The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God.  It is eternally true and applicable for all of life

Proverbs 25:11-20 Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise reprover to a listening ear. Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely. By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone. Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, That you not have it in excess and vomit it. Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, Or he will become weary of you and hate you. Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor. Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.

In the group study, Growing Kids God's Way, which many of us are currently taking, or have taken in the past, you will find a plethora of comprehensive lessons regarding the responsibility of parents to discipline their children in accordance with God's standard, His Word. You will find much practical application for a variety of circumstances you may find yourselves in as a parent. One of the foundational principles taught in the course is the idea of childish behavior, versus foolish behavior. In a nutshell, childish behavior involves behavior which stems from a child's inherent makeup, which in its proper context, isn't necessarily sinful. For example, children generally love to run, everywhere. An example of childishness could be a child running through our very Spartan sanctuary bumping into unsuspecting mothers holding babies, or being trodden underfoot by the men attempting to set up or tear down the sound equipment and chairs. Foolish behavior in a child is that which contains an element of rebellion to authority within it. An example of this might be a child who, after being told to not run in a certain context, continues to do so. Childishness morphs into foolishness. Quickly.

The Proverb today, 25:11,12 says "Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise reprover to a listening ear."
 
 
Matthew Henry has this to say of this Proverb:
Solomon here shows how much it becomes a man, 1. To speak pertinently (relevant and on-point): A word upon the wheels, that runs well, is well-circumstanced, in proper time and place—instruction, advice, or comfort, given seasonably, and in apt expressions, adapted to the case of the person spoken to and agreeing with the character of the person speaking—is like golden balls resembling apples, or like true apples of a golden colour (golden rennets), or perhaps gilded, as sometimes we have gilded laurels, and those embossed in pictures of silver, or rather brought to table in a silver network basket, or in a silver box of that which we call filigree —work, through which the golden apples might be seen. Doubtless in was some ornament of the table, then well known. As that was very pleasing to the eye, so is a word fitly spoken to the ear. Especially to give a reproof with discretion, and so as to make it acceptable. If it be well given, by a wise reprover, and well taken, by an obedient ear, it is an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, very graceful and well becoming both the reprover and the reproved; both will have their praise, the reprover for giving it so prudently and the reproved for taking it so patiently and making a good use of it. Others will commend them both, and they will have satisfaction in each other; he who gave the reproof is pleased that it had the desired effect, and he to whom it was given has reason to be thankful for it as a kindness. That is well given, we say, that is well taken; yet it does not always prove that that is well taken which is well given. It were to be wished that a wise reprover should always meet with an obedient ear, but often it is not so.

Do we believe this? Do we believe that a timely, well spoken word of rebuke is to be received as a kindness? If so, please hear me this morning.

Fathers, many of us have sons and daughters who have fallen into a pattern of unruliness within the sanctuary on Sunday mornings both before and after church which has morphed from childishness to foolishness. I have personally witnessed mothers in the church correct the raucous behavior, and have done so myself, only to see the children resume the unruliness mere moments later. Worse, I have watched as children receive correction from folks in the church, only to see the child grumble, or have a mild temper tantrum in response.

The thoughtless behavior is not limited only to the younger children, but also manifests itself in the older young men, particularly the preteens, who seem unable to stay gainfully employed about their fathers business, but instead linger around as if they have never been instructed on what young men of their age ought be doing on a Sunday morning.

Now, right now you are probably wondering, "Is this my little Timmy? Could he possibly be referring to my little precious?" "Well, what about his sons, I have seen them do this or that?". Maybe you are even tempted to come ask me for names after church.

Fathers, my response to all wondering such as this is: I am not above this rebuke, and like me, it is your job to know the state of your children and to discipline them. One does not have to look very far or very hard to see some of what I have laid out this morning. It is your job to instruct your children on how to conduct themselves in church, interact with adults in authority, and to know what God's expectations for them are as covenant children. If you are waiting until after the church potluck, after you have heard one too many complaints, or after someone gets hurt: you are doing it wrong.

4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, ESV)

Fathers, you must discipline your children. The rod of correction drives foolishness out of the heart of a child, and when you beat them they will not die. Disciplining your sons and daughters is in fact the most loving thing you can do, because just as our Heavenly Father disciplines the son whom He loves, we are to do the same, otherwise your sons are illegitimate.

At this time, if you are able, please join me in kneeling as we confess our sins to our Holy, Holy, Holy Triune God.

Heavenly Father,
We are eternally grateful for the patience and longsuffering You display to us sinners.
We are thankful for all of the rebukes and corrections You give us through the preaching of Your Word, even though at the time they may have been painful.
We are indebted to You for the wrath You poured out upon Your Son for our sins, giving us a clear picture of the seriousness of our rebellion.
Father, please forgive us for our neglect of our children's discipline. Please forgive us for our sluggishness in the correction of our children's childishness and foolishness.
Father, help us to love our children in such a way that they are a joy and blessing to be around, rather than a curse.
In Jesus Name we pray, amen.
 
 
 
Please join me in standing and listen to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to his church: 

Zephaniah 3:14-17 Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You will fear disaster no more. In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp. “The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lift up your hearts!
(From the 11/29/2020 liturgy of Sovereign King Church written by Aaron Sabie.)

 The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God.  It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.  

