LIVING RIGHT SIDE UP
IN AN UPSIDE SOCIETY!
Proverbs 3:1-12.
Slide 1
INTRODUCTION: What is a Christian supposed to do? We live in a society that is upside down.
Slide 2
The above picture is of Courtney and Sister Vickie after riding a coaster!
It’s almost August and it’s time for the WV State Fair. My kids use to look forward to riding all the rides. They would choose their favorited and it usually was a coaster. They would ride it, and it would take them in all directions. I remember riding a coaster at Kings Island and several times during one particular ride I remember being upside down several times during the duration. When the ride was finished, I had trouble focusing and getting my balance straightened out again. It was hard to determine which way to walk.
I think what has happened in this society we live in can be described as the coaster effect. Everything has been turned upside down and even inside out. It has been turned upside down morally, ethically, and physically. Nothing seems to biblically right side up.
It is hard to live right side up in an upside down society.
But you can live right side up if you want to.
Society has no vision of how God looks at the system that we live in. Society sees everything totally different than God expects us to look at it.
Society says it is proper to kill unborn babies just because the parents do not want the responsibility of raising them.
It is accepted by our society for a child to make their own decision as though they were adults. They can choose what is beneficial to them physically, morally, and emotionally. They can even choose a life style that is completely opposed to the family belief system.
The legal system allows perpetrators to have freedom to continue doing his/her crimes and/or any misdemeanor chosen. In most situations it is depriving of personal rights to restrain an individual from doing their own desire regardless if it is infringing on others rights or not.
Society says any and all sin should be looked at as a choice, while restraining the only freedom to truthfully preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Society says that right may not always be right to everyone and the individual can decide for himself what is right and wrong for him.
It is accepted by society that government officials can engage themselves in any conduct and not have to answer to the public for such.
Right side up only comes from God. When we allow the Holy Spirit to dictate our steps; then we will be right side up!
Slide 3
The Key to Holiness is walking by the Spirit not by the flesh.
Remember society will likely view it as being upside down.
Slide 4
(Prov 3:5) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
(Prov 3:6) “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
(Prov 3:7) “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”
(Prov 3:8) “It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”
(Prov 3:9) “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”
(Prov 3:10) “So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
This portion of Scripture tells us that there is a way in which every child of God can live successful and acceptable to God even though the surroundings may not be conceivably acceptable.
Notice again Vs. 10: “So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Is Vs. 10 applicable for 2025? Of course it is. Full barns and full wine presses. Plenteous. More than enough. How many of you would consider that to be living “Right Side Up?” I sure would.
Even if the whole society is upside down we, the children of God, can still live right side up.
I want to give you four areas of life in which you must make this work for you.
Slide 5
I. TRUST GOD BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE
(Prov 3:5) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Several have mentioned the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary this week. The English word “Trust” in the “Hebrew” means – “Be confident or sure:–be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless, confidence, hope, trust.
A very interesting word in this definition. “Careless” – How would that apply in trusting? Christians who put total trust in the Lord will appear to others to be careless in practice and thinking. An unbelieving person would think it very careless for a Christian, to place total trust in the Lord for all our needs, with no regard to whether or not God would do what He promised. It would appear to be “careless” not to make a back up provision in the event God didn’t come through. To an unbeliever it will look careless. To a dedicated believer it is just “trusting the Lord”. When you announce to a godless society that you are going to live totally by faith and they will call you “careless”. If Christians really place their faith and trust in God everyone else will think we are “careless”.
Our assurance must be in God and God alone. When we say God plus man -then we limit God. God may and probably will use man to bring about His desires for us, but man is only a delivery instrument and not the source of supply.
For example, Doctors that do medical treatment are not performing some magical or healing procedure, but rather they are the conduit that God uses to bring about the purpose.
Here is another example, One thousand people die every day from smoking related cancer. That is nearly 400,000 people a year. On the second day after his surgery, Grover had to have 24 shock treatments on his heart to keep him alive. Today he is doing well. The medical staff at VA Hospital didn’t do any miraculous feat, rather they were the instrument God used to bring Grover back to health.
What are we talking about? Trusting God before anything else.
Do you want full barns and full wine presses? Trust in God.
Lean not on thine own understanding. If we are leaning on self then we are not trusting in God with all our heart. Here is the catch to this:
You must accept the truth that everything about your understanding will get you into deep trouble. Just ask the person who leaned on his own understanding.
“Lean” means – To support one’s self. To rely or rest upon.
We are not to rely on, or support ourselves with our own understanding. Our understanding is carnal and influenced by the world.
We said that the word “Trust” has two applications: The first was “Faith”. The second is:
B. Confidence.
Trusting God will require confidence. This is very important.
1. Confident that God can produce what He promises. (1 John 5:14) “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”
2. Confident that God will give the asked need. (1 John 5:15) “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Without confidence you won’t trust Him.
He wants our “trust” in Him to be so “confident” so that we don’t get sweaty hands, nor nervous stomach while waiting on Him to meet our needs. By faith and trust we can know the outcome of everything we are faced with. We can be confident that He will do the right thing for us in each situation.
When one trusts in the Lord with all thine heart, that will remove all expectation of what man can do alone and without God.
