"The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?" --- Proverbs 18:14
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What would you say are the 7 great wonders of the modern world?
(Wonder, loosely, but essentially defined, as a tourist attraction, a marvel of human technology, combining science and art to create something larger than life.)
In ancient times, the wonders were (in no particular order), the Pyramids of Egypt, the Hanging gardens of Babylon, the statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the mausoleum of Halicarnassus, and the Pharos Lighthouse in Alexandria. Pretty cool stuff for that time...
A modern list some grew up with could go like, the Great Wall of China, Chichen Itza in Mexico, Petra, Machu Picchu, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio, the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal. Not bad...., not bad....
What would be on todays millenials, Gen___ lists ?
The Internet, Youtube, Social Media, the cell phone, some tall buildings (Burj Khalifa, Petronas towers, Humber bridge, the Eye), DNA editing, the Mars Rover, MMORPGs... ?
In the MATERIAL world, we have come so far as a species!!!
We have taken science and technology, and applied it over & over again to improve the quality of life for people that can afford it...
.........BUT........... how have we done in the SPIRITUAL SPACE?
Have we taken the same principles we used in the material domain and applied them to learning about spirituality and finding out what makes us tick?
Sure we've tried ... Psychology, Neurology, Psychiatry, Counselling/Coaching, Rehabilitation, AI research, Anthropology, History, the Social Sciences --- these are areas focused on the MIND and ---related---- issues.
Theology, Philosophy, and the application of Logic and Moral sciences, and finally, RELIGION, have been the domain of those exploring more abstract mental concepts ... or IDEAS/Spirits ... like Good, Evil, True, False, Real, Fantasy etc.... and creating frameworks or world views to help us understand the MOTIVATION, CAUSES, SOURCES, and CONSEQUENCES of subscribing to a particular set of ideas.
Are these as real as the Pyramids or cell phones?
We submit... "REAL-ER!!" ?
Our opening text this week will be the springboard for us to study the wisdom of the Book as it relates to SPIRITUAL matters.... so that we can become spiritual "engineers" !!!
Lets look at it a little closer....
Infirmities are illnesses --- problems in the physical domain.
The proverb says that we have the power to overcome the vicissitudes of this life (illness is an example of something we don't quite control) by the strength of our "spirit", but if our "spirit" is wounded or hurt, it is extremely difficult to "lift up/set straight/carry/bear the weight of " .... can you relate?
Depression and Suicide is the #1 Mental health issue facing mankind today, along with the global pandemic!
The word spirit is the word "Ruach" in Hebrew, used interchangeably for "Wind" .
The Spirit of God (Ruach Elohim) flutters/broods/moves over the waters in Genesis, and Jesus says in John 3:8 "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. "
Here is every instance of the word "Ruach" in the Book of Proverbs, grouped and classified into categories ...
RUACH used in the sense of WIND
Pro_11:29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
Pro_25:14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and -wind without rain.
Pro_25:23 The north -wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Prov 27:15,16 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. [!!!] Whosoever hideth her hideth the -wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
Pro_30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the -wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name [!!!], if thou canst tell?
RUACH - SPIRITUAL CHARACTERISTICS
A Mans spirit can be ... faithful, hasty, haughty, proud, humble, excellent...
Pro_11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful -spirit concealeth the matter.
Pro_14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of -spirit exalteth folly.
Pro_16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty -spirit before a fall.
Pro_29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in -spirit.
Pro_16:19 Better it is to be of an humble -spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Pro_17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent -spirit.
RUACH- SELF CONTROL IS SPIRITUAL
Pro_16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his -spirit than he that taketh a city.
Pro_25:28 He that hath no rule over his own -spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
RUACH- BROKENNESS OF SPIRIT, SOURCES & CONSEQUENCES
Pro_15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but ----perverseness therein is a breach in the -spirit.
Pro_15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the -spirit is broken.
Pro_17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken -spirit drieth the bones.
Pro_18:14 The -spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded -spirit who can bear?
RUACH- OUR SPIRIT IS INTERWINED WITH THE LORD
Pro_1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out -my -spirit unto you, I will make known -my -words unto you.
Pro_20:27 The -spirit of man is the -candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Here are some engineering principles to take away.
A. RECOGNIZE that you are a SPIRITUAL BEING (Duh!)
B. Look at the commended qualities -- Self Control over --thought, ---word, ---deed..., Humility and respect for others, Discretion, keeping a Joyful/Merry heart (stress is a literal KILLER -- ask any one in the medical profession) , and persevering through strength of character (our text this week).
THESE ARE THE THINGS TO VALUE AND CULTIVATE !!!
C. Remember the SOURCE. The Spirit of GOD Himself... in the form of His ideas and thoughts are to be had... in your hand as a book, in your mind as tools to do spiritual COMBAT!!!
We are acquainted with Physical/Material illness (Bacteria, Broken bones etc) ... VIRUSES... the nonliving molecules that hijack our cells to make copies of themselves, CANCERS... that cause normal cells to grow beyond their limits and that take over healthy organs... WOUNDS... that lacerate skin, bone and tissue and cut deep, leaving lasting scars....
Ladies and Gentlemen, Spiritual diseases are EXACTLY like that!!
The cancer of Pride and Depression, the viruses of lies, the hateful words of a friend or enemy .... we are all familiar with these debilitating things!
Don't they feel as real to you as the air you breathe, and the ground you stand on? That is because THEY ARE!!!!!
NONE of these proverbs taken in isolation would offend ANY RELIGION, because all humanity recognizes (whether they admit it or NOT), that we are all the same, and therefore, any beliefs we have in a divinity, are all looking to the explain the same --ONE-- reality that we ALL acknowledge.
There is only ---one--- God... you can call Him as many Names as you want.
and He is the ONE who has given ALL, EACH & EVERY Human Mind and Spirit, facts and feelings. Made in the same mould, but each person is as unique as a snowflake... marvelous!!
Mind, and Spirit, Facts, and Feelings --- These are the tools with which to build the engineering marvels of character we see throughout the Bible, culminating in the ....
...PERSON of the LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!!
THE SPIRITUAL ENGINEERING WONDER OF THE WORLD!
Happy Fathers day to all our readers ... and thanks be to our Father for giving us this day to celebrate and remember our earthly Fathers, and our Heavenly one!
Hallelujah!
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