Chapel Pastor Panel

Can you explain what Proverbs 13:23 means?

Proverbs – wisdom

Modern day “proverb” sayings:

“Grass is greener on the other side”

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”

“Actions speak louder than words”

(Point from v.22) God wants us to be concerned not only with how to acquire and use wealth for ourselves but also with how to share it with others. He makes clear that we have an obligation to help the poor; he loves to use his people as a channel of provision for those who cannot meet their own needs.

God is concerned with how with how we use wealth for ourselves and, if we are able, how we are generous with our wealth sharing with others

This is not a support for government mandated giving “share the wealth” where in the collective support the poor; rather, as we see throughout Scripture, God looks at the heart. It is not the action but the heart behind the action. God has gifted and blessed people to be generous to help those that are mistreated and unfortunately even after working as hard as they can, are still taken advantaged and in poverty because of injustice (how certain laws are or what feels like the legal hoops which can be frustrating, or just injustice of living in a broken world)

(Point for v.23) Those who live in poverty are often vulnerable to mistreatment by those who wield greater wealth and power. And the Lord commits himself to protect those who cannot protect themselves. He opposes anyone who takes advantage of the weak

Hunger is sometimes the result of laziness or sinful attitudes (Prov. 13:25), but there are other cases where a poor person may work hard and still live in poverty because of injustice.In the Israelite economy, he might have a plot of land that produced abundant food, but if the political system offered no protection from injustice, all his work could be swept away

Principles

God gives us resources and expects us to trust him when we give them away.

God expects those with surplus to help those in need. When you give to the poor, you are lending to the Lord.

God is offended when we take advantage of those people who cannot help themselves.

Applications

Dedicate your resources to the Lord—your time, talent, and treasure.

Trust the Lord to meet your needs as you tithe your income to him.

Never take advantage of the poor or anyone else who cannot take care of himself. You are opposing God if you do.

How do you know if you are being called to do something by God?

What is it that you are feeling called by God to do?

Anything that God is calling you to do should be seen and clearly taught in scripture (no extra revelation)

Holy Spirit – who is working and calling us

What could be something God is calling you to do?

Salvation – John 6:44; 6:65 (Father’s initiative)

Father’s Initiative – John 6:44; 6:65

Universal Invitation – John 3:16; 12:32

Assurance of Salvation – John 6:37

Call Requires Response – John 3:19-21

Obedience

God’s commands/instructions in His Word (being expression of love): John 14:15, 21; 15:10; 1 John 5:3

Not do something that is sin (Sin being something you do)

Do something that if neglected you are in sin (Sin being not doing something you should be)

Sharing the truth of God’s Word/Gospel (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8)

2 Cor 5:20 (We are ambassadors for Christ)

Ask for forgiveness/forgive another

Matt 5:23-24 (restore relationship before proper worship)

Eph 4:32; Col 3:13 (forgive just as God in Christ forgave you)

Rom 12:17-21 (pursue peace, seeking reconciliation requires effort from your side; break cycles of retaliation)

Vocational

Verses

Heb 5:4 (person is called by God)

Acts 13:2-3 (Holy Spirit actively designates individuals for ministry work)

Mark 3:13-15 (Jesus appointed the apostles to be with him, preach, and exercise His authority)

1 Tim 3:1 (aspiring to be overseer, desires a noble work)

Call to ministry

Vocationally or to serve in a certain position (deacon, elder) or ministry (giftedness)

1 Tim 3:1 (aspiring to be overseer, desires a noble work)

Call to be missionary

Vocationally or opportunity

Call to ministry or missions; clear calling from God (you have this desire) and others affirm this calling and giftedness in your life

Qualifications we see in Timothy and Titus; others can see that your life lines up with God’s calling

Why is homosexuality a sin?

Contradicts God’s design for humanity

Result of sin marring everything in our world; including how we relate and desire one another

Human flourishing

The union between male and female reflects God’s image more fully (and as He designed)

God gifted male and female with different gender roles

Males – heads, leadership, protection, providers

Females – helpers, caring, complementary of each other (male and female)

Scripture

Leviticus 18:22 “You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable.”

Jude 7 “Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

*Romans 1:26–27 “For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.”

