“Be Good for Something, Get Wisdom!”
Thesis: Many want to be good at something in their life but the greatest way to be good for something is to attain wisdom. Wisdom is defined by the Bible as that which is true and right combined with good judgment.
On the Lighter side: The Wisdom of Cowboys:
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad
judgment.
Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier ’n puttin’ it back in.
If you’re ridin’ ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and
then to make sure it’s still there.
If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try
orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started
roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him... The
moral: When you’re full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
There’s two theories to arguin’ with a woman. Neither one works.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
Never slap a man who’s chewin’ tobacco.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Don’t kick a sleeping dog.
The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it
back in your pocket.
Illustration: Lack of wisdom
Three atheists climbed into a van and began the long drive to Texas to see their leader. Along the way, the driver fell asleep at the wheel. The van went off the road and they crashed and they all died. Imagine their surprise when they found themselves face-to-face with Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates.
Peter said, “I see you’ve led exemplary lives – giving to the poor and helping the elderly. And your honesty and integrity exceeds that of the children of the Kingdom.” They said, “Then we get to go to Heaven, don’t we?” “I’m sorry, it doesn’t quite work that way. I’ll tell you what. If one of you can tell me who Jesus Christ is, I’ll let all three of you in.” The first atheist said, “Jesus Christ. Isn’t he the old fellow who comes down the chimney at Christmas?” “No, No, No, replied Peter!”
The second atheists said, “Oh, he’s the one who, when you lose a tooth, you get a quarter under the pillow.” Peter replied, “Next!”
The third atheists began, “Why Jesus Christ is the Son of God!” Peter’s eyes lite up. “Jesus Christ became flesh and was born of a virgin. He was baptized by John the Baptist and healed the sick and raised the dead,” the atheists went on. “In obedience to His father, he died for the sins of mankind. He was crucified by Pontius Pilate. They laid his body in the tomb of Joseph of Aramethea. Three days later, the stone was rolled away and Jesus Christ stepped out from the tomb in all his glory.” Peter was impressed. Then the atheist blurted out, “And he saw his shadow and went back in and we had six more weeks of winter.”
Introduction:
Our three atheists definitely lacked wisdom and in the end it cost them a place in Heaven. Today we are talking about making sure that our lives count for something. And the truth is our lives will only count for something if we have wisdom implanted into it. So today our topic is wisdom that special ingredient which makes a life count for something.
When I say the word “wisdom” many ideas pop into the minds of those who hear this profound word.
A survey was done with a group of kids and they asked, “What they thought wisdom was?” and here is their responses: (From the internet Wit and Wisdom)
"Wear a hat when feeding seagulls."
- Rocky, age 9
"Don’t flush the john when your dad’s in the shower." - Lamar, age 10
"Never ask for anything that costs more than $5 when your parents are
doing taxes." - Carrol, age 9
"Never bug a pregnant mom."
- Nicholas, age 11
"Don’t ever be too full for dessert."
- Kelly, age 10
"When your dad is mad and asks you, ’Do I look stupid?’ don’t answer
him." - Heather, age 16
"Never tell your mom her diet’s not working." - Michael, age 14
"Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat." - Joel, age
12
"When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your mom when she’s
on the phone." - Alyesha, age 13
"Never try to baptize a cat."
- Laura, age 13
"Never spit when on a roller coaster."
- Scott, age 11
"Never do pranks at a police station."
- Sam, age 10
"Beware of cafeteria food when it looks like it’s moving." - Rob, age 10
"Never tell your little brother that you’re not going to do what your
mom told you to do." - Hank, age 12
"Listen to your brain. It has lots of information." - Chelsey, age 7
"Never dare your little brother to paint the family car." - Phillip, age 13
Of course kids have a great way at looking at what wisdom is. Years ago I did my own unofficial survey on “What is wisdom?”
Here are some of the responses I received:
Wisdom is power!
Wisdom is someone with knowledge, knowing right from wrong!
Wisdom is knowledge!
Wisdom is insight from God!
Wisdom is intelligence!
Wisdom is the ability to learn!
Wisdom is not knowledge!
Wisdom is simple yet profound!
Wisdom is truth!
Wisdom is when people wooooooooo you!
Wisdom is living out the knowledge and putting it into practice!
