PROVERBS 31

May 12, 2013FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPIUSA

MAY MEMORY VERSE:  Matthew 22:37

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” 

This is the first and greatest commandment.   And the second is like it:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew 22:37-39

      Saturday, May 18thVacation Bible School Blitz in the Belhaven and Northeast Jackson areas.  We will meet in Fellowship Hall East at 9:00 a.m. for assignments

We will be finished by 11:00 a.m.  There will be a party at Parham Bridges Park on Ridgewood Road from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Hotdogs, fun jumps and making new friends.  A great way to encourage members to get involved as we prepare for the greatest evangelistic effort during the year!

Contact Paula Webb, the Children’s Ministry Assistant, for instructions on the sign up sheet for Vacation Bible School Refreshments to provide refreshments the week of June 3-7. 

JOHN GILL on ProverbsHe preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon but over one hundred years earlier. His pastorate lasted 51 years from 1720-1771.

John Gill mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by age 11.

He was the first Baptist to write a complete systematic theology and the first to write a verse-by-verse commentary of the Bible.

Gill wrote so much that he was known as Dr. Voluminous.

He sees the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 “as the bride of Christ;

a woman fruitful, a woman beautiful, especially in His eyes, a woman, the weaker vessel, unable to do anything without Him, yet everything through

Him: a "virtuous" one, inviolably chaste in her love and affection to Christ, her Husband; steadfast in her adherence, to Him by faith, as her Lord and

Saviour; incorrupt in doctrine, sincere and spiritual in worship, retaining the purity of discipline and holiness of life.

John Gill said that the Church is militant, has many enemies, and these are powerful and mighty, as well as cunning and crafty; yet, with all their power and policy, cannot

overcome her; the gates of hell cannot prevail against her; she engages with them all, and is more than a conqueror over them;

she is of great spiritual strength, which she, has from Christ, to fight the Lord's battles, to withstand every enemy, to exercise grace, and do every good work.

But "who can find" such an one? there is but one to be found; though there are many particular churches, there is but one Church of the firstborn, of which Christ is the head

and Husband, ( Song of Solomon 6:9 ) ; and there is but One that could find her: even her surety, her Saviour, and her Redeemer.

The price He has paid for her is far above rubies; she is bought with a price, but not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ;

the ransom price paid for her is Himself, Who is more precious than rubies, and all the things that can be desired,” (1 Peter 1:18-19) (1 Timothy 2:6)(Prov 3:15).

Revelation 19:7-9 NASBMarriage of the Lamb

7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and

His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” Rev 19:7-9

Proverbs 31:10-31 NASB(22 verses)10 An  excellent wife, who can find?For her worth is far above jewels (rubies).

11 The heart of her Husband trusts in her,And He will have no lack of gain.12 She does Him good and not evilAll the days of her life.

13 She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.14 She is like merchant ships;She brings her food from afar.

15 She rises also while it is still nightAnd gives food to her householdAnd portions to her maidens.

16 She considers a field and buys it;From her earnings she plants a vineyard.17 She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

18 She senses that her gain is good;Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.

20 She extends her hand to the poor,And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for herself;Her clothing is fine linen and purple. (Rev 19:7-9)

23 Her husband is known in the gates,When He sits among the elders of the land.24 She makes linen garments and sells them,And supplies belts to

the tradesmen.25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,And she smiles at the future.

26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household,And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and bless her (Mother’s Day);Her Husband also, and He praises her, saying:29 “Many daughters have done nobly,But you excel them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her the product (fruit) of her hands,And let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10-31 NASB

Proverbs 31:30 NASB 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 9:10a NASB  10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is being able to see things from God’s point of view.

How do we see things from God’s point of view – from the heavenly perspective, from the eternal perspective, the bigger picture?

In order to see things from another person’s point of view, we need to try and think like they think.

Yet, in Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB God says:

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,So are My ways higher than your waysAnd My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB

So how can one person learn to think like another person?

By getting to know them!

How can a human on earth think like God in Heaven?

See things from His point of view?Let’s stay with Isaiah 55 -

Isaiah 55:6-7a NASB

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found;Call upon Him while He is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his wayAnd the unrighteous man his thoughts;And let him return to the Lord, … Isaiah 55:6-7a NASB

The Seek Cycle

Seek Matt 6:33 Seek My Face 2 Ch 7:14 Seek My Favor Gen 6:8Grace James 4:6Humility Phil 2:8Obedience Heb 5:8Suffering 1 Ptr 4:19

Faith Heb 11:6Seek Heb 11:6Reward Heb 11:6His Presence Isa 40:10 Isa 62:11 Rev 22:12

Matthew 6:33 NASB 33  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  

2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB 14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their

wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB 

Genesis 6:8 NASB

8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Grace = God’s unmerited favor.

