Edward McKendree Bounds (1835-1913) was a Southern Methodist pastor, editor, and author. Though an anti-slavery Union supporter from Missouri, he was arrested and held as a non-combatant prisoner of war for refusing to take oath of allegiance and post a $500 bond (he believed such vows were unbiblical; he was morally opposed to the Union raising funds in this way; and besides, he didn't have $500). Following his release, he served as a chaplain to the 3rd Missouri Infantry, CSA, during the Battle of Franklin, was primarily responsible for the cemetery at Carnton, and later served as the pastor of Franklin's Southern Methodist Church on 5th Avenue South. His prayer services on the downtown square sparked a revival in the war devastated town. He is most renowned for his 11 books on prayer.

"What makes treachery grow inside God's people? How do hearts get quietly stolen? Why does rebellion often look righteous at first? And what warning does Absalom's story give us today? This lesson uncovers the subtle pattern of deception that rises from within and shows how Absalom's charm became Israel's downfall. Treachery whispers, but Scripture exposes its voice. ✅ Sign up to join thousands of others feasting on Dr. Briney's Vitamins For The Soul newsletter. ➡️ START your dose of spiritual nourishment to enrich your life now by clicking: https://patrickbriney.com/vitamins --------- Treachery And Rebellion #1 ---------- --------------------CONTENT-------------------------- 00:00 The Violation of Tamar and the Murder of Amnon 03:31 Three Years in Geshur: The Shaping of a Rebel Prince 06:38 Joab's Intervention and Absalom's Return 08:04 Two Years of Silence and a Field Set on Fire 10:11 The Man Behind the Treachery 16:07 The Treachery Begins at the Gate 23:12 A Vow Cloaked in Deception 25:43 The Ancient Pattern of Satanic Treachery 28:17 David's Blindness and the Pain of Betrayal 29:28 God's Hidden Hand in David's Darkest Hour"

Midweek Teaching Series - The Second London Baptist Confession, 1689 Chapter 23: Lawful Oaths/Vows Section 5 "Unlawful Vows and Their Entanglements" Pastor Bucky Erwin

Christians should be known as people of integrity. When we make commitments, we should do our level best to meet them.

A sinner must be separated from the world to truly know God and trust in His Son for eternal life.

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Ecclesiastes 5 warns against rash speech and empty vows, emphasizing that true worship involves listening more than speaking and honoring commitments made to God.

The sermon examines Malachi 2:10-16 to expose two critical betrayals within the covenant community: intermarriage with idolaters and the unjust divorce of faithful wives. It argues that these actions profane the Mosaic covenant, violate the bond of companionship established by God, and disrupt the unity of believers. The text emphasizes that worship is rejected when accompanied by treacherous behavior, highlighting God's hatred for divorce as an act of violence against one's spouse. Drawing parallels to the New Covenant, the message urges believers to marry only within the faith and to honor marriage vows as sacred covenants witnessed by God. Ultimately, the preacher calls the congregation to reject individualism, recognize their interconnectedness in the body of Christ, and trust in God's wisdom regarding relationships.

Proverbs 7:10-20 — She wasn't a woman with no religion. She'd just left the altar, peace offering still in her hand — and turned the leftovers into bait. This expository preaching message through Proverbs 7:10-20 warns young men — and everyone raising young men — about a danger that doesn't look like danger. Not every threat to your walk with God announces itself. Some of the most dangerous voices we'll ever hear don't blaspheme God's name — they quote His word. If you've been searching for how to discern manipulation dressed up as spirituality, or how to raise sons and daughters who can tell the difference between real devotion and a counterfeit, this verse-by-verse teaching lays it out plainly. This message unpacks the "strange woman" of Proverbs 7 — not as a caricature, but as a skilled hunter who studies what a man already wants and dresses herself to match it. She uses vows, peace offerings, and even the language of Song of Solomon to disguise a trap as an appointment from God. It's the same pattern Cain shows at the altar: clean hands, unclean heart. Solomon's warning is as much about training the heart as it is about training the eye. This expository sermon through Proverbs 7:10-20 explains: - Why "attire of an harlot" describes an intentional costume, not an accident - What "loud and stubborn" reveals about a rebellious, restless heart (1 Samuel 15) - Why looking away with your eyes means nothing if your heart still loves what it saw - How she uses testimony language — peace offerings, paid vows — as bait - The connection between Cain's altar and hers: clean hands, unclean heart - Why sin doesn't invent new language — it steals and counterfeits it (SoS 4)