Reformation Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Years ago, while we were cleaning out my grandparents house, after the death of my dear grandmother, one of the things that we discovered was a beautifully framed wooden panel upon which a family crest had been painted. I had never seen this crest, and after I was given the picture I was told this was the Fowler family crest. I do not know when it was painted, and what the inspiration was for the elements on the crest, but what I know is this that the crest represents history the history of my family and serves as a reminder that I am not the first, I am not the last, and God has in His providence brought me and others before me, and others after me into this world connected by blood and love to that crest. It is, in a manner of speaking, an ancient thing that serves to show God's covenant faithfulness throughout time, down through the generations. --Greater even still than an individual family's crest is the promise and pledge crafted and revealed by God and made good time and again throughout history that H

Again we find the parents warning the son to avoid the loose and adulterous woman, the onlyfans kind of woman, the woman who seeks to ensnare and bring low the fool who would give his heart to an unworthy woman, a destructive woman, a killer in a beautiful dress. She's got nice eyes, but wretched heart - she's a devil with a blue dress on. Son, shore up your heart with wisdom, guard your heart with God's Word, and seek not the places and back alleys where she's prowls for her next victim. Son, be wise, don't be a fool.

In Romans, Paul is at his most free in terms of theological expression because he was not responding to some situation in a local church, but was presenting the Gospel in all its richness and beauty. He was writing, seeking support for the mission he wished to engage in to Spain, and instead of the crass exercise of merely asking for money, he presented to the churches in Rome the very word of life he was taking to that place where the Word of God had not yet been. Paul was taking the gospel of salvation, root and branch, even as he believed it would be through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that the nations would be brought in.

Proverbs 4-10-19 warns the son not to enter onto the way of the wicked, and in the third section of Proverbs 4-20-27-, the lecture turns to encouraging the son to keep on the right path. What the grandfather and father are speaking of is faithful discipleship in righteousness, following the Lord in the way that you should go. What is a faithful disciple-- One who follows Christ in self-denial and cross-bearing, one who keeps his heart, mouth, and eyes devoting them wholly to the Lord. This is the way, the way of a faithful, God-fearing anatomy. Wisdom is something meant for the whole-person, for wisdom truly is all of Christ for all of life.

Here the father turns to warning the son about three specific types of persons who he is avoid being brought down by or becoming himself. The Lord desires for the son to live a life where he deals honestly, uprightly, and righteously with men. The father is calling the son to avoid financial and moral ruin, and the despising of the Lord through the seven forbidden sins. Dear saints, do you wish to honor Christ with you life, then live above reproach, do not run to ruin, do not embrace the wickedness of the world.

Proverbs 4-10-19 warns the son not to enter onto the way of the wicked, and in the third section of Proverbs 4-20-27-, the lecture turns to encouraging the son to keep on the right path. What the grandfather and father are speaking of is faithful discipleship in righteousness, following the Lord in the way that you should go. What is a faithful disciple-- One who follows Christ in self-denial and cross-bearing, one who keeps his heart, mouth, and eyes devoting them wholly to the Lord. This is the way, the way of a faithful, God-fearing anatomy. Wisdom is something meant for the whole-person, for wisdom truly is all of Christ for all of life.

This Sunday we will see an Ernest please from a father and a mother to stay away from the wicked temptations of a loose and immoral woman. They will warn their son of her schemes, and what it will make him, and bring to him in light of giving into temptation. He will ruin himself if becomes an adulterer. He is called to guard his heart, put up walls of protection, and seek the peace that-holiness brings.

When Christ took the Throne, there was a moment in heaven of unique tension, and most especially in the mind and heart of John who seeing that there was none to open the scrolls began to weep for there was in his mind a dilemma as the plan of God could not be carried out until the scroll problem was solved. Christ solved this problem through his death, burial, and resurrection, and as He took the throne He did so as one having been given the responsibility and authority to carry out the plan outlined in that scroll. Much of revelation is given over to the reading of what lies within it, and so there is now, in the age of Christ ascension to the Throne of Heaven and Earth a clarity that the Messiah alone can bring, as Redeemer, as Prophet, Priest, and King. What then does Christ's ascension mean for the work of the Kingdom, our lives, our-homes, and everything to which we can put our hand--

What we find at the end of Revelation, part of the epilogue of the book is a statement that should be for us, a resounding encouragement and warning, that the Word of God can and ought to be believed upon and trust, and also not edited to fit a narrative or system other than the one which God has given to us, that we might know how to glorify and enjoy Him. God takes most seriously the content of His Word, being His perfect revelation of His purpose and plan for those to whom the Word if given, such that whether you add -18- or subtract -19-, you are condemned unto curse and having your name taken away from His book of life. As a final expression of who is sealed in Christ, a dweller in the city, and whose name is included in the Lamb's book of life, it is those who take God at His Word.

In light of all that we have seen and heard, in light of all that the Lord Jesus Christ has told us, and our brother, John the Apostle has declared what then is to be our response-- Last week we looked for at the Gospel of that brings warning and encouragement depending on which side of the walls of the City of God you find yourself. To those who dwell within, hold fast to the true confession and live in light of your being sealed and obey the One who is coming with reward. To those who are unfit, unwashed, unresponsive to the call to repentance, there is only misery and death that lay outside the walls. Right now, even now, the invitation is emphasized even more such that the Spirit and the Church, who is the Bride of Christ both call those who have not yet drunk, to drink and to do so freely - such is the manifest glory and extraordinary grace of God.

More than anything else that can be gotten in this life and passed down to our children is the precious treasure, that family heirloom which is not meant to be given in a will and kept on a shelf, but learned, practiced, and passed on from one generation to another. It is valuable for all the reasons expressed already in this series, and to add it is that which binds the hearts of family members together, its what gives them unity, peace, purpose, and influence in the world. Let the way your family walks be according to the way of wisdom.

Even as we saw the teachings of the son's father and mother to be of great value and worthy to take in, remember, and live in light of, Solomon adds at the beginning of chapter three a series of exhortations and the attending blessings when they are kept by the son. Wisdom is not just something the parents wish to see their son embrace and exhibit, they are the very commands and intention of the Lord, to follow and so reap the attending blessings. As Solomon continues to express the beauty of wisdom, he turns to the incomparable worth of wisdom, and why you ought to get it.

The depth of the rebellion and idolatry of Israel is manifestly exhibited here in Revelation, where we find a warning given to a people who have no hope to respond in repentance. In fact the warning, though not expressed in half-hearted fashion is more a full throated condemnation against the city that rejected the Messiah. More than a condemnation we also find the exhortation to those who are righteous to continue to walk in righteousness for God will bring with Him reward, in addition to just desserts. To the obedient a promise of peaceful dwelling, to the rebellious the promise of a life banished to the place where the preserve, the liar, the idolaters dwell - outside. Today if you hear the warning, do not harden your heart, for the day is coming when the sheep and goats, the wheat and tares will be divided for eternity. Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.