Proof By Reproof
Rise and Shine for Jesus! \O/
By
Pam Iannello (my late mother)
"Proof By Reproof"
Based
on assorted scriptures, I have designed a little quiz for everyone to
take that I hope will help prepare your hearts for the following
Bible study. Answering honestly, just circle true or false at the end
of each question. Afterward, you may proceed with the study, and
then take the quiz one more time to see if your answers would
change….
- I am open to correction. T F
- I resist instruction. T F
- I disregard discipline. T F
- There is very little for which I have had to be admonished over the years. T F
- I welcome and appreciate constructive criticism from anybody. T F
- There are certain types of knowledge I despise. T F
- I rarely reject wisdom and often seek understanding. T F
- People who know me would characterize me as a teachable person. T F
- Rebukes often have a positive impact on me. T F
- I take pleasure in debates with persons in leadership/management positions. T F
- I am thankful for the various authorities in my life and pray for them often. T F
- Rather than taking offense, I believe a reprimand to be a kindness. T F
- I am disinclined to accept advice and often hesitate to seek counsel. T F
- There are more than a few areas in my life where I tend to be willful. T F
- I usually learn my lessons the hard way and prefer an “independent” education to being trained by persons wiser than me. T F
- My reputation has been damaged by my failure to respect my instructors. T F
- I am lazy when it comes to looking in the Bible for the truth about myself and find it hard to reflect seriously within my own heart. T F
- It has been a long time since I yielded to conviction, confessed, and repented of a specific sin in response to true Bible preaching. T F
- I have requested that my pastor alert me if he ever sees anything amiss in my life. T F
- I am currently working on an admitted fault and have asked for prayer to achieve victory in the matter. T F
- Persons who usually choose me for a friend have good sense and prudence. T F
- I do not want to struggle with submission. T F
Now
that you have had 22 chances to do some soul searching, let’s do
some more! Isn’t this fun?? Actually, personal enjoyment is
irrelevant - what matters most is truth and what we are doing with
it! So, I want to discuss the topic of REPROOF today and it’s
place and purpose in our lives. Do you believe there is any value to
reproof? Our response to
reproof exposes our belief about it.
It is my heart’s desire that I think about this matter as GOD says
I should – how about you?
Proverbs
6:23 (KJV)
For
the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and
reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Proverbs
10:17 (KJV)
He
is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but
he that refuseth reproof erreth.
Purify Your Hearts - Rise & Sine for Jesus - KJV Ladies Audio Devotionals
Proverbs
15:5 (KJV)
A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he
that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Whether
it is our earthly father or heavenly Father, we must regard reproof
from various authorities and overseers in the world and in the
church. Only a fool would
despise the instruction that would steer him in the right direction.
Do you resent chastisement for a wrong or a fault? Do you hate being
corrected? Do you detest holy regulation of your affairs? Do you snub
spiritual guidance in your life? Ladies, today’s Bible study is
being presented to you because there is proof
by reproof about what you
really believe concerning the way of life. It would behoove you to be
honest with yourself today! While a fool would despise the occasion,
a prudent individual considers whether or not there is wickedness in
his/her life…
Proverbs
22:3 (KJV)
A
prudent man foreseeth
the evil, and hideth
himself:
but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Eccles.
5:1 (KJV)
Keep
thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to
hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for
they consider not that they do evil.
Like
any good parent, God wants His children to have enough sense to
recognize evil and get out of its way. This is not just evil around
us, but within
us too. Ladies, if we don’t, we’ll just plunge into one problem
after another! Repr00fs come because our troubles never drove us to
investigate why we ended up in such a mess and what we need to do to
change our direction. Many people, including
God’s children, are entirely
unaffected by their evil doings; sin doesn’t bother their
conscience in the slightest. Don’t be simple (indifferent) - don’t
shun reproof and the opportunity it provides to take a good clear
look at yourself and escape severe sentencing for your wrongdoings.
As you examine your response to blame expressed to your face, you’ll
discover your heart...
Proverbs
15:32 (KJV)
He
that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth
reproof getteth understanding.
Proverbs 15:10 (KJV)
Correction
is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth
reproof shall die.
Proverbs 12:1 (KJV)
Whoso
loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is
brutish.
