As a book of prophecy, Proverbs lays out the last days of Israel (the tribulation, the 70th week of Daniel), detailing how Satan gets a stronghold in a life, or in the life of a nation, through three people-types: the simple, the scorner and the fool.
These three "people" match not only Job’s three friends, but the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians that Jesus fought against.Proverbs 15:12 says, [12] A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
Jordan explains, "The scorner just can't take advice; they're never wrong. They don't want to know the truth. They're going to turn away from it.
"Here's the problem. Proverbs 21:24 says, [24] Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
"He says, 'Why, I'm not going to do that! That's not my way!' Or, 'I'm not listening to that; I know better than you do!' That proud wrath carries them into being fools. That's the ultimate end. That progression leads to the generation that accepts the Antichrist.
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"The government schools have a thing called No Child Left Behind. That's just been the next step. The result of it is, 'No matter what grade you make, we're going to pass you. We're going to give you a trophy for trying. Not for winning, but for trying. You're not wrong; you just have a different answer because there's really no right or wrong; it's just whatever you want it to be because we're egalitarian. We're multicultural and one is not to be better than the other. Whatever makes you happy, no matter what it is, is okay. Love who you want to love. Be who you want to be.'
"So now you see a kid pitching a fit at Wal-Mart. You watch this kid want something that his parent doesn't give to him and he'll sit and lay on the floor and scream and holler. And so, in order to get him to shut up, mom will give the thing to him; appease him. If you don't, he gets violent.
"Well, you know what happens to that? Go turn on the TV and watch what's going on in our culture today. You don't like the way an election goes, burn it down! You say, 'Where does that come from?' That's that proud, 'It's got to be my way or nothing!'
Proverbs 24:9 says, [9] The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. The thoughts of a scorner are foolishness. That's what it is. So that brings us to the fool.
"You start out simple, void of understanding. You don't evaluate by any absolute standard of right or wrong. You don't have the things God puts in your life to give you some stability. And by the way, when a young person is simple and grows into an adult who's being simple, don't think mom and dad didn't have something to do with that. A lot of kids grow up in homes that have no parent whose got any ability to know what's right and wrong because they became scorners and fools ahead of the kid. That's how the progression goes from generation to generation.
"Proverbs 15 says, [5] A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
[6] In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
[7] The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
"A fool hates knowledge; he hates his father's instruction. You know, I think, 'If he had said he hates the preacher's instruction or the neighbor's . . . but your daddy's instruction?!'
"He's been taught to despise the very people God put in his life to guide him and give him the proper education he needs to grow up like a normal human is designed to be. He's deceived into believing lies that tell him to reject his parents' instruction. He's a fool.
"Proverbs 23:9 says, [9] Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
"They're going to reject anything that doesn't line up with the lie they're taught. Proverbs 18:6 says, [6] A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
"They'll fight anything and anybody about getting their way: 'My way's worth fighting for!' Proverbs 18:7 says, [7] A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
"Their words reveal who they are. Do you see the progression? Void of understanding, they don't have a grasp of anything that's foundational. There's no wisdom in their soul to give their volition any instruction. They don't have a conscience filled with God's Word; it's a conscience filled with self, self-interest, with the Lie.
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"What is the Believer supposed to do in the face of all that? Ephesians 4:25-27 is the application of verses 22-24. Verse 22 says, [22] That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
"The deceitfulness that leads you to be simple, scornful and foolish . . . as a Believer you've put that off. That's not how your life's to work. 'But be renewed in the spirit of your mind.' Let the truth of God's Word come in and transform your thinking. Verse 24: [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
"You want to have an authentic life and purpose? You go out on who God's made you in Christ. You, your family, your neighbors, the world where you live, needs to have a living demonstration. They need to SEE 'the fellowship of the mystery.' They need to see that transforming power of the gospel of grace put on display in the stage of human life where you live so that they can hear the truth.
"Verse 25: [25] Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
"That's why that's not just incidental lying; that's saying, 'Don't be a part of the Lie program; speak the truth program, demonstrate the truth program in your life, your attitude, the functions of your life.'
"They need to see somebody who doesn't let down their guard against the real enemy in the real battle; they're not going to give place to the devil and his program of sin. They're not going to become accommodating to it.
"Listen, take your life and just be 'all in' to the things of God. Be 'all in' to be the pillar and ground of the truth to a confused and God-rejecting world, to be able to hold up a banner and say, 'The truth is still available and the gospel still saves; the gospel still transforms.'
"The truth of God's Word, no matter where you are, can move you from being simple to prudent. It can move you from being a scorner and foolish to being a prudent, wise person. Understand, folks, that we have the privilege of taking that and proclaiming it to the world and being a model of it and allowing people to see that transforming grace of God in our lives through faith in Christ Jesus. Don't be the devil's workplace and give him place to work in your life. Don't settle; stay militant for truth."
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