to the woman who is used in this way.  Quite often this woman grows very bitter and angry at the man who has used her for sex - but is unwilling to commit to her . . . or to her child. 

God knows the damage that comes from ignoring His Word and the principles upon which it is based.  This is multiplied many times over when a man fathers illegitimately.  Unfortunately most men do not even consider such things - they are looking only for the pleasure of the moment rather than thinking about the long-term affects of their immorality.  That is why it is left to godly fathers to warn their sons of such things.  May we be wise and do such things with our sons and daughters - to hopefully promote a little more sexual sanity in our world.  

0 Comments

Speaking Frankly With Our Sons, part 7 of 7 - A Pondered, Straight Path

3/23/2011

0 Comments

 
Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.  Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:26-27

Watch means to weight out or to ponder.  The idea here is that someone is pondering evil and then choosing to avoid it.  It means to seriously think about the path your feet are going to take - and choose to take them in a direction pleasing to the Lord.  Sometimes we don't think enough about the path of our feet.  We just act and go along with our lives.  We don't take the time to think about where we're going - what we're doing - and where it is going to lead when things reach a conclusion. 

We are told that if we will do this we will have all our ways established.  Ways is "derek" which again is the Hebrew word that refers to our lifestyle - the way we're going in life.  To have that way or that lifestyle established means to have it firm and fixed.  It means our lifestyle is one that is upright and good.  We will have a life that matters and just as important - one that will be steadfast in what pleases and honors the Lord.  There is also a sense in which we are being told our lives will last - whereas the worldling and the wicked man will only be temporary. 

When we look at the way of our feet, we need to know not to turn to the right or the left.  This is assuming that our feet are on God's paths and ways and not our own.  When we turn to the right or the left, we are choosing to depart from God's paths and walk in our own, the world's ways, or those of the devil.  Which ever of these three are true, we will find ourselves in a way that is wrong - and ultimately a way that will hurt and cost us. 

The only turn we should make in life is one away from evil.  The word "turn" here is a Hebrew word that means to go away from something, to desert it, to quit, to keep far away.  When we see evil we need to remove ourselves from it - depart - honesly - RUN!  To hang around evil is to court its greater influence in our lives.  When we see evil we should hide ourselves from it.  The longer we remain in the presence of evil, the more likely we are to participate in it.  Thus the wise man runs from evil.

Think about where you're going.  It is important to do this - to consider our lives and examine them from time to time.  It is too easy to begin to wander from the ways of God - too easy to take a path that leads us away from the Lord.  That is why this Proverb helps us so much - it encourages us to think through where our journey reaches its destination.  We think about the end of things.  When we do this - we will see the wisdom of turning away from evil and keeping clear of the wicked one and his ways.  

0 Comments

Speaking Frankly With Our Sons, Part 6 of 7 - Distractions and Focus

3/22/2011

0 Comments

 
Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Proverbs 4:25

Godly fathers warn their sons about distractions.  It was a distraction that led to the fall of mankind.  It was when Satan got the man and the woman to look at the one thing they probably should not have set in their sights that they were distracted enough to make the mistake of not just look at it - but partake of the forbidden fruit.  In much the same way, our sons are being constantly given things to look at that are not wise for them to put in the path of their vision.  What we look at long enough - will so fill our vision that we want to partake of it.  That can get our sons in all kinds of trouble.

Dad speaks frankly with his sons, telling them to have their eyes look directly in front of them.  He says this again with greater intensity telling the boys to let their gaze be fixed straight in front of them.  This is important for sons because they are going to face a tremendous amount of visual stimulation from the world.  We are warned against a worldliness where we live for the lust of our eyes.  This warning should remind us as fathers that what our eyes see can stimulate very strong desires that cry out for fulfillment.

David had a vision of a beautiful woman bathing in front of his eyes one evening in Jerusalem.  He could have looked away, but rather than do this, David fixed his gaze upon Bathsheba.  Soon, looking was not enough for David - he had to have more.  That look led to a horrible set of problems, beginning with adultery, and ending with a devastating set of consequences for his entire family - indeed, for all of Israel. 

