God's Truth In Love

Archive for the ‘Prudence’ Category

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 11:22 Swine or Swan

In Advice, Attitude, Behavior, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Decisions, Discernment, Discretion, Femininity, Feminism, Gender, Godliness, Grace, Instruction, Lifestyle, low self-esteem, New Year’s Resolutions, Proverbs, Prudence, Righteous Living, Righteousness, self-esteem, Uncategorized, Wisdom on January 12, 2023 at 5:46 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew definition(s).

22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

Swine or Swan

If you are a woman let me ask you, would you rather be an ugly dirty swine or a beautiful white swan? If you answered the swine, you might as well stop reading now, but if you answered a swan, however, and are just not sure you are there yet, read on and let God work in your life.

Have you ever met a woman who walking by looks absolutely beautiful, and then you meet her, she opens her mouth, you spend a few minutes with her and see her inner ugliness, lack of intelligence, low character, ugly mouth, pettiness when it comes to life and other people, her shallowness, vanity, gossipy tongue, etc. and you just can’t believe that such a pretty package is filled with such an ugly gift inside.

An inner swine: you can dress her up, you can ply her with pretty jewels, but ugly is ugly and when you are ugly on the inside that is something that you cannot hide for long and something that will strip the bloom off the rose so to speak with people pretty quickly no matter how beautiful your face, hair, or figure.

I absolutely believe a woman should take care of her outer self. Her looks, her health, her figure, all of it, but more than that she should care for her inner self, her swan, that thing that makes women beautiful and appealing no matter what the outer package looks like.

Also when you look at what it means to be “fair” as described in this verse you see that it can be two fold, inner and outer. Note the physical, but then note the inner “to be bright” which is always a sign of inner beauty.

“fair” is defined in the Hebrew language is as follows:

3303. יָפֶה yâpheh, yaw-feh’; from 3302; beautiful (lit. or fig.):— + beautiful, beauty, comely, fair (-est, one), + goodly, pleasant, well.

3302. יָפָה yâphâh, yaw-faw’; a prim. root; prop. to be bright, i.e. (by impl.) beautiful:— be beautiful, be (make self) fair (-r), deck.

Discretion is the number one key to a swan, the key to inner beauty that cannot be match or outdone by outer beauty. Now a look at what discretion actually is and how it manifest itself.

“discretion” in the Hebrew is defined in the following manner:

2940. טַעַם ṭa˓am, tah’-am; from 2938; prop. a taste, i.e. (fig.) perception; by impl. intelligence; tran. a mandate:— advice, behaviour, decree, discretion, judgment, reason, taste, understanding.

As we look at what this means in the Hebrew language, we see that for a Christian godly woman discretion is “a mandate” – a mandate to use sound “judgement and reason” in one’s behavior and when providing “advice” to others. A woman of discretion is a woman who lives by a “decree” in daily life, God’s Decrees, about what she will and will not do, and is a woman who has “understanding” which in biblical terms is synonymous with wisdom.

“discretion” in the Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary is defined as:

1 : the quality of being discreet : CIRCUMSPECTION; especially : cautious reserve in speech
2 : ability to make responsible decisions

“discreet” is defined as:

1 : having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech : PRUDENT; especially : capable of preserving prudent silence
2 : UNPRETENTIOUS, MODEST

A gossip or as some in church circles call it, the woman running around always talking about who we need to pray for and why, is not a woman of discretion by any stretch of the imagination. She is a gossip, plain and simple, doing much harm to the Body of Christ.

Women of discretion must take the time to use “good judgment” in what they will do and in how they go about life in order to “make responsible decisions” that will not negatively impact their life or the lives of others.

Lastly, a woman of discretion is a “modest” woman in her manner of dress. A woman who has half her cleavage hanging out, then gets angry or feels disrespected when men look, is not only foolish she is a swine and lacks the swan trait of discretion. If her dress is so tight or the hemline is so high that nothing is left to the imagination this is a swine woman not a swan woman, this is a woman without respect for herself or discretion.

A little tip ladies about swine women (women with no discretion, grace or class) verses swan women (women of discretion, grace and class). A good man, a Christian man, a man of quality will look at those swine type women, might even play with them here and there, but when it comes to the woman he wants to marry, the woman he wants as the mother of his children, these swine woman are not the type of women they want long-term. Almost all men want a swan.

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Advertisement

, , , , , , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 11:16 Woman’s Honor Men’s Strength

In Advice, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Discernment, Discretion, Godliness, Grace, Lifestyle, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteous Living, Righteousness, Wisdom on July 6, 2022 at 3:25 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

Woman’s Honor Men’s Strength

I am going to primarily focus on the part of the passage that addresses women so I will address the portion of verse sixteen that speaks to men first.

It takes a man of certain character and strength to hold on to the monetary blessing God has provided Him (v.16). If a man has a weakness for drink, for women, for gambling and the like, in the end he shall surely end up losing most, if not all, that God has blessed him with. It takes strength to manage one’s money well. Sadly, not all men have that type of godly strength.

Now a look at the graciousness of women of honor (v.16).

“gracious” in the Hebrew Language is defined in two parts as follows:

2580. חֵן chên, khane; from 2603; graciousness, i.e. subj. (kindness, favor) or obj. (beauty):— favour, grace (-ious), pleasant, precious, [well-] favoured.

2603. חָנַן chânan, khaw-nan’; a prim. root [comp. 2583]; prop. to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; caus. to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition):— beseech, × fair, (be, find, shew) favour (-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious (-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, × very.

I just delight in the fact that the gracious women is defined as “precious” in God’s sight. It also moves my heart that she will “implore” or moves people to her way of thinking not through demand but through heartfelt appeal. She is the kind that would beg before she would demand something from someone. She has “mercy” for people, compassion, “pity” not animosity. She has the strength of character to humble herself in kindness to someone who is clearly her inferior in some manner, intelligence, grace, style, education, godliness, culture, talent, godly insight, wisdom, maturity, manners, refinement, etc. She would rather “pray” for you than tell you off. What a heart in such a woman – God’s heart.