“gave them up to their own desires” – result of sin marring our desires and relationships; ppl choosing to live how they want to live

1 Tim 1:9-10 (sexually immoral and same-sex attraction)

All sin is seen equal to God (it all is rebellion against God); but the consequences of sins can be different

There is sin in heterosexual relationships, homosexual relationships and actions are sinful

The point is not the pursuit of “straightness”; but the pursuit of “holiness”

Is self-harm a sin?

Define terms

DSM- 5; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Edition 5

Non-suicidal self-injury - Deliberate, self-inflicted destruction (intentional, direct damage) of body surface likely to cause pain, bleeding, or bruising with no intent or desire to die

Suicidal Self-Injury

*Our broader definition – our attempt to control (or escape reality), or fix a problem ourselves, through self-destructive means

Well-known self-harm

Cutting

Adrenaline rush

Getting pain out

Self-pleasuring (to have control)

Self-punishment

Suicide (self-inflicted and doctor-assisted)

Escape from reality

There is no other choice

better if I was just gone

Lesser-known self-harm (ones don’t think about as being)

Eating disorder

Overeating

Throwing up (forced or psychological coerced)

Starving yourself

Reasons – self-image, shame, self-punishment

Drug/med addiction

Alcohol

Weed

Pain meds

Some vapes

Reasons - Anything to escape or not feel; get that “high”

Self-punishment

ex. Squeezing nails into shoulder, arm, leg…as way of causing pain to control or distract from unwanted feelings/emotions; or just to feel again

Self-destructive tendencies

Physically (this includes just letting go allowing to get sicker, doctor assisted suicide, giving up on life and just letting happen)

Emotionally

Mentally

Your thoughts?

Other thoughts coming at you?

What can lead to this?

Prolonged emotional pain and trauma

That pain or trauma being physical, emotional, or neglect in one’s past

Unprocessed trauma and abuse

As a way to protect, the brain shuts down the part of properly processing emotions; leaving people unable to cry, express anger, solve problems effectively, or even comprehend their own feelings

Internal numbness creating a disconnect from oneself.

Self-harm paradoxically becomes a pathway to feeling “real” and “alive” again by making invisible pain tangible

Self-harm functions as a coping mechanism, and individuals typically resort to it only when they perceive no alternative available

Feelings we can have that can lead to self-harm

Worthlessness

Not enough

Not pretty

Not smart

No one loves me

No one sees me

“I can’t do this”

Overwhelmed

Seemingly insoluble problems (can’t figure out solution or way out)

Giving up

Can’t trust anyone…not even God (don’t believe what He says or existence)

I have to fix things myself

***Psalm 13 (Ps 13:1-2 ; psalms of lament, feel overwhelmed with anxiety and hopelessness)

Psalm 13:1–2 “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?”

***Psalm 55 (Ps 55:1-6 ; desire to escape)

Psalm 55:6 “I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.”

Heart Issues

Spiritual crisis

self-harm communicates emotional and spiritual anguish that a person cannot yet articulate in words

Spiritual oppression may also underlie the behavior (doubt of God and feel cannot trust or surrender to Him)

Loss of Hope

Self-harm can be to interrupt suicidal ideation, using pain to reclaim a sense of control

Desperate attempt to assert power over one’s circumstances when everything else feels uncontrollable

Reasons Self-Harm is wrong

Self-harm is incompatible with honoring God’s authority over our bodies

Body is a temple for the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16-17)

Damaging God’s image bearers – grieves God

Gen 1:27

Expresses doubt of God

Outward manifestation of not trusting God

Our focus is not on God and His purpose for our life

Counseling and Pointing to Christ

***Lament Psalms consistently end with confidence that God will hear and deliver those who trust in Him***

Psalms 13 models the movement from despair to hope, “But I have trusted in your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in your deliverance. I will sing to the LORD because he has treated me generously.”

Ps 34:18

Psalm 34 promises: “The LORD is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.” When tears flow, believers remember that God “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,” and “the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.”

Psalm 55 declares: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you.”

Isaiah 41:10

Matt 10:31

**God sees you, knows you (better than you know yourself), and His promises are for us

Christ died for our sins so that we may live

1 Peter 2:24

Even when we are dead in our trespasses, He made us alive in Christ because He loves His people

Eph 2:4-5

Rom 6:4-8, 1-14

2 Cor 5:17 – When we trust Him, He makes us new creation

Practical – Eph 4:22-24