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December 21, 2020 7:00 am
Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ in any says nor is it found that I can tell you one thing about was find to long. See you not find it with your colleague not find it out there is a next level wisdom is found joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry or Fellowship Bible Church, located in Metairie, Louisiana going pastor Bill Gever now is once again he shows us how God's word meets or I have been speaking for some time on the subject. Wisdom and if I were to give you a short definition of what wisdom is. I would simply say that wisdom is skill in the art of living. In fact, in the Old Testament when a person was considered to be wise. The Hebrew word was used was the word Pokémon, and often that in the English Bible, which translated skilled. We covered us lot of subject matter when it came to wisdom. The very first time that I spoke I said that there's a question you need to ask yourself each and every time you're about to make a decision or choice and that question is what is the wise thing to do and then sort of auxiliary to that in light of my past experiences in light of my present circumstances, and in light of my future hopes and dreams. What is the wise thing for me to do. We also spent some time with this principle, wise people know what they don't know and so wise. People seek counsel when it comes to important decisions and choices that they make. Unfortunately, we spent a week on the idea that most people are not wise.
In fact the Scripture say that they fall under three categories. The naïve fool in the scoffer and they reap exactly what they so in life because of the poor choices that they make. We then spend time with looking at wisdom in a particular way and that is what's the wise use of my time and then last week.
What's the wise use of my wealth.
You see it such an important subject because if you want to live life to the fullest. If you want a life of contentment and you want to have a life of satisfaction in life. It's a company with things like peace and joy and hope. You have to be wise you have to acquire wisdom, open your Bibles to Proverbs chapter 4 Proverbs chapter 4 we have spent a lot of time in that book because it truly is the wisdom book Proverbs chapter 4 Solomon speaking and this is an interesting reflection of a man was described by God is the wisest man who ever lived.
Solomon I was writing to his own sons any says hero sons. The instruction of a father and give attention that you may gain understanding for I give you sound teaching do not abandon my instruction and then he reflects back to his own childhood and he says when I was a son to my father tender and the only son in the sight of my mother. Then he my father taught me and he said to me. Let your heart hold fast to my words.
Keep my commandments and live. And then he says in the notice it's gone!
In English they don't have those in Hebrew.
They do it with word order, but if you're going to say it with the emphasis it needs what David told Young.
Solomon was this acquire wisdom. The fact that the word order.
The Solomon uses this there. I have a hunch that Solomon heard this over and over. You know what it's like you think back to a parent midcycle here it goes again. They're going to tell me this again and again and again began.
I think this is what David heard again and again.
I mean that that Solomon heard from David acquire wisdom, acquire understanding. He says do not turn away from the words he said it of my mouth.
Do not forsake her personification again of wisdom. If you don't forsake her she will guard you see acquire wisdom. Why if you don't forsake wisdom shall guard your life from what really bad choices really bad decisions. A lot of agony love her. She will watch over you. What an interesting way to say it, and then he says the beginning of wisdom is and we go again acquire wisdom. You see, that tells you something.
It's this wisdom is not natural to us. It is not natural. Wisdom is not something we are naturally endowed with wisdom is something we have to acquire. He said acquire wisdom and with all your acquiring get understanding prize. Her and she will exalt you. He said she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a garland of grace and she will present you with a crown of beauty.
In other words, what David told Solomon over and over again. You want a great life you want to live life to the fullest. You have to acquire wisdom.
That's why several weeks ago I was talking about Solomon at only 20 years of age, and then God granted them and agreeing that you dream that he would be the wisest man not only in his world, but who ever lived, but my point was he was already wise, he gained a lot more wisdom, but he was already wise. At 20 years of age.
He was wise. Why do I know that because he knew what he didn't know. Remember, he said to God, how my going to govern all these people. I don't have the kind wisdom to be a king of the country. You see, that was Solomon but notice he didn't get that just supernaturally from God. He got from his father David, and then verse 10 here my son except my sayings in the years of your life will be many now remember, this is wisdom literature. That's a principal.
That's not a promise.
There have why been wise people who die young, but by principal who is more likely to live a full life. A wise person or a fool seems pretty clear. He says I have directed you in the way of wisdom.
He said I have led you in the upright pass while you see acquire wisdom and it'll be great. In other words, if you acquire wisdom you can have a great life.
So if you read that seriously at all. I know when I read it for the first time and thought about it I thought.
