It’s Not What You Know

Opening Illustration

Here’s a quiz question .. Who are we?

We were a bunch of 16 yr old teens who loved mucking around with guitars .. we decided to give ourselves a name .. the Blackjacks .. but then called ourselves the Quarry Men seeing that we all went to Quarry Street School .. we soon found out that the name Quarrymen was already taken by another respected band .. so had to think again ... different kids would come and go into our group .. just mucking around .. even called ourselves Johnny and the Moondogs

We had an offer to be the back up band for a Johnny Gentle gig .. a fellow Liverpudlian .. we desperately needed a drummer

It was getting a bit boring playing every weekend at the Cave but one night a local record store owner and music columnist by the name of Brian Epstien introduced himself to us .. who put us in contact with George Martin ... who signed us up with EMI recording label

We are ..............

Yep the Beatles .. the best selling band in history

Epstein recalls that first meeting by saying "I immediately liked what I heard. They were fresh, and they were honest, and they had what I thought was a sort of presence ... star quality."

Yep .. That classic line .... it’s not WHAT you KNOW (or can do) but WHO you KNOW

How many budding 16 yr olds are strumming on guitars and writing their own songs ... how much talent is out there but undiscovered

It’s not WHAT you know so much as WHO you know ... and we are going to see this clearly as we round off our series in Proverbs

We’ve seen that this ancient book contains WISDOM and PRUDENCE and DISCIPLINE .. these are TOOLS not RULES for living life in God’s world and making sense of a very complicated and messed up environment we live in .. how do we become the BEST people we want to be ... how do we relate to people around us

REVIEW .. Well ... I’m not a builder .. nor the son of a builder .. but I think we can see some parallels in building HOUSES and BUILDING A LIFE as we’ve been looking at the book of Proverbs

We’ve seen TWO paths summed up in .. LADY WISDOM and LADY FOLLY .. ways that lead to life and death .. and it all depends on our focus in life .. or our FOUNDATION

We’ve seen that this ancient book contains WISDOM and PRUDENCE and DISCIPLINE .. these are TOOLS not RULES for living life in God’s world and making sense of a very complicated and messed up environment we live in .. how do we become the BEST people we want to be ... how do we relate to people around us

We’ve seen TWO paths summed up in ways to BUILD .. LADY WISDOM and LADY FOLLY .. ways that lead to life and death .. and it all depends on our focus in life .. or in building terms … our FOUNDATION

Proverbs states it well .. and repeatedly .. it’s all bound up in the FEAR OF THE LORD .. e.g. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Another way of putting that is seen in vv.5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” And there are great blessings that follow as we TRUST GOD following and applying HIS wisdom

Proverbs states it well .. and repeatedly .. it’s all bound up in the FEAR OF THE LORD .. e.g. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Another way of putting that is seen in vv.5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” And there are great blessings that follow as we TRUST GOD following and applying HIS wisdom

So .. when you’re building a house there are things that you must get right .. the FOUNDATION is crucial .. laying the slab AND ... the FRAMEWORK is critical .. load bearing beams and trusses otherwise you end up with a pile of rubble

When you’re building a house there are things that you must get right .. the FOUNDATION is crucial .. laying the slab AND ... the FRAMEWORK is critical .. load bearing beams and trusses otherwise you end up with a pile of rubble

There are heaps of wise sayings .. pithy one-liners .. practical thoughts and directives and they build on the FOUNDATION .. That’s what we’ve been seeing in the book of Proverbs ... build a framework on that foundation ... righteousness, love faithfulness personal integrity etc .. these are vital and absolutely necessary for a life as God designed it ...these are OBLIGATIONS

Other things that aren’t so critical in building there’s a degree of flexibility .. it’s up to you .. weatherboard .. brick .. colourbond roof .. tile roof .. paint it blue .. pink .. so what ... now you’ll get the “experts” telling you all sorts of things ... you HAVE to have a tile roof ... brick will keep it better insulated etc etc and of course there are some WISE decisions .. eg if in a hot climate you have low ceilings .. tin roof .. no insulation .. no air con .. well it will be hot in summer ... but at the end of the day it’s preference .. and .. what you can afford .. it might not be sensible but the house won’t collapse

