Posted by: pastorapbell | July 15, 2010

as we make plans and take good advice

he who has an ear!

Intelligent children make their parents proud; lazy students embarrass their parents. The empty-headed treat life as a plaything; the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it. Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed

(Proverbs 15:20-22, The Message).

People who are quick to change what they do and how they do it are termed intelligent. Having information alone does not amount to anything if you do not know how to use the information available to you. Life is short at the best of times so we are encouraged to grasp each and every opportunity and above all seek good advice in doing so.

There is an old ditty that says if you fail to plan you are in essence planning to fail. However, good plans fail because of narrow consultation and this is where intelligence comes to the fore. Wisdom dictates that you try to look at opportunity from a variety of angles and not be confined to one particular view. Perspective is a wonderful gift we are given and when used properly, we are able to see things that were not visible before and hence we can make informed choices.

Today ask the Lord to send wise counsellors into your circle and when they come, listen to them, even though you may not always agree with what you are been told, still listen ‘for in the multitude of counsel there is safety’ (Prov. 24:6). Lift up your eyes to the hills and heed the words of the sage; listen to good advice if you want to live well like an honoured guest among wise men and women (v.31 paraphrased).

Read Proverbs 15

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Posted by: pastorapbell | July 14, 2010

as we seek freedom from oppression

The sin of oppression lasts for generations and grates God’s heart. God is a God of the oppressed. His heart is to see all his creation free, however this is not the intention of all of his creation. Some of them think that they have a God given right to inflict pain and misery on others because of certain physical traits that they inherited.  An example of this is the stratification that occurred in the Caribbean where I was born.

At certain stage in recent history people were placed in a certain position in society according to the hue of their skin. So we had about 13 different colours of people ranging from Negro (which is the Spanish word for black) through Octoroon, Mulatto and finally unto White. This grated God’s heart. It was not until the 20th century that people began to realise that it is not the colour of a man’s skin that defines him but the content of his heart.

Today God is saying those who are liberationist are on his side.

Read Proverbs 14.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | July 13, 2010

as we learn to walk with the wise

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm (Proverbs 13:20 NIV).

 The company we keep determine who we become. An old Caribbean proverb says ‘show me your company and I’ll tell you who you are.’ This is not rocket science, however many followers of Jesus fail to keep the company of those who will challenge them to be disciplined in their walk, challenge them in their spiritual disciplines, such as daily readings and quiet times and challenge the rigorousness of their integrity.

The apostle Paul picks this up in his writing when he reiterates that bad company corrupts good manners (1Cor 15:33). And that some of us who purport to be Christians are still ignorant of what God requires from us.

Today, to determine what he [The Lord] requires from us, let us endeavour to be accountable to at least two people with whom we can share our aspirations and our anxiety without fear of being betrayed. Choose wisely those to whom you ‘bare’ your soul, but have in the back of your mind that when you walk with the wise you also will become wise.

Those who we listen to will have the greatest influence on our lives!

Read Proverbs 13

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Posted by: pastorapbell | July 12, 2010

as we move from anxiety to laughter

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up (Proverbs 12:25 NIV).

Anxiety is a state of mind where you are nervous and panicky about the future. This has the effect of bring a state of depression and introversion on the individual. The theme running through our sage’s advice today is to listen, speak the truth, seek understanding before making a judgement, ponder things in your heart before revealing them and above all ensure that all your ways are righteous.

This is a daunting list but one that can be achieved in our lifetime through reflection and action. We are further told in the epistles that we should be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make our request known to God who will give his peace which will cause the anxiety to abate.

Once anxiety is under control you can then laugh. Not a pretentious laughing by a raucous, heartfelt boisterous laughter.  Too often we get bogged down with the cares of life and fail to take time out to laugh.

laughter

Today listen to our sage, anxiety will weight you down, but kind, funny words will cheer you up.

Footnote: The Baptist Dog.

A Baptist preacher and his wife decided to get a new dog. Ever mindful of the congregation, they knew the dog must also be a Baptist. They visited kennel after kennel and explained their needs. Finally, they found a kennel whose owner assured them he had just the dog they wanted. The owner brought the dog to meet the pastor and his wife.

“Fetch the Bible”, he commanded. The dog bounded to the bookshelf, scrutinized the books, located the Bible, and brought it to the owner.

“Now, find Psalm 23″, he commanded. The dog dropped the Bible to the floor, and showing marvelous dexterity with his paws, leafed through and finding the correct passage, pointed to it with his paw. The pastor and his wife were very impressed and purchased the dog.

