Intentional Pursuit of Wisdom and Spiritual Growth

 

Summary

In celebrating the one-year anniversary of our church building, we reflect on the journey that brought us here. From humble beginnings in backyards and school cafeterias, we have witnessed God's faithfulness in providing a space to gather and grow. However, the building is not the finish line; it is merely a starting point for the work God has called us to do in our community. This journey required vision, determination, and hard work, much like our spiritual journey requires effort and intentionality.

As we continue our series in Proverbs, we focus on the words of Solomon to his son, emphasizing that spiritual growth requires both desire and effort. Proverbs 2:1-8 teaches us that if we seek wisdom and understanding as we would seek hidden treasures, we will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. This pursuit of wisdom is not passive; it demands active engagement and intentionality. Just as we cannot manifest a building without effort, we cannot expect spiritual maturity without putting in the work.

Our culture often promotes ease and convenience, but spiritual growth requires us to treasure God's word and wisdom, storing it in our hearts to guide our decisions and actions. This means valuing the word of God, the counsel of godly mentors, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Our desires must be matched with effort, as a desire without action is merely a wish.

Solomon's message is clear: if we want to grow in holiness and wisdom, we must actively pursue it. This involves making our ears attentive to wisdom and inclining our hearts to understanding. It requires persistence, even when the journey is challenging. God promises that if we seek wisdom diligently, He will provide it, and He will guard and protect our path as we strive to walk in righteousness.

Ultimately, our growth is a cooperative effort between our intentional pursuit and God's sustaining grace. As we put in the effort to grow, God meets us in our weakness, upholding us and guiding us on the path of righteousness. Our spiritual journey is not one we undertake alone; it is a partnership with God, who empowers us to live out His will.

Key Takeaways:

1. Effort and Intentionality in Spiritual Growth: Spiritual growth requires both desire and effort. Just as building a church required hard work and determination, growing in wisdom and holiness demands active engagement and intentionality. We must treasure God's word and wisdom, storing it in our hearts to guide our decisions and actions. [47:48]

2. The Pursuit of Wisdom: Proverbs 2:1-8 teaches us that if we seek wisdom and understanding as hidden treasures, we will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. This pursuit is not passive; it requires us to actively engage with God's word and seek His wisdom diligently. [50:43]

3. Valuing God's Word and Wisdom: Our spiritual growth begins with receiving and valuing the instructions of wisdom. We must treasure God's word, the counsel of godly mentors, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, allowing them to shape our desires and actions. [56:43]

4. Persistence in the Face of Challenges: Spiritual growth is not always easy, and we must persist even when the journey is challenging. Solomon encourages us to cry out for insight, raise our voices for understanding, and seek wisdom with determination, trusting that God will provide. [01:18:51]

5. Cooperation with God's Grace: Our growth is a cooperative effort between our intentional pursuit and God's sustaining grace. As we put in the effort to grow, God meets us in our weakness, upholding us and guiding us on the path of righteousness. Our spiritual journey is a partnership with God, who empowers us to live out His will. [01:42:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [46:10] - Reflecting on Our Journey
- [47:48] - Effort and Intentionality
- [50:43] - Pursuing Wisdom
- [52:09] - Valuing God's Word
- [54:02] - Persistence in Challenges
- [56:43] - Treasuring God's Instructions
- [01:01:17] - The Importance of Treasure
- [01:03:04] - Avoiding the Enemy's Snares
- [01:09:20] - Matching Desire with Effort
- [01:10:11] - Active Pursuit of Holiness
- [01:18:51] - Persistence in Seeking God
- [01:21:05] - The Effort of Uncovering Wisdom
- [01:42:08] - Cooperation with God's Grace
- [01:44:37] - Communion and Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Proverbs 2:1-8

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Proverbs 2:1-8 suggest is necessary for understanding the fear of the Lord and discovering the knowledge of God? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on effort and intentionality in spiritual growth? [47:48]