There are heaps of wise sayings .. pithy one-liners .. practical thoughts and directives and they build on the FOUNDATION .. That’s what we’ve been seeing in the book of Proverbs ... build a framework on that foundation ... righteousness, love faithfulness personal integrity etc .. these are vital and absolutely necessary for a life as God designed it ...these are OBLIGATIONS

Other things that aren’t so critical in building there’s a degree of flexibility .. it’s up to you .. weatherboard .. brick veneer .. colourbond roof .. tile roof .. paint it blue .. pink .. so what ... of course there are some WISE decisions .. eg if in a hot climate you have low ceilings .. tin roof .. no insulation .. no air con .. well it will be hot in summer ... but at the end of the day it’s preference .. and .. what you can afford .. it might not be sensible but the house won’t collapse

We see a degree of flexibility in the book of Proverbs .. some statements are OBSERVATIONS in life .. these are helpful in making wise decisions

We’ve seen a degree of flexibility in the book of Proverbs .. some statements are OBSERVATIONS in life .. these are helpful in making wise decisions

As we look at the closing chapters of Proverbs we see a few case studies .. or DISPLAY HOMES .. display LIVES to walk through .. observe how they’ve done things .. how they’ve put things together .. here’s the first of those

As we look at the closing chapters of Proverbs we see a few case studies .. or DISPLAY HOMES .. or display LIVES to walk through .. observe how they’ve done things .. how they’ve put things together .. here’s the first of those

Just TWO Things

Just TWO Things

Verse 1 is important ... check it out ... The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh — an oracle: This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:

Agur ... son of Jakeh ... an oracle? .. this would be unique there is no other place where the proverbs are called “oracles” or a prophecy

Verse 1 is important ... check it out ... The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh — an oracle: This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:

Agur ... son of Jakeh ... an oracle? NIV .. it gets a bit tricky with translations .. y’see .. there’s no other place where the proverbs are called “oracles” or a prophecy .. seems a bit strange for Proverbs .. wisdom book

There’s a footnote version .. the word is translated Massa ie a place ie a Gentile place .. descendants of Ishmael () .. the same word in 31:1 King Lemuel .. an oracle ?

If it is Massa .. makes more sense .. Lemuel an Ishmalite King .. we don’t read of a King Lemuel in Israel

There’s a footnote version .. the word oracle is translated Massa ie a place ie a Gentile place .. descendants of Ishmael () .. the same word in 31:1 King Lemuel .. an oracle ?

If it is Massa .. makes more sense .. Lemuel an Ishmaelite King .. we don’t read of a King Lemuel in Israel in 1&2 Kings

So ... Agur an Ishmaelite .. gentile (Arab) ... makes more sense of .. v.2-3 ““I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man’s understanding. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.” Gentiles know nothing .. they are far from God and that’s what Agur seems to be .. HOWEVER .. here is a guy who wants to make sense of the world .. how do you live in it well ... notice what he says

v.4“Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!”

So ... Agur an Ishmaelite .. gentile (Arab) ... makes more sense of .. v.2-3 ““I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man’s understanding. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.” Gentiles know nothing of the HOLY GOD .. they are far from God and that’s what Agur seems to be .. HOWEVER .. here is a guy who wants to make sense of the world .. how do you live in it well ... notice what he says

v.4“Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!”

Agur figures .. the one who would know would be the one who made the world .. sustains the world ... you need a teacher OR at least someone very close to the maker of the world .. his son .. but who is that .. tell me

Well we NT Christians know don’t we .. maybe you’re bursting to tell this guy .. we know the Father .. and Jesus His son who has come down from heaven and established the ends of the earth .. this side of the cross it’s a no brainer .. but for Agur .. give him some credit for his thought processes .. here’s a gentile searching for the meaning of life in OT times .. seeks God and finds him ... v.5-6 ““Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

Agur figures .. the one who would know would be the one who made the world .. sustains the world ... you need a teacher OR at least someone very close to the maker of the world .. his son .. but who is that .. tell me!