Proverbs 25:1-10 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith; Take away the wicked before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness. Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men; For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen. Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor humiliates you? Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another, Or he who hears it will reproach you, And the evil report about you will not pass away.

The year 2000 could be remembered as the year of the "hanging chad". Voting irregularities led to an uncertain outcome in the Presidential race between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Al Gore, known for creating the internet and serving as Vice President under Bill Clinton, was declared to be the President-elect, winner of the race. But, low and behold, a month and a half later revealed that the victory went instead to George W. Bush. Step aside Mr. Gore, make way for your Commander in Chief. The self professed victor who grabbed the title of President-elect for himself, had to relinquish said victory, and watch in humbling fashion as another took his place.

Proverbs 16:18 (NASB95):
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

Consider the circumstances surrounding Absalom, King David's son, in 2 Samuel 15. Conspiring against his father, Absalom hatches a scheme to have himself declared king in Hebron at the sound of the trumpet. Having won many to his cause, Absalom drove his father and servants from Jerusalem, sleeps with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel in chapter 16, and by chapter 18, winds up slain by Joab with 3 spears through the heart.

James 4:6 (NASB95):  But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Our Lord told a parable in Luke 14,
Luke 14:7–11 (NASB95): And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them,  “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place.  But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Scripture teaches us repeatedly to stay in our assigned lane. To be content with our lot in life. To be humble, and keep to our station. We are taught that honor is something bestowed upon another, in due time, at the discretion of the One Who sits in a position to give honor to another. Honor and praise is not taken, or even earned, but rather, given by grace to one who frequently does not even deserve it.

Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men; For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

In the American experiment with our republican form of government, we are tempted to abandon our position as children of God, meek, and lowly like our Savior, and rail against the authorities appointed over us, claiming this is our "right" as free citizens. As we  rail in the name of freedom of speech and exercising our rights, we put ourselves over and above the God ordained authorities appointed to govern us. We become the judge. We position ourselves as the authority.

The problem for us becomes sinful, as God's Word tells us clearly to submit to the authorities pointed over us, whether in the church to elders, in the home as wives submit to husbands, or the civil realm to magistrates. As we elevate our wisdom over and above those appointed over us, even though we may be correct, we usurp the God ordained authority by taking a position of honor not appointed to us. Consequently, we open ourselves up for shame and a painful fall as several of the examples have shown us today.

Our response should be one of repentance and trust in the Lord, knowing that it is He from whom all honor comes, and He shares His glory with no one (Isaiah 42:8). Yet, as we look to the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting in Him for our salvation, we are counted as co-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17), to be glorified as sons through the finished work of Jesus.
Let us be humble and repent.

If you are able, please join me in kneeling as we confess our sins to our loving God Whose mercies are new every day.

Heavenly Father,
Please pierce our hearts with Your Word this morning and reveal to us our rebellion and sin against You. Father help us to recognize all the ways in which we seek to turn Your order upon its head by taking honor which has not been granted. Father help us to joyfully, cheerfully take the lowly position, whether at work, home, or Church, knowing that God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Please grant us wisdom in our dealings with those appointed over us. Help us to honor and respect their positions, while simultaneously not compromising the truth of Your Word. Father, please help those of SKC who rule, in the different spheres of life, to rule well, as good stewards of all the authority and position God has granted them.
In Jesus's name we pray, Amen.

Please join me in standing and listen to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to his church.
 
John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lift up your hearts!
 

(From the 11/22/2020 liturgy of Sovereign King Church written by Aaron Sabie.)

The mighty men of Babylon have ceased fighting, They stay in the strongholds; Their strength is exhausted, They are becoming like women; Their dwelling places are set on fire, The bars of her gates are broken.- Jeremiah 51:30
“You fight like a girl.”   “Stop acting like a woman”  “The effeminate will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The scripture above is an insult to the Babylonian army.  Their strength is weak and they are fighting like a girl.  They are becoming like women.  This is an insult to the mighty men.  But is it an insult to women as well?  Should women be offended when a man tells another man to stop acting like a woman. 
The temptation is to think that this is sexist or to think that this is demeaning to women.  But the scriptures are the word of God, the God who created both male and female and called them very good.  So no, this is not an insult to women.  And here is the reason why?
God made men and women with a common purpose, to love God and love their neighbor.  Yet he gave them different ways to carry out this same purpose.  That is he gave them different traits that would enable them to love in ways that are uniquely male or uniquely female.  Men are by nature bigger, stronger, more apt to think in terms of cold facts and reason, and even rougher skin.  I know someone will point to an exception here or there where a woman is bigger than a man.  But we are speaking in generalities which are true.   Women by nature have softer skin, bodies designed less for fighting and more for giving-life, and are more emotionally intelligent, that is they often think more in terms of relationships.   All of these traits in men are meant to be used to love God and neighbor in particular by leading their homes, churches, and states, protecting those underneath their charge, and fighting the enemies of God both spiritually and at times physically.  They are to use their strength, their hardness, their bodies and minds for others.   Women also too are to use their design for love of God and love of others.  They do this by giving-life, being nurturing, strengthening relationships, and beautifying things around them.  What is often our strengths are often our weaknesses.   A woman’s softeness is a weakness when it comes to fighting and other things that a man is supposed to be equipped for.  Its not morally wrong for a woman to not be as strong as a man.  Nor is it really a deficiency because her weakness is what enables her to be soft and nurturing. All of this is good and part of God’s design.
But when a man refuses to live up to his duty and starts taking on feminine traits, he is rejecting God’s design for him.   Actually it is a bit of a misnomer to say a man takes on feminine traits.  Because a man cannever be a woman he cannever truly take on femininity.  But he can attempt to mimic it.  He can be soft, focused on the emotional, and ect.  But when we mimics these traits, he is distorting the feminine. He is distorting because he is trying to take on something not given to him and he is doing so not in order to love God and love others as he was created to do.  A man who is effeminate is distorting femininity for his own self interests and lusts.  It’s a mockery of femininity.  It’s a parody.  It’s a gross distortion.  The same would go for a woman who attempts to take on masculine traits.  A butch woman takes on these traits as a distortion.  She most often does it for her own self-interests and self-preservation. 
Now bringing this all back around to when the bible says that these men are becoming like women.  It is simply saying that they have become weak in such a way that unlike men who are made for war, these men are acting more like women who are not designed for war.  Its an insult for sure to the men.  No man wants to be called a woman, because he was not made a woman.  He was made a man and to be called a woman is to say that he isn’t capable of being what he has been created for.  It’s a shame to him.  On the flip side, to call a woman a man is of the same kind of insult.  To say she is manly, is to say that she has left behind her created calling and isn’t capable of doing what she was created for.  It is an insult that stings because God designed us to want to be what he made us. 
But none of this is an insult to women.   Its not an insult to a woman to say she can’t fight in a war as a soldier anymore than it would be insult to the owner of a nice porcelain coffee cup to say that they shouldn’t use that as a  hammer.  No godly woman would want to be a soldier.  

