20-0209a Transcript

Preacher: Steve Cain

(1:12) Morning. Come to honor God and to recognize God as our creator and the being to worship (1:27) and to honor in all aspects of our lives. I’d like to look at the wisdom.

Wisdom is the topic (1:37) of my lesson this morning. And of course, God is wisdom. God provides the wisdom that we need to (1:47) have and the wisdom that he makes available to us.

He says that if we lack wisdom, all we have (1:54) to do is ask for it and he’ll give it to us and not upgrade us whenever we keep asking for it. (2:02) So we’re grateful for that wisdom. We’re grateful in every way.

(2:07) Let’s go to our Heavenly Father and pray. (2:12) Most gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for the privilege of being able to come (2:18) this day to honor you and to worship you and to glorify you and to lift you up. (2:24) We pray that as we do enter into this subject, this day of wisdom, that we will recognize (2:32) that you are the source of that wisdom and that this world was created and built around (2:39) your wisdom and that you are the one who is the source.

So we come to you and asking you for (2:47) wisdom to live this life and to worship you and to dedicate our lives solely to the service of you (2:56) and recognize the fact that we need that wisdom and that we will use that wisdom properly and in (3:03) the way in which it is intended to be used. We pray that you’ll be blessing this congregation (3:08) this morning as we try to dedicate everything to your word and your word only. We pray these (3:17) things in Jesus Christ’s name.

Amen. I’m going to be doing something this morning that (3:26) I very, very seldom do and that is to rely on scripture 100% this morning as much as I can. (3:34) And that is that we’re going to deal with wisdom and what the scripture has to say concerning (3:38) wisdom and work at it from that standpoint.

And right across this particular idea in this chapter, (3:47) reading the exercise of one proverb a day plus five psalms a day. And so the lesson that I have (3:58) this morning comes from the eighth chapter of Proverbs. We know that as far as David is concerned, (4:16) he is under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is providing us with (4:21) the concept that he has concerning wisdom.

And that as we reflect upon it, we remember (4:30) James’s writings and especially the one concerning chapter one and verses two through that passage (4:39) that was just read in your hearing. And I would like to just bring out just the one thing (4:49) in verse five. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all (4:56) without finding fault and it will be given to him.

But there’s one qualification. (5:06) That when he asks, he must believe and not doubt because he who asks is like a wave of the sea (5:14) blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord (5:22) for he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

You stop and think about that wisdom. (5:32) God says that he will provide through James and he will provide it without upbraiding us. (5:39) What does that mean? I ask for wisdom to get through a particular situation through an (5:48) understanding.

He provides it for me. I do not understand perhaps how he gets it to me, (5:55) but I know that I got to read the scriptures and if I read the scriptures that the wisdom is there. (6:03) And if I don’t use it, if I misapply it and decide I’m not going to exercise that wisdom (6:11) he’s given to me, and then I realize that I need to turn around and do it again, (6:17) he’s not going to upbraid me and say, what did you do with the wisdom that I gave you (6:22) or made available to you? What did you do with that? You think I’m going to give it to you (6:27) every time you turn around and ask? James says, God says, I’ll give it to you.

It’s there. I’m not (6:37) going to upbraid you. If you need wisdom and you realize that you need wisdom, come to me, (6:43) ask me, and I’ll give it to you without upbraiding you.

So it’s there. Wisdom is available to (6:53) everyone. Let’s go to Proverbs 8. David is introducing wisdom to us.

(7:06) Wisdom, in this particular case, is a woman. It’s a female verb and wisdom is a woman. (7:21) And she calls out, I’m reading from the New International Version, (7:27) does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, (7:38) where the paths meet, she takes her stand.

Besides the gates leading into the city, (7:44) at the entrances, she cries aloud. To you, oh men, I call out. I raise my voice to all mankind.

(7:55) You who are simple, gain prudence. You who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen, for I have (8:06) worthy things to say.

I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true. (8:14) For my lips detect wickedness.