Oh, how we need to use such things to warn our sons against the sins of the eyes.  How we need to warn them to keep their vision fixed straight in front of them.  They need to have a vision that dominates their lives - and it needs to be one where they focus on Christ.  Paul told us that when we gaze at Him with unveiled faces that we will be transformed into the very image that is set before our eyes.  May we be diligent in encouraging our sons to have that vision be the Lord Jesus Christ!
0 Comments

Speaking Frankly With Our Sons, Part 5 of 7, The Words We Speak

3/21/2011

0 Comments

 
Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.
Proverbs 4:24

Any godly father who understands spiritual things knows that when urging his sons to have godly hearts, he must also address in almost the same breath how they use their mouths.  Jesus taught us the truth that it is out of the mouth that we know the condition of the heart of a man.  He told us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  Therefore when we take the time to examine the things that are coming out of our mouths, we will be able to better know what is lodging in our hearts.

The father frankly speaks to his sons about the need to put away a deceitful mouth and devious speech.  The first term here about a deceitful mouth has to do with perversion and deceitfulness.  It is a Hebrew term used to describe a person who speaks without any integrity in God's eyes.  He would rather speak deceptive things than the truth, immoral things rather than moral.  Scripture speaks of such a man as an evil, worthless man in Proverbs 6:12. 

Our society is growing more and more coarse all the time.  We know and see this through the language that we hear in the public square - and from the entertainment industry.  I may sound old fashioned, but I remember speaking with my mouth about how an entire theater gasped in horror when Frank Butler cursed at the end of "Gone With the Wind."  It was a ground breaking moment, but unfortunately was a harbinger of things to come.  Now, what that one actor said is common fare during prime time TV and is considered nothing to us today.  The language that is spewed at all hours of the day should shock us, but unfortunately we just yawn at the spiritual depravity of our day and move on with life.

The only way back to a godly, moral society is to rear a generation of sons who no longer consider such things commonplace.  Unfortunately for us, one of the problems is the current attitude of the church. 
We have moved from a cursing society to a cursing church.  The rave of the day among some of our youth is the rise of conservative, evangelical preachers who litter their sermons with language that at one time made the world gasp in theaters.  This development, while seeming to be really cool to some of our youth - will only result in a continued increase in those whose mouth is revealing a heart filled with perversion.  Some may balk at this assessment, but when we see that the godly father commands his son to put such a mouth away - can this be too far off from the truth?

The second command of the father is for the son to put "devious" speech far from him.  "Luz" is the Hebrew word used here and it means to be crooked or perverse.  The idea here is to deviate from God.  When our speech deviates from God's standards and God's ways - and in all honesty, from God's Word, we are headed in a very dangerous pathway.  Knowing that some will read this wondering just what good, godly speech is - and what words that we should avoid - I want to comment very pointedly about such things. 

Our current crop of curse words are focused on some very interesting things.  A couple of curse words deal with defacation.  When we read in the Old Testament that God required Israel to take a shovel and cover up their waste - it only goes without saying that speech that uses such words on a regular basis probably ought to be buried as well.  The other more common curse words seem to center around a crass way of speaking about the reproductive process.  Once again it is fascinating that God's commentary about this is that the marriage bed is holy and that sexual relations between a man and woman should remain in their own bed - and not in the common conversation of society.  Some will scoff at such statements - but I would argue with them as to what kind of biblical admonition encourages such speech?  Paul writes to the Ephesians, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification."  Wholesome words are those words that are not rotten - and since God does not encourage worldliness, but greatly discourages it in 1 John 2:15-17 - we might also do well in discouraging speech that far more resembles the world than resembles the Word. 

Fathers, we need to encourage a new generation of young men who speak so as to please God in all that they say.  Their hearts need to glorify God with what dwells in them - and their mouths need to reveal the godliness of their lives by speaking those words that are good for edification according to the need of the moment for those who are listening.  It would bless our society to see men who once again value a common-speak that does not offend or shock - but that blesses and encourages.
 
0 Comments

Speaking Frankly With Our Sons, Part 4 of 7, Heart Issues

3/20/2011

0 Comments

 
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
​Proverbs 4:23

The heart is the key to walking with God.  When the heart is changed and sanctified, the life will be godly and will be pleasing to the Lord.  But when a man's heart is not guarded and kept for the Lord, there will be problems.  This is why the father who is speaking frankly with his sons, will urge them to do all that is necessary to watch over their hearts.

