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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
October 7, 2012
Guidance from Proverbs
Selected Proverbs
Introduction
I enjoyed being out in California last week for my dad’s 90th birthday. I spent the vast majority of my time scanning photographs to put together a slide show of his life. It was very special for him to be able to reminisce about the people he has known, places he has been and major events that have taken place in his life. It was also special for the rest of the family to see and hear about these things which are his legacy to us. Looking back over 90 years, it is easy to see the Lord’s hand of providence taking my dad through the journey of life – where he grew up, early family life, learning to walk with the Lord, protection during WWII, various careers in different places, meeting my mother, raising a family, involvement with various activities, churches and people. Hindsight of the Lord’s guidance is usually clear, but foresight into where the Lord is leading is often very fuzzy to most people.
While our immediate future will be an unknown for us, it should not be a cause of the trouble, confusion and worry it seems to cause most people. I will be showing why this is true in our study of Proverbs this morning. I do not believe it is all that hard to discern the will of the Lord and recognize His guidance. Certainly there will be uncertainty as you look to the future, in fact Proverbs 20:24 states that fact, “Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?” It is that uncertainty that opens the door for all sorts of mystical methods of determining God’s will to enter in and allow people to come to conclusions that are even the opposite of God’s stated will. I hear such these things even among conservative, evangelical Christians who look more to mysticism than God’s word to determine right and wrong. That is not so say that there cannot be mystical elements that God uses in directing us such as a sense of peace or confidence. Philippians 4:6-7 even tells us that proper prayer should lead to the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guarding your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. However, such mystical elements must be in compliance with the word of God and never in contradiction to it. Proverbs 16:20 states, “He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” This brings up what I believe is the heart of the problem in recognizing the Lord’s leading.
It is our lack of trust of God and not a lack in His guiding us that cause the trouble, confusion or worry. Proverbs 16:9 states, “The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Most of us are aware of this truth in our own experience. You carefully plan out what you intend to do, but it does not work out that way at all. Jeremiah 10:23 adds a similar thought, “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.” If you do not trust the Lord in general, then you will not trust the specifics of where He may ordain your steps to go. God’s will and your will may not match, in fact, it will often not match. God has a different purpose for your life – holiness and His glory – than you have for our life – happiness and success. Because of that, He may well ordain your steps to things you do not want to experience. That will certainly lead to worry and trouble for the spiritually immature. Mystical approaches to God’s will are popular because they allow you to reinterpret things to match your own will and still claim you are following God.
How then do you learn to trust the Lord and discern His will in guiding you in life? Proverbs has a lot to say about this subject.
The Need for Wisdom
Remember that the purpose of the book of Proverbs is to enable people to know and follow God’s will. That is what wisdom and all its related virtues such as knowledge, discretion, prudence, righteousness, justice and equity will enable you to do. Proverbs 22:17-21 explains, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?”
Following wisdom brings about God’s blessings. Proverbs 3:16-18 says of wisdom, “Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.” In the personification of wisdom in Proverbs 8:12-21 she proclaims, “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate. “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. “By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. “By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly. “I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. “Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness. “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield better than choicest silver. “I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.” Such are the blessings and the favor of the Lord obtained by wisdom (Proverbs 8:32-36). No wonder Proverbs 4:5-9 implores you to “Acquire wisdom! . . . love her . . . prize her . . . embrace her” for she will “guard you . . . exalt you . . . honor you .”
Another blessing wisdom brings is its protection. Proverbs 24:13-14 explains that if you find wisdom, “then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 2:12 states that wisdom will “deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things.” However, to neglect wisdom is to bring about self injury and to love death (Proverbs 8:36). Proverbs 16:22, “Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly.” Proverbs 21:16, “A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.”
Wisdom is crucial in being able to discern the will and guidance of the Lord. As I explained in my first sermon in this series (See: Introduction to Proverbs), in the Hebrew Scriptures wisdom is tied to the revelation of God and His will of what is holy, righteous and just. In true wisdom, human will and understanding are submissive to God’s will and revelation, for wisdom resides in God (Job 12:13). True wisdom subjects the practical things learned from human experience to the revelation of God so that man can live the best possible moral and ethical life. Wisdom requires a knowledge of God and willingness to follow Him. As Luis Goldberg described, wisdom is “exhibiting God’s character in the many practical affairs of life.”
