November 16, 2021 • 51 mins
Is wisdom obtained simply by attending church? Is wisdom a one-time "purchase?" In this series we discover what the Word of God tell us about seeking, obtaining, and maintaining life-long wisdom.
Wise Living Series
Travis Miller
January 27, 2019
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Episode Transcript in English
Travis Miller: [00:00:18] "They say". My wife tells me that all the time and I ask, who is they? "They say". They tell you to bring along when you're headed out, they say, bring along extra clothes, you should bring extra clothes. Ideally, they would be water repellent, maybe water proof, you should bring that along. When you go, they say, when you go, you should bring extra food, not a normal consuming amount, but there should be additional amounts, extra food. They say when you go, you should bring extra water. Not the ordinary amount that you would consume, but extra water should be what you should take. They say, you should bring sun protection, it's part of what you should bring, maybe extra sun protective clothing, maybe a hat, maybe some sunglasses, they say, you should bring sun protection. They say you should bring a knife or some kind of multi-tool. You should have some tools available, those should be with you. They say that you should bring a flashlight or a head lamp, that should be part of what you bring along. That's what they say. They say you should be able to start a fire, in that case they say you need more than one item, such as waterproof matches, which to this day, I've never been able to light. A lighter or better yet, a flint should be able to start a fire as needed. They say you should bring along something to navigate, should be maps, like this one of Mount Rainier, you should have a compass, you should be able to navigate. These are things that you should have. You should have portable temporary shelter. So some kind of reflective blanket or piece of multi-use steel where you're able to be warm or create shelter of some kind. You should carry a first aid kit of some kind to be able to bandage, change infection, stop any wounds in case all the other things you brought didn't prevent you from harm. Perhaps you caught on. These are the 10 items that are not typically kept in a shoe box. These are the 10 items that are kept in a backpack. These are the 10 essentials for hiking. [00:03:06][167.8]
Travis Miller: [00:03:08] The original 10 Essentials was a list assembled in the 1930s by the Mountaineers, which was a Seattle based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers. It created the list to help people be prepared for emergency situations, essentials, whenever you step into backcountry, even on a day hike, it's a good habit. Well, I'm probably not going to use any of those things, they are very few on any typical hike. That's probably true, but if and when something does go awry, you truly will appreciate the value of carrying these items that could be essential for survival. Essential. For survival. [00:03:59][50.5]
Travis Miller: [00:04:00] Today, I'm going to speak about a different sort of hike, the walk that I'm addressing today also follows a path, a particular trail, if you will. The journey that I'm describing can be as difficult or more difficult than a backcountry hike. In this message this afternoon, I'm going to share some essentials for Wisdom's pass. As hiking has 10 necessities that are essential for hikers survival, I believe the elements that we share this afternoon are essential to Wisdom's survival in our lives. Last week's message. We posed the question, how do good people wind up living poorly? We found that good people live poorly when they harden their hearts toward God. Good people make tragic mistakes when they distance themselves from the Lord. We also discovered that good people live poorly when they mistake righteousness for wisd
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Episode Transcript
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(00:18):
"They say".
My wife tells me that all the time
and I ask, who is they?
"They say".
They tell you to bring along when
you're headed out, they say, bring
along extra clothes,
you should bring extra clothes.
Ideally, they would be
water repellent, maybe water
(00:40):
proof, you should bring that along.
When you go, they say,
when you go, you should bring
extra food,
not a normal consuming
amount, but there should be
additional amounts, extra
food.
They say when you go, you should
bring extra water.
(01:01):
Not the ordinary amount that you
would consume, but extra
water should be what
you should take. They say,
you should bring sun
protection,
it's part of what you should bring,
maybe extra sun protective
clothing, maybe a hat,
maybe some sunglasses, they say,
(01:22):
you should bring sun protection.
They say you should bring a knife
or some kind of multi-tool.
You should have some tools
available, those should
be with you.
They say that you should bring
a flashlight or a head
lamp, that should be
part of what you bring
along.
(01:42):
That's what they say.
They say you should be able to start
a fire,
in that case they say you need more
than one item, such
as waterproof matches, which to this
day, I've never been able to light.
A lighter
or better yet, a flint
should be able to start a
(02:04):
fire as needed.
They say you should
bring along something to navigate,
should be maps, like this one of
Mount Rainier, you should
have a compass,
you should be able to navigate.
These are things that you should
have. You should have portable
temporary shelter.
So some kind of reflective
(02:25):
blanket or piece of multi-use
steel where you're able to be warm
or create shelter of some
kind. You should carry
a first aid kit
of some kind to be able
to bandage, change infection,
stop any wounds in
case all the other things you
brought didn't prevent you from
harm.
(02:48):
Perhaps you caught on.
These are the 10 items
that are not typically kept
in a shoe box.
These are the 10 items that
are kept in a backpack.
These are the 10 essentials
for hiking.
(03:08):
The original 10 Essentials was
a list assembled in the 1930s
by the Mountaineers, which
was a Seattle based organization
for climbers and outdoor
adventurers.
It created the list to help people
be prepared for emergency
situations, essentials,
(03:28):
whenever you step into backcountry,
even on a day hike, it's a good
habit.
Well, I'm probably not going to use
any of those things, they are very
few on any typical hike.
That's probably true, but
if and when something
does go awry,
you truly will appreciate the
value of carrying these
(03:50):
items that could be
essential for
survival.
Essential.
For survival.
Today, I'm going to speak
about a different sort of hike,
the walk that I'm addressing
today also follows a path,
a particular trail,
(04:11):
if you will.
The journey that I'm describing
can be as difficult or
more difficult than a backcountry
hike.
In this message this afternoon,
I'm going to share some essentials
for Wisdom's pass.
As hiking has 10 necessities
(04:32):
that are essential for hikers
survival, I believe the elements
that we share this afternoon
are essential to
Wisdom's survival
in our lives.
Last week's message.
We posed the question,
how do good people
(04:52):
wind up living poorly?
We found that good people live
poorly when they harden their hearts
toward God.
Good people make tragic
mistakes when they distance
themselves from
the Lord.
We also discovered that good people
live poorly when they mistake
(05:14):
righteousness for
wisdom.
Righteousness explains
our standing, our right
relationship with
God. But that is
different from wisdom.
Righteousness isn't the same.
Wise living is earthly
wise. Living is a human
(05:34):
experience on this
planet. And if we mistake our
right standing with God
for a wise living on
Earth, then good people
fall into foolish
outcomes.
Of course, we found the alternative
to these failures in David's Song
last week after they returned
(05:56):
the Ark of God back to Jerusalem,
the Ark of God, representing the
focus in the center of God's
presence. David sang
Seek the Lord in his strength.
Seek his face ever
more.
Remember, they brought that ark
back in a tabernacle, in a tent
right there in the middle of the
(06:16):
city, and it had already been
found. It wasn't a matter that it
was lost, but David said
seek that.
In other words, he was telling us
regularly and forever
visit the tent.
You need to spend time
in the Tabernacle with the presence
of God. You need to frequent
the Lord's strength.
(06:36):
David knew, as we discovered
in scripture, that God alone
is wise, and
David understood that the
presence of God does more
than bring us in a right
relationship with God.
But the presence of God sets
the stage for a wise
living in this
(06:57):
world.
We discovered there's a difference
between finding God.
And learning from God.
There's a difference between an
experience with God and prospering
in God.
David called the people to
continually visit the Lord,
the presence of God,
(07:18):
to visit the tent,
if you will.
But humans are funny creatures,
not any in this room, I'm sure.
But by and large, humans
are funny creatures.
We're really good at
misunderstanding
or incomplete
(07:39):
understanding.
In this particular case,
funny creatures like humans,
we might assume that being
in the presence of God
is all that we need
for wisdom.
Perhaps we might think like this,
you know, as long as I pray,
(08:00):
I'm going to be wise.
Or maybe we think when I'm in the
presence of God, wisdom
will just seep into me.
Not so.
If that were the case, then I need
you to explain to me the scripture
in Luke 2:52, where it speaks
about Jesus as a 12 year old.
It says Jesus
(08:21):
increased in wisdom.
Now, Jesus didn't just
experience the presence of God.
He was in the presence
of God, God
in flesh God with
us. And yet that human
needed to increase
in wisdom. If if the presence
of God was all that I needed to be
(08:43):
wise, then Jesus
would have no need to have increased
in wisdom.
Everybody with me.
Yet Jesus increased
in wisdom, so the
tent, the presence of God is
primary, it's powerful,
but can I challenge us?
In fact, I will challenge us today
that the presence of God is
(09:03):
just the beginning.
How so, Preacher, how is the
presence of God just the beginning?