Quotes from OT .. strong echo of & echoes of .. Agur’s search leads him to the OT .. inspired scriptures of Israel .. perfect .. a gentile discovers the fear of the Lord (Yahweh) covenant God .. the ONLY true God .. that’s when you find life

Well we NT Christians know don’t we .. maybe you’re bursting to tell this guy .. we know the Father .. and Jesus His son who has come down from heaven and established the ends of the earth .. this side of the cross it’s a no brainer .. but for Agur .. give him some credit for his thought processes .. here’s a gentile searching for the meaning of life in OT times .. seeks God and finds him ... v.5-6 ““Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

Your might remember FRANK MORRISON the academic who started out to write a book rubbishing the Christian Faith .. thought he’d better read the Bible to show how stupid and contradictory it is .. but saw a different book .. a book that convinced him of his rebellious heart .. and to put his faith in Christ

NotAgur’s words but quotes from OT .. strong echo of & echoes of .. Agur’s search for wisdom leads him to the inspired scriptures of Israel .. a gentile discovers the fear of the LORD (Yahweh) the PERSONAL NAME of the COVENANT God .. the ONLY true God .. that’s when you find life .. that’s when it makes sense

Y’see no matter what his moral condition .. how nice .. how honest ... no matter how good a husband or dad .. Agur knew it wasn’t WHAT you know but ... WHO you know

ILLUSTRATION

Your might remember FRANK MORRISON the academic who started out to write a book rubbishing the Christian Faith .. thought he’d better read the Bible to show how stupid and contradictory it is .. so he searched .. read and found our how stupid HE was!

He saw a different book .. a book that convinced him of his rebellious heart .. and to put his faith in Christ .. and he wrote the classic apologetic for the cross .. WHO MOVED THE STONE

He has found his answers in the God of Israel .. who’s words are flawless .. in whom we can take refuge

Y’see no matter what his moral condition .. how nice .. how honest ... no matter how good a husband or dad .. Agur knew it wasn’t WHAT you know but ... WHO you know

Therefore STICK close to Yahweh .. here’s his desire ““Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

He has found his answers in the God of Israel .. who’s words are flawless .. in whom we can take refuge

Therefore STICK close to Yahweh .. this is what you learn .. here’s his desire ““Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God.”

( NIV)

This is probably the most pertinent point in the chapter ... The last thing you want to do is drift AWAY from Yahweh .. disown and disobey your God ... the one you know

( NIV)

This is probably the most pertinent point in the chapter …

Imagine having so much money that I am seduced from loving and serving and praising my God ...

The first thing this GENTILE SEEKER is convinced of after FINDING wisdom .. Coz ..the last thing you want to do is DRIFT AWAY from Yahweh .. DISOWN and DISOBEY your God ... the one you know

And for us .. we KNOW who holds the wind in the hollow of his hands … we KNOW who has COME DOWN from heaven and who has ASCENDED back into heaven .. we know the One who has secured our life

Or so little money that I’m tempted to do something that would dishonour him

Here’s his point : Imagine having so much money that I am seduced from loving and serving and praising my God ...

To disobey .. disown .. drift from him ... that is foolishness beyond belief

Gentile or Jew .. the lure of WEALTH is there ... much is said in Proverbs about the WISDOM we need to handle riches well .. as we saw earlier

Or … so little money that I’m tempted to do something that would dishonour him

Greed drives our world .. how far are we away from another GFC?

To disobey .. disown .. drift from him ... that is foolishness beyond belief

Gentile or Jew .. the lure of WEALTH is there ... and so much is said in Proverbs about the WISDOM we need to handle riches well .. as we saw earlier in Proverbs

This week millions of dollars will be spent on a horse race ... total prize money is estimated at $6M just a bit of fun ... the only time I have a flutter ... but that’s chicken feed .. there’s a $100M up for grabs from Oz Lotto on Melbourne Cup day

Greed drives our world .. how far are we away from another GFC?

Do you really want a piece of that action? Agur doesn’t .. and that’s WISE

But it goes a bit deeper doesn’t it .. Francis Chan in his book CRAZY LOVE says “Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually”

We’re a nation that spends millions of dollars on a horse race ... every week we are encouraged to gamble responsibly ... but that’s chicken feed .. there’s a $100M up for grabs from Oz Lotto etc

In the culture and society we live in there’s great danger .. we have enough to eat .. roof over our head .. yet we half hearted and distracted ... partially committed to Christian things .. and you know what that equals ? LUKEWARMNESS ... MEDIOCRITY .. and that is a Christian swear word

Do you really want a piece of that action? Agur doesn’t .. and that’s WISE

But it goes a bit deeper doesn’t it ..

