The Book of Proverbs

“Every one, though born of God in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees.” – John Wesley. Amen! I pray this statement encourages Christians among us who feel they’ve taken one step forward in God and three steps back. We can all feel that way; the devil will make sure of it! It won’t feel like it’s the devil though, it’ll feel like it’s God telling us. That’s why it’s crucially important for us to know the mind of God versus the mind of the devil, no matter where we are on God’s spiritual pathway. If you’re on the pathway, God is on it walking with you, don’t doubt it for a moment.

Follow Me, Jesus said, Matthew 4:19. So as long as you’re not out in front running ahead, you’re in the exact place He wants you to be. But so is the devil on that pathway; he’s walking one step behind you whispering lies and condemnations in your ear, “One would have thought by now you would be a lot further on in God than this. Are you sure your repentance was genuine? Look at your sins! The Bible says, He who sins is of the devil. You tell people you’re born again, but is that right? It sounds to me as though that’s rather presumptuous. The Bible says, Whoever is born of God does not sin. But look at you!” Whether these be words or thoughts, such never comes from the mind of God. But unless you know His mind, you’ll believe otherwise.

To know the mind of the devil, it is imperative we know he has no respect for the word of God. Even before it was written down he misquoted, misused and abused it. Sadly, the 3rd Chapter of Genesis shows us the first man and woman showed no respect for it either! Had they done so, the devil’s day may have been over at that point. Had Adam and Eve quoted the word of God in its correct context back to the devil, as did Jesus, he would have backed off. Satan was no match for Jesus; the moment he tried on his silly games with the Lord, he got shut down smartly Matthew 4:1-11. Satan fears those who know the Scriptures and live them. It’s not the amount of Scripture we know that defeats him, it is knowing the authority we have in what we know that does the job.

So if one only knows a little of the Scriptures, how could he or she shut the devil down when accused of sinning, such as the example given in the second paragraph here? Read what else the Scripture has to say. The first accusation is from 1 John 3:8, which goes on to tell us, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. It makes a difference when you know exactly what it is God has said and what He has already done – He has destroyed Satan’s works! Don’t argue with Satan; don’t agree with him. Simply quote back to him word for word like Jesus did. It’s the word of God that’s living and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword, not the word of Satan Hebrews 4:12.

The second accusation is from 1 John 3:9, which goes on to say the one born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. Instances of sin, there will be, but a lifestyle of sin, there will be not! A work of the flesh, yes; a work of the Holy Spirit, no! The moment we become born of God we receive a new heart, exactly like the new heart God promises His people, Israel, at the time of their future renewal. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them Ezekiel 36:26-27. If you’re born of God, that’s now your reality.

Speaking of the word of God being living and powerful, a most effective way of way of ensuring victory over the devil and all his liars is to make yourself thoroughly familiar with the Book of Proverbs. An introductory note in my Bible speaks of them as, “one of the most practical, positive, life-guiding sources ever written……….sensitively presented as if from a grandfather giving advice to his grandchildren. Rich in God’s wisdom, they act as signs on a road, giving us a glimpse of what is around the next bend. They aim to keep us from detouring our faith in God. If you live by these words of faith, you will come to the end of your life with love around you, peace within you, and hope before you.” Amen! Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom…….. Proverbs 4:7.  

Avoid mixing God’s Proverbs with those written by philosophers however, no matter how ancient they might be. Why? They are not living and powerful. They may contain lots of truth but they don’t contain any power or authority of God. You start quoting those to the devil and he’ll laugh at you. Quote God’s Proverbs to him and he’ll run from you; that’s the grand difference. Ground yourself in these and God considers you to be a wise person. There are plenty of knowledgeable people around but there are not many wise people. As one Christian to another, I encourage you, never be impressed by a person’s knowledge; be impressed only by his or her wisdom. Knowledgeable people are a dime a dozen, wise people are a rare and precious jewel.

Take two church leaders for example: Both Seminary educated, highly certificated with a string of letters after their name. Both possess a ton of biblical knowledge, both write best-selling Christian books, but only one stays faithful to God’s intended meaning of the Scriptures while the other one turns them and twists them to make them fit what he wants them to say. The end result of it being, you’re in a conversation one day with some advocates of the faithful leader’s book and you know you’re being drawn closer to God while in their presence. Sometime later you’re in conversation with some advocates of the turner and twister’s book and you look for ways to make a quick exit. Why is that? You know you’re not among wise people, only knowledgeable people.

But when it’s the wrong kind of knowledge they’re in possession of and they stick with it come hell or high water, then they’re a push-over for the devil. They truly have taken three steps back and will take another three steps back tomorrow! Knowledge of that kind is in actual fact not knowledge at all, it’s foolishness. A Proverb of God speaks to that: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction Proverbs 1:7. Quote: “By ‘the fear of the Lord‘ is not meant a servile fear, a fear of punishment, of hell, wrath, and damnation, which is the effect of the first work of the law upon the conscience; but a filial fear, and supposes knowledge of God as a father, of His love and grace in Christ, particularly of His forgiving love….. ” – John Gill.

Fear of the LORD – not only is it the key to victory over the devil, it’s the key to true wisdom and understanding. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding Proverbs 9:10. Nobody is wise until they learn to fear God. Forget about the sages of old; if they had no fear of God they’re in hell today, so how wise is that? As for true understanding, it comes to us from none other than the Trinity of God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. “Life is one big mystery,” some people love to believe. But tell them the mystery is unlocked when one makes the decision to humble themselves and turn to God in Christ and sadly most of them will want to change the subject.

How’s this for God-given encouragement: In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence….. Proverbs 14:26. Satan the devil has no strong confidence; neither do his people in spite of all their blustering, boasting and showing off. They’re full of the fear of man – snared by them Proverbs 29:25. Bowing to Marxist political correctness and becoming a slave to it gives proof to that. Christians who fear God fear no man. For the one who’s experiencing otherwise presently, God will remove it when the pressure is really on, guaranteed. Here’s a Proverb to prove it: The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe Proverbs 18:10. Not so, the unrighteous. They run away at the mere mention of the name, Jesus!

Now in making yourself thoroughly familiar with the Book of Proverbs, I’m not at all suggesting the other Bible books be treated lessor so; God forbid! But I do know there are multitudes of Christians who read the New Testament and the Psalms but they don’t go near that book. My practice is to read a chapter of Proverbs daily. They’re a glorious blessing to me and that’s what I want for you. For those finding it difficult to remember Scriptures without a Bible nearby, I suggest writing out a few Proverbs and carry them with you. The devil comes at you in one form or another, how easy it is to grab one like those mentioned here and quote it back to him – or them. At the very least, speak it into yourself; God will do the rest. Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him Proverbs 30:5.