What will let the wisest man
who ever live to answer that
question?
In Proverbs Chapter nine in
verse number 10, Solomon
Wise, King Solomon,
(09:23):
said this the fear of the Lord
is the beginning
of wisdom and the
knowledge of the holy one is
understanding.
The fear of the Lord
is the beginning.
Later on, in Chapter 15 in
verse 33, Solomon wrote this,
The fear of the Lord is the
(09:44):
instruction of wisdom
and before honor is
humility.
Humility precedes
honor.
Based on the proverbs later
on in the New Testament, the
Apostles James and Peter
both wrote these words, God
resists the proud, but gives
(10:04):
grace to the humble,
though I piece those truths
together and I understand this
pride distances
any of us from
God.
And if I'm at a distance from God
than I am at a distance from
God who alone is
wise, and so pride
(10:25):
puts me at a distance from
wisdom in this world.
And so the first step to wisdom
is humility, and humility
is introduced and reinforced
in the presence
of Almighty God.
There's something about getting in
the presence of God, or as David
might have said, over there in that
(10:45):
tabernacle, in that tent
near that ark, that when we're
in the presence of God, we're
reminded afresh
He is all powerful
and I am limited.
And in that presence, I am
humbled when I'm in
the compassionate presence
of God as he loves me
and my imperfection.
(11:06):
I'm reminded that I have
fractured attitudes.
I am broken and I am incomplete
because I'm in the presence of a
holy god.
I realize my incompleteness
and I am humble.
The presence of God,
saturated by his purity, and
my pride is reduced and
erased.
(11:26):
The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom, and it brings
us back to a starting place.
One version or one verse says it's
back to a foundation, you see.
Wisdom begins when I allow
the Lord's holy presence to
change my attitude
and to prepare me
to receive what God
(11:46):
would have me to receive, and when
my attitude is changed.
And I can join with Wise Solomon
in Proverbs three, Solomon
called out, and those of us who
spend time in his presence
getting out of the presence of God,
we can declare with him, trust
in the Lord
(12:07):
with all your heart.
Lean not to your own understanding
in all your
ways.
Acknowledge him.
He shall direct your
paths. Do not be wise
in your own eyes.
Fear the Lord and depart
from evil.
It will be health to
your flesh and strength
(12:29):
to your bones.
A wise person,
biblically a wise person
in the sight of God, is one
who is humble, a humble
person that welcomes God
to saturate our entire
lives in every way,
in every facet of our lives.
In fact, when a person tastes
(12:51):
Gods or wisdoms success, when
a person experiences their health
and the strength that wisdom
provides, she would pursue
wisdom even more.
And like Solomon, a wise person
would declare, as in Proverbs four
and five get
wisdom.
Having tasted of the strength
(13:12):
and the benefit and the power and
the wonder of wisdom here
on Earth.
Something within us would provoke
others to say, Hey, get
wisdom. Get understanding.
Don't forget.
Don't turn away from those words.
Don't forsake wisdom.
Wisdom will pursue you,
preserve you.
Love wisdom and wisdom
(13:34):
will keep you.
Wisdom is the principal
thing.
Therefore, get wisdom in
all you're getting.
Get understanding,
exalt wisdom and
wisdom will promote you.
Wisdom will bring you honor.
When you embrace wisdom, wisdom
will place you on your on your head.
An ornament of grace and a crown
(13:55):
of glory, wisdom, will deliver
to you.
A wise person embraces
humility and God's presence,
and then that humble person
welcomes wisdom in
every aspect of their lives.
A wise person enjoys
wisdoms benefits, and when we
do, he who seeks wisdom
(14:16):
would see even more
and more of benefits.
Surely,
it's the way of wisdom,
that begins with the fear
of the law.
Ladies in the audience, you might
take note if you aren't taking notes
already. Perhaps you and make this
(14:36):
note, first of all, proverbs Four
verse five to nine.
Wisdom is referred to
as a lady, and might
prove beneficial in days to come.
We look at those things that wisdom
does, wisdom provides
preservation,
(14:58):
promotion by wisdom,
honor, glory and grace, all
delivered by wisdom,
the path of wisdom.
Sounds appealing.
Knowing that wisdom begins
in God's presence, we might ask,
how do we continue on
Wisdom's path?
What are the essentials
(15:19):
for wisdom walking?
What are the essentials?
Quick minds in the audience are
thinking right now.
My God, there's 10 essentials for a
backpack.
Is he going to give us 10 this
afternoon?
Proverbs, chapter one verse one.
Notice I didn't answer the question.
Here we go.
(15:39):
Proverbs one verse one, The proverbs
of Solomon, the
son of David, King of Israel.
That's who's wrote these.
This is Solomon's words.
He's the son of David.
Then these next few verses.
Solomon explains the purpose
of proverbs.
Here's why he shared them, verse
number two, to know wisdom
(16:01):
and instruction,
to perceive the words
of understanding.
To receive the instruction
of wisdom, justice,
judgment and equity,
to give prudence to the simple,
to the young man knowledge
and discretion.
(16:22):
And then Solomon explains in
this next verse, a wise man's
response to the proverbs,
how would a wise man respond
to Solomon's wise proverbs
verse number five?
A wise man will hear
and increase learning.
And a man of understanding
(16:42):
will attain to
a wise counsel.
And why would a wise man do these
things? Verse number six, Solomon
penned to understand
a proverb and an enigma,
the words of the wise and
their riddles.
I want to express today wisdom,
walking in wisdom, living in wisdom,
(17:04):
wisdom on this Earth, is
a process.
It's not a one time revelation
it's a refined practice.
Wisdom is a path,
wisdom is a way of
living, it's a lifetime
hike, if you will.
And the wisdom path can be a tough
(17:24):
path, it can be a struggle
for many.
Wisdoms path has some trial
and error involved.
Wisdom takes time.
Most of all, what I want us to
appreciate about wisdom, is wisdom
is applied knowledge.
It's not just what we know.
(17:45):
But what we do with
what we know.
Wisdom reflects knowledge,
wisdom prays about
knowledge, wisdom discerns
manners and ways and methods
to apply knowledge.
Wisdom ask these kinds of
questions; what does
this mean for me
(18:07):
today? That's what wisdom does.
What's this mean for me at work
tomorrow?
Wisdom says, how does this impact
me at home?
Wisdom asked, Should this change
me in some way?
And if so, how would
it change me?
Wisdom asks, How does this
(18:27):
knowledge impact my values?
How would my attitudes change?
Should my language change?
Should my practices change?
What else should possibly change
because of this knowledge?
Wisdom is applied
knowledge.
Now, in order to apply knowledge,
verse number five provides
(18:50):
two essentials
for Wisdom's pass.
And I'm going to talk about those
two today, Proverbs
one and verse five, a wise
man will hear
and increase learning.
And a man of understanding will
attain wise
counsel.
(19:12):
Two things, if you're taking notes,
I hope you are.
Essential number one, the wise
will hear and increase
in learning.
Essential number two, the wise
will attain wise
counsel.
Let's look at the essential number
(19:32):
one, those who will hear
and increase learning for the
wise.
Knowledge acquisition
never ends.
All of our students and teens and
children are downstairs.
Maybe there's some college students
up here.
I guess I can break the news.
We're all adults in the room.
(19:53):
School never
lets out
for the Wise.
For the wise, there's never
an end to learning to
those who are wise.
If I'm going to have success
in living in Wisdom's path,
it's essential
(20:14):
to hear and increase
learning.
Now here's the thing about
knowledge. Possessing knowledge
does not guarantee wisdom.
Anybody in the room?
Have you ever known a smart person
who did dumb things?
Please don't call out any names or
(20:35):
share any pictures.
They had it up here,
they were wicked good at a game of
Trivial Pursuit.
But in terms of living life,
maybe we said something like this,
but why don't they have any common
sense?
Right?
Why can't they apply what's
(20:55):
in their brains?
Well, certainly
possessing knowledge is important,
but it doesn't guarantee wisdom.
We can know the facts, but not how
to apply them. But conversely,
let me say this, walking
in wisdom absolutely
depends on knowledge.
None of us, no person,
can ever be wise who doesn't
(21:16):
have knowledge.
Knowledge is a fundamental point.
You can't apply knowledge when we
don't have knowledge.
When a student graduates from high
school, she signifies
the completion of one
stage of learning
commencement.
It's the beginning of new learning
(21:38):
and the application now,
of past learning,
but learning isn't over?
The high school graduate who learns
nothing beyond graduation
is rapidly left behind
by peers who keep on
learning.
And without further learning,
without more knowledge, there's no
(21:58):
possibility of greater
or further wisdom.
I hope that you'll hear me this
afternoon and grasp what I'm trying
to get across.
