Precepts and Warnings

Proverbs 24; I die daily devotional.

¹ Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; ² For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. ³ By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; ⁴ And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. ⁵ A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power. ⁶ For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Christian of Jesus Christ according to the gospel,

That might be unnecessary, but to address you in that way feels appropriate considering the world’s connection via social media and not everyone claiming their allegiance to Jesus, is Christian, or those that are might be confused by its meaning. So, “Where is the line of determination drawn? How do we verify whether the claim is actually true?” you might wonder, but *laughing—I’m obviously wondering!

From my personal experience: The information about the gospel happened for me at a very early age (around 8 years old) by fear of what I didn’t understand yet; only that Jesus could save me from that experience of fear, and so I prayed religiously. However, growing up in church didn’t prevent me from rebelling against the principles preached from the pulpit. In fact, church was a perfect social setting to get frisky with my faith. This might upset some people employed to church stewardship, but I’m being vulnerable and honest. The membership structure of some churches at the highschool level to college young adult need serious attention because these are crucial years of faith development; our youth needs to be armored for a world of actualities and potentialities that undermine the warning label provided on the bottle of sin that our world is drunk in. Consider organizing specialists in these areas of faith development such as psychologists and therapists … just saying. The ruler of this world is actively devouring lives. Okay, I’m off that soapbox. Where was I—

Ah yes, “qualified ‘christian'” and “personal experience”; my sins are confessed, but the torment is very real as I live in repentance. I experience a conversion of energy as my life exists’ saved in the name of Jesus Christ and it’s known through a public proclamation (or baptism) of faith, but there is still a real possibility of apostasy that exists if my faith claim was/is a lie. Apostasy looks like self-proclaiming Christians that have hearts of deception only the Lord will draw out to reveal. If that truth about apostasy is understood, and we are convicted when accepting the gospel, then we have the fear of the Lord in us and don’t need to worry. If doubts are lingering in our faith don’t fear; the Lord knows our hearts, just listen when those experiences come—journal it out; call a mature believer; read an I die daily devotional. Lets not neglect our time with God because those difficult experiences exist to get our attention; God didn’t make us to be ignored, nor for Him to be ignored by us. Listen to the Holy Spirit for help because after all … He is the Helper!

House is built

Just as we can build physical houses with our tools, we can also build our spiritual house with our tools. Only our tool of choice is faith. By keeping and learning the book of prophecy will provide us with the tools of blessing to build our house of wisdom. First we need to change our perception about time because Jesus defeated death, so don’t let death fool you into thinking it’s the end—IT”S NOT!

Jesus is the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the alpha and omega—not death. We are alive in Jesus Christ because the gift (or tool) of faith is given as our Helper to build life out of a dead soul; our soul. Remember what Jesus said? I’m paraphrasing (because I want to remember as closely as I can, but): he who wishes, seeks, and loves to save his soul in this life will lose it, but he who loses his soul for my sake and the gospel will preserve it to life eternal. Okay, so if we’ve decided by faith to lose (baptized with water in repentance) our soul in Jesus Christ will then be saved (baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire) then every moment of everyday is an opportunity to live in that mindset. Don’t worry about tomorrow because we are already alive in eternity through faith; for it is by grace through faith that not of yourselves lest any man should boast, but it is the gift of God. Faith is given as a portion for us to be responsible of and for building our house of wisdom in the kingdom of God. Why?

Because our God loves us that much, that’s why. It’s not about whether we are worthy because the point is…

HE IS!

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Resources

 ^{2 Thessalonians 3} Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

^{John 16:7} But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; ⁹ concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; ¹¹ and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

^{Luke 3:16} John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

^{Romans 12:3} For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Proverbs 24 (NASB)—blueletterbible.com
1 Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; 2 For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. 3 By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; 4 And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. 5 A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power. 6 For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory. 7 Wisdom is too exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate. 8 One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer. 9 The devising of folly is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men. 10 If you are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited. 11 Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. 12 If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? 13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; 14 Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off. 15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place; 16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity. 17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; 18 Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him. 19 Do not fret because of evildoers Or be envious of the wicked; 20 For there will be no future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out. 21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those who are given to change, 22 For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?23 These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good. 24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous, ”Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;25 But to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight, And a good blessing will come upon them. 26 He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer. 27 Prepare your work outside And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterwards, then, build your house. 28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips. 29 Do not say, “Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.” 30 I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, 31 And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down. 32 When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. 33 “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,” 34 Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man.