Both licentiousness and the legalism neglect this wisdom for mani
pulating God’s stated commands into allowing the pursuit of self interest or self justification despite the transgression of the principles of those commands. Without wisdom you cannot discern and follow God’s leading. Tragically, that is the manner in which many self professing Christians try to live their lives. That will become very apparent when we get to Proverbs on Vices. People show they lack wisdom and are foolish when they try to justify their sins. “A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding,” Proverbs 14:6.
The Fear of the Lord
Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” The fear the Lord is also “the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7), “the instruction for wisdom” (Proverbs 15:33), and “to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13). This relationship between the fear of the Lord and wisdom is also tied together in Proverbs 2:5-6 in which a diligent search for wisdom results in being able to “. . . discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” If you want to know God and discern His will and leading, then you must start with the fear of the Lord and a diligent quest for true wisdom. Fools despise such wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7) and because of that hatred they do not choose the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:29).
The fear of the Lord brings multiple blessings. “The fear of the Lord leads to life” . . . “is a fountain of life” . . . and “prolongs life” that “one may avoid the snares of death” and “So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil” (Proverbs 10:27: 14:27; 19:23). Proverbs 22:4 adds that “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life,” and Proverbs 14:26 states that “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.” Proverbs 16:6 points out that “by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.”
What then is meat by “the fear of the Lord”? There are two components to this fear and the first is terror. Hebrews 12:29 says that God is a consuming fire and then adds in 10:31 “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” There should be a proper terror of the Lord in the heart of all the unrighteous, and that is the state in which everyone starts (Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:10-12), for they stand condemned by the holy, righteous and just Creator. They have not only missed the mark of keeping His perfect will in unrighteousness, they have also disobeyed His law, rebelled against His rule, allowed iniquity to direct their hearts and walked the paths of evil. Unless there is some intervention they will be judged by God according to their deeds which will condemn them to eternal Hell. The terror of this horrible destiny should cause the unrighteous to diligently search for a way to be right with God, receive His forgiveness and avoid Hell. That terror becomes a strong motivation in the search for true wisdom.
The good news is that God has provided a means of becoming righteous before Him. The Lord Himself has intervened on behalf of man by paying the price of the sin sacrifice and granting forgiveness to those who accept this payment on their behalf. God remains just because the penalty of His law is satisfied. He is also merciful and gracious because He has paid the price Himself. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the righteous man looked forward to God’s promise of this sacrifice being completed. In the Greek Scriptures we find that Jesus is that sacrifice and we now look back upon it as an historical reality.
All those who have placed their faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ are justified by God as a gift of His grace and so are no longer terrorized by God’s presence. Instead, we long for it and the fear of the Lord takes on its second component which is reverence. This is the proper respect due the Lord as our Creator and Savior. God becomes our Father for He adopts us as His children. This reverence is also the sign of our humility before Him, and humility is necessary in order to learn, mature and discern God’s leading.
The Necessity of Humility
Let me briefly expand on the importance of humility in order to discern the will and leading of the Lord. Proverbs has quite a few verses on the blessings of humility and dangers of pride. Proverbs 15:33, “The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.” Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.” God gives grace to the humble, but He is opposed to the proud (James 4:6).
Pride is the mark of a fool, and that pride will result in a rejection of wisdom and instruction and so salvation too. Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Proverbs 28:26, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.” Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
What a contrast are the results of pride with those of humility. Proverbs 22:4, “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life.” Therefore heed Proverbs 23:17, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the Lord always.”
The Necessity of Righteousness
Another characteristic that is needed in order to recognize the Lord’s guidance is righteousness for a couple of reasons. First, Proverbs 15:29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.” That is not politically correct, but it is Biblical truth for it matches what is said in Isaiah 1:15, Psalm 66:18, John 9:31 and James 4:3. Proverbs 15:8 adds, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.”
The Second reason righteousness is necessary to discern the Lord’s leading is that righteous and true wisdom go hand in hand. Proverbs 4:10-27 points out that walking in wisdom results in righteous character and behavior and well as avoiding the wicked and evil. The blessings of having a righteous character are expressed in Proverbs 21:21, “He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor,” and Proverbs 20:7, “A righteous man who walks in his integrity How blessed are his sons after him.“(See: The Way of Righteousness)
These next Proverbs contrast righteousness and evil. Proverbs 19:16, “He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die.” Proverbs 12:26, “The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 14:22, “Will they not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.”