From the 11/15/2020 liturgy of Sovereign King Church written by Aaron Sabie.
The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God.  It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.  

Proverbs 24:30-34 I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,” Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man.

If you were to visit my home today and happened to glance to the left of my house and your gaze fell upon the small part of  yard between the fence and the neighbors home, what you would find is about 3 or 4k square feet of overgrowth, weeds, thorns, and the remnants of a small plot of corn surrounded by broken down wildlife netting. It's an eyesore, home to several critters, and represents the fruit which springs from applying the sentiments of the phrase
"Why do today, what you can put off till tomorrow?"

It is a literal example of what our passage of scripture is describing to us today. This text should serve as an important reminder for us men that we are commanded by God to take dominion, with our wives by our sides helping us along the way. Neglecting the dominion mandate, being sluggardly, putting off till tomorrow what you can do today, results in a land, home, workplace, and soul full of thistles and nettles. Being lazy in the field, lazy at your job, lazy in loving your wife, lazy in the discipline of your children, lazy in hospitality toward the brethren, lazy in your church attendance, lazy in prayer, and lazy in the study of God's Word, will leave you with a broken down wall, susceptible to even further ravaging by wild beasts.

I have one point of application this morning, and it is one which, if we get this wrong, all of our efforts to take dominion will be futile. Get this element of the dominion mandate all twisted, and you will find your life's work full of thistles and nettles. All you do will seem vain. Though you labor hard, the work of your hands will produce nothing but rot. Being blind in this area displays a misunderstanding of God's commands, and will leave you feeling hopeless and in want. Failing in this point will make you impotent and useless in service to your Lord.
 
Husbandry is hard work. Tilling the land, tending to the animals. It demands time from you, right now. Putting off the pulling of weeds, feeding the animals, and fence repair until tomorrow leaves your land and animals open to the encroachment of thorns and wild beasts.
Men, the role which you have been commanded to fulfill towards your wife, as her Husband, is no less difficult and demanding.

As Christ loved the Church and gave His life for her, men, you are to love your wives and lay down your life for her. Why wouldn't you? She is bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh, is she not? What man hates his own body?

Just as the man engaged in husbandry must consider his crops and animals before his own rest and comfort, so should the man with a wife consider her needs before his wants.

Husbands, your wife is your helper. As a woman she is the weaker vessel. Just as the Lord Jesus remembers your frame, that you are but dust, you must remember the frame of your wife.
Your wife's nagging, laziness, incompetence, or spiritual immaturity does not give you permission to set aside your duty to love your wife. Christ has not set aside His promises toward His lazy, incompetent Church, has He?

Your wife's stubborn unwillingness to not submit to your leadership in the home does not give you a mandate to neglect your God given duties in the home.

What are some of those duties?
To love her, and lay down your life for her as Christ gave His life for the Church. Love, by not being rude, not keeping a record of wrongs, not seeking  your own way. Love, an action which sometimes has an emotional element, that ALWAYS acts for the good of the object of that love. Love your wife, by remembering her frame, considering her needs before your wants.

One way to tangibly love your wife is to wash her with the Word. This is vital. You ever have a child come to you with a wound, perhaps they fell off their bike and scraped their knee. You don't break out a fire hose and wire brush and go to town hosing the child down and scrubbing their skin to the bone with the wire brush. You wash their wounds. Gently. Patiently, knowing that it is painful, the child is likely scared, maybe uncertain and wary that what you are doing is going to hurt.
Men, this is how we must love our wives: by applying God's Word to them. Gently, lovingly, with understanding. The way Christ does so towards His Church. You will not spiritually batter, beat, or manipulate your wife into submission to your headship and a faithful walk with Christ. There are no lessons to teach your wife by neglecting your duty towards her. If this is you: stop it.

