Rose Ave Baptist Church

Watch Out for the Ditch



Proverbs 4:11-27

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.




Intro:

A. The Description of a Helpless Life



Job 9:27-31

27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.



B. The Defamation of a Heathen Liar



Psalm 7:14-16

14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.



Psalms 9:15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.



C. The Degradation of a Harlot’s Lewdness



Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

Proverbs 23:27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.



D. The Deception of a Hypocritical Leader



Matthew 15:7,8,14



7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.







I. The Predicament is Harsh





A. FINANCIAL DITCHES – the Bible talks about being in debt; the cave of Adullam was filled with men in debt. 2 Sam. 22

Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.



B. EMOTIONAL DITCHES – people struggle with depression, discouragement, anger, bitterness, etc.



C. MENTAL DITCHES – people can’t control their thought life;



D. MORAL DITCHES – they fall into sin (David and Bathsheba is a good example); addictions are a ditch



E. SPIRITUAL DITCHES – sin which doth so easily beset them (lay aside every weight)




II. Progress is Halted





Proverbs 4:12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.



STRAITENED: to bind, be distressed, be in distress, be cramped, be narrow, be scant, be in straits, make narrow, cause distress,





A. You can’t grow.



B. You can’t be a blessing.



C. You can’t enjoy church.



D. You can’t enjoy your Bible.



E. You can’t have a successful prayer life.



F. You can’t enjoy ministry – or each other IF YOU ARE IN A DITCH.





III. People are Hindered





A. Many others were affected by this one man’s inability to stay out of the ditch.



Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;



Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.



B. Do you realize how many people you cannot help if you are in a ditch?



C. Do you realize how many others are affected, influenced, hindered, discouraged, distracted when you are in a ditch?



Conclusion:



How do you stay out of the ditch?

Proverbs 4 gives us some secrets.



A. Remember the Exhortation – vs. 11-13; 20-22



B. Refrain from Evil – vs. 14-17; 19



C. Restrict your Eyes – vs. 23-27