Proverbs 10:29 (Mini Sermon)

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29. Pro 10:29 – "The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity." A. The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: i. Definitions a. Way n. – III. Course of life or action, means, manner. 11. a. A path or course of life; the activities and fortunes of a person. b. pl. Habits of life, esp. with regard to moral conduct. b. Strength n. – 1. The quality or condition of being strong. a. Power of action in body or limbs; ability to exert muscular force. c. Power in general, whether physical, mental, or due to the possession of resources; ability for effective action; efficiency, vigour (of mental faculties, etc.). d. Capacity for moral effort or endurance; firmness (of mind, character, will, purpose); power to resist temptation or fulfil a difficult duty; fortitude as one of the cardinal virtues. Freq. in phr. strength of character. c. Upright adj. – III. fig. 8. a. Of persons: Adhering to or following correct moral principles; of unbending integrity or rectitude; morally just, honest, or honourable. d. In other words, when a morally just and honest man of unbending integrity directs the course of his life and his habits according to God's precepts he will have the capacity to endure with firmness of mind, character, will, and purpose and will have the power to resist temptation and fulfill his duties. ii. Those who walk in God's ways will have strength to endure hardship and persecution. a. Paul was an upright man who walked in God's ways, and he was therefore strengthened and not moved by persecution and temptations (Act 20:22-24). b. Paul found strength to endure persecution by following Christ (2Co 12:10; 2Ti 3:10-12). c. Paul was strengthened by God so that he could continue preaching the gospel (2Ti 4:17). iii. When we walk worthy of the Lord we will be strengthened by Him (Col 1:10-11). a. When we follow the way of the Lord in Christ, He gives us strength to do all that He commands us to do (Php 4:13). b. When we do so we will be given the strength to be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1Co 15:58). B. but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. i. Definitions a. Destruction n. – 1. The action of demolishing a building or structure of any kind, of pulling to pieces, reducing to fragments, undoing, wasting, rendering useless, putting an end to, or doing away with anything material or immaterial; demolition. b. Iniquity n. – 1. The quality of being unrighteous, or (more often) unrighteous action or conduct; unrighteousness, wickedness, sin; sometimes, esp. in early use, Wrongful or injurious action towards another, infliction of wrong, injury; in modern use generally connoting gross injustice or public wrong. c. In other words, those who are unrighteous, who live sinfully and wickedly, and who inflict wrong and injury on others shall be destroyed by God and rendered useless. ii. Destruction and punishment await the workers of iniquity (Job 31:3; Pro 21:15). iii. The workers of iniquity are not walking in the way of the Lord. a. They are not walking on the strait and narrow way which leads to life, but on the wide and broad way which leads to destruction (Mat 7:13-14). b. They turn aside unto their crooked ways and will find destruction rather than peace (Psa 125:5; Rom 3:16-17). iv. Workers of iniquity do not keep the way of the Lord and will be destroyed for it. a. Those who work iniquity and walk not in the way of the LORD will be destroyed in this life (2Ki 21:22-23). b. Sinners think the way of the LORD is not equal and will be judged and destroyed for it if they don't repent (Eze 18:29-32). v. God hates workers of iniquity (Psa 5:5) a. God will destroy them eternally in hell (Psa 11:5-6). b. They shall be destroyed forever (Psa 92:7-9). c. Jesus will tell the workers of iniquity to depart from Him into the lake of fire on judgment day (Luk 13:27-28). d. The way of the ungodly shall perish (Psa 1:6).