Amen, right Proverbs chapter 8 now in our Sunday evening study on the book of
Proverbs and we were in Proverbs 7 last week which was mostly about the strange
woman. We saw God through Solomon saying that the law, the commandments, wisdom and
understanding will protect us from her and that includes both men and women
with the influence of them being a problem too, we talked about that. There
was in this story, wasn't there, about a simple youth not avoiding her. One of
the giveaways was that she was in the attire of an harlot and we talked about
that at length and what that really means, what that is and you know what you
know how God does look on how we dress, right. Yeah look you know the inward is
more important than the outward but if you get the inward right the outward
should follow, shouldn't it, right. And we saw that she was also subtle yet loud
and stubborn. So she was subtle yet she was loud, she was stubborn, saw that her feet
abide not in her house. We just saw all these descriptions of what we're
seeing described as of the strange woman. She's using all the the kind of usual
stuff we've already looked at, the flattery, then we saw that enticement, the
persuasion and how this is someone that does the utmost to get what they want,
okay. This is someone who's just unscrupulous, they just do what they need to do to
get what they want, it's a real predator and and how do you avoid that because
the thing is men can be weak to that particular angle we're looking at. Well
you don't want to be in that situation in the first place, okay. You just don't
want to be in a situation one-on-one alone with a strange woman. I mean you
want to avoid them in general anyway let alone one-on-one with this sort of woman
that this youth yields and we saw by the way earlier we saw that you know that
the youth being you know basically it was a simple one he was a youth and and
it was used interchangeably wasn't it because they don't have the wisdom, they
don't have that kind of that experience of that and he yields, goes to a house
and then but then we're also told it's not just the foolish youths though. So the
example was this youth but then we saw that many strong men have been slain by
her and and this type of woman basically ruins lives, okay. She ruins lives, this is
a very real threat, a very real danger to everyone in here but obviously
especially to the, well to all men and that's why we've seen many
warnings already about her haven't we in the book of Proverbs. So like we you know
we constantly call it it's the book of wisdom, it's the book of Proverbs, it's
got so much as practical advice and in sort of at least over half of the
chapters we've already looked at we've been warned about the strange woman, okay.
Time and time and time again because she's a real threat. And it's said in
verse 24,
Harken unto me now therefore all you children attend to the words of my mouth
let not thine heart decline to our ways go not astray in our paths for she hath
cast down many wounded yea many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is
a way to hell going down to the chambers of death. That's a pretty stern warning
isn't it. Then Proverbs 8 and chapter 1, sorry in verse 1 starts with, doth not
wisdom cry and understanding put forth her voice. I'd like to pray before we
continue. Father thank you for your word, thank you for this great chapter of the
Bible here just all about wisdom and where that comes from Lord and just just
help me to preach this just clearly Lord and and as you'd want it preached now
we want to have attentive ears tonight to just stay focused on your word after
a long day just film with your spirit please help all these things to be done
Jesus Christ in the name of Amen. Okay so we've got this great chapter now all
about wisdom that was that's a pretty great poetic chapter isn't it what a
great passage of Scripture to listen to all about wisdom and with the picture
analogy being wisdom as a woman okay that's a picture we've been seeing as we
go through the book of Proverbs but to really understand this passage we are we
have to understand understand what true wisdom is and where it comes from and go
back to Proverbs chapter 2 because the simple explanation of wisdom is a
correct use of knowledge even if that was purely in decision-making so it's
not doesn't have to be in something actually practical you do just even if
it was just in your mind it's a use of knowledge true wisdom though comes from
one place okay true wisdom ultimately comes from one place Proverbs 2 and verse
6 says for the Lord giveth wisdom out of his mouth cometh knowledge and
understanding so it all comes from the words of God it's out of his mouth but
the average person isn't reading the Bible and getting filled with wisdom it
says in verse 7 he layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous he is a buckler
to them that walk uprightly so there are two ingredients to gain that wisdom for
the from the Word of God firstly you need to be saved you need to be saved to
be able to gain really you know in any amount of his look you can take the odd
nugget here and there on the same people can do that but you need to be safe to
really understand the Word of God and then secondly you need to apply that
knowledge from the Word of God so it's not that you're saved and that's it
automatically you're just full of wisdom no you get saved first okay you need to
be saved to be able to start to really grow and learn and have true wisdom and
then then you need to apply the knowledge that you get from the Word of
God it said for the Lord giveth wisdom out of his mouth cometh knowledge and
understanding he layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous he is a buckler to
them that walk uprightly so turn to Job 28 and while you turn I'm going to read
Proverbs 9 10 you turn to Job 28 Proverbs 9 10 says the fear of the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy is understanding
so without fearing the Lord there is no salvation is there that you and I'm sure
everyone here that we've got some pretty thorough soul winners here okay I had
someone say that to me recently from from I think it was a guy at in
Switzerland he just said you know what he loves is every time he's been someone
who be from this church he just said they're just thorough in the gospel
presentation preach it thoroughly and I know we have that and part of that is
that people have to accept they have to accept that they're on the way to hell
they have to fear hell to require the Savior don't they because if they don't
it's oh yeah yeah well you know you just got to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
well yeah yeah you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ but you're believing on the
Lord Jesus Christ you're trusting him to save you from eternal hellfire and
people have to understand that don't they and have to accept that and and the
fear of the Lord is a beginning isn't it you have to you have to fear the Lord
you have to fear the judgment the punishment that comes from the Lord to
get saved don't you well he says in Proverbs 9 the fear of
verse 10 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of
the holy is understanding so without that there there's no salvation there's
no wisdom would you and here's the thing would you call someone wise who's
on the way to hell would you call you know you've got this great boss at work
and you know they just all that you know they just seem to know so much about the
job but oh are they really that wise if they're on their way to hell they're
not are they they're not wise if they're gonna spend eternity in hell especially
