Lets see what Bridges says about Proverbs today

Proverbs 23 today

The Lord Who Breaks Forth!

2 Samuel 5:20 

And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

A Prayer for Authenticity

Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. Proverbs 10:3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

What Happens when God throws His plate away?

God casts away the substance of the wicked. As though he is eating that which was brought to Him in thought of appeasing Him and He smells it and throws it in the trash. God is not deceived. He knows Cain from Abel. He is not appeased by sacrifice. He is appeased by acceptance and obedience to His Son. He has come that we might have life and have it abundantly.

We often imagine the beauty and the wonder of the unprejudicedness of God. He is not impressed with our greatness or our smallness. He is not affected by our color or our candor. In this verse we are directed to see and to know the God, who knows the sacrifice that is brought with faith and that which is brought as a cover-up. We cannot cover our sins with stuff or supposed devotional acts. We cannot pay God for our sins. He throws that mentality in the trash.

He eats, with delight, that which is brought to Him in true repentance and humility and subservience to Christ. And abhors, with equal vehemence, that which is brought to put ourselves forward and impress ourselves or others.

Lord give us grace to have pure motives in our efforts to please you! In Jesus’ Strong Name, Amen

I haven't studied how many times joy is mentioned in the book of Acts.

Acts 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

I am just surprised that they mention joy so much. There is alot of joy with the fact that Gentiles were coming to Jesus and being filled with the spirit and throwing off traditions and habits that were cultural. Under the shadow of saddening circumstances and upsetting losses, like James having been killed and the beatings that they suffered the word joy is the most interesting description of their state of being, as a Church.

Pessimistic, I might expect. They were directed in their perspective, by wise and Holy Spirit filled men, who were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak joy into their souls. Who wouldn't want this experience? That is the wonder of looking at the first-century church.

1. The wonder of people from different walks of life being unified in Christ to do spectacular things on the earth.

2. the wonder of men who earlier were cooped in an upper room for fear, taking beatings and growing in Grace to speak joy into the hearts of new believers.

3. The wonder of Gentiles believing the truth of Christ and selling all of their pasts for an uncharted future.

4. The wonder of an invisible Church unity that was developed in a generation and lasting to this day.

5. The fact that the joy of Jesus was clearly uncircumstantial and not linked to any one culture's distinctives.

Conflict and fightings within and without didn't dispel the joy of the new Church and that is astounding to me. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and not situational. Joy is indelible. Joy is constructive. Joy is a posession of the believer and not culturally wrought.

We are one in the Spirit and All are ours.

6 References to joy Found in the book of Acts.

Acts 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Acts 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 24:2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

Disciplines of a Joyful Christian

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. Acts 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them and came unto Iconium. Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

God has chased us as Gentiles from "the ends of the earth", as it were.

To be a particular possession of His

He has the intention of making us the monuments of His mercies and grace. As I look at this chapter in my devotions, I am struck afresh, at what made the Gentiles glad here. The joy of the Lord came upon the disciples, which means that they were not always filled with joy either.

I have taken note of times of particular joy that came upon the children of Israel and the Church in the NT. I am often perplexed that it is persecution that draws out the joy in the New Testament. Obedience and following the directives of Scripture seems the pattern of joy in the Old Testament, for the most part. Evangelistic success and enlightenment on the part of the Gentiles were the ingredients in the New. Personal obedience, notwithstanding when the Holy Spirit gave unction and success, there was joy noted. It wasn't, as would seem in some Christians and some Churches, an everyday occurrence. There was joy and great joy noted upon certain occasions. I trust that as I look at this subject afresh on the season of my dearth of joy that God would make it effectual to my own edification and confirmation of faith.