I wonder if there is anyone here today that hasn’t taken your hands off your life? If so, you must take them off and let God have full control. You will never get to where you need to be spiritually and financially until you do.
What are we talking about? “Living Right Side Up – In An Upside Down World”. For six thousand years man has tried to do right and that has done nothing but wax worse and worse. So, there must be another way. A better way! That way is to trust in the Lord with all thine heart.
(Prov 14:12) “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Early I said: “Even if the whole society is upside down we, the children of God, can still live right side up.”
Ok: Trust and confidence were number one. Here comes title two:
2. COMMIT TO THE LORD IN ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE
Slide 6
(Prov 3:6) “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
“….in all thy ways….” “Ways” mean: A course of life or mode of action, conversation, custom, manner.
In every way acknowledge Him as the One who will supply and protect you. You must acknowledge Him as your only source of trust and supply.
It is my conclusion that most every decision made by most Christians is made with some kind of reservation, and some area of designation. The reason is that when God begins to demand more than they want to pay they can back up and recant.
For example, we say: “Lord I didn’t intend to go that far”. If only we knew what we missed when we do that.
Let me tell you a story to illustrate the point here. Hopefully, you have not heard this one.
It reminds me of an old beggar who was invited to the house of the richest man in town for dinner. The butler took him upstairs to the bathroom. After bathing he was given a suit of dinner clothes. He looked and felt like a million dollars. The only negative was he kept his old clothes in a brown paper bag. When it came time to go to the dinner table he took the clothes with him and placed them on his lap. The serving of the meal began. The meat was passed by and as he reached to get the platter of meat, his sack of old clothes fell off his lap. In reaching to pick up the sack the meat platter was passed on by him. Then came the potatoes. The same thing happened. Then the vegetables, and the same thing again, he dropped his old clothes. When the last serving of food was passed by and he again reached down and picked up his dirty clothes he again missed it. There he sat with nothing but his worthless and dirty clothes.
Many Christians are just like that beggar. They hold on to their old possessions that are worthless and pass up all that God has to offer them.
OH! WHAT WE MISS WHEN WE HANG ON TO THE OLD THINGS OF THIS LIFE.
So, please friends: Acknowledge Him In All Our Ways. And He Shall Direct Thy Paths.
Listen to this amazing Scripture: TURN TO: (Isa 30:21 KJV) “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Think about that: a voice whispering in your ear instructing you where to take every step in life. Take this road, Pastor J. Make this decision. Buy this item. Spend your money for this. How blessed and sweet that would is. Well, friend we have this today! This prophecy as been fulfilled in the Holy Ghost! If you are saved you have the Holy Spirit inside of you. Your body is the temple of the Lord.
Oh! His direction will lead you to happiness and success. Your direction will lead you farther in what you now have. Which do you want?
The happiest I’ve ever been is when I follow the directions of the Holy Ghost!
Ok! We are ready for number 3!
3. DON’T OVER ESTIMATE YOUR OWN ABILITY
Slide 7
(Prov 3:7) “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”
The sooner each of us realize that we are not capable of making our own decisions the better off we will be. When I make my own decisions and insist on my own way I always end up upside down – confused and often defeated..
Your flesh will make the wrong turns in life. You will go with the easiest course of life and the most attractive. Those ways may not be the best. If you will allow God to choose for you – how much happier you will be.
First Trust and have confidence in the Lord, then, COMMIT TO THE LORD IN ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE, and now number 3:
3. DON’T OVER ESTIMATE YOUR OWN ABILITY
And now, 4. BE A GOOD STEWARD WITH ALL THAT YOU HAVE
Slide 8
This may be the number one stopper of all Christian success. That of failing to be a good steward with all substance.
(Prov 3:9 KJV) “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”
How do you honor God with all of your substance?
Well, what is your substance? Your life and its possessions!
Our Goal is To honor God with your possessions, recognize that all you have belongs to Him and use your wealth to bless others, support His work, and live a life of generosity and stewardship. This includes tithing, giving to the needy, and managing your resources in a way that reflects God’s values.
Your right PART OF this scripture is referring to not robbing God. The best way NOT TO ROB GOD is to tithe.
The Holy Ghost asks: Do you regularly and faithfully give the firstfruits of all your increase? If not then you may just as well prepare to continue on the upside down path with society. It won’t get better, rather worse.
FININALLHY, AND IN CLOSING:
ENJOYING THE RIGHT SIDE UP LIFE
Slide 9
(Prov 3:10 KJV) So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
I had surely rather wake up tomorrow knowing my barns are full, and the wine presses are filled with plenty.
This is the life God wants each of us to have. I am not talking about the health and wealth life that the Charismatics try to cram down our throats, but there is a promise that God will provide plenty for His children, and this the example of it. There is still one aspect of this whole precept that we didn’t read yet, and it is found in Vs. 11&12.
(Prov 3:11 KJV) My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
(Prov 3:12 KJV) For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Our failure to live right side up brings a consequence – chastening. If we fail to do that then our chastening is to have to suffer the consequences of not living right side up. Living upside down brings chastening.
As I look around and see so many of God’s children living upside down I think to myself if only they would do what He says they could enjoy the right side up life.
Where are you today? Is life upside down? Is your future about as bleak as it could be? Why not turn around and live right side up?
