Your Friends Are Your Future - Proverbs 13:20 and I Corinthians 15:33

Notes at Proverbs 13:20 - He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

"Show me your friends and I'll show you your future."  Or shortened as, "Your friends are your future."

Notes at I Corinthians 15:33 - Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Context: I Corinthians 15:12, "...some among you..."

Communications = HOMILIA, "same company"

Manners = ETHOS, compare "ethics"

"Be not deceived" - it is easy to deceive yourself on this issue.

Examples: Genesis 13:12-13; II Samuel 13:3; Revelation 18:4.

Cross references: Proverbs 2:20; Psalms 119:63; Malachi 3:16; Acts 2:42; Proverbs 9:6; I Kings 12:8; II Chronicles 19:2; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Psalms 101:1-8

Judah - Thy Brethren Shall Praise

Genesis 49:8a - Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise:

A play on words of Judah's name, which means "praise."  Throughout the chapter Jacob transfers his sons' names into their blessings.

"Not merely the praised one, but he for whom Jehovah is praised."  (The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary).  Fulfilled of course in Jesus Christ, Luke 19:37-40, etc.

VM

More Notes on Reuben's Blessing from Jacob

Genesis 49:3-4 - Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

My might, and the beginning of my strength: "He was the first-born, the first-fruits of his father's manly strength."  (The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary)

Unstable as water: "The force of a great current of water, when the barriers that restrained it are removed, is irresistible.  Such is the force of corruption in men [without self-restraint]....  Yet nothing is weaker than water in small quantities....  Such is the weakness of men who walk after their own lusts."  (Homiletic Commentary)

Consider unstable waves blown whichever way the wind blows; a fitting illustration of many a man.  Compare Ephesians 4:14 - tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.  (VM)

Thou shalt not excel: "The double portion was transferred to Joseph, the chieftanship to Judah, and the priesthood to Levi."  (Homiletic Commentary)

He went up to my couch: Jacob turns his face away from Reuben and addresses his other sons in pathetic disdain of Reuben's failure.  Popular lyric: "The Father turns His face away...."  (VM)

While these may appear words of cursing, Genesis 49:28 says these were all words of blessing.  Consider (1) No actual curses come from Jacob.  Rebuke and denouncing sin, but not cursing.  Such is the correction of our Heavenly Father.  By Christ we are delivered from the curse of all our failures - Galatians 3:13, etc.  (2) The son is still a son: our Father may be displeased, but can never disown.  (3) The firm promises are still assured: every true son will continue and still inherit all that is reserved for him - I Peter 1:4.  (4) The blessing is in the mercy shown.  What might have been the terrible pronouncement of the son's fate apart from the Father's grace?  He may not excel as others, but he will not be utterly stamped out.  He may bear the earthly fallout, but he is forgiven the eternal consequence.  Even the earthly aftermath is tempered by our Father's tender love.  (5) There was given first a loving reminder of what could have been - the potential that was missed.  This is not designed to shame the son, but to assure him that his failure was not for lack of his Father's support and benefits.  Our Father is "for us; who can be against us?"  (Romans 8:31).  The Father is cleared of the matter and the failure is but our own.  But also, though the past may not be repaired, there is still potential for the future, which must become the new focus.  Reuben, repenting of verse 4, must turn his attention back to verse 3 and therein move forward.  "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works..."  (Revelation 2:5).  The missed potential is not to become a permanent stumbling stone, or a stifling status quo, but rather a stimulant to step it up!  (VM)

Other notes on Reuben here.

VM

The Necessity of the Minister's Inner Life

Acts 6:4 - But we [the church leadership] will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

"The strength of the minister and his ministry lies in the richness and fullness of his inner life.  Ministerial power is always heart power.  The chief business of the minister is to culture the souls of men.  His greatest influence will always be silent and unseen.  The unconscious overflow of his life will be the most potent influence he wields.  His is primarily a spiritual ministry, and no man can excel in spiritual things without having rich resources on which to draw." - William Anderson Elliott, "D.D.'s for Ministers" p. 12.

Cross-reference this quote at several points in the pastoral epistles, such as I Timothy 4:13-16.

VM

God Refuses to Become a Debtor to Any Man!

