Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
West Lafayette, Ohio
December 18, 1988
Proverbs 17:22; 25:28
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I. Different ways of looking at "spirits":
A. Casper, the friendly ghost.
("Christmas Past" ghost of Dickens' Christmas Carol)
B. What makes Christmas merry - alcoholic beverages.
C. Inner character of humans.
D. Supernatural aspect of life.
II. Hebrew background of "spirit".
A. Wind.
B. Breath, especially of God.
C. By extension, his Spirit.
D. Inner life of people.
1) Often means same thing as "soul".
a) Origin - God breathes on Adam. Gen 2:7
Note - animals brought forth by earth. Gen 1:24
b) Is different than that of animals.
c) At death it goes to God.
2) Therefore used of ghosts (KJV - Holy Ghost = Spirit).
3) Background for alcoholic use - makes people seem alive.
E. Often refers to personality or character.
1) What makes us unique as a person.
2) Usual use in Proverbs.
a) Mind. 1:23 (my spirit = my thoughts)
b) Heart. 17:22 (merry heart vs. broken spirit)
c) Temper, personality.
14:29 (slow to wrath vs. hasty of spirit)
d) Mood. 15:13 (sorrow of heart breaks spirit)
III. Attitudes toward character.
A. Modern view of personality.
1) Actually ancient.
a) Greeks came up with basic personality types.
b) Moody, energetic. Etc.
2) Your personality is fixed. You are stuck with it.
a) Personality types - ISTJ.
b) Must find a certain mate, job, friends.
B. Biblical view of personality.
1) Your personality is unique.
2) But you can shape it.
a) Your actions and attitudes can change for the better.
b) Or pull you down.
1> Acting trustworthy makes you a trustworthy person.
3) God expects you to shape it!
a) You can rise above your circumstances.
IV. What your "spirit" involves:
A. Attitude toward self.
1) Haughty, proud. 16:18 -
"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit
before a fall."
a) Proud man at odds with:
himself (8:36),
neighbor (13:10), and
the Lord (16:5).
b) Pride opposes fear of Lord (first principle of wisdom)
and two great commandments.
2) Lowly, humble. 16:19 -
"Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
than to divide the spoil with the proud."
a) NT - consider others better than yourself.
b) Christmas - Mary's song of humility. God heard her.
B. Control over self.
1) Lack of self-control, hot-tempered. 25:28 -
"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city
that is broken down, and without walls."
a) Impatience views restraint only as restriction;
so the enemy arrives to find the walls down.
Lack of self-control leaves you vulnerable to attack.
Black doctor, Benjamin Carson, M.D.
He had grown up in Detroit's inner city, went to church, had
godly mom who made him study and read, not watch TV. But he had
a violent temper, at 14 almost stabbed someone to death - guy's
belt buckle deflected knife. Went into bathroom and sat on floor.
Verse from Proverbs came to him - "He that hath no rule over his
own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."
(25:28). He prayed for God to take away his temper. The Lord did.
He excelled in studies and became a surgeon at Johns Hopkins
Hospital. He now prays and reads his Bible (Proverbs) before
going to work. He says, "If you ask the Lord for something
believing He will do it, then He will do it."
Carson was primary surgeon in dramatic 22 hour operation on German
Siamese twins this year.
2) Even-tempered. 16:32 -
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty
[warrior]; and he that ruleth his spirit than he
that takes a city."
a) Control emotions, don't blow off anger.
29:11 - "A fool utters all his mind [literally,
spirit] but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards."
b) Bad to keep things in?
1> Not if letting them out gets you in deeper.
2> Verse is not saying you cannot express true
feelings, but that there is a proper place for
them.
C. Effects within self.
1) Crushed spirit - Negative impact.
a) 16:18 - a haughty attitude sets you up for a fall.
Univ. of Michigan Survey Research Center studied 2700 people.
Risk of heart disease is dramatically affected by your attitude
toward other people.
Type A personalities, "angry heart" people, are at higher risk for
heart disease. Hostility is most important factor - high hostility
levels correlates with blocked coronary arteries.
People who do not listen well have higher blood pressure.
Heart patients tend to isolate themselves, so one form of therapy
is to have them do good deeds for others.
b) 17:22 - "A broken spirit dries up the bones."
The Mind has a powerful impact on our health. Lonely people and
stressful people (esp. due to tragedy) are more likely to get sick.
Mortality is three times higher among those with the fewest close
relationships. Having good friends and relatives seems to afford a
measure of protection from stressful life events.
Positive mental attitudes can encourage good health. May be
physical reasons for it. Immune system and brain interrelate with
each other.
2) Happy spirit - Positive attitude.
a) 15:13 - "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance:
but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."
1> "Heart" here stands for the thoughts and attitudes.
These, not the circumstances of life, are what
matter.
2> Don't let circumstances mold you.
b) Overcoming attitude toward circumstances.
1> If you lack outside resources, life can be hard.
2> If you lack inward resources, life can be
impossible.
c) Positive impact.
1> Positive impact on others.
A> 11:13 - they will trust you with their secrets.
2> Impact on yourself.
A> 15:13 - a happy heart makes a cheerful face.
B> 18:14 - sustained in trouble.
C> 29:23 - gain honor.
V. Summary:
A. Be humble.
1) Recognize your position with God and others.
2) God can change you.
a) 2 Corinthians 5:17 - new creatures in Christ.
B. Be controlled.
1) Watch habits, lifestyle, emotions.
C. Be happy.
1) Positive outlook.
a) God is on your side.
2) Keep things in perspective.
a) The pain can only last as long as you are alive.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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