1. What Path are You On?
Proverbs 7:1-23

8. Three goals in this message:
To help us see that we are all on a path that is headed to a specific destination
To help us see that our decisions are not isolated events, but steps along a very specific and distinctive path. Every decision, every action is linked. Nothing is isolated.
To encourage you to think about the path you are on, where it’s headed, and see if you need to make a change by inviting Jesus into your daily choices so your direction can change.

9. Prov. 7:1-5
Paying attention to my words will keep you from the adulteress.
Prov. 7:6-23
Paying attention to her words will lead you to your death.
→Who will you listen to?

11. We’ve gone from being exposed to about 500 ads a day back in the 1970's to as many as 3,000 a day today.

12. [6]  For At the window of my house
I looked out through the lattice.
[7]  I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who lacked judgment.

13. [8]  He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
[9]  at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.

14. Direction – to her house.
Where are you heading? Where is your path leading you?
Attitude - intentionally
What is your attitude?
Timing - darkness
Are you scheming or planning to sin?

15. HIS INTENTIONS DON’T MATTER, HIS PATH MATTERS
We are the sum total of many small decisions over many small days.

16. [10]  Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent
[11-12]  (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
[13]  She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
[14]  “I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows.

17. [15]  So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!
Notice her strategies:
Her character is defective (7:10-11)
Her approach is bold (7:13) 
Her Method: She flatters him (words) (7:15)

18. [16-17] I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt
[16-17]  I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
[18]  Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love!
[19]  My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. [20]  He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”

19. [21]  With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
[22]  All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose [Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool]
[23]  till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.

20. [24]  Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
And pay attention to the words of my mouth.

21. [25]  Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not (let your body) stray into her paths.
[26]  For many are the victims she has cast down, And numerous are all her slain.
[27]  Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.

22. Solomon’s three-fold defense again this kind of temptation
Guard your heart (25a)
“Turn” = stray/wander
Guard your body (25b)
Paths (plural), Job 31:1
Guard your future (26-27)
“Many”, “numerous”, “highway”

23. DIRECTION DETERMINES YOUR DESTINATION,
NOT YOUR INTENTIONS.
Jesus wants to be part of your small decisions – they’ll shape who you become.

24. We need Jesus.
Only by submitting our daily paths to Him will change our destination.
Then he can redeem our mundane steps, our “average days” – and then almost miraculously, as time goes by, you’ll see the fruit of your new direction, in your relationships, in your finances, in the peace that characterizes your life.

27. On my test day, I woke up in the morning to my Sony radio-alarm clock,
heard about 14 ads on my local station, KTTS before I opened my eyes and hit the snooze on my Sony clock. I used my Panasonic TV and Dish Network receiver remotes, noticed a Kenwood receiver and Toshiba DVD player, and
watched/listened to 46 TV commercials as I got going.
11 Brand advertisements are within eyesight in the closet. I’m not digging for them.I got dressed in my Fruit of the Loom undershirt, Big Dog shirt, Wrangler Jeans and Nike shoes;
214 food Brand labels in my pantry, all colorful and professionally created. I get my box of Kellogg’s for my Jersey Maid milk and count 62 product Brands. I open a can of Folgers coffee to brew in my Mr. Coffee maker.
I’ve gotten around 487 ad exposures and I haven’t even finished breakfast.