Wisdom Wins

Intro

Continuing in a series Pastor Christy started last week called, Word to the Wise.

We are journeying through some of the themes of the book of proverbs.

Scripture twitter.

Quick statements to live by.

there is one over arching truth throughout this book that it is calling us to live out.

If you were to make a top 5 of the most important things what would be on there?

God, family, church, finances, mexican food...

proverbs gives us a truth that many would add to the list but should be very important.

Gaining wisdom.

Proverbs 4:7 (CSB)

Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.

Proverbs was mostly written by King Solomon who was known as the wisest man to have lived.

When he took over the throne, God told Solomon when he began his reign, ask me whatever you want.

Solomons prayer wasn’t for fame or fortune, it was for wisdom.

It says God granted it to him.

Proverbs is the accumulation of his writings about wisdom.

We should all desire to live wisely.

The first 9 Chapters is Solomon making the case for why Wisdom is so important.

the remaining chapters are mostly quick statements about a whole lot of topics and how to live wisely in those situations.

We often can think of Wisdom as the same thing as Knowledge.

But they are different.

Knowledge is the accumulation of facts.

Wisdom is knowing how to use those facts.

It’s applied knowledge.

We know people, maybe its you, who are smart, but… not real wise.

Knowledge: learning a lot of words

Wisdom: writing a novel.

Knowledge: having a lot of thoughts

Wisdom: knowing when not to say them

Knowledge: facts about cats

Wisdom: not getting one

Knowledge: house

Wisdom: home

Practical ways to live well in God’s world.

Wisdom doesn’t just come through age and experience. (although it does)

We picture an old man or woman sharing life stories from their rocking chairs.

Wisdom comes from God, there isn’t an age limitation or requirement.

There are people with lots of years and little wisdom and others with little years and lots of wisdom.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

This verse tells us the way of wisdom.

Learning to lean into his ways instead of our own understanding.

In a world that leans more and more on our own human understanding, there is a better way.

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Like Solomon, if we ask for and seek after God he will give us his wisdom.

I know I need it, too often I look up and say - why did I do that, Why did I say that....

Knowledge understands things about God.

Wisdom walks with God.

Wisdom gives us the way to understand Gods ways.

The book of Proverbs tells us about 4 different types of people.

1. The Simple.

Sounds a little mean. The simpleton.

But this is just the person who is ignorant.

They don’t know what they don’t know.

they haven’t heard or been taught.

Proverbs 7:7

I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.

Usually, but not always, young

They aren’t wise because they just don’t know yet.

I once worked at a diesel mechanic shop and bought parts for the shop.

One of the mechanics told me he needed spark plugs, I searched for days and couldn’t find any.

Some of you are like me, and have no clue at all about this.

But I learned after a few day… Diesel engines don’t have spark plugs!

Gullible.

Didn’t know. Simple.

There is some simple in all of us.

Where we think we know best but don’t know better yet.

The answer for the Simple, is time and others.

Live long enough to learn.

how often have we had this and do this for others, we see people doing dumb things and were on the sidelines saying

NO!! don’t do it!

don’t go there.

Be willing to listen, learn and grow.

We all have some simple in us.

We don’t know everything.

This is one of the greatest things about life groups, its a tribe of people who can see and give different angels of learned wisdom that we may not yet see or know.

Humility to say, Oh I don’t know it all!!

2. The Fool.

The fools knows what to do, but still doesn’t do it!!

Theres a little fool in us all too isn’t there.

We know the right thing, but I’ll take my chances because I’d rather do what I want to do anyway.

Proverbs 10:23

A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

It’s dumb, but it’s fun.

outside of Gods ways always comes back to bite us.

He trying to save us from that!

Proverbs 13:20

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

part of wisdom is also watching our circle!

How many times have I done things I knew I shouldn’t because I was hanging out with group of fools!

The answer for foolishness: Consequences.

The only that that usually changes a fool, is living through the tragedy of their dumb decisions.