Wisdom is the ability to learn from each other!
Wisdom is the Word!
Wisdom is the Lord!
Wisdom is knowing when to be quiet!
Years ago I went to my three girls to see what there response would be to this question:
Tiffany at age 7 said: “It is the knowledge of God!”
Christa at age 4 said: “It is chicken!”
Ashley at age 5 said: She looked at me and tilted her head and said these profound words, “I don’t know dad!” I was amazed at her answer because I had just read in my Philosophy book that Socrates had made said, “I was the wisest of all the Greeks. It is because that I alone, of all the Greeks, know that I know nothing.” I thought wow! My daughter is as smart as Socrates.”
1. My personal quest for wisdom and it’s meaning.
a. Many have been searching for wisdom for their lives. In my quest for wisdom I was pointed into the direction of Philosophy. My professors told me wisdom was found in the study of philosophy. So I took a class in philosophy at my University.
i. (Disclaimer by the speaker Pastor Mike: The following memories may not have happened as accurately as I am portraying because I was in deep wonder when these events took place. So they could be false in my faulty memory!)
ii. The Instructor got up there the first day of class and quoted Dr. Abraham Maslow’s wisdom of life quote, “I am living and end-life where everything ought to be an end in itself, where I shouldn’t waste any time preparing for the future, or occupying myself with means to later ends.” I sat back after the quote and there was a silence from the speaker and the students. Some went Ohhh! Others looked around in wonder. I went what did he just say? I left the class that day going what did he just say for the last hour? He did however make this one statement which I recorded in my notes, “Philosophy, is considered the method of learning to ask and re-ask questions until meaningful answers begin to appear. It is the art of wondering then coming up with answers as they begin to appear through the questions.” I had to admit I must be getting wisdom because I was really wondering!
iii. So I went home and later on that day I opened my Philosophy book to do my reading for the class and came across this statement on page one of my Philosophy Book, “To philosophize is to explore life. It means breaking free to ask questions. It means resisting easy answers. To philosophize is to seek in oneself the courage to ask painful questions. So I thought of these questions:
1. Can you be a closet claustrophobic?
2. Why is the word abbreviation so long?
3. What’s another word for Thesaurus?
4. If a book about failure doesn’t sell, is it a success?
5. When companies ship Styrofoam, what do they pack it in?
6. Should vegetarians eat animal crackers?
7. Why does Hawaii have interstate highways?
8. If you are cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read okay?
9. If a stealth bomber crashes in the forest, will it make a sound?
10. If police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
11. When it rains, why don’t sheep shrink?
iv. Then I read on. “But if, by chance, you have already asked all your questions and found all the answers- if you’re sure you know right from wrong, and whether God exists, and what justice means, and why men fear and hate and pray-if indeed you have done your wondering about freedom and love and loneliness and those thousand other things, then following these pages will be a waste of your time” (page 1, Introduction to Philosophy). So I paused and thought I know the answer to these major questions. So I threw my book away, but then I remembered I have to take this class to graduate so I took it out of garbage and continued my study. But I had to admit a lot of the questions they were asking I knew the answer:
1. Are you sure you know right from wrong? I said yes, the Bible makes it clear, the Holy Spirit leads me!
2. Do you know whether God exists? Yes, I know it personally because I have an intimate relationship with Him.
3. Do you know what justice means? Yes, I said, “It’s the quality of being righteous, impartial and fair.”
4. Why men fear and hate? Yes, they don’t love like God says love. 1 John 4:18 ‘Perfect love drives out fear…” Hate comes from having no love and being willing to choose to sin against others and not forgive.
5. Why men pray? Yes, I know why we pray to talk to God and to get help in times of need.
6. I thought I have written sermons on these subjects, freedom, love, loneliness and understand how they are defined and what they are.
v. I thought man I must have wisdom to know the answer to all these difficult questions. Then I thought how sad it is that men look for wisdom outside the realm of God. They look for wisdom but they do not want God involved in the process. I thought during my Philosophy class that I actually became weary in wondering.
vi. I actually became weary in looking for wisdom through Philosophy. I prayed and asked the Lord to direct me.
1. I was gently reminded what Solomon said in Ecc. 12:9-12:
a. 9Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. 11The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. 12Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
T.S. - I thought after re-reading this how weary I was from all my studies and readings on philosophy. So I put down the other books and went to the Bible to discover wisdom.
