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Wisdom is not some spacey kind of thing out there somewhere, some conceptual thing.
Wisdom is skill in living and it starts with fearing God moves to guarding your mind selecting your companions controlling your body loving when you've done that you learned the Gambino crime family but before he went out into the field. The FBI had him go to a special undercover school and there he learned everything from how to properly pronounce the names of Italian foods to the way a real mobster carries his money knelt while knowing how to speak and act like the world around you is important for undercover agent. The opposite is true for Christian. If you claim Christ as Lord. You should be nothing like the world. In fact, that's a biblical command. But how do you pull that off. How you live so that your commitment to Christ is seen by all get answers today on grace to you as John MacArthur continues a series he calls a course for life.
John originally preached these messages to students at the Masters University but know that each lesson covers practical truth for any believer who wants to live obediently and shake off spiritual hindrances and glorify Christ. So with a message called pursuing divine wisdom hears John MacArthur should open your Bible to the book of Proverbs and will talk a little bit this morning about wisdom. I want you look first of all, at chapter 2 just to set the context with regard to wisdom.
Verse one my son, if you will receive my sayings, and treasure my commandments within you make your ear attentive to wisdom. Incline your hair to understanding a synonym for wisdom cries for discernment lift your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures. Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. The pursuit of wisdom goes on all the way through the second chapter to extol the virtues of wisdom and you can read it for yourself and look at chapter 8 for a moment, and you have a similar chapter. In fact, the whole eighth chapter really extols wisdom go down to verse 11 will just summit up there. Wisdom is better than Jules and all desirable things cannot compare with her.
The most important thing you will ever gain is wisdom leads us then immediately to ask the question what is wisdom what it means is skill in living learn how to live skillfully. That is the issue want to pursue something pursue skillful living pursue wisdom in every aspect of life. If there's anything that should set apart those of us who are committed to Jesus Christ. It should be that we are not only pursuing learning and understanding of those matters which relate to our created universe.
When we are pursuing skill in all aspects of living.
Now what I want to share with you are just a few of the lessons that wisdom wants to teach you okay, here are the most important factors of wisdom when you're getting wisdom hears what you want to get in there a lot of things a lot of areas that can help us with the skill of living. Let's take the most important first of all number one issue in gaining wisdom is to fear God is to fear God.
How do you know that back in chapter 1 verse seven we read this, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Spies wisdom and instruction. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, Proverbs 910 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy one is true understanding, fearing the Lord prolongs life according to Proverbs 1027, fearing the Lord is more profitable than wealth. According to 1516, fearing the Lord brings abundant life, fearing the Lord keeps one from evil results in riches and honor. Verse 22 says, fearing God produces humility and he says that all through proper those who fear God, sleep satisfied and are untouched by evil. Chapter 19 says those who fear God, have confidence those who fear God will be honored and praised and those who fear God will have their prayers answered all of that is in the book of Proverbs. Let's go to a second. The second very essential component of seeking wisdom is to guard your mind the positive side of wisdom is to seek to honor God. The negative side is to prevent other staff from polluting your thinking. Don't let anyone pollute your mind. Take the truth buying it around your neck right on the tablet of your heart.
By the way heart to the Hebrew means. Mine is the Old Testament says as a man thinks in his heart so is he. We think in our mind, not in our heart heart refers to the mind. Guard your mind inscribed on your heart truth buying it around your neck. Don't let it get away.
In fact, look at chapter 4 and verse 23 races watch over your heart with all diligence literally again your mind with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Thirdly, in learning wisdom. You not only need to fear God. Guard your mind, but thirdly, selecting your companions select your companions carefully this to a very practical aspect in life. In chapter 1 of Proverbs in verse 10, my son, if sinners entice you don't consent when sinners entice you to do something you know is wrong, simply don't do it. You have the responsibility to put yourself in relationships that lift you up, not relationships that pull you down.
I tell you, it can be just that simple. The distinction between success and failure in your life carefully select your friends number four. Control your body pretty practical.
