1. May 12, 2013
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi, USA
MAY MEMORY VERSE:
Matthew 22:37-39
37 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your
mind.” 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39
Saturday, May 18th
Vacation Bible School Blitz in the Belhaven and Northeast Jackson areas. We will
meet in Fellowship Hall East at 9:00 a.m. for assignments. We will be finished by 11:00
a.m. There will be a party at Parham Bridges Park on Ridgewood Road from 11:00
a.m.2:00 p.m. Hotdogs, fun jumps and making new friends. A great way to
encourage members to get involved as we prepare for the greatest evangelistic
effort during the year!
Contact Paula Webb, the Children’s Ministry Assistant, for instructions on the sign up
sheet for Vacation Bible School Refreshments to provide refreshments the week of
June 3-7.

2. JOHN GILL on Proverbs
He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon but over one hundred years
earlier. His pastorate lasted 51 years from 1720-1771.
John Gill mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by age 11.
He was the first Baptist to write a complete systematic theology and the first to write a
verse-by-verse commentary of the Bible.
Gill wrote so much that he was known as Dr. Voluminous.
He sees the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 “as the bride of Christ;
a woman fruitful, a woman beautiful, especially in His eyes, a woman, the weaker
vessel, unable to do anything without Him, yet everything through Him: a "virtuous"
one, inviolably chaste in her love and affection to Christ, her Husband; steadfast in
her adherence, to Him by faith, as her Lord and Saviour; incorrupt in doctrine, sincere
and spiritual in worship, retaining the purity of discipline and holiness of life.

3. John Gill said that the Church is militant, has many enemies, and these are powerful
and mighty, as well as cunning and crafty; yet, with all their power and policy,
cannot overcome her; the gates of hell cannot prevail against her; she engages with
them all, and is more than a conqueror over them;
she is of great spiritual strength, which she, has from Christ, to fight the Lord's battles,
to withstand every enemy, to exercise grace, and do every good work.
But "who can find" such an one? there is but one to be found; though there are many
particular churches, there is but one Church of the firstborn, of which Christ is the
head and Husband, ( Song of Solomon 6:9 ) ; and there is but One that could find her:
even her surety, her Saviour, and her Redeemer.
The price He has paid for her is far above rubies; she is bought with a price, but not
with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ;
the ransom price paid for her is Himself, Who is more precious than rubies, and all the
things that can be desired,” (1 Peter 1:18-19) (1 Timothy 2:6)(Prov 3:15).

4. Revelation 19:7-9 NASB
Marriage of the Lamb
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb
has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe
herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of
the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage
supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
Revelation 19:7-9 NASB
Proverbs 31:10-31 NASB
(22 verses)
10 An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels (rubies).
11 The heart of her Husband trusts in her,
And He will have no lack of gain.
12 She does Him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax
and works with her hands in delight.
14 She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.

5. 20 She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple. (Rev 19:7-9)
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When He sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her (Mother’s Day);
Her Husband also, and He praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product (fruit) of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31 NASB
Proverbs 31:30 NASB
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 NASB
Proverbs 9:10a NASB
10a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
Proverbs 9:10a NASB
What is wisdom?
Wisdom is being able to see things from God’s point of view.

6. How do we see things from God’s point of view – from the heavenly perspective, from
the eternal perspective, the bigger picture?
In order to see things from another person’s point of view, we need to try and think
like they think.
Yet, God says:
Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB
So how can one person learn to think like another person?
By getting to know them!
How can a human on earth think like God in Heaven?
See things from His point of view?
Let’s stay with Isaiah 55 -
Isaiah 55:6-7a NASB
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
7a Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
…
Isaiah 55:6-7a NASB
The Seek Cycle
Seek Matt 6:33
Seek My Face 2 Ch 7:14
Seek My Favor Gen 6:8
Grace James 4:6
Humility Phil 2:8
Obedience Heb 5:8
Suffering 1 Ptr 4:19
Faith Heb 11:6
Seek Heb 11:6
Reward Heb 11:6
His Presence Isa 40:10
Isa 62:11
Rev 22:12

7. Matthew 6:33 NASB
33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added
to you.
Matthew 6:33 NASB
2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB
14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and
seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will
forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB
Genesis 6:8 NASB
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 6:8 NASB
Grace = God’s unmerited favor.

