5 STEPS TO WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING (PROVERBS 2:1-8)

I. STORE UP GOD’S COMMANDS (V1)

A) Hide Words in Your Heart Psalm 119:11

Psalm 119:11 NET 2nd ed.

In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.

B) Be Doers of the Word

Matthew 7:24–27 CSB

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

James 1:19–25 CSB

My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

II. MAKE EAR ATTENTIVE & TURN HEART TO (V2)

A) Humility and Repentance

Christian Standard Bible (Isaiah 45:22)

Turn to me and be saved,

all the ends of the earth.

For I am God,

and there is no other.

Christian Standard Bible (Matthew 13:14-15)

14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

You will listen and listen,

but never understand;

you will look and look,

but never perceive.

15 For this people’s heart has grown callous;

their ears are hard of hearing,

and they have shut their eyes;

otherwise they might see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears, and

understand with their hearts,

and turn back—

and I would heal them.,

B) BLESSING COMES ONLY WITH REPENTANCE AND OBEDIENCE

Christian Standard Bible (Psalm 81:8-16)

Listen, my people, and I will admonish you.

Israel, if you would only listen to me!

9 There must not be a strange god among you;

you must not bow down to a foreign god.

10 I am the LORD your God,

who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;

Israel did not obey me.

12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts

to follow their own plans.

13 If only my people would listen to me

and Israel would follow my ways,

14 I would quickly subdue their enemies

and turn my hand against their foes.”

15 Those who hate the LORD

would cower to him;

their doom would last forever.

16 But he would feed Israel with the best wheat.

“I would satisfy you with honey from the rock.”

Christian Standard Bible (DT 28:1-2)

“Now if you faithfully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all his commands I am giving you today, the LORD your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these blessings will come and overtake you, because you obey the LORD your God

C) HEARING IS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE WHO HAVE TURNED

“Those with ears to hear, let them hear”

My Sheep LISTEN to my Voice (John 10)

“Whoever Belongs to God hears” (John 8:47)

…but you are not my sheep…

III CALL OUT & SHOUT LOUDLY (V3)

A) People of FAITH, SPEAK

Mouth speaks what is in the heart (Matt 7:17-19)

We believe, therefore we spoke (2COR4:13)

Speak to this mountain:

Christian Standard Bible (Mark 11:22-24)

Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received, it and it will be yours

B) HE PROMISES TO HEAR US AND ANSWER US

Christian Standard Bible (Psalm 34:4)

I sought the LORD, and he answered me

and rescued me from all my fears.

Christian Standard Bible (Psalm 3:4)

I cry aloud to the LORD,

and he answers me from his holy mountain.

Christian Standard Bible (Psalm 17:6)

I call on you, God,

because you will answer me

Christian Standard Bible (Psalm 38:15)

For I put my hope in you, LORD;

you will answer me, my Lord, my God.

Christian Standard Bible (Psalm 86:7)

I call on you in the day of my distress,

for you will answer me.

Christian Standard Bible (Psalm 118:5)

I called to the LORD in distress;

the LORD answered me

and put me in a spacious place.

IV SEEK IT & SEARCH FOR IT (V4)

A) Seekers find, knockers have open doors, askers receive (Matthew 7:7-12)

B) Requires Diligence (Don’t Give Up)

Judge and the Widow (Luke 18:1-8)

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 18

Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect people. 3 And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’ ”

6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? 8 I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Heb 11:6.

C) He Promises to be Found by Us

Christian Standard Bible (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART. 14 I will be found by you”—this is the LORD’s declaration

V. BELIEVE

WE HAVE TO BELIEVE GOD ACTUALLY KEEPS HIS WORD AND PROCLAIM IT