 Our duties also include physical intimacy with our wives. In a world where brutes leave behind a landscape of battered, abused little girls who grow up to be women who hate male headship and any inkling of patriarchy: you men ought to be at the front of the line to show physical intimacy towards your wife, gently, and patiently. If not you, someone surely will.

Hold her hand. Hug her. Kiss her in public. Shower her with affection. Love her, even when she is unlovable. Don't you dare neglect your conjugal duties toward your wife. This is akin to not repairing a broken down fence. Physical intimacy of this variety is meant as a hedge of protection for both you and her against sexual immorality. To neglect this is not only foolishness of epic proportions, it is hateful. Stop it.

Men, as we can see from the passage today, the work of husbandry in the field and in the home is work which we cannot be slack in, lest our poverty and want come in like armed men. Are you tired and weary? There may be good reason. As we labor in our own strength, our own wisdom, without faith, we will quickly see how hopeless and futile that type of toiling quickly becomes. It will leave you exhausted, and feeling like a failure.

There is a better way. Have faith. Trust in Jesus. Seek to be like Him in the ways He loves His church, with faith in Him. Believe His promise, that just as the gates of hell cannot prevail against His bride, He takes equal concern of your marriage, because it is a reflection of His relationship to the Church.

If you are able, please join me in kneeling as we ask God for forgiveness of our sins.
Heavenly Father,
We come before Your throne of Grace this morning having had our hearts laid open by Your Word which is living, active, and sharper than a two edged sword.
Father, we toil in our own strength: please forgive us.
We toil with worldly wisdom rather than that which comes down from above: please forgive us.
We husbands do not love our wives, and wives do not submit to their husbands: please forgive us.
Please forgive us Father for the damage we do to our children, and the reproach we bring upon Your name, when husbands and wives neglect their duty in marriage.
Father, please help us husbands to love our wives the way Your Son loves His bride. In Jesus's Name we pray, Amen.

Please join me in standing and listen to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to his church: 
              Psalm 128:1-3 How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table.

To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lift up your hearts!

From the 10/25/2020 Liturgy of Sovereign King Church written by Aaron Sabie

The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God.  It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.  

Proverbs 24:1-9 Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power. For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory. Wisdom is too exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate. One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer. The devising of folly is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

This is the Word of the LORD.

Ask an engineer about the starting point from which the fabrication of any structure or system should begin, and they will surely tell you that before anything else, a proper foundation must be laid. Skyscrapers are erected upon a foundation of bedrock and steel reinforced concrete. Ships are built upon a sturdy keel. Electrical and plumbing systems are only as good as the wiring and piping which moves the electricity and water efficiently and safely from point A to point B. Cars must have a solid chassis. Even our own bodies, perfectly engineered by our Creator Who is a Master Craftsman, have a foundation called a backbone. Without it, we would be skin-bags filled with organs lying on the ground.

Surely you get the point. Anything we build must have a firm foundation. Sinking sand will not do. A good foundation must be able to support the weight of the structure, the demands placed upon it, and be able to weather unforseen storms which arise.

Your home is no different. No, not the physical structure in this case, but rather that group of people you gather with, in the dwelling in which you live. Mother, father, husband, wife, and children who unite together under the banner of the "Spurgeon family", or "Anglen Family", or the " Jackson Family", constitute a home with a foundation.

What is your home built upon?
Your job?
Your family history?
Your hobbies?

Since its inception, have you been laboring and toiling to build a kingdom called home in your own strength? Flying over your home, is there a banner which declares "My will be done"?

The Proverb tells us today:
By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches

There is both a physical and a spiritual element to this proverb. Physical, in the sense that faith in the Lord Jesus, coupled with hard work, proper planning, and diligence, often bears fruit in regards to establishing a household upon firm footing, with growth that occurs as God's favor is granted to the one laboring in faith.

And then there is a spiritual aspect to this. As one meditates upon God's word, hides it in their heart, their soul is established. As the believer partakes in the means of grace offered by God, for instance the preaching of God's word and the fellowship of the saints, he is strengthened and fit for service. Matthew Henry states that wisdom will " fortify a house and turn it into a castle". That is a dwelling built upon a foundation which cannot be moved.

What is your home built upon? The wisdom of God, or folly? "Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it" (Psalm 127:1).

Just as your physical home will rot, deteriorate, and get washed away if built upon a foundation of sand, so the fabric of your home will crumble if built upon anything other than the precious blood of Christ, our Spiritual Rock. Apart from Christ, the foundations of our homes are prone to being eaten by termite, destroyed by rust, or burned up by fire. But with faith in the Lord Jesus, we have a foundation upon which no calamity, no storm, no trial, and no enemy can move us from.

The wisdom which truly builds a house is found only in Jesus Christ, Who is the wisdom of God. It is wisdom which comes down from heaven:
James 3:17–18: But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The wisdom to build a home, establish it, and fill it with precious and pleasant riches is pure, peaceable, gentle. Full of mercy. Is your home a home full of mercy? Is forgiveness a practice on display in your home? Are faults overlooked, sins covered by love? Do the members in your home remember the weaknesses inherent in the frames of their loved ones and show mercy?

