Proverbs 23:9:
9 Speak not in the ears of a [self-confident] fool, for he will despise the [godly] Wisdom of your words.
This verse is telling us that even though we are to preach the Word to all who want to hear, we are NOT to speak, declare, proclaim the Truth of the Word to a self-confident fool! This is speaking of someone who is arrogant and unbelieving and does not want anything whatsoever to do with God and His Word. Do NOT waste time speaking the Word to them for they will despise the Word and THAT will cause their heart to become even harder! What to do then? Pray for them! Ask the Father to send laborers across their path that they WILL listen to! Pray in the Spirit for them because the Holy Spirit knows what it is that keeps them from desiring the Truth! Timing is EVERYTHING when it comes to ministering the Word of God to people! And GOD'S timing is PERFECT! AMEN!
Ephesians 1:13-14:
13 In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. 14 That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it -- to the praise of His glory.
The moment you received Jesus of Nazareth as YOUR Lord and personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit came into your spirit and made YOU a new creation! Your spirit man was recreated into the image of God! INSTANTLY! At the Rapture of the Church, our bodies will be changed INSTANTLY! What is NOT changed instantly is our soul (mind, emotions and will). Our souls must be renewed DAILY by the Word of God! Philippians 1:6 tells us that the holy Spirit BEGAN to work a GOOD WORK inside of us the moment were born again! He will continue working that Good Work in us right up until the time of the Appearing of Jesus for the Church! And He works with and according to the Word of God! Allow Him to do HIS work by spending time daily in the Word and then listen and obey whatever He tell you to do! Pretty simple, don't you think?!
In Ezra 7-8 we see that Ezra himself gives the credit and glory to God for all that was done through his ministry when the phrase "the good hand of the LORD was upon me" is found 6 times in these two chapters (7:6, 7:9, 7:28, 8:18, 8:22, 8:31)! Remember that EVERYTHING good in your life is from God and HE deserves ALL of the thanksgiving and praise for it! This includes all of the good and Godly people that He puts into your life for good! I found an interesting note in the commentary I was looking at, the Bible Exposition Commentary. It said this:
When God wants to judge a nation, He sends them inferior leaders (Isa 3:1-8); but when He wants to bless them, He sends them men like Ezra.
Do YOU think He is judging our nation now? Just something to ponder!
9 Speak not in the ears of a [self-confident] fool, for he will despise the [godly] Wisdom of your words.
This verse is telling us that even though we are to preach the Word to all who want to hear, we are NOT to speak, declare, proclaim the Truth of the Word to a self-confident fool! This is speaking of someone who is arrogant and unbelieving and does not want anything whatsoever to do with God and His Word. Do NOT waste time speaking the Word to them for they will despise the Word and THAT will cause their heart to become even harder! What to do then? Pray for them! Ask the Father to send laborers across their path that they WILL listen to! Pray in the Spirit for them because the Holy Spirit knows what it is that keeps them from desiring the Truth! Timing is EVERYTHING when it comes to ministering the Word of God to people! And GOD'S timing is PERFECT! AMEN!
Ephesians 1:13-14:
13 In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. 14 That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it -- to the praise of His glory.
The moment you received Jesus of Nazareth as YOUR Lord and personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit came into your spirit and made YOU a new creation! Your spirit man was recreated into the image of God! INSTANTLY! At the Rapture of the Church, our bodies will be changed INSTANTLY! What is NOT changed instantly is our soul (mind, emotions and will). Our souls must be renewed DAILY by the Word of God! Philippians 1:6 tells us that the holy Spirit BEGAN to work a GOOD WORK inside of us the moment were born again! He will continue working that Good Work in us right up until the time of the Appearing of Jesus for the Church! And He works with and according to the Word of God! Allow Him to do HIS work by spending time daily in the Word and then listen and obey whatever He tell you to do! Pretty simple, don't you think?!
In Ezra 7-8 we see that Ezra himself gives the credit and glory to God for all that was done through his ministry when the phrase "the good hand of the LORD was upon me" is found 6 times in these two chapters (7:6, 7:9, 7:28, 8:18, 8:22, 8:31)! Remember that EVERYTHING good in your life is from God and HE deserves ALL of the thanksgiving and praise for it! This includes all of the good and Godly people that He puts into your life for good! I found an interesting note in the commentary I was looking at, the Bible Exposition Commentary. It said this:
When God wants to judge a nation, He sends them inferior leaders (Isa 3:1-8); but when He wants to bless them, He sends them men like Ezra.
Do YOU think He is judging our nation now? Just something to ponder!
Shalom in Him!
