VALLEY of DECISION

 

Joel 3:14

King James Version

14 Multitudes, 

multitudes in the valley of decision: 

for the day of the Lord is near 

in the valley of decision.

Agonizing over decisions?

What would a true born again do?

He doesn't agonize over decisions.

He's made that 180-degree turn.

There is no vacillating over decisions.

SPIRIT and SCRIPTURE have made it pretty clear for us:

GOD, or man?

Colossians 3:23

King James Version

23 And whatsoever ye do, 

do it heartily, 

as to the Lord, 

and not unto men;

GOD, or strange gods?

Psalm 115:3-8

King James Version

3 But our God is in the heavens: 

he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

4 Their idols are silver and gold, 

the work of men's hands.

5 They have mouths, but they speak not: 

eyes have they, but they see not:

6 They have ears, but they hear not: 

noses have they, but they smell not:

7 They have hands, but they handle not: 

feet have they, but they walk not: 

neither speak they through their throat.

8 They that make them are like unto them; 

so is every one that trusteth in them.

GOD, or mammon?

Matthew 6:24

King James Version

24 No man can serve two masters: 

for either he will hate the one, and love the other; 

or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. 

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

GOD, or the world?

Luke 16:15

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; 

but God knoweth your hearts: 

for that which is highly esteemed among men 

is abomination in the sight of God.

JESUS, or the devil?

1 John 3:8

King James Version

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; 

for the devil sinneth from the beginning. 

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 

that he might destroy the works of the devil.

SPIRIT, or flesh?

Galatians 5:16

King James Version

16 This I say then, 

Walk in the Spirit, 

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

ETERNAL LIFE, or sin?

Romans 6:23

King James Version

23 For the wages of sin is death; 

but the gift of God is eternal life 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

FULL DEVOTION to GOD, or neutral?

Revelation 3:15-16

King James Version

15 I know thy works, 

that thou art neither cold nor hot: 

I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, 

and neither cold nor hot, 

I will spue thee out of my mouth.

LOVE, or hate?

Matthew 5:43-48

King James Version

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, 

Thou shalt love thy neighbour, 

and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, 

Love your enemies, 

bless them that curse you, 

do good to them that hate you, 

and pray for them 

which despitefully use you, 

and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father 

which is in heaven: 

for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil 

and on the good, 

and sendeth rain on the just 

and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, 

what reward have ye? 

do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, 

what do ye more than others? 

do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, 

even as your Father which is in heaven 

is perfect.

STRAIT GATE, or wide gate?

Matthew 7:13-14

King James Version

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: 

for wide is the gate, 

and broad is the way, 

that leadeth to destruction, 

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, 

and narrow is the way, 

which leadeth unto life, 

and few there be that find it.

LIFE and GOOD, or death and evil?

Deuteronomy 30:15-19

King James Version

15 See, 

I have set before thee this day life and good, 

and death and evil;

16 In that I command thee this day 

to love the Lord thy God, 

to walk in his ways, 

and to keep his commandments 

and his statutes and his judgments, 

that thou mayest live and multiply: 

and the Lord thy God shall bless thee 

in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17 But if thine heart turn away, 

so that thou wilt not hear, 

but shalt be drawn away, 

and worship other gods, 

and serve them;

18 I denounce unto you this day, 

that ye shall surely perish, 

and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, 

whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, 

that I have set before you life and death, 

blessing and cursing: 

therefore choose life, 

that both thou and thy seed may live:

GRACE through FAITH, or works?

Ephesians 2:8-9

King James Version

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; 

and that not of yourselves: 

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, 

lest any man should boast.

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END times

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On SPIRITUAL discernment

 

1 Corinthians 2:14

King James Version

14 But the natural man receiveth not 

the things of the Spirit of God: 

for they are foolishness unto him: 

neither can he know them, 

because they are spiritually discerned.

How much do you trust your own judgment?

Do people come to you for advice?

How perfect is your wisdom?

I don't have such things.

As born again, I only turn to JESUS.

As born again, I only wait for His answer.