when salvation is so easy isn't it they're not wise Joe 28 and verse 28 Joe
is speaking of God and he says this and unto man he said behold the fear of the
Lord that is wisdom and to depart from evil is understanding so look the fear
of the Lord that's that's how it look it's not only that that's how we get
saved but oh really if you're learning and growing God it's because you're
fearing the Lord and and obviously look some will completely change that that's
all about respect oh it's both fear and respect isn't it okay and that's wisdom
look be wise yeah fear God we've you know I talk about this a lot just
because I think so many people they just want to kind of oh yeah yeah well he
chastises every son but that's probably only now and again look people a lot of
people even now are going through chastise me in one way or another you
gotta fear him and if you start to fear him you'll start to respect more what
he's telling you to do but if you just constantly trying to justify it in one
way or another and fight you know why it's probably got nothing to do with it
because you know I'm not that bad a person he chastises you for your own
good but you need to fear him right and same with that and parents here just a
quick one your kids need to fear punishment because if they don't fear
chastisement how on earth are you gonna get your kids to behave right it's
bizarre and look and I say that because a lot of people they just because we
just we're so influenced by the world are acting like that somehow oh you know
how could you like do a punishment on your kids which had actually fear I mean
God forbid and then you've got these kids just running right little terrors
and all they need to do is actually fear whatever punishment is right and you
know what a smack on the bottom never killed anyone did it but you know what
it stings and you don't want one do you so look and you need look yeah that's
that's an obvious one anyway but however the fear of the Lord that is wisdom and
depart from evil is understanding turn to Psalm 111 while I read Proverbs 14 6
see the odd the unsaved can't really understand God's Word okay now the wall
the wolves in sheep's clothing can parrot preachers so don't be too calm by
this where you're like well they must have been saved because you know they
they I don't know they seem to be able to preach the right gospel they must be
saved because they preached a sermon once they must be saved because it means
nothing absolutely nothing we had a guy once at our church who literally
parroted a sermon that someone else had preached and and look that's what people
do that doesn't mean anything that means nothing at all they can sail that
but what what you know what they don't really have they don't really have their
own understanding they can't sit down and just understand the Word of God
themselves they can repeat what they've heard they can look up you know what
pastor so-and-so said anyone can do that but they can't really just sit down look
at look at the Bible and start to work out and be able to actually get the
spiritual things out of it they can't do it because they don't have the Holy
Spirit because they're not saved Proverbs 14 6 says a scorn a seeketh
wisdom and findeth it not but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth a
scorn a seeketh wisdom and findeth it not they just they will never get the
wisdom from the Word of God themselves but knowledge is easy unto him that
understandeth if you understand if you really if you if you're saved and you're
trying to grow in the Word of Lord then the knowledge should come easy to you
you should be able to go okay I want to get to the bottom of this you shouldn't
have to just find the preacher find the pastor find the sermon you should be
able to open your Bible and go right I'm gonna find out myself that's what we
should be doing shouldn't we should go to the word now great look great to hear
some passes and and explain things that give you the you know put it in give you
the sense give you the understanding give you the meaning everything else
however the first thing you should do your first port of call and that's how
you grow and mature as a Christian is to go right now I'm gonna look in the
Bible and see what what this means or what I'm trying to understand and what
I'm trying to find out first and you'll grow so much more like that right but
like I said it's not just about salvation okay that's the beginning of
wisdom it's however it's it's whether or not you choose to apply that knowledge
Psalm 111 you turn to didn't your verse 10 says this the fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his commandments
his praise endureth forever so that the the understanding the good understanding
comes from not just hearing it not just reading it not just this is someone say
it but actually applying it to your life doing it and you start to understand and
start to learn and start to grow more 1 verse 21 30 says there is no wisdom nor
understanding nor counsel against none there is no wisdom there is no no there
is no understanding nor counsel against the Lord anything that's contrary to the
word what the Word of God says is wrong it's wrong simple it's wrong and just
confirm that okay so you in Proverbs 8 when talking about wisdom really he's
talked about the Word of God and then the application of it jump forward to
the end of the chapter to have a look at that so back in Proverbs 8 he's talking
about the Word of God okay the end of the chapter verse 32 says this so
Proverbs 8 32 now therefore hearken unto me oh ye children for blessed are
they that keep my ways here instruction and be wise and refuse it not blessed is
a man that heareth me watching daily at my gates waited the posts of my doors
for who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favor of the Lord that's
not just talking about random wisdom in life that's talking about the salvation
that comes from the Word of God but he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own
soul all they that hate me love death and if you hate the Word of God which is
hating God there's only one place you're going okay and that that's that's what
we're seeing here and this wisdom that we're seeing here is also really we're
talking about the wisdom from the Word of God because that's that's where it
comes from as we've just seen from many of those verses okay so but in verse 1
where he says does not wisdom cry and understanding put forth a voice really
where does that really come from the Word of God okay wisdom comes from the
Word of God the Word of God is out there you will always be able to find
the Word of God because he promised to preserve it you there will always be the
Word of God there always has been the Word of God there always will be the
Word of God that's why of course it's ridiculous to think that it was buried
in some you know monastery vault somewhere underground and that we just
had to wait for you know some people to dig it up sort of 17 1800 years after
Jesus Christ died that's nonsense isn't it absolutely ridiculous the Word of God
has always been because it cries understanding puts forth her voice and
whether it's many God behind pulpits men and women preach the gospel in the
highways and hedges or just opening up a Bible it's everywhere the Bible is
everywhere isn't it it is everywhere and there are people preaching still the
Word of God with the truth with the gospel that and and that's thundering
forth still now isn't it and when I say it's everywhere according to words rated
com on average 20 million Bibles were sold per year in a United States alone
20 million and you're thinking yeah but most of those are false Bibles well no