Matthew 19:29 - And every one that hath forsaken houses ... or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

PULPIT QUIP: "God refuses to become a debtor to any man!"  (Missionary David H. Hillis)

Application: Giving / Tithing / Missions / Sacrifice / Loss within God's will, etc.

Same note at parallel Gospels, Mark 10:29-30; Luke 18:29-30.  Also at Philippians 4:19 (in context) and at Job chapter 42.

VM

Be ROOTED then BEWARE; Received by FAITH, then Walk by FAITH

Colossians 2:6-8 - As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

NOTE: "It ought to be obvious why the instruction to be ROOTED comes before the instruction to BEWARE." - VM

V. 6 - AS ye have received Christ, so walk.  That is, In the same WAY that ye received Christ, so walk.  You received Him by faith.  So now WALK by faith.  And so v. 7, "stablished in the faith."  Compare II Corinthians 5:7; Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38.

VM

More About Wisdom in James 3:13-18

James 3:13 - Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

"Meekness is the right use of power, and wisdom is the right use of knowledge.  They go together." - W.W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary.

"It is remarkable that the truly wise man is characterized by a calm spirit, a mild and placid demeanour, and by a gentle, though firm, enunciation of his sentiments.  A noisy, boisterous, and stormy declaimer we never select as a safe counsellor.  He may accomplish much in his way by his bold eloquence of manner, but we do not put him in places where we need far-reaching thought, or where we expect the exercise of profound philosophical views." - Albert Barnes, Barnes' Notes on the New Testament.

"Wisdom is not a matter of acquiring truth, but of applying truth." - Walvoord & Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, paraphrased.

James 3:15  - This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

"Earthly, sensual, devilish.  All three of our enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil, conspire in agreement against us with counterfeit wisdom to strife and envy." - VM

"Whatever does not come from God is destined to fail, no matter how successful it may seem at the time." - W.W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary.

Cross references for James 3:13 - Proverbs 26:12, 16; Isaiah 5:21; Romans 12:16.

Cross references for James 3:14-15 - I Corinthians 3:3, 18.

Cross references for James 3:18 - Isaiah 32:17.

See the prior post on James 3:13.

Wise man notes at James 3:13

James 3:13 - Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

("Conversation" means conduct, lifestyle).

If modern Christians wrote this verse, it would be apt to say instead, "Who is wise...?  Let him tell...." - VM

"Only wise ways make one's wise words worthwhile." - VM

James has an annoying (to our flesh) habit of challenging our thinking:  "You think you...?  Let me show you what that really looks like!"  On trials, 1:2-4; on the Scripture, 1:21-25; on religion, 1:26-27; on saving faith, 2:14-26; on wisdom, 3:13.  Ironically, being willing to have our notions challenged is a step to wisdom, Proverbs 3:5, 23:4, 26:12; Isaiah 5:21; Romans 12:16; I Corinthians 3:18.

VM - 3/10/18

Deity of Christ in James 1:1

James 1:1 - James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

a) James is the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ in the same exact way he is the servant of God.  This would be blasphemy and idolatry if Jesus were not God.  Also, no man can serve two masters (Matt. 6:24), so Jesus and God are one.

b) No mention of being half-brother of Jesus.  This relationship of flesh is no longer important, II Cor. 5:16-17.

Notes partially influenced from David W. Cloud, "James (Advanced Bible Study Series)."

Today's Trial

Note / Quote / Quip at James 1:2-4: "Today's trial is tomorrow's testimony!"

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

VM

Experience and Emotions versus Truth

Deuteronomy 13:1-4 - If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

NOTE: Summary: Even an actual experience does not trump the revealed truth.

John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

NOTE: Not an experience or a feeling to know and be made free, but the truth.

John 16:13 - ...when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth...

NOTE: Not guide us in experience or feelings, but into truth.

Likewise II Peter 1:16-19 - the word is "more sure" than the observation.

Some more notes on Naomi in Ruth 1

Ruth 1:1 - Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

NOTE: As most others, Naomi and Elimilech did that which was right in their own eyes in going to Moab.

Cross References: Deuteronomy 12:8; Judges 17:6, 21:25; Proverbs 21:2

NOTE: The believer will always suffer outside the will of God.  You will always lose more in a green Moab, than even in a famined Bethlehem.

