Old Testament Scripture Reading: Proverbs 1:7 – 10 (KJV)
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Pro 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Pro 1:9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Pro 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:14 – 18 (KJV)
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
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Transforming Power Statements:
1) From the most wise man ever, (other than Jesus) we learn that love and reverence for God are essential components for every matter in life and therefore, must be the supreme goal for everyone to set their focus on, which Jesus said is the fulfillment of the whole Law of God when we add to it “Love our neighbor as ourselves”.
2) A truthful analysis of ourselves will reveal the internal triggers that give power to the motives of our own internal lusts that produce the drives that propel us into sin, and also create a vulnerability within ourselves to be enticed by others who promote the adventures of sinning against the teachings of God Who seems innocuous because judgment is not immediate.
3) Many times the members of the “Body of Christ” (the Church) are their own worst enemies because even though we know what we should be doing ourselves that is obviously right toward one another, we sometimes neglect to treat others as we want to be treated; but rather hold others to a higher standard that we would choose for ourselves, as did the Galatians, whom Paul had to rebuke to set them in order for letting Love manage their conflict and always to walk by the Spirit!