Or is your house one that is full of strife and contention? Is your home marked by selfishness, animosity, back biting, and a habitual failure to consider others more highly than yourselves?

 James 3:14–16:  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

A home full of jealousy and selfish ambition is a disordered, chaotic home which will be swept away by the tides of life. Void of the rock solid foundation of Christ and His love, this home will not stand. There will be no rooms filled with precious and pleasant riches. Only sorrow, emptiness, and vain, fruitless living.

What are you building your house upon?
What fills the rooms of your home?

If you are able, please kneel, and let us repent of how we have offended God in building our homes.
Heavenly Father,
We see in Scripture what love and patience Your Son shows as He builds up the body of His Church. We see the rock solid foundation upon which it is built, so that even the gates of hell cannot prevail. I pray Father that You would be merciful towards those of us who have taken to build our lives, and our homes, upon foundations other than Your Word.
Please give us wisdom Father, to recognize the faulty, weak, cracked foundations of our lives, and the resolve to tear those foundations down with gospel truths and stand firmly upon the one laid by Your Son. Father, please forgive us for having been led astray by our lusts, passions, and selfish desires, to build in vain and waste the blessings You have granted us. Please lead us once again to the Rock, help us be satisfied by Him and abide in Him. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Please join me in standing and listen to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: 

He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name. | Psalm 111:9

 To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lift up your hearts!

From the 10.18.2020 Liturgy of Sovereign King Church
Written by Aaron Sabie

The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God.  It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.  

Proverbs 23:29-35 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things And your mind will utter perverse things. And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast. “They struck me, but I did not become ill; They beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink.”

This is the Word of the LORD.
 
Drunkenness is the object of this Lord's day Proverb. Talk to anyone acquainted with the abuse of alcohol, anyone familiar with imbibing in strong drink over the course of their life, and you will hear stories of raucous behavior, fights, sexual immorality, hangovers, lost time, and strained relationships. For all the glamor that many like to portray a night of drunkenness as, rest assured, it leads to nowhere but passed out in a puddle of your own vomit stumbling around in some back alley in Tijuana. While an evening filled with throwing back a few strong drinks with your friends may appear fun and harmless, in the end, God's word reminds us that "at the last it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper."

Drunkenness is a sin. In Ephesians we are told "do not be drunk with wine, which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit". Titus warns the older women to not be addicted to much wine.
Noah stumbled into drunkenness following God's deliverance from the flood. Genesis 9:20, 21 tells us:

Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent.

Drunkenness is a sin which greases the wheels of your conscience and breaks down your guardrails of self control, leading, as the proverb tells us today, to woe, sorrow, contentions, and complaining.
 
Matthew Henry says this of drunkenness:
Drunkenness is the cause of drowsiness; it stupefies men, and makes them inattentive to business, and then all goes to wreck and ruin: thus men that have lived creditably come to be clothed with rags.
"Be not ruled by sense, but by reason and religion. Covet not that which pleases the eye, in hopes that it will please the taste; but let thy serious thoughts correct the errors of thy senses and convince thee that that which seems delightful is really hurtful, and resolve against it accordingly. Let not the heart walk after the eye, for it is a deceitful guide. Be not too bold with the charms of this or any other sin; look not, lest thou lust, lest thou take the forbidden fruit. Note Those that would be kept from any sin must keep themselves from all the occasions and beginnings of it, and be afraid of coming within the reach of its allurements, lest they be overcome by them.

Drunkenness is a sin in which those prone to it must guard themselves, avoiding the "occasions and beginnings of it". It is a sin which has a visual, alluring aspect to it, as we see from the language in the proverb: "Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup." Drunkenness is a result of allowing the fruit of the vine master you. Wine is a good thing which God has blessed us with, but being led by your appetite for wine rather than the Holy Spirit is a sin we must repent of and avoid.

The principal of recognizing that which causes you to stumble, and avoiding it, is not limited to drunkenness. One which many stumble into that we would be wise to avoid is the sin of lust. A man prone to lust, embellishing in pornography on his phone or laptop, would be wise to enlist assistance in setting up guardrails and boundaries which help in guarding his eyes. Whether it be special software, or throwing the computer in the trash, men and women prone to lust ought to avoid all occasions for it. I have heard brothers in Christ who war against lust say that there are days in which all they can do is keep their eyes averted downward for fear of stumbling into it. Brothers and sisters, if lust, whether it be for strong drink or sexual immorality, is something that has its claws in you: do not go it alone. Enlist the help of some faithful brothers and sisters to help you in this fight. In the multitude of counsellors there is victory. Do not attempt to be a lone ranger Christian tackling the problem of lust all by yourself.

An an aside:  just as the red wine sparkling in the cup is an allurement for those prone to drunkenness, young ladies, do not be as the sparkling wine. Do not let your adornment be merely external- braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit which is precious in the sight of God.

At this time, if you are able, please join me in kneeling as we confess our sins to God who is Holy, Holy, Holy.