nearly a third of that total were King James Bibles and by the way the next
heist was something like 13% of NIVs 30 odd percent were King James Bibles 6
million purchase just purchased in a year the Bible's everywhere the Word of
God's everywhere and that's not to mention all the King James Bibles
already in existence a lot of people keep the King James for a long time
don't they they don't usually get put in a trash can we try and put the NIVs in a
trash can try to get someone a day to put his NIV in a trash can but but
sorry we're in England here in a rubbish bin listening to too much American
preaching okay however look there's a lot of King James Bibles around and let
alone all of the reasonably accurate translations in other languages as well
I mean I forget all of those out there as well like the Word of God's
everywhere now it says here she standeth in the top of high places by the way in
the places of the paths she crieth at the gates at the entry of the city at
the coming in at the doors unto you are men I call and my voice is to the sons
of man the Word of God is is there isn't it's calling to people in various ways
but so often they refuse to hear don't they people just refuse to hear the Word
of God and and not just about salvation sadly so many save people refused to
hear what the Word of God's calling to them and trying to tell them what to do
in various ways but but especially with salvation he said oh ye simple
understand wisdom and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart and it is sad to
see all of these people on their way to hell isn't it it really is when you go
soul-winning you kind of it's hard because sometimes you almost have to
harden a little bit to it because it's it could be like it's crushing sometimes
isn't it when you knock on doors and the people there they're almost they're like
no I'm gonna get on with something really you were that close to hearing
the gospel and you just refuse and you won't and so many of these people who
just I'm a good person really come on Joe would you like me to show you what
the Word of God says that now slam door and it is sad isn't it and obviously in
our sorts of areas where it's not like everyone's just walking up to you ask
you what must I do to be saved you kind of you get used to it too much don't you
you kind of it does desensitize you a bit in a way to just that the majority
of people reject the Word of God isn't it sad and and you kind of feel like
screaming out you simple just understand wisdom just listen to the gospel ye
fools just be of an understanding heart just listen let me just show you the
gospel you can get safe can't you he said here for I will speak of excellent
things and the opening of my lips shall be right things and first off is there
anything more excellent than the gospel how amazing is the gospel it's
absolutely amazing that the free gift of eternity and glory how amazing is that
and again because we get so used to just preaching the gospel you're out you know
multiple times a week many people here just preach the gospel preaching the
gospel you hear in the gospel all the time you sometimes just forget don't you
just how amazing it really is not one person here deserves to be in heaven yet
I'd hope everyone here is on their way to heaven because of a free gift because
of Jesus Christ paying it all for you I mean that's amazing isn't it and it's
not just well we get to kind of live forever we get to live in glory you get
to live in the presence of God just amazing isn't it the gospel is amazing
right but it's not just the gospel I mean the Word of God there's so much
more to learn as well isn't there he said here for I will speak of excellent
things in the opening of my lips shall be right things and and isn't it great
to be able to open the Word of God to just know that everything you're reading
in there is right is correct to have that trust in the Word of God to have
that faith in the Word of God to not to not be sitting there going well I don't
know who knows what it says let's hope that that guy behind the pulpits telling
me the truth you have the Word of God you have the
you can read it you can study it you can learn it you can grow in it it's amazing
isn't it and it speaks of excellent things it speaks of right things he said
in verse 7 for my mouth shall speak truth a wickedness is an abomination to
my lips in John 17 17 up turn that says sanctify them through thy truth thy word
is truth the word is truth the Word of God speaks truth wisdom is truth the
true wisdom from the Word of God wickedness is an abomination to my lips
now the King James Bible is a hundred percent truth they're pure words we are
told of wickedness in the King James Bible aren't we we're given examples for
our admonition but God will never tell you to do something wicked will he okay
there's a difference his word will never instruct you to do
unrighteousness so we don't just follow the example of someone we follow what
God tells us to do right clearly clear scripture clear commands trump any
example in the Bible don't they as long as you're measuring stickers you
inspired preserve Word of God and not the ever-changing so-called morality of
the world well and hopefully that should be everyone here right he said for my
mouth shall speak truth the wickedness and abomination to my lips so whatever
the Word of God says if the Word of God says that a government should punish
certain sins with the death penalty how dare anyone call that wicked it's a
word of God what because society's changed its mind on that what's what's
society gonna think in another hundred years what's society gonna decide in
200 years and when I say society depending what society you're in well
that seems to be all merging together into one big liberal joke doesn't it
around the world and how on earth do we judge judge anything by our just our
joke liberal compromises out there the Word of God the Word of God is is what
we judge it by and wickedness is an abomination to my lips talking about
here the the the woman wisdom which ultimately really for me is the Word of
God it says all the words of my mouth are in righteousness there is nothing
forward or perverse in them they're all plain to him that understand if the
right to them that find knowledge so if you're saved and you start to study
learn and grow as you understand as you find that knowledge it gets plainer and
plainer to see doesn't it it really does you the more you grow in it the more you
grow in the Word of God it does become plainer and plainer I think and right to
them that find knowledge if you notice as you're growing in knowledge the Word
of God just starts to just become more clear doesn't it every time you read it
through you keep reading through you just start to understand more you start
to just get it more don't you but it does take take time you do need to read
you need to persevere turn a second Peter 3 it is an automatic second Peter
2 15 will your turn the second Peter 3 second Timothy 2 15 Timothy was told to
study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth but as you like I said as you
study it more the more it makes sense the more it just slots together in an
amazing way often when we go through our Bibles I love the Bible studies here I
love sitting down and just and just sitting there just staring at the
chapters and trying to you know see what God's kind of showing us through that
chapter and often you just come away in awe don't you see well I like the
picture being made there or the way this when you compare it to here in the New
Testament from something thousand years before the Old Testament how it all just
goes together so it's amazing isn't it and that's why not just as faith come by