Why is she this way. We will look at another definition to find out why.

In the Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary the first definition for gracious is quite telling. The same holds true for the word fair, which you will find below. But first a note about the Webster’s Dictionary.

The original Webster’s Dictionary always had, and has, the biblical meaning of a word as the first definition. The original is still in print, I have one, and I recommend owning one because as you will find in the definition below took from the Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary our “educated” and “enlightened” society (sarcasm intended) believes that biblical meanings no longer have a place in our society, they are in their definition “obsolete” but in God’s definition they are not and never will be obsolete.

“gracious” per Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary is defined as:

1 a obsolete : GODLY b archaic : PLEASING, ACCEPTABLE
2 a : marked by kindness and courtesy £ a gracious host b : GRACEFUL c : marked by tact and delicacy : URBANE d : characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit, and the tasteful leisure of wealth and good breeding £ gracious living
3 : MERCIFUL, COMPASSIONATE — used conventionally of royalty and high nobility

To be a gracious women is to be a woman “of royalty and high nobility” – God’s royalty and nobility. Yet, to modern society to be a “godly” woman has nothing to do with graciousness and it is “archaic” to be a “pleasing” and “acceptable” as a woman. How ridiculous! It just shows how far from the Standards of God we have fallen as a society.

By the way the first definition for the word “nobility” in the same dictionary means:

1 : the quality or state of being noble in character, quality, or rank

Well a godly gracious woman of honor is definitely all of that “noble in character” a woman of “quality” and much more.

To be “fair” in the Hebrew language means to be as follows:

3303. יָפֶה yâpheh, yaw-feh’; from 3302; beautiful (lit. or fig.):— + beautiful, beauty, comely, fair (-est, one), + goodly, pleasant, well.

3302. יָפָה yâphâh, yaw-faw’; a prim. root; prop. to be bright, i.e. (by impl.) beautiful:— be beautiful, be (make self) fair (-r), deck.

“fair” per Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary

1 : pleasing to the eye or mind especially because of fresh, charming, or flawless quality

You might have heard the saying beauty is only skin deep but ugly is to the bone; well, real beauty is much deeper than the surface and ugly shows regardless of how beautiful the surface of the package might be. In the definition for “fair” it states that to be “fair” is “to be bright in example by implication thus beautiful” – what is on the inside is what makes a woman bright; personality, character, and temperament are beautiful to those who are looking with open eyes.

Grace, exhibiting graciousness, does not allow a woman to sacrifice her honor for anything. Gracious women retain their honor at all times (v.16).

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 11:15 Watch Whom You Cover

In Advice, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Debt, Decision Making, Guidance, Lifestyle, Loans, Money, Poverty, Proverbs, Prudence, Uncategorized, Wisdom on June 15, 2022 at 8:41 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

Watch Whom You Cover

Oh the perils of money, especially when we believe we do not have enough of it and seek to borrow money. The development of debt is dangerous. Debt enslaves the borrower. However, money, debt, another person’s debt can enslave the lender or the one that secures the funds for another person.

“surety” in the Hebrew language is defined as:

6148. עָרַב ˓ârab, aw-rab’; a prim. root; to braid, i.e. intermix; tech. to traffic (as if by barter); also to give or be security (as a kind of exchange):— engage, (inter-) meddle (with), mingle (self), mortgage, occupy, give pledges, be (-come, put in) surety, undertake.

“smart” in the Hebrew is defined as:

7321. רוּעַ rûwa˓, roo-ah’; a prim. root; to mar (espec. by breaking); fig. to split the ears (with sound), i.e. shout (for alarm or joy):— blow an alarm, cry (alarm, aloud, out), destroy, make a joyful noise, smart, shout (for joy), sound an alarm, triumph.

It is very unwise to get involved in another individual’s finances. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be helpful to another human being but once money, especially borrowed money, becomes involved often relationships are fractured. In a situation with a person that you do not know well it is even worse. Money has destroyed many relationships.

It would be far better overall to simply give a person money than it would be to loan them money or become a co-signer for them to borrow money from a financial institution. To risk our indebtedness in order to secure a debt for another is to put our life, our future, in that person’s hands.

“suretiship” is defined as:

8628. תָּקַע tâqa˓, taw-kah’; a prim. root; to clatter, i.e. slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by anal. to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by impl. to become bondsman (by handclasping):— blow ([a trumpet]), cast, clap, fasten, pitch [tent], smite, sound, strike, × suretiship, thrust.

“sure” in the Hebrew language means the following:

982. בָּטַח bâṭach, baw-takh’; a prim. root; prop. to hie for refuge [but not so precipitately as 2620]; fig. to trust, be confident or sure:— be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one, woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.

Debt is a hopeless hole that can suck the life out of you and nothing you bought that created the debt will take away that draining feeling and burden that debt brings. However, being without debt provides a sense of peace, security, and safety that can only be experienced by having little to no extensive debt.

Wisdom does not loan money, wisdom does not borrow money if it is at all possible, wisdom does not indebt itself so it can drive the latest and greatest, and wisdom does not run up credit card debt buying things that are not truly needed.

Do you want to be a slave to those credit cards, a slave to that overpriced vehicle you bought for show, a slave to that huge home that is far more than you actually need, or do you want freedom?

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 11:13-14 Safe Counsel

In Advice, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Discernment, Discretion, Godly Counsel, Gossip, Guidance, Proverbs, Prudence, Uncategorized, Wisdom on May 2, 2022 at 5:32 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Safe Counsel

Those people who tell the business of other people, we all know them, are disgusting people. A person’s privacy is sacred in my view. People who violate that sacredness are people unworthy of any form of trust.

We all know what it means “to reveal” the details of another person’s life. To reveal is part of the Hebrew definition of the word “revealeth” which I have listed below. Yet, take a moment to review the definition and you will find another, what I find to be very an interesting aspect of the definition (v.13).

