Wisdom's Walk wk.2

Tipping the Probabilities of Good into Your Favor

Good morning CHURCH!

Are you ready to be equipped today?

Let me see your Bibles.

Let’s go to the book of Matthew for this week’s Wisdom Vaccination.

This Week’s Wisdom Vaccination

Matthew 7:24-27 ESV

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Remember that the rains, floods and winds are like life happening.

When life happens to you will you stand or will you experience a great fall.

INTRO:

last week we discussed what biblical wisdom referred to.

Wisdom in the Old Testament described the practical skills associated with living a successful life.

To “fear the Lord” means to take his person and role seriously in this world.

This weeks title:

Why is wisdom so important?

How many of you know that there are consequences to our actions?

If you take the wrong actions, they will more likely than not, lead to consequences you don’t want.

Wisdom is so important because it literally tips the odds of favorable consequences heavily into your favor.

Point #1

Because God Said So

Genesis 2:15-17 ESV

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,

17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

The original order of life on earth was life not death, faith not fear, to love not to hate and for unity not blame etc.

Ancient Wisdom can be understood as the pursuit of understanding and preserving order in the world.

In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve found out what happens to us when we go against the wisdom of God.

Humor or illustration:

Wisdom tells us that if we eat too much of certain foods and not enough of other foods the consequences of that are not going to be good.

(Youngsters are not feeling the effects of it yet but you will eventually and you are developing the habits that will be tough to break later in life.)

Point #2

Because I know so

Genesis 3:1-3 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,

3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

In verse 1 we see that since the beginning there has been an influence that tries to steer us away from the wisdom/order that God set in place.

(entertainment media is a huge influence away from wisdom, so many people not following God in society, etc.)

In verse 3 we see confirmation that the woman knew what God’s instructions were.

(What is it in your life that you clearly know what God’s instructions are, but you are finding some other reason to do something different?)

humor or illustration:

Point #3

Because she said so

Genesis 3:4-6 ESV

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

So, Eve was deceived into thinking she was doing a good thing by trying to obtain wisdom.

She thought this would make her wise.

(Do you think going against the wisdom of God is the way to become wise?)

humor or illustration:

If you’re sitting here or watching online, I have a very important question to ask you.

1 What is Holy Spirit saying to you right now?

Notes:

Insight, knowledge and good judgment.