Proverbs
Pro_3:9
God does not need what we give him. Everything is His already, but He does want to know where our heart is. What we do with our substance and first fruits show where are heart is (Mat_6:21). When we receive our paycheck, what is the first thing we think about doing with it? Our first thoughts should be on the Lord’s work. If we receive our paycheck and the first thing we think about is buying that new electronic device or maybe how we will be able to eat at that nice restaurant, our heart is probably in the wrong place. When was the last time we received our paycheck and the first thing that was on our mind was, wow, now I will be able to pay for that shipment of gospel literature? When was the last time we received a $100 as a gift and thought, now I can be a blessing to the missionary who needed extra support to cover the expenses for his BibleCollege?
How are we honoring God with our substance and with our first fruits? Is helping to finance world evangelism on our mind or our selfish desires? American’s are known throughout the world for living extravagant lifestyles. Are you as a Christian known for that or are you known for giving in order to give a person a chance to hear the gospel? The next time we go to buy that new car or even that new house, maybe we should think about what level we should be living on in order to get the gospel around the world. MLC
Pro_4:16
How I wish that we could challenge God's people to not sleep until we have done some good until we have made some to stand. We must quit only avoiding the bad that others do and begin seeking to do the opposite of what they do for the cause of Christ. WAG
Pro_9:7
Words of Wisdom for the discipler. You must learn who you can rebuke and who you should not rebuke. Often times we waste our time on people who are not interested. They are only using you to get what they want. If you are going to train leaders be careful to watch the attitude of the one that you working with. If he rebels remember you will only get a blot and a shame for having tried to tell him something. He will hate you for reproving him Pro_9:8. He may withdraw from you. Many times they will not even look at you nor talk to you but the wise man will love you and keep coming back for more. This is a way to find out who can be trained for great leadership. Give this man instruction Pro_9:9 WAG
Pro_10:11
What is your mouth? Is it a well of life? There is great power in the tongue. How are you using yours? Ephesians 4:29. Your mouth can’t speak what your heart has not experienced and your mind has not learned. Do you use your mouth to save souls and make an eternal difference? WAG
Pro_10:12 As a missionary you will be called on to train men. They will fail you and you will be hurt. How you deal with their failures and those of your co laborers will determine much of your success and show your character. It will also definitely show what is in your heart. This is no excuse for being easy on sin but it the verse does say that love covers ALL sins. That doesn't mean that sin goes undealt with but rather that it will handled differently than many. It will not be handled publicly from the pulpit. Nor will the preacher gossip about it to everyone as "he asks for prayer help" but the preacher will follow Biblical instruction and speak to the man in private with the goal of gaining his brother. Mat_18:15 Do not fall into the trap of not speaking to the man about his problem. If you love him you will deal with it and keep it to yourself as much as possible. Love covers all sins. WAG
Pro_10:18
Don't be a fool! Open rebuke is better than secret love. Let your mouth say what is in your heart. You are a fool if you lie and slander due to the hatred that is in your heart. People can see right through you over a course of time. If you do not love the people that God has called you to serve no amount of telling them what they want to hear will make up for the hatred and bad attitude you hide in your heart. Learn to love and then speak the truth in your heart. WAG
Pro_10:31
We need to know what is acceptable to say when we serve God as pastors, missionaries or soul winners. We must have wisdom to give. We can only get wisdom from the word of God and it is based in a reverence to God and his word and not just head knowledge. If you do not live what you preach then it is not acceptable nor wisdom. WAG
Pro_11:7
For those missionaries working in a Catholic country I have found this verse to be of great help. When the wicked or lost --because all lost are wicked. Only salvation can make a good man out of us so when he dies his expectation or hope also dies. There will be no second chance. The unjust man is a lost man and his hope perishes at death. You decide while you are alive where you will spend eternity. There is no expectation nor hope for you after you die. Today is the day of salvation. 2Co_6:2 WAG
Pro_11:9
The hypocrite’s mouth. Do you use your mouth like a hypocrite to destroy or do you use your mouth to build up and give life. WAG
Pro_13:17
Wicked Messenger:
Jehovah Witness
Mormons
Seven Day Adventist
Faithful Messenger:
One who brings the true Bible gospel to those who have never heard.
Almost any country you travel to that is open for any kind of "missionary" has a Mormon church. This is the church that preaches a false Jesus and works salvation. This so called church and churches like them cause lost souls to fall into mischief all over this world, and they are usually on the scene way before you find a true evangelical church. It is our job as Christians to get there first with the true gospel. It is time the Church of the true God started taking health to everyone, not just to the 5% of the world population that lives in the United States. We have to get serious about making people healthy with the true Word of God.
MLC
Pro_16:3
People often ask how some people can have such a burden for lost souls while they can not. The problem is we are not working to see lost souls saved. When we work for the Lord in what He wants us to work in, we will not have a problem having a burden for lost souls. He wants to see the world evangelized and if we work in that direction than we will have a burden for those people. If we don’t have a burden for China or India, it is because we are not thinking on and working to seeing those people saved. If we don’t have a burden to see the almost one billion souls in Africa saved, it’s because we are not doing anything so they might receive the gospel.