2. The quest for wisdom led me to search the Scriptures to answer the question, “What is wisdom?”
a. Then the Lord laid on my heart that if I really wanted to attain wisdom then it first came from God according to James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
b. I discovered in the Bible that there were those who were centered out as having wisdom.
i. There were leaders, kings and rulers.
1. These individuals were especially judged to be possessors of wisdom, and that was usually because of their relation to some divine source of understanding.
2. I discovered in my quest for wisdom that there were many examples of national leaders with wisdom in the Bible.
a. Abraham
b. Moses
c. King David
d. King Solomon
i. The Bible tells me that Solomon the King of Israel and the son of King David in 1Kings 3:3 “…showed his love for the lord by walking according to the statues of his father David…” Then in verse 5 that at Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask whatever you want me to give to give you.” So Solomon answered in 1 Kings 3:6 “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day…9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours? … 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.”
ii. Interesting Solomon is said to have been given wisdom in 1 Kings 4:29, “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breath of understanding as measureless, as the sand on the seashore.”
iii. We are told Solomon’s wisdom was so great that Men of all nations came to listen to his wisdom and insight 1 Kings 4:34.
ii. I also discovered in the Bible that there were many professional Counselors in the Bible who had wisdom.
1. These counselors were usually advisers to the Kings and rulers of nations. They occupied positions of great authority being in the rulers court of advisers.
a. Some examples I discovered:
i. Joseph – Genesis 39:1-6
1. When he was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery to Egypt he became a servant of Potiphar in his house.
a. It is noted that he possessed great understanding and wisdom beyond other men his age.
b. Joseph suffered many injustices in his life but God remained faithful because in the end he became second only to Pharaoh in leading Egypt. He is said to have been wise beyond and of Pharaoh’s counselors (Gen. 41:33-44).
2. Daniel was another counselor in a foreign land who considered very wise.
a. Daniel and the young Jewish princes were counted as the wise men of great wisdom and insight.
b. They are described in Scripture as “youths without blemish, handsome, and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding, learning, and competent to serve in the king’s palace” (Dan. 1:4).
iii. There were also Prophets – spokesmen for God who were considered wise.
1. The prophets were God’s spokesmen and were considered wise because they spoke the words of the Lord to the people.
a. Isaiah (Isaiah 30:1-5)
“Woe to the obstinate children,”
declares the LORD,
“to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge. But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame, Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace. Though they have officials in Zoan
and their envoys have arrived in Hanes, everyone will be put to shame because of a people useless to them, who bring neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace.”
b. Jeremiah (Jeremiah 9:23, 24)
i. This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.
T.S .- I continued in my search for wisdom discovering that all these men had wisdom because they had a relationship with the Lord God Almighty.
3. My quest for wisdom directed me to the book of Proverbs to answer the question “What is wisdom?”
a. Then the Lord pointed me to the Book of Proverbs.
i. In the introduction to Proverbs out of my Maxwell Leadership Bible John says this about Proverbs, “God is the ultimate source of wisdom and life itself. He mentors leaders who seek wisdom for their decision making. Proverbs paints a picture of wisdom as a person calling out to listeners, but finding few” (744).
ii. Proverbs is considered the book of wisdom. The first nine chapters of the book of Proverbs are in essence an introduction to the importance of getting wisdom. In these chapters the author is giving fatherly instructions on the importance of getting wisdom in our lives. He exhorts the reader to get this thing called wisdom because it will pay with the blessings of God in your life. In essence he is saying pursue wisdom and when you attain it you will be good for something in life. Because wisdom helps you build a life that is worth something.
iii. Bill Hybels wrote a book on Proverbs which is titled “Making Life Work” he says simply put “Proverbs simply tells us how life works…” He adds this thought about our book, “Who would have guessed that a series of books ‘…for Dummies’ would sell more than thirty –five million copies?” He adds, “Why has this series so effectively tapped into the desire of people to learn? On satisfied customer said: ‘I buy them because they take the intimidation out of the learning process. Whatever the subject matter’ they spell it out to me in simple terms. They make the complex understandable, so that even a regular guy like me can ‘get it’” The same could be said of the book of Proverbs. It takes the ageless, priceless wisdom of God himself and makes it understandable and accessible to regular people like you and me. Comprehending its wisdom requires no seminary degree; the book contains few confusing theological terms. The most down-to-earth book of the Bible, Proverbs puts pertinent truths for everyday life on the bottom shelf where we can all reach them” (15, 16).