Proverbs 5 for the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord. Verse 21 Proverbs 5 he watches always pass.
First of all, realizes God sees everything he sees absolutely everything it says in verse 22 his own iniquities will capture the wicked. Another words, people who sit are going to get caught in their sin, you will be held with the cords of his own sin.
When a person gets into sin and gets so habitually into sin, that it ties him up and he can't get out of it. Verse 23 he will die for lack here's the Hebrew of self control. He will die for lack of self-control. By the way starting back in chapter 2 verse 16 the book of Proverbs begins.
Talk about an adulterous woman talk about sexual sin, talks about how she lures someone how she draws him away into this illicit relationship and that becomes a theme that runs all the way through chapter 7 Proverbs wants us to be very careful about self-control in the sexual area.
Chapter 5 talks about chapter 6 talks about it.
Chapter 7 talks about it. We don't have time to go pursuing all of those but very very important teaching the sad demise of the person who engages in adultery, sad, sad thing you can read about the terrible end of those who follow the sin of adultery. Chapter 7 closes with this word for house is the way this is the house of the adulterous. Her house is the way to she'll descending to the chambers of death descending to the chambers of death. Back in chapter 6, verse 32. Hugh commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense he who would destroy himself does it wounds and disgrace. You will find in his reproach will not be blotted out. That's a reproach never goes away.
This saddest moments to call a friend would been caught in illicit relationship and who realized that this very moment, only hours after this whole thing up and expose that his entire life was destroyed that moment when he sought some pleasure self-control. I can't tell young people how important that is lack of self-control will destroy every good thing that's been built up in your life. Everything your parents ever did everything your pastors and youth pastors ever did everything your grandparents hoped for and prayed for in your life. Everything the Christian friends wanted for you faculty everything you came here and heard and learned all the songs you song all of that just trash you enter into that kind of approach which leaves you with a terrible disgrace. It's a tough world out there and there's tremendous amount solicitation toward sexual sin. We must pray constantly, diligently, faithfully and seek self-control. Proverbs 523. He will die for lack of self-control. We have responsibility to teach you self-control to teach you self-discipline.
The teacher spiritual discipline to teach you to bring your body into subjection.
As Paul says in first Corinthians 9 so that you are not a castaway. Fact is talking to my friend he was weeping. Wife was weeping and he looked at me and he said tell me you won't discard me, please don't discard.
I don't want to be a throwaway in some sense.
I said I love you I can throw you away. I'm knocking a discard, but in terms of the ministry you wanted for your life, your discard and that is absolutely heart which I could hardly sleep all night looking at what has been lost. Those are the lessons of life. There are more we give you nothing for your God. Guard your mind select your companions control your body.
Watch your words watch your words in Proverbs chapter 4 and verse 24 and again I only giving you a sample of that there just all through the place but Proverbs 424.
Put away from you, a deceitful mouth. Tell the truth when you speak would be the truth put devious… Far from you. Chapter 5 verse two your lips may reserve knowledge. Let them speak truth. Let them speak knowledge verse 12 of chapter 6 a worthless person and a wicked man is the one water the false mouth over in chapter 10 of Proverbs just a number of comments about the mouth. Verse 11 of chapter 10 the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life with the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. I remember reading years ago when I was a young Christian, a wonderful book and in that book, a manse of the most life-changing decision ever made in his life was the day he determined this wrote it down made it a part of the fabric of his life. He said this, I want a covenant with my God that every time I open my mouth. It will be to the praise of Jesus Christ.
That is a life changing covenant. If kept chapter 10 verse 13 talks about the lips of the discerning on those lips. Wisdom is found contrasting verse 14 the mouth of the foolish just brings ruin.
It talks about lying lips in verse 18. The transgression that is unavoidable with many words verse 19 when there are many words transgression is unavoidable. Learn to restrain your lips and be wise, keep your mouth shut. Don't talk too much.