HOLY LORD,
We have sinned times without number,
    and been guilty of pride and unbelief,
  of failure to find thy mind in thy Word,
  of neglect to seek thee in our daily lives.
Our transgressions and short-comings
  present us with a list of accusations,
But we bless thee that they will not stand against us,
  for all have been laid on Christ;
Go on to subdue our corruptions,
  and grant us grace to live above them.
Let not the passions of the flesh nor lustings
  of the mind bring our spirits into subjection,
  but do thou rule over us in liberty and power.
We thank thee that many of our prayers
    have been refused --
  We have asked amiss and do not have,
  We have prayed from lusts and been rejected,
  We have longed for Egypt and been given a  wilderness.
Go on with thy patient work,
  answering ‘no’ to our wrongful prayers,
  and fitting us to accept it.
Purge us from every false desire,
  every base aspiration,
  everything contrary to thy rule.
We thank thee for thy wisdom and thy love,
  for all the acts of discipline to which we are subject,
  for sometimes putting us into the furnace
    to refine our gold and remove our dross.
No trial is so hard to bear as a sense of sin.
If thou shouldst give us choice to live
  in pleasure and keep our sins,
  or to have them burnt away with trial,
  give us sanctified affliction.
Deliver us from every evil habit,
  every accretion of former sins,
  everything that dims the brightness
    of thy grace in us,
  everything that prevents us taking delight
    in thee.
Then we shall bless thee, God of Jeshurun,
  for helping us to be upright.
In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen

Prayer adopted from The Valley of Vision prayer titled "Continual repentance".

Please join me in standing and listen to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. | Titus 2:11-14

To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lift up your hearts!

From the 10-4-2020 liturgy of Sovereign King Church
The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God.  It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.  

Proverbs 23:12-21 Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge. Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. You shall strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol. My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart also will be glad; And my inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak what is right. Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the Lord always. Surely there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way. Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.


A 2014 Pew Research Survey revealed that 70.6% of Americans identified as Christian. According to the same source, that shakes out to approximately 205,000,000 Christians in the United States.
In a land of 205,000,000 self professed Christians, we see abortion on demand, sodomite marriage, the deification of sports figures and entertainers, a political landscape rife with lies, hypocrisy, and corruption, and rampant sexual immorality from immodestly dressed women to the normalization of pedophilia. Cohabitation has become a common arrangement even among professing Christians, with traditional marriage being maligned as an institution of privilege.

These things have been highlighted so that this point may be made:
it is not enough to proclaim with your mouth that you are a Christian,
it is not enough that you read your bible daily,
attend Church every Lord's Day,
take the Lord's supper,
and physically do "churchy" things which would satisfy the inspecting eye of outsiders or even unsuspecting elders.

Dear Christian the word today tells us we must:
Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge.

The word apply as used here means to "come to" or "enter into". One way to think of it would be if your wife asked you to fix a broken faucet and the tool required was a wrench, so you grab the wrench and go stand next to the sink. Your wife walks by and sees you standing there holding the wrench and asks "Are you going to fix the sink?", and you respond "I am, can't you see I am holding the wrench?" Simply having access to the tool, having it in your hand, and even the opportunity to use it, does not fix the sink. To fix it, you must apply your knowledge of how to fix sinks, and the wrench in your hand, to the problem.

It is the same with the Word of God. You can have all the book knowledge that comes from a Christian upbringing,
You can cry "Lord, Lord!",
You can attend Church every Sunday,
Listen to all the latest podcasts and
read Calvin's Institutes twice a year until you are the foremost authority on all things reformed,
but unless you apply it to the path which God has placed before you, it is for nothing.

Your religion is merely window dressing, a show, and worthless.

James tells us that we ought not be simply hearers of the Word, but also doers.
You see brothers and sisters, it is not enough to immerse yourself into the life of the Church, all the teaching, activities, and motion that takes place. It is not enough to merely play the part, hoping for some kind of osmosis to take place in which you are conformed to Christ's image merely by saying and doing the "right" things, and looking the part.

No dear saints, we must apprehend the Word of God. We must lay hold of it, and along with our laying hold of it, apply it to every area of our lives.

Isn't that what we say here? "God's Word is eternally true and applicable for all of life?"

On the day of judgement if you prove to have been a faker, a fraud, a faux Christian, having worshipped God with your lips in rote manner, while your heart was far from Him, this phrase you hear uttered week after week "eternally true and applicable for all of life", will ring in your ears as judgement against you. If on the day of judgement it is revealed that the whole of your religion consisted merely of holding the tools given to you without any application, you will find yourself like the unfaithful servant in Matthew 25:
 
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.  To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.  Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.  In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.  But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.   “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them.  The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’   “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’   “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.  And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’   “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.  Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.  Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’   “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.  Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:14-30 NASB
He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Word of the Lord says to Sovereign King Church.

