Let's take our Bibles and turn
with me to the book of Proverbs chapter 22. Proverbs 22. I'd like to just pick up right where
we left off. Proverbs chapter 22. Now the Spirit of God is admonishing the church through
Solomon. Solomon penned this book, but
the Spirit of God dictated it. And now he is admonishing the
church through Solomon to consider that which we started studying
a year ago. Ten years ago. Ten years ago. Started this book in 2009. And
now here it is, ten years later. By the grace of God. And Solomon,
moved by God's Spirit, makes this statement. Verse 17. Proverbs 22. Bow down thine ear
and hear The words of the wise. Here with intelligence. Here with attention. And here
with obedience. Now this is not the first time
that the Spirit of God moved on Solomon to say this. Hold
your place. Just turn back to Proverbs 5.
Proverbs chapter 5, verse 1 to 4. My son, attend
unto my wisdom, and bow down thine ear to my understanding,
that thou mayest regard discretion, that thy lips may keep knowledge."
Now why would the Spirit of God tell Solomon to tell God's people,
listen to what I'm saying? Now he's preaching in parables
here. That's how the Lord taught. You
remember what the disciples had. Why do you teach in parable,
in Proverbs? He said, because it's given unto
you to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. To them, it's
not given. He says now, you attend unto my wisdom. You bow down,
you stretch out your ear to my understanding that you may regard
with discretion that thy lips may keep knowledge because for
the lips of a strange woman now you know who that strange woman
is false religion we know that the lips of a strange woman drop
as in honeycomb and her mouth is smoother than oil but her
end is bitter as wormwood as a two-edged sword. What's going
to be the end of all who hear, love, and adhere to false religion? What's going to happen? They're going to stand before
God. And they're going to plead their
case. And they're going to tell the
Lord all these things that they've done. Oh, and how faithful they
were. And he's going to say, I don't
know you. Depart from me, you worker of
iniquity. I never knew you. Oh, that the Lord might give
us a heart and an ear, a hearing ear. Stretch out and incline
that ear that I've given you. That's the only ear that we can
hear with. Oh, we can hear. I mean, you can hear with a natural
ear. I do understand that. But that the Spirit of God would
give a man, a woman an ear of faith to believe it. And pray that the Spirit of God
gives hearing ears that moves our hearts to obedience. Now listen to this. Hold your
place. Turn over to James 1. James 1. James chapter 1. Now listen to this. James 1, 22-24. But be ye doers, obeyers of the
word, and not hearers only. deceiving your own self. Now
listen, anybody can hear. Anybody can come and hear. Hear
what I'm saying. For if any be a hearer of the
word and not an obeyer, a doer, he like a man beholding his natural
face in the glass, For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and
straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." What did he just
say? He said if someone just hears the word, they hear it.
And they leave. That's it. They just really had
no effect on them. There's no heart for obedience.
There's no heart for the love of Christ. It's like a man that
comes and he looks at himself in the mirror His face is dirty,
hair's not combed, teeth are not brushed. He's just a rag
muffin is all he is. and just turns and walks away
and just forgets what he just saw. I'm not ready to go outside. I'm not ready to meet anybody.
I don't need to be seen like this. He said that's the way
if you're here only and you're not a doer, you're not an obeyer,
it has no heart effect on you. Oh, bow down thine ear, back
in Proverbs 22, to the only message that is the power of God unto
salvation. These words that are breathed
of the Lord that are profitable for doctrine. This is profit
for what we believe. For reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works. Bow down, Proverbs
22 70, thine ear and hear the words of the wise and apply thine
heart unto my knowledge. Give yourself to it. Ponder it,
meditate upon that which the Lord has sent through his preachers. His knowledge, that's what He
said. Apply thine heart unto. Now,
whose knowledge is it? This is the Lord's knowledge.
Oh, the warning that's going out right now. This is a warning. It's a warning. This is an admonition. Listen, He said, what I'm saying,
give yourself to it. Knowledge concerning who we are. Now, there's some knowledge.
sinners, dead in trespasses and sin. That's some knowledge. Who
are we? We're needy sinners, knowledge
about who the Father is and what He's done, the Father who's blessed
us in Christ Jesus. Stretch out your ear and hear
the words of the wise and apply your heart to it. Listen to what the Lord has said.
concerning particular redemption. What does the world say? The Lord died for everybody. What does the Lord say? I lay down my life for the sheep.