“revealeth” in the Hebrew language is defined as:

1540. גָּלָה gâlâh, gaw-law’; a prim. root; to denude (espec. in a disgraceful sense); by impl. to exile (captives being usually stripped); fig. to reveal:— + advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, × plainly, publish, remove, reveal, × shamelessly, shew, × surely, tell, uncover.

Part of the definition regarding revealing a person’s personal information includes the implication that you will be placing that person under a form of ‘exile, as captives being stripped’ of something. Stripped of what? Exiled in what manner? Let us consider that for a moment.

When we reveal a person’s personal business, we are exiling them to an island unto themselves. Why? Because we break their trust and in their brokenness from the betrayal they retreat to a place of isolation. Thus, our betrayal of the trust they placed in us leads to brokenness and isolation, leaving them without the help they were most likely seeking when they confided in us originally.

Now we will examine the proper and godly way we should handle the private details of a person’s life when they entrust us with what is on their heart. A “faithful” friend, brother or sister in Christ, a faithful Christian in general will be very careful to keep the confidence of other people regardless of the circumstances (v.13).

“concealeth” in the Hebrew language is defined as:

3680. כָּסָה kâçâh, kaw-saw’; a prim. root; prop. to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by impl. to cover (for clothing or secrecy):— clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm. comp. 3780. כֶּסֶה keçeh. See 3677. כִּסֵּה kiççêh. See 3678.

People love to tell and hear gossip, Christians can be some of the worst about this because of the sinister way in which they go about it, ‘We need to pray for so and so, did you hear…?’ How horrid, and God will judge them for using His precious gift of prayer for their indulgence in sin. YES, gossip is sin!

I once was at a bible study where the leader, yes, the leader, stated we needed to pray for XXXX and then proceeded tell the entire room about the woman’s adultery, her husband response, the condition of the current marital situation, with whom the woman had cheated, etc. I was in shock at first, I could not believe what she was doing and how many people in the room were asking her questions, soliciting very intimate details, like to do so was perfectly normal. I got up, pointed out my disbelief that she as a leader would do such a thing, and left, never to return.

When someone entrust you with a detail about their life be trustworthy and keep it to yourself. Always assume anything someone says to you is only meant for you to hear, keep your mouth close, and you will save many people and yourself a great deal of hurt.

Verse fourteen shows us the value of counsel and the outcome of lack of counsel. We will begin by looking at the definitions of two words in this verse “fall” and “safety” as defined in the Hebrew language.

“fall” in the Hebrew language is defined as:

5307. נָפַל nâphal, naw-fal’; a prim. root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intr. or caus., lit. or fig.):— be accepted, cast (down, self, [lots], out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell (-ing), fugitive, have [inheritance], inferior, be judged [by mistake for 6419], lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (× hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present (-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, × surely, throw down.

“safety” in the Hebrew language is defined as:

8668. תְּשׁוּעָה teshûw˓âh, tesh-oo-aw’; or תְּשֻׁעָה teshû˓âh, tesh-oo-aw’; from 7768 in the sense of 3467; rescue (lit. or fig., pers., national or spir.):— deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory.

All manner of destruction comes to those people who have no counsel to guide them in life (v.14). Godly counsel is a must in order to live a life of godliness and wisdom. Seek out trustworthy counsel from several mature godly Christians, counsel that is wise and godly, measure their words against God’s Word, and then follow their counsel.

Please note that the safety found in a multitude of godly counselors is also “national” safety, safety for a country. How many countries have we seen fall that were ran by a dictator? Dictators do not seek counsel beyond themselves, and their lack of counsel has brought destruction to their people and to themselves.

Be faithful, be trustworthy, be honorable, be safe counsel for each and every person who comes to you and is willing to share the details of their life with you; and find likewise counsel for yourself as well.

You can sign up to have each blog posting sent directly to your email. Just find the small “follow” button in the bottom right-hand corner of the main page, then enter your email address. All email information remains confidential and is never shared in any manner.

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Please keep me in your prayers and know that if God should speak anything into your heart as you pray for me regarding my life, please feel free to share that with me. God speaks through His people.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 11:4-6 Riches or Righteousness Protects

In Advice, Attitude, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Curses, Decision Making, Money, Obedience, Proverbs, Prudence, Repentance, Righteous Living, Righteousness, Uncategorized, Wisdom on April 12, 2022 at 6:36 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

Riches or Righteousness Protects

There comes a point in life that most people with wealth come to where they are faced with the truth that money cannot save you from everything in life. Where the fruit of your life, the fruit of your actions overtake any means to buy oneself out of a situation. People arrive at a place in life where all the money in the world cannot mend the broken health or the damaged relationship. Money though powerful in a secular world is not God even though many people think money is god.

There is protection to be found in righteousness. But what is righteousness?

“righteousness” in the Hebrew language is defined as follows:

6666. צְדָקָה tsedâqâh, tsed-aw-kaw’; from 6663; rightness (abstr.), subj. (rectitude), obj. (justice), mor. (virtue) or fig. (prosperity):— justice, moderately, right (-eous) (act, -ly, -ness).

6663. צָדַק tsâdaq, tsaw-dak’; a prim. root; to be (caus. make) right (in a moral or forensic sense):— cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just (-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be, turn to) righteous (-ness).

When trouble does arise the righteous are delivered by the power, wisdom, might, hand, will, and/or purpose of God(v.4). That deliverance is found in the form of the following, based on the definition.

“delivereth” in the Hebrew language is defined as follows:

5337. נָצַל nâtsal, naw-tsal’; a prim. root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense:— × at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, × without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, × surely, take (out).

God the Deliver, God the Protector, is going to take care of His righteous people(v.4).

In Christ Believers are made perfect. We are in a spiritual sense without spot or blemish, completely righteous in Christ. As we walk in the Spirit, which means to seek and follow Christ’s Will for us in all things, we can walk in a form of perfection only possible because of the strength and power of God (v.5).