If you are not pursuing righteousness, then you cannot recognize God’s guidance because you are walking in another direction. The good news is Jesus’ promise in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.” Do you desire to be righteous in character and conduct?
Learning from Parents
Where does learning about God and His will begin? As I have pointed out in the last eight sermons, it starts with the parents. The principle laid out in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is clear that parents are to love the Lord God with all their heart, soul and might and then diligently teach their children about God and His commands in all the situations that arise in life. Proverbs also makes an emphasis on parents teaching their children so that they become wise. And again, t
his wisdom is referring to being able to subject all the practical things learned from human experience to the revelation of God so that man can live the best possible moral and ethical life.
Proverbs 1:8, “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” Proverbs 3:1, “My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments.” Proverbs 4:1, “Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding.” Similar statements of a father imploring his son to listen to and heed what he was being taught are found throughout Proverbs for they lay the foundation for wisdom. Proverbs 23:22-23, “Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.”
A parent’s teaching encompasses both the good things that should be done and the evil things that should be avoided. A parent’s discipline includes teaching and instruction as well as rebuke, correction and chastening. Proverbs 13:1, “A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” Proverbs 15:5, “A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible.”
Parents, do not neglect this responsibility for it does affect your child as has been pointed out in the previous sermons. Children, heed your parents teaching that you may enjoy its blessings (Proverbs 4:10, “Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many”), and avoid the curses that come with rebellion (Proverbs 30:17, “The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it”). (See: Proverbs on the Family, Part 6, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16,)
Learning through Observation –
As already suggested in many of the Proverbs we have already looked at this morning, those who are wise pay attention and learn from what is around them. Parents are to teach their children God’s commands and their application, but the individual is to also learn from God’s word himself. Proverbs 16:20, “He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 13:13, “The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” Proverbs 19:16, “He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die.”
Proverbs itself lists out many of the virtues that God approves of and desires in man such as holiness, humility, honesty, integrity, kindness, goodness, and compassion. Proverbs also lists out the vices God hates such as in Proverbs 6:16-19, “There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.” By paying careful attention to observe such virtues and vices throughout the Scriptures you will have a solid foundation for clearly knowing God’s will and understanding His leading in your life.
You also will learn much by observing the people around you. Consider the observations made in these Proverbs: Proverbs 21:11, “When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.” Proverbs 22:3, “The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.” Proverbs 24:30-34 considers the sluggard, “I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,” Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man.”
There are also lessons to be learned by observing nature. Proverbs 6:6-8, “Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.”
Are you learning to be lead by the Lord through your observations of His word and His dealings with other people and nature?
Getting Counsel
There are two major difficulties in discerning the Lord’s leading. The first is our own ignorance. The Scriptures may clearly lay out the path for us to take, we may be unaware of what God’s revelation says about the matter. The second is our own bent toward selfishness and sin. It is not hard to twist the Scriptures in the effort to justify getting what you want and do things your way. For these reasons, getting godly counsel is crucial, and I must stress that it must be godly counsel. Psalm 1 warns of the danger of getting counsel from the ungodly. Proverbs 14:7 warns, “Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.”
The first and foremost counsel to receive is God’s. Proverbs 19:21, “Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand,” and Proverbs 21:30, “There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.” This of course takes us back to the Scriptures and to prayer. It is amazing how many people will claim that they are following God’s will though they have not prayed about it and what they are doing is contrary to God’s word. They are not following the counsel of the Lord. They are not following the Lord’s leading.
The wise seek to learn from others. Proverbs 1:5, “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,” and Proverbs 9:9, “Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.” The wise also recognize that they are limited in their own knowledge and understanding so they seek counsel from others. Proverbs 12:15, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” Proverbs 19:20,
“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.” They understand that the difference between success and failure is wise counsel – Proverbs 15:22, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed.” Proverbs 11:14, “Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
The wise are cautious about the source of counsel. Proverbs 12:26, “The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 13:20, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” And while the counsel of a friend can be sweet (Proverbs 27:9), godly counsel is also beneficial, and perhaps the most beneficial, when there is some contention. Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens ano
ther.”