It doesn’t have to take a tragedy, to too often it takes that.

Heed the warning if this is you.

Some of you know that you are on the path that isn’t right.

Let God get your attention today and turn around.

God will use even the very things that we bring on our ourselves for good and purpose if we let him.

(HALF)

3. The Mocker

(or Scoffer)

Fool on a another level.

Not only do they go the wrong way themselves, they mock and try to bring down the ones trying to go the right way.

Mockers come out on social media!

Too often we entertain and engage with these kind of people and the bible says not to!

Proverbs 9:7-8

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.

Whose ever tried to argue with this type of person?!?

Whose made the comment back online when you knew you shouldn’t have and it created the firestorm.

The problem in our world right now is it is so polarized.

The bible uses strong language against the mocker.

The only answer is God.

These people God has to somehow get a hold of them.

They don’t listen to others.

4. The Wise

This is the person that we want to be!

It’s not the person who is the smartest in the room has the most degrees, even someone who is the oldest.

Proverbs 9:9

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Wise people are teachable, always ready to learn and grow.

they realize they don’t know it all.

They haven’t walled off their life into their own ways.

Too many value our self dependance, independence over anything.

But we need interdependence to truly be wise.

On God and godly people.

Correct a wise person, and they thank you.

This is some incredible God advice, that if you apply it, it will impact and change every area of your.

Everything else we will talk about over the next few weeks starts here.

Become wise.

Listen, slow, and grow.

give us a year.

I know it’s a lot.

But I think if you give church a year of your life, go all in, your life will change.

Because God’s way works.

Nugget of wisdom for today.

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

This is where we have to start to gain this wisdom.

The fear of the Lord doesn’t meant to be afraid of God.

Unfortunately that’s how too many view our incredible God.

Sometimes we think this because we’ve seen too many christians and preacher who look mad haha.

your view of God will determine your relationship with Him.

God is full mercy, slow to anger, full of love, forgiving.

So then what is the fear of the Lord.

It recognizing that:

1. God is Awesome!

You’re wonderful, you are amazing!

nothing is like you.

You are higher and greater than any of my thoughts and way and anything on this earth.

Even when I don’t understand and see it, you are always working.

I respect and honor your incredible awesomeness and bigness and greatness!

have you lost the Awe and Wonder of God?

Psalm 33:8 (NLT)

Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him.

I stand in awe of God for all he has done in me, all he has done in my family and all God is doing here.

I’m blown away by God!

Almost 70 people have given their lives to Christ here since the beginning of the year.

We are partnered with an organization that has planted over 1000 life giving churches.

WE recently partnered with an organization that feeds over 100,000 meals to kids every single day in the name of Jesus.

It’s all because of Jesus!

In in awe!

And so humbled and humbled by him.

Isaiah 40:28

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

2. God is Holy

I love church in a fun contemporary way, we have the lights and all of the things.

We will do anything to reach people for Jesus.

But God is not contemporary or traditional or style.

God is oh so holy.

He is altogether worthy.

God owes us nothing!

He is worth it all.

It’s not about us, it’s all about him and for him and to him!

He gives me so much but owes me nothing and worthy of everything.

Psalm 99:5

Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.

Let us never just see God in a nonchalant way!

When he walks in a room everything changes.

Hebrews 12:28-29

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

What is we lived with a much higher respect and honor for who God is.

3. God is Right!

God’s ways are the right ways even when his ways seem different than my ways.

This is leaning on his ways not our understanding, not our emotion, know our thinking.

God is right.

In every area.

His ways transcend time and culture.

We change what we trust in and believe in based of off what is right and wrong in the world.

We don’t formulate our beliefs around the word of God!

Psalm 19:7-11

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Let’s follow his ways, it works!

Fear of the Lord leads to life.

This is the way to wisdom.

No matter where you find yourself today.

Today it’s time for you to walk in a new way.

His way.

He’s here.

Just ask.

I stand at the door and knock.

You just have to open the door.