Take a few moment to examine the definition of the words “perfect” and “direct” as defined in the Hebrew language.

“perfect” is defined as the following in the Hebrew language:

8549. תָּמִים tâmı̂ym, taw-meem’; from 8552; entire (lit., fig. or mor.); also (as noun) integrity, truth:— without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright (-ly), whole.

And then…

“direct” is defined as:

3474. יָשַׁר yâshar, yaw-shar’; a prim. root; to be straight or even; fig. to be (caus. to make) right, pleasant, prosperous:— direct, fit, seem good (meet), + please (will), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright (-ly).

Whereas the protection and direction for life is granted to the righteous through the power of Christ, Satan gives his people the fruit of their actions and his power as well. The wicked are undermined by their own wickedness. It will without doubt bring about their downfall, a downfall they played a major role in as they followed their leader, Satan (v.5,6).

“naughtiness” in the Hebrew language is defined as:

1942. הַוָּה havvâh, hav-vaw’; from 1933 (in the sense of eagerly coveting and rushing upon; by impl. of falling); desire; also ruin:— calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous (thing), naughtiness, naughty, noisome, perverse thing, substance, very wickedness.

And to be “taken” is defined in the Hebrew language as:

3920. לָכַד lâkad, law-kad’; a prim. root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit); gen. to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); fig. to cohere:— × at all, catch (self), be frozen, be holden, stick together, take.

Those individuals given to sin will find that sin seeks them and undermines them in their pursuits in life (v.6). In verse six “their own” was added to the text for clarity. Think for a moment about the two different ways that line in the verse could read, with and without the addition.

“but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.”

“but transgressors shall be taken in naughtiness.”

Thus, when you look at this portion of the verse in the two different ways, we can determine that a sinful person will be brought down by their own sin. Also we find that a sinful person’s sin will draw even more sin toward them, sin that will seek to destroy them.

Righteousness will breed more righteousness and sin will breed more sin. Destruction will be found at the end of the path of sin. Protection and deliverance will be found down the road of righteousness.

Please keep me in your prayers and know that if God should speak anything into your heart as you pray for me regarding my life, please feel free to share that with me. God speaks through His people.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 11:2-3 Pride and Perverseness vs. Integrity and Uprightness

In Advice, Attitude, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Correction, Decision Making, Guidance, Knowledge, Lifestyle, Obedience, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Repentance, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on March 26, 2022 at 12:19 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew definition(s).

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Pride and Perverseness vs. Integrity and Uprightness

These two verses are pretty straightforward and easy to understand. Certain behaviors and characteristics in your life will bring about a spiritual law in your life or what some might call a spiritual reaction.

Let’s look at each one, what they produce in a person’s life, and the actual biblical meaning of said behavior or characteristic.

Pride will bring shame in your life.

“Pride” =

2087. זָדוֹן zâdôwn, zaw-done’; from 2102; arrogance:— presumptuously, pride, proud (man).

2102. זוּד zûwd, zood; or (by perm.)

זִיד zı̂yd, zeed; a prim. root; to seethe; fig. to be insolent:— be proud, deal proudly, presume, (come) presumptuously, sod.

“Shame” =

7036. קָלוֹן qâlôwn, kaw-lone’; from 7034; disgrace; (by impl.) the pudenda:— confusion, dishonour, ignominy, reproach, shame.

7034. קָלָה qâlâh, kaw-law’; a prim. root; to be light (as impl. in rapid motion), but fig. only (be [caus. hold] in contempt):— base, contemn, despise, lightly esteem, set light, seem vile.

Humility (lowliness) produces wisdom in your life.

“Lowly” =

6800. צָנַע tsâna˓, tsaw-nah’; a prim. root; to humiliate:— humbly, lowly.

“Wisdom” =

2451. חָכְמָה chokmâh, khok-maw’; from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):— skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.

2449. חָכַם châkam, khaw-kam’; a prim. root, to be wise (in mind, word or act):— × exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal (never so) wisely, make wiser.

Integrity results in insight in your life.

“Integrity” =

8538. תֻּמָּה tummâh, toom-maw’; fem. of 8537; innocence:— integrity.

8537. תֹּם tôm, tome; from 8552; completeness; fig. prosperity; usually (mor.) innocence:— full, integrity, perfect (-ion), simplicity, upright (-ly, -ness), at a venture.

“Guide” =

5148. נָחָה nâchâh, naw-khaw’; a prim. root; to guide; by impl. to transport (into exile, or as colonists):— bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead (forth), put, straiten.

Perverseness will bring destruction in your life.

5558. סֶלֶף çeleph, seh’-lef; from 5557; distortion, i.e. (fig.) viciousness:— perverseness.

5557. סָלַף çâlaph, saw-laf’; a prim. root; prop. to wrench, i.e. (fig.) to subvert:— overthrow, pervert.

Transgression will bring destruction in your life.

“Transgressors” =

898. בָּגַד bâgad, baw-gad’; a prim. root; to cover (with a garment); fig. to act covertly; by impl. to pillage:— deal deceitfully (treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress (-or), (depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful (-ly, man), × very.

“Destroy” =

7703. שָׁדַד shâdad, shaw-dad’; a prim. root; prop. to be burly, i.e. (fig.) powerful (pass. impregnable); by impl. to ravage:— dead, destroy (-er), oppress, robber, spoil (-er), × utterly, (lay) waste.

And that is the hard truth whether we like it or not!

Sign up to have each blog posting sent directly to your email. Just find the small “follow” button at the bottom right-hand corner of the main page, enter your email address. Email information remains confidential and is never shared in any manner.

Please keep me in your prayers and know that if God should speak anything into your heart as you pray for me regarding my life, please feel free to share that with me. God speaks through His people.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 10:26 Disappointing Lazy Person

In Advice, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Godliness, Laziness, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Repentance, Seven Deadly Sins, Uncategorized, Wisdom on November 18, 2021 at 2:18 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

Disappointing Lazy Person

Laziness is not just about you! Did you know that?

