Old Testament Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:5 – 12 (KJV)
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Pro 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Pro 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:14 – 18 (KJV)
2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) In this passage in Proverbs, Solomon reveals that there are many negative things that exist within each one of us which are the product of circumstances we have endured in our course of development that need to be dealt with that God the Holy Spirit applies “righteous pressure” to us so that the discipline of God can purge and cleanse us to make us more Christ-like from day to day.
2) Everything we go through good, bad or ugly, is working out for our good or betterment as we grow more deeply into becoming less of who we used to be and more into whom God wants us to be, so that we become able to look forward by faith at the eternal and not be wrapped up in the temporal things of this life.
3) This transition from being fleshly to being spiritual is bolstered by our increase in the knowledge of the Word, and the leading of God the Holy Spirit from within us, Who is training each of us to acquire more of the qualities of Jesus, Who perfectly pleased God His Father every second of His life to attain for us the manifestation of all the promises of God!