Sign me up. And the reason is, who doesn't want to have a great life. You see who won one that now I want to live the life of a fool I want to make one bad choice after another that I regret for the rest of my life not something I want that but that leaves the question where you got it you see what you get wisdom so want to go with me now to the book of Job few books to your left. The book of Job, Job 28. Now remember, Joe was a pretty impressive guy. Not because I said so because God said so God said to Lucifer to Satan. Hey Job's most impressive diner. He's the most righteous man on the whole plant.
So Joe was an impressive guy and you know what he went through and how terrible was for, but in Job 28 Job says this in verse 12 he says, but where can wisdom be found.
In other words, what I find where can wisdom be found and where is the place of understanding and then he says some interesting man does not know its value that's so true man does not know the value wisdom in any says nor is it found in the land of the living.
While that's pretty clear that I can tell you one thing about wisdom you will find it out there. You will see, you're not going to find it with your colleague at work. Identify get in the political system of some government cannot find it out there.
He said that's not what wisdom is found, he says in verse 15 he says pure gold cannot be given in exchange for more consumer be weighed as its price.
We said this last time, you can buy.
You can buy. You see wealth and wisdom are not necessarily traveling companions and we talked a little bit last time about the stupid rich and the decisions that they can make. You can't buy wisdom. Then he says in verse 20 where then does wisdom come from, where is the place of understanding. He says thus is hidden from it is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the sky. He said it's, you know, that tells me the wisdom you need this skill.
You need to literally live your life to the forced is counterintuitive. My natural instinct is not to be wise it's not my natural instinct is counterintuitive is hidden from the eyes of all the living and then in verse 23 Says God Understands Its Way and he knows its place.
He says for he looks to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under the heavens and when he imparted weight to the winded and matted out the waters by measure and when he set the limit of the rain. Talk about creation in the course of the thunderbolt. Then he saw it and he declared it. God has declared wisdom, just like he did when he created. Look at his creation and said is good. He said implied in the creation is God's wisdom, he established it also and he searched it out and to man he said, behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom wiling to depart from evil is understanding the fear of the Lord, so that is wisdom.
Solomon writes in Proverbs chapter 9 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear the Lord, what does that mean why don't think it means what you might think it does on the surface you me if I'm really afraid of God, I'll be wise not say it's wise to be afraid of God. But that's not what he's talking about.
It's not feeling trembling kind of thing and to some extent.
You hear people say it means that you respect the Lord and I think that's implied certainly part of it, but I think that when you fear the Lord, there is a reference in a recognition it's way beyond respect Ken boa writes this, he writes that feeling. The Lord relates to trust in humility in teachability and servant hood and responsiveness in gratitude in reliance on God is the exact opposite of metonymy and arrogance. That's the place of the naïve before the scoffer. The source of wisdom is God, but God's wisdom is not mysterious. You know it's not like I you know I went to a cabin in the woods and I spent a weekend and when I came out I had the wisdom of God. Some mystical deep prayer. It's not like that wisdom is extremely practical.
Even the way God makes wisdom accessible to us is very very practical turn with me to Psalm 19 Psalm 19. A great Psalm by David. David is praising God and what is praising God for Psalm 19 is because God has revealed himself and that's a wonderful thing. Remember, God didn't have to do that to us. He could be totally transcendent to be wholly other as he is, but never reveal himself to us for Davidson's God is revealed himself. The first thing he says in verse one, as he says the heavens are telling of the glory of God and their expanse is declaring the work of his hand. The first thing he says and praises all creation reveals God. Now that's something Paul picks up in Romans chapter 1 he says if you look at creation. You can see that there is God. It doesn't matter if you examine creation.
On the macro.
The micro level, God is revealed himself and David praises him for that. But there's another way in which God reveals himself a very very practical way and that is in verse seven he says in verse seven, the first part of the verse. The law of the Lord is perfect and restores the soul. Please understand, every time he uses words like law or precept or anything like that, eat, there is almost synonymous.
I've said this before, but when a Hebrew writes poetry.
They use parallelism in their poetry, they don't rhyme the words they use the same kind of thoughts, a lot of it is called synonymous parallelism. In other words what I say in one line. I meant to say differently in the second line is going to mean the same thing and so you could put in the word word of God and every one of these and it would be appropriate. The word of God is perfect, it restores your soul restores your relationship with God. Meaning of life that type of thing and then notice what he says in the next part of the verse, the testimony or the word of the Lord is sure in their lives were there. We are making wise the simple. That BS the word of God has the capacity to make the simple wise.