We give to gospel work as long as it doesn’t impinge too much on my standard of living ... don’t want to be too unpopular when the hot topics get raised in the office .. or staff room or over the fence with the neighbour

Francis Chan in his book CRAZY LOVE says “Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually”

Lukewarm people don’t what to be saved from their sin .. just the PENALTY of their sins .. apathetic christians don’t really believe that the new life in Christ is better than the old sinful one ... they don’t really hate sin

Lukewarm people are impressed by great things that others are doing for the gospel .. but don’t see the need to act in the same way ... that’s foe the radicals .. not for us average Christians

In the culture and society we live in there’s great danger .. we have enough to eat .. roof over our head .. yet we can become half hearted and distracted ... partially committed to Christian things .. and you know what that equals ?

LUKEWARMNESS ... MEDIOCRITY .. and that is a Christian swear word

Is that what Jesus wants?? Average followers?

We can get sucked in to give to gospel work as long as it doesn’t impinge too much on my standard of living ... or … we don’t want to be too unpopular when the hot topics get raised in the office .. or staff room or over the fence with the neighbour … “Can’t believe what this Israel Folau said .. eh”

Lukewarm people don’t want to be saved from their sin .. just the PENALTY of their sins .. apathetic christians don’t really believe that the new life in Christ is better than the old sinful one ... they don’t really hate sin

We are all called to radical countercultural living that stands out starkly as light in darkness

We have to be praying like Agur ... Lord I don’t want to lose a fresh and vibrant understanding of you ... I don’t want to lose the fear and the reverence for you and your word ... Please help me not to DISHONOUR ... DISOBEY .. OR DISOWN you the Living God

Lukewarm people are impressed by great things that others are doing for the gospel .. but don’t see the need to act in the same way ... that’s for the radicals .. not for us average Christians

But lets move on

Is that what Jesus wants?? Average followers? Passionless when we understand this MOMENTOUS NEWS? ..

Agur says .. keep me from EVER becoming that

Agur will keep walking us through the display life in Ch.30 ... He’ll say many other things .. there are plenty of lessons he’s learnt .. some sounding a bit obscure to our western ears .. what’s the way of a snake on a rock?? others very relevant ... not giving in to hateful speech .. WISDOM and our WORDS .. the adulteress has an appearance ..

We are all called to radical countercultural living that stands out starkly as light in darkness .. we follow a WISDOM that is not of this world .. rather it’s a life lived after the way of the CREATOR .. it’s not WHAT we know .. it’s WHO we follow

We have to be praying like Agur ... Lord I don’t want to lose a fresh and vibrant understanding of you ... I don’t want to lose the fear and the reverence for you and your word ... Please help me not to DISHONOUR ... DISOBEY .. OR DISOWN you the Living God

their are insatiable desires etc other good things and advice ... but...

But lets move on

these verses 7-9 are most powerful .. here’s a gentile that has discovered Yahweh and dreads and fears that he might not give Him the honour that is due to Him

Agur will keep walking us through the display life in Ch.30 ... He’ll say many other things that are WISE .. there are plenty of lessons he’s learnt .. interesting way Agur puts it .. apart from these 2 things he talks of 3 things this or that .. four things etc .. some sounding a bit obscure to our western ears .. what’s the way of a snake on a rock I wonder?? Some things a bit yucky .. v.17 The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

How much more should we feel the importance and passion of keeping close to the Father .. and Jesus .. we gentiles have so much more understanding of what God has done .. Jesus is the one who holds the wind in the hollow of his hands .. He has established the ends of the earth ... and REDEEMS His creation

The eye that mocks a father

and scorns to obey a mother

will be picked out by the ravens of the valley

and eaten by the vultures.

Some things just obvious .. no matter what country you come from v.33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife

For pressing milk produces curds,

pressing the nose produces blood,

and pressing anger produces strife

others very relevant, things we’ve seen before ... not giving in to hateful speech .. WISDOM and our WORDS .. the ADULTERESS makes an appearance .. lots of wise words Agur has learnt

I’ll leave you to read the rest of the chapter ... but...