2. In the sermon, the pastor mentioned the transformation of the church building as a metaphor for spiritual growth. What were some of the challenges faced during this transformation, and how do they parallel the challenges in our spiritual journey? [46:10]

3. According to the sermon, what role does treasuring God's word play in our spiritual growth, and how is this concept illustrated in Proverbs 2:1-8? [56:43]

4. How does the pastor describe the cultural tendency towards ease and convenience, and how does this contrast with the biblical call to pursue wisdom and spiritual maturity? [52:09]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the pastor interpret the relationship between desire and effort in the pursuit of wisdom according to Proverbs 2:1-8? What implications does this have for our daily spiritual practices? [50:43]

2. The sermon discusses the importance of valuing God's word and wisdom. How might this valuation affect one's decision-making and actions in practical terms? [56:43]

3. What does the pastor mean by saying that our spiritual journey is a partnership with God? How does this partnership manifest in the process of spiritual growth? [01:42:08]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that persistence is necessary in seeking wisdom and understanding? How does this persistence relate to the promises found in Proverbs 2:1-8? [01:18:51]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge in your spiritual journey. How did you respond, and what role did effort and intentionality play in overcoming it? [46:10]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of treasuring God's word. What practical steps can you take this week to store God's word in your heart and allow it to guide your decisions? [56:43]

3. Consider the cultural tendency towards ease and convenience mentioned in the sermon. How can you counteract this tendency in your spiritual life and actively pursue wisdom? [52:09]

4. The pastor speaks about the necessity of persistence in seeking God. Identify an area in your spiritual life where you need to be more persistent. What specific actions will you take to pursue this persistence? [01:18:51]

5. How can you better cooperate with God's grace in your spiritual growth? What does this cooperation look like in your daily life, and how can you be more intentional about it? [01:42:08]

6. The sermon highlights the importance of valuing godly counsel and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. How can you seek out and prioritize these sources of wisdom in your life? [56:43]

7. Reflect on the idea that spiritual growth is a partnership with God. How can you ensure that you are doing your part in this partnership, and what changes might you need to make to align more closely with God's will? [01:42:08]

Devotional

Day 1: Intentional Effort in Spiritual Growth
Spiritual growth is not a passive process; it requires both desire and intentional effort. Just as constructing a church building demanded hard work and determination, so does the journey toward spiritual maturity. This involves treasuring God's word and wisdom, storing them in our hearts to guide our decisions and actions. In a culture that often promotes ease and convenience, we are called to actively engage with God's teachings and pursue holiness with purpose. Our desires must be matched with effort, as a desire without action is merely a wish. [47:48]

Proverbs 4:7-9 (ESV): "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to actively engage with God's word and pursue spiritual growth with intentionality?


Day 2: The Active Pursuit of Wisdom
Proverbs 2:1-8 emphasizes that seeking wisdom and understanding is akin to searching for hidden treasures. This pursuit is not passive; it requires active engagement with God's word and a diligent search for His wisdom. By making our ears attentive to wisdom and inclining our hearts to understanding, we position ourselves to receive the knowledge of God. This process involves persistence and determination, trusting that God will provide wisdom to those who seek it earnestly. [50:43]

James 1:5-6 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need God's wisdom today, and how can you actively seek it through prayer and study?


Day 3: Treasuring God's Word and Wisdom
Our spiritual growth begins with receiving and valuing the instructions of wisdom. We must treasure God's word, the counsel of godly mentors, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, allowing them to shape our desires and actions. This means prioritizing God's teachings and allowing them to guide our decisions. By storing His wisdom in our hearts, we create a foundation for making choices that align with His will. [56:43]

Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Reflection: How can you make space in your daily routine to treasure and meditate on God's word, allowing it to influence your decisions and actions?