If any of us puts
an end to learning
in our lives, we are capping
wisdom at that point.
We're not going to get any wiser.
We're not going to apply any more
(22:18):
goodness, any more betterment,
any more improvement in any
of our lives if we determine
enough is enough, I am learning
no more.
Same is true for college graduates.
A graduate will have completed a
state of learning,
(22:39):
but they still must continue to
learn to stay on Wisdom's path,
any kind of career training.
It's true. Graduation, I'm done
with a stage I've known.
I've learned a certain amount of
things, but learning has to
continue.
For wisdom, it continues.
In fact, one of the primary things
that every student is supposed
to learn in formal education
(23:01):
is this, Keep on learning
the rest of your life.
Classrooms, teachers,
professors, formalized,
focused formal training.
What should get into the head of
every student is I'm learning
how to learn and for the
rest of my life, I need to keep
(23:23):
on learning.
And Solomon is saying this.
Listen, if you're going to be wise
and you're going to be able to apply
knowledge in your life, essential
number one, keep on
learning.
Those who are wise hear
and increase in learning.
(23:44):
Wisdom.
Is applied
knowledge.
Now here's here's a tricky one.
How do I know
if I'm applying
knowledge, well?
If wisdom is applied knowledge,
how do I know I'm
(24:05):
putting that knowledge to good work?
How do I know I'm using knowledge
properly?
Again, we'll go to Solomon, Proverbs
one and verse number five, a wise
man will hear and increase
learning and a man of understanding
will attain wise
counsel.
(24:26):
Here's the essential number two.
Those who are wise
attain wise
counsel.
Later on in his proverbs
in 15 and 22, Solomon
said without council
plans go awry.
But in the multitude of counselors,
(24:48):
they are established.
Remember, I said earlier, humans
are funny.
There's something about we humans,
something about being independent
and prideful humans.
Something about that causes us to
(25:10):
think or say this,
"I'll figure it out by myself".
And you know what, you don't have to
be an adult to have that thought.
In fact, most children have it.
They can't even make a sentence, but
they'll say something about myself.
They're going to do it on their
(25:30):
own.
And to some extent, we're happy to
facilitate that any wise
parents want those kids to leave
someday.
Independence is healthy.
To an extent.
Well, there's something about
humanity that we get this on our
(25:52):
mind, I'll figure it out
myself. But according to Solomon,
the wisest man ever, that
kind of human thinking isn't
wise thinking.
Wisdom secures
wise counsel.
Why is that?
Why would Solomon pen that?
This wisest of all men?
Because wise counsel
(26:12):
is what helps us every
one of us to know if we're applying
knowledge? Well, wise
counsel helps us to know
whether I'm doing a good job
of putting knowledge
to work.
Well, how would I how would I
determine what wise counsel
is?
(26:33):
Wise counsel would be simply
advice or direction or
even correction from
someone who has successful
experience using
that knowledge.
All through this city and
all cities like it, there
are folks who offer wise
(26:53):
counsel for
a fee.
Professionals in their trade,
be they carpenters or plumbers,
electricians or doctors
or nurses or lawyers.
But they offer a fee
for their wise counsel.
They have knowledge in their
respective fields and they have
(27:15):
experience successfully
applying that knowledge.
I appreciate a person who has
a knowledge of pipe wrenches and
types of pipe and types of
pipe fittings and locations
of drains and shut offs and
valves, and I appreciate
that, but I value more the person
who knows how to apply
(27:37):
that knowledge and fix
my broken faucet.
Everybody with me.
Knowledge and successful
experience determine wise
counsel and Solomon said this
wise counsel is essential
for wise living.
(28:00):
Recently, my wife and I were
comparing notes
on some biblical conversations
we've been having with folks who who
don't attend this congregation, but
we continue to meet new people
intentionally
and to work into conversations
that are about the things of God
and open up an opportunity to say,
(28:21):
"You need to know, could you know,
would you know, are you interested
to know what I know"?
We pursue those conversations.
My wife and I were swapping stories
about that, and we we realized
recently that in a number of
occasions we've had this phrase
come up when we we talk about
church, we've invited folks to
come worship with us here at living
(28:42):
faith.
I had one person in particular
asked me specifically how many
people will be there on Sunday.
I said well on average, about
85 now.
No, I'm not coming there.
And the response was, and my wife
(29:02):
is getting similar responses, I need
a church where I
can slip in and
slip out.
I need a church where I can slip
in
and slip out.
Now.
I have to say I can't predict
(29:23):
or read the minds or declare
the reasoning of people
why they would say those things,
I can't tell you their motives.
But I can predict
the results of slipping in
and slipping out.
It limits relationships
with fellow disciples
(29:46):
and slipping in and slipping
out means limited availability
to a wise Christian
council, limited
Christian relationships means
this. I'm limiting the advice
that I would receive in my life.
I'm limiting the direction
that I would receive in my life.
I'm limiting the correction that
(30:07):
I might receive in my life.
Limited Christian relationships
means that I am restricting
the amount of input from
other successful
disciples.
And so it's slipping in and
slipping out. Now,
(30:28):
I can't speak for you
but I will confess this for me,
I don't always enjoy wise
counsel.
You know, you know what I don't like
about wise counsel.
The possibility, that I'm wrong.
(30:52):
I don't like that.
I don't like that.
You know, I don't like that
because I like to be right.
Come on, we like to be right.
What kind of person in this world
goes round saying it's my goal in
life to be a total loser?
(31:15):
It's my goal in life to fail at
everything I attempt.
No, not at all.
We want to be right.
We like to think that we're right,
we like to feel like we're right, we
like to have this feeling of success
and knowledge and understanding, and
I'm that way.
I like to think I'm right.
I don't like the possibility that
I'm wrong.
But once again, Old Solomon,
(31:35):
he calls me out.
The Bible's funny like that.
Proverbs nine and verse seven, Look
what Solomon says,
he who corrects a scoffer,
gets shame for himself.
He who rebukes a wicked man
only harms himself.
Do not correct the scoffer lest
he hate you.
(31:55):
But look at this, rebuke
a wise man and he will
love you, man, I have a hard time
with that.
Give instruction to a wise
man, and he will be still wiser,
teach a just man, and he will
increase in learning.
Look, I don't need a show of hands,
but I wonder, am I the only one
who struggles with this?
(32:18):
If I want to be wise, wisdom
says you accept correction,
wisdom receives instruction,
wisdom is teachable.
When I attain wise
counsel, you know what?
I might find out that my knowledge
is not as correct as I
thought it was.
I might discover that the way that
I am applying knowledge isn't
(32:39):
the best way to do that.
That's the very purpose
of wise counsel,
to validate our use
of knowledge.
And so when you, or I, or any
would subject our lives to wise
counsel, we got to be ready for
this. The response might be
thumbs up, but it might be
thumbs down.
(33:02):
Humanity says this, I'll figure it
out myself.
But Wisdom says I'll check
with wise counsel,
to be sure.
And for me.
It comes down to this,
do I want to believe that I'm right
or do I want to know that I'm right?
(33:25):
When considering wise counsel I've
got to have the others input, the
others perspective, the others
viewpoint, the others understanding,
the other's wisdom.
According to Solomon, wise counsel
is essential number
two.
Now, let me say this quickly before
(33:45):
we come to a close.
I think when we talk about wise
counsel, we need to ask this
question, can media
replace people?
Media. Media means anything
that transfers information
and knowledge, so books,
(34:05):
articles, audio recording,
video recording, broadcasts,
YouTube, online media
that are methods of transferring
information.
Can media replace people
for wise counsel?
Media is sharing knowledge,
but I would say and remind us,
it can't reinforce wisdom.
Why not?
(34:26):
Because media doesn't evaluate
our use of knowledge.
And wisdom is the use
of knowledge.
It's the application of knowledge,
media offers no accountability.
When I read a book and I gather
the knowledge, the book doesn't
evaluate what I do
(34:47):
with that knowledge, how I use
that knowledge.
If I watch something online, I
take in that knowledge, but the
production doesn't measure.
How will I use that
information?
And I have to confess something
else, and this one, frankly, it
bothers me.
Sermons
(35:08):
offer no accountability.
What I'm doing today, what I do most
Sundays, is truth telling.
It's truth proclaiming,
so long as I stay in this good book,
it's right as right, can be.
(35:29):
It's proclaiming and professing
and bringing to our observation, as
we have the presence of God moving
in this place. We have the word
of God, the presence of God.
It'll highlight in every life
as we allow it, where we need
to change, to add things
or delete things from our lives.
That's what the presence in the
power in the word of God does.
(35:50):
But there's no accountability
in this sermon.