here in the Word of God for the gospel but the more you hear the more you read
the more you grow in the Word of God the stronger your faith gets as well doesn't
it because the more you study and the more you see in you and you and that's
why I look ain't just about Sunday morning church is it we want it we need
the whole lot and sometimes those for me those Bible studies they strengthen my
faith like nothing else because I'm looking at them I'm like sometimes I
just come away and I was telling my wife ago that was just so amazing I can't
like you just how on earth is this and how I just I mean all of it all the time
in and it is awe-inspiring isn't it it's great and it does but you need to put
the study in you need to you need to put that work in the the unsaved
intellectual the theological professor just can't understand it they just can't
understand it they'll struggle and strive to their own destruction won't
they they just don't get it second Peter 3 talking of us looking forward to
things to come says this in verse 14 we're for beloved seeing that you look
for such things be diligent that you may be found of him in peace without spot
and blameless and what we're talking about this morning for example an
account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation even as our beloved
brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto
you as also in all his epistles speaking in them of these things in which are
some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned an unstable rest
as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction the amount of
so-called experts so-called intellectuals that read this book and
come away with work salvation is amazing isn't it how do they do it how do the
amount of people who claim to be saved read this book and come away with the
Jews are God's special people for example or come away with a pre-trib
rapture or come away now some of them will just parrot and say what other
people have told them but a lot of it they just they just like the unsaved one
just don't understand they just can't get it can they they can't just look at
the Bible and just see what it says but they just don't get it and sometimes we
find it amazing don't we just see how have you have you got this Bible you've
you've got like just believe believe believe faith faith faith believe
believe believe faith oh look yeah but what about that verse egg it's got
nothing to do with salvation and you just see what an earth and obviously
they choose that as well but people they just don't get it do they they just
don't understand it they just don't get it he said ye therefore beloved seeing
you know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the error of
the wicked fall from your own steadfastness and we have to be careful
not to get our heads off our heads turned our faith we can by the so-called
doctors of theology for example because it is a fleshly thing where you see the
letters after the name you hear the long words you know you see this the
seemingly high intellect and you just start to think well how could I know
more than that person you know maybe look they maybe they are right they've
been studying it for like years and years but what are they coming away
with work salvation how because they're not saved because they never put their
faith in the gospel because probably most of those people it's a trap really
because most those people will never be humble enough to let someone show them
salvation they won't have it because oh well I'd have to go away so you know get
you get those people someone's where you clearly shown them the gospel verse
after verse after verse and what's something well I'd have to go away and
study it myself so basically I'm not having you tell me but you've got to be
humble enough to say yeah I need someone to show me the gospel and so
many won't will they he said but growing grace and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ him be glory both now forever amen because it's not
automatic okay and it's not even possible without salvation in the first
place he said to grow in knowledge and in Proverbs 8 talking of the words of
God verse 9 says they are all playing to him that understand it and write to them
that find knowledge receive my instruction and not silver and knowledge
rather than choice gold for wisdom is better than rubies and all the things
that may be desired and not to be compared to it and it can often be a
choice can't it whether it's young safe person who's too obsessed with wealth of
riches to even hear the gospel we get a lot of those don't we or that's too
prideful from their riches that can be one of the big problems can it as well
just so wealthy in general their prides up Jesus said in Mark 10 24 you don't
have to turn there how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the
kingdom of God and the more rich you have the more generally your trust goes
up into your riches doesn't it and whether or not that's trusting that that
your riches show that you're somehow doing well in life and you're holy and
everything else and blessed by God or the fact that you just think that your
pride just goes up you just think that you've got everything sorted because
you're rich Matthew 13 22 you have to turn there it for example there is a
saved guy that in the parable of the sower is a seed sown amongst thorns it
says he also that received seed among the thorns to see the ear of the word
and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word
and he becometh unfruitful so it's not always the unsaved that get that don't
get saved for me this guy's clearly saved however it's the riches it's the
the the wealth and everything else it stops him being fruitful being
productive for God so we even when you are saved you want to still keep
receiving that instruction not go after the silver not go after the gold for
wisdom is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired and not to be
compared to it and we are told to flee covetousness we're not just told to flee
fornication are we we're told to flee covetousness and again that's run the
other way that's look you can see any kind of like feeling of it you start to
focus on the money you start to just you know it starts become an issue for you
you start to just kind of fill that covetousness creeping and I'm talking
to the saved here you need a fleet do whatever you need to do to go the other
way yeah if there's if there's a way that if there's something in your life
there's some reason that you're just finding yourself focusing more and more
money you need to get that out of your life right you'll find a way of getting
rid of that out of your life you need to flee it and by the way it's not just so
wealthy okay many without many many without much wealth of covetous I've
met many poor covetous people in the world think about I mean you just think
about the amount of people who don't have much money you spend what little
they do on the lottery every week for example wouldn't there be a more
sensible way to spend 10 20 30 whatever it is that they spend every week just
trying to chase millions well it's ridiculous isn't it and really it's
covetousness and there are a lot of people that don't have much but a
covetous but God wants us to focus on his instruction knowledge wisdom because
all the riches in the world can't compare and they can't it's a snare a
trap the the the rich people if you've ever known very wealthy people they're
usually devoid of wisdom and their lives are usually racked full of problems they
have all sort just rich problems just more expensive problems and they're
rarely happy it's it's a lie it's a con the celebrity rich person whose people