Day 4: Persistence in the Face of Challenges
Spiritual growth is not always easy, and we must persist even when the journey is challenging. Solomon encourages us to cry out for insight, raise our voices for understanding, and seek wisdom with determination. This persistence is crucial, especially when faced with obstacles that test our faith. Trusting that God will provide, we are called to remain steadfast in our pursuit of righteousness, knowing that He will guard and protect our path. [01:18:51]

Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing in your spiritual journey, and how can you remain persistent in seeking God's wisdom and guidance?


Day 5: Cooperation with God's Grace
Our growth is a cooperative effort between our intentional pursuit and God's sustaining grace. As we put in the effort to grow, God meets us in our weakness, upholding us and guiding us on the path of righteousness. Our spiritual journey is a partnership with God, who empowers us to live out His will. By relying on His grace, we can overcome our limitations and continue to grow in holiness and wisdom. [01:42:08]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on God's grace, and how can you invite Him to work through your weaknesses today?

Quotes



"And the reason that this day is fitting for this message is because as we continue in our series in Proverbs, we're going to read the words of Solomon to his son. And the thing that he stresses to his son is that if you desire wisdom, if you desire to grow in the Lord, if you desire to walk faithfully, then it's going to be a day of faith. It's going to have to take desire and effort." [00:48:02] (26 seconds)


"Proverbs 2, 1 through 8, he says, My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding. For if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord, the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." [00:48:29] (28 seconds)


"Because Solomon wants his son to know what we need to all understand. And that is that growth requires intentionality. I say it all the time. You do not wake up spiritually mature. You do not wake up dying and learning to die to your flesh just out of waking up and being like, I died to my flesh. It requires work. It requires effort. It requires intentionality." [00:51:45] (25 seconds)


"Therefore, spiritual growth begins with receiving and valuing the instructions of wisdom. Receiving and valuing and a very basic value, valuing, a very basic step. It's you got to treasure the word of God. At the very basic foundation, that means that I value what the word of God says. Then upon that foundation, I value what the messengers of God say. So that be my elders, my disciplers, my accountability partners. Then in addition to that, I then value the conviction of the Holy Spirit." [00:56:49] (32 seconds)


"The psalmist says that if you want to keep your way pure, if you want to honor God and not wander astray from his truth, if you want to live a life that is not full of sin or you want to live a life that turns from sin, then the psalmist says that the way to do that is you got to treasure. The word of God says that. The word of God in your heart." [01:00:53] (24 seconds)


"But when you ain't got nothing in here, every time the enemy tell you something, you just be gullible following after it because you don't even know that the word of God speaks against it. Some of us don't know more than the Ten Commandments. And so we just be like, well, it ain't on that list. So I'm good." [01:03:12] (19 seconds)


"And when you have a hunger, you are intentional. I didn't even have a car. I was calling for a ride. Hey, you pick me up. You going that way? Cool. I'm going to roll with you. Man, you got to be, hey, I'm going to all three services. If you come to church with me, you got to be up at seven because we got to be at the eight o'clock, sir. All right, bet. Look like I'm at church all day." [01:13:50] (15 seconds)


"If you want something, do it. Period. And when you work and put in effort to grow and not walk in ways that dishonors God, look at what Solomon promises. Verses three and five. For if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. Notice the promise." [01:14:52] (24 seconds)


"Some of us read the Bible. For a little, whatever time limit, close it and be like, God didn't speak. Now your whole, you don't even want to read no more. It don't matter that much no more. Well, go back and read again tomorrow. Some of us ask God for something on Monday, and he didn't give it to us on Monday. So now we'd be like, well, whatever. God don't want to get. Or you can pray again on Tuesday." [01:18:25] (26 seconds)


"Well, when you understand passages like Proverbs 16, you begin to see that paths and ways speak to conduct and character. The path of the righteous or the conduct of the righteous, right? Right? Right? Right? Right? The way speaks to conduct. And so what Solomon says is that these things will come from the Lord. He will be a shield to those who walk in integrity and he will guard our path and he will watch over our way. In other words, he will protect those who seek after him and desire to walk in righteousness." [01:38:55] (34 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
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