PP0242 DATE
LIVING RIGHT SIDE UP IN AN UPSIDE SOCIETY!
Proverbs 3:1-10.
INTRODUCTION: What is a Christian supposed to do? We live in a society that is upside down.
Years ago I rode a ride at the State Fair that turned the riders upside down several times during the duration of the ride. When the ride was finished I had trouble focusing and getting my balance straightened out again. It was hard to determine which way to walk.
I think that is what is or has happened in this society we live in. Everything has been turned upside down. It has been turned upside down morally, ethically, and physically. Nothing is biblically right side up. It is hard to live right side up in an upside down society. But you can live right side up if you want to.
Society has no vision of how God looks at the system that we live in. Society sees everything totally different than God expects us to look at it.
Society says it is proper to kill unborn babies just because the parents do not want the responsibility of raising them.
Society thinks it is proper to condemn, restrict, and ever eliminate a Bible believing and teaching church.
It is accepted by our society for a child to make their own decision as though they were adults. They can choose what is beneficial to them physically, morally, and emotionally. They can even choose a life style that is completely opposed to the family belief system.
It is society proper to allow a perpetrator to have freedom to continue doing his/her crimes and/or any misdemeanor chosen. In most situations it is depriving of personal rights to restrain an individual from doing their own desire regardless if it is infringing on others rights or not.
Society says any and all sin should be looked at as a choice, while restraining the only freedom to truthfully preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Society says that right may not always be right to everyone and the individual can decide for himself what is right and wrong for him.
It is accepted by society that government officials can engage themselves in any conduct and not have to answer to the public for such.
It is accepted by society that religions can be determined by society whether such is legitimate.
When we look at anything from our own surroundings or own ability we will have a distorted view, and it won’t appear like it does to God. When God is given the total freedom to perform His promises and His will in our lives then everything is right side up. Remember society will view it as being upside down.
(Prov 3:5) "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
(Prov 3:6) "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
(Prov 3:7) "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."
(Prov 3:8) "It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."
(Prov 3:9) "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:"
(Prov 3:10) "So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."
This portion of Scripture tells us that there is a way in which every child of God can live successful and acceptable to God even though the surroundings may not be conceivably acceptable.
Notice again Vs. 10: "So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." Is Vs. 10 applicable for 2002? Of course it is. Full barns and full wine presses. Plenteous. More than enough. How many of you would consider that to be living “Right Side Up?” I sure would.
Even if the whole society is upside down we, the children of God, can still live right side up.
I want to give you four areas of life in which you must make this work for you.
I. TRUST GOD BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE
(Prov 3:5) "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
Several have mentioned the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary this week. The English word “Trust” in the “Hebrew” means - “Be confident or sure:--be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless, confidence, hope, trust.
A very interesting word in this definition. “Careless” – How would that apply in trusting? Christians who put total trust in the Lord will appear to others to be careless in practice and thinking. An unbelieving person would think it very careless for a Christian, to place total trust in the Lord for all our needs, with no regard to whether or not God would do what He promised. It would appear to be “careless” not to make a back up provision in the event God didn’t come through. To an unbeliever it will look careless. To a dedicated believer it is just “trusting the Lord”. When you announce to a godless society that you are going to live totally by faith and they will call you “careless”. If Christians really place their faith and trust in God in the Bible manner, everyone else will think we are “careless”.
Our assurance must be in God and God alone. When we say God plus man then we limit God. God may and probably will use man to bring about His desires for us, but man is only a delivery instrument and not the source of supply.
Doctors that do medical treatment are not performing some magical or healing procedure, but rather they are the conduit that God uses to bring about the purpose.
One thousand people die every day from smoking related cancer. That is nearly 400,000 people a year. On the second day after his surgery, Grover had to have 24 shock treatments on his heart to keep him alive. Today he is doing well. The medical staff at VA Hospital didn’t do any miraculous feat, rather they were the instrument God used to bring Grover back to health.
What are we talking about? Trusting God before anything else.
“Trust” has two applications here:
A. Faith. Trusting in God will require faith in God.
1. With all thine heart. That removes your own capability from the matter. Nothing you can do will make it any better, or any more sure. It must all come from God. Trust means that you are going to leave the whole matter in God’s hands. Whatever the outcome is, you will accept as God doing His own will.
This means to trust God more than you would your retirement plan.
More than you do your employer.
More than your own ability.
Do you want full barns and full wine presses? Trust in God.