Verse 20 the tongue of the righteous is as choice silver.
Guard your words watch your words they can minister grace to the hearers.
Verse 32. The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable mouth of the wicked what is perverted just summing up what it says in Proverbs about this that the lips of the righteous speak wisely. They endure forever. They are a fountain of life. The tree of life there like silver there satisfying.
They feed others. They bring healing they bring deliverance they are patient, kind, wise, truthful, honest, pure, soft, gentle, slow to anger and our mouthpieces for the Lord himself.
Watch your words. On the other hand, words of fools are crooked, foolish, violent, hateful, full of malice. Too many words bring strife, ruin, slander, belittlement, gossip, disgrace, like a scorching fire producing mischief and perversity give another principle of wisdom work hard, work hard, one of the themes in Proverbs. Again, look at chapter 6 verse six go to the ant, O sluggard notice letter is we, Flake today a goof off lazy person the arrow sluggard observer ways and be wise may use a little analogy about ants that didn't have no chief officer or ruler, but they prepare, but she prepares her food in the summer feminine gathers her provision in the harvest.
How long will you lie down, O sluggard, when will you rise from your sleep a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man you not to be poor people come because Ella want to make in life. I will have a career I want to earn money, you will if you work hard just that way if you don't you won't.
You just want to lie around and loaf and float your poverty will come in like a vagabond is like a stranger who wonders in your poverty, and your need like an armed man.
Just invade your life and take over sluggard or lazy, may you know that is your lazy minutes, a man with too many excuses. Too many refusals to many postponements very important issue. Chapter 10 verse four and five.
Poor is he who works with a negligent hand you want to be poor don't work hard, but the hand of the diligent makes rich me. There is a promise right of the word of God. Young people imitate your here in college.
You're smart enough to be successful.
If you're getting through here your plenty smart enough most of your probably smart enough to be in charge of something that a lot of people under you. You're learning the things you need to know to make a difference in the world how to think how to speak out a right how to socialize, how to lead all those kinds of things you're getting a diversity of social experiences, interpersonal relationships, the richness of life.
Learning biblical wisdom you have what it takes in terms of the input you received a new graduate from the school to make a huge difference in the world, but it's gonna come down whether or not you are willing to pay the price of effort and no magic. I know young people I know what's on their minds another in business school hoping I get out start their own business and build a make and those who work hard generally do work will be lazy. Take hard work is the most rewarding thing in life.
This world according to Proverbs, the lazy man will suffer hunger, poverty, failure because he sleeping through harvest. He wants but won't work to fill his wants you love sleep is glued to his bed now.
The first principle of success get up. That's it. Second, get up early third, get dressed and forth, get out of the house. The lazy man is glued to his bed follows worthless pursuit. You know I've knows about lazy people. They always have some get rich quick scheme waiting around the corner.
That never shows up never shows that all the their their greatest steaming for the big windfall never happens manner, pursues his work. Proverbs says earns a good living has plenty of food is rewarded for his effort earned the right to have respect even before King anyone more manager money manager money back in chapter 3 of Proverbs very practical stuff.
Verse nine honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce. So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new one.
Now the first thing involved in in managing your money is what is giving it to the Lord. That's often that's where you start I can give you testimony after testimony after testimony of how God has responded to giving in the lives of many believers including my own life. Start their give to the Lord. Even now, right now with whatever you not a question of what you don't have the question what you do have all God wants is what is reasonable from what you do have a doesn't want to give what you don't have a what you do have needs to start with him. Chapter 6 is another very important principle. If you have become surety for your neighbor have given a pledge for a stranger. Was he talking about don't cosign for a debt for a stranger. That is to obligate your assets for somebody else's indebtedness don't do it. If you have been snared with the words of your mouth have been caught with the words of your mouth. Another words you made a silly promise. And now the guy comes back and says I can't get this loan I need to slow to get out a debtor to buy this or to do this.
