LET US BOLDLY ASK FOR WISDOM!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
ROBBING IN THE COAL MINES:
Let me establish a truth by telling you a real life story.
As men mine for coal in the coal mines in eastern Kentucky, the miners leave pillars of coal. These pillars support the roof top in the mines. And every so often a pillar of coal is not mined, it is not taken out, it is left as a support for the next
digging. So deep in a coal mine shaft there are pillars of coal left to keep the top of the coal mine safe and secure.
When a mine is worked out and there is no more coal to mine, there is a dangerous process called robbing the mine. Miners return deep in the mine and rob the pillars that have supported the roof. Starting deepest in the mine, the miners pull down the pillars of coal and then after this the roof on the mine collapses.
Slowly one by one the miners rob the support pillars and back out of the mine.
This process of robbing the pillars is very dangerous. In yesteryear mining operations many miners died or were seriously injured because they were robbing
the pillars of support, and the roof top would collapse and endanger people.
I would like to warn people today, that in our schools and society we are robbing the pillars and standards that bring safety and purpose to the church and society.
We need to reinforce the pillars, we need to teach these pillars and every home needs to reinforce and strengthen what remains.
TEXT:
Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.
James 1:5 If any person lack wisdom, let them ask God, that giveth wisdom liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given.
I. WHAT ARE WE BUILDING? WHAT IS OUR BASIC FOUNDATION?
WE HAVE A CLEAR FOUNDATION TO WISDOM --- THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
A. A Good Christian life has to establish a plan and a purpose?
I cannot tell you what your plan and purpose might be, that is personal between you and our Heavenly Father.
B. Wisdom and understanding can help us find God’s plan and purpose.
We need some kind of Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth, B-I-B-L-E.)
C. THE BASIC FOUNDATION THAT WE MUST BUILD UPON ARE
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
D. We can never build character and a sound society without the foundation of the Ten Commandments. These Ten Teachings are not mere suggestions, they are not
optional, we must have these Ten Commandments firmly in place in the family, the church, the schools, and our whole society.
Thousands and thousands of rules and laws are made to enforce the Ten Commandments.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have all they that do His Commandments: His Praise endureth for ever.
I John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His Commandments.
3. For this is the love of God, that we keep His Commandments: and His Commandments
are not grievous.
Ecclesiates 12: 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN.
E. Let us establish a doctrine of wisdom based totally upon the Ten Commandments.
We must know, we must teach, we must hold these truths close to our hearts!
II. WE MUST DO MORE THAN LAY A SOLID FOUNDATION, WE MUST REINFORCE THE PILLARS OF WISDOM AND DOCTRINE.
TEXT:
Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.
A. THE PILLARS ARISE FROM THE FOUNDATION.
B. DEFINE PILLAR:
**give strength, **firm, upright support for a superstructure,
**the part of a building often unseen that gives support and strength to the structure.
C. We can allow for the death of wisdom and understanding within the family and the church, or we can identify the seven pillars and teach them and grow them in the hearts and daily life’s of the believers.
Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
D. We must have more than a CHAMELEON LOOK TO OUR MORAL FIBER.
A chameleon changes with whatever he is around. Our foundation and pillars must be sure.
III. WHAT IS OUR GOALS IN CHARACTER BUILDING?
WHAT ARE OUR TOOLS TO BUILD STRONG PILLARS FOR WISDOM AND CHARACTER?
A. It takes teamwork between the Pastor, the Family --- the Mother and the Father, the Church, the schools, and the individual to build strong moral character and establish Godly values.
B. Divorce is rampant. Rebellion and sin abounds all around.
We must inoculate our child with values and integrity.
C. We have many positive tools helping to shape our society.
There is great power in Sunday School to help establish truth.
We own our own Bibles, and can read and study.
We have educated parents with great tools to help build the home.
We have strong programs in the church and in schools to help grow our children.
D. We can’t forget there are many negative tools hammering away at character and wisdom building.
The television is becoming more and more violent and sexual in nature.
Peer pressure pushes and shoves our young people.
Tobacco, alcohol, and drugs are being more and more accessible.
Homosexuality is being taught as an alternative life style.
E. We must develop good healthy systems to reward and punish behaviors, and build good character in the parents, children, churches, and politics.
IV. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS SEVEN PILLARS THAT COULD HELP US GROW AND DEVELOP GOD FEARING BEHAVIOR AND CHARACTER IN OUR FAMILIES.
WE NEED TO GROW PROGRAMS THAT TEACH AND DEVELOP WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY.
#1. THE FIRST PILLAR IS TRUSTWORTHINESS, AN HONOR SYSTEM.
A. We must teach people to be worth confidence.
B. May our word be our bond.
C. Be reliable.
D. Develop good reputations.
Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver or gold.
Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
E. Today we call it "WHITE LIES" and "HALF TRUTHS."
Do we condone and accept cheating, lying, deception, and stealing as permissible?
F. For wisdom to thrive we must grow trustworthy people!
#2. THE SECOND PILLAR IS RESPECT!
A. Today we lack respect for those in authority.
We call police the pigs or the fuzz?
B. We undermine the Father’s authority right in the home?
Kids that lack respect for others become doomed in a trap of disrespect.
C. We are to admire people.
We are to hold people in high regard, and esteem others.
We should prize our family even when they are less than perfect.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love: in honor preferring one another.
E. There must be respect in the home. (Matthew 15:4, Eph. 6:1, 1 Timothy 5:4)
F. We must teach the youth to respect aged people. (Prov. 23:22, 1 Tim. 5:1)
G. We should respect our religious leaders. (1 Thes. 5:13, I Tim. 5:17, Heb. 13:7)
H. We must respect our leaders. (Rom. 13:1, 1 Pet. 2:17)
I. We must tolerate differences and consider how others feel.
You are never an island to yourself.
#3 THE THIRD PILLAR IS FAIRNESS.
Roman 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation, abhor that which is evil: cleave to that which is good.
Eph. 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
2 Peter 1:7 And to Godliness brotherly kindness: and to brotherly kindness charity.
A. We must eliminate prejudices within.
B. No cliques. Be fair and don’t take advantage of people.
4. THE FOURTH PILLAR IS RESPONSIBILITY.
II Thes. 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house: and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things
which they ought not.
A. Do we hold ourselves accountable?
B. Are we submissive? What about giving record?
Luke 16:2 --- Give account of thy stewardship...
1 Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
5. THE FIFTH PILLAR IS "I CARE!"
1 Cor. 13:8 Love never fails.
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ, so also do ye.
Phil. 4:6 Be care for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
A. One of the greatest acts of love is to listen.
B. Say I love you often.
Try a hug, one size fits all.
C. How can Christians be right and not care?
6. THE SIXTH PILLAR IS CITIZENSHIP.
A. We need a good healthy respect and obedience for the laws of the land.
B. We must vote and be good citizens.
We need to write, email, and inform our politicians of our stands as Christian.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, and they that must give account, that they may do
it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
7. THE SEVENTH PILLAR IS THE WORD OF GOD: TRUTH!
A. There are 66 books written by 35 men over a period of around 1,500 years.
B. The Bible is holy and Infallible, it is our standard for truth.
There is no other standard.
The word of God does the work of God.
Romans 10:17 So faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Matthew 22:29 You do err not knowing the word of God, nor the power contained therein.
We need the gift of understanding and wisdom in our homes and in our churches.
James 1:5 If any person lack wisdom, let them ask God, that giveth wisdom liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given.
Let us ask boldly for wisdom and build a house of understanding and wisdom.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Please help me? Pass this on to another?