Vinegar according to my hygienist is very damaging to the enamel of a person’s teeth. People use it to treat their gums and to whiten their teeth, both of which seem to be good things, but if the vinegar is used too often or not washed away it has a way of eating away at the tooth enamel and bring decay. A lazy person is much like that, their presence, their persistent laziness, eats away at those around them decaying the relationship, decaying their possession which need care, decaying the other person or persons in the family or group by decaying the friends, co-workers, family members, etc. health as they attempt to compensate for and do the work of the lazy person.

Smoke is an irritant; it burns the eyes and makes vision very blurry. It can even choke the life out of you if it is heavy or bad enough. A lazy person is most certainly an irritant to those around them. They cause a huge amount of frustration, and even anger, because to be lazy is an injustice to those who have to compensate for another person’s laziness. Believe it or not, think deeply on this next point, our vision of a relationship gets blurred when we are faced with the injustice and unfairness of a person’s laziness, especially when we are directly affected by their sluggard conduct, sluggardness (which means “to be habitually lazy”). We begin to look at that person differently, begin to respect them less, and perhaps rightfully so, if bad enough the person’s laziness and the manner in which laziness, by default, takes advantage of the other person in the relationship, the effects of the laziness may even choke the life out of the relationship.

Laziness is a burden to the lazy individual and to those who depend on or are associated with the lazy person. Someone has to pick up the slack when a lazy person refuses to or makes excuses for why they do not pull their weight and do their part. If the lazy person is employed, then for those around them the solution might be easy – “your fired” – and the headache goes away. However, if the lazy person is a part of your inner circle at church, in a group, or even in your own family their laziness becomes a source of real strain and frustration for the other people within the circle. Laziness also robs the person who partakes in laziness from the overwhelming sense of satisfaction that comes from helping another person, a job well done, a sense of accomplishment, from being a help instead of a hinderance to people, and on some level a sense of personal dignity, healthy pride, and self-worth.

If you are the person dealing with a lazy individual there is not much to be done except pray for that person’s character, which is lacking, and attempt not to allow the person’s laziness, their unfairness to you, their injustice, to eat away at your own character. Otherwise, you might wake up one day and find your character is as bad as their character.

If you are the lazy person there is something you can do. Pray to Jesus to remove your laziness, get up and get busy doing your part, experience how good it feels to be helpful to other people and yourself, rid yourself of your laziness by choice each and every day, and redevelop your character in this area.

Please keep me in your prayers and know that if God should speak anything into your heart as you pray for me regarding my life, please feel free to share that with me. God speaks through His people.

You can sign up to have each blog posting sent directly to your email. Just find the small “follow” button in the bottom right-hand corner of the main page, then enter your email address. All email information remains confidential and is never shared in any manner.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 10:23-25, 29-30

In Advice, Attitude, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Evil, Fear, Proverbs, Prudence, Righteous Living, Righteousness, Uncategorized, Wisdom on November 9, 2021 at 7:40 am

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew definition(s).

23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

Foolishness and Wickedness Paired / Wisdom and Righteousness Paired

For the godly person it is hard to believe that there are people who actually enjoy doing wrong, but they are those individuals (v.23). Fools do in fact enjoy mischief, which in the Hebrew language is to have “a plan, purpose, thought” to do wrong or a “crime” even. Those individuals with a sick soul find pleasure in mischief. However, the opposite is true for a wise person, a godly person, a person of wisdom (v.23).

What comes with seeking to do evil is the expectation of evil. Therefore, those who partake in mischief fear bad to come, and those fears will be realized eventually (v.24). Deep inside the evil person knows that what they reap they too will one day sow.

Galatians 6:8 (KJV-AV)

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

The desires of the righteous are granted to them (v.24). But why? Because the godly person’s desires can be trusted by God. The godly person wants what God wants and therefore they will be given what they desire.

Psalm 37:4 (KJV-AV)

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

When our hearts, minds, bodies, and especially our wills are fully submitted to God, God has no problem giving us the desires of our heart, as those desires and God’s desires usually match at that point for the godly person.

The wicked are here today and gone tomorrow (v.25), whereas the righteous are continual and steady. According to the Hebrew language they are “literally and figuratively a fountain, ever in repairing” meaning they are able to continually face life and keep going, keep pressing forward, rebounding when needed and continuing to approach life with a trust in God’s ultimate plan for them.

Why is this true for the godly wise person? It is true because living in the ways of the LORD provides a type of strength for life that cannot be defeated (v.29) whereas the only end path of the wicked person that refuse to repent is destruction (v.29). The godly will never be permanently defeated, at most they will stumble to rise again (v.30). However, the wicked will never find a place of true rest and peace, a place of safety and a place to truly belong, which is what it means to not be able to inhabit the earth (v.30).

A life lived in wisdom and godliness is a life that be at rest, which is a far cry better than living a life of fear.

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 10:18-21, 31 Gossip

In Advice, Attitude, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Hate, Hatred, Proverbs, Prudence, Wisdom on June 17, 2021 at 4:55 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Gossip

The use of the word “fool”(v,18) in reference to an individual with certain types of conduct is by far one of the worst descriptions of one’s character. It is down there with “stupid, silly, and fat” all of which are part of the definition for the word fool in this verse. There are two types of people called a fool in verse eighteen.

1 – The two-faced person. Those individuals who act as if they like someone or something only to turn around and reveal they actual have distain for that person or thing. They lie to cover their dislike (hatred) and to cover being known as one who hates at heart.

2 – The gossiper. That person who just has to run down people to whomever they can find to run them down to that is willing to listen. To slander someone is to “defame” them or give an “evil report” about them to another person according to the Hebrew definition.

Where you find a gossiper, you are likely to find the embracing of many other types of sinful behavior (v.19). Where you find a wise person who is unwilling to partake in gossip you find many other types of godly behavior.

