February 17, 2008

PROVERBS 4 - The Right Road vs the Wrong Road

1. Right Road - vs11,18 - the path of wisdom and life

2. The Wrong Road - v14 - the path of death and ruin

THE WRONG PATH - vs14-19 and 24-27

1. THE REASON FOR THE WRONG PATH - v19

a.) the unbeliever - the sin nature rules the unbeliever and therefore they walk in darkness when it comes to spiritual things

     1. the problem in our society is sin and not people

     2. we must fight the problem and not the symptoms

     3. the problem of sin can be cured - v17

-through the bread and the wine which is salvation through Jesus Christ

b.) the believer - being saved, yet walking in the flesh causes a believer to look like they are not saved

     1. the problem for the believer is the flesh

-it will always be with us even after salvation

-it is always against God

-when yuo walk in the flesh you lose your interest or desire for spiritual things

     2. the flesh can be defeated - Galatians 5:16

-every day/consistently/until you get to heaven

-walking in the flesh transforms your hunger

-God changes not just what we do, but what we want to do - Phil 2:13

     3. the problem of the believer can be fixed

-the bread and the wine - 1 John 1:9

2.) THE WRONG ROAD LACKS SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY - v14

James 4:7 - "Therefore, submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

submit - means to come under/surrender/bow your knee/bend the neck

-do not be stubborn................

3.) AVOID THE WRONG ROAD - vs14-15

How?

a.) by knowing what is wrong or evil - from the word of God - Colossians 3:5-9

b.) by saying NO

once we know what is evil, we can say no to it

-no matter what the price...........or cost

c. by being careful who we hang out with

-do not partner with just anyone - Prov 25:19-20

-it will ruin your life

4.) THE WRONG ROAD INCLUDES - vs24-27

-the mouth, eyes and feet

v24 - the mouth - put far away from our mouths anything that is opposite of being good and godly

v25 - eyes - only stare and gaze at Jesus Christ

Gen 3:6 & 2 Samuel 11:2-3

v27 - feet -

-have a planned walk - through structure and schedule

-have a perfect walk - do not turn to the left or the right

5.) THE RESULT OF TRAVELLING DOWN THE WRONG ROAD - vs18-19

-darkness

-the wrong road leads to a specific destination

-everyone lives forever some place or some where - there is life after death

-have a protected walk - there are some places we can never go