8. GRACE
God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense
James 4:6b NASB
6b “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6b NASB
Philippians 2:8 NASB
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8 NASB
Hebrews 5:8 NASB
8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
Hebrews 5:8
1 Peter 4:19 NASB
19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls
to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
1 Peter 4:19 NASB

9. FAITH
Forsaking
All
I
Trust
Him
Hebrews 11:6 NASB
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must
believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 NASB
Seek Matt 6:33
Seek My Face 2 Ch 7:14
Seek My Favor Gen 6:8
Grace James 4:6
Humility Phil 2:8
Obedience Heb 5:8
Suffering 1 Ptr 4:19
Faith Heb 11:6
Seek Heb 11:6
Reward Heb 11:6
His Presence Isa 40:10
Isa 62:11
Rev 22:12
Isaiah 40:10 NASB
10 Behold, the Lord God will come with might,
With His arm ruling for Him.
Behold, His reward is with Him
And His recompense before Him.
Isaiah 40:10 NASB
Isaiah 62:11 NASB
11 Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth,
Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your salvation comes;
Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”
Isaiah 62:11 NASB
Recompense
Verb: Make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered; compensate.
Noun form of recompense
Compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or for effort made.

10. Synonyms
Verb: compensate - reward - remunerate - repay - requite
Noun: requital - compensation - reward - remuneration
Revelation 22:12 NASB
12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every
man according to what he has done.
Revelation 22:12 NASB
Why would learning and practicing the fear of the LORD be the beginning of seeing
things from God’s point of view (wisdom)?
How can a human on earth think like God in Heaven?
See things from His point of view?
Use the Seek Cycle.
Hebrews 11:1 NASB
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 NASB
Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
Proverbs 9:10a NASB
10a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
Proverbs 9:10a NASB
So if wisdom is seeing things from God’s point of view and if you learn to start seeing
things from God’s point of view by seeking His face, by getting to know Him, then
what part does the fear of the LORD play in all of this?
What is the fear of the LORD?

11. One definition of the fear of the LORD is realizing that God is watching every thought,
action, attitude and deed that I have or do.
It is a constant awareness of Him.
He is always present (omnipresent) with us but our awareness of that presence gets
dull at times.
For a person to enjoy sinning, they try to put God out of their thoughts.
When a man is looking at pornography, he does not want to be meditating on God’s
word.
When someone is listening to gossip or spreading gossip, they don’t want to be
focusing on God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
Consider the example of a highway patrolman following you.
Suddenly you become aware of his presence.
You start wondering what he is thinking of your driving.
You start thinking like he thinks.
You start seeing things from his point of view.
Remember, wisdom is seeing things from God’s point of view so the beginning of
wisdom is realizing that God is watching every thought, action, attitude and deed
that you have or do (the fear of the LORD).
That is why Scripture says that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD.
Proverbs 31:30 NASB
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 NASB

12. Proverbs 31:30
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain
Proverbs 31:30
A well favoured look, a graceful countenance, symmetry and proportion of parts,
natural or artificial beauty, are vain and deceitful; oftentimes under them lies an ill
natured, deformed, and depraved mind; nor is the pleasure and satisfaction enjoyed
as is promised along with these; and particularly how do they fade and consume
away by a fit of illness, and through old age, and at last by death?
And so vain and deceitful are the favour and beauty, the artificial paintings, of
Jezebel, that whore of Rome; all her meretricious deckings, dressings, and ornaments;
her gaudy pomp and show in her worship, and the places of it; see (Revelation 17:4).
Jarchi interprets this of the grandeur and glory of the kings of the nations; His first
pastoral work was as an intern assisting John Davis in 1718 at age 21.
He became pastor at the Strict Baptist church at Goat Yard Chapel, Horsleydown,
Southwark in 1719.
Pastor of the: New Park Street Chapel 1720-1771
In 1757 his congregation needed larger premises and moved to a Carter Lane, St.
Olave’s Street, Southwark.
This Baptist church would later become the New Park Street Chapel and then the
Metropolitan Tabernacle pastored by Charles Spurgeon.
conscience: or a "woman of strength", valour, and courage, as the word signifies,
when used of men, ( 1 Samuel 16:18 ) ( Psalms 76:6 ); and all her true members
persevere to the end: [but] a woman [that] feareth the Lord, she shall be praised;
any single individual, man or woman, that fears the Lord; or a collective body of
them, a society consisting of such persons, as the true church of Christ does; who
have the grace of fear in their hearts, which is the beginning of wisdom, and includes
the whole of religious worship, internal and external, private and public: such are
taken notice of and highly valued by the Lord; His eye is upon them; His hand
communicates to them much grace; and many benefits are bestowed upon them
here, and great honour is conferred upon them, and great goodness is laid up for
them.

13. Compare this with Revelation 5:3-5:
Revelation 5:3-5 NASB
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book
or to look into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to
open the book or to look into it; 5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping;
behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as
to open the book and its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:3-5 NASB