b. As I searched through Proverbs I came across Proverbs 2:6 “For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
i. It’s very clear that wisdom comes from the Lord. He gives it man does not attain it by his strength or knowledge.
c. I then discovered an very interesting chapter Proverbs Chapter 8:1-21:
1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates leading into the city,
at the entrances, she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O men, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, gain understanding.
6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are faultless to those who have knowledge.
* I noticed that Jesus said similar things in the Gospels!
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
* I thought this is true of Jesus’ message!
12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
* I realized from this verse that knowledge, discernment, balance were all attributes of wisdom but not wisdom itself. What I discovered was these were the results of wisdom.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
* I discovered that wisdom hates evil will have nothing to do with evil. I discovered here that wisdom despises pride and arrogance. Something that Jesus continually rebuked the Pharisees about.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.
*Jesus revealed to us in the Gospel that he was all these things.
15 By me kings reign
and rulers make laws that are just;
16 by me princes govern,
and all nobles who rule on earth.
* I saw that rulers and kings are not wisdom but are placed in their positions by wisdom. The Bible makes it clear that God is the one who place people in the position of authority.
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.
* Jesus promises the same blessings for those who serve and live for the Kingdom of God.
Insert the Video Illustration: From Matthew 11:1-19 play clip from Matthew AD:
1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
2When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15He who has ears, let him hear.
16“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”
*Jesus makes it clear to the religious of the day that wisdom is proven by her actions. Therefore they needed to look at what he was doing and remember Proverbs 8 “The personification of Wisdom” and compare the two.
d. Proverbs 8:21-36:
22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
23 I was appointed from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began.
24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water;
25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
26 before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world.
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.
32 “Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.
36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death.”
* After reading this I recalled John chapter one had a lot of parallels to this called wisdom and these same attributes are found in Jesus Christ.
Compare this part of Proverbs 8 with John 1 see if you see similarities:
John chapter 1:1-18:
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
Conclusion:
Jesus Christ is wisdom! The Biblical perspective asserts that wisdom comes from God, is to be found in God, rather than that God is wise. He is wisdom itself. The only way you can as a human attain wisdom is that you must have asked for wisdom from God and that comes by Jesus Christ (The Personification of Wisdom).
In my search I have discovered that both the Old and New Testament associate wisdom with God and His Spirit.
• The following verses verify my statement:
o 1 Kings 3:11,12
11So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
o Ecc. 2:26
26To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
o Isa. 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD—
o Dan. 1:17
17To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
o Acts 6:10
10but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
o 1 Cor. 2:6
6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
o 1 Cor. 12:8
8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
o Eph. 1:17
17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
o James 1:5
5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
o James 3:15-17
15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
The conclusion that I have come too is man only is able to possess wisdom if he is given it by the Lord. It is a divine quality, a divine gift.
The truth is each of us needs to attain wisdom if we desire to live life the right way. Wisdom enters the picture and gives us understanding on how to handle certain circumstances in life. Wisdom gives us discernment in dealing with the complex issues of life. Wisdom gives us knowledge and the ability to use that knowledge in the right way. Wisdom is the difference between being called wise or a fool. Wisdom is the one which shows us what is truth and what is a lie. Wisdom is the key that we need to embrace in our society today if we want to live a life that is worth something in the end. I have discovered that if I grab a hold of wisdom I will receive the following benefits from it:
Favor with God and others
Safety in the midst of a storm
Peace in the midst of turmoil
Prosperity in my life
Honor in my reputation
A life that defines justice correctly
Righteousness in the presence of God
Leadership qualities that will last for eternity and have an eternal impact
Truth the list is endless.
So my questions for each of you here today is:
Do you want Wisdom?
Then you need to ask God for it! How do you do this by following these easy steps:
By repenting of your sins.
Asking for forgiveness.
Then surrendering your life to Jesus Christ.
Then invite the Lord to live in you.