Who evaluates our response
to truth? What happens here on
Sunday is important, it's valuable,
I believe in it.
That's why I'm here, but it's not
complete.
Wise counsel
is what challenges each of us
(36:12):
the other six days
and twenty two hours of
the week.
Wise counsel.
Accountability.
Wisdom is
applied knowledge.
How are you going to end this
service, preacher?
Well, wisdom would ask.
(36:34):
What will I do
with this knowledge?
Wisdom will ask, how will I
apply
what I have heard today?
Now I'm going to offer some
suggestions to particular questions
before I do.
Would you bow your heads with me
if you're comfortable?
(36:55):
Close your eyes if it helps you to
focus. We're going to pray a very
simple prayer and that prayer is
this Lord, I
invite your spirit.
To mingle with your word
and direct my life.
Speak to me very directly,
give me ideas, give me understanding
Lord, move and Minister in my
(37:16):
life, right here
right now.
As your word is powerful,
as your word is true.
As your holy presence is certainly
in this place, as we are promised
by your word,
stir up in my mind and in
my spirit, Lord.
(37:37):
It is my desire to walk
in wisdom.
Help me, Lord, to
not only accept, and thankfully
Lord, accept your cleansing
for my life.
Lord, you've washed away my sins
that you have your name on
me in baptism.
You filled me with your spirit,
(37:57):
Lord, you placed me in some right
relationship, Lord.
But more than that, Lord, it's my
desire to live this
life in wisdom.
And I pray in the next few moments,
you would talk to me very clearly
and very directly.
Not only in the words that are
offered by this preacher.
(38:18):
But above and beyond in another
manner and other methods speak
to me.
Wisdom.
For my life.
Would you say in Jesus name?
So if you haven't already had
pens, paper, pencils
ready, you haven't fired up
your phone and opened a new note
(38:39):
section for today.
Now is the time.
I'm going to offer some questions.
I got some slides to help us along,
so I don't have to repeat myself a
bunch.
We're going to ask some questions
about these essentials along
Wisdom's path.
Essential number one was
those were a wise here
(39:00):
and increase learning.
The same is said, the law of the
Lord is perfect, converting the
soul, the testimony of the Lord is
sure, making wise
the simple the law of the Lord makes
wise the simple.
So here's question number one and
slide number one, how will I
hear and increase
(39:22):
learning?
Well, I already got some learning
going on. Awesome, how will I
increase?
Now I'm not given all the answers
this afternoon.
I'm offering some suggestions.
These aren't the only ways
(39:43):
and all the ways to increase
here and increase learning,
but I'm offering these as some
suggestions today and some things
to pray about.
Let me let me throw this out right
now.
If none of these fits
your desire for increased
learning, then you need
to pray to the creator of heaven
(40:04):
and Earth, who is
the most creative one
to ever be.
He has ideas above and beyond
your ideas in mind.
He'll give you the ideas you need.
But here are some suggestions.
Daily reading
and meditation.
(40:24):
How am I going to increase that?
Is there a better time of day?
Do I need to wake up a little
earlier?
Do I need to set aside some time
so that i understand what I'm
reading? Then I can spend some time
thinking about it, reading
it over again?
And asking that question, what does
this mean for me today?
(40:47):
How will this change my attitude,
my actions today?
Wisdom in how will this
increase daily reading and
meditation.
Here's another one.
How will I hear and increase
learning?
Perhaps I need to increase my
Sunday attendance.
Now, Preacher.
(41:07):
I never used to go to church at all.
And now, bless God, I'm going on
Easter and Christmas.
Preacher, I never used to go to
church at all. Now I go
once a month, sometimes twice
a month.
(41:31):
Increase Sunday attendance.
Listen, nobody in this congregation
are 100 percenters, not
even me.
I miss Sundays on occasion.
We can all do better.
Well, you know, why would I do that
because I'm increasing learning
and knowledge, why would I do that?
Because I will not get more
(41:53):
wise in my living
day to day by God's word
until there's more learning
going on.
Maybe there's a way.
Here's another way. I
want to learn more teach a personal
Bible study.
A tremendous way to learn more
is to study to tell somebody
(42:13):
else something.
Incredible way to learn more.
I usually have some Bible studies
sitting up here, they're probably in
the back in the entryway.
A one lesson Bible study to talk
to people about the validity of
scripture and how to find salvation.
I need to learn some more.
Then why don't you study and prepare
to tell somebody else about
(42:35):
the things of God?
It's amazing how we learn more
as we prepare to tell others more.
Here's another way we could hear and
increase our learning.
And it's in the similar vein we
could do this.
You could
get involved in children's ministry.
I'm afraid of teaching a Bible study
to adults.
(42:55):
OK. Start out with kids, they're
sweet. They're nice.
Most of them.
Talk to Noah and Jackie, and say,
you know what, I'd like to kind of
be coming to church on Sunday where
I'm thinking about things, I'm
studying things, I'm preparing
things and share with somebody
(43:17):
else. And lo and behold, as I
prepare to invest in
others, I grow myself.
Something about that.
Here's another way that we can hear
and have increased learning, this
will be a big surprise.
Participate in a faith group.
Participate in a faith group.
I could use some relational
(43:37):
knowledge, I need to grow in
wisdom, in my relationships,
well, you grow in wisdom and
relationships by getting knowledge
about relationships.
So if your married, you can join
'the Art of Marriage' or you're
not married or even beyond marriage,
you say, you know what? I am
married, but I want to go to
'Crucial Conversations'.
What is that?
It's knowledge to help me be
(43:58):
more wise and living.
I need some personal knowledge in my
walk with God? Then sign up for
'Ordering your Private World'.
I need some kingdom knowledge, I
need to know what my purpose is
as a disciple of Christ, sign
up for 'Follow to Lead
and Learn and Apply'.
Make yourself available
(44:19):
to hear and learn.
Here's a central number to
attain wise counsel.
So we asked the question, How will I
increase wise counsel
in my life?
Here's number one.
We're back to Sunday again.
Instead of slipping in and slipping
out, hang around.
(44:39):
Hang around.
So on Sunday, after service instead
of high tailing it, well,
I've got dinner in the oven and
it'll burn. Stop doing that.
Cook dinner another way.
Just trying to be playing here.
(44:59):
So hang it, stand around,
and we have great conversations and
we have good understanding, but ask
questions of one another about
the word of God.
Hey, in the service today I heard
this. Did you hear that?
Yeah, I made a note of that.
I'm wondering what I can do with
that tomorrow. Did you have any
thoughts on that because you were
both in this experience?
You were both in this understanding,
(45:21):
you both prayed about the word
of God that was preached or taught
and responded to, now you can have a
conversation with a fellow
disciple who has a different
perspective and different experience
and say, You know what?
How about helping me a little bit
and maybe I'll have the opportunity
to help you also everybody with me?
How will I increase wise,
(45:41):
counsel? Here's another way,
intentional marriage
and family discussions.
Husband and wife both serving
the Lord, thank God
for that, but
have conversations about
it.
Ask your spouse.
I was reading this in the Bible
reading today, and I found this
(46:02):
passage, and I'm not sure I'm living
this right. What do you think?
Am I applying this?
Do you see this in my life?
How could I do this better?
How could I apply this in a better
way? Intentional conversations,
intentional conversations with
children around the table where you
do the same thing.
In fact, I love the intentional
(46:23):
conversations that happen, right
as we get in the car on Sundays with
our families headed home.
What happened today?
What did we talk about today, how
does this make us different?
How do we live differently?
Why? Because it's wisdom, not
just knowledge, but how do I apply
what I'm doing?
Here's another way.
How do I increase wise counsel
(46:44):
in my life intentional interviews.
Years and years ago, leadership guru
John Maxwell suggested
that you map out lunch
with people, coffee with people
and you have five questions ready
in advance.
And you're thinking about your
discipleship, your Christian walk,
some area of your life.
(47:04):
I want to apply wisdom in every area
of my life, have some intentional
interviews, get together with
somebody.
Can I have some of your time now?
If you're going to pick their brain
and act like a cub reporter
and ask five questions and get
diligent information?
Let me suggest this, pay for their
lunch.
(47:24):
Pay for their coffee.
You're gleaning things from
them, wisdom from them,
understanding from them, benefiting
from them, you're pursuing wise
counsel.
Final one as a suggestion, OK,
this isn't everything it's just a
suggestion, how will
I increase wise counsel in my
life? Oh, oh, participate
(47:46):
in a faith group.
Faith groups meet during the week,
various times, various topics.
20 people or less.
What do you do? We have
conversations we talk about.
Can I tell you I have learned
so much from other people
in the faith groups I have been in
because people become candid.