As born again, I wait for SPIRIT to teach me.

John 3:5-7

King James Version

5 Jesus answered, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

The answers JESUS gives come from Scripture.

Where He laid down His law.

And I live by it.

I do not trust my own judgment.

For it is fallible.

GOD is infallible.

JESUS is infallible.

SPIRIT is infallible.

And the THREE are ONE.

1 John 5:7

King James Version

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, 

the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: 

and these three are one.

Up until GOD made me born again nearly 42 months ago, I trusted my own judgment.

More like my own instincts.

Oftentimes, it worked.

And I wondered if there was an inner angel guiding me.

Despite my many errors, and failures.

Surely, lessons I needed to learn.

Still, I was being saved from destruction each time.

When GOD took mercy upon my questioning soul, He led me to the Bible.

Where all the answers I needed were there.

He also led me to His SON, who I could pray to.

As well as giving me His SPIRIT, that I may understand Scripture easily.

The world is the way it is, because man doesn't humble himself before the LORD.

He has no love for GOD.

He doesn't seek the LORD.

He'd rather trust his own desires, instincts, and ego.

If only he'd turn to the LORD!

His whole life will be transformed.

He will never doubt his own judgment again.

For his judgment is perfectly aligned to GOD's WILL.

He turns to GOD's WORD for everything.

He knows his life, breath, freedom, work, and relationships hinge upon GOD's LOVE, GRACE and MERCY alone.

GOD owns everything.

GOD controls everything.

We do not have a sleeping GOD.

GOD knows all, sees all.

Everything depends on His will, His timing, His plan.

No one can distract GOD from these.

All have been prophesied.

It's just a matter of when things will happen.

The who, why, where, and how have all been prophesied.

It's only the WHEN we believers wait for.

And only GOD is privy to that.

Matthew 24:35-36

King James Version

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, 

but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, 

no, not the angels of heaven, 

but my Father only.

For you to know perfectly what to think, say, and do, you must turn to GOD.

GOD supplies all.

Without JESUS, we can do nothing.

John 15:5

King James Version

5 I am the vine, 

ye are the branches: 

He that abideth in me, and I in him,

 the same bringeth forth much fruit: 

for without me ye can do nothing.

Matthew 28:18

King James Version

18 And Jesus came 

and spake unto them, saying, 

All power is given unto me 

in heaven and in earth.

SALVATION comes from JESUS alone.

John 8:24

King James Version

24 I said therefore unto you, 

that ye shall die in your sins: 

for if ye believe not that I am he, 

ye shall die in your sins.

John 14:6

King James Version

6 Jesus saith unto him, 

I am the way, the truth, and the life: 

no man cometh unto the Father, 

but by me.

Acts 4:12

King James Version

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: 

for there is none other name under heaven 

given among men, 

whereby we must be saved.

Trust NOT in your own judgment.

TRUST in JESUS alone.

He is the ANSWER.

To everything.

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On FREE will

 

Psalm 37:23-24

King James Version

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: 

and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, 

he shall not be utterly cast down: 

for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

What is free will?

Do we really have free will?

A born again understands well.

For we live by the Bible.

We know GOD's laws.

We know the consequences of sin.

We know the promises of CHRIST.

We know who to follow.

We know what to do.

All through the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD.

These compassionate verses from the Bible give us the power and freedom to choose:

Genesis 2:16-17

King James Version

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, 

saying,

Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, 

thou shalt not eat of it: 

for in the day that thou eatest thereof 

thou shalt surely die.

Deuteronomy 30:19

King James Version

19 I call heaven and earth 

to record this day against you, 

that I have set before you life and death, 

blessing and cursing: 

therefore choose life, 

that both thou and thy seed may live:

Psalm 119:45

King James Version

45 And I will walk at liberty: 

for I seek thy precepts.

Proverbs 16:9

King James Version

9 A man's heart deviseth his way: 

but the Lord directeth his steps.

Mark 8:34

King James Version

34 And when he had called the people unto him 

with his disciples also, 

he said unto them, 

Whosoever will come after me, 

let him deny himself,

 and take up his cross, 

and follow me.