This brings up another aspect of getting counsel that is necessary in being able to follow God’s guidance. You must be willing to be disciplined, rebuked and corrected for they are a source of understanding. Proverbs 15:32, “He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.” Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.” This needs to start early in life – Proverbs 13:1, “A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” This is a serious matter for it is the scoffer that rejects reproof and will not go to the wise (Proverbs 15:12) and so goes astray (Proverbs 10:17). And though the Lord is patient and longsuffering, Proverbs 29:1 warns, “A man who hardens his neck after much reproof Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.”
Do you seek godly counsel? Do you accept and learn from rebuke and correction?
Trust in the Lord
If all of these things are followed – seeking wisdom, fearing the Lord, being humble, pursuing righteousness, learning from God’s word and others, seeking godly counsel including accepting and heeding rebuke, then it should culminate in trusting the Lord. Ultimately, your ability to be guided by God will come down to your ability to trust Him.
Proverbs 3:5-8 is probably one of the most memorized passages on this subject, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.”
To trust the Lord means to actively walk with God in doing what is right before Him in humility and leaving the outcome in His hands. That is the means by which to receive His blessings, but understand that God’s blessings do not mean as easy life for you. God’s goals and your goals are different, and your path only becomes straight and the desires of your heart are granted (Psalm 37:4) only as your goals and desires match the Lord’s (1 John 5:13-14). The usual goals of people are happiness, success, ease of life, fame or power. God’s goal for you is your holiness in becoming like Christ and serving Him (1 Peter 1:16, Romans 8:29). This means you can expect him to reprove and correct you if you belong to Him – Proverbs 3:11-12, “My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” And remember that God is not concerned just about your outward actions, but also your inward motives – Proverbs 16:2, “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the Lord weighs the motives.”
We can trust the Lord because He is sovereign, that is, He is in control and will accomplish His will – Proverbs 16:9, “The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” For those that do not know the Lord and His character, His sovereign hand on their lives is a source of trouble and terror, but for those that do know Him, it is the source of peace and comfort. The difference is in the kind of fear of the Lord that is present. Terror because He is the holy and just creator who will judge, or reverence because He is also my Father who has redeemed and forgiven me by His grace on the basis of faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is a strong tower that the righteous can run into and be safe (Proverbs 18:10).
It is my hope that you are also comforted by God’s sovereign hand upon your life. If not, then talk to any of our leaders and we would be happy to explain the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ so you can have that comfort, or perhaps you just need someone to pray with today as you are learning to trust the Lord with all your heart.
God’s will is not hidden and His leading is not bound is mystery. It freely available to all the humble who fear the Lord and seek wisdom and righteousness. The Lord reveals His will and leading through His spirit working through teachers, counselors and His providence, but primarily it is through His word. Proverbs 16:20, “He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.”
KIDS CORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Count how man times “guidance” or “leading” is mentioned. 2) Talk with your parents about how you can recognize God leading you.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. Why is the future a cause of trouble, confusion and worry for people? Why do people seek mystical methods of determining God’s will? Why is wisdom so important in being able to discern the Lord’s will and leading? Describe true wisdom. How do the licentious and the legalist both approach scripture and neglect wisdom? What are the two elements of the fear of the Lord? Why are both important? What blessings come from the fear of the Lord? How is terror turned to reverence? Why is humility necessary to understand God’s guidance? What is the relationship between humility and wisdom? Why is righteousness required to recognize the Lord’s leading? What is God’s response to the wicked? To the Righteous? What is the relationship between righteousness and wisdom? When does training about God and His will begin? Who is responsible to teach it? What must be taught? What have you learned by observing God’s dealings with the righteous? With the wicked? What can you learn about God and His will through nature? What are the two major difficulties in discerning the Lord’s leading? How does getting counsel help overcome those hindrances? What is the first and foremost source of counsel? What character qualifications should you require of those who counsel you? What role does discipline, reproof and rebuke play in getting counsel? Describe in practical terms what it means to trust in the Lord. What is the relationship between trusting the Lord and discerning God’s will and guidance? How is God’s sovereignty a terror to the unrighteous? A comfort to the redeemed? What is it to you? What will you do to determine God’s will and leading in your own life?