(48:06):
And they become open.
We were praying for one another, we
were caring for one another and
somebody says, you know what?
I had that happen in my life
and when I did, this is what
happened and I didn't do too good or
someone else says this is what
happened and it played out great.
And in that conversation and in that
interaction, there is
accountability.
There is wise counsel.
(48:27):
I can say, Well, here's what's going
on in my life and I read this, and I
think that's what I'm going to do.
And somebody can kindly say, you
know, have you thought about this
if you do that?
Well, if you do that, what will
happen here? What is that?
It's wise counsel
to trusted folks who have experience
and success in using the
(48:48):
knowledge that I'd like to use.
That's what that is all
about, because
wisdom is an earthly
thing.
It's how we are successful
or failures here
in this world.
Christianity is the premier
self-help of the
(49:08):
entire world.
Christianity holds within
it, not just a right
relationship with God.
That's the primary purpose.
That's the fundamental purpose, none
of us can make ourselves right
with God without his love,
his compassion, his sacrifices,
shed blood.
But you know what?
As I've said before, this
(49:29):
Christianity is for more
than Sunday afternoon for an hour
and a half.
It's for more than goose bumps when
I'm worshiping or praying.
It's a saturating element
to help us live wisely in
this world.
And that's what the word of Lord
calls us to do, the spirit of Lord
calls us to do.
(49:51):
So I send his home today,
hopefully in everybody's backpacks.
Two essentials
for living in wisdom.
Two essentials for living in wisdom.
To hear and increase knowledge
and to pursue and
attain wise counsel.
"They say".
My wife tells me that all the time
and I ask, who is they?
"They say".
They tell you to bring along when
you're headed out, they say, bring
along extra clothes,
you should bring extra clothes.
Ideally, they would be
water repellent, maybe water
(00:40):
proof, you should bring that along.
When you go, they say,
when you go, you should bring
extra food,
not a normal consuming
amount, but there should be
additional amounts, extra
food.
They say when you go, you should
bring extra water.
(01:01):
Not the ordinary amount that you
would consume, but extra
water should be what
you should take. They say,
you should bring sun
protection,
it's part of what you should bring,
maybe extra sun protective
clothing, maybe a hat,
maybe some sunglasses, they say,
(01:22):
you should bring sun protection.
They say you should bring a knife
or some kind of multi-tool.
You should have some tools
available, those should
be with you.
They say that you should bring
a flashlight or a head
lamp, that should be
part of what you bring
along.
(01:42):
That's what they say.
They say you should be able to start
a fire,
in that case they say you need more
than one item, such
as waterproof matches, which to this
day, I've never been able to light.
A lighter
or better yet, a flint
should be able to start a
(02:04):
fire as needed.
They say you should
bring along something to navigate,
should be maps, like this one of
Mount Rainier, you should
have a compass,
you should be able to navigate.
These are things that you should
have. You should have portable
temporary shelter.
So some kind of reflective
(02:25):
blanket or piece of multi-use
steel where you're able to be warm
or create shelter of some
kind. You should carry
a first aid kit
of some kind to be able
to bandage, change infection,
stop any wounds in
case all the other things you
brought didn't prevent you from
harm.
(02:48):
Perhaps you caught on.
These are the 10 items
that are not typically kept
in a shoe box.
These are the 10 items that
are kept in a backpack.
These are the 10 essentials
for hiking.
(03:08):
The original 10 Essentials was
a list assembled in the 1930s
by the Mountaineers, which
was a Seattle based organization
for climbers and outdoor
adventurers.
It created the list to help people
be prepared for emergency
situations, essentials,
(03:28):
whenever you step into backcountry,
even on a day hike, it's a good
habit.
Well, I'm probably not going to use
any of those things, they are very
few on any typical hike.
That's probably true, but
if and when something
does go awry,
you truly will appreciate the
value of carrying these
(03:50):
items that could be
essential for
survival.
Essential.
For survival.
Today, I'm going to speak
about a different sort of hike,
the walk that I'm addressing
today also follows a path,
a particular trail,
(04:11):
if you will.
The journey that I'm describing
can be as difficult or
more difficult than a backcountry
hike.
In this message this afternoon,
I'm going to share some essentials
for Wisdom's pass.
As hiking has 10 necessities
(04:32):
that are essential for hikers
survival, I believe the elements
that we share this afternoon
are essential to
Wisdom's survival
in our lives.
Last week's message.
We posed the question,
how do good people
(04:52):
wind up living poorly?
We found that good people live
poorly when they harden their hearts
toward God.
Good people make tragic
mistakes when they distance
themselves from
the Lord.
We also discovered that good people
live poorly when they mistake
(05:14):
righteousness for
wisdom.
Righteousness explains
our standing, our right
relationship with
God. But that is
different from wisdom.
Righteousness isn't the same.
Wise living is earthly
wise. Living is a human
(05:34):
experience on this
planet. And if we mistake our
right standing with God
for a wise living on
Earth, then good people
fall into foolish
outcomes.
Of course, we found the alternative
to these failures in David's Song
last week after they returned
(05:56):
the Ark of God back to Jerusalem,
the Ark of God, representing the
focus in the center of God's
presence. David sang
Seek the Lord in his strength.
Seek his face ever
more.
Remember, they brought that ark
back in a tabernacle, in a tent
right there in the middle of the
(06:16):
city, and it had already been
found. It wasn't a matter that it
was lost, but David said
seek that.
In other words, he was telling us
regularly and forever
visit the tent.
You need to spend time
in the Tabernacle with the presence
of God. You need to frequent
the Lord's strength.
(06:36):
David knew, as we discovered
in scripture, that God alone
is wise, and
David understood that the
presence of God does more
than bring us in a right
relationship with God.
But the presence of God sets
the stage for a wise
living in this
(06:57):
world.
We discovered there's a difference
between finding God.
And learning from God.
There's a difference between an
experience with God and prospering
in God.
David called the people to
continually visit the Lord,
the presence of God,
(07:18):
to visit the tent,
if you will.
But humans are funny creatures,
not any in this room, I'm sure.
But by and large, humans
are funny creatures.
We're really good at
misunderstanding
or incomplete
(07:39):
understanding.
In this particular case,
funny creatures like humans,
we might assume that being
in the presence of God
is all that we need
for wisdom.
Perhaps we might think like this,
you know, as long as I pray,
(08:00):
I'm going to be wise.
Or maybe we think when I'm in the
presence of God, wisdom
will just seep into me.
Not so.
If that were the case, then I need
you to explain to me the scripture
in Luke 2:52, where it speaks
about Jesus as a 12 year old.
It says Jesus
(08:21):
increased in wisdom.
Now, Jesus didn't just
experience the presence of God.
He was in the presence
of God, God
in flesh God with
us. And yet that human
needed to increase
in wisdom. If if the presence
of God was all that I needed to be
(08:43):
wise, then Jesus
would have no need to have increased
in wisdom.
Everybody with me.
Yet Jesus increased
in wisdom, so the
tent, the presence of God is
primary, it's powerful,
but can I challenge us?
In fact, I will challenge us today
that the presence of God is
(09:03):
just the beginning.
How so, Preacher, how is the
presence of God just the beginning?
What will let the wisest man
who ever live to answer that
question?
In Proverbs Chapter nine in
verse number 10, Solomon
Wise, King Solomon,
(09:23):
said this the fear of the Lord
is the beginning
of wisdom and the
knowledge of the holy one is
understanding.
The fear of the Lord
is the beginning.
Later on, in Chapter 15 in
verse 33, Solomon wrote this,
The fear of the Lord is the
(09:44):
instruction of wisdom
and before honor is
humility.
Humility precedes
honor.
Based on the proverbs later
on in the New Testament, the
Apostles James and Peter
both wrote these words, God
resists the proud, but gives
(10:04):
grace to the humble,
though I piece those truths
together and I understand this
pride distances
any of us from
God.
And if I'm at a distance from God
than I am at a distance from
God who alone is
wise, and so pride
(10:25):
puts me at a distance from
wisdom in this world.
And so the first step to wisdom
is humility, and humility
is introduced and reinforced
in the presence
of Almighty God.
There's something about getting in
the presence of God, or as David
might have said, over there in that
(10:45):
tabernacle, in that tent
near that ark, that when we're
in the presence of God, we're
reminded afresh
He is all powerful
and I am limited.
And in that presence, I am
humbled when I'm in
the compassionate presence
of God as he loves me
and my imperfection.
(11:06):
I'm reminded that I have
fractured attitudes.
I am broken and I am incomplete
because I'm in the presence of a
holy god.
I realize my incompleteness
and I am humble.
The presence of God,
saturated by his purity, and
my pride is reduced and
erased.