That evening, a group of church members came to visit. The pastor and his wife began to show off the dog, having him locate several Bible verses. The visitors were very impressed. One man asked, “Can he do regular dog tricks, too?”

“I haven’t tried yet,” the pastor replied. He pointed his finger at the dog. “HEEL!,” the pastor commanded. The dog immediately jumped on a chair, placed one paw on the pastor’s forehead and began to howl. The pastor looked at his wife in shock and said, “Good Lord! He’s Pentecostal!”

 Read Proverbs 12

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Posted by: pastorapbell | July 11, 2010

as we learn to keep in confidence what we have been told

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbour, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret (Proverbs 11:12-13 NIV).

A wise person is characterised by their ability to know how to safeguard others by keeping things that could ruin another person in their heart. On the contrary, a fool discloses everything even to their own detriment. Becoming someone who is trustworthy requires insight and understanding and this takes time to develop. It is during the development phase that the true character of the individual is revealed.

foot in mouth

An essential part of becoming a pillar in the community is to be someone who is trustworthy. People will soon know who they can and cannot trust by the way word goes around. You can try it. Tell someone who you know cannot keep a secret and sure enough it will make its way back to you sooner than you could imagine.

Being wise enables you to hold your tongue, it is the fool that speaks and condemns themselves; that is, they open their mouths and put their foot in it!

Today, practice the art of silence. Remember there are three things that cannot be retracted viz; a spent arrow a spoken words and a missed opportunity. Weigh your words and keep what has been entrusted to you, this is wisdom.

Read Proverbs 11

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Posted by: pastorapbell | July 10, 2010

as we take heed to instruction(s)

Do not reprove a scoffer or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 10:8-10 NASB).

discipline is a way of life

Today we are encouraged to act after we have been reproved. Reprove is an old Latin word that has its genesis in the reproved being in disagreement with what the one being reproved is doing. In essence we are being encouraged to listen to wisdom and modify our behaviour accordingly.

He tells us that a scoffer, someone who is cynical and self-opinionated, will hold you in contempt. The contemptuous are wise in their own eyes, they always do their own things and only repent when they find their mouths in the trough beside the pigs.

Our sage tells us that rebuke, reprove, correction, chastisement, castigation and criticism are all for the good of the one being chastened. Indeed the writer of Hebrews tells us that the father who loves his son will chasten him, although when chastening is taken place, the son does not like or may not even fully understand it (Heb 12:8). And this chastening, although painful at the time will reap a harvest of righteousness. Some translations use the word discipline instead of reprove. Discipline actually means training or teaching rather than the classical Victorian colonial understanding of beating. Once we develop a methodology of learning through discipline we will then fear the Lord and in his eyes become wise.

Read Proverbs 10

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Posted by: pastorapbell | July 9, 2010

as we listen when wisdom calls

Does not wisdom call and understanding lift up her voice? On top of the heights beside the way where the paths meet, she takes her stand. Listen and I will speak noble things and the opening of my lips will reveal right things (Proverbs 8:1, 2&6 NASB).

Listening is a skill that must be developed. We can hear without listening. How is this possible you may ask? Without understanding what was said it just becomes wind. For wisdom to become active it must be flavoured with understanding and done in righteousness. So our sage tells us that instruction and knowledge is more desirable than silver or pure gold (v.10).  And that wisdom lives with prudence and discretion. These are traits that we should cherish and develop in our character set as they, prudence and discretion, encourages one to make right decisions for the right reasons.

he saw their faith

Our mentor tells us that wisdom was there before it all began. Before anything was created wisdom was there. And when the creation started wisdom was there in attendance (v.22-31). In other words wisdom is the word, the logos which became flesh and lived among us. His remit was and is to bring liberation and transformation to all who come to him. He was and is able to see the intangible and do the unthinkable. So in Mark’s gospel 2:1-12 we see Jesus as wisdom seeing the faith of friends of a paralysed man who took the roof off to get him in Jesus’ presence. And we hear him forgiving the paralytic’s sins, v.5 and healing him v.11.

This echoes what our sage concludes with in v.35 of his machinations to us today. “For he who finds me finds life and obtains favour from the Lord.”

Today find wisdom and you will obtain favour from the Lord.

Read Proverbs 8

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Posted by: pastorapbell | July 8, 2010

As we avoid the snare of the seducers

My child, keep my words and store up my commandments with you; bind them on your fingers and write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom you are my sister and call understanding your intimate friend that they may keep you from the loose woman from the adulteress with her smooth words, Proverbs (7:1, 3-5 NRSV).

