"PROVERBS--WORDS TO LIVE BY"

Good Morning to All!

I was reading one of my favorite blogs  (Rob Barkman's   "Settled in Heaven"and felt in my spirit that what he was posting needed to get out to more than just "his audience", so I decided to re-post what he had to say (with his permission).

The reason I did this is because in my heart I feel that Christianity today is being "watered down" or "mellowed out" as some would call it.  They "beat around the bush" because they are afraid if they say something people don't agree with, or don't like, then the people would leave and not come back.  The preachers don't understand that by not telling the WHOLE TRUTH" that they are stumbling blocks to their flocks.    Rob and I are from different faiths, so I don't know if he agrees with what God put on my heart, but here it is. 
 
This post spoke to me. In it, He told me that it is possible to fall from grace.  Therefore, we cannot read God's Word, and then take out the parts we don't like and add parts in to suit ourselves.  This is a sin, and there are drastic measures which HE will go to to chastize or punish us.  It says plainly that our names will be taken out of the "book of life".  That means we will not get into heaven if we do this.  Anyway, Rob explains it much better than I can.  I hope you enjoy his post.

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He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

 The Proverbs Of Agur: The Word Is Impeccable: Proverbs 30:5-6

5) Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6) Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

In this chapter we may have a new author, a man by the name of Agur. Very little is known about this man but, from the context of our text, it seems as if he is a teacher who is instructing his two students Ithiel and Ucal.

As Agur begins to share God’s Word with us, he reminds us of the exclusivity of the Word… it is perfect, all-encompassing and is exclusively backed by Divine authority. No other teaching whether in written or verbal form can begin to compare to it. This is why we should listen to his message very carefully…

EXPOSITION:

5) Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Agur now shares two motivations for us to follow the Word of God that he is revealing to us.
1. The speech of God is perfectly refined (with no error)
2. God is a protector of those who put their confidence in him

We are to follow his teachings (and all the Word of God) because:
a. it is a perfect message that proceeds from the One that deserves all of our worship. Why do we owe Him our undivided devotion? Because we owe our physical and spiritual life to Him (He is our Creator and Redeemer).
In other words, we are to follow His Word because WE OWE IT TO HIM.

b. God is the One that meets our every need as we look to Him in faith. One of the greatest tools He uses to supply our needs is through the teachings found in His Word.
In other words, we are to follow His Word because IT IS OF GREAT SPIRITUAL BENEFIT TO US.

6) Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Agur continues to explain the sanctity of the Word. When this sanctity is violated there are two devastating results.
1. Do not expand to His Word or attempt to improve it in any way
2. He will convict, chasten and correct us
3. We will be revealed as a deceiver

Folks, we should take great heed to this warning from Agur. There are many dangers that await those who attempt to in any way change or augment the Word of God. This principle is declared throughout both the Old and New Testament portions of the Word…

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)

Moses warned the children of Israel of the need to be certain to not change the Word in any way. This includes adding to it or diminishing it (taking away from it or changing it).

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

As John penned the final book of the Bible, he brought the revelation of God to an end and gives the fateful warning to not add, nor take away from Divine revelation in its entirety.

We should never think that Agur, Moses or John’s warnings only apply to their own individual writings. This warning is found throughout the Scriptures helping us to understand that the entire, inspired Word is included in this grave warning.

Think of it this way, if we limit this warning to the writings of the individuals who are giving the warning, we are by implication, saying that the others parts of the Bible can be added to, taken away, or changed. These warnings are not found in every book of the Bible, therefore do we have the right to change those books? Absolutely not.

And yet there are those who claim that the Word can be added to today. Their reasoning is that the warnings we have looked at only apply to the books of Deuteronomy, Revelation and the Proverb that Agur wrote. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable for them to add their own “revelation” to the mix. How sad.

Please do not fall for their message of deceit. When they say “God has given me a new message” or “God has revealed to me a new truth”, just rack it up to Satan, turn from the messenger of error, and turn back to the Word for Godly instruction.

Why is this warning given, and why is it such a “big deal” if we purposely change His Word?

All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

In this text, we are to look to the Word is the God-given tool that would perfectly, thoroughly gives us all we need to serve the Lord in a way pleasing to Him. From this text we can learn several different truths:

a. The Word is a completed revelation.
If there were still portions to be revealed to man it could never result in men being described as “perfect (complete)” and “throughly (fully equipped or finished being equipped)”. If we were waiting for the final pieces of revelation to come to us, it would be as if we are waiting for the last pieces of equipment to be supplied to us as we prepare for spiritual warfare.

(The Word was completed around 100 AD with the writing of the last Biblical book, The Revelation Of Jesus Christ which was given to the Apostle John. From that point forward we have had the complete revelation of God given to man. As such, we now have the ability to be thoroughly furnished for spiritual warfare.

b. Since the Word is our source of “equipment” for spiritual battle we dare not add to it, take from it, or change it in any way.
If we do, we are making the equipment God has given to us less effective for our spiritual warfare. After all, there is NO WAY we can be improving what God has given to us, therefore our “changes” must deteriorate its effectiveness.

c. Finally, by changing His inspired Word we are, by our actions, stating that we know better than the Lord.
If we add to it, we are saying that He didn’t give us all that we need.
If we take away from it, we are saying he gave us what we did not need.
If we change it, we are calling Him a liar and we need to correct Him.

In all three of these changes, we are calling Him imperfect, sinful and beneath us.

SUMMARY:

In these verses, Agur helps us to understand the importance of his teachings (as the very Word of God) and the importance to not change God’s Word in any way. God’s Word is the perfect Word of the Lord given to equip us for spiritual warfare.

If we present untruth under the guise of the Truth, we are hindering His service and blaspheming His person and Word. Therefore, we all must labor to come to a proper understanding of the Word and then clearly present it to others. In doing so, we are equipping ourselves and others to be fully equipped to do the work of the Lord.

This is what Agur was doing for his students and for each one of us.

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

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Thank you Rob for your WONDERFUL post and bringing the importance of God's Word into our lives.

Have a Wonderful day, and May God Bless you ALL!