(11:26):
The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom, and it brings
us back to a starting place.
One version or one verse says it's
back to a foundation, you see.
Wisdom begins when I allow
the Lord's holy presence to
change my attitude
and to prepare me
to receive what God
(11:46):
would have me to receive, and when
my attitude is changed.
And I can join with Wise Solomon
in Proverbs three, Solomon
called out, and those of us who
spend time in his presence
getting out of the presence of God,
we can declare with him, trust
in the Lord
(12:07):
with all your heart.
Lean not to your own understanding
in all your
ways.
Acknowledge him.
He shall direct your
paths. Do not be wise
in your own eyes.
Fear the Lord and depart
from evil.
It will be health to
your flesh and strength
(12:29):
to your bones.
A wise person,
biblically a wise person
in the sight of God, is one
who is humble, a humble
person that welcomes God
to saturate our entire
lives in every way,
in every facet of our lives.
In fact, when a person tastes
(12:51):
Gods or wisdoms success, when
a person experiences their health
and the strength that wisdom
provides, she would pursue
wisdom even more.
And like Solomon, a wise person
would declare, as in Proverbs four
and five get
wisdom.
Having tasted of the strength
(13:12):
and the benefit and the power and
the wonder of wisdom here
on Earth.
Something within us would provoke
others to say, Hey, get
wisdom. Get understanding.
Don't forget.
Don't turn away from those words.
Don't forsake wisdom.
Wisdom will pursue you,
preserve you.
Love wisdom and wisdom
(13:34):
will keep you.
Wisdom is the principal
thing.
Therefore, get wisdom in
all you're getting.
Get understanding,
exalt wisdom and
wisdom will promote you.
Wisdom will bring you honor.
When you embrace wisdom, wisdom
will place you on your on your head.
An ornament of grace and a crown
(13:55):
of glory, wisdom, will deliver
to you.
A wise person embraces
humility and God's presence,
and then that humble person
welcomes wisdom in
every aspect of their lives.
A wise person enjoys
wisdoms benefits, and when we
do, he who seeks wisdom
(14:16):
would see even more
and more of benefits.
Surely,
it's the way of wisdom,
that begins with the fear
of the law.
Ladies in the audience, you might
take note if you aren't taking notes
already. Perhaps you and make this
(14:36):
note, first of all, proverbs Four
verse five to nine.
Wisdom is referred to
as a lady, and might
prove beneficial in days to come.
We look at those things that wisdom
does, wisdom provides
preservation,
(14:58):
promotion by wisdom,
honor, glory and grace, all
delivered by wisdom,
the path of wisdom.
Sounds appealing.
Knowing that wisdom begins
in God's presence, we might ask,
how do we continue on
Wisdom's path?
What are the essentials
(15:19):
for wisdom walking?
What are the essentials?
Quick minds in the audience are
thinking right now.
My God, there's 10 essentials for a
backpack.
Is he going to give us 10 this
afternoon?
Proverbs, chapter one verse one.
Notice I didn't answer the question.
Here we go.
(15:39):
Proverbs one verse one, The proverbs
of Solomon, the
son of David, King of Israel.
That's who's wrote these.
This is Solomon's words.
He's the son of David.
Then these next few verses.
Solomon explains the purpose
of proverbs.
Here's why he shared them, verse
number two, to know wisdom
(16:01):
and instruction,
to perceive the words
of understanding.
To receive the instruction
of wisdom, justice,
judgment and equity,
to give prudence to the simple,
to the young man knowledge
and discretion.
(16:22):
And then Solomon explains in
this next verse, a wise man's
response to the proverbs,
how would a wise man respond
to Solomon's wise proverbs
verse number five?
A wise man will hear
and increase learning.
And a man of understanding
(16:42):
will attain to
a wise counsel.
And why would a wise man do these
things? Verse number six, Solomon
penned to understand
a proverb and an enigma,
the words of the wise and
their riddles.
I want to express today wisdom,
walking in wisdom, living in wisdom,
(17:04):
wisdom on this Earth, is
a process.
It's not a one time revelation
it's a refined practice.
Wisdom is a path,
wisdom is a way of
living, it's a lifetime
hike, if you will.
And the wisdom path can be a tough
(17:24):
path, it can be a struggle
for many.
Wisdoms path has some trial
and error involved.
Wisdom takes time.
Most of all, what I want us to
appreciate about wisdom, is wisdom
is applied knowledge.
It's not just what we know.
(17:45):
But what we do with
what we know.
Wisdom reflects knowledge,
wisdom prays about
knowledge, wisdom discerns
manners and ways and methods
to apply knowledge.
Wisdom ask these kinds of
questions; what does
this mean for me
(18:07):
today? That's what wisdom does.
What's this mean for me at work
tomorrow?
Wisdom says, how does this impact
me at home?
Wisdom asked, Should this change
me in some way?
And if so, how would
it change me?
Wisdom asks, How does this
(18:27):
knowledge impact my values?
How would my attitudes change?
Should my language change?
Should my practices change?
What else should possibly change
because of this knowledge?
Wisdom is applied
knowledge.
Now, in order to apply knowledge,
verse number five provides
(18:50):
two essentials
for Wisdom's pass.
And I'm going to talk about those
two today, Proverbs
one and verse five, a wise
man will hear
and increase learning.
And a man of understanding will
attain wise
counsel.
(19:12):
Two things, if you're taking notes,
I hope you are.
Essential number one, the wise
will hear and increase
in learning.
Essential number two, the wise
will attain wise
counsel.
Let's look at the essential number
(19:32):
one, those who will hear
and increase learning for the
wise.
Knowledge acquisition
never ends.
All of our students and teens and
children are downstairs.
Maybe there's some college students
up here.
I guess I can break the news.
We're all adults in the room.
(19:53):
School never
lets out
for the Wise.
For the wise, there's never
an end to learning to
those who are wise.
If I'm going to have success
in living in Wisdom's path,
it's essential
(20:14):
to hear and increase
learning.
Now here's the thing about
knowledge. Possessing knowledge
does not guarantee wisdom.
Anybody in the room?
Have you ever known a smart person
who did dumb things?
Please don't call out any names or
(20:35):
share any pictures.
They had it up here,
they were wicked good at a game of
Trivial Pursuit.
But in terms of living life,
maybe we said something like this,
but why don't they have any common
sense?
Right?
Why can't they apply what's
(20:55):
in their brains?
Well, certainly
possessing knowledge is important,
but it doesn't guarantee wisdom.
We can know the facts, but not how
to apply them. But conversely,
let me say this, walking
in wisdom absolutely
depends on knowledge.
None of us, no person,
can ever be wise who doesn't
(21:16):
have knowledge.
Knowledge is a fundamental point.
You can't apply knowledge when we
don't have knowledge.
When a student graduates from high
school, she signifies
the completion of one
stage of learning
commencement.
It's the beginning of new learning
(21:38):
and the application now,
of past learning,
but learning isn't over?
The high school graduate who learns
nothing beyond graduation
is rapidly left behind
by peers who keep on
learning.
And without further learning,
without more knowledge, there's no
(21:58):
possibility of greater
or further wisdom.
I hope that you'll hear me this
afternoon and grasp what I'm trying
to get across.
If any of us puts
an end to learning
in our lives, we are capping
wisdom at that point.
We're not going to get any wiser.
We're not going to apply any more
(22:18):
goodness, any more betterment,
any more improvement in any
of our lives if we determine
enough is enough, I am learning
no more.
Same is true for college graduates.
A graduate will have completed a
state of learning,
(22:39):
but they still must continue to
learn to stay on Wisdom's path,
any kind of career training.
It's true. Graduation, I'm done
with a stage I've known.
I've learned a certain amount of
things, but learning has to
continue.
For wisdom, it continues.
In fact, one of the primary things
that every student is supposed
to learn in formal education
(23:01):
is this, Keep on learning
the rest of your life.
Classrooms, teachers,
professors, formalized,
focused formal training.
What should get into the head of
every student is I'm learning
how to learn and for the
rest of my life, I need to keep
(23:23):
on learning.
And Solomon is saying this.
Listen, if you're going to be wise
and you're going to be able to apply
knowledge in your life, essential
number one, keep on
learning.
Those who are wise hear
and increase in learning.
(23:44):
Wisdom.
Is applied
knowledge.
Now here's here's a tricky one.
How do I know
if I'm applying
knowledge, well?
If wisdom is applied knowledge,
how do I know I'm
(24:05):
putting that knowledge to good work?
How do I know I'm using knowledge
properly?
Again, we'll go to Solomon, Proverbs
one and verse number five, a wise
man will hear and increase
learning and a man of understanding
will attain wise
counsel.