Whatever it takes we MUST stick close to Jesus we MUST have the same passion to be careful lest we drift away ... to disown Jesus is foolishness beyond belief

These verses 30:7-9 are most powerful .. here’s a gentile that has discovered Yahweh and dreads and fears that he might not give Him the honour that is due to Him

Using What I Know

ILLUSTRATION

How much more should we feel the importance and passion of keeping close to the Father .. and Jesus .. we Christian gentiles have so much more understanding of what God has done .. Jesus is the one who holds the wind in the hollow of his hands .. He has established the ends of the earth ... and REDEEMS His creation

Whatever it takes we MUST stick close to Jesus we MUST have the same passion to be careful lest we drift away ... to disown Jesus is foolishness beyond belief

In 1923 Tokyo had it’s worst EARTHQUAKE in it’s history .. in the first 5 min the earthquake released more energy than all the energy in WW2 ... 15000 people died within the first 2 min ... the aftershocks and fires killed another 120,000 people .. 2 M left without homes .. and it could have been worse .. in the middle of Tokyo stood the Imperial Motel .. debris and rubble all around .. BUT ... it has stood firm .. the day of the earthquake was the day the Imperial opened .. Why did it stand? because it was built on earthquake resistant foundations designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Using What I Know

The Imperial Motel stayed up and provided a base for shelter and protection ... a place to give out food and medical attention .. thousands of homeless were housed and cared for there when everything else was rubble

Now .. just imagine .. if you knew that there was an earthquake coming .. and that the Imperial was earthquake proof ... wouldn’t you want to go there and get inside?

ILLUSTRATION

You do everything you could to be in the safety of that motel .. those foundations

In 1923 Tokyo had it’s worst EARTHQUAKE in it’s history .. it’s estimated that in the first 5 min the earthquake released more energy than all the energy produced in WW2 ... 15000 people died within the first 2 min ... the aftershocks and fires killed another 120,000 people .. 2 M left without homes .. and it could have been worse .. in the middle of Tokyo stood the Imperial Motel, which opened on the same day as the quake .. debris and rubble all around .. BUT ... it stood firm .. Why did it stand?

Because it was built on earthquake resistant foundations designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Friends .. by God’s grace we have a live surrendered to Him and based on the solid and safe foundations of the fear of Yahweh ... we need to do whatever it takes to stay on the safety of that foundation .. the BEST place to be

The Imperial Motel stayed up and provided a base for shelter and protection ... a place to give out food and medical attention .. thousands of homeless were housed and cared for there when everything else was rubble

A day is coming when a life built on any other foundation will be tested and found wanting .. they will be burnt up

Now .. just imagine .. if you knew that there was an earthquake coming .. and that the Imperial was earthquake proof ... wouldn’t you want to go there and get inside?

You’d do everything you could to be in the safety of that motel .. those immoveable foundations

We need to be like Agur .. take a leaf from his book as it were .. looking to God to help us never to disown or disobey or dishonour the Saviour we serve and know

Friends ..in building a life that will last, it is not WHAT you know but WHO you know

You see .. there is no group of friends no matter how persuasive .. no relationship no matter how attractive ... no hobbie or sport no matter how exciting interesting or enthralling and fun that should ever cause us to move away from this solid foundation

As followers of Jesus we want people to know WHO we know

By God’s grace we have a live surrendered to Him and based on the solid and safe foundations of the fear of Yahweh ... Jesus has done it all

We need to do whatever it takes to stay and build on that foundation .. the ONLY place to be

A day is coming when a life built on any other foundation will be tested and found wanting .. they will be burnt up

“Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!”

Well you know ... if you a Christian .. you are immovable as to where you put your trust .. your faith

We need to be like Agur .. take a leaf from his book as it were .. looking to God to help us never to disown or disobey or dishonour the Saviour we serve and know

And because we Fear the Lord .. we want others to know where the solid rock is .. we don’t want them to perish .. surely we want them to know what we know .. to know where truth lies .. where salvation can be found

You see .. there is no group of friends no matter how persuasive .. no relationship no matter how attractive ... no hobby or sport no matter how exciting interesting or enthralling and fun that should ever cause us to move away from this solid foundation

“Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!”

