Proverbs 16 starts with some profound truths: namely, if we want to build well, God has to be our foundation and inspiration. “Mortals make elaborate plans, but GOD has the last word.” (Prov 16:1) “Put GOD in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place.” (Prov 16:3) It’s sometimes said in almost a clichéd fashion that God has a plan for our lives, but this is actually true: “GOD made everything with a place and purpose.” (Prov 16:4) We may not understand why God allowed evil into the world, but it’s clear from this verse that God is not taken by surprise by evil and even works this into His plans (see also Romans 8:28). Absolutely nothing can take Him by surprise; He is supreme and over all and in total control! The writer understands that humans plan and think they’re in control of their own destinies, but he also understands that God is in control: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” (Prov 16:9)

Proverbs 16 talks also about leadership (Prov 16:10-15) and how leaders need to act – wisely, honestly, with kindness, without exploitation or manipulation. Honesty, integrity, right living – these are the things of real value. As the Message version says of Proverbs 16:16: “choose insight over income every time.” There is so much more to life than the material and once again, we see that we are wise if we learn to trust in God: “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.” (Prov 16:20) It sounds almost too good to be true, too easy to actually work, but of course, it takes a lifetime to master!

Continuing our studies of the Apostles’ Creed, we looked at the statement ‘I believe in the Holy Spirit’. We believe in one God who has revealed Himself in Three Persons – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. All are co-equal. The Holy Spirit is God just as much as God the Father or God the Son! He was involved in Creation (Gen 1:1-2), is omnipresent (Ps 139:7), is omniscient (1 Cor 2:10-11) and is eternal (Heb 9:4) – all attributes which only God possesses. He is also involved in the resurreciton of Christ (1 Pet 3:18) and in the resurrection of believers (Rom 8:11).

As a Pentecostal church, we believe it’s important to understand as much as we can about the Holy Spirit, who is often called ‘the forgotten member of the Trinity’. The Holy Spirit is involved in so many things in our lives. Here are just twelve of them.

The Works of the Holy Spirit
1) He loves (Rom 15:30). If God is love (1 John 4:8), this is an obvious statement, but one we must never forget!
2) He gives spiritual life (John 3). We cannot be born again except through the Spirit of God.
3) He convinces the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-10). We may testify to the Gospel, but it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and saves people.
4) He lives within believers (1 Cor 6:19-20).
5) He directs and guides us (Acts 16:6-7, John 16:13). He will guide us into truth.
6) He gives us the word of God, which is divinely inspired by Him (2 Pet 3:20-21)
7) He is our teacher (John 14:26), reminding us of all that Jesus has taught and bringing understanding to us.
8) He gives us power to witness to Christ (Acts 1:8, Acts 2:2-4)
9) He gives gifts to us (1 Cor 12, Romans 12)
10)He develops the fruit of the Spirit in us, developing Christ’s character in our lives (Gal 5:22-23)
11)He intercedes for us (Rom 8:26-27)
12)He directs our lives (Acts 14:2-3)

Ps 143:10 says “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” That is our hope and prayer for 2012, that we may be led by God’s Spirit on level ground.

Stephen spoke from 1 Peter 1:3-9 on Sunday morning:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you,who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

The translation into English of some words in the Bible can result in the full meaning being lost: how can we fully understand what God means by the word ‘love’ or ‘great’?

Our text speaks of a gift. We have all received gifts for Christmas and said thank you to the giver and appreciated the gift. But our text talks of a different kind of gift – a gift from God.

In verse 3 the KJV uses the word ‘abundant’ rather that the word ‘great’ that the NIV uses. Other translations use ‘much’. We put limits on things (eglimits of time, money etc.), but this word ‘much’ implies something that is limitless. God’s mercy is limitless and immeasurable.

Gifts deteriorate with time; they break down, fade, rust or just cease to be useful.
But God’s gifts are imperishable; they cannot spoil or fade.

The text starts with praise and continues with joy for this wonderful gift.
For natural gifts we say ‘thank you’, but for this gift thanks is not enough – our thanks are to be never ending praise and honour to our God and the Lord Jesus.

Trials and hard times will come, as will trouble, chaos and mayhem. But we still thank God for His gift anyway.