At this time if you are able, please join me in kneeling as we confess our sins to Almighty God.
HEAVENLY FATHER,
Thou hast placed me in the church
      which thy Son purchased by his own blood.
Add grace to grace that I may live worthy of my vocation. I am a voyager across life’s ocean;
Safe in heaven’s ark, may I pass through
    a troubled world
  into the harbour of eternal rest. I am a tree of the vineyard thou hast planted.
Grant me not to be barren, with worthless
    leaves and wild grapes;
Prune me of useless branches;
Water me with dews of blessing.
I am part of the Lamb’s bride, the church.
Help me to be true, faithful, chaste, loving,
    pure, devoted;
Let no strong affection wantonly dally
    with the world.
May I live high above a love of things temporal,
  sanctified, cleansed, unblemished, hallowed
    by grace,
  thy love my fullness,
  thy glory my joy,
  thy precepts my pathway,
  thy cross my resting place.
My heart is not always a flame of adoring love,
But, resting in thy Son’s redemption,
I look forward to the days of heaven,
  where no langour shall oppress,
    no iniquities chill,
    no mists of unbelief dim the eye,
    no zeal ever tires.
Father, these thoughts are the stay, prop, and comfort of my soul.
From The Valley of Vision titled "Vocation".
Father, please forgive us of our sins against You, for our failure to apply Your Holy Word to every area of our lives. Please help us to trust anew in Your Son Jesus, and to lay hold of His wisdom. In Jesus Name we pray, amen.
 
Listen now to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: 

Romans 6:15-18 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lift up your hearts!

Sunday September 13, 2020 liturgy written by Aaron Sabie

The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God.  It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.  

Proverbs 22:11-21 He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend. The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man. The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!” The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?

"It was as though some huge force were pressing down upon you—something that penetrated inside your skull, battering against your brain, frightening you out of your beliefs, persuading you, almost, to deny the evidence of your senses. In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. It was inevitable that they should make that claim sooner or later: the logic of their position demanded it. Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality, was tacitly denied by their philosophy. The heresy of heresies was common sense." Excerpt from George Orwell's book 1984.

Whether it is the lie that BLM is good for black people, the normalization of pedophilia through drag queen story hour and TV shows like Cuties coupled with the loosening of child predator laws in California, we are witnessing astonishing things take place with our eyes as we browse the web and consume the media propaganda. All of these ungodly practices and decrees  have very real ramifications in the physical world that we must fight against, but in reality the true battle is in our minds.

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips

Widespread suppression of the truth is en vogue now, and if you are not a careful, discerning Christian, you will quickly be swept away. Scripture warns of the dangers of endless speculations, ears which like being tickled. What we allow our minds to be engaged with is of vital importance to the Christian.

Allow no worthless thing to come before your eyes.
Set your mind on the things above.
Meditate on good things.
Look to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith.

The proverb today tells us that we are to apply the knowledge of God to our minds. This means to lay your hands on, to lay hold of, the knowledge of God, through the diligent study of His word.
We hide God's Word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him. Amen?

God's Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path during these very dark times in which we live. It can be tempting to repay evil for evil as we see violence unfold in the streets. It can be tempting to rebel against authority as our godless magistrates crack down on constitutional liberties while getting their hair shampooed. While all sexual restraint is cast aside, from fornication to pedophilia, with baby murder at the end of the road, you may be tempted to join in. It was just one glance. I visited that website just one time. My wife, or husband, mom or dad, or my Pastor will never know.

Maybe you are tempted to bitterness over the loss of a loved one, health issues, or injustice in your life. Perhaps you are tempted to be afraid. Past sins have left deep scars and the truth of God's Word highlights them painfully. Don't be like Adam and Eve in the garden, fleeing in shame, seeking to hide yourself from Almighty God. As we keep God's Word within us, the Proverb tells us it will be pleasant for us. Despite what our lying eyes tell us, we can have hope, joy, and peace in the midst of the chaos and ruin sin has brought to our lives, and we see unfolding before us in 2020.

Apply the knowledge of God to your mind, things like:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with me.
Your Savior, King Jesus, is making all His enemies, your enemies, a footstool.
All these things are working together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes.

Jesus says come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Are you weary this morning? Tired of running from your past? Emotionally exhausted from your war with God? Put down your sword and pick up His, the sword of the Spirit, His word. Are you heavy laden? Does sin have you weighed down like a heavy pack on your shoulders? Come to the One Who carried the cross on His shoulders for your sin, and be set free.

In looking to Christ, in applying your mind to His knowledge, God will see fit to equip you to be His ambassador, proclaiming the life giving words of God to other weary travelers and the sin burdened lost. Apply God's Word to your mind and you will have a sure, steady anchor for your soul, and be a beacon of hope for others in times of trouble.

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips
 
Please kneel as we confess our sins to our Heavenly Father.
"Grace active", Valley of Vision.
Lord Jesus, Great High Priest, You have opened a new and living way by which a fallen creature can approach you with acceptance. Help me to contemplate the dignity of your Person, the perfectness of your sacrifice, the effectiveness of your intercession. O what blessedness accompanies devotion, when under all the trials that weary me, the cares that corrode me, the fears that disturb me, the infirmities that oppress me, I can come to you in my need and feel peace beyond understanding! The grace that restores is necessary to preserve, lead, guard, supply, help me. And here your saints encourage my hope; they were once poor and are now rich, bound and are now free, tried and now are victorious.

Every new duty calls for more grace than I now possess, but not more than is found in you, the divine Treasury in whom all fullness dwells. To you I repair for grace upon grace, until every void made by sin be replenished and I am filled with all your fullness. May my desires be enlarged and my hopes be emboldened, that I may honor you by my entire dependency and the greatness of my expectation. Be with me, and prepare me for all the smiles of prosperity, the frowns of adversity, the losses of substance, the death of friends, the days of darkness, the changes of life, and the last great change of all.