You do not find slanderous talk emanating from a righteous person. They select their word with care, words to promote righteousness and defeat sin, not words meant to enflame sin (v.20). An evil person has a heart that is filled with wickedness. A heart filled with wickedness is of little use to anyone for any purpose (v.20).

Verse twenty-one contains two statement that contrast one another but are not directly related and their opposition to one another is obvious, hence the semicolon. The words of a righteous person are going to bear fruit, those words are going to spread to other people and bear fruit in their lives as well; this is the fruit of a life lived in wisdom (v.21). The fool’s life leads to nothing but death, a complete absence of fruit bearing; their lack of use of wisdom brings about literal and figurative death (v.21).

A righteous person is going to suggest the course of wisdom in various situation. It is hard for a godly person not to promote the path of godly wisdom (v.31). If you want to know the way to go, the way of righteousness, you need to ask a person who loves the Lord Jesus (v.32). Wicked, worldly, ungodly people will only lead you astray because their ways and beliefs are perverse aka frowardness; meaning they are twisted, not wise nor godly (v.32). In reflection upon the Hebrew definitions of some words in verse thirty-one, froward and cut out, those voices that rise up with “perversity, fraud, very forward” deceitful (froward tongue) will be “destroyed” (cut out)( v.31).

Our words are immensely important, they need to reflect godly wisdom despite our personal desires or current condition of life, health, relationship, finances, career, etc. We do not bend God’s Will to our desires, we must allow our desires to be changed to desire God’s Will. Let us each make sure when we share with other people or partake in self-talk that it is godly wisdom to which we concede.

If you have been the victim of gossip or slander and would like someone to be a sounding board, send me a message via the comment link.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 10:17 – Reproof

In Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Correction, Decision Making, Discernment, Godly Counsel, Guidance, Instruction, Learning, Proverbs, Prudence, Reproof, Righteous Living, Wisdom on May 28, 2021 at 5:49 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

Reproof

If a person wishes to thrive in life, to bear fruit, to succeed they will first have to adapt themselves to receiving and learning from both the instruction and the reproof of other people. If a person cannot receive reproof, they will find that they fail much more often in life than they have to fail (v.17).

When a person “erreth” out of refusal to accept instruction or reproof, according to the Hebrew definition of the word, that person can experience any number of results in their life from, “to vacillate, i.e. reel or stray (lit. or fig.); also caus. of both:— (cause to) go astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant, seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the way” with the effects upon their life being significant. Thankfully, the willingness to receive instruction and reproof is a positive and godly choice we can make for our life.

Granted reproof is harder to accept than instruction because of the corrective nature of reproof. According to the Hebrew language reproof is defined as “chastisement; fig. (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defence):— argument, × chastened, correction, reasoning, rebuke, reproof, × be (often) reproved.” In those times when someone refutes our beliefs and proves us to be wrong, we must be willing to accept our wrongness and learn from our mistake or correct our mistaken beliefs. If we can do that our life will bear fruit.

A word from a person who has both listen and learned at times, then at time refused to listen and stumbled; listening and learning is a much easier smoother path through life.

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 10:15-16 Step on People Step on Self

In Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Discernment, Discretion, Evil, Godliness, Greed, Money, Proverbs, Prudence, Repentance, Uncategorized, Wisdom on May 2, 2021 at 4:55 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Step on People Step on Self

Wealth itself is not evil or a bad thing. However, dependence upon wealth instead of God is shaky ground and evil in the sight of God, for we are only to be dependent upon the one thing that cannot be taken away or that we cannot lose, that is God.

An individual can be materially rich and morally poor, the latter definitely being a choice a person, whether rich or poor, makes.

Let us look at the meaning from the Hebrew language of a few words found in verse fifteen, reflecting on how those meanings would relate, in context, to this verse of Scripture and the attitudes of some, not all, but some, rich people. Please not the underlined portions.

“strong” 5797.=

עֹז ˓ôz, oze; or (fully)

עוֹז ˓ôwz, oze; from 5810; strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise):— boldness, loud, might, power, strength, strong.

5810. עָזַז ˓âzaz, aw-zaz’; a prim. root; to be stout (lit. or fig.):— harden, impudent, prevail, strengthen (self), be strong.

‘impudent” is defined by the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as:

1 obsolete : lacking modesty
2 : marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others : INSOLENT


“city” 7151.=

קִרְיָה qiryâh, kir-yaw’; from 7136 in the sense of flooring, i.e. building; a city:— city.

There are those individuals who are more dependent on their money than they are God. There are those who love their money more than God. Love of that money is the cause of, and an open door for, many evils in their life.

1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV-AV)

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

People who “love” their money often depend on their money as their “strong city” manifested as a “force” to get what they want in life, as “security” in life, a cloak of “majesty” for which they should be admired, and when things do not go their way, they are often found to possess great “boldness” be “loud” exerting their “might, power, and strength” that they buy with their money. In their impudent behavior they are often found to be “lacking modesty, and marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others.”

Their sense of self-importance is misplaced however because it is not their character, morality, rightness, or goodness that gets them their way or draws people to them but instead it is their money that gets them their way, gets them people’s attention, attention which they often mistake for respect, and their relationships too often become about what they can do for the other person instead of being a relationship built on sincere interest in the person, care for, respect of, and love for the person who has the riches. Relationships built on money end when the money disappears.

They that mistakenly make their money the foundation of their life, their “flooring” and their protection, their “building” in a storm often come to find out that money cannot save you from “life” happening to you. They might fall ill and cease to be able to enjoy their money, only for everything they worked for to be left behind to be enjoyed by other people or they might, as is so often seen to happen, lose everything they have overnight, all the money gone – all the power and protection gone. Then what? If you have depended on your money for power, protection, strength, and comfort it is going to be a very lonely scary place to be in life.

How do you discern godly wealth or riches from evil wealth or riches? In many ways, one of which is by the manner of care and treatment those with the money treat those individuals under them who are making the money possible for them, their worker.