All the words of my mouth are just. None of them is crooked (8:22) or perverse. To the discerning, all of them are right.

They are faultless to those who have (8:31) knowledge. Choose my instructions. Instead of silver, knowledge.

Rather than choice gold, (8:41) for wisdom is more precious than rubies. And nothing you desire can compare with her. (8:52) David is expecting and so is God expecting that wisdom stand in the way and run interference (9:01) with foolishness, with evil.

Stand in the way of temptations, no matter what the temptations may be. (9:12) God is expecting wisdom to be applied. We learn to apply wisdom in every aspect of our lives, (9:19) no matter what.

And he expects this wisdom to run interference with temptations. (9:28) He wants us to listen to that wisdom. He wants us to abide by that wisdom.

He wants us to listen (9:35) to that wisdom and then turn down foolishness, temptations, and all kinds of evil that comes (9:43) to our way. He wants us to turn to God and say, please give me the wisdom to be able to deal with (9:52) this and to have the understanding that this is not the way of life. This is not the way of (9:58) happiness.

This is not the way of peace. For me to go in the ways of which temptations are providing (10:06) for me will only bring trouble, trials, and tribulations. I must understand that.

(10:14) And I must value the fact that I have to give up things that I want to do and listen to wisdom. (10:26) Wisdom, all the words in my mouth are just. None of them is crooked or perverse.

(10:34) To the discerning, all of them are right. They are faultless. To those who have knowledge, (10:42) choose my instruction.

Did you realize that wisdom can be achieved, can be obtained, (10:50) can be learned? All we have to do is listen. Listen to those who are around us. Listen to (10:57) our teachers.

Listen to those who have that wisdom and who want to impart that wisdom to us. (11:04) Wisdom can be obtained. It is learned.

And so he’s telling us that wisdom is so valuable. (11:17) Pay for it. Learn it.

Spend your gold. Spend your silver. Choose my instructions instead of silver.

(11:28) Knowledge rather than choice gold. Learn. Spend.

Get it. Obtain it. For wisdom, (11:37) verse 11, is more precious than rubies and nothing you desire can compare with her.

(11:46) Wisdom is so important. Wisdom wants to run interference in our lives in every way, (11:53) in all ways of our lives. Now wisdom becomes animated here.

David introduced us to wisdom. (12:05) Now wisdom wants us to know a little bit more about her. (12:10) She wants to share with us what she can do and how she can apply.

I, wisdom, (12:18) dwell together with prudence. I possess knowledge and discretion. (12:26) To fear the Lord is to hate evil, hate pride and arrogance.

For you see, those are the things that (12:34) stand in the way of applying wisdom. I provide you with the wisdom, but your arrogance and your (12:40) uh ignorance is going to stand in the way in your arrogance. Evil behavior and perverse speech, (12:50) counsel and sound judgment are mine.

I have understanding and power. Listen to me. (13:00) Listen to my wisdom.

It’s provided for you. Remember God has promised you all you have to (13:07) do is ask for it and he will give it to you and not upbraid you. But should you ignore it, (13:15) he’s not going to ask you what you did with what I gave you.

He’s going to be standing right there (13:23) wanting to give you more wisdom. To fear the Lord is to, verse 13, to fear the Lord is to hate evil. (13:36) I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

(13:43) Counsel and sound judgment are mine. I have understanding and power. By me, (13:52) and she’s talking about the wisdom, by wisdom kings reign and rulers make laws that are just.

(14:01) By me, he’s talking about wisdom, princes govern and all nobles who rule on the earth. (14:12) God probably is speaking through wisdom because God is the source of that wisdom. (14:18) I love those who love me and those who seek me and find me.

He’s talking about wisdom. (14:25) I love you if you’re looking for it. I love you if you seek, you’ll find me.

(14:30) With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. You see, that’s what awaits us. (14:41) But if we go after the other things, it eludes us.

So he says, with wisdom, (14:50) with me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold. (15:02) What I yield surpasses choice silver.