Although our writer describes the seducer as a woman and an adulteress the underlying notion he is speaking about is the spirit behind someone who flirts with the people whose desire it is to follow God. As a Christian we ought to recognise that it is only after you have confessed Jesus with your mouth and given your vow/pledge to follow him for the rest of your life that certain people with whom you had relationships with in the past, be they tentative or intimate, comes out of the woodwork, so to speak. If they came to encourage your walk with the Lord it would not be too bad, but they come to get you to do everything and go everywhere that has nothing to do with your calling.

This is the spirit of adultery. It comes to distract you and to interrupt your walk. As a young Christian you are particularly susceptible to this spirit and so our sage warns us about him/her.

To guard against this spirit, the first thing you must do is store up the commandment of the Lord inside you. Simply put, it means to know the word of the lord, not just parrot fashion but ask the Lord to give you revelation so you understand the word in context.

This may require you to undergo a season of prayer and fasting [1/2 day, 1day, 3days, 21 or 40 days]. An example of this is Daniel; when confronted with the spirit death, he went into a time of prayer and fasting to know what to do (Dan 2:18, 22). And God revealed to him what he ought to do.

The most prevalent spirit seducing our young people today is the spirit of sexual immorality. Like in the time of our sage ‘she’ entices our young and gets them to commit themselves, after which they have nowhere to go except to run from what the Lord has called them to do.

Today let us listen to the Lord. Whenever you are faced with those who come with sweet words, have in the back of your mind that they may come with the seducing spirit. So, before agreeing to do anything, check to see if their words line up with what God has said. Even if it does, seek advice from your mentor or the person you are accountable to spiritually. They will then instruct you on the way you should go as the Lord leads. This is wisdom!

Read Proverbs 7

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Posted by: pastorapbell | July 7, 2010

As we annotate the things that are abominable to the Lord!

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run to evil, a lying witness that testifies falsely, and one who sow discord in a family (Proverbs 6:16-19 NRSV).

When the wisdom writer lists the things that God hates what exactly does he mean? Does he mean that God harbours hate in his heart towards those who violate one of the above or is he trying to get us to learn about righteous indignation?

From myriad of scripture we know that God is a loving, merciful and forgiving God. We also know that he is a righteous and just God, therefore he expects his followers to say the right things so that we can act in the right way without the fear of any recrimination. So what is this sage saying?

The first thing he insists on is that God is far from the proud. Those who are haughty are proud and loud and can achieve everything themselves, therefore they do not need God. Secondly, those who distort the truth irk God since they try to convince others that there is another way to the father other than through Jesus who is truth and life. Believing a lie causes people to do wicked things. Today, as we remember those who perished or were maimed in the tube bombings in London, we can only reflect and ask the question why? What was that all about? What was the point of killing innocent people?

Lastly, our mentor tells us that God hates those who sow discord in the family. These are people who want to belong to the family and have all the characteristics of the family, but out of stubbornness, past hurts and lack of understanding, causes chaos by using their charm and things they can do to achieve goals rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to work in them.

For today, guard your heart and mitigate against the pride of live. In essence, humble yourself and God will exalt you in due course.

Read Proverbs 6

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Posted by: pastorapbell | July 6, 2010

As we learn to recognise those who deal in iniquity

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,
       and her speech is smoother than oil;

but in the end she is bitter as gall,
       sharp as a double-edged sword.

Her feet go down to death;
       her steps lead straight to the grave (Proverbs 5:3-5 NIV).

As we develop a spirit of discernment the Lord will bring people into our circle that will enable us to heighten our capacity to discern. Once we understand that there are many people who worship and serve other gods, we can then understand that they will be out to seduce us. And sometimes they are so blatant that it beggars belief. Wisdom teaches us that even though their lips are dripping with honey, that is their speech and use of words are so sweet, there is an underlying sense of mischief in all that they do.

This is how witches work. They try to infiltrate the house of God by performing and getting into positions of trust so that they can manipulate and control what goes so as to subvert what God wants to do.

So wisdom dictates that we look beyond the sweet words and the flapping eyelids and examine the substance behind what the deceiver is saying and doing. Workers of iniquity do so in private and in public they are helpful, polite and always available. Iniquity is defined as gross injustice or disobedience of what God says.

An adulteress is one who lives at home but plays away often. The writer tells us exactly where one will be led if they follow her. To avoid this we must tune in to the word, recognise the voice of deception and shun it for it will lead to death and hell. 

Sweet words are God’s words, listen to them.

Read Proverbs 5

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