the proverbs study group

#32Chapters
Chapter 16 - Patience & Self-control Hallerin Hilton Hill

Last week...
Words have power! Remember that. Take responsibility for the words you say. Use your words on purpose.

This weeks main point(s).

Patience = strength. Self-control = success key. Introduction Wisdom is all about self-control. Ive been trying to gure out why this wisdom work seems so heavy. Simple: we nally have to step up. No more hiding. No more blaming outside factors for what ultimately happens in your life. Wisdom calls us to take responsibility for our outer world and our inner world. We have to take responsibility for words, actions and thoughts. Proverbs works the same topics over and over. Repetition ags the ideas as important. The goal is to drive them deep into your heart and mind so that they TRANSFORM your words actions and thoughts. Todays lesson Patience & Self Control Patience is the greatest strength, self-control the key to success. Proverbs 16:32 Patience: n. the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset. In the world of nance those who are patient and have a great degree of self-control get rich. You need money today so they give it to you. You cant wait. They can. So they tack on outlandish rates of interest. It could cost your 40 thousand dollars to borrow 5 thousand. How many bad decisions have been driven by impatience? For many years patience looked like weakness. Proverbs says it is the Greatest strength. Why do you think Solomon would set this life virtue on such a high pedestal? Patience has power. Patience allows you to think.

Self-control: n. the ability to control oneself, in particular ones emotions and desires or the expression of them in ones behavior especially in difcult situations. Why is self-control the key to success? If you dont control yourself you will surrender that control to something or someone else. The most incredible athletes and performers have the ability to suspend their emotions and or desires to accomplish what theyve set out to do. Your personal power expands or diminishes to the extent that you have self-control? What area of your life needs more self-control?

Alignment If you turn from evil and stand in awe of God, they your kindness and honesty will bring you forgiveness. (16:6) Align yourself with godliness and even your enemies will make peace with you. (16:7) What secures success? Wise investigation and aligning yourself with goodness. (16:20) Align: v. place or arrange in a straight line. Put (things) into correct or appropriate relative positions. Self-control not only means being responsible for your life as it happens it also means being responsible for choosing the direction of your life before it happens. You need to check your alignment on a regular basis. Good alignment shows itself in: - Kindness - Honesty - Healing of broken relationships through forgiveness - Peace with your enemies - Secure success Is there anything you need to turn from in order to stand in awe of God? What You Say A wise heart leads to right speech; train your lips to speak the truth. (16:23) Be wise of heart and people will appreciate your understanding; temper your speech and the wise will gladly teach you. (16:21)

Wise leaders desire truth and those who speak it are honored. (16:12) A liar incites others to violence, the grumbler alienates those who might be of help (16:28) if your mouth is always open you may say things you regret. (16:30) The careless stir up slander as if it were a treasure; their lips burn with envys re. (16:27) Gentle words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the body. (16:24) Here we are back again at controlling how we speak. This must have been a major challenge. Solomon hammers this over and over and over. This is how your words take power from you Liar = provoking or inciting violence Grumbler = driving away the wise people set in your life to help you Careless = light the res of gossip and slander, they foam the mouth with envy This is how your words give you power Gentle speech = refreshes the body and soul Tempered speech = opens you up to the wisdom and teaching of wise people Give me an example of how youve used your words to give or take power? Conclusion Self-control cannot happen with out God-control. If you are under Gods control you will have self-control.n

Grow. Help others grow. Be Encouraged. Wisdom House Publishing

(c) 2012 Hallerin Hilton Hill