Christ Centered. Reformed Theology. Sermons from Providence Community Church in Crosslake MN. Soli Deo Gloria!
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The final request in Jesus’ model prayer for us reads: (Matthew 6:13) “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Proverbs 19 teaches us that the fear of the Lord ultimately ensures that we will not be visited by harm. Indeed, according to Solomon, through the fear of God applied we are delivered from evil. The truths contained in this chapter have the power to order the economy of human relationships promoting goodness in this life, even as they assure us of the absolute promises of eternal life secure in our Messiah Jesus Christ.
Our title today is drawn from the second of three promises/benefits connected to the fear of the Lord, listed in verse 23. Here Solomon proclaims that the fear of the Lord leads to life and those who have it rest satisfied. He goes on to assure us that the believer who fears the Lord will not be visited by harm. Our verses today give practical applications of godly fear that yield the satisfaction of resting in the assurance of God’s power, grace, and wisdom. When we take the Lord as seriously as His glory demands in these areas, the peace that we gain will surpass understanding.
The record of significant events orchestrated in the providence of God to advance His purposes in history provide occasion to introduce characters of consequence in the book of Esther. Among them, Mordecai, Esther’s cousin & adoptive father, and Esther (Hadassah) herself. Last message we asked: “Where is God in Esther?” (Our heading question introducing the book). The answer continues to unfold with the record of divinely directed circumstances which arrange the causes in such a way that the effects advance the will of God to ransom a people despite the odds which only serve to compound the te
Paul’s letter reads like a lone voice crying in the wilderness of a pagan empire. Paul reveals in our text that he had pushback on other missionary fronts in addition to opposition he faces in Corinth as the truth of Christianity clashed with the sinful philosophy of the day. Yet here we are over 2000 years later, and his voice has decisively won the battle of history. It is difficult these days to find the published works of Christ’s enemies the apostle confronted at the time, yet more copies of Paul’s writings remain in print than any other book in human history. This is the kind of victorio
Proverbs 19:23 serves well as a theme verse to outline this chapter of Solomon’s collection of wise sayings. This verse reprises the meta-theme of wisdom literature: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’, attaching it to practical blessings. According to Solomon : “the fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied, he will not be visited by harm.” As with other statements of this nature in the book, the qualifying context of these promises is assumed. First, the ordinary application: Generally speaking, taking the exhortation of Proverbs as your day to day oper
Proverbs 18:10 describes the name of the Lord as a strong tower. The renown and character of our great God is where the righteous man finds his identity, meaning, standards, safety, authority. provision, and assurance. Proverbs 18, indeed with much of the entire book, can be understood as revealing pathways to the tower of God's presence and power in the life of a believer. Today we learn to take refuge in our God by way of our speech and relationships. Let us consider these two pathways to the tower of the Lord
Historical background: the kingdom and events unfolding in the book of Esther pick up roughly where the contemporary events of the book of Daniel had left off. The timeline of Kings and consequences coinciding with Israel's exile and return are relevant to the context of Esther. Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Jerusalem in 605 BC leading Daniel and others captive to the city of Babylon. The next king, Belshazzar, lost his throne immediately upon the prophecy of Daniel to the Persians who expanded the empire. Kings to follow included Cyrus, who allowed the Jews to return & rebuild Jerusalem after
In the providence of God, the recurring challenge of heretical ideas infecting the understanding of the early church set the stage for outlining nonnegotiable Christian teaching. When Paul addresses the doctrine of resurrection in this chapter, he is providing another example of gospel teaching essential to salvation provided the Corinthians, along with the church of all ages, would hold fast to this truth (1-2). Paul’s own call to ministry hinged on this very reality. It was the resurrected Christ Jesus Himself who confronted him personally & powerfully in (Acts 9:1-5). Paul was persecuting t
How can we run to the name of the Lord as our strong tower? While the first 8 verses of Proverbs 18 primarily identify and refute enemies of wisdom inspiring towers of Babel, verses 9-18 direct us toward the true source of refuge established according to the character and renown of the Lord. When counsel gleaned from the written Word of God is consistently applied, we ground our lives on the foundation and framework of the only name sufficient for all of life now and forever. So let us run to the Lord’s tower following the path of wisdom.
Taking verse 10 as an organizing analogy for Proverbs 18, this chapter presents a ‘tale of two towers’ in wisdom literature terms. Will the foundation and framework of our lives be built on the attributes of God, or upon the shifting sands of foolishness? The answer hinges on the object of our soul’s attention. Is it the character and renown, that is the NAME, of the Lord that we build our lives upon, or is our priority concern our own name? There was an ancient tower built by a wicked generation seeking to make themselves a name rather than finding refuge in the Lord. It didn’t go so well for
The Psalms, as summarized by the closing song in each of the first 4 book divisions in the Psalter, present Messiah Prayers in two senses. First: they serve as prayers of petition for the Messiah to come. Secondly, they function as prayers of intercession for the Messiah to pray on behalf of His people. The great high priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17 corresponds to the prayer requests of the Psalter echoing the prophetic cries of longing with the proclamation of fulfillment that He secures in His redemptive ministry. Finally, history’s greatest hymnal closes with a cosmic call to worship as
Acts 7 records a Gospel sermon proclaimed to Paul before he was born again. Paul, approving of Stephen’s execution, would have been aware of this testimony. Sometime later, Paul is brought to repentance and faith by the sovereign grace of God & now we read his own Gospel sermon preached to the church in Corinth in I Corinthians 15. I Cor 15:1-3 provides an outline for the remainder of the chapter. Each section following this introduction contains increasingly detailed content. The Gospel that Paul preached and upon which the Church stands is summarized in verses 3-11. Verses 12-34 expound the
What is our relationship to the body of Christ, the Church? How are we to love one another? What is the greatest way to serve Christ?