John 1:12

King James Version

12 But as many as received him, 

to them gave he power to become the sons of God, 

even to them that believe on his name:

John 6:47

King James Version

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, 

He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 7:16-17

King James Version

16 Jesus answered them, 

and said, 

My doctrine is not mine, 

but his that sent me.

17 If any man will do his will, 

he shall know of the doctrine, 

whether it be of God, 

or whether I speak of myself.

1 Corinthians 10:13

King James Version

13 There hath no temptation taken you 

but such as is common to man: 

but God is faithful, 

who will not suffer you to be tempted 

above that ye are able; 

but will with the temptation 

also make a way to escape, 

that ye may be able to bear it.

2 Corinthians 3:17

King James Version

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: 

and where the Spirit of the Lord is, 

there is liberty.

Galatians 5:16-18

King James Version

16 This I say then, 

Walk in the Spirit, 

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, 

and the Spirit against the flesh: 

and these are contrary the one to the other: 

so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, 

ye are not under the law.

1 Timothy 2:4

King James Version

4 Who will have all men to be saved, 

and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:5

King James Version

5 For there is one God, 

and one mediator between God and men, 

the man Christ Jesus;

2 Timothy 2:23

King James Version

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, 

knowing that they do gender strifes.

2 Timothy 2:24-26

King James Version

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; 

but be gentle unto all men, 

apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing 

those that oppose themselves; 

if God peradventure will give them repentance 

to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves 

out of the snare of the devil, 

who are taken captive by him at his will.

James 1:5

King James Version

5 If any of you lack wisdom, 

let him ask of God, 

that giveth to all men liberally, 

and upbraideth not; 

and it shall be given him.

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VALID questions

John 14:26

King James Version

26 But the Comforter, 

which is the Holy Ghost, 

whom the Father will send in my name, 

he shall teach you all things, 

and bring all things to your remembrance, 

whatsoever I have said unto you.

In these curious days, it's but normal we'd ask questions.

Valid questions, that matter.

Which only SPIRIT and Scripture can answer:

Is the Bible true?

Who wrote the Bible?

Why is the Bible so violent?

Satan: Who is he?

Why didn't God kill or destroy Satan?

Does God send hurricanes and earthquakes?

Is baptism necessary for salvation?

What are the requirements for baptism?

The Da Vinci Code - is it accurate?

Three Wise Men: What were their names?

Who were the Pharisees?

COVID-19: Is it mentioned in Bible prophecy?

How can one recognize a false Christ?

What does Maranatha mean?

What does Selah mean?

What does the Bible say about gambling?

What does koinonia mean?

Did creation take place in 6 literal days?

What does the Bible say about cremation?

How Old is God?

Names of God

How should Christians relate to voting?

What is heaven like & where is heaven?

What is hell like?

What does the Bible say about Easter?

Did Jesus have any brothers, sisters or siblings?

Should Christians observe the Israelite festivals?

Can a deacon be divorced?

What does the Bible say about interracial marriage?

What does God say about people who use amulets?

What is the rapture?

What does the Bible say about Muslims / Islam?

Why are there so many denominations?

Which day is the Sabbath?

Who changed the Sabbath to Sunday?

Why do Christians worship on Sunday not Saturday?

Justification by faith: what does it mean?

What must I do to be saved?

What is the mercy seat?

When will the world end?

How to find God's will for your life?

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Updated 2 November 2023

The SIMPLE ones

 

Proverbs 1:22

King James Version

22 How long, 

ye simple ones, 

will ye love simplicity? 

and the scorners delight in their scorning, 

and fools hate knowledge?

I love using King James Version of the Bible.

But I knew there was something more to the phrase, "simple ones".

And "simplicity".

True enough, other Bible versions confirmed it.

Proverbs 1:22

Amplified Bible

22 

“How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning?