“destruction” 4288.=

מְחִתָּה mechittâh, mekh-it-taw’; from 2846; prop. a dissolution; concr. a ruin, or (abstr.) consternation:— destruction, dismaying, ruin, terror.

“consternation” is defined by the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as:

amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion

When an individual of wealth and riches mistreats or oppresses those who work for or service them in the advancement of their own gain their riches are of an evil source, not a godly source. Those people who tear down individual so they can line their pockets with a few more dollars suffer from a ‘love of money that is the root of all evil’ for both them and their family. The day will come when the price for such ruthlessness will have to be paid!

Now turning our attention to verse sixteen. A person’s “labour” and the resulting wealth that comes from that labor, produced in a godly or ungodly manner, will bear fruit in how it is multiplied, what it spent on, how it used, etc. To “tendeth” toward life according to the definition in the Hebrew use is to ‘“err” on the side of using one’s wealth in a godly manner,’ with godly “wisdom” resulting in the “prolonging” of the wealth and the “prolonging” of the life of the holder of said wealth. Whereas you can see the fruit of sin found in the manner in which the wicked obtain their wealth, use their wealth, the sinful ways they spend their wealth, and the decay of life and morality that comes with the wicked obtainment of wealth.

If a person could choose how to obtain and how to use their wealth, both of which a person can do, why not choose a manner that breeds life, godliness, and goodness instead of one that breeds sin, wickedness, ultimately loss and death. Again, remember you can be materially rich but morally poor, it is your choice – morality or immorality.

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 10:6-7 How Will You Be Remembered

In Advice, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Discernment, Discretion, Godly Counsel, Knowledge, Proverbs, Prudence, Repentance, Righteous Living, Righteousness, Uncategorized, Wicca on April 13, 2021 at 4:48 pm

6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

How Will You Be Remembered

For the most part the majority of people would like to be remembered by other people when they pass from this life to the next. However, if they are remembered and for what they are remembered is based primarily on who they were, their life choices, their character, their actions, and most importantly how they treated other people when they were alive.

Additionally, most people agree we reap what we sow in life, we get what we give, karma as some would call it, we either receive the blessing of heaven or we do not. This too is based upon, in part, on our life choices, our character, our actions, and most importantly how we treat other people.

Knowing that most people want both of these things, to be remembered well and to receive blessings in life, we then must ask the question. How do we get both or how do we forfeit both?

If blessings are upon the just, then we need to know what blessings actually consist of and whom the just are actually (v.6).

“blessings” In the Hebrew language is defined as:

1293. בְּרָכָה berâkâh, ber-aw-kaw’; from 1288; benediction; by impl. prosperity:— blessing, liberal, pool, present.

1288. בָּרַךְ bârak, baw-rak’; a prim. root; to kneel; by impl. to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit)

At its core to bless means to honor God and reverence God and in return He honors us with His blessings. Blessings which include His approval, and the ability to succeed in various things, to prosper, which does not always mean money. One might prosper in ministry, in marriage, in business, in mentoring people, in raising children, in good deeds and works for their community, etc. To prosper is to thrive in almost any area of life. God often blesses us with those small things we have wanted that are suddenly given to us. God’s blessings are not limited He is liberal with the pool of presents He sends into our lives.

There is the need to be a just person to receive these blessings (v.6). Let us look at what being a just person means in God’s definition.

“just” ” In the Hebrew language is defined as:

6662. צַדִּיק tsaddı̂yq, tsad-deek’; from 6663; just:— just, lawful, righteous (man).

צִדֹנִי° Tsı̂dônı̂y. See 6722.

6663. צָדַק tsâdaq, tsaw-dak’; a prim. root; to be (caus. make) right (in a moral or forensic sense):— cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just (-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be, turn to) righteous (-ness).

A just person is a lawful person, but this is not a reference to man’s law, though we must follow those laws unless they conflict with God’s Will; a lawful person is the one who follows the law or commands of God. A person righteous both through their relationship with Jesus and their lifestyle choices. A moral person who has chosen to accept that God’s Ways of doing things are better than any other ways, one what has been both cleansed by Jesus’ blood and cleared themselves and their life of those things that displease Jesus and are not in line with His teaching and/or commands. To be a “just” person takes much diligent attention to our spiritual life.

When you look into the Hebrew language of what “violence” means you find that those who are given to wickedness partake in almost all of these types of behavior (v.6).

“violence” in the Hebrew language is defined as:

2555. חָמָס châmâç, khaw-mawce’; from 2554; violence; by impl. wrong; by meton. unjust gain:— cruel (-ty), damage, false, injustice, × oppressor, unrighteous, violence (against, done), violent (dealing), wrong.

2554. חָמַס châmaç, khaw-mas’; a prim. root; to be violent; by impl. to maltreat:— make bare, shake off, violate, do violence, take away violently, wrong, imagine wrongfully.

Not only are these types of people physically violent toward people, but their thought life is also wrong and ugly, they embrace sensuality and nudity, they mistreat people in a variety of ways, do various things wrong, they do not care about what is just or right, they lie and deceive, they damage people and things, they steal, and they are in general just plain cruel in numerous ways. Their life is all about these types of things.

These are according to the Hebrew definition of “wicked” simply “morally wrong, guilty, ungodly, bad people.”

Whether your name is “blessed” after you leave this life or whether it turns to “rot” (v.7) has so much to do with the choices you make today and each day while you are here on this earth, so choose well.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 10:2-5 – Temporary Treasure

In Advice, Attitude, Blessings, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Discernment, Discretion, God's Voice, Godly Counsel, Laziness, Proverbs, Prudence, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on April 5, 2020 at 1:59 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew definition(s).

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Temporary Treasure

Christians no doubt see those who appear wicked, who seem to care nothing for the things of God, become wealthy and roll in the lap of luxury. They must ask themselves why? Why not the godly?

Some godly people are wealthy and enjoy the luxuries of life. However, more than not, do not find themselves in this group. I do not think it is important to know why, but instead to focus on what God says about ill gotten gains.

