Sermon notes & knowledge

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11/02/2025

AM Service

Proverbs 21:13

The Verse (NASB):

“One who shuts his ear to the outcry of the poor
Will also call out himself, and not be answered.”

This proverb is a stark warning about the consequence of indifference. 

It teaches that the mercy you show will be the mercy you receive (or fail to receive) in your own time of need.

• "Shuts his ear": This isn't just about failing to hear; it signifies a willful and cold-hearted refusal to acknowledge or respond to the genuine desperation, distress, or need of a poor person. It’s an active choice to be uncompassionate.

• "Will also call out himself, and not be answered": The judgment is direct and fitting. The person who ignored the cries of the needy will one day face their own crisis, and their own cries for help (to God or man) will be met with the same cold silence they offered.

• Be Attentive: Don't allow yourself to become numb to the suffering around you. Open your ears and your heart to the real needs of the less fortunate, whether it's hunger, oppression, or simple loneliness.

• Embrace the Golden Rule: This proverb is a powerful Old Testament echo of Jesus' teaching: "The measure by which you measure will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:2). Our willingness to extend mercy is a reflection of our understanding of the mercy God has shown us.

• Action Over Apathy: True faith isn't passive. Ignoring the needy when you have the means to help is a sin against them and a failure to honor God, their Creator (Proverbs 14:31).

In summary: Don't ignore the pleas of the poor, or you risk being ignored when you need help the most. Respond with mercy now to find mercy later.

11/02/2025

PM Service

Proverbs 3:1-7

• 1 My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep My commandments;
• 2 For length of days and years of life And peace will be added to you.
• 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
• 4 So you will find favor and good reputation In the sight of God and man.
• 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
• 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
• 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

This passage is a foundational piece of wisdom literature, presented as a father's intimate counsel to his son. 

It provides a simple, three-part formula for a blessed life centered on God.

The lesson starts with instruction on how to treat God's wisdom:

• Don't Forget His Teaching: Keep His commandments with your heart (not just your head).
• The Promise: This leads to a life with "length of days and years of life and peace."
• Outward Focus: Let "kindness and truth" define your character, leading to "favor and good reputation in the sight of God and man."

This is the core command, requiring a complete shift in dependence:

• The Command: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." Trust must be total—using your entire emotional and rational self.
• The Caution: "Do not lean on your own understanding." Our perspective is limited; leaning on it is unstable.
• The Action: "In all your ways acknowledge Him." Actively recognize His authority and sovereignty in every decision.
• The Guarantee: "He will make your paths straight." God guarantees to guide and correct your direction when you surrender control to Him.

The final instruction warns against the great enemy of wisdom: pride.

• The Warning: "Do not be wise in your own eyes." Pride is self-reliance, which blocks divine guidance.
• The Way Out: "Fear the Lord and turn away from evil." Reverent respect for God is the foundation of genuine humility and keeps us focused on His path, not our own.

In essence, Proverbs 3:1-7 teaches us to substitute our fragile, limited self-reliance with a joyous, total reliance on God, which results in internal peace and external guidance.