Sermon Notes – 10/7/2012
Proverbs on Guidance – Selected Proverbs
Introduction
The immediate future is ___________to us, but that should not be a cause of trouble, confusion or worry
Uncertainty opens to the door for people to pursue _____________methods of knowing God’s will
Any mystical action by God will be in _____________with His Word – the Scriptures
The actual source of trouble, confusion or worry is a ___________ of trust of God
God purpose for your life is _____________and His glory, your happiness & success are incidental
The Need for Wisdom
A purpose of Proverbs is to enable people to know and ___________ God’s will. Proverbs 22:17-21
Following wisdom brings God’s ____________ – Proverbs 3:16-18; 8:12-21, 32-36; 4:5-9
Wisdom brings __________- Prov. 24:13-14; 2:12. Neglecting it is dangerous – Prov. 8:36; 16:22;
21:16
Wisdom is _______________in being able to discern the will and guidance of the Lord
True wisdom ________human will & understanding to God’s will and revelation to achieve a moral life
The licentious & the legalist _______wisdom for manipulating God’s commands to their own advantage
The Fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of ______________ and wisdom. Proverbs 9:10; 1:7; 15:33; 8:13
The fear of the Lord and _________are tied together – Proverbs 2:5-6. Fools reject both – Prov. 1:7, 29
The fear of the Lord brings multiple ________________- Proverbs 10:27, 14:26-27; 19:23, 22:4, 16:6
The fear of the Lord includes ____________as the Sovereign Creator & Judge – Hebrews 10:31, 12:29
God has provided a means to be ____________and made righteous before Him through Jesus Christ
The fear of the Lord for those redeemed by Christ is __________for God as Creator, Savior and Father
The Necessity of Humility
Proverbs 15:33, 11:22, James 4:6
Pride is _____________for it rejects wisdom, instruction & salvation – Proverbs 16:18, 28:26; 16:25
_____________& the fear of the Lord bring riches, honor and life – Proverbs 22:4
The Necessity of Righteousness
God only listens to the prayer of the _________- Prov. 15:8, 29, Isa. 1:15, Ps. 66:18, Jn. 9:31; James 4:3
Righteousness and _____________ go together – Proverbs 4:10-27, 21:21; 20:7
Those not pursing righteousness can’t recognize God’s guidance for they are going the ______________
Learning from Parents
Learning about God and His will begins with parents _______Him and diligently teaching their children
Proverbs 1:8, 3:1; 4:1; 23:22-23, etc.
Parental teaching must include both the good to be done and the evil to be __________- Prov. 13:1; 15:5
Learning through Observation
Every individual is also to learn the word of God for _____________- Proverbs 16:20, 13:13, 19:16
Proverbs lists out both the ____________ God approves and the _____________He abhors
You can learn much by observing God’s dealings with ________around you – Proverbs 22:3; 24:30-34
Lessons about how God want you to behave can be learned from _____________- Proverbs 6:6-8
Getting Counsel
The first difficulty in discerning the Lord’s leading is our own ______________
The second difficult in discerning the Lord’s leading is our bent toward sin and _________________
The first and foremost counsel to receive is _____________ – Proverbs 19:21; 21:30
The wise seek _____________ – Proverbs 1:5; 9:9; 12:15; 19:20; 15:22; 11:14
The wise seek counsel from the _____________, the foolish do not – Proverbs 12:26; 13:20; 27:9; 27:17
Godly counsel includes discipline, ____________and even chastening – Proverbs 15:32; 12:1; 13:1
The scoffer _____________ reproof and will go astray and be broken – Proverbs 15:12; 10:17; 29:1
Trust in the Lord
The ability to be guided by God will come down to your ability to ___________Him – Proverbs 3:5-8
To trust the Lord is to actively walk with God, humbly doing what is right & leaving the _______to Him
God makes your path straight and grants your desires only as your goals/desires ________His goals/will
If you belong to God, expect Him to lovingly _____________ you – Proverbs 3:11-12, 16:2
God is ______________- a terror to the unrighteous and a blessing to the redeemed
God’s will is not hidden and His leading is not bound in __________- seek His word and true wisdom
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