2. Lean not on thine own understanding. If we are leaning on self then we are not trusting in God with all our heart. Here is the catch to this:
You must accept the truth that everything about your understanding will get you into deep trouble. Just ask the person who leaned on his own understanding.
“Lean” means – To support one’s self. To rely or rest upon.
We are not to rely on, or support ourselves with our own understanding. Our understanding is carnal and influenced by the world.
We said that the word “Trust” has to applications: The first was “Faith”. The second is:
B. Confidence.
Trusting God will require confidence. This is very important.
1. Confident that God can produce what He promises. (1 John 5:14) "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:"
2. Confident that God will give the asked need. (1 John 5:15) "And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."
Without confidence you won’t trust Him.
Let me give you a very “worldly example”.
The 2001 Orange Bowl – Okla University and Fla. State University. FSU was expected to murder and totally dominate the University of Okla. FSU was a two touchdown favorite. Some had them picked by as much as four touchdowns.
I watched that game setting on the edge of my chair. I was bitting my fingernails. My hands were sweaty. (I told you this was a worldly example) I was nervous and nearly sick at my stomach. I was sick all over. (I know that is sin – but no one is perfect) Every time OU would make a great play I would jump and holler. Most of you will remember that OU did win.
I recorded that game and since then I have watched the playback probably six times. When I watch it now I kick back in my recliner, pop some popcorn and watch it without any fingernail biting. No nervous stomach. No wringing of my hands. My hands aren’t sweaty. Why the change in my demeanor? You see, now I know the outcome. I am confident that OU will win that game each time I watch it. Before the game I wasn’t confident. After I experienced I am now confident.
That’s where the Lord wants you and I to be in our confidence. He wants our “trust” in Him to be so “confident” so that we don’t get sweaty hands, nor nervous stomach while waiting on Him to meet our needs. By faith and trust we can know the outcome of everything we are faced with. We can be confident that He will do the right thing for us in each situation.
When one trusts in the Lord with all thine heart, that will remove all expectation of what man can do alone and without God.
I wonder if there is anyone here today that hasn’t taken your hands off your life? If so, you must take them off and let God have full control. You will never get to where you need to be spiritually and financially until you do.
What are we talking about? “Living Right Side Up – In An Upside Down World”. For six thousand years man has tried to do right without God and has done nothing but wax worse and worse. So there must be another way. That way is to trust in the Lord with all thine heart.
(Prov 14:12) "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
II. COMMIT TO THE LORD IN ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE
(Prov 3:6) "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
“….in all thy ways….” “Ways” mean: A course of life or mode of action, conversation, custom, manner.
In every way acknowledge Him as the One who will supply and protect you. You must acknowledge Him as your only source of trust and or supply.
It is my conclusion that most every decision made by most Christians is made with some kind of reservation, and some area of designation. The reason is that when God begins to demand more than they want to pay they can back up and recant. “Lord I didn’t intend to go that far”. If only we knew what we missed when we do that.
Most have probably heard this story – but it helps to clarify my point.
It reminds me of an old beggar who was invited to the house of the richest man in town for dinner. The butler took him upstairs to the bathroom. After bathing he was given a suit of dinner clothes. He looked and felt like a million dollars. The only negative was he kept his old clothes in a brown paper bag. When it came time to go to the dinner table he took the clothes with him and placed them on his lap. The serving of the meal began. The meat was passed by and as he reached to get the platter of meat, his sack of old clothes fell off his lap. In reaching to pick up the sack the meat platter was passed on by him. Then came the potatoes. The same thing happened. Then the vegetables, and the same thing again, he dropped his old clothes. When the last serving of food was passed by and he again reached down and picked up his dirty clothes he again missed it. There he sat with nothing but his worthless and dirty clothes.
Many Christians are just like that beggar. They hold on to their old possessions that are worthless and pass up all that God has to offer them.
OH! WHAT WE MISS WHEN WE HANG ON TO THE OLD THINGS OF THIS LIFE.
A. Acknowledging Him In All Our Ways.
The Meaning Of “Ways”.
1. A Course Of Life Or Mode Of Action. Do you acknowledge and commit to the Lord your every course of life or mode of action? Is God in control of everything? Perhaps some of you listening to me right now your very next step in this matter of serving God is to commit to Him your course of life or mode of action. You may have nearly done this in the past, yet held on to just one little string of life that you wanted to control. You will never experience living right side up in this upside down world.
2. Conversation. Noah Webster’s definition of conversation is: “General course of manners; behavior; deportment; especially as it respects morals.”