He then goes on since the precepts of the Lord are right, they rejoice the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure, it enlightens the eyes, the fear of the Lord is clean and endures forever. The judgments of the Lord are true. They are righteous altogether, they are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Now the wisdom part. Moreover by them your servant is warned. You see, we live as sinful people in a fallen world, the capacity that you and I have to make really terrible choices is almost endless and you can see it every time you turn on the television to watch the news. Bad choice after bad choice after bad choice after bad choice, and notice what he says. Moreover by them by the word of God by those principles.
He said your servant is warned and in keeping them there is great reward. In other words, there is the two lives again. You see, you can either live the life that you don't heed the warnings of God and you reap what you sow. Or you can make wise choices in your life, and he says there's great reward in that contentment and satisfaction, peace, joy, all those kinds of things. The New Testament, by the way, picks up on the same idea. Second Timothy chapter 3, second Timothy chapter 3 is an idea consistent with Scripture infected.
Psalm 119.
The psalmist there said your commandments make me wiser than my enemies.
And I have more insight than all of my teachers. In other words, what the psalmist are saying is that my teachers may have more knowledge in me, but I have more wisdom than native. Why because your word, I've had my heart. You see the word of God basically is the source of our wisdom. Now, those what Paul writes in second Timothy three the context of seven second Timothy three is pretty simple parts of the Timothy Timothy are now living in the last days in the last days while they stink. The last date last days are going to be just awful. Now if Timothy was in the last days. In the first century were further along in the last days and he was okay were still in the last days and so Paul says in verse one.
Realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
Why would they be difficult. Let me explain. He said for men will be lovers of themselves to be narcissistic though be lovers of money, the be materialistic doubly boastful American revolvers and disobedient to parents, an ungrateful and unholy and I'm loving and irreconcilable to be malicious gossips, without self-control, though be brutal to be haters of good, there treacherous or reckless in their conceited and will be lovers of pleasure he missed rather than lovers of God that's over, that's the world. Large pieces there going to be difficult times is that's the way it's going to be and then he goes on.
He says the Timothy in those difficult times. There's two things you need if you're going to live life successfully in difficult times, and he said one of them. I've already provided you with effective provided both the first one is Paul says you need a godly example to follow. And Paul said to Timothy in the way that's me, that's an interesting thing to say. He said to Timothy said look I was just the kind of guy that you needed. He said in order to be able to cope with these difficult times, then interesting, by the way, that such a good morning to parents most Christian parents. I know it really pretty successful at teaching biblical truths and principles of the children, and even holding them accountable to. I think sometimes what's really missing at least having taught so many children over the years is the not the example they just don't proved to be the example and I don't think there's anything anything that will affect your child more than your example.
It's a sad thing to watch by the wage what your children get older and older, but the you may not want to believe this but I have shortcomings and they show up in my boys to show up as example example is just the way it works.
He said you need a godly example. But he said there's also something else you need.
If you're going to live wisely. He says this in verse 16 he says in all Scripture is inspired by God. The notice he told Timothy in verse 15 that from the childhood you have known the sacred writings, which are able to give you what the wisdom you've known Timothy and he said that's where wisdom comes from. He said and the reason is all Scripture is inspired by God. Over the years, I always say this, but it's the Sonoma toss all Scripture is God breathed all of it. He said all Scripture is God breathed the watch and it's profitable for what for teaching. In other words, to teach what the truth if I want to know the truth about life is in the word of God. If I want to know the truth about me.
It's in the word of God. I will know the truth about you.
It's in the word of God. If I want to know the truth about human government. It's in the word of God. If I want to know the truth about being a neighbor to the word of God. I want to learn the truth about work. It's in the word of God. If I want to learn the truth about how to relate to my enemies. It's in the word of God. It's all profitable for teaching, but it's more than he says is only profitable for teaching, but it's profitable for reproof what's the reproof of the word of God. I do something I say something I going to the word of God and what sort of God say to me it says bill that wasn't wise. That was not wise see it reproof you that's what the word of God does pieces normally does reprove me. It's also good for correction.
That's one of the great things about the word of God.
It doesn't just condemn you for not doing what I should've done it corrects me in order so I can get back on the path of doing the things I should be doing so he says all Scripture is God breathed and he says it's profitable for teaching and reproof and correction for the training in righteousness, so that, with the result that the man or woman of God will be adequate for paraphrase at a minimum, bathroom number on the radio ministry of fellowship in the world. If you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like the message one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the Fellowship in the Word online event website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of her previous audio program at Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting us monthly with just the one time support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives to find sermon series are looking you can search by title.
Once you find the messenger looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listen at your own. And remember all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org forecaster Bill Gebhardt and Jason Denhardt. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order