Is that some needful information? Apply your heart to it. Apply
your heart to that message of irresistible grace, preserving
grace. Verse 18, for it is a pleasant
thing if thou keep them within thee. They shall be with all,
they shall with all be fitted in thy lips. It's a pleasant
thing, believer, if these words are kept in your heart. fitted,
fixed, stable, secure. Not that we have the power to
be able to keep God's Word within, but when the Lord who keeps His
Word within the hearts of His people, when He works a work
of grace, they speak that which they truly desire. Whenever God
does a work of grace in the heart of a sinner, He gives that sinner
a new desire, a new love, a new longing. I need Him. I need His Word. And he does
that which the Lord has done, granting him faith. This is what
a believer does because of the faith that God's given him. David says, Thy word have I hid
in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Now who did
that work of grace? Any. Faithful is he who calleth
you, you shall also do it. But what happens? God's people
react in a willing way. Does every believer desire to
have the Word of God hidden in his heart? Absolutely. No doubt
about that. And with the Lord's Word hidden
in the heart, the believer's lips, the Scripture says, are
now accustomed. Your lips, the Scripture says,
it's a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee. They shall,
what? These words of wisdom. They shall
withal be What does that mean? A believer is accustomed to confessing. That's what it is. That's what
it means. He's accustomed to confessing those words that are
proper to him and established. There's a new man there with
a new heart. It's been regenerated by the
Spirit of God and now according to that everlasting covenant,
God's given. He said, I'm going to be your
God. You're going to be my people. You're going to walk in my statutes.
This is the way it's going to be. God's people, they walk consistently
according to these words. That's what they do. That's a
believer. That's what they do. There's
a new man that's led by God's Spirit and there's a new love
for that which formerly I hated. I hated. I didn't care about this. Before
the Lord does something for a believer, you know what their attitude
is? Take it or leave it. I mean, it's alright, I guess,
but it's not... I've got other stuff. I've got
other things. I'm busy. I'm busy. I'll get around to it. Don't
worry about it. Not a believer. Not a believer.
The scripture says God does a work of grace in his heart and it's
a pleasant thing. God puts it there. It's pleasant
to that believer. And they shall with all be fitted. They're firm. They're established
in his mouth. The scripture says, Luke 6, 4,
a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good. An evil man out of the evil treasure
of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil. For of the abundance
of the heart, the mouth speaks. I've always said, if you want
to know what someone believes, listen to them. They'll tell
you. Out of the abundance of their
heart, their mouth is going to speak. And then the Lord reveals
his good pleasure for establishing that security and that confidence
and that hope in his people. This is why the Lord said, this
is why I do what I do. Look at verse 19. That thy trust
may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even
to thee. This is why. God has established
this thing that, you know, oh what benefit that the Lord has
done toward His people. The grace and mercy of God to
not leave us to trust in ourselves and leave this world in darkness
of sin and unbelief. Do you know what it takes for
a man or a woman to go to hell? for God to leave them alone.
And let them do what they want to do. Let them continue going
the way they want to. Let them have that same attitude
or lack of attitude toward the gospel in a positive way. Just
leave them alone. Has the Lord left me to myself? And I would have God, I'm telling
you, I know what's going to happen according to these scriptures.
I'm going to perish. But also, behold the particular
and distinguishing grace. Here's what he said. That thy
trust may be in the Lord. And not in my works. Not in my goodness or lack of. I've made known to thee, I've
made known to thee, I've made known to thee this day even to
thee. You hear that particular distinguishing? I've caused you to see by faith
your need of me. I've caused you to recognize
the truth that you need me for life. I've made known to you what I've
done to you, for you, hiding you in my Son. And again, if he had not done
that, I'm telling you, and it would have been just the most
natural thing in the world to me, to have no love for the gospel. No heart for Christ. No love
for God's people. No desire to fellowship with
Him. That's what happened. That's exactly it. He died without a saving knowledge
of Christ. The only hope of glory is the
Lord. And if He hadn't done that for
us, Here's what the scripture says, John 3.18, he that believeth
on him is not condemned. Now, let me just, I'm gonna say
this, I always say this. This is not a historical belief. As I've told you, I truly believe
that there was a George Washington. I believe there was, I really
do. I think that there was an Abraham Lincoln. I really do. Somebody says, did you ever meet
him? No, I really didn't. Be honest with you, but I read
enough accounts, I believe that historically, I think that really
what I've read about him and yeah, I believe he was. I believe he was first president.
I really do. I really, I believe that. Yeah, I believe that there was
a Jesus Christ. I'm sure there was. I'm sure
there was, man says. I've read enough accounts, I
believe that there really was, but that's not the belief he's
talking about right here. This is a heart belief by faith
that cast yourself upon him for life, for security, as a refuge,
as my only hope. To believe on him is to not believe
on me, he that believeth on Him. What does that mean? That means that everything that
I formerly trusted in for my salvation is done. It's refuge. It's loss. It's loss. I don't
trust anything. He that believeth on Him is not
condemned. But he that believeth not is
condemned already because he hath not believed in the name
of the only begotten Son of God. So let me ask you this, what
is the most needful thing for a sinner to do? Hold your place,
turn to Acts 16. You know the scripture, but I
want you to look at it. Acts 16. Now listen, let me tell
you this. This scripture is going to come
up again on the Day of Judgment. This scripture is going to come
up again. Acts 16. Verse 30 and 31. Paul and Silas is in a Philippian
jail. The Spirit of God comes and sends
an earthquake. Doors come open. Philippian jailer
comes in there. He sees these doors are open.
