Seeking True Wisdom: Lessons from Proverbs and Beyond

Summary

### Summary

Tonight, we delved into the profound significance of wisdom, as highlighted in Proverbs 4:7, which states, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding." We explored the voice of wisdom and its paramount importance in our lives. The journey began with an acknowledgment of the invaluable contributions of our church members and the necessity of giving ourselves fully to God's work. We then examined the biblical account of Lucifer, who was created full of wisdom and beauty but fell from grace due to iniquity and pride. This narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of corrupted wisdom and the consequences of straying from God's commands.

We also reflected on the story of Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, yet fell into idolatry because he failed to regulate his passions and adhere to God's instructions. This underscores the need for a healthy fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. The sermon emphasized that true wisdom is characterized by humility, purity, peace, gentleness, and a willingness to be entreated. It is not self-glorifying or envious but seeks to build up and bring harmony.

The message concluded with a call to seek wisdom earnestly, to align ourselves with godly leadership, and to remain humble and broken before God. We were reminded that wisdom from above is pure and peaceable, and that we must guard against the corrupting influence of pride and self-reliance. The congregation was encouraged to pray for a spirit of wisdom and to support one another in this pursuit.

### Key Takeaways

1. The Danger of Corrupted Wisdom: Lucifer's fall from grace illustrates how wisdom can become corrupted through pride and self-reliance. Despite being created full of wisdom, his iniquity led him to rebel against God, resulting in his downfall. This serves as a warning that even the most gifted individuals can fall if they stray from God's commands and allow pride to corrupt their wisdom. [05:07]

2. The Importance of Humility: True wisdom is marked by humility and a healthy fear of the Lord. Solomon, despite his unparalleled wisdom, fell into idolatry because he lost his reverence for God and allowed his passions to lead him astray. Humility keeps us grounded and aligned with God's will, preventing the corruption of our wisdom. [17:36]

3. The Role of Godly Leadership: Aligning with godly leadership is crucial for receiving impartation and guidance. The story of the woman in the hospital highlights the importance of having a man of God in our lives who can intercede and provide spiritual direction. Disregarding or undermining spiritual authority can lead to spiritual peril. [47:37]

4. Characteristics of Godly Wisdom: James 3:17 describes godly wisdom as pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated. It is devoid of envy, strife, and hypocrisy. This wisdom brings harmony and righteousness, contrasting sharply with the corrupt wisdom that leads to division and chaos. We must strive to embody these qualities in our pursuit of wisdom. [56:59]

5. The Necessity of Seeking Wisdom: Wisdom does not come passively; it must be sought after diligently. We are encouraged to read, meditate, and study God's Word, seeking wisdom as one would search for precious treasures. This active pursuit ensures that we grow in understanding and remain aligned with God's will. [01:06:54]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[00:53] - Opening Prayer
[01:50] - Acknowledging Church Contributions
[02:40] - The Limitation of God's Will
[03:47] - The Importance of Wisdom
[05:07] - Lucifer's Fall and Corrupted Wisdom
[09:54] - The Consequences of Iniquity
[13:14] - The Impact of Corrupted Wisdom
[17:36] - Solomon's Downfall
[22:04] - Eve's Deception and Corrupted Wisdom
[26:10] - The Fear of the Lord
[31:55] - The Danger of Self-Reliance
[39:35] - The Importance of Godly Leadership
[47:37] - The Role of Spiritual Authority
[56:59] - Characteristics of Godly Wisdom
[01:06:54] - The Necessity of Seeking Wisdom
[01:10:39] - Closing Prayer and Call for Wisdom

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 4:7: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding."
2. Ezekiel 28:12-17: This passage describes Lucifer's fall from grace due to corrupted wisdom.
3. James 3:17: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."