Ruth 1:6 - Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

NOTE: She missed the best part of this revival.

Ruth 1:21a - I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty...

NOTE: Didn't she leave thinking she was empty in Bethlehem and going to Moab to get full?  Leaving for Moab will forever change your life!

Ruth 1:20 - And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

NOTE: He might bring you home empty, but He wants to bring you home!

First Pure Then Peaceable

James 3:17 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable....

"First pure, then peaceable; if only one is attainable, choose the former." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Notice it is FIRST pure, the priority. To maintain peaceable fellowship with others cannot cost your purity. First pure. When purity is at stake, peaceable is not always an option. This is the error of New Evangelicalism or a non-militant "fundamentalism." - VM

Curse on Jechonias Requires Virgin Birth

Matthew 1:11 - And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

(In the lineage of Joseph, husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus Christ).

NOTE: Jeremiah 22:24-30 curses King Jechoniah so that "no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah."  Jesus, the legal son of Joseph, has the legal right to rule as King.  But He could not be of the physical seed of King Jechoniah (or therefore of Joseph) or this curse of God would also apply to Him.  Therefore, the Virgin Birth of Christ is required to make Christ the King.  He gains the legal right of the throne through Joseph, but not the curse.

VM

Notes Today in Jeremiah 9

Jeremiah 9:3 - And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

The source of the name in John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress" of Mr. Valiant-for-truth, who died a death worthy of his name.

Jeremiah 9:5 - And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

"Weary themselves to commit iniquity" notable cross references: Genesis 19:11, Proverbs 4:16, Habakkuk 2:13.

VM

Notes today in Jeremiah 5

Jeremiah 5:1 - Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

Pardon it: "It" refers back to Jerusalem. Compare Genesis 18:23-33. Even one righteous man might save a city.

Jeremiah 5:25 - Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.

How many good things and blessings do we forfeit and never even realize we missed, due to sin and stepping out of God's will? How many of the problems we face could have been avoided altogether if not for some "minor" decision we made in the past which seems unrelated to the problem at hand?

VM

Notes - Thou hast left thy first love

Revelation 2:4 - Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

One first step toward leaving your first love: Hebrews 12:3b, being wearied and fainting in your mind.  Not fainting in your performance, but in your mind.  The Ephesians who left their first love still maintained their good works but not the right heart.

Cross reference Revelation 2:4 with Matthew 15:8, the ultimate result in the progression of good works without the proper heart: "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."

NOTE: They didn't slip away from their first love, or fall away from their first love, they actively left their first love.  Same Greek verb for "divorce."

These notes taken during a Bible study led by  Pastor Edward R. Mast

Look on Others, Look to Yourself

Philippians 2:4 - Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

2 John 1:8 - Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

NOTE AT BOTH VERSES: We are to focus on our own spiritual walk, while looking to meet the needs of others. So often we reverse it: Look to meet our own needs while focusing on the spiritual walk of others. - VM

Revelation 2:2 - Ephesians Were Faithfully Pure

Revelation 2:2 - I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

NOTE: Paul gave the Ephesian church biblical boundaries, Ephesians 5:1-12. Decades later, Jesus commends them for still keeping these. See also Acts 20:28-30.

What a blessing to see a church remaining faithfully pure for decades. It can be done. Unlike the Ephesians, it can even be done without losing our first love.

VM

Hebrews 10:25 - Not Forsaking the Assembling

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

"Assembling" is unique here and in II Thessalonians 2:1 ("gathering"), where it speaks of the Rapture. So the word picture is clear of which "day" we see "approaching." - VM

The emphasis is not on what you GET from the assembly, but on what you CONTRIBUTE to it. - VM

"The body is not weakened by the absence of the lost. The body is weakened by the forsaking of the saved. It is handicapped." - Pastor Edward R. Mast

"Those forsaking the assembling will soon forsake the God of the assembling. They will stop walking with the Lord; they will lose their love for the brethren; and their compassion for the lost will dry up." - Pastor Edward R. Mast (paraphrased)

Verse 25: Cross ref Malachi 3:16-18

"Love and good works" (v. 23) should be performed while "not forsaking" (v. 25). In other words, don't skip scheduled church services for the purpose of other good works or charity or love. - VM

The preparation for verse 25 is verse 22. - VM

VM