Proverbs 25:28

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Notice that in e-mails and on my web-site (HISCUP.NET) a change in color of passage markers. Those of us who like to check quotations, we will see that the color change is an indication of a link via activeX coding which takes us to the quoted verse at BibleGateway including the version being quoted.

For those readers that obtain these blogs via facebook, those activeX controls are eliminated and the colored text turns to black because facebook is beyond my control.

Here in this earth world we only have so much control and we have to depend on the service of institutions to protect our interests. We pay for those services in one way or another.

Now let us relate control into the spiritual realm and address this issue of speaking God’s Word and singing His praises. When done in church, bible studies, and small groups settings we are helped by the Holy Spirit who abides in each and every one of us. He controls the activeX coding of speech and takes our minds into the realm of validation of quotations. The Spirit of Truth speaks truth to us.

When we take Him out on the streets of the world how the truth is spread is within His control but like facebook, the color changes and where it is received is beyond our control. When we give a Word we have done all that we can do and the results are beyond our control.

• Proverbs 1:7
  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  
• Proverbs 1:22
  “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
  
• Proverbs 1:32
  For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

Note the formatting changed. Some changes we can live with, others bother us to the point where we allow the control freak inside us to control every aspect of our involvement. 

This message is brought to you by me without any input from the Holy Spirit. 

My words not His.

Psalm 55:12-14 English Standard Version

12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me—
    then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—
    then I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, a man, my equal,
    my companion, my familiar friend.

14 We used to take sweet counsel together;
    within God’s house we walked in the throng.

In an article called Bible 101 I wrote “take it personal”, but I failed to leave a cautionary note. My intention was to inspire readers to take the Word of God to heart. That is accomplished by accepting Jesus into our hearts. After all Jesus is the Word.

This is a personal relationship with God and my cautionary note is this; familiarity lessens the tone of respect for the God that deserves it.

Proverbs 14:15

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

Proverbs 7:4

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,

John 15:15

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

1 Corinthians 2:16

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

While this is all true we do not do the thinking for our Lord. Not every thought that sounds good, right and useful is from the Lord. Our character has changed but we are still ourselves and He is Lord.

Be careful not to treat Him as just a familiar spirit. That term refers to an empty water vessel that makes a hollow sound. We are not empty vessels. John 7:38