We have to work at seeing people saved all over the world which will in turn cause us to have a burden for all the people of the world. MLC
Pro_17:9
How should you handle a transgression? If you love you will seek to cover not spread. Why would you repeat a matter? Help them get it right by following Biblical principles. Mat_18:15-17. Gal_6:1. Learn the purpose of church discipline. The purpose is restoration not punishment. WAG
Pro_17:10
Which are you; a wise man or a fool? How do you deal with reproofs? In discipleship you will soon know who you should work with. If he handles reproof well then maybe he can be trained. Others are so hard headed that you will accomplish very little with them. I can it putting the ball in their court. If you talk to them and show them what is right and wrong and then all they want to do is argue then you might have to just be nice to them and look for someone else to train. If he handles the reproof you can continue on with him. Give an assignment. Wait to see if it is done. If after several attempts you see no results leave him and move to the next man. Do not be ugly just move on and wait for God to work in his life. When he is ready he will respond correctly. WAG
Be friendly
Pro_18:24 ¶ A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
I often suggest to missionaries that they should read the Bible and especially the Proverbs with the idea of looking for truths that will strengthen their ministries. If you think of the different proverbs in light of our work on the mission field you will be able to make some great applications to your life and ministry.
For example this proverb or verse says that you must show yourself friendly. Often times missionaries and missionary families complain about their friendships on the mission field. Some will say that their children have no real friends on the mission field. Using this verse as a basis to answer this problem let me make a few suggestions:
1. Learn the language! First, every missionary should learn the language and really be able to communicate with the people. No real friendship can be developed without personal, intimate, heartfelt conversation.
2. Eat their food! Real friends usually fellowship around the table. As a missionary you should develop a real taste for their food. The senior missionary in Arequipa, Peru told me when I arrived in Peru that if you reject the food you reject the culture. If you reject the culture then you reject the people. That would obviously not be friendly nor win you any national friendships.
3. Visit them in their homes & have them visit in your home. Many missionaries lose out on real friendships due to their fears or insecurities. Many new missionaries will nearly lock themselves out of society and a relationship with the people. They want to maintain their home like a "little America." They think that they can divide their ministry from their lives but in America you would realize that you would need to spend time with the people. You would want to know them personally, to visit each other in your homes. Be careful not to fall into these traps. You do not have to be afraid of them. You can develop a relationship with them like you could folks from your home town if you will just be willing to invest your life, love and time in others.
4. Share with them. Real friends give and take. That means that you will have to drop the idea of superiority. You are not better than they are nor worse than they are. Be careful not to eat and drink in front of them without offering them some. Be sure to understand how to offer without offending and being culturally correct. For example, in Peru, you would need to offer them whatever at least 3 times. It is understood in Peru that the person you are offering something should refuse it at least two times out of courtesy. If you were to offer only two times it would mean that you really didn't have it to give, etc. Also be careful to understand how to accept what they offer you. If you refuse what they offer you then that means that you are too good for them and their gifts. Learn to measure gifts from their perspective and not your own.
5. Be personally interested in them. People can tell if you have a professional or personal interest in them. Learn their names. Learn about their family. Latin Americans are very kind and will show genuine interest in your family. You must do the same.
6. Talk to them. Listen to them. Learn about them and their family, their culture, and their needs. By talking to them I mean really converse with them. Tell them about yourself and your family. Tell them about your interests and desires. Ask them about their family and listen. Learn to ask questions. One of the greatest tools we all have is the ability to ask questions and learn about the folks. Good conversations really are based on getting the other person to talk about himself. As a missionary your job is to learn all about the people where you are serving, learn about their culture, the way they think, why they do things the way they do them. Talk to them about their families, what is important to them. Understand that people in other countries and other cultures do not think like you. They see other priorities, other possibilities, another way of thinking. The only way you can really learn that is by asking questions and really listening.
7. Tell them you love them. Be expressive. Be transparent. People need to know we love them. We need to be careful to express that to them. Do not allow them to doubt how you feel about them. Remember you reap what you sow, so sow some real heartfelt love and concern.
8. Be there when they need you. Real friends spend time with each other but more than that they will be there when their friend need them. Everyone has acquaintances but few have friends who really care. Show your love by being there for them.
9. Be loyal. Be a friend in good times and bad times. Don't use people.
10. Play with them, learn to understand their humor. Learn their sports and activities. You are the visitor or stranger to their country. You need to learn how they do things. Their jokes are different than our jokes but when you really understand the language and culture you will find that their jokes make sense and are really funny. If their jokes aren't funny it might really mean that you do not know them, understand them, and love them like you think you do.
Many missionaries have hurt their ministry over something as simple as "not showing themselves friendly" and that is our missionary proverb for today.
WAG
Give Him your heart!