I walk in the way of righteousness along the paths of justice, (15:11) bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasures full. In other words, (15:18) if you pay attention to the wisdom and if you live the way God wants you to live and approach (15:24) life and wisdom, you’re going to get what you really are after. You’re going to obtain that (15:33) which you are looking for.

For my fruit is better than fine gold. What I provide for you, I yield (15:41) surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness along the paths of justice, (15:48) bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasures full.

Notice now, (15:56) wisdom says where her source of wisdom comes from. The Lord brought me forth as the first of his (16:06) works. In other words, before he created the world, before he created anything, (16:13) it was wisdom, before his deeds of old.

I was appointed from the eternity, (16:21) from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth. (16:29) When there were no springs abounding with water, before the mountains were settled in place, (16:35) before the hills, I was given birth.

Before he made the earth or his fields or any of the dust (16:43) of the world, I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the (16:52) face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the (16:58) deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when (17:07) he marked out the foundations of the earth, when I was the craftsman at his side, I was filled with (17:14) delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting (17:23) in mankind. What is that scripture saying to us? It’s reaffirming the creation of the world, (17:34) isn’t it? It’s reaffirming the fact that the creation of the world was made with deep wisdom. (17:48) Wisdom was applied.

Notice, everything that he points out here is things that we learn (17:55) in our study with Christian evidences. It’s being reinforced, isn’t it? God created those things, (18:04) and he created those things through wisdom and with wisdom. Now then, verse 32, (18:13) my sons, listen to me.

Blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise. (18:22) Do not ignore it.

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my (18:29) doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. He’s talking about (18:37) wisdom.

This is what will happen if we apply for wisdom, if we allow wisdom to have its place in (18:45) our lives. Wisdom is achievable. It can be acquired.

It’s knowledge. For whoever finds me (18:56) finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself.

(19:09) All who hate me love death. What do you think about wisdom? Are you going to be arrogant (19:21) and say, ah, listen to him? Are you going to ignore it? Oh, what’s the attitude? (19:35) He’s saying here, if that’s the attitude that you want to develop and take, (19:41) if that’s the way you

want to leave here and say, ah, I could have spent my time somewhere else, (19:49) then he’s saying, but whoever fails to find me harms himself. All who hate me (20:01) love death.

Is that the way you want to live your life? Is that the way you want to (20:10) understand life? Is that the way that you want to exist? I know people who do. They continue to (20:21) want to ask God to help them get healed, just like my little article on the back of the bulletin says. (20:32) Heal me, God, but I’m being reproved.

And so we’re asking God to bless and to overlook our (20:42) sins and the way in which we live our lives. God can’t do that. Listen to what James has said, (20:52) and this is our last.

This was read in your hearing also. James, the third chapter. (21:01) To his wise and understanding among you, (21:05) let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

(21:14) But if you harbor bitter envy, selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the (21:21) truth. Such wisdom does not come from heaven. It’s earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

(21:35) For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (21:43) But the wisdom that comes from heaven is, first of all, pure (21:48) and peace-loving. Considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

(22:05) Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (22:12) Seek wisdom. Allow God to have his way with you.

Wisdom is to turn to God and accept his offer (22:28) to be reconciled to him. He is offering to reconcile us to him if we will come to him (22:35) through his son Jesus. And to acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior and to (22:42) acknowledge him as being our high priest, the one who can enter into heaven and intercede for us.

(22:53) What we have to do in order to be able to know that is to acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ (22:59) and to become his disciple, to confess our faults, to repent, and be baptized in the name of the (23:10) Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those are the things that give wisdom to accept God on his (23:19) terms. If you’re here this morning and have not responded in like kind, I’d like to extend to you (23:29) the opportunity to do so.

And we can help you follow through with your desires to be reconciled (23:36) to God. But we have the water, we have the garments, and we’re willing to go through (23:43) the baptism with you. Won’t you come while together we stand and sing the song of encouragement?