In what ways we do become stiff-necked? We become stiff-necked by making the same mistake over and over again. We refuse to learn or listen, those who harden their neck are stubborn, Exodus 33:3-5 / Acts 7:51-53. Christians should not take lightly the Lord’s discipline because if we harden ourselves to it, we will be broken on judgment day.
God’s ways are always the best because when we just do our own thing, then terrible things happen. Prostitutes were common in Bible times but they all have one thing in common, they do it for the money, not the joy.
Beware of the flatterer! They are not trying to please us but to deceive us so that they can get what they want from us later.
The righteous person knows to whom they belong. Every human being has rights but wicked people look only at their poverty and despise the righteous.
The fool cannot appreciate the wise person’s argument and so the wise person becomes exhausted trying to convince them. They are concerned for their life because people of bloodshed come after them.
A fool has no control and loses their temper, whereas the wise calm the arguments down.
This is the idea of knowing what the king likes to listen to and so his officials tell him falsehoods.
The poor and the oppressor both receive life from Him and He will judge them both, Acts 17:31.
There are two types of discipline: 1. The rod, which is physical and, 2. Reproof, which is verbal. We should never stop punishing our children when they deserve it.
Here we have a perfect example of what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19:1-30 / 2 Peter 2:8.
Not all correction is with a rod, the punishment we give our children must be determined when it is needed but we do need to correct our children.
If anyone tries to live without God’s truth, restraint is cast away. In other words, anything goes.
There are times when words just won’t work and so action needs to be taken when it comes to correcting some people. The lesson here is simple, to be slow to speak, and quick to listen, James 1:19.
Solomon says we need to be willingly obedient.
Although pride is meant to lift us up, it really brings us down, James 4:6-10.
These accomplices won’t tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If we hear that a person broke the law, do not remain silent, Leviticus 5:1.
We shouldn’t be afraid of people because they can do eternal harm, 1 Samuel 15:24 / Matthew 10:28.
A person may not be punished by the law of the land, but God will not let him go unpunished, 1 Corinthians 4:4.
Here we see the contestant clash in our society. This is good versus evil; God versus the devil, Cain versus Abel, and Christians versus non-Christians.
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."