Proverbs 20 - Our Lord and King

Hello Project Ezra!  I pray that you are having a wonderful day in the Lord.  I’m looking forward to sharing the gospel this weekend, and I pray you are as well.  I sent out an event recap a few days ago with some testimonies from Mission Good Friday.  If you have not had time to read it, please do.  The post can be found HERE, and I would encourage you to pass it along to any friends who you think might be interested in participating, or those who might have said they would, but for one reason or another have not.  It still amazes me sometimes how many different ways the enemy will try to keep us from sharing our faith.  Spiritual attacks of different types are inevitable in a Christian’s life, but you can be sure they will increase when you start sharing your faith regularly.  Between that and the fear of confrontation and humiliation, which I still struggle with every time I try to witness to someone, it can be nearly crippling.  But He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world, and by the work of the Spirit of God (and ONLY through His work), we have all we need to be faithful in our proclamation of His word.

Earlier today I was exchanging comments with an atheist on Facebook.  I generally avoid Facebook or other online debates.  I much prefer face to face discussions when possible, since clear communication is easier, and both your heart and the heart of the person you are talking to are much more evident.  However, in this case I thought it was important to address some issues, so I did.  During that conversation, one of the comments made was to the effect that “Your Bible has nothing to do with me!”  This is a common objection, particularly in this age of moral relativism, where feelings are the only evidence you need to support your beliefs or deny someone else’s, and it is generally thrown out in a very thoughtless manner.  In this particular conversation, with several people involved, I repeatedly challenged them, as lovingly as I could, to state and defend their world view, to support why their beliefs were correct and mine were wrong.  None even responded to me on that point, but simply stated what they wanted to believe, without even attempting to argue rationally or support their point of view with anything other than name calling and blind assertions.  I eventually left the conversation, sad at their blindness, but reminded that some people will do anything and believe anything in order to avoid submission to God.

A key theme in this chapter of Proverbs, and a key truth to understand in order for the Christian world view to make sense, is the Kingship and Lordship of God, and how we are to submit ourselves to Him.  If someone is a true king, and the creator of all that exists certainly is, then their authority must be recognized.  It doesn’t matter if someone chooses to deny that authority.  If the king owns that authority, he can exercise it, whether his subjects choose to acknowledge it or not.  They can choose to break his law, but consequences will follow.  We are subject to the king and lord of the universe.  Someone can deny God’s law, can say they don’t believe in Him, or claim they have the right to make their own moral decisions and that He can’t tell them what to do, but if you are breaking God’s law it will eventually break you.  Regardless of what you claim, on the Day of Judgment you will have no excuse, and outside of the grace found in Jesus Christ, you will also have no escape.

So this week’s outline focus will the kingship authority of God, and how amazing it is that the king and judge would leave His throne, humble himself, and give himself for His subjects.  Thanks for joining us this week, and see you on the streets. 

All for His glory,
Dan

READ PROVERBS 20

Many people say Bible has nothing to do with them

You don’t get to choose which laws apply to you

If you break man’s law, you may escape for a while, but it will eventually have to pay for your crimes

If you try to break nature’s laws, such as the law of gravity, they will end up breaking you.

If you break God’s law, there is no escape.  His knowledge is perfect and his authority is absolute

God’s authority is not based on or limited by your consent                

God is your sovereign king whether you acknowledge Him or not.

A king who sits on a throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes

Who can say, "I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin"?

Many people consider themselves to be good, and believe they are worthy to enter heaven

Is that true of you?  Do believe God owes you entrance into heaven?

God is your king, your creator.  He owes you nothing, and you owe Him everything.

The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life

Have you angered your king by breaking His law?

And if you look at yourself in truth, based on His standard of goodness, you are not only unworthy.  You are a rebel against Him

GO THROUGH THE LAW TO BRING CONVICTION OF SIN

A wise king winnows the wicked and drives a wheel over them.

God is powerful, and his justice will crush His enemies.  None will escape

But God is not only a just and wrath-filled king.  He loves his people

He has provided a way, not just for you to be pardoned of your crimes, but to be adopted into His family

And this way is through the punishment of His son, who He has made judge and ruler of all.

This Son is Jesus the Christ, God in human flesh, who came to earth for our sakes

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  (Colossians 1:15-20 ESV)

The king and judge of all humbled himself, took off His judges’ robes and came to earth. 

He lived, He died, and He rose again, becoming the perfect sacrifice for our sin, and then the perfect high priest, the mediator between us and our God.

MAY WANT TO EXPAND ON THE IMPORTANCE AND PURPOSE OF THE CROSS

And He tells us that if we will repent and trust in Him, and in Him alone, He will apply His perfection, His righteousness, to us.

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

(Acts 17:30-31 ESV)

If we repent, and turn to Christ as our only hope for forgiveness and salvation, will be seen as clean and pure when we stand before God on Judgment Day

Not through our own goodness or righteousness, but through His righteousness credited to us, through faith

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness (Romans 4:5 ESV)

But we will not only be forgiven servants, but spend eternity in heaven with Him

So today, while He has graciously given you time, repent of your sin and turn to Christ

Trust in Him alone, and you will be pardoned of your sins, and made right with your king.