(24:26):
Here's the essential number two.
Those who are wise
attain wise
counsel.
Later on in his proverbs
in 15 and 22, Solomon
said without council
plans go awry.
But in the multitude of counselors,
(24:48):
they are established.
Remember, I said earlier, humans
are funny.
There's something about we humans,
something about being independent
and prideful humans.
Something about that causes us to
(25:10):
think or say this,
"I'll figure it out by myself".
And you know what, you don't have to
be an adult to have that thought.
In fact, most children have it.
They can't even make a sentence, but
they'll say something about myself.
They're going to do it on their
(25:30):
own.
And to some extent, we're happy to
facilitate that any wise
parents want those kids to leave
someday.
Independence is healthy.
To an extent.
Well, there's something about
humanity that we get this on our
(25:52):
mind, I'll figure it out
myself. But according to Solomon,
the wisest man ever, that
kind of human thinking isn't
wise thinking.
Wisdom secures
wise counsel.
Why is that?
Why would Solomon pen that?
This wisest of all men?
Because wise counsel
(26:12):
is what helps us every
one of us to know if we're applying
knowledge? Well, wise
counsel helps us to know
whether I'm doing a good job
of putting knowledge
to work.
Well, how would I how would I
determine what wise counsel
is?
(26:33):
Wise counsel would be simply
advice or direction or
even correction from
someone who has successful
experience using
that knowledge.
All through this city and
all cities like it, there
are folks who offer wise
(26:53):
counsel for
a fee.
Professionals in their trade,
be they carpenters or plumbers,
electricians or doctors
or nurses or lawyers.
But they offer a fee
for their wise counsel.
They have knowledge in their
respective fields and they have
(27:15):
experience successfully
applying that knowledge.
I appreciate a person who has
a knowledge of pipe wrenches and
types of pipe and types of
pipe fittings and locations
of drains and shut offs and
valves, and I appreciate
that, but I value more the person
who knows how to apply
(27:37):
that knowledge and fix
my broken faucet.
Everybody with me.
Knowledge and successful
experience determine wise
counsel and Solomon said this
wise counsel is essential
for wise living.
(28:00):
Recently, my wife and I were
comparing notes
on some biblical conversations
we've been having with folks who who
don't attend this congregation, but
we continue to meet new people
intentionally
and to work into conversations
that are about the things of God
and open up an opportunity to say,
(28:21):
"You need to know, could you know,
would you know, are you interested
to know what I know"?
We pursue those conversations.
My wife and I were swapping stories
about that, and we we realized
recently that in a number of
occasions we've had this phrase
come up when we we talk about
church, we've invited folks to
come worship with us here at living
(28:42):
faith.
I had one person in particular
asked me specifically how many
people will be there on Sunday.
I said well on average, about
85 now.
No, I'm not coming there.
And the response was, and my wife
(29:02):
is getting similar responses, I need
a church where I
can slip in and
slip out.
I need a church where I can slip
in
and slip out.
Now.
I have to say I can't predict
(29:23):
or read the minds or declare
the reasoning of people
why they would say those things,
I can't tell you their motives.
But I can predict
the results of slipping in
and slipping out.
It limits relationships
with fellow disciples
(29:46):
and slipping in and slipping
out means limited availability
to a wise Christian
council, limited
Christian relationships means
this. I'm limiting the advice
that I would receive in my life.
I'm limiting the direction
that I would receive in my life.
I'm limiting the correction that
(30:07):
I might receive in my life.
Limited Christian relationships
means that I am restricting
the amount of input from
other successful
disciples.
And so it's slipping in and
slipping out. Now,
(30:28):
I can't speak for you
but I will confess this for me,
I don't always enjoy wise
counsel.
You know, you know what I don't like
about wise counsel.
The possibility, that I'm wrong.
(30:52):
I don't like that.
I don't like that.
You know, I don't like that
because I like to be right.
Come on, we like to be right.
What kind of person in this world
goes round saying it's my goal in
life to be a total loser?
(31:15):
It's my goal in life to fail at
everything I attempt.
No, not at all.
We want to be right.
We like to think that we're right,
we like to feel like we're right, we
like to have this feeling of success
and knowledge and understanding, and
I'm that way.
I like to think I'm right.
I don't like the possibility that
I'm wrong.
But once again, Old Solomon,
(31:35):
he calls me out.
The Bible's funny like that.
Proverbs nine and verse seven, Look
what Solomon says,
he who corrects a scoffer,
gets shame for himself.
He who rebukes a wicked man
only harms himself.
Do not correct the scoffer lest
he hate you.
(31:55):
But look at this, rebuke
a wise man and he will
love you, man, I have a hard time
with that.
Give instruction to a wise
man, and he will be still wiser,
teach a just man, and he will
increase in learning.
Look, I don't need a show of hands,
but I wonder, am I the only one
who struggles with this?
(32:18):
If I want to be wise, wisdom
says you accept correction,
wisdom receives instruction,
wisdom is teachable.
When I attain wise
counsel, you know what?
I might find out that my knowledge
is not as correct as I
thought it was.
I might discover that the way that
I am applying knowledge isn't
(32:39):
the best way to do that.
That's the very purpose
of wise counsel,
to validate our use
of knowledge.
And so when you, or I, or any
would subject our lives to wise
counsel, we got to be ready for
this. The response might be
thumbs up, but it might be
thumbs down.
(33:02):
Humanity says this, I'll figure it
out myself.
But Wisdom says I'll check
with wise counsel,
to be sure.
And for me.
It comes down to this,
do I want to believe that I'm right
or do I want to know that I'm right?
(33:25):
When considering wise counsel I've
got to have the others input, the
others perspective, the others
viewpoint, the others understanding,
the other's wisdom.
According to Solomon, wise counsel
is essential number
two.
Now, let me say this quickly before
(33:45):
we come to a close.
I think when we talk about wise
counsel, we need to ask this
question, can media
replace people?
Media. Media means anything
that transfers information
and knowledge, so books,
(34:05):
articles, audio recording,
video recording, broadcasts,
YouTube, online media
that are methods of transferring
information.
Can media replace people
for wise counsel?
Media is sharing knowledge,
but I would say and remind us,
it can't reinforce wisdom.
Why not?
(34:26):
Because media doesn't evaluate
our use of knowledge.
And wisdom is the use
of knowledge.
It's the application of knowledge,
media offers no accountability.
When I read a book and I gather
the knowledge, the book doesn't
evaluate what I do
(34:47):
with that knowledge, how I use
that knowledge.
If I watch something online, I
take in that knowledge, but the
production doesn't measure.
How will I use that
information?
And I have to confess something
else, and this one, frankly, it
bothers me.
Sermons
(35:08):
offer no accountability.
What I'm doing today, what I do most
Sundays, is truth telling.
It's truth proclaiming,
so long as I stay in this good book,
it's right as right, can be.
(35:29):
It's proclaiming and professing
and bringing to our observation, as
we have the presence of God moving
in this place. We have the word
of God, the presence of God.
It'll highlight in every life
as we allow it, where we need
to change, to add things
or delete things from our lives.
That's what the presence in the
power in the word of God does.
(35:50):
But there's no accountability
in this sermon.
Who evaluates our response
to truth? What happens here on
Sunday is important, it's valuable,
I believe in it.
That's why I'm here, but it's not
complete.
Wise counsel
is what challenges each of us
(36:12):
the other six days
and twenty two hours of
the week.
Wise counsel.
Accountability.
Wisdom is
applied knowledge.
How are you going to end this
service, preacher?
Well, wisdom would ask.
(36:34):
What will I do
with this knowledge?
Wisdom will ask, how will I
apply
what I have heard today?
Now I'm going to offer some
suggestions to particular questions
before I do.
Would you bow your heads with me
if you're comfortable?
(36:55):
Close your eyes if it helps you to
focus. We're going to pray a very
simple prayer and that prayer is
this Lord, I
invite your spirit.
To mingle with your word
and direct my life.
Speak to me very directly,
give me ideas, give me understanding
Lord, move and Minister in my
(37:16):
life, right here
right now.
As your word is powerful,
as your word is true.
As your holy presence is certainly
in this place, as we are promised
by your word,
stir up in my mind and in
my spirit, Lord.
(37:37):
It is my desire to walk
in wisdom.
Help me, Lord, to
not only accept, and thankfully
Lord, accept your cleansing
for my life.
Lord, you've washed away my sins
that you have your name on
me in baptism.
You filled me with your spirit,
(37:57):
Lord, you placed me in some right
relationship, Lord.
But more than that, Lord, it's my
desire to live this
life in wisdom.
And I pray in the next few moments,
you would talk to me very clearly
and very directly.
