Wisdom - A Gift From God. Part 1 Series

Sermon by Pr. Paddick Van Zyl

Sep 12, 2014

Wisdom - A Gift From God. Part 1

Intro:

Two Teachers

Two teachers were once applying for the same Vice-Principal position at a local high school. One had been teaching a total of 8 years and the other a total of 20. Everyone expected the teacher with the greater experience to get the job, but when a decision was made it was the person with 8 years teaching who was chosen. The teacher overlooked for the job complained bitterly – “I’ve got 20 years teaching to her 8″ he cried. “I’m vastly more qualified.”

The School Board’s reply went like this: “Yes sir, you do have 20 years teaching to her 8, but where she has 8 years experience you have 1 years experience repeated 20 times.”

Simply experiencing the passage of time doesn’t mean we have grown or learned from those things we experience during that time. #

Text:

Proverbs 4:7

Sermon:

What is wisdom? A simple definition may be: the application of knowledge.

We distinguish between 4 types or categories of wisdom:

*Chochmah - principles of right living made action. Isaiah 11:2

*Sophia - wisdom of ultimate things from the Word of God, right application of knowledge. Acts 6:10

*Phronesis - practical wisdom, how to bring ultimate things to pass

* Sunesis - wisdom of putting 2 and 2 together

Proverbs can be described as the book of wisdom, together with Psalms and Ecclesiates they form the digest of wisdom in the Bible.

*Proverbs 2 - moral benefits of wisdom

*Proverbs 4 - wisdom is supreme

*Proverbs 8 - wisdom's call & it's excellence

*Proverbs 9 - invitations of wisdom & folly

*Ecclesiates 7 - wisdom

*Ecclesiates 9 - wisdom is superior to folly

What does wisdom give:

*Contentment

*Discernment / good judgment

*Long life, honor, riches

*Success

Wisdom is the principle thing not miracles

There are 193 references to 'fool' in the Bible versus 234 'wisdom' references which tells me wisdom is important

*Wisdom is costly not free

*It costs dedication & practice

*It understands other's views

As the late Pr. Sherman Owens said: 'Don't just know the Son, but know the system of the Son'

*Renewed mind (Rom 12:2)

*Kingdom principles (Gal 6:7-8)

*Get wisdom from the Word

Jesus was filled with wisdom (Luke 2:52)

2 Keys:

*The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7)

*Discipline (Prov 6:23, 17:18,24)

How to get wisdom:

*Ask for wisdom - faith, spiritual understading of the purpose of trials (James 1:5)

*Study the Bible

*Fellowship with the Holy Spirit

*Apply Biblical principles

*Laying on of hands (Deut 34:9)

Deut 4:5-9 The statutes of God's Word is to be our wisdom to the world

Psalm 51:6

1 Cor. 3:18-19

2 Cor. 1:12

Illustration: -

'Until man duplicates a blade of grass, Nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge . . . it is obvious that we don't understand one millionth of one percent about anything." --Thomas Edison ##

Close:

In part two we will focus on some Biblical examples of believers who did apply wisdom in their lives and also believers who did not and the consequences....

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom - not living in fear but a longing to please God, obey His Word; a holy dread not to sin against God or displease Him.... To be able to correctly apply knowledge to life situations and following and obeying the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit - is wisdom.... Wisdom is a gift from God to be embraced and applied to daily living

Credits:

New Spirit Filled Life Bible Thomas Nelson p.888 & 1501. (Wisdom types)

#Stories For Preaching http://storiesforpreaching.com/category/sermonillustrations/wisdom/

## Kent Crockett http://www.kentcrockett.com/cgi-bin/illustrations/index.cgi?topic=Knowledge