Senior Sunday Graduation
Build Upon the Legacy Already Left…
Proverbs 16:1-9
Man Purposes, God Disposes (He brings you to the right state of mind)
Your Legacy starts in the smallest of muscles but sets the course of your life. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45.
Proverbs 16:1-2 - “The plans (preparations, arrangements) of the heart (inner part of man - the mind, your thinking) belong to man, but the answer (ability to answer, response) of the tongue (language) is from the Lord. 2 All the ways (deh-rek: way, road, journey, path, course of life) of a man are pure (clean, righteous) in his own eyes (mental and spiritual qualities, fountain), but the Lord weighs (taw-kan: measure, test, prove) the spirit (roo-ahk: mental acts, dispositions of various kinds).
Matthew Henry: Mene Mene “Tekel (the handwriting on the wall) upon that which passed our scale with approbation (our praise or approval) - weighed (by God) in the balance and found wanting, and by his judgment, we must stand or fall. He not only sees men's ways but tries (test the genuineness) their spirits, and we are as our spirits are.(dead without Christ)”
NT: James 3:6 - “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.”
OT: Proverbs 4:23 - “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Your heart guides your mouth. Change the way you think, changes the heart, change the heart, changes your language. Speak Jesus’ language!
Give It All To Him
All that the LORD God has made is for His purpose and plan, nothing is made to just exist but made for His wonderful name and glory. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” - Romans 9:17
Proverbs 16:3-4 - “Commit (roll up to) your work (acts, pursuits, achievements) to the Lord, and your plans (devices, purpose) will be established (to be firm, stable, fixed). 4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
NT: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” - Colossians 3:17
OT: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” - Ecclesiastes 12:13
A Warning To Run From Pride
Life is not about you; it will always be about Christ. “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14
Proverbs 16:5-6 - “Everyone who is arrogant (ga-va: proud) in heart (inner man, heart, mind) is an abomination (disgusting thing) to the Lord; be assured (put the hand too), he will not go unpunished (to be free, pure, clean, innocent, guiltless…) . 6 By steadfast love (goodness, kindness, faithfulness) and faithfulness (truth, firmness, sureness, reliable) iniquity (perversity, depravity, guilt) is atoned (purge, cover, reconcile) for, and by the fear of the Lord (revence, respect) one turns away (depose, turn from, depart) from evil.
NT: “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” - James 4:6
OT: “...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14
Love God, His Word, His Ways, His Things
The greatest value you’ve been given is Christ and His word, not your stuff. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:21
Proverbs 16:7-8 - “When (rawt-shaw: pleasing, acceptable) a man's ways (way, road, journey, path, course of life) please (rawt-shaw: pleasing, acceptable) the Lord, he makes (shaw-lam: cause to be at peace) even his enemies to be at peace (Shaw-lam: to make anyone a friend) with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness than great (abundance) revenues (income) with injustice (no right, rectitude - attributes of God and man).
NT: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” - John 15:10-11
OT: “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” - Psalm 86:11
“Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” -Exodus 33:13
God Is In Complete Control
God is sovereign and in control; you’re not. “And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” - Revelation 21:5a
Proverbs 16:9 - “The heart of man (lave - inner man, mind, heart, soul) plans (khaw-shav: to think, plan, calculate, invent, make a judgment) his way,(deh-rek: way, road, journey, path, course of life) but the Lord establishes (koon: to be firm, stable, established) his steps.(tsah- ad: course of life)
NT: “They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” - Revelation 4:10-11
OT: “I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, 6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. 7 I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.” - Isaiah 45:5-7
“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. - Psalm. 115:3