The word "watch" used here is the Hebrew word, "natsar" and it means to watch over something, to guard and to keep it.  This word was used to describe how a person is to maintain something that is entrusted to them.  Whether we truly realize it or not, God has given us our hearts.  He has given us life and a direction in which it should be going.  Once this wonderful gift of salvation and a new heart is ours by God's grace - it is our duty to protect it - and to make sure that we watch over what God has done in our lives.  This "watching" is to be done with all diligence.  The word used here is "mismar" and it means to have someone put into custody, to guard them.  It speaks of things that are in a condition of being watched and controlled.  What a fascinating word to use here.  We are to watch our hearts and do so with a diligence that would be reminiscent of a prison - or the watch of a military unit at night.  This is no casual affair, but is something that is of the utmost seriousness.  God is absolutely serious about what we are doing with our hearts. 

The reason for this "due diligence" over our hearts is because our hearts are vital to our spiritual lives.  The father tells his son that from his heart flow the very springs of life itself.  A literal way of translating this passage is to say, "from out of it are the issues of life."  William Harvey, in the seventeeth century, discovered the circulation of blood in the human body.  This one discovery absolutely revolutionized science and medicine.  Over 2500 years before Harvey, the writer of Proverbs, inspired by the Holy Spirit, accurately spoke of how the heart was the very location where springs of life flowed out into the rest of the body.  The heart pumping the blood of the body through the arteries - is the very wellspring of life for the entire body.  If we watch out for the health of our heart - we are doing what must be done for a healthy body.  Kill the heart - and the body will die.  In a similar way, the heart is the seat of our spiritual life.  Keep our hearts and we will maintain a life of holiness and godliness.  Let our hearts go and we will find that the life of God will no longer flow freely through us and in us. 

The godly father impresses such things on his son.  He makes frank statements to his boys about the need to maintain a vital spiritual life where a heart for God is not just maintained, but is encouraged to flourish.  The father who takes this job seriously will be the father who rears sons to be men of God.  Dad, are you challenging your sons to maintain hearts for God and the things of God?  

0 Comments

Speaking Frankly with our Sons, Part 3 of 7 - Life and Health

3/6/2011

0 Comments

 
For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body.   Proverbs 4:22

The wise father will place before his sons that fact that living according to God's ways and commands is the very best way to live.  Living this way is how to experience, "Life and life abundantly" as Jesus said in John 10:10.  He will also let them know that God's ways are also the most healthy way to live for their physical bodies as well.  This should be almost a "no-brainer" when we grasp that God, Who is omniscient and all-wise, would of course know the very best way for us to conduct ourselves for the most healthy and meaningful life the few years we have on this planet.

The father begins by frankly telling his son that the ways of God are life to those who find them.  Jesus warned us in John that the thief, who is the devil, comes to kill, steal, and destroy.  We should take note that also in 1 John we read that the world lies in the power of the evil one.  Therefore it should be no surprise to us that the world and its ways are destructive to our health and well-being.  To follow the world is to ultimately harm ourselves.  God made the world around us to function in a certain way.  To follow Him is to follow the designer and creator of all that we see and know.  When God gave His Law to Israel He said something very powerful in Deuteronomy 30,

"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply . . . I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days . . ."  (Deuteronomy 30:15-16,19-20) 

God made it clear to His people that His ways were best - actually they were penultimate over all other ways of living.  To love, serve, and obey Him would bring them great blessing and life.  Again, He tells Israel this in Deuteronomy 32:46-47 when He says, "Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law.  For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life."

The God who gave these very frank statements to Israel - also commanded the fathers of that nation to impress those same words upon the hearts of their sons.  So all we are reading here in Proverbs is a restatement of what God has commanded previously.