He knows he's going to have to perish now because he didn't
keep them safe. He's going to fall on his sword.
Paul cries out. He said, don't do it. We're all
here. We're all here. Verse 30 and 31. Verse 29, he called for a light,
sprang in, came trembling, fell down before Paul and Silas. God
is a God of means. God has done something. He's
a God of means. He used an earthquake to move
this vessel of His mercy. He used an earthquake. He'd heard
something. These guys have been singing
all night, Paul's been preaching. Up until this time, this Philippian
jailer, he just, you know. There he goes again. There he
goes, that same old message he keeps on, but this time. He moved, and the Spirit of God
says in verse 30, he brought him out and he said, Sirs, what
must I do to be saved? And they said, this is it, right
here. What must a man, a woman do to
be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved and thy house. Now I'm gonna just say
this because it needs to be said. No one believes in order to be
saved. No one believes in order to be
saved. No one believes in order to be
saved. They believe because God saved
them. That's the thing. The Spirit
of God has got to come and remove a heart of stone and give a new
heart, a new mind, a new spirit. Salvation is of the Lord, not
of man. Now here's where the world's
got to cart before the horse. They think men believe in order
to be saved. No, that would be works. That'd
be man's works. No, God grants faith and they
believe. What must a man or woman do to
be saved? They've got to believe and God
Almighty is the one that moves on them to believe. Look back
in Proverbs 22. Back to 22. Verse 19, that thy trust may
be in the Lord, I have made known to thee, this
day, even to thee. The Lord says,
I made you to know. You didn't, I did. I was one. And this the Lord does in time. Whatever pleases Him, to every
one of His elect, to all that the Father is pleased to have
chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, every one for whom
the Lord laid down His life, every one that the Spirit of
God is surely going to call out of darkness, they shall all be
taught of God. And they shall believe This is
particular knowledge. This is family knowledge. This is God's family knowledge. Knowledge that's mysterious.
Powerfully reveals. Settling knowledge. Knowledge
that's accomplished in everyone that the Lord makes willing in
the day of His power. But I want you to notice one
other thing too. About that verse 19. Notice the need of the continual
application of that knowledge. Verse 19, that thy trust may
be in the Lord I have made known to thee. This day. This day. Didn't we hear this last week? Didn't we hear it Wednesday?
By the grace of God, won't we hear it again? But let me tell
you something, the Lord says, I made known to thee every day. Today is the day of salvation. Faith cometh by hearing. I've said, we just, somehow we
think that we, well we learn this, and I've been hearing this
for so many years, I've got it, I've got it. I know you do. but we don't. We need to hear
this again and again and again. And when we don't, a believer
says, I just, how long has it been since you
had a drink of water? Well, I drank some today. Well,
why don't you go about four or five days and tell me how thirsty
you are. Are you really, really thirsty? I've made known to you today. We need to be personally taught
afresh every day. I need to hear the gospel preached. When God's people meet together,
I need to hear it. I need to hear it. In the searching
of the scriptures, I need to read these scriptures every day. Can I go without reading His
Word? Every day, they said, every day? Every day. I need to meet with
him in that closet of prayer every day. We hear his voice daily as the
Lord speaks, as our needs are supplied by the Spirit of God.
But I tell you this, I need to hear again. And the Lord knows
the needs of His people. And we don't. I don't know what
I need. He does. And so I trust that
maybe in the Lord He makes known unto us daily the new and fresh
application of that truth. Oh, the miracle of God's grace
and mercy to His people. And then the Lord ends this exhortation
for this morning with this beautiful address to his people with an
amazing question. Like I said, I do know that Solomon
penned it. I know that. Words of wisdom
that were given him by the Lord, but at no time would any believer
ever say or consider that these words originated with Solomon.
I mean, he was a wise man, wisest man ever walked this earth born
of Adam. But we know these words are from
the very heart of Almighty God, He who is wisdom Himself through
His Spirit, words of mercy, and listen to His question. Now like
I said, Solomon has been penning these words since chapter 1,
verse 1. And the Lord tells us that, now
you hear this. You hear what I said to you. You listen. They're going to be pleasant
to you. It's been 10 years, been a pleasant study. Hardest book,
I told you this, hardest book I ever studied in my life. Never,
I've never had a book as hard as the book of Proverbs, never.