think we've just got it all sorted and everything else it's not the truth
they're not happy the money doesn't make them happy I said in verse 12 I wisdom
dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty invention so he's not
saying that if you get wise you're going to invent the next greatest thing in
case you're wondering okay inventions in the Bible are always a negative every
time we see the word invention use it's talking about a negative and not saying
that people inventing things negative just the way the reason the use of it
in the Bible is usually false gods or false ways that's the inventions it's
talking about okay people coming up with their own ideas and really about either
God eternity things like that here he's saying that that wisdom from the word
will give you that caution to discern false ways have a clever and subtle
sometimes they're very subtle aren't they some false ways are very subtle and
the reason that one of the things that obviously we talk about a lot here
because it's such a subtle one is for example the repent of your sins false
way is a very subtle one and then they get even more subtle with it when they
start trying to really get subtle with what the definition of repentance is
just to make it a real subtle change to the gospel well you've just got to feel
sorry for your sins but where did the gospel say that did it and people go
well yeah I suppose I did kind of feel sorry when I got saved yeah but that
wasn't the gospel though you probably did but the gospel is put your faith in
Christ to pay for your sins and it's those little subtle things and it's very
subtle isn't it and it's just a subtle change of the gospel and then people
start to trust in there yeah well it was because I I started to hate sin that's
why I got saved because of me because of me feeling I started to really feel
sorry about it that's why I got saved they're taking repentance out of the
gospel that lot that's what they try to say don't they take repentance out of the
gospel they go hand in hand because you can't get saved without changing your
mind about your false belief before how do you take repair unless you've got a
different definition of what repentance is mate and a lot of them have a
different definition they just don't like to admit it openly do they however
it is it is a snare and a trap and and the these witty inventions in various
ways they're clever they're subtle and the subtleness of the subtlety of these
can also not just be the the the false ways and a false and another one for
example another subtle one would be like the Lordship salvation a subtle one
isn't it the well you know you just kind of make him lord of your life
because you confess to your mouth the Lord Jesus well of course you accept
that Jesus is Lord are you really saying that you're saying I've got to start
living for God to get saved that ain't the gospel the Gospels believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ I shall be saying there's many of these subtle ways but
also there's the subtlety of the the false doctrine and also of the false
brethren and he's saying I wisdom draw with prudence and find out knowledge of
witty inventions and there is a lot of subtlety amongst these types of people
as well they have very subtle ways of working subtle ways of trying to
accomplish their goals and there's various ways they do that as well so
here he's telling us that the Word of God ultimately will give you caution
will show you those things and will help you find out the knowledge of these
things because you because then the Word of God like we've seen the last several
chapters shining the light on certain types of behavior for example of the
witty inventions of the clever ways of the false ways and then he says in verse
13 the fear of the Lord is to hate evil pride and arrogance see and the evil way
and the flow would mouth do I hate so he's saying that the wisdom from the
word exposes the false way the the wicked and their ways as well that the
knowledge of God that comes from the word results in us hating evil such as
pride arrogance see the evil way the forward mouth he said I wisdom draw
with prudence and find out knowledge of witty inventions the fear of the Lord is
to hate evil pride and arrogance evil way in the forward mouth do I hate now
all of us might deal with pride now knowing now and then okay look look
you're not suddenly oh you got saved so you can never be prideful but but the
pride and arrogance see that goes with the work salvation is false prophet does
disgust you doesn't it when you're around these people and you've been
around these people you listen to these types of people you and sometimes you
come across them on the door and stuff these people that are just full-on works
works well especially the false one I mean the pride is up here isn't it I
mean it's unbelievable and it is it should it should make you kind of hate
it don't you I do I when you see that just people oozing with that pride it's
really it's really off-putting isn't it I said look you can all people can kind
of deal with a little bits can be a bit prideful you remember people are just
these people are oozing it really however well they they maybe try and
hide it for a while it is pretty wicked that the pride the
arrogance see the he said here the evil way there are various false ways and the
forward mouth which is the unyielding mouth these are people these again we're
talking about the most wicked people here okay that reject the Lord Jesus
Christ and we're meant to hate that stuff we're meant to hate hate these
various witty inventions these various false ways all the subtle ways they do
it and we hate it because we have a healthy fear and respect for God in his
ways so all this y'all will just love it yeah we should love our own enemy but
not God's enemies and that's what it's talking about here the fear of the Lord
is to hate evil okay you fear God you respect him you want to grow in him you
grow in the Word of God you should hate all that stuff and pride and arrogance
and that's that's wicked stuff really isn't it because like we saw what what
should we be doing is uplifting the Lord Jesus Christ like we saw this
morning that should define us from the work salvation it shouldn't it and I
don't mean by just going Jesus Jesus and everything else they say yeah well I
know I'm going to heaven because I'm great no it's because really we know
that it's all of the Lord and we preach that and we appreciate that and that's
why we want to serve God but ultimately it's not because we're great people is
it it's because we have the Word of God and because you know praise God we're
saved right so we should hate all that stuff we should hate the pride and the
arrogance see the evil way the forward mouth he then said counsel is mine and
sound wisdom I am understanding I have strength and beyond salvation the word
will counsel you it will guide you it will give you sound wisdom it will give
you strength won't it about you guys but you know for me I mean I was looking
back through my life the strength I've got from the Word of God the courage
the the ability to do things I would never been able to do before because of
the Word of God and and I'm sure many people who say the same right many
people here probably would never have dreamt of going to half the places we go
and knocking doors and sometimes not just like the most rough area sometimes
it's the most posh areas of the scariest aren't they I was going up some of those
dry so the dry ways I went up today and you know we got there we love it's gonna
be tough okay you're just looking at I love you the other guys were the same