May I find your grace sufficient for all my needs. Father, please forgive us when we turn from your Son, trusting instead in the perishable things of this world. Please forgive us for delighting in man's wisdom, rather than in Your Word which is sweeter than honey. Please forgive us for doubts, fears, and anxiety which spring from unbelief, and help us with our unbelief. Father please heal the wounds which sin has wrought on our hearts, minds, and bodies, and enable us to walk in newness of life. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
 
Please stand and listen to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: 

One will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. -Romans 5:7-9

To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lift up your hearts!

The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God.  It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.  

Proverbs 22:1-10 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have a common bond, The Lord is the maker of them all. The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it. The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish. He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor. Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease.
 
 
John Gill said:
"A wise man, whose eyes are in his head, who looks about him and before him, and is cautious and careful of his conduct and behaviour; he foresees the evil of sin he is liable to be drawn into by such and such company, snares, and temptations; and therefore he keeps from them, and abstains from all appearance of evil, or what would lead him to it; and he foresees the evil of punishment, or the judgments of God that are coming on for sin; and he betakes himself to the Lord, to those hiding places and chambers of retreat and protection he has provided for his people, till the indignation be overpast; but the simple pass on, and are punished: foolish persons, devoid of the grace of God and the fear of him, go on careless and unconcerned in their sinful course of life, transgressing the law of God; they proceed from evil to evil, from lesser to greater sins; they go on in the broad road to destruction, and are punished with temporal judgments here, and with everlasting destruction hereafter."

He spoke these words in relationship to Proverbs 22:3 which states:
The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.
When it comes to temptations, snares, or the company we keep, all of which can lure us onto the broad path of destruction, it is a wise man, woman, boy, and girl who recognizes the danger and seeks shelter. It is not brave to frequent a website, entertain a conversation, or meditate upon a certain subject, knowing that each and every time you have done so, sin was there lurking for you, waiting in ambush. Jesus said that if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out.

Attempting to flirt with sin, wanting to see how close you can come without getting burned, reveals a rebellious heart. Knowing that God has eyes which are so pure that He will not even look upon sin, we foolishly believe we can toe the line between obedience and warfare with God. Like good little Pharisees we outwardly conform to the letter of the law, while inside we are full of death.

Jesus said that if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off. A prudent, wise person, one filled with the Holy Spirit, is one that recognizes the pitfalls where they are prone to stumble, and avoids them at all cost. In another Proverb it is said in relationship to an adulterous woman, that young men ought not even go past the door of her house.

But mere avoidance of temptations is not enough. Temptations will come, whether they be temptations to murder, or covet, steal, or commit adultery. Think about the last six months, with the mask mandates and civil unrest. How many of you have been tempted to sin in response to these things? How many of us have sinned, by rebelling against authority, grumbling, trembling in fear, doubting whether God is really working all things for our good?
 
When tempted, our response cannot be to simply try harder next time, or put ourselves into some pharisaical box. When temptations come, the plucking out of eyes and cutting off of hands is an element of the equation, but as we turn from the temptations, and turn from the sins, we must turn to Jesus.

Jesus, my brothers and sisters, is where we hide ourselves from evil.
He is our:
Refuge,
Strong tower,
Mighty fortress,
Shelter from the storm,
Our peace.

We are not saved by works, by attempts to appease and conform like Pharisees. We are not saved by our best efforts, or by trying harder. We are not saved by wrapping ourselves up in a veneer of holiness and self righteousness. Rather, we are saved from sin, rescued from temptations, and spared the wrath of God Almighty through the perfect sacrifice of God's Son Jesus Christ.

We are saved from temptation, sin, and the wrath of God when we flee to Christ as Noah and his family ran into the ark for shelter from the coming floods.
 
He alone is our refuge.
He alone is mighty to save.

A person born of the Spirit of God will recognize Christ as their only hope in life and death. They will be satisfied with a drink from the eternal fountain, their appetite  satiated by eating the bread of life. But to the natural man, the one led along by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the prude of life, things like warring against sin, trusting in Jesus, and His death, burial, and resurrection, are foolish. The natural man sees no harm in pursuing his base appetites. The natural man foolishly believes that he is a good person, and his righteousness will carry him on the day of judgement.

This is true. An unbelieving fool will be carried by his self righteous rags on the day of judgement: right to hell, that place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

If you are able, join me in kneeling as we confess our sins to God Almighty.
Heavenly Father,
We come before Your throne this morning burdened by sin, plagued by temptations, and in desperate need of rescue.
Time and again temptations to sin come upon us, and rather than turning to You for shelter, we make war in our own strength, and sometimes not at all, and we succumb.
Father, we are weak and need mercy like the tax collector who cried "please be merciful towards me the sinner!", yet far too often find ourselves like the Pharisee holding up our own righteousness as if that can save us.
Father please forgive us for our impenitent hearts. Please forgive us for flirting with sin and temptations rather than setting our minds upon Your Son. Please forgive us for our pride, believing that we can harbor sin in our bosom, forgetting that You see even into the dark places of our hearts.
Help us Father to turn our eyes upon Jesus, and look full into His wonderful face.
In Jesus Name we pray, amen.
 

Please stand and listen to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: 

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lift up your hearts!

(From the 09/06/2020 liturgy of Sovereign King Church written by Aaron Sabie.)