According to Proverbs 25:4 “Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel”. According to Proverbs 17:3 “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.” Taking these references together we can extend and apply the analogy of precious metal refining to the sanctification process of our hearts and lives. Analyzing Proverbs 17 with this illustration in mind, Solomon reveals categories of dross that godly wisdom teaches us to recognize and remove
Prov. 25:4-5 expounds & applies the analogy of pure metals vs. dross. Another example in Proverbs utilizing similar picture language to Prov. 17:3. When the heart is tested by the refining fires of life, the process is designed to remove some elements and refine others. When the heat is turned up, the difference between precious metals and dross or impurities becomes increasingly apparent. The book of Proverbs serves as a literary version of this process. Solomon turns up the heat of truth and when his words are taken to heart, the contrast between folly and righteousness is magnified.
Working through history's greatest hymnal one Psalm at a time, we may not realize or remember the bigger picture of how the collection is organized. Mirroring the Books of Moses, the psalter is also a 'Pentateuch'. The psalms are arranged in five books beginning with songs 1 through 41, followed by book two: 42-72, book three: 73-89, book four: 90-106, and finally book five: 107-150. Each final song of books 1-4 closes with a doxology verse proclaiming: "Blessed be the Lord..." Finally the crescendo and universal call to worship is proclaimed in the final Psalm (150:6) "..Let everything that h
In the 14th & 15th chapters of his epistle to Corinth, Paul outlines aims of Gospel ministry for the church age. When the unbeliever witnesses the testimony of the Christian community, how should our message resonate? As the Holy Spirit is pleased to activate it, the content and presentation of our gospel message should inspire repentance and faith in the hearts of our pagan neighbors and exhortation unto holiness in the lives of disciples. Let us testify & preach in such a way as to inspire conviction of sin, command submission to the Gospel, and implement applications of church order best se
Verse three of our chapter presents a conceptual context for the virtues promoted in Biblical wisdom literature, including the immediate blessings and character traits endorsed by Solomon in Proverbs 17. Testing, tempering, & purifying are in view here as uses for heat in processing precious metals. This analogy serves well to illustrate the design and redemptive purpose of life’s trials, difficulties, conflicts, hardships, suffering etc.. Carrying over the theme of divine sovereignty from chapter 16, the literary context of this verse provides a big picture perspective of divine purpose redee
Under the working theme of ‘the finishing school of kings’ we’ve considered Proverbs 16 in four sections. The first nine verses expounded the concept of agency under the royal preeminence of God as the font of all legitimate authority. These verses reveal the relationship between human moral agency and God’s sovereignty. The second section (verses 10-16) speaks to the royal ideal. Here we are introduced to the model ruler, the moral standard for civil authorities. In the third portion, verses 17-25 exhort the dominion agent to assess his own character applying principles internally to the disc
John chapter 20 records a series of resurrection revelations. John & Peter realized Jesus was risen only upon touring the empty tomb and witnessing the carefully folded grave clothes of our Lord (3-8). Next, Mary Magdalene remains distraught despite witnessing the empty tomb and angels until Jesus Himself speaks to her from the garden (11-18). Jesus then visits a meeting of disciples cowering behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. He shows them his crucifixion wounds and speaks a blessing of peace restoring their joy (19-23). Finally, eight days later, the doubts of Thomas are assuaged only
In consideration of our text this week, I recalled a sermon series I preached years ago which traced the prominence and location of the Ark of the Covenant as it related to the spiritual condition of the nation of Israel… the plight of the Ark as the touchstone of divine habitation & favor corresponded with the heart condition of the people. As spiritual reforms progressed under the rule of David, the red carpet was rolled out for the presence of God to take up residence once again in the midst of the people. Just as the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem would be paved with praises, pal
Our passage today is all about self-discipline. In light of the last section of Proverbs 16 specifically addressed to kings, one might be inclined to ask if these verses are directed toward civil rulers as well? And if so, how do they apply to those wielding authority? Astute philosophers through the ages have recognized the importance of self-government as a precondition of responsibility. In a recent interview, Canadian politician: Pierre Poilievre spoke to his own philosophy of leadership by citing Confucius who said: "How will he who does not know how to govern himself know how to govern o
The more authority someone wields, the more fear of the Lord is required to rule responsibly. ‘Fear of the Lord’ defined in context of chapter 16: ‘Taking God as seriously as His sovereignty demands’. Each of the five references to the king in verses 10-15 imply the ideal, that is the perfect example of dominion. You could place the word ‘perfect’ or ‘ideal’ before each mention of ‘king’ in this section to help clarify the sense of Solomon’s instruction. In addition, it is helpful to remember the wisdom literature device of ‘citing the maximal case’. This way of speaking commends the applicati
We have reached the penultimate song in the world’s greatest hymnal! The theme of worship and its central importance to the livelihood of the people is expounded. Worship is a matter of identity, unity, and national security. Last I checked ‘The high praises of God” had not made the list of strategic resources that we believe are in our country’s vital interest. This is a tragic oversight. When true worship thrives so does a society. Let us explore the great blessings attending those who worship the One True Sovereign in Spirit & in truth.