area you're just looking up all these kind of like these long drivers these
huge houses you're like okay you know because it is off-putting you know you
know so but but what what is it that gives you that strength it's the Word of
God is knowing that that's what we commanded to do it's known as the Word
of God you know expects us to be bold in the gospel to go to that door and go
boldly and preach the gospel to every creature right and and in so many other
ways in your life as well the strength to be able to stand against the grain in
many areas right the strength to be able to do what God wants you to do to
maybe raise your kids in a way that everyone else isn't doing it to maybe
you know have a have your your marriage in a way that no one else is doing to to
just do all those things and reject all those other things you need that
strength in the Word of God to be able to do that are you and and look he does
give us that strength he gives us sound wisdom he gives us understanding he said
by me Kings reign and princes decree justice by me princes rule and nobles
even all the judges of the earth so so many laws and rules around the world do
come originally from the Word of God by the way really if you think about it how
all these places are ruled from thieving to harming others to even basic decency
all comes from God really doesn't it now a lot of it's been changed over time a
lot of it a lot of it's been watered down a lot of it they've started to go
off into the weeds with certain in certain areas but really where does it
really come from originally is from the Word of God doesn't it however skewed
morality might become any morality occur at all came from the Word of God which
is written on our hearts and and it's by the Word of God that really Kings reign
prince decree justice princes rule nobles even all the judges of the earth I love
them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me and why early
because a heart hardens with time doesn't it it doesn't and there are
exceptions but how hard-hearted are the elderly usually that's why I wasn't
overly disappointed with the whole kind of the whole care home thing in the end
because they got the gospel week-in week-out for several months and the
truth is is that it's so weird because you just think I'm coming to your door
you're 80 you're 90 you're whatever years old and I'm coming to show you how
you can be a hundred percent sure you're gonna have me you've got nothing else to
do all day you've got nothing to do you've got all the time in the world you
don't have to go to work you don't have to you don't have any kids there to deal
with you nothing at all no not really not really interested really if you'd
because you think don't you face it yeah get some elderly people they're the ones
that are gonna hear it because I want to make sure they're gonna have it it's
coming any day and it's but it's true isn't it but it's the opposite the
reality of it is they're usually the hardest ones to get saved it is great
when you get an elderly person saved but it's quite hard isn't it isn't it weird
but yeah those that seek me early though shall find me and there are exceptions
to the rule but but those that truly seek will find him Jeremiah 29 13 says
all ye shall seek me and find sorry and you shall seek me and find me when you
shall search for me with all your heart and look it's not that obviously that's
the only way you get saved but there are people here that sought the truth right
maybe there are those here that just prayed I just want the truth you know
and they saw but there are people here that didn't there be were here that
maybe stumbled across the gospel and got saved okay so it's not that well if they
see it we're not Calvinistic we don't think that if you're well if you're
gonna get saved you're gonna get saved right no some people will just hear the
word of God and get saved right and some people will seek and if you seek I think
if you really seek the truth you'll find a truth but sadly so many people what do
they really seek they seek their own truth they seek something that's
compatible with whatever that they've already decided and then they just want
to try and you know back it up with something else but if you really seek
the truth I think you will find and all they that seek me earlier said riches and
honor are with me verse 18 you know durable riches of righteousness my fruit
is better than gold yea then fine gold and my revenue than choice silver now
not the riches that burn away durable riches heavenly riches again they're
durable riches true true honor he said here he said I reached an honor with me
yeah durable rich to watch this and true honor that comes from righteousness
that's a real honor in life isn't it the honor where you can say okay look and
I've done well here you know I feel like I've had a good day here that's that's
where the honor should come from where people look at someone go yeah I think
they got integrity that's an upright person that's true what there isn't it
not the honor that all these weirdos get from being attention seekers and
everything else right achieving something in some you know lame sport or
something else that's not true on that people forget him they forget him years
later don't they not even that many years later and none of that really
matters but true or that comes from doing things right from from true
righteousness what's the fruit he said my fruit is better than gold yea then
fine gold and my revenue than choice silver well you know the first fruit
you'd say salvation isn't it and like I said isn't that better than anything it
really is isn't it better than anything else you could earn you could get you
can find salvation is a thing but righteousness as well and righteousness
is a fruit of the Word of God isn't it and and again how great is true
righteousness and true applicable knowledge even just to be at that the
real applicable knowledge you can get from the Word of God that will actually
change your life that will change what you do in life that will change how you
behave like the fruits of it are better than all that stuff I lead in the way of
righteousness in the midst of the paths of judgment that I may cause those that
love me to inherit substance and I will fill their treasures so the Word of God
will lead you into righteousness look you can lead a horse to Walter but you
can't make him to drink right it should lead you there but it's up to you what
you do with that leading it will help you to judge the right path it will help
you gain the true riches says the Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way
before his works of old the wisdom of the word has always been okay it's the
Word of God that created the world you have to turn to Hebrews 11 3 says
through faith we understand that worlds were framed by the Word of God so that
things which are seen were not made of things which do appear verse 23 says I
was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was some
hundred nineteen eighty nine says forever I Lord thy word is set in heaven
when there were no depths I was brought forth when there were no fountains
abounding with water so this is before the beginning of the world remember that
Genesis 1 2 said and the earth was without form and void and darkness was
upon the face of the deep and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters
so verse 24 is saying that the word was from before then it's from the beginning
verse 25 says before the mountains were settled before the hills as I brought
forth while as yet he had not made the earth nor the fields or the highest part
of the dust of the earth when he prepared the heavens I was there when he