Because it's got such a natural meaning. And it makes so much
sense to the natural man. But if I don't see Christ in
it, then I missed it. I missed it. And there were some
that, only by the grace of God, believe me, any of them, that
you'd hear, But listen to this question, verse 20 and 21, and
I'll close. Have not I written to thee excellent
things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the
certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the
words of truth to them that sinned unto thee? Lord's asking this
question. And God's people immediately
answer. And the Lord says, have I not
written to thee excellent things? God's people say, yes, sir. You
have, Lord. You have. You have. Yes, you
have. Has he not written these excellent
things in counsels and knowledge to us in the truth of the gospel? These things that are more excellent
and can never be known by the light of nature. The scripture
says the light of nature declares the handiwork of God. Men are
without excuse. My friend, if you can see outside,
you can behold nature. And you see what God has done,
you're without excuse. It declares the glory of God. That's what, without excuse.
I'm going to stand there, well I never heard. Yes, you do. Haven't I declared
these things? How about through the law of
Moses? Could we learn these blessed things that the gospel has set
forth? No, no, no, no, no. Those things that are set forth
and declare the love of God in Christ to His people. Things that declare the person
and offices of the Lord Jesus Christ. He's God's prophet. He's
God's priest. He's God's king. Have I not declared
unto you excellent things in counsels and knowledge, those
things which teach us peace and pardon and reconciliation before
God by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, those things
that teach us of His righteousness that has been imputed to those
that He's given a heart to believe of life and salvation through
Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, for His people. Those are excellent things. These
are excellent things. Look at it again, verse 20. Have
I not written to thee? He's talking to somebody. This
is a book of God's heart to His people. He's saying something. Have I
not written to you of the counsels and knowledge of God which are
past finding out? How would we ever know? To cast
ourselves upon Him for mercy if He didn't send us these excellent
things and say, come unto me, all you that labor heavy laden,
I will give you rest. How would I know that? Had he
not taught us, we'd never come to him. We'd just, yeah, we'd
have come to the front. I'd have come to the preacher.
I'd have come to the church. I'd have come to every other
false haven of security, but I'd never come to him, I can
tell you that. But these precious and excellent things have been
written unto us for this reason, verse 21, that I might make thee
to know, thee know, the certainty. of the words of truth. He tells
his people that I might make you know it. This is the only
thing that settles the heart of a believer, right here. If God doesn't say it, it ain't
so. That ain't so. Well, I think
that, well, what difference does it make, what we think? What
sayeth the scriptures? What is it? That I might, this
is why, that I might make The certainty of the words of truth.
Oh, but there's one other thing. That thou mightest answer the
words of truth to them that sinned unto thee. What? That you might possess a heart
to where when someone comes and asks you, what do you believe? What do
you believe? Peter said in 1 Peter 3, 15,
sanctify the Lord in your hearts and be ready always to give an
account to every man that asketh of you a reason of the hope that
is in you with meekness and fear. You remember that demoniac of
the Gadarenes? Lord called out a legion of demons,
cast them out. And that demoniac, what did he
wanna do? Lord, I'm gonna go with you. wherever you're going,
that's where I want to go. And the scripture said, the Lord
suffered him not. What did he tell him to do? Go
home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord
hath done for thee and hath had compassion on thee. The Lord
said, I've given you these things and it might settle your heart
and you might be settled in your heart. And that you might have,
with that settled heart, a heart to tell somebody else. Someone stopped yesterday here
at the church, banging on the door. I went out and this person
said, are you the pastor? And I said, yeah. Well, I've
just moved into this area I'm looking for a church. I said,
okay. I said, you're welcome to come see it. And they said,
well, this is, I'm Southern Baptist. I said, well, I can tell you
this, I know what you believe. And I said, you believe, I said,
let me just go ahead and be up front with you. I said, let me
tell you what you believe. You believe in salvation by works. You believe that you have a free
will and that By your free will, you believe that the Lord Jesus
Christ died for everybody and paid everybody's sin and put
away everybody's guilt. And now you believe that all
you have to do is exercise your free will and accept it. And once you accept it, it makes
it effectual. It makes you a child of God.
I said, now the only problem with that is that it's not so.
I said, that's a lie that you've been told. And I said, scripture
refutes that. I said, Christ didn't die for
everybody. Scriptures refute that. And I said, now I'm just
going to go ahead and be straight up with you about this. I said,
you're welcome to come here. You really are. You're welcome
to come. But when you come, bring a Bible. And take your Bible and open
it. and sit and listen. And if the Lord's pleased, he'll
open a heart. You know, time is short. Life's a vapor. And I thought
I may never see you again, but I want to, by the grace of God,
I want to be honest with you. I don't want to give you a false
hope and tell you that you're okay. I'm telling you, you die
without Christ, you're going to hell. And it's a long time. I pray God have mercy upon us
and save His people, call His people out and bless this word
to our hearts for Christ's sake. Amen.