Proverbs
5:12-14 (KJV)
And
say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
[13] And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine
ear to them that instructed me! [14] I was almost in all evil in the
midst of the congregation and assembly.
What
a blessing when there is someone willing to tell us the truth when we
can’t or won’t do it for ourselves! Believe it or not, a reproof
is a kindness… But when we have forsaken the way of life,
correction is grievous to us. We prefer to have our own way, in
spite of the consequences. Ladies,
when we have come to the place in our lives where we hate being
instructed, corrected, reproved, rebuked, admonished, chastised etc.,
the Bible says we are brutish
in nature. We are like a wild animal without restraint, entirely
consumed with our own purposes. Our manners will be brazen and
shameless, raw and unreserved, almost grizzly-like in operation. I
hope that doesn’t describe you! If so, chances are you haven’t
responded to holy reasoning, as God would like…
Proverbs
1:23-30 (KJV)
Turn
you at my reproof:
behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my
words unto you. [24] Because I have called, and ye refused; I have
stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; [25] But ye have set at
nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [26] I also will
laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [27] When
your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a
whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. [28] Then shall
they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early,
but they shall not find me: [29] For that they hated knowledge, and
did not choose the fear of the Lord: [30] They would none of my
counsel: they despised all my reproof.
God
promises us His Spirit and a deeper understanding of His Word if we
would turn in the right direction when reproved – toward
Him! Is that the turn you
usually take when blamed to your face? Do you have the right attitude
toward the personal instruction God provides for you in various ways?
Or do you reject the assorted attempts the Lord has made to get your
attention?
Psalm
141:5 (KJV)
Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a
kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which
shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their
calamities.
The
more we accept reproof in this life, the greater our chances will be
of hearing God say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
When we don’t allow persons with pure motives to approach us about
our misconduct, it is evident to the Lord and others that the quality
of your Christian character is of no concern to you. I’ve seen
believers pridefully dare people to come to them on any issue,
defying the fact that it would ever pose a problem, but turn red with
rage when it actually happens! Will you really let the brethren
reprove you whenever you slight the Word of God, or are you just
saying that? Those of us who fear such activity will break our heads
ought to be more concerned with the breaking of our hearts! Why not
pray that God would give you the grace to receive reproof so that if
and when there is a need you will be glad for it and take correction
as He intends you should!
Proverbs 29:1 (KJV)
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,
shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
It’s
a scary thing when folks recurrently refuse clear occasion to change
their ways, for in so doing they are mocking the mercy of the Lord,
and there are disastrous results of sinning against God! Those who
ignore discipline can expect great trouble; those who accept it can
expect honor. Philip. 2:15 urges believers to rigidly censure
themselves, aiming for heaven and arriving without a blot! “That
ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of
a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the
world;” Yes, God warns us
all to flee the wrath to come….
Ladies, reproofs are God’s
rescue mission at work as He steers His devoted servants to talk to
you face to face and save you from the snares of Satan and all the
workers of iniquity! Don’t tell me that isn’t a great kindness;
don’t tell me that saints who are willing to deal with your works
of darkness are cruel or malicious! It’s what God expects us to do
for each other…
Ephes.
5:11 (KJV)
And
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them.
The
world has a well-known motto that says, “Friends don’t let
friends drive drunk.” Well, the church should have it’s own motto
too, “Friends don’t let friends live in the dark.” Yes, a true
friend of God would tell you when your life is headed away
from the way of life and the light of Christ! Do you have any
Christian friends like that? Or have you shunned them, labeling them
unkind and unloving for the truth? Are you a good friend, dear lady?
Would you be willing to wisely address someone face-to-face,
on God’s behalf,
whenever necessary?
Proverbs
25:12 (KJV)
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine
gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Ladies,
no matter what label you may give one who wisely reproves you, God
considers them an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold when
their reproof is carried out in the proper fashion!
What you need to concern yourself with is whether or not you have an
obedient
ear…. Have you let God adorn
your character in accordance to His Word?
Do you truly value reproof as the Bible says we should? Why not take
the quiz again just to be sure!
Proverbs
13:18 (KJV)
Poverty
and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that
regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
God
Bless,
Pam
Isaiah
60:1&2
Comments
Post a Comment