### Observation Questions
1. What does Proverbs 4:7 emphasize about the importance of wisdom?
2. According to Ezekiel 28:12-17, what led to Lucifer's fall from grace? [05:07]
3. How does James 3:17 describe godly wisdom? What are its characteristics? [56:59]
4. What was the main reason for Solomon's downfall despite his wisdom? [17:36]

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is humility considered a crucial aspect of true wisdom according to the sermon? [16:55]
2. How does the story of Lucifer illustrate the dangers of pride and self-reliance in the context of wisdom? [11:39]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that aligning with godly leadership can protect us from spiritual peril? [47:37]
4. How can the characteristics of godly wisdom in James 3:17 be applied to our daily interactions and decisions? [56:59]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you relied on your own understanding rather than seeking godly wisdom. What was the outcome, and how could it have been different if you had sought wisdom from above? [14:51]
2. How can you cultivate humility in your pursuit of wisdom? Are there specific practices or attitudes you need to adopt or change? [16:55]
3. Think of a situation where you might have questioned or undermined spiritual authority. How can you realign yourself with godly leadership and support them in their role? [47:37]
4. Identify one characteristic of godly wisdom from James 3:17 that you struggle with. What steps can you take this week to embody that characteristic more fully? [56:59]
5. The sermon emphasized the necessity of seeking wisdom diligently. What specific actions can you take to actively pursue wisdom in your daily life? [01:06:54]
6. How can you guard against the corrupting influence of pride in your life? Are there specific areas where you need to be more vigilant? [11:39]
7. In what ways can you support and encourage others in your small group to seek and apply godly wisdom in their lives? [01:15:57]

Devotional

Day 1: The Danger of Corrupted Wisdom
Description: Lucifer's fall from grace serves as a stark reminder of how wisdom can become corrupted through pride and self-reliance. Despite being created full of wisdom and beauty, Lucifer's iniquity led him to rebel against God, resulting in his downfall. This narrative warns us that even the most gifted individuals can fall if they stray from God's commands and allow pride to corrupt their wisdom. It is a cautionary tale that underscores the importance of remaining humble and obedient to God's will. [05:07]

Ezekiel 28:17 (ESV): "Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you."

Reflection: Think of a time when pride led you to make a poor decision. How can you guard against pride and self-reliance in your pursuit of wisdom today?

Day 2: The Importance of Humility
Description: True wisdom is marked by humility and a healthy fear of the Lord. Solomon, despite his unparalleled wisdom, fell into idolatry because he lost his reverence for God and allowed his passions to lead him astray. This teaches us that humility keeps us grounded and aligned with God's will, preventing the corruption of our wisdom. We must always remember that our wisdom is a gift from God and should be used to honor Him, not ourselves. [17:36]

Proverbs 22:4 (ESV): "The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you struggle with humility. What steps can you take to cultivate a humble heart before God?

Day 3: The Role of Godly Leadership
Description: Aligning with godly leadership is crucial for receiving impartation and guidance. The story of the woman in the hospital highlights the importance of having a man of God in our lives who can intercede and provide spiritual direction. Disregarding or undermining spiritual authority can lead to spiritual peril. It is essential to recognize and respect the spiritual leaders God has placed in our lives, as they are there to guide us and help us grow in our faith. [47:37]

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV): "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with your spiritual leaders. How can you better support and honor them in their role?

Day 4: Characteristics of Godly Wisdom
Description: James 3:17 describes godly wisdom as pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated. It is devoid of envy, strife, and hypocrisy. This wisdom brings harmony and righteousness, contrasting sharply with the corrupt wisdom that leads to division and chaos. We must strive to embody these qualities in our pursuit of wisdom, ensuring that our actions and decisions reflect the character of God. [56:59]

James 3:17 (ESV): "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."

Reflection: Consider a recent conflict or disagreement you had. How can you apply the characteristics of godly wisdom to bring peace and resolution?

Day 5: The Necessity of Seeking Wisdom
Description: Wisdom does not come passively; it must be sought after diligently. We are encouraged to read, meditate, and study God's Word, seeking wisdom as one would search for precious treasures. This active pursuit ensures that we grow in understanding and remain aligned with God's will. It is a continuous journey that requires dedication and a sincere desire to know God more deeply. [01:06:54]

Proverbs 2:4-5 (ESV): "If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to actively seek wisdom? How can you incorporate these steps into your daily routine?