Would you cosign for because your credit will qualify me to get in qualify you to get it and you just cosign and I'll be sure and pay you back what you've just done is you've yielded up your resources to his accountability and if he isn't faithful going to cost you your own resources. Don't do it. Don't put yourself into the hands of your neighbor also talked about not being lazy there don't cosign not talking about you know, a member of the family in desperate need.
If you're inside the family.
Obviously, we meet each other's needs. Don't get outside the family and there are lots of other things. Chapter 13 chapter 22.
Just there's a Lotta stuff about managing money here and a lot about giving money all through Proverbs. I just thought of one more new dimension. Quick, love your neighbor. Chapter 3 and just one illustration of verse 27 do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it, do not say to your neighbor go and come back in tomorrow. I will give it when you have it with you. In other words, when your neighbor has a need. Don't hold back.
If you haven't given it so love build a friendship give to a neighbor be generous, summing it up. The most important thing you could possibly learn his wisdom. Wisdom is not some spacey kind of thing out in the air somewhere some conceptual thing. Wisdom is skill in living and it starts with fearing God moves to guarding your mind selecting your companions controlling your body watching your words pursuing your work managing your money and loving your neighbor simple, but that's it.
When you've done that you've learned wisdom so important to be taught I can say is a father. For example, if I fail to teach my son to fear God, the devil will teach them to hate God. If I fail to teach my son to guard his mind, the devil will teach them to have an open mind if I fail to teach my son to obey his parents. The devil will teach him to rebel and break his parents heart. If I fail to teach my son to select his companions carefully. The devil will choose them for five fail to teach my son to control his body. The devil will gladly teach them to give it completely over to his lusts. If I fail to teach my children to enjoy speech that is honorable to God, the devil will fill their mouths with filth.
Five fail to teach my children to pursue their work.
The devil will make them lazy.
Five fail to teach them to manage their money. The devil will teach them to wasted on riotous living.
If I fail to teach them to love their neighbor.
The devil will gladly teach them to love themselves learns father, we thank you this morning for this wonderful reminder that in getting everything else were getting wisdom is most teach us. You, your spirit, Christ. This is grace to you with John MacArthur.
Thanks for being with us.
John's current series, a course for life is taken from sermons. He originally preached at the Masters University where John serves as Chancellor Doug John back to the issue of controlling your body.
You said this today. You said the lack of self-control will destroy every good thing that's been built up in your life and that's true. We see it a lot in in the lives of people around us sobering thought. And so for that young person who say yes I want to develop that sort of self-control and for parents who want to do everything they can to keep their kids from stumbling in this area speak to those people, how would you counsel them.
Well, I mean we could start with Proverbs 521 to 23 for the ways of the Manor before the eyes of the Lord, and he watches all his paths, his own iniquities will capture the wicked, and he will be held with the cords of his sin.
He will die for lack of instruction in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.
That is a sobering warning what it says.
First of all is the Lord knows everything you're doing. He knows every thought you have every act he knows every form of entertainment you use any also is warning you that iniquities will make you a prisoner in your sin will tie you up in chains and lead you to death. What is the remedy sound instruction sound instruction apart from sound biblical instruction in your foolishness you will go astray. This is not anything surprising.
The only antidote for sin is virtue Holiness, righteousness, and the only source for that is the word of God. David says your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you, that simple. May we all learned that his little kids.
Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you. The antidote to sinning is having the word of God. Control your thinking as a man thinks in his heart so he is, or in the words of James sin conceives in the heart and breaks forth into death. Every sin starts in the mind deep in the soul and that's where you have to win the battle. You can't control your body by starting at that point, you control your body by starting at the point of what you think about and when your mind is filled with the word of God, the love of God, the love of the truth in a longing for holiness and virtue.
Your body will follow. If not, you will be a victim of your sin and for lack of instruction you will go astray and you will ultimately die potentially in sin deal with the battle of your life with the word of God and the power of the Spirit who promises us that he comes to us through our knowledge of the word and friend.
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