GRACEGod’sRichesAtChrist’sExpense

James 4:6 NASB

“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Philippians 2:8 NASB8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Hebrews 5:8 NASB 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

1 Peter 4:19 NASB19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

FAITH

Forsaking All I Trust Him

Hebrews 11:6 NASB6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Seek Matt 6:33 Seek My Face 2 Ch 7:14 Seek My Favor Gen 6:8Grace James 4:6Humility Phil 2:8Obedience Heb 5:8Suffering 1 Ptr 4:19

Faith Heb 11:6Seek Heb 11:6Reward Heb 11:6His Presence Isa 40:10 Isa 62:11 Rev 22:12

Isaiah 40:10 NASB 10 Behold, the Lord God will come with might,With His arm ruling for Him.

Behold, His reward is with HimAnd His recompense before Him.

Isaiah 40:10 NASB

Isaiah 62:11 NASB  11 Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth,Say to the daughter of Zion,

“Lo, your salvation comes;Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”

Isaiah 62:11 NASB

Recompense

Verb: Make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered; compensate.

Noun form of recompense

Compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or for effort made.

SynonymsVerb: compensate - reward - remunerate - repay - requiteNoun: requital - compensation - reward - remuneration

Revelation 22:12 NASB12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

Why would learning and practicing the fear of the LORD be the beginning of seeing things from God’s point of view (wisdom)?

How can a human on earth think like God in Heaven?

See things from His point of view?Use the Seek Cycle.

Hebrews 11:1 NASB 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heartAnd do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB

Proverbs 9:10a NASB

10a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

So if wisdom is seeing things from God’s point of view and if you learn to start seeing things from God’s point of view by seeking His face, by getting to know Him,

then what part does the fear of the LORD play in all of this?

What is the fear of the LORD?

One definition of the fear of the LORD is realizing that God is watching every thought, action, attitude and deed that I have or do.

It is a constant awareness of Him.He is always present (omnipresent) with us but our awareness of that presence gets dull at times.

For a person to enjoy sinning, they try to put God out of their thoughts. When a man is looking at pornography, he does not want to be meditating on God’s word.

When someone is listening to gossip or spreading gossip, they don’t want to be focusing on God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

Consider the example of a highway patrolman following you.Suddenly you become aware of his presence.

You start wondering what he is thinking of yourdriving.You start thinking like he thinks.You start seeing things from his point of view.

Remember, wisdom is seeing things from God’s point of view so the beginning of wisdom is realizing that God is watching every thought, action, attitude and deed

that you have or do (the fear of the LORD).

That is why Scripture says that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD.

Proverbs 31:30 NASB 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain A well favoured look, a graceful countenance, symmetry and proportion of parts,

natural or artificial beauty, are vain and deceitful; oftentimes under them lies an ill natured, deformed, and depraved mind; nor is the pleasure and satisfaction enjoyed

as is promised along with these; and particularly how do they fade and consume away by a fit of illness, and through old age, and at last by death?

And so vain and deceitful are the favour and beauty, the artificial paintings, of Jezebel, that whore of Rome; all her meretricious deckings, dressings, and ornaments; her gaudy

pomp and show in her worship, and the places of it; see ( Revelation 17:4 ) . Jarchi interprets this of the grandeur and glory of the kings of the nations;

His first pastoral work was as an intern assisting John Davis in 1718 at age 21.

He became pastor at the Strict Baptist church at Goat Yard Chapel, Horsleydown, Southwark in 1719.

Pastor of the:New Park Street Chapel1720-1771

In 1757 his congregation needed larger premises and moved to a Carter Lane, St. Olave’s Street, Southwark.

This Baptist church would later become the New Park Street Chapel and then the Metropolitan Tabernacle pastored by Charles Spurgeon.

conscience: or a "woman of strength", valour, and courage, as the word

signifies, when used of men, ( 1 Samuel 16:18 ) ( Psalms 76:6 ) ;

and all her true members persevere to the end:

[but] a woman [that] feareth the Lord, she shall be praised;any single individual, man or woman, that fears the Lord; or a collective body of them,

a society consisting of such persons, as the true church of Christ does; who have the grace of fear in their hearts, which is the beginning of wisdom, and includes the whole of

religious worship, internal and external, private and public: such are taken notice of and highly valued by the Lord; His eye is upon them; His hand communicates to

them much grace; and many benefits are bestowed upon them here, and great honour is conferred upon them, and great goodness is laid up for them.

Compare this with Revelation 5:3-5: 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.

4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; 5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that

is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:3-5 NASB