Let’s feast today at the banquet table of wisdom, which the LORD has prepared for all who trust in Him.
Proverbs 9:1 KJV Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Proverbs 9:2 KJV She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
Proverbs 9:3 KJV She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
No fools sit at this table.
Proverbs 9:4 KJV Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Proverbs 9:5 KJV Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Proverbs 9:6 KJV Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
The man who believes he knows and has learned it all is not wise at all. I am continually learning and refining my arguments as the Lord gives me understanding.
Proverbs 9:9 KJV Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
If you fear the LORD, you respect His holiness and will actively seek not to offend Him. True wisdom and understanding that transcend this world are unattainable without this posture.
Proverbs 9:10 KJV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Often, peace is the personal reward of God's wisdom, for many others will not understand it and therefore mock it.
Proverbs 9:12 KJV If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
There's a table of life and heaven that's pleasing to the soul, and there's a table of death and hell that's pleasing to the eyes. Never confuse the two.
Proverbs 9:13 KJV A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
Proverbs 9:14 KJV For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
Proverbs 9:15 KJV To call passengers who go right on their ways:
Proverbs 9:16 KJV Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Proverbs 9:17 KJV Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Proverbs 9:18 KJV But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Paul sought to minister the gospel with the meekness and gentleness of Christ, yet had to be bold and firm toward those who falsely accused him. This balance of meekness and boldness was evident in Jesus’ life too, as He firmly confronted religious hypocrites who falsely accused Him. Only the Spirit of God determines which approach is appropriate at any time.
2 Corinthians 10:1 KJV Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2 Corinthians 10:2 KJV But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
The Jewish Question, often debated and discussed today, isn't answered or settled with an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. It's answered and settled by the Word of God. I refuse to address such matters without it.
2 Corinthians 10:3 KJV For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Evil thoughts and imaginations can surface at any time, perhaps even daily. This is why we pray, 'Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil,' and protect our eyes and ears as much as possible. I begin each day by asking God to protect me from all evil, including these intruding thoughts. That way, when they do come, the Lord strengthens me to call upon Him immediately to cast the intrusion down, rather than dwelling on it or pondering it further, thus reducing the potential to fall to temptation and sin.
2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Before we can fix others, we must first fix ourselves, local churches included. Once we achieve victory, then we can teach it.
2 Corinthians 10:6 KJV And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Jealousy and envy are weeds that can choke out spiritual growth, causing many to dismiss another's salvation. Some 'Christians' did this to Paul, and sadly, some still do today. There's no need to be jealous or envious of my gifts, talents and calling—for which I'll give an account—because you have your own gifts, talents and calling for which you'll give an account.
2 Corinthians 10:7 KJV Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
2 Corinthians 10:8 KJV For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
I can only work within the boundaries the Lord has entrusted me with—and so can you.
2 Corinthians 10:13 KJV But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
If you are not willing to speak things face to face, there is no point in cowering behind the type. The keyboard warrior has a purpose, but not if it cannot be backed up on the battlefield.
2 Corinthians 10:10 KJV For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
2 Corinthians 10:11 KJV Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
Compare yourself to Christ, and you'll always fall short—and that's the only comparison that matters.
2 Corinthians 10:12 KJV For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
All glory to Jesus Christ our Lord!
2 Corinthians 10:17 KJV But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 10:18 KJV For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
The 'Israel' that hears is the Israel that knows the Godhead—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The triple reference to God in this verse is all the proof I need, and there's much more. I know the Old Testament is the Word of God because Jesus quoted it, and not just in this verse.
Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Mark 12:29 KJV And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mark 4:23 KJV If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
God doesn't change—we do. And, our God-given mission remains the same.
Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Matthew 22:37 KJV Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
My children are grown adults and on their own now, yet I'm still diligently teaching them.
Deuteronomy 6:7 KJV And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
At the very least, as a Christian, you can open the Word of God with your hands and read it with your eyes.
Deuteronomy 6:8 KJV And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
The righteous anger of the LORD is underrated and underappreciated these days, but not for long. It never is.
Deuteronomy 6:15 KJV (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
If Near Death Experiences are authentic—and I don't doubt that some are—they are very limited in scope.
Isaiah 64:4 KJV For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
God finds us; we don't find Him. All of salvation is of God, through His gift of faith.
Isaiah 64:6 KJV But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Isaiah 64:7 KJV And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
A Jew asks the question, 'Is God an antisemite?' in a not-so-long-ago article, and then says He is not, but should start showing His love rather than talking about it. Perhaps Jews have said similar things in the past.
Isaiah 64:10 KJV Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
Father, thank You for the words of Your Son, 'It is finished.' In Jesus' Name, Amen.