Proverbs 23:26
I. The priority of the heart
a. Where sin comes from Matthew 15:19
b. Where words come from Matthew 12:34-35
c. Life revolves around the heart Proverbs 4:23
II. Problem
a. Sin makes the heart cold Matthew 24:12
b. Apostles even lost first love Revelation 2:4
c. Turn back in heart Acts 7:39
d. Work wickedness in heart Psalms 58:2
III. Proof that He loves us
a. Gave his son John 3:16
b. Gave his life John 10:17-18
c. Loved me in my sin Romans 5:8
d. Loved me first I John 4:19
e. Joy in his suffering for me Hebrews 12:2
f. Even when I fail Hebrews 12:5-8
g. Father of the Prodigal Son
IV. Plea to be loved
a. First commandment Matthew 22:37-38
b. No comparison Matthew 10:37-38
V. Purpose
a. Motivate us to surrender II Corinthians 8:5
b. Motivate us to serve II Corinthians 5:14
c. Motivate us to suffer Romans 8:35-39
Psalm 139:23-24
WAG
Pro_24:1-2
The evil men are studying in their hearts how to destroy things and they talk of mischief when they are together. One should not desire to be with them. What does your heart study? What do you talk about? What is it that so consumes you that you can be characterized the way the evil man is characterized? What do you study not outwardly but in your heart? WAG
Pro_24:10
Adversity does and will come to all those who are in Christian service. This is especially true to those who are involved in cross cultural work as missionaries. Before you ever step out to do the work be careful to make sure that you prepare yourself spiritually. Do you walk with God? Have you and are you constantly strengthening yourselves in the Lord. When the storms come and you have reason to quit just remember and draw strength from your walk with Him and how in the past He has brought you through other difficulties. I have heard that J Frank Norris said that every time you run you lose something. Hold on. You do not want to be less of a man after this battle. Let this battle be a growing experience not a losing of your manliness. WAG
Pro_24:16
Do not let failure deter you rather let it better you. Each time you fall pick yourself up and learn a lesson that will make you stronger and better for the Lord. Each time learn to humble yourself and seek Him that you might grow. Our falling may show us our need of Him but we will not stay down, we will rise yet again. WAG
Pro_24:16
One of the most difficult things that we can face in the discipleship process is the failing or falling of our disciples. Each and every one of us faces the sin that so easily besets us and we must learn biblical principles to overcome those weaknesses in our lives. Although there are many principles that we can learn and apply to our lives to give us victory there is no 100% cure that will guarantee we won’t fall. So the most important lesson that we can learn ourselves and teach to those we are discipling is that during the growing process as Christians there will be times that we fail but what we have to do is each time pick ourselves up, get things right with God and others and keep moving forward for the Lord. It is not the just man that doesn’t fall the Bible says but the one that every time he falls he gets up and keeps going for the Lord. KTW
Pro_26:20
One of the greatest dangers in the church and in a Christian’s life is that of gossip. It is the temptation of each and every one of us to share what we have heard or want to know the latest on the problems someone is having. It is the few words spoken in private that can start a fire that will destroy the whole church. The Bible say in this verse that where there is no wood the fire goes out. We know that if there is no fuel for the fire it cannot continue to burn. It is the same for the fire of gossip. It only takes a spark (a few words) to start the fire, but if the wood is taken away it can’t continue to burn. So the best thing we can do to avoid the problems that gossip can cause is remove the wood of our words and put the fire out so that no more damage can be caused. In other words “keep our two cents to ourselves”
KTW
Pro_28:9
Too many people approach God as though He were a cosmic happiness dispenser. They live their lives with no regard to God or His Word. However, when they have a need, that cannot be met, they appeal to God.
Others use their "daily prayers" as some sort of religious exercise that is meant to keep their spiritually "safe." Yet, they also refuse to hear or heed the Word of God.
This verse tells us that God finds it disgusting that people would attempt to pray to Him while, at the same time, rejecting His instruction.
This truth should challenge those who serve in ministry also. How can we ask for the blessing of God upon our ministry if we choose to ignore His Biblical instruction for building ministry? (MOW)
Pro_30:25
If we are to accomplish anything for world evangelism we have to plan ahead. We have to start thinking now about what can be done once closed countries are open. We have to start now in training men who will go into the unreached parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia. We have to start now in building up funds to get the trained saints to places that will not be open for years to come. We have to plan now for what will be done to reach the people who have never heard about the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we wait until certain doors open, the cults will beat us to the lost souls. MLC
Pro_30:26
We have to be wise were we set up our bases to reach the lost. It would not be very wise to set up a base in Central Africa that is changing governments every month. It would be difficult to start a radio and television ministry in a place where you could get thrown out of the country at any time. If God is leading you to start the kind of ministry that includes a Bible college, radio, television, and any other kind of long term ministry, study and pray to find the country in the rocks. MLC
Pro_30:27
There will always be power in numbers, especially when the Lord is involved. So many times we have to do things alone just because we can not get rid of our selfish pride. We say to ourselves, “If I can not be in charge then I do not want to be a part.” The Bible should be the only that separates and keeps us from working together. If we separate and can not work with someone without us having a Bible reason, we need to change our attitude. Let us go out by bands to reach this world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. No one person is every alike and in any partnership both sides always have to compromise in the way they want it done for the advancement of the team. MLC | 
