NEW EVERY MORNING

Psalm 146

     Praise the Lord!  WHO? – my soul.  HOW? – sing praises.  WHY? –

because I am blessed by the God of Jacob who reigns forever.

 

     What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?

 

     Glorify and enjoy God today as you praise Him for his many blessings.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!    

 

 

LIFE COACH

Proverbs 7:24-27                      The Moral to the Story

     The story told by Dad in chapter 7 is a parable – a story that teaches a lesson. Jesus used parables to teach his disciples and the people who followed Him. Aesop’s Fables are the same type of stories. Even though the characters are imaginary, the life lessons are real and this method of teaching holds the interest of the listener to the end.

     Verses 24 – 27 are a summary of the lesson taught in this story. The summary begins with a command to listen and be attentive because the next words are important. So, if you have been daydreaming through the story, pay attention now!

How can one’s heart turn aside to the ways of sin?

What are the two commands in verse 25?

What happens to those who follow temptation?

This lesson ends with the place of the dead. How does this portray the consequence of

destruction?

Give an example from your world of this type of personal destruction?

      What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?

      Glorify and enjoy God today as you faithfully serve Him.

 HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

LIFE COACH

Proverbs 7:21-27                         Responding to Temptation

     Reading through the Bible we find stories of real people who lived on planet earth and faced the temptations that are common to man. These accounts provide lessons of how God deals with people. In them we learn the character of God as he deals with sinful man. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. We are going to review two accounts of temptation found in the Bible. (Genesis 3:1-6; Genesis 39:6-17)

What tool does the serpent use to tempt Eve that is used by the woman in Proverbs 7?

What senses are involved in Eve’s temptation?

Who tempts Joseph in Genesis 39?

What senses are involved in Joseph’s temptation?

What is Joseph’s response to this temptation?

What does this say about Joseph’s character?

What is the outcome of Eve’s temptation?

What is the outcome of Joseph’s temptation?

     The way these two people responded to temptation had significant impact on the world. Eve’s sin was the source of all future people coming into the world sinful. Joseph went to jail because of his refusal to sin and was used to be the savior of his family when they were facing starvation. His family was the foundation of the geneology of Christ who would come into the world to save His people from sin.

      What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?

      Glorify and enjoy God today as you turn away from the temptations brought to you today.

 HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

LIFE COACH

Proverbs 7:1-23                           Life Antonyms

     Sometimes studying opposing forces and antithetical concepts helps with understanding what each means. So we are going to look at opposites found in this chapter. What is the concept for each of the following antonym sets found in this chapter?

     1.  Wisdom / Folly

     2.  Learned / Simple

     3.  Life / Death

     4.  Flee / Follow

     5.  Free / Trapped

     6.  Faithful / Adulterous

     7.  Righteous / Sinner                                                                                       

     The 2nd words describe the characters in this sad story of temptation, sin, and personal destruction. The 1st words are the opposing forces to personal destruction that were available to the young man in the story.

      What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?

      Glorify and enjoy God today as you live faithfully in His wisdom.

 HAVE  A BLESSED DAY!

 

LIFE COACH

Proverbs 7:6-23                                   Sudden Death

     If you play with fire, you will get burned! This is a culture proverb that is not found word for word in Solomon’s writings, but these verses have metaphors that apply to the fire burns proverb. Some people live with the attitude that they can mess with danger because they know when to stop. History shows that the law of averages eventually wins and the fatal consequence of living on the edge is death by going over the edge. Pride says, “I won’t get burned!”, causing more daring activity until there is no turning back.

So, we see the young man in this story making the fatal mistake of following temptation.

What animals is he compared to? What is the scenario with the ox?

What is the scenario with the deer (stag)?

What is the scenario with the bird?

  How do these scenarios compare with the situation of the young man?

What was the point of no return for the young man?

     Once temptation is acted upon, and sin occurs, life forever changes. Sometimes actual physical death is the consequence, but the more common change is living with guilt and the separation from God that sin creates. For the person who is a redeemed sinner caught in sin, fellowship with God can be restored by confession and repentance. However, the person must live with the side effects of that sin. Unredeemed sinners do not have the Holy Spirit calling them to confess and repent. They go merrily through life continuing to sin without experiencing the need to restore their relationship to God, unless God changes their hearts. The outcome of their sinful life is eternal separation from God – ultimate death.

      What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?

      Glorify and enjoy God today as you avoid situations that could cause you to sin.

 HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

LIFE COACH

Proverbs 7:21                                 Compels and Persuades

      Does what we allow into our minds through our senses affect behavior? The world is very sensually oriented. The entertainment industry is based on this fact, bombarding people with choices of TV shows and movies to watch. Music moguls produce powerful mental images for listeners, from hip hop themes to romantic crooning. There is a cable channel, The Food Network, that brings culinary content to connoisseurs with epicurean taste. We seem to be controlled by what we see and hear.

     The sense organs (eyes, ears, skin, tongue, nose) tell us about the world in which we live causing reaction to the stimuli that travel to the brain. We see and enjoy the beauty of creation that surrounds us. Our ability to choose man-made content is based on wisdom and discernment, two of the themes in Proverbs. What we allow into our minds is based on the condition of the heart. A heart controlled by wisdom easily moves away from dangerous content; while the heart of a young man lacking sense is persuaded and compelled by whatever enters his sensory organs.

What sensory input overwhelms this young man to the point of giving in to temptation?

What were his options throughout this seduction to sin?

Is he a victim? How?

What do the words persuades and compels say about the young man’s character?  

      What is God telling you about Himelf and how should you respond?

      Glorify and enjoy God today as you turn away from those activities that can compel and persuade you to sin.

 HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

LIFE COACH

Proverbs 7:6-23                     The Anatomy of Temptation

     What does temptation look like? Proverbs 7 dresses temptation in the clothes of a prostitute, wily of heart. A prostitute is a person who makes a living by having sex in return for money. The phrase wily of heart describes polished skills in underhanded or evil schemes accomplished by deceit.

Where is temptation found (12)?

How does she greet the naïve young man (13)?

What type of speech does she use to persuade him to sin (21-22)?

     Verses 13 – 20 describe the process of temptation successfully creating sin. Explain the following content:

Grabs and greets with a bold kiss (13)

Appeals to the spiritual (14)

Appeals to the physical (15)

Appeals to the sensual (16-17)

Appeals to the emotions(18)

This will be our secret (19-20)

     The appeal of temptation is wholistic; physical, spiritual, and mental. It is also very powerful as the young man sticks around to see what temptation has to offer. There is a denying of possible consequences as the intoxication of seduction to sin occurs. Suddenly the young man acts on the temptation and there is no turning back from the consequences of sin. Sin can be forgiven but, the scars on one’s person will remain throughout life.

      What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?

      Glorify and enjoy God today as you live a life filled with His wisdom.

 HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

LIFE COACH

Proverbs 7:1-23                                The Anatomy of a Sinner

     What are the character traits of a sinner? We don’t need to look far for a specimen because one sits in your skin! The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. (Romans 3:23) However, there are two types of sinners, redeemed and unredeemed. The sins of redeemed sinners have been taken from their rap sheet, and they have been proclaimed innocent through faith in Christ. Unredeemed sinners are living in complete rebellion against God and will experience full punishment of their sin.

What are the three qualities of the young man in this story (7)?

What quality of the young man is found in verses 21-22?

What is the young man missing in character traits?

In chapter 6 we found a long discussion from the father regarding the consequences of adultery. In chapter 7 the father shares a story that visualizes the point he was making.

What power does the young man need to prevent him from making a wrong choice?

How can he acquire that power?

Who is responsible for the outcome of following temptation?

What could he have done to not sin?

How will this experience harm him?

Is he more likely to repeat his sin because of this sin? (why)?

      What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?

      Glorify and enjoy today as you rely on His grace in a world full of temptation.

 HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

 

LIFE COACH

Proverbs 7:6-23                                The Anatomy of Sin

     The Bible is full of examples of people willfully rebelling against God. In fact, the Bible is the documentation of God providing the remedy for man’s sinful condition. Every human baby is born into this world in a condition of spiritual rebellion that exists until God works in the heart and removes the rebellion through faith in Christ.

     Read John 3:16. What does this verse tell us about God’s work in rebellious hearts.

     Proverbs 7 tells the story of a rebellious heart involved in temptation. Temptation happens as we go through life but it is how one responds to temptation that is the difference between life and death, as we see in this story. There are two things we can control in respect to temptation. We can keep ourselves away from the places where temptation occurs and we can choose to walk (or run if necessary) away from temptation. The young man in this story put himself in the place of temptation and willfully gave in to it.

So who is responsible for the sad outcome of this story? God? The woman? The young man? James 1:13-15 analyzes the process of temptation leading to sin. Read these verses.

Who does God tempt (13)?

Where does temptation start (14)?

What does desire created by temptation become (15)?

What is the consequence of sin (15)?

How does the story in Proverbs 7 parallel this process?

      What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?

      Glorify and enjoy God today for His protection from sin.

 HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

LIFE COACH

 

Proverbs 7:4-5                      Sibling and Best Friend

     There are two relationships identified in these verses that can protect you from the smooth words of temptation. Your relationship with wisdom and insight is one of family. Wisdom is to be your sister, your sibling. You have grown up with her and have shared many life experiences with her. Your parents have made wisdom an integral part of your family life. She is always there for you; that’s what siblings do.

     Insight is to be your intimate friend. Intuitive understanding and discernment are synonymous with insight. The picture is of insight controlling your thinking and behavior. Intimate friend describes the ideal spouse. The control insight has over you is not a burden but is full of happiness.

     This relationship with wisdom and insight will keep you from being tempted to go down paths leading to personal destruction. Temptations are a part of human life but the response to temptation can be grounded in a right relationship with God that gives insight from His wisdom.

What is the term forbidden woman a metaphor for (5)?

What is the term adulteress a metaphor for (5)

     Words and images are powerful tools that can affect desire. Think about the messages you are bombarded with when you watch an hour of TV. The advertisers use their smooth words and graphics to get you to buy their products.  They hope that your memory will recall the images implanted when you are making choices.

What does I Corinthians 10:31 say about temptation?  

      What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?

      Glorify and enjoy God today as you live a life of wisdom and insight.

 HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

LIFE COACH

Proverbs 7:1-5                            Words of Wisdom

     This chapter gives words of wisdom in a negative example. The father tells his son a sad story of personal destruction. But, before he tells the story, Dad spends some time telling his child how wisdom and Dad’s words should be applied. The first verses in chapters1-5 begin with similar introductions that involve hearing and applying learning to one’s heart, the source of passions.

What other body parts are mentioned in this passage (2-3)

What senses are found in these parts?

Why do you think they are important in keeping the father’s commands?

     The phrase, the apple of the eye, refers to that part of the eye where images are seen and sent to the brain. John Bunyan in his book, The Holy War, called it the eye gate into the city of Mansoul. The fingers are the parts of the body that bring things to the body for use and consumption. Think about what life would be like with no fingers. Fingers are the part of the body where work is accomplished.

Why is the father’s teaching as important as the eye?

Why does the father’s teaching need to always be at the child’s fingertips?

Where are the father’s commands to be written (3)?

What is the outcome of keeping these commandments (2)?

      What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?

       Glorify and enjoy God today as you live a life filled with His wisdom.

 HAVE A BLESSED DAY!