The father also seeks to say to his son that obeying the Lord's commands is also "health" to the body.  Here is where things get fascinating.  I attended Auburn University for my undergraduate work.  While there I knew a couple of brothers in Christ who endeavored to study the Scriptures and test the Old Testament dietary laws to see why God gave them.  Later I also read extensive articles out of a ministry in Chicago where doctors began treating patients based upon God's dietary and cleanliness laws.  Both groups adamantly stated to me that what God gave in the Old Testament is the most astounding public health system known to mankind.  If these commands were followed, it would lead to a marvelously healthy society.  When the Jewish slums followed these laws in Europe - the beubonic plague did not affect their populations.  Another way to say this is - the commandments of God are health to our bodies.

Dads, we need to speak frankly to our sons concerning life - and what enhances and offers life to them.  The world will not tell them such things, in fact, the world will tell them the opposite.  We are the ones God has designed to speak such things to them.  Actually, we are commanded to do so.  Blessed is the son who has a wise father who will speak frankly with him about life - and life abundantly!
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    Proverb a Day

    Each day, we'll take a look at a verse from the chapter of Proverbs for the day.  Our hope is to gain wisdom each day - and from that wisdom - to have understanding to make godly decisions in the throes of everyday life.

    Picture
    Thank you for visiting our website!  Everything on this site is offered for free.  If, however, you would like to make a donation to help pay for its continued presence on the internet, you can do that by clicking here.  The only thing we ask is that you give first to the local church you attend.  Thank you!