Remember what we are talking about. Committing all our “ways” unto the Lord. Conversation is one of those “ways”.
Have you committed your behavior and your general course of manners to the Lord. That is one of the meanings of the word “ways”.
3. Customs.
“Frequent or common use, or practice; a frequent repetition o the same act; hence, way; established manner; habitual practice.”
Most customs today is that of self controlling of our life. Not many Baptists have handed the reigns over to God for total control. Until you do that things will go on like they are and even get worse. Is that what you are wanting for?
4. Manner.
Form; method; way of performing or executing.
B. And He Shall Direct Thy Paths.
Listen to this amazing Scripture: TURN TO: (Isa 30:21 KJV) "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." Think about that: a voice whispering in your ear instructing you where to take every step in life. Take this road, Ivan. Make this decision. Buy this item. Spend your money for this. How blessed and sweet that would be.
Oh! His direction will lead you to happiness and success. Your direction will lead you farther in what you now have. Which do you want?
Committing comes before direction of our paths.
III. DON’T OVER ESTIMATE YOUR OWN ABILITY
(Prov 3:7) "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."
The sooner each of us realize that we are not capable of making our own decisions the better off we will be. When I make my own decisions and insist on my own way I always end up upside down – confused and often defeated.
In 1986 I was faced with making a change in the ministry I was in, and I wanted to go into full time evangelism. I insisted with the Lord that this was the way He wanted me to go. Even though the Lord was not leading me into such, I kept on moving toward that which I wanted to go. I tried to force the Lord to bless that which I wanted to do. (Someone has already said this week that if we are in God’s will we won’t have to ask Him to bless it. He will bless it without our asking. After two plus years of going my own way and going into debt several thousand dollars, I turned to the Lord and acknowledged that I was not capable of making my own decisions. He led me out of my error. It was an easy exit. It took several years to get out of debt. I learned during those days that it is disaster to over estimate my own ability.
Your flesh will make the wrong turns in life. You will go with the easiest course of life and the most attractive. Those ways may not be the best. If you will allow God to choose for you – how much happier you will be.
IV. BE A GOOD STEWARD WITH ALL THAT YOU HAVE
This may be the number one stopper of all Christian success. That of failing to be a good steward with all substance.
(Prov 3:9 KJV) "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:"
Did you know that if you brake this requirement you remove all of God’s obligation to provide for you? I’m glad that I got into the tithing habit early. My wife and I have been married, soon to be, forty one years, and there has not been one pay check that we have not tithed. I don’t mean that to be bragging. I’m just saying that much of what God has done for us is in direct proportion to our faithfulness in tithing.
I could stand here for hours telling you of the goodness of the Lord. My wife and I live in a home that we did not pay for. It was given to us. For the last 12 years I have driven automobiles that were given to me. I have not had a car payment in years. The insurance is furnished. All expenses are provided. About every three years I get another new car with the same arrangement. (I say this to brag on the Lord and to testify of His goodness.)
Had we not have been faithful in tithing I am convinced that I could not give testimony of the Lord’s goodness toward us.
While we were in Bible School our refridgerator stopped working.
Are you a good steward? Are you honoring Him with all your substance? Do you regularly and faithfully give the firstfruits of all your increase? If not then you may just as well prepare to continue on upside down. It won’t get better, rather worse.
V. ENJOYING THE RIGHT SIDE UP LIFE
(Prov 3:10 KJV) So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
I had surely rather wake up tomorrow knowing my barns are full, and the wine presses are filled with plenty.
This is the life God wants each of us to have. I am not talking about the health and wealth life that the Charismatics try to cram down our throats, but there is a promise that God will provide plenty for His children, and this the example of it. There is still one aspect of this whole precept that we didn’t read yet, and it is found in Vs. 11&12.
(Prov 3:11 KJV) My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
(Prov 3:12 KJV) For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Our failure to live right side up brings a consequence – chastening. If we fail to do that then our chastening is to have to suffer the consequences of not living right side up. Living upside down brings a chastening.
As I look around and see so many of God’s children living upside down I think to myself if only they would do what He says they could enjoy the right side up life.
Where are you today? Is life upside down? Is your future about as bleak as it could be? Why not turn around and live right side up?
You must first begin by being saved. After that, you begin to place all your trust in Him and proceed with what we have learned today.
Who needs to come? If you do, just get up right now and come on. Turn over and begin living right side up.
INVITATION
BETH HAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH
PO BOX 891523
OKC OK 73189-1523
405-691-8701
icasteel1@cox.net
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