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2/4/12 TRUST IN THE LORD, LEAN NOT ON YOURSELF

2/4/12 TRUST IN THE LORD, LEAN NOT ON YOURSELF

Kevin jesmer NIU UBF Saturday, February 4, 2012

Proverbs 3:1-10
Key Verse: 3:5-6

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Dear Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for bringing peace and clarity into my life and heart. Thank you for granting me strength to carry on each day, doing what I must I do as a father , husband, nurse and Christian friend. Help me to carry on with the mission you have called me to. I pray for the new church building in Milwaukee. Use the building as a place of refuge for your flock. Please raise up your disciples there. May the gospel shine across the campus’ of Milwaukee. I pray that you may grant your wisdom from the book of proverbs in my heart. I thank you and I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

1. Keep God’s commands in your heart (1-6).

Verses 1-6, “ My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight”

These ten verses contain five commands with five promises. Obeying God’s word leads to peace, prosperity, and eternal life (1-2). Love and faithfulness win favor and a good name before God and man (3-4). When we trust in and submit to the Lord wholeheartedly rather than lean on our own understanding, God makes our paths straight (5-6).

I agree with these things. When we obey the Lord then God will grant us peace and prosperity and eternal life. I believe that following Jesus has prolonged my life many years. God has put me in a great, healthy environment, in a small Midwest town, working in a modern hospital and having ministry among campus students. Before meeting Jesus I was headed towards being a quality control person in the specialty chemical industry. God took me out of that environment and into the present one. I think I have avoided lots of carcinogens. He has given me prosperity, mainly through being satisfied with less and making my family stable and intact. He has also granted me five kids who have given me barely any trouble at all. He has also made me spiritually prosperous as I learn to be a servant of the word of God. God has given me favor with himself through his forgiveness and grace and he has given me favor with other people because he guides my feet and my mind and tells me how I should talk and think and act around people. He has resolved so many conflicts I am a blessed man because of Jesus and because of the commands of God. For this I thank Jesus. All of these things came about when I did not trust on my own understand but on Jesus’. It was God’s idea for me to become a nurse. It was God’s guidance that led me to marry Julie. It was God’s wisdom that showed me the way to raise the kids. It was God’s calling that led me to engage in Christian ministry. It was all from Jesus Christ. My own ideas were leading me a stray. I pray to share the wisdom of God with the people of DeKalb and NIU so they may also walk it the paths of peace and take Jesus and his commands into their hearts. Then they shall be blessed.

2. How to fear and honor the Lord (7-10).

Verses 7-10, “7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

Rejecting a proud mind and shunning evil is how to fear the Lord (7). One who does so will be strong and healthy (8). Do you want to be blessed materially? Don’t save more (Lk 12:21); rather, honor God with generous offerings to his work and to the needy (9-10). God promises overflowing blessing to those who do.

It is strange how its works, but when we tithe our income to God, God blesses us. Instead of becoming poorer, we grow in wealth. It is because God honors a heart that is devoted to serving him as top priority. (Matt 6:33) The tithing principle stands in all areas of life, in sports , in business, in family time, but mostly in faith. It is truly the wisdom of Jesus Christ. God has saved me so much money by changing my desires. I remember when I was a 20 year old young man who didn’t know Jesus. I thought I needed at least $50 to simply go out with my friends to spend on “unhealthy” things. I spent so much money trying to pimp my car and on music and stereos. Jesus came into my life and changed my desires to be satisfied with less and know what is truly valuable and important to pour my resources on. This all came about when I did not trust on my own understanding, but on the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I trust you wholeheartedly, not my own ideas. Help me to share your wisdom with the world.

One Word: Trust in the Lord with all your heart




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