    Picture

    Archives

    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009

    Picture
    Categories

    All
    1 Corinthians 9:26-27
    Abomination
    Abortion
    Absolute Truth
    Abundance
    Accessory To A Crime
    Accountability
    Accountable To God
    Acknowledging God
    Adaddon
    Addictions
    Adulterous Woman
    Adultery
    Adversity
    A Father's Teaching
    Afflicted
    Aging
    Agnostics
    A Good Name
    Agriculture
    Ahab
    Alcohol
    Amos 8:4-5
    Anger
    Animals
    Ants
    Anxiety
    Apologetics
    Appetites
    Application
    Appreciation
    Arguments
    Arrogan
    Arrogance
    Assurance Of Salvation
    Atheists
    Atmosphere
    Attentiveness
    Attitude
    Attributes Of God
    Authority
    Awe
    Backbiting
    Backsliding
    Bad Company
    Battle
    Beauty
    Bitterness
    Blameless
    Blessed
    Blessing
    Blessing Favor
    Blessings
    Blindness
    Blood
    Boastful
    Boldness
    Bondage
    Bones
    Books
    Boundaries
    Bribery
    Bribes
    Broken Heart
    Brokenness
    Broken Spirit
    Brutishness
    Burden
    Business
    Calamity
    Captialism
    Casting Lots
    Caution
    Change
    Character
    Cheating
    Cheerfulness
    Child Rearing
    Child-rearing
    Children
    Choices
    Cleansing
    Comfort
    Commandments
    Communism
    Companion
    Comparison
    Compassion
    Complacency
    Complaining
    Compromise
    Confession
    Confession Of Sin
    Confidence
    Conscience
    Consequences
    Contempt
    Contention
    Contentions
    Contentment
    Control
    Controversy
    Cooperation
    Corporal Discipline
    Corporal Punishment
    Correction
    Corruption
    Counsel
    Counselors
    Court
    Courts
    Courts Disagreements
    Creation
    Creation Vs Evolution
    Crime
    Criticism
    Crooked
    Crossroads
    Cruelty
    Culture
    Curses
    Danger
    Darkness
    Daughters
    David
    Death
    Debt
    Deceit
    Deceitfulness
    Deception
    Decisions
    Defenses
    Delight
    Deliverance
    Depression
    Desire
    Desires
    Despise
    Destruction
    Devious
    Difficult Times
    Difficulty
    Dignity
    Diligence
    Direction
    Disagreements
    Disaster
    Discernment
    Discipleship
    Discipline
    Discretion
    Disgrace
    Disgraceful Living
    Dishonesty
    Dishonor
    Disobedience
    Disobedient
    Disputes
    Distractions
    Distress
    Disunity
    Dread
    Drink
    Drinking
    Drunkenness
    Dying To Self
    Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
    Economics
    Education
    Effective Praying
    Emotions
    Employees
    Employer
    Encouragement
    Endurance
    Enemies
    Envy
    Equity
    Established Life
    Esteem
    Eternal Mindset
    Eternity
    Ethics
    Evangelism
    Everlasting
    Evil
    Evil Men
    Evil Philosophies
    Evil Thinking
    Evil Ways
    Evolution
    Evolution Vs Creation
    Excellence
    Excuses
    Expectations
    Eyes
    Facial Expressions
    Fairness
    Faith
    Faithful
    Faithfulness
    Faithlessness
    Falsehood
    False Intimacy
    False Teachers
    False Witness
    Fame
    Family
    Farming
    Fathers And Sons
    Favor
    Favoritism
    Favor Of God
    Fear
    Fearing God
    Feasting
    Feelings
    Fellowship
    Fighting
    Finances
    Fines
    Fire
    Flattery
    Focus
    Following God
    Folly
    Food
    Foolish Counsel
    Foolishness
    Fools
    Forbearance
    Foresight
    Forgiveness
    Foundations
    Fountain Of Life
    Freedom
    Friend
    Friendship
    Frugality
    Fruit
    Frustration
    Fulfillment
    Future
    Future Eternal
    Generations
    Generosity
    Gentleness
    Giving
    Gladness
    Glory Of God
    Gluttony
    God As Creator
    Godless Leaders
    Godlessness
    Godliness
    Godly Appeal
    Godly Business Practices
    Godly Counsel
    Godly Dads
    Godly Leadership
    Godly Legacy
    Godly Men
    Godly Moms
    Godly Sexuality
    Godly Standards
    Godly Wisdom
    God's Blessing
    God's Law
    God's Love
    God's Omniscience
    God's Provision
    God's Strength
    God's Wisdom
    God's Word
    Gods Word
    Good
    Good Company
    Goodness
    Good News
    Gospel
    Gossip
    Government
    Governmental Overthrow
    Grace
    Graciousness
    Grandchildren
    Gratefulness
    Gravity
    Greed
    Grey Hair
    Grey Hair. Old Men
    Grief
    Grieving Sin
    Grotesque Proverbs