The “treasures of wickedness” have no true value in life (v.2). As verse two states they “profit nothing” which when you examine those words in the Hebrew language means that they hold no, “rightness, rectitude, objectively justice, moral virtue or figuratively aka spiritually prosperity.” (Interesting side note the reference number used for the word “nothing” is “6666” – as in 666.) These types of treasures have no real value in life, only earthly worldly value.

In contrast “righteousness delivereth from death” (v.2). When the meaning of “death” in this verse is examined in the Hebrew language we come to realize that it is addressing ‘certain types of death (both natural or violent); or being among the dead, their place or state in hades aka hell and figuratively pestilence or ruin.’ How many wicked people do you often see come to utter ruin within a few days (v.3-4). It happens often actually if you pay attention. They ride high and crash hard.

I am going to jump to verse five now for a moment. Wise people are people who gather their resources, work hard, and do not squander what they have been given by God (v.5). Whereas, lazy people are a cause of “disappointment” to God and those who know them (v.5).

God satisfies the soul of the righteous, He meets their need (v.3). That does not mean that God is going to give a Christian everything they want. I am confident you have heard the say, ‘Thank God for unanswered prayers.’ God knows what is best for us and often denies us out of love.

Those who are righteously “diligent” I add “righteously because any interpretation of Scripture must be taken in context; the Christians who are righteously diligent God will “maketh rich” (v.4). Again, what do the words mean in the Hebrew language? Looking into “maketh rich” in the Hebrew we can gather no general meaning since the word “rich” is not defined. I think this is intentional on God’s part. The riches that God gives His righteous people are beyond worldly, they are indescribable.

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 10:1 – Child that Blesses or Burdens

In Advice, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian Living, Decision Making, Depression, Discernment, Discretion, Proverbs, Prudence, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on March 25, 2020 at 9:36 am

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew definition(s).

1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

Child that Blesses or Burdens

Whether a child is growing into adulthood or has already obtained adulthood that child can be a blessing to their parents or a burden to their parent. At either stage of life the desire of children should be to be a blessing to their parents. However, do we live up to that inner desire that beckons to us?

We can make our parents glad or we can fill them with a heaviness of soul and spirit. What does it mean biblically in this context to make them glad or fill them with heaviness? Let us explore that.

In the Hebrew language the words “glad” and “heaviness” mean the following.

Can you tell which definition is which, or do you need me to enlighten you?

8055. שָׂמַח sâmach, saw-makh’; a prim. root; prob. to brighten up, i.e. (fig.) be (caus. make) blithe or gleesome:— cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy (-ful), be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, × very.

8424. תּוּגָה tûwgâh, too-gaw’; from 3013; depression (of spirits); concr. a grief:— heaviness, sorrow.

We have previously thoroughly studied what it means to be both wise and foolish. Keep in mind that you are a parent or might be a parent one day. I will make this simple and close by asking a few questions you can reflect on.

Do your actions brighten up your parent’s world? Do they cause them happiness and joy? Do you make them glad you are their child? Can they rest knowing they do not have to worry about you? Or do your actions make their spirits heavy with sorrow and grief? Does depression haunt them because you cannot get your act together?

As you reflect on these questions remember that our life affects the life of all those around us, including our parents, whether we are grown or not, so let us make choices that bless people instead of burdening people.

Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Do We Make Godly Decisions? – Study of Proverbs 9:13-18 – Foolish Man Foolish Woman Equals Hell

In Biblical Principles, Christian Living, Confusion, Contentment, Decision Making, Devotional, Discretion, Godly Counsel, Knowledge, Proverbs, Prudence, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on February 27, 2020 at 2:15 pm

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Foolish Man Foolish Woman Equals Hell

Ever wondered why men are so easily taken with silly, dumb, or dumb acting, women who hang on their very word? Because when it comes to women men are often led by their lust not by their intelligence, wisdom, or the Spirit of God. They are drawn to the seduction these women offer, “stolen waters” that they should be tampering with (v.14-17). However, man’s foolish response to a foolish woman leads them both to the “depths of hell” and rightfully so; why should foolishness be rewarded (v.18).

Now fair warning here, the descriptions from the Hebrew language of the “foolish woman” who is “clamorous” and “simple” is pretty harsh (v.13). There is no doubt many women or men for that matter will identify with what it is to be “foolish, clamorous, and simple” on some level and to some degree. However, if we recognize these things in ourselves, we need to pray for God to remove them, repent, and turn away from such behaviors.

To be “foolish” equals “silly, be foolish, probably fat, figuratively stupid” in the Hebrew. When I saw the definition it all made sense expect for one part, “probably to be fat” then the revelation; if one is fat there are acts of foolishness on that person’s part hat led to that condition and being fat show a lack of discipline and self-control over the body (with rare legitimate medical exceptions). Hard to write, hard to admit, but true in most cases.

To be “clamorous” in the Hebrew is defined as:

1993. הָמָה hâmâh, haw-maw’; a prim. root [comp. 1949]; to make a loud sound (like the English “hum”); by impl. to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:— clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar.

1949. הוּם hûwm, hoom; a prim. root [comp. 2000]; to make an uproar, or agitate greatly:— destroy, move, make a noise, put, ring again.

The English “hum” would be something like a sigh that we do in America, a sound meant to express some form of displeasure.

Tumultuous means to lack restraint.

My only response to this definition, ouch!

The meaning of “simple” in the Hebrew as it relates to the woman is “silliness in a seductive way” which leads us back to my opening the “dumb blonde” act (v.13-15 )– absolutely no offense meant at all toward blonde women, but it is term people know and understand the cultural meaning of in America. As far as the word relates to men who respond to this type of women; to be “simple” on their part mean to be “silly, foolish, and deluded” (v.16).

Women would be far better off to not conduct themselves in clamorous ways and men would be far better off not to be taken in by seductive daisy who will only lead them to hell.

Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.