said to compass upon the face of the death and like I said wisdom yeah but
I'll really hear what we're talking about is the Word of God that is wisdom
so when he moved upon the face of the deep you could say there when he said a
compass upon the face of the depth when he established the clouds above when he
strengthened the fountains of the deep and those fountains by the way that were
broken up during the flood they've only been discovered in inverted commas in
recent years right and just another just reminder of how the Word of God was
telling us about things that people just had no clue about like the fountains
of the deep when he gave to the sea his decree that the waters should not pass
his commandment when he appointed the foundations of the earth and I believe
talking about making a dry land here when I then I was by him as one brought
up with him and I was daily his delight rejoicing always before him rejoicing in
the habitable part of his earth and my delights were with the sons of men now
turn to John chapter 1 because this is where now I want to show you that this
gets more profound and some of you might kind of have been realizing this as
you're reading it while speaking about the wisdom of the Word of God the Word
of God is Jesus Christ so what we've just been reading about is not only the
Word of God in terms of the words of God the preserver to go we've also just been
reading about Jesus Christ as well John 1 says from verse 1 in the beginning was
the word and the word was with God and the word was God the same was in the
beginning with God all things were made by him without him was not anything made
that was made in verse 14 says and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us
and we beheld his glory the glories of the only begotten of the Father full of
grace and truth and back in Proverbs 8 30 the Lord Jesus Christ was daily his
delight the Prophet Isaiah when prophesying of Christ said in Isaiah 42
1 behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth I have
put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles says in
verse 30 of Proverbs 8 then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was
daily his delight rejoicing always before him rejoicing in the habitable
part of his earth and my delights were with the sons of men it was the Son of
God walking in the garden enjoying his creation with Adam and Eve what's
amazing is that Proverbs 8 is an Old Testament pastor scripture talking
descriptively about the Lord Jesus Christ at the same time that's what's
amazing about this passage as at the same time as describing the wisdom that
is the Word of God and I'm going to show you that look down at verse 7 look at
verse 7 it said for my mouth shall speak truth and wickedness is an abomination
to my lips 1st Peter 2 22 says of Christ who did no sin neither was guile found
in his mouth verse 8 says all the words of my mouth are in righteousness there
is nothing forward or perverse in them they're all playing to him that
understand the right to them that find knowledge and in John 10 27 Jesus said
my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me verse 10 says receive
my instruction and not silver and knowledge rather than choice golden he
said in Matthew 6 24 you cannot serve God and mammon jump forward to verse 15
where it says by me Kings reign and princes decree justice by me princes
rule and nobles even all the judges of the earth Ephesians 1 21 says that he is
far above all principality and power might and Dominion and every name that
is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come it's all
underneath the Lord Jesus Christ isn't it verse 17 I love them that love me and
those that seek me early shall find me or John 14 21 says he that hath my
commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me
shall be loved of my father and I will love him and will manifest myself to him
we just read I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find
me verse 18 said riches and honour with me a durable riches and righteousness in
Matthew 6 20 he said but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven when
either Ross nor neither moth nor rust of corrupt and where thieves not break
through nor still we know that we do that by serving the Lord Jesus Christ
verse 19 my fruit is better than gold yea then fine gold and my revenue than
choice silver Jesus Christ fruit is what eternal life that's his fruit isn't it
verse 20 I lead in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths
of judgment that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance and I will
feel fill their treasures so he's talking about though to inherit
substance and fill their treasures and first Corinthians 2 9 says but as it is
written I have not seen nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of
man the things which God has prepared for them that love him we can't even
really figure out we can't even get our heads around what's waiting for us and
that's why the Bible if you really when you look at this isn't not really that
descriptive because I just think you couldn't do it justice could you that
heaven and what really is awaiting us the Lord possessed me verse 22 the Lord
possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old I was set up
from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was well everyone knows
or many you know Micah 5 2 which says but thou Bethlehem afraid to though
thou be little among the thousands of Julia yet out of thee shall he come
forth talk about Jesus Christ unto me that is to be ruler in Israel whose
goings forth have been from of old from everlasting the Lord Jesus Christ verse
24 when there were no depths I was brought forth when there was no fountains
abounding with water and of course we know that John 1 1 said in the
beginning was a word in the beginning was the word verse 25 before the
mountains were settled before the hills I bought for well as yet he had not made
the earth nor the fields or the highest part of the dust of the world when he
prepared the heavens I was there when he set a compass upon the face of the depth
when he established the clouds above when he strengthened the fans of the
deep when he gave to the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his
commandment when he appointed the foundations of the earth when I was then
I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoicing
always before him rejoicing in the habitable part of the earth and my
delights were with the sons of men that's the word of God that's the Lord
Jesus Christ it applies to both verse 32 now therefore hearken unto me oh you
children for blessed are they that keep my ways and the true blessings come from
following his commandments living for him don't they hear instruction and be
wise and refuse it not and that's what it comes down to okay you're saved you
have the living words of God in your hands are you going to hear the
instruction everything in this is the Lord Jesus Christ he is the word and
he's instructing you through his word are you going to be wise with the wisdom
that you hold that you read and that's preached to you he said blessed is a man
that heareth me watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors
you want to be blessed you want to actually hear him you want to apply it
to your life remember you need to do those commandments as well and when he
said watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors you know where
those gates are where those doors are the house of God aren't they really
because the truth is it all goes hand in hand you go well yeah but I can go home
read my Bible anyway I could put on YouTube and listen to preach and