How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing,

How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

22 How long, O simple ones [open to evil], will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing and [self-confident] fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

Christian Standard Bible

22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockers enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

Common English Bible

22 “How long will you clueless people love your naïveté,

    mockers hold their mocking dear,

    and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

Complete Jewish Bible

22 “How long, you whose lives have no purpose,

will you love thoughtless living?

How long will scorners find pleasure in mocking?

How long will fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

Contemporary English Version

22 “How much longer

will you enjoy

    being stupid fools?

Won't you ever stop sneering

    and laughing at knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

Darby Translation

22 How long, simple ones, will ye love simpleness, and scorners take pleasure in their scorning, and the foolish hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

22 O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

Easy-to-Read Version

22 “Fools, how long will you love being ignorant? How long will you make fun of wisdom? How long will you hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

Expanded Bible

22 “You ·fools [simpletons; immature ones], how long will you be ·foolish [immature]?

    How long will you make ·fun of wisdom [mocking so dear to you]

    and hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

1599 Geneva Bible

22 O ye [a]foolish, how long will ye love foolishness? and the scornful take their pleasure in scorning? and the fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

GOD’S WORD Translation

22 “How long will you gullible people love being so gullible?

How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking?

How long will you fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

Good News Translation

22 “Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn?

Proverbs 1:22

Holman Christian Standard Bible

22 “How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockers enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

International Standard Version

22 “You naïve ones, how long will you love naiveté?

    And how long will scoffers delight in scoffing

        or fools hate knowledge?”

Proverbs 1:22

Living Bible

22 “You simpletons!” she cries. “How long will you go on being fools? How long will you scoff at wisdom and fight the facts?

Proverbs 1:22

The Message

“Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance?

    Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?

Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?

Proverbs 1:22

New American Standard Bible

22 “How long, you naive ones, will you love simplistic thinking?

And how long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing

And fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

New American Standard Bible 1995

22 “How long, O [a]naive ones, will you love [b]being simple-minded?

And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing

And fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

New Catholic Bible

22 “How long will you simple people continue to be fools?

    How long will you mockers[a] delight in your mocking?

    How long will you fools continue to hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

New International Reader's Version

22 “How long will you childish people love your childish ways?

    How long will you rude people enjoy making fun of God and others?

    How long will you foolish people hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

New International Version

22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?

    How long will mockers delight in mockery

    and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:22

New Life Version

22 “O foolish ones, how long will you love being foolish? How long will those who laugh at others be happy in their laughing? How long will fools hate much learning?

Proverbs 1:22

New Living Translation

22 “How long, you simpletons,

    will you insist on being simpleminded?

How long will you mockers relish your mocking?

    How long will you fools hate knowledge?

Mishle 1:22

Orthodox Jewish Bible

22 Ad mosai, ye simple ones, will ye love being simpletons? And the scoffers delight in their mockery, and kesilim (fools) hate da’as?

Proverbs 1:22

The Voice

22 Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways?

    You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand?

        You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?

Proverbs 1:22

Wycliffe Bible

22 How long, little men in wit, love young childhood, and fools shall covet those things, that be harmful to themselves, and unprudent men shall hate knowing? (How long, ye of little wit, or of low intelligence, shall ye love foolishness, and shall fools desire those things that be harmful to themselves, and shall the imprudent hate knowledge, or understanding?)

In SUMMARY, "simple ones" mean:

naive ones [you who are easily misled]

simple ones [open to evil]

inexperienced ones

clueless people

whose lives have no purpose

stupid fools

children

Fools

fools [simpletons; immature ones]

foolish

gullible people

Foolish people

foolish ones

naïve ones

simpletons

simple people

childish people

who are simple

simple, naive people

little men in wit

In SUMMARY, "simplicity" means":

simple-minded and undiscerning

being simple

ignorance

naïveté

thoughtless living

stupid fools

simpleness

childishness

being ignorant

foolish [immature]

foolishness

gullible

foolish

being fools

simplistic thinking

being simple-minded

fools

childish ways

simple ways

simpleminded

simpletons

feeble ways

young childhood

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BASIS for BIBLE versions

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