Quotes

1. "The Lord can do anything. But we've got to give ourselves to it. You know, God, God's limitation is us say, well, God's unlimited. No, he's it's limitations. You and I, because the will of God is thwarted all the time. You know, God, uh, God wants great things. He wants not that any should perish, but folks, few is going to be saved in the end. If you take Jesus words. And so you've got to understand that, that people. Thwart the will of God." [02:40] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You were perfect until iniquity was found in you. Amen. By the multitude of thy merchandise. They have filled the midst of thee with violence. And thou hast sinned. Therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God. And I will destroy thee O covering cherub. From the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty. Thou. Look at this. Thou hast corrupted thy wisdom. Your wisdom became corrupt." [11:39] (43 seconds) ( | | )

3. "You know what the devil didn't do? His brightness. His specialness. His uniqueness got in his way. And corrupted his wisdom. Boy, how many times have I seen people get corrupt wisdom? They start reasoning themselves. Reasoning themselves right. You know, right. You know, they're wrong. I'm right. Yeah. Yeah, I know. And the Lord spoke to And I know I'm right. Because God spoke to me." [31:55] (42 seconds) ( | | )

4. "If God ever uses you, he uses you to help somebody else. And a lot of times he uses us in spite of us to help other people. And if you want to glory in it and you want to corrupt your wisdom by reason of your brightness, you're not very wise. You know, there's something about brokenness. Brokenness, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." [29:50] (37 seconds) ( | | )

5. "You know, if God ever uses you, it's nothing for you to glory in. You know, if God ever uses you, he uses you to help somebody else. And a lot of times he uses us in spite of us to help other people. And if you want to glory in it and you want to corrupt your wisdom by reason of your brightness, you're not very wise. You know, there's something about brokenness. Brokenness, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." [29:50] (46 seconds) ( | | )

6. "You know, that's us. We're the seed. But the life can't get out of this seed until this seed is broken. And when this man is broken, the miracle comes outside of that seed. You know, that seed can be dead. They pulled seed out of the pyramids that is thousands of years old, planted them, and they sprung to life and grew. Think about that one. And consider that for a moment because the miracle is not you. It's not your flesh. It's not who you are. It's the spirit in you." [30:51] (50 seconds) ( | | )

7. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A lack of fear of God causes you to do it your own way. Now I know where a lot of you people came from. Cody, I don't know all your past but I know enough of it to know it wasn't all that great. And I don't want to be insulting to any of you because you're great people. But I know a lot of you's pasts. And let me just be honest. Some of you come out of the gutter. You came from the gutter most to the utter most." [26:10] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "God picked you up from the bottom and God has raised you up and set you in heavenly places in Christ and given you hope when you had none. Given you vision when you had none. Given you love when you thought it was all gone. Given you a reason to live. If I went through this congregation and we were real honest and how many of you people contemplated suicide or tried suicide or wanted suicide, it would be a lot of you. But God changed everything. God turned your whole life around. God put you on a new course and gave you a reason to live." [27:11] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "If you want wisdom listen to me. You got to go after it. You got to get this in you. You've got to get this in your heart. You've got to read it. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Study it. It can't just be what I pick up in Sunday school class. Or what I pick up from the preacher during church service. It's got to be something you dig out. You search for it as gold. You dig for it like diamonds. You dig for it in this like rubies. You go after it with all your getting. Search for it with all your heart. And God will give it to you." [01:06:54] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "You can't get out of alignment with your man of God. Because if you do, you'll never receive impartation. Let's praise God together right now. Give God glory. God we love you. God we give glory to you. We give honor to you. We give praise to you God. You're worthy. Come on stand up and give God some praise. Musicians can come. God you're a good God all the time. God we praise you. We thank you. We give you glory and honor God. Hallelujah." [01:09:30] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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Were there any personal stories shared?