everything else yeah but there's a difference between listening to it and
doing it and where are you really going to be doing it in the house of God and
if you're not in the house of God you're not really yet like we said before when
I'm preaching and often I'm gonna I'm gonna preach things wrong okay I'm gonna
preach some sometimes in the flesh I'm gonna maybe you know preach things that
don't apply to you but you know what if I'm here and I'm behind the pulp and I've
got the Word of God I believe the Holy Spirit's gonna work through me and
preach things that every single person needs to hear from time to time and if
you're not here how much are you missing out on so much right so much of the
wisdom that comes from being at the post watching daily at his gates waiting at
the posts of his doors and this is this is where he's at this is where it's
going on isn't it in the house of God he said for who so findeth me findeth life
and shall obtain favor of the Lord and that applies to both Jesus Christ and
obviously the wisdom that comes from the word which begin begins with the fear of
the Lord and salvation you find the wisdom of the word you find the Lord
Jesus Christ you're finding life aren't you and you start living for God and you
and you keep and you keep being in the word and everything else you're gonna
obtain favor of the Lord as well aren't you and but it all comes from the Word
of God everything comes from the Word of God but he that sinneth against me
wrongeth his own soul all they that hate me love death and if you reject the Lord
Jesus Christ you reject the Word of God or even further really you could say
here you hate God you're a hater of God you hate his word you've made your
choice of India you rejected him he's rejected you all they that hate he's no
here we're saying that look whether you want to call it the Word of God you want
to call it the Lord Jesus Christ you want to call it God all they that hate
me love death and when we say that people you know I think some of us people
get confused by this go well you know I mean how many people really hate God you
know they hate the how God's revealed himself through his word they hate the
God of grace through faith they hate the Jesus Christ of the Bible that says that
they cannot earn their way to heaven whatever little amount of works they
want to add to it they hate it that's why they hate churches that preach the
gospel we someone had this on the door I think earlier today I think someone
who claimed to be a Baptist minister somewhere it just hates us really
because we're knocking on the door preaching the gospel they hate the
gospel they hate the Word of God they hate God they hate Jesus Christ and you
know you know they they were ultimately doing their loving death and that's what
it comes down to doesn't it and people do they and they might deny it and they
might find a way to try and justify their their views and everything else
and the reality of it is if you're sitting in a church like this and you're
hearing the gospel preached pretty much look I don't try I try not to be like
those old IFP churches right okay it's not like right guys it's time you know
just shape the sermon into the gospel every week but the reality of it is you
hear the gospel every week in one way or another you hear at least a quick
summary of it you hear something you're hearing it preached every single week
pretty much you're out there listening to it preached on the doors yeah and
you're sitting here and you're still rejecting grace through faith you're
still hanging on to some amount of work salvation to some repentance of sins to
some turning from your sins to some sort of works on top of the gospel you are on
slippery slippery ground because you look that's that's just pure rejection
of the word that's pure rejection of Jesus Christ that's to the point where
look you're gonna get given over to a reprobate mind I believe you know I've
thought about this before I know our old pastor used to talk about used to talk
about the sleeper cell reprobate and he'd say like you have these people
that seem to be fine absolutely normal in church for years and then suddenly
it's like they've just been activated it's like doo doo doo destroy church
that's what you know I believe sometimes that what that case is it's people that
were unsaved in a church like ours and we're rejecting rejecting rejecting
still holding on to some work some work someone well yeah I mean I know they all
say that I think you still got a repent of some sins you got at least turn away
from so you got at least try to be good surely to get saved you got it but I'm
not gonna say anything I'm just keep quiet keep quiet keep quiet they reject
their rejected rejected I think they get still point when they're given over and
when they're given over they become a child of the devil and that means now
he's gonna use them to do his purpose just like God was using you when you're
saved to do his purpose those that are children of the devil start to do his
purpose and that for me might be an explanation of some of these deeper cell
reprobate types maybe they weren't bad when they first came to the church they
were just unsaved and then there's a point and look if you're sitting in this
church or you're watching online and you've been hearing that message so you
need to you need to just get down on your knees say to God look if you're
still sitting there trying to hold on to some works you need to get on your knees
you to humble yourself and say God I just want to get saved yeah what you
want to go to heaven don't you you don't want it don't reject that's that's the
warning that's what the reprobate should warn us is don't reject don't be like
then because there'll be a point when it's too late it's too late and you're
done and and you know and not only you done not only going to hell but you're
gonna live a wicked life until that because once your mind is gone and you're
giving over to a reprobate mind that is scary isn't it no one here wants to be
like that so you better make sure that you have your faith your trust in Christ
alone no works no added works no continual works no pre-work it's faith
in Christ alone for by grace is safe through faith that not of yourselves
it's a gift of God not of works lest any man should boast he said here all they
that hate me that's the Jesus of the Bible that's the word of God that's the
truth of the word they love death and death ain't a good place we have fish up
there how many father thank you for well the just a clear clear teachings
in in there just just the wisdom from the Word of God and just you know how
different it is to the world's wisdom how different it is to just anything
else really that is in our lives and how you know ultimately you know the Lord
Jesus Christ is is the Word of God and how you know we get all these things
from here we get all of these things from the Word of God you can't really
separate them Lord that is just an amazing passage of Scripture to show us
that and help us to just just think about that as we go forward this week
help us to apply just the teachings we've we've got there to our lives to
want to just seek off that wisdom to want to not just listen to it but also
to apply it to our lives Lord help us to just get our hearts right with you
obviously want to serve you to want to just just do all the things that we see
in your word that are constantly standing out to us constantly instruct
us and commanding us Lord help us to get home safe from you this evening
I hope everyone to just get home safe and sound to find a way of getting back
on Wednesday for the midweek service and just don't throw this army