Not only in the words that are
offered by this preacher.
(38:18):
But above and beyond in another
manner and other methods speak
to me.
Wisdom.
For my life.
Would you say in Jesus name?
So if you haven't already had
pens, paper, pencils
ready, you haven't fired up
your phone and opened a new note
(38:39):
section for today.
Now is the time.
I'm going to offer some questions.
I got some slides to help us along,
so I don't have to repeat myself a
bunch.
We're going to ask some questions
about these essentials along
Wisdom's path.
Essential number one was
those were a wise here
(39:00):
and increase learning.
The same is said, the law of the
Lord is perfect, converting the
soul, the testimony of the Lord is
sure, making wise
the simple the law of the Lord makes
wise the simple.
So here's question number one and
slide number one, how will I
hear and increase
(39:22):
learning?
Well, I already got some learning
going on. Awesome, how will I
increase?
Now I'm not given all the answers
this afternoon.
I'm offering some suggestions.
These aren't the only ways
(39:43):
and all the ways to increase
here and increase learning,
but I'm offering these as some
suggestions today and some things
to pray about.
Let me let me throw this out right
now.
If none of these fits
your desire for increased
learning, then you need
to pray to the creator of heaven
(40:04):
and Earth, who is
the most creative one
to ever be.
He has ideas above and beyond
your ideas in mind.
He'll give you the ideas you need.
But here are some suggestions.
Daily reading
and meditation.
(40:24):
How am I going to increase that?
Is there a better time of day?
Do I need to wake up a little
earlier?
Do I need to set aside some time
so that i understand what I'm
reading? Then I can spend some time
thinking about it, reading
it over again?
And asking that question, what does
this mean for me today?
(40:47):
How will this change my attitude,
my actions today?
Wisdom in how will this
increase daily reading and
meditation.
Here's another one.
How will I hear and increase
learning?
Perhaps I need to increase my
Sunday attendance.
Now, Preacher.
(41:07):
I never used to go to church at all.
And now, bless God, I'm going on
Easter and Christmas.
Preacher, I never used to go to
church at all. Now I go
once a month, sometimes twice
a month.
(41:31):
Increase Sunday attendance.
Listen, nobody in this congregation
are 100 percenters, not
even me.
I miss Sundays on occasion.
We can all do better.
Well, you know, why would I do that
because I'm increasing learning
and knowledge, why would I do that?
Because I will not get more
(41:53):
wise in my living
day to day by God's word
until there's more learning
going on.
Maybe there's a way.
Here's another way. I
want to learn more teach a personal
Bible study.
A tremendous way to learn more
is to study to tell somebody
(42:13):
else something.
Incredible way to learn more.
I usually have some Bible studies
sitting up here, they're probably in
the back in the entryway.
A one lesson Bible study to talk
to people about the validity of
scripture and how to find salvation.
I need to learn some more.
Then why don't you study and prepare
to tell somebody else about
(42:35):
the things of God?
It's amazing how we learn more
as we prepare to tell others more.
Here's another way we could hear and
increase our learning.
And it's in the similar vein we
could do this.
You could
get involved in children's ministry.
I'm afraid of teaching a Bible study
to adults.
(42:55):
OK. Start out with kids, they're
sweet. They're nice.
Most of them.
Talk to Noah and Jackie, and say,
you know what, I'd like to kind of
be coming to church on Sunday where
I'm thinking about things, I'm
studying things, I'm preparing
things and share with somebody
(43:17):
else. And lo and behold, as I
prepare to invest in
others, I grow myself.
Something about that.
Here's another way that we can hear
and have increased learning, this
will be a big surprise.
Participate in a faith group.
Participate in a faith group.
I could use some relational
(43:37):
knowledge, I need to grow in
wisdom, in my relationships,
well, you grow in wisdom and
relationships by getting knowledge
about relationships.
So if your married, you can join
'the Art of Marriage' or you're
not married or even beyond marriage,
you say, you know what? I am
married, but I want to go to
'Crucial Conversations'.
What is that?
It's knowledge to help me be
(43:58):
more wise and living.
I need some personal knowledge in my
walk with God? Then sign up for
'Ordering your Private World'.
I need some kingdom knowledge, I
need to know what my purpose is
as a disciple of Christ, sign
up for 'Follow to Lead
and Learn and Apply'.
Make yourself available
(44:19):
to hear and learn.
Here's a central number to
attain wise counsel.
So we asked the question, How will I
increase wise counsel
in my life?
Here's number one.
We're back to Sunday again.
Instead of slipping in and slipping
out, hang around.
(44:39):
Hang around.
So on Sunday, after service instead
of high tailing it, well,
I've got dinner in the oven and
it'll burn. Stop doing that.
Cook dinner another way.
Just trying to be playing here.
(44:59):
So hang it, stand around,
and we have great conversations and
we have good understanding, but ask
questions of one another about
the word of God.
Hey, in the service today I heard
this. Did you hear that?
Yeah, I made a note of that.
I'm wondering what I can do with
that tomorrow. Did you have any
thoughts on that because you were
both in this experience?
You were both in this understanding,
(45:21):
you both prayed about the word
of God that was preached or taught
and responded to, now you can have a
conversation with a fellow
disciple who has a different
perspective and different experience
and say, You know what?
How about helping me a little bit
and maybe I'll have the opportunity
to help you also everybody with me?
How will I increase wise,
(45:41):
counsel? Here's another way,
intentional marriage
and family discussions.
Husband and wife both serving
the Lord, thank God
for that, but
have conversations about
it.
Ask your spouse.
I was reading this in the Bible
reading today, and I found this
(46:02):
passage, and I'm not sure I'm living
this right. What do you think?
Am I applying this?
Do you see this in my life?
How could I do this better?
How could I apply this in a better
way? Intentional conversations,
intentional conversations with
children around the table where you
do the same thing.
In fact, I love the intentional
(46:23):
conversations that happen, right
as we get in the car on Sundays with
our families headed home.
What happened today?
What did we talk about today, how
does this make us different?
How do we live differently?
Why? Because it's wisdom, not
just knowledge, but how do I apply
what I'm doing?
Here's another way.
How do I increase wise counsel
(46:44):
in my life intentional interviews.
Years and years ago, leadership guru
John Maxwell suggested
that you map out lunch
with people, coffee with people
and you have five questions ready
in advance.
And you're thinking about your
discipleship, your Christian walk,
some area of your life.
(47:04):
I want to apply wisdom in every area
of my life, have some intentional
interviews, get together with
somebody.
Can I have some of your time now?
If you're going to pick their brain
and act like a cub reporter
and ask five questions and get
diligent information?
Let me suggest this, pay for their
lunch.
(47:24):
Pay for their coffee.
You're gleaning things from
them, wisdom from them,
understanding from them, benefiting
from them, you're pursuing wise
counsel.
Final one as a suggestion, OK,
this isn't everything it's just a
suggestion, how will
I increase wise counsel in my
life? Oh, oh, participate
(47:46):
in a faith group.
Faith groups meet during the week,
various times, various topics.
20 people or less.
What do you do? We have
conversations we talk about.
Can I tell you I have learned
so much from other people
in the faith groups I have been in
because people become candid.
(48:06):
And they become open.
We were praying for one another, we
were caring for one another and
somebody says, you know what?
I had that happen in my life
and when I did, this is what
happened and I didn't do too good or
someone else says this is what
happened and it played out great.
And in that conversation and in that
interaction, there is
accountability.
There is wise counsel.
(48:27):
I can say, Well, here's what's going
on in my life and I read this, and I
think that's what I'm going to do.
And somebody can kindly say, you
know, have you thought about this
if you do that?
Well, if you do that, what will
happen here? What is that?
It's wise counsel
to trusted folks who have experience
and success in using the
(48:48):
knowledge that I'd like to use.
That's what that is all
about, because
wisdom is an earthly
thing.
It's how we are successful
or failures here
in this world.
Christianity is the premier
self-help of the
(49:08):
entire world.
Christianity holds within
it, not just a right
relationship with God.
That's the primary purpose.
That's the fundamental purpose, none
of us can make ourselves right
with God without his love,
his compassion, his sacrifices,
shed blood.
But you know what?
As I've said before, this
(49:29):
Christianity is for more
than Sunday afternoon for an hour
and a half.
It's for more than goose bumps when
I'm worshiping or praying.
It's a saturating element
to help us live wisely in
this world.
And that's what the word of Lord
calls us to do, the spirit of Lord
calls us to do.
(49:51):
So I send his home today,
hopefully in everybody's backpacks.
Two essentials
for living in wisdom.
Two essentials for living in wisdom.
To hear and increase knowledge
and to pursue and
attain wise counsel.
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