Author Archive: Pastor Mark

Proverbs 3 Promises

The Promises of Proverbs 3

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Though it is not unusual to find peppered throughout the Old Testament, Proverbs 3 has some promises which Christians truly need to view in light of established New Covenant theology. The differences are made by the New Testament authors themselves and so they aren’t hard to discover and reconcile.

These issues deal with understanding & application of verses dealing with abundance, sowing and reaping & even God’s grace as first debuting with Noah before even the Old Covenant. The New Testament can only be understood through a robust knowledge of the Old Testament. There IS however, a huge difference between the Old Testament and the Old Covenant. Understanding this is crucial!

I hope this helps you in your study of not only chapter 3, but all of Proverbs and the greater Old Testament at large.

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Dead Faith James works

Dead Faith

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James introduces the concept of “dead faith”, a wording which is entirely unique in all the Bible.

Now James is not saying there is a different “type” of faith, but rather a different condition or expression of faith. Or as in this case, a lack of expression!

Paul also introduces a novel expression of his own which is very similar. He called it “sincere” or “non-hyprocritical” faith.

Then Peter comes along and indirectly mentions the same by telling us that one of the benefits of temptations and trials (unintended by the enemy of course) is that it reveals the “genuineness” of our faith. 

So the existence of “genuine” or “sincere” or “non-hyprocritical” faith requires the existence of its opposite which would be faith that is “insincere”, “ingenuine” or “hypocritical”.

So the question is – Is “insincere” faith the same thing as “dead” faith? I believe it is, albeit they are nuanced in slightly different direction.

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Lord gives wisdom

For the LORD gives Wisdom!

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Like Proverbs 1, the second chapter offers conditions for better understanding the Fear of the Lord and obtaining the knowledge of God. These bear much in common with Jesus’ teaching on the heart soils in Mark 4. Furthermore, you can see the words of this chapter in the New Testament letters of both Paul and James.

God stores up wisdom for us to store up in our hearts. He goes before us and prepares wisdom, insight and understanding for those who meet the conditions outlined at the beginning of the chapter but He goes on record as guaranteeing that we WILL receive it from Him!

This is a very important chapter in the overall book of Proverbs – primarily due to the clearly stated conditions for obtaining knowledge of God and understanding the Fear of the Lord!

Invaluable!

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Faith Good Works

Faith & Good Works Pt. 3

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In our series on Maturity & Ministry we have been looking at the need to maintain good works. As we continue in James, we learned today about the very real possibility of hearing the Word so much with a heart that intellectually believes it, without considering our lives in the light of it. To hear the word and NOT produce the ‘good works’ of the word.

James offers controlling what comes out of your mouth as proof of ‘good works’ produced by faith. He also mentioned caring for widows (especially those of your own family) and orphans as a demonstration of true worship of God.

We ended in chapter 2 verse 17 where James really begins to bear down on the fact that true saving faith is always accompanied by works. He then introduced the unique subject of ‘dead faith’, which we will learn more about next week beginning in verse 18.

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Wisdom shouts streets

Wisdom shouts in the streets

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Proverbs is the “goto” spot in scripture for wisdom of all sorts for all sorts of people. So it is naturally fitting that the first chapter of Proverbs would spend the first several verses telling us what types of wisdom can be found in these first 9 chapters. Furthermore, it informs us how to be the sort of person who can benefit from this wisdom.

After this, chapter one addresses all who read as children and tell us to listen to the words of a father and mother. This isn’t because all parents are inherently wise, but is more indicative of ideal and designed tutorship God baked into the parent child relationship which is first and foremost relational in a familial sense. The wisdom afforded a child runs contrary to the popular advice most children receive from their peers and that is the first example we are offered.

The chapter wraps up with wisdom presented as a woman crying out in the streets. Specifically she shouts out in the places of societal gatherings, judicial courts and commerce. She offers counsel that even the naive and simple can appropriate and spurns all those who turn up the nose at her.

Quite the intro… this most valuable book should be an informative and helpful read!

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