We sometimes ask whether we deserve the gift: do we really deserve the gift of God?
But of course we can never deserve it. It is given in God’s ‘muchness’ – His mercy.

The text mentions gold. Gold is becoming increasingly valuable. Even though gold can increase in value, it will eventually reach the limit of its value – when it cannot increase in value anymore. But God’s gift cannot ever reach the limit of its value – its value is without measure.

This morning we sang
‘Thank you for saving me,
Great is the Lord.
Mercy and grace are mine.’ (Martin Smith)

That is the gift of God.
Take it and use it.

When I was a child, Macgyver was one of my favourite TV programmes. An action-adventure series, it revolved around Angus MacGyver whose main asset was his practical application of scientific knowledge and inventive use of common items, along with his ever-present Swiss Army knife. He often had to improvise complex devices in a matter of minutes in order to save lives. The series never seemed to me particularly plausible or realistic (doubtless why I enjoyed it so much!), although apparently it was praised for generating interest in the applied sciences!

One episode I remember vividly was when MacGyver had to defuse a bomb (or several bombs). Apparently this episode was called ‘The Prometheus Syndrome’. It was highly dramatic and probably pretty implausible to have to defuse so many bombs in the space of an hour, but the tension and the excitement generated in this episode have stayed with me over the years. And today, when I was reading Proverbs 15, I was reminded of this episode, for Proverbs 15:1 says “A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper fire.”

It takes two to argue. I know that from experience, for my husband is one of the most mild-mannered men you could ever hope to know. Sometimes I feel really frustrated with him, because he just doesn’t argue. He is the embodiment of this verse. So often his gentle responses ‘turn away’ my wrath and defuse my anger. He talks about being a sponge, soaking in the hurt and anger of other people, and responding with the graciousness of Christ. You can’t argue with that. Instead of inflaming the situation with sharp words, cutting sarcasm, quick retorts and the fast ‘comeback’, the situation is soothed, calmed, healed.

This chapter has a lot to say about our words.
“Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.” (Prov 15:4).
“The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.” (Prov 15:7) “Congenial conversation – what a pleasure! The right word at the right time – beautiful!” (Prov 15:23)

It also has a lot to say about wisdom involving listening and being willing to take advice and heed correction (Prov 15:12, 22, 32). All of this is rooted in a fear of the Lord: “Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living – first you learn humility, then you experience glory.” (Prov 15:33)

Proverbs 14 contrasts attitudes and actions all the time, showing us vividly that there are two different ways of living which lead to two totally different outcomes. Put simply, there are the wise, who think about how they live and will be rewarded for their faith (see vs 2, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14-19, 24, 26, 32 and 34) and the foolish, who live thoughtlessly with little regard for God and who end up in death (“there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Prov 14:12) )

Wisdom comes when we seek God and fear Him. “The gullible believe everything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word.” (Prov 14:15.) “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.” (Prov 14:27) God’s ways help us in life (“a heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (Prov 14.30) could come straight out of a modern counselling guide!) and can benefit whole communities ( “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov 14:34)) as well as individuals (“when calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.” (Prov 14:32))

During the Second World War, we were told ‘careless talk costs lives’ and that theme seems to have come from Proverbs 13: “Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything.” (Prov 13:2)

This chapter has plenty more to say about how we talk: “A good person hates false talk; a bad person wallows in gibberish.” (Prov 13:5), and “The good acquire a taste for helpful conversation; bullies push and shove their way through life” (Prov 13:2), for example. It also talks a lot about how to live: with common sense (vs 16), with a listening ear (vs 1), with diligence (vs 4, 11) and with loyalty to God (vs 13, 21).

There are some very famous verses in here, notably Proverbs 13:12 (‘hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life’) and Proverbs 13:24 (‘Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.’) These verses can obviously be taken out of context, but I’m sure we’ve all experienced that sense of unrelenting disappointment which saps energy and enthusiasm from life and we all know that a lack of discipline ultimately leads to disaster. The Bible reminds us constantly that we reap what we sow and we need to careful to do what is right in God’s eyes, not being squeezed into the world’s mould or thinking that it has all the answers to life when it so clearly doesn’t.