Sermon Tone Analysis

Songs of Worship:

I Surrender All - Newsboys

All The Way - Newsboys

All Hail The Power of Jesus Name - Newsboys

The Perfect Wisdom of Our God - Keith & Krystin Getty

Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus) - Chris Rice

Be Thou My Vision - 4Him

Call To Worship Scripture:

Sermon Scripture:

WISDOM

Wisdom in its most general sense is:

“The right use or exercise of knowledge” - websters 1828

In a purely secular sense it is a process of

obtaining information (study)

Experiencing the information obtained (knowledge)

Understanding gained by acquiring and weighing what you have experienced

Seeking to obtain, experience and understand more

Rightly apply what you have obtained - WISDOM

However Christians we cannot stop their, apply that definition and acctually come to true wisdom.

In our Bible study this week we found:

True, godly, wisdom is the treasure to be sought - not an earthly object which wisdom is usually sought to obtain.

There are two forms of wisdom, one is from God and godly and the other is from the carnal, selfish desires of man and is demonic.

Such wisdom as the later is proven to be vain and foolish time and time again in scripture.

(James 3:13-18)

As such the general or secular definition of wisdom is not…cannot be the same as godly wisdom - at least not in a complete sense.

So if you thought what I began with was wisdom and what you are looking for is true and godly wisdom then I would tell you that the first 5 points are incomplete at best.

As the definition illustrates - wisdom does not opporate from knowingly incomplete knowledge or information.

Thus we must seek further.

Further: Anyone who should desire it, who should seek it, can obtain godly wisdom - for it is God who generously gives it.

Now in summary, since we covered this Wed.

and will cover it more in May’s Bible Study, let me give you two distinctions between godly and demonic wisdom.

Origin - While demonic wisdom simply begins with the gathering of information, godly wisdom begins with the acknowledgement that all knowledge begins with God.

Thus demonic and godly wisdom seek different things from the very starting point.

When one is seeking godly wisdom then the source, the focal point the alpha and omega - beginning and end of their research, of their seeking is God.

On the other hand wisdom of a demonic nature is often sought everywhere but God.

It is often used to show ones ability to stand apart from God or anyone else.

Wisdom that is not of God seeks to establish oneself in oneself and set oneself apart from all others in the preservation of self.

Godly wisdom is just the opposite, it seeks to know how one is established in God and apply life and life choices from that viewpoint.

Purpose - The purpose is also opposite.

In simple terms, demonic wisdom is done from selfish ambition while godly wisdom is sought to know God or from a humble position.

Think of Satan in the fall.

Satan sought to use his position, his knowledge, his ability to establish himself apart from and as greater than God in order to establish his own kingdom and position.

Though God had created him with great position, Satan was not content.

This is the type of “wisdom” that is often exercised in the world.

Often one does not seek to know God to be a part of what God is doing and to be faithful in what God is calling them to, but rather one often seeks to establish self and have others and God be a part of that.

The purpose of Godly wisdom is to know God, be empowered by God to faithfully serve God and rightly worship God in Spirit and Truth.

The wisest thing that was done by Solomon, the thing which brought God the most pleasure was when with a humble spirit, trusting in the word of God, Solomon asked to be empowered by God to walk and operate according to His word.

This was wisdom and this was the wisdom which God joyfully granted.

The most tragic part of Solomon was when he began to establish himself.

His knowledge was used in way contrary to God and his wisdom or all that was gained by it proved to be vanity.

This gives us a third distinction between godly and demonic wisdom, and that is the -

3. Fruits - Godly wisdom is humble of heart and bears the fruits which are that of the Spirit of God.

Fruits such as peace, joy, contentment… While demonic wisdom proves haughty and becomes an overwhelming weight of consumption, vanity and paranoia.

How do we see this with Israel?

We see the blessing of God’s people when they remember their origin in God and their purpose in God.

As such the remember His Word, His statutes, His commands and obey.

In that the people of God are established, blessed and know life and peace.

However when they forget God and seek protection and establishment for themselves we see them embark in idolatry, fall into captivity and become plagued with termoile and death.

WORSHIP

These things are spelled out by God in Solomons dedication of the temple.

It is here that we read perhaps one of the most well known bible passages:

2 Chronicles 7:11-

Wisdom is connected to knowledge, knowledge is connected to fear of the Lord and all of these things are connected to worship - and remember worship is connected to obedience and obedience to love and the love of God is the first and greatest commandment.

So when God tells Solomon and the nation of Israel to humble themselves and seek the Lord and know the healing of the Lord, it is saying in essense:

LIFE -IN GOD-

Now here is where some things can get lost.

We often read and relate it to a nation (as we should in regards to it’s original context).

But then we take and say that the application is to a current nation such as America.

Then we read a passage like and relate it to the individual and thus we never see the connection.

Remember the theme of Chronicles is the worship of God’s people.

It is the building of the Temple and the presence of God amoungst His people and how His people are to live with Him in their midst.

Get this:

God’s chosen people

God’s temple of dwelling amongst His people

God’s people dwelling with God/ abiding in Him

Ephesians 1:3

Dear Christian, you have been chosen by God.

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood.

Dear Christian, you have been chosen by God.

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood.

2 Chronicles 7:16

You are God’s temple - you are His dwelling place.

Thus He is you provision, protection and abiding.

And did you hear the demonic force that is used to deceive you and pull you away?

It is the same as with Israel.

It is the wisdom of the world!

-23

You need to hear this message and we need to spread this word to our neighbors.

For a Corinthian people need to be reminded that God dwells amount them.

A Corinthian people seek what is lawful and seek to use all that is lawful to promote themselves while oppressing as a church or people of God.