    Guarantor
    Guidance
    Guilt
    Happiness
    Hardened Heart
    Hard Work
    Harm
    Harvest
    Hastiness
    Hate
    Hating Evil
    Hating God
    Hatred
    Haughty
    Healing
    Health
    Hearing
    Hearing God
    Heart
    Heart For God
    Hebrews 9:27
    Hell
    Heros
    Hidden Motives
    Hiding
    Hiding Sin
    Hiding The Word In Your Heart
    Hiding Wisdom In Your Heart
    Holding Our Tongue
    Holiness
    Holiness Purity
    Holy Spirit
    Home Life
    Honesty
    Honey
    Honor
    Honoring God
    Hope
    Hospitality
    House
    Humility
    Hunger
    Hunger And Thirst
    Hurried Lifestyle
    Hypocrisy
    Immodesty
    Importance
    Impurity
    Indebted
    Industry
    Influence
    Inheritance
    Iniquity
    Injustice
    Innocent Blood
    Insanity
    Insight
    Insolent
    Insomnia
    Instruction
    Insults
    Integrity
    Intelligence
    Interest
    Intimacy
    Intimacy With God
    Intoxication
    Intuition
    Invitiation
    Inward And Outward Beauty
    Irritating People
    Jealousy
    Jedidiah
    Jesus Christ
    Joy
    Joyfulness
    Judges
    Judgment
    Just Dealings
    Justice
    Kindness
    Kings
    Knowing God
    Knowledge
    Labor
    Lamp Of God
    Land
    Language
    Latter End
    Law Of God
    Laws
    Laziness
    Lazy
    Leaders
    Leadership
    Learning
    Learning From Nature
    Legal Matters
    Lies
    Life
    Lifestyle
    Lips
    Listening
    Loans
    Longevity
    Longsuffering
    Love
    Loved By God
    Lovingkindness
    Loyalty
    Lucifer
    Lying
    Man
    Marketplace
    Marriage
    Matthew 12:36-37
    Maturity
    Meat
    Meddling
    Medication
    Medicine
    Meekness
    Mental Health
    Mentors
    Mercy
    Messengers
    Mind
    Ministry Of Neglect
    Mocking
    Modesty
    Money
    Moral Corruption
    Moral Decline
    Moral Perversion
    Morals
    Moral Sanity
    Mothers
    Motives
    Mouth
    Murder
    Murmuring
    Mystery
    Naive
    Name Of God
    National Character
    Nature Pictures
    Necklace
    Neglect
    Neighbors
    Nose Rings
    Nourishment
    Obedience
    Offence
    Omnipresence Of God
    Omniscience Of God
    Oppressed
    Oppression
    Oprah
    Order
    Ordinary
    Origins
    Ornaments
    Orphans
    Outbursts
    Paid In Full
    Pain
    Pampering
    Parenting
    Parents
    Partiality
    Passion
    Paths
    Patience
    Peace
    Peacefulness
    Peacemakers
    Penalties
    Persuasiveness
    Perverse
    Perversity
    Perverted Mouth
    Philosophy
    Pigs
    Planning
    Plans
    Pleasant Words
    Pleasing God
    Pleasure
    Politic
    Political Speech
    Politics
    Pollution
    Poverty
    Power
    Power Of Words
    Practical Jokes
    Practical Wisdom
    Praise
    Prayer
    Preparation
    Presumption
    Pride
    Problems
    Profit
    Prosperity
    Prostitutes
    Protection
    Prov 1
    Prov 10
    Prov 11
    Prov 12
    Prov 13
    Prov 14
    Prov 15
    Prov 16
    Prov 17
    Prov 18
    Prov 19
    Prov 2
    Prov 20
    Prov 21
    Prov 22
    Prov 23
    Prov 24
    Prov 25
    Prov 26
    Prov 27
    Prov 28
    Prov 29
    Prov 3
    Prov 30
    Prov 31
    Prov 4
    Prov 5
    Prov 6
    Prov 7
    Prov 8
    Prov 9
    Proverbs
    Providence
    Provision
    Provocation
    Prudence
    Prudent
    Psalm 2
    Psalm 23
    Public Opinion
    Publishers
    Punishment
    Purity
    Purpose
    Pursuing God
    Quarreling
    Quick Tempered
    Quiet
    Racism
    Rage
    Ransom
    Rash Decisions
    Reading
    Reasoning
    Rebellion
    Rebelliousness
    Rebuke
    Receptiveness To God
    Recompense
    Refined By God
    Refuge
    Rejection
    Rejoicing
    Relationships
    Relationship With God
    Reliable
    Religion
    Repentance
    Reproach
    Reproof
    Reputation
    Requests
    Resentment
    Respect
    Rest
    Restitution
    Restraint
    Revenge
    Revival
    Reward
    Rewards
    Riches
    Riddles
    Right Choices
    Righteousness
    Rod
    Ruin
    Rulers
    Ruthless Men
    Sacrifice
    Sadness
    Safety
    Salvation
    Sanctification
    Satire
    Satisfaction
    Sayings
    Scales
    Science And God
    Scoffer
    Scorn
    Scripture
    Security
    Seduction
    Seeing
    Seeking God
    Self
    Self Control
    Self-control
    Self Examination
    Self-indulgence
    Selfish
    Selfishness
    Self Love
    Self Reliance
    Sensible
    Sensuality
    Servanthood