I know that many of you want your friends to know the gospel .. this is a church where we have a high view of the word of God .. we want our friends to hear the gospel ... that’s encouraging when I know that that is a strong desire within you

BUT .. we must never slacken off .. we must keep the main thing the main thing

Well you know ... if you a Christian .. it is Jesus .. you are immovable as to where you put your trust .. your faith

We as a church are that beacon of light

And because we Fear the Lord .. we want others to know where the solid rock is .. we don’t want them to perish .. surely we want them to know what we know .. to know where truth lies .. where salvation can be found .. no amount of what they KNOW .. how they live, will ever save them .. others need to KNOW the Saviour

It’s the death and resurrection of Jesus .. what He has done regardless of our performance that is the message we live and proclaim when our hearts are right with Him

I know that many of you want your friends to know the gospel .. this is a church where we have a high view of the word of God .. we want our friends to hear the gospel ... that’s encouraging when I know that that is a strong desire within you

It’s really encouraging to see people getting behind Mainly Music .. thank you for those willing to join the team and wherever you can help it will be greatly appreciated .. making slices or cakes .. helping register people .. but this is a way of getting into our community and who knows where it will all lead ... the contacts we’ll make .. and even if you can’t physically help, please PRAY

BUT .. we must never slacken off .. we must keep the main thing the main thing

Friends ... we need people to teach our kids in Lighthouse, YG , Growth Group .. that they will be constantly encouraged to keep building on the right foundation .. keep the faith even in the difficult days

We as a church are that beacon of light

And we need to make the effort ... invite people to things we put on ... guys invite a friend to the Mens Breakfast .. ask them along and pray that they’ll come .. we will get knock backs .. I asked my new neighbour and he politely laughed and said the place would fall down if he came .. still Christmas is coming

It’s really encouraging to see people getting behind Mainly Music .. thank you for those willing to join the team and wherever you can help it will be greatly appreciated .. making slices or cakes .. helping register people .. but this is a way of getting into our community and who knows where it will all lead ... the contacts we’ll make .. and even if you can’t physically help, please PRAY

Christmas is a great opportunity to help others think about the firm foundation of Jesus .. maybe some well chosen words in a Christmas card or letter ... a Christian book .. CD .. there will be conversations around this season where we can point to the one who came down from heaven .. took on flesh ... born in Bethlehem ... died and rose again in Jerusalem

Friends ... we are thankful for the people to teach our kids in Kids Church, YG , for those who facilitate our Growth Groups .. that they will be constantly encouraged to keep building on the RIGHT FOUNDATION .. keep the faith even in the difficult days

Conclusion

And we need to make the effort keep thinking about how we can connect .. Men’s Shed .. ask them along and pray that they’ll come .. we will get knock backs .. I’ve asked people and they politely laugh and said the place would fall down if he came .. keep praying with an EXPECTATION, the Father can change hearts

Agur is a curious bloke in the book of Proverbs ... his search for WISDOM had to lead him to Yahweh

And ... if we really believe that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom .. then this is the foundation on which we will build our lives ..

Conclusion

AND .. because we now see so much more of the WISDOM of God in Jesus His Son .. we are more overwhelmed .. Jesus is .. the SOLID ROCK of our SALVATION

Agur is a curious bloke in the book of Proverbs ... his search for WISDOM had to lead him to Yahweh

And ... if we really believe that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom .. then this is the foundation on which we will build our lives ..

We will do whatever it takes to remain firm with Him and tell others about Him

AND .. because we now see so much more of the WISDOM of God in Jesus His Son .. we are more overwhelmed .. Jesus is .. the SOLID ROCK of our SALVATION

A day is coming when He will collect us up and take us home .. will wipe away every tear .. and join with a great congregation eternally giving HIm the praise and the honour and the glory

We will do whatever it takes to remain firm with Him and tell others about Him

Are you losing that passion .. that conviction? Yep it’s tough but we need to be PATIENT and PERSEVERE

A day is coming when He will collect us up and take us home .. will wipe away every tear .. and join with a great congregation eternally giving Him the praise and the honour and the glory