    Servants
    Sexual Immorality
    Sexuality
    Sexual Sanity
    Sexual Temptation
    Shame
    Shamefulness
    Shekel
    Sheol
    Shield
    Sickness
    Silence
    Simple Minded
    Sin
    Sinfulness
    Singing
    Single Moms
    Skill
    Slander
    Slaughter
    Slavery
    Sleep
    Slothfulness
    Slow To Anger
    Sluggard
    Snares
    Socialism
    Social Justice
    Social Media
    Social Status
    Solomon
    Sons
    Sorrow
    Soul
    Sovereignty Of God
    Sovereignty Of Self
    Speaking The Truth In Love
    Spirit
    Spiritual Awakening
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Hunger And Thirst
    Spiritual Maturity
    Spiritual Nourishment
    Spiritual Power
    Spiritual Vitality
    Spoiled Brats
    Stability
    Standing Against Evil
    Steadfast
    Stealing
    Stench
    Stewardship
    Stiff-necked
    Stinking
    Storms
    Strange Woman
    Strength
    Stress
    Strife
    Stronghold
    Stumbling
    Stupidity
    Submission
    Success
    Surety
    Survival
    Swearing
    Swine
    Talking
    Taxes
    Teachable
    Teaching
    Teaching Sons
    Television And Movies
    Tempest
    Temptation
    Testimony
    Testing
    Thankfulness
    The Afflicted
    The Beautiful Woman
    The Dead
    The Evil Man
    The Evil Way
    The Excellent Wife
    The Favor Of God
    The Flesh
    The Fool
    The Gate
    The Godly Father
    The Godly Man
    The Godly Woman
    The Good Man
    The Gospel
    The Harlot
    The Heart
    The Holy Spirit
    The King
    The Love Of God
    The Mighty
    The Mind
    The Mouth
    Theology
    The Poor
    The Poor Man
    The Power Of Words
    There Is A Fountain
    The Rich
    The Rich Man
    The Righteous
    The Righteous Man
    The Rod
    The Role Of Father
    The Role Of Mother
    The Tongue
    The Ungodly Man
    The Ungodly Woman
    The Way Of A Fool
    The Way Of A Wise Man
    The Wealthy
    The Wicked
    The Wicked Man
    The Will Of God
    The Wise Man
    The Wise Woman
    The Word Of God
    The Wrath Of God
    Thinking
    Thirst
    Thought Life
    Thoughts
    Timing
    Tithe
    Tongue
    Tornadto
    Tradition
    Tranquility
    Transcribing
    Transgression
    Traps
    Treacherous
    Treachery
    Treasure
    Treasure Trunk
    Tree Of Life
    Trials
    Trouble
    Troubles
    True Beauty
    True Riches
    True Wealth
    Trust
    Trusting God
    Trustworthy
    Truth
    Turning From Sin
    Turning To God
    Understanding
    Unfaithful
    Unforgiveness
    Ungodliness
    Ungodly Business Practices
    Ungodly Counsel
    Ungodly Leadership
    Ungodly Legacy
    Ungodly Men
    Ungodly Speech
    Ungodly Thinking
    Ungodly Women
    Unjust
    Unrestrained
    Unshakable
    Unwise Choices
    Unwise Decisions
    Upright
    Usury
    Vanity
    Vegetarianism
    Victory
    Violence
    Vision
    Vows
    Wages
    Waiting On God
    Walking With God
    Wandering
    War
    Warfare
    Warnings
    Watchfulness
    Way Of Evil
    Wealth
    Wealthy
    Whirlwind
    Wicked
    Wickedness
    Widow
    William Cowper
    Will Of God
    Wine
    Winking
    Wisdom
    Wise
    Wise In Our Own Eyes
    Wise Living
    Wise Sons
    Witness
    Wives
    Women
    Wonder
    Wordiness
    Word Of God
    Words
    Work
    Worker
    Work Ethic
    Work Relationships
    Worldliness
    Worldly Counsel
    Worldview
    Worry
    Worship
    Worthiness
    Wrath
    Wrath Of God
    Wreath
    Youthfulness
    Zeal

    RSS Feed

Join Us
Sundays: 10:45am - Morning Service
Community groups Times Vary

Wednesdays: 6:30pm - Adult Bible Study, Youth Worship and Bible Study, & Children ministry 

411 Calvary Cove
Jonesboro, AR  72401


Connect with Us
Phone: 870-277-0500
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 Calvary Chapel Jonesboro | all rights reserved
Photos from swanksalot, Matias-Garabedian, rust.bucket, IntelFreePress, amiefedora, smjb, tanakawho, Carrie Kellenberger I globetrotterI, steakpinball, f_mafra, raygunb, B4bees
  • HOME
  • Basics
    • Announcements
    • Giving
    • Who We Are
    • Just for Fun
  • Proverb a Day
  • Ministries
    • Children
    • Missions
    • Worship >
      • New Song Page
    • Youth
  • Biblical Stuff
    • Services
    • Articles
    • Apologetics Studies
    • A Call to Revival
    • Discipleship >
      • 1 - The Gospel
      • 2 - The Word
    • The Gospel
    • Links
  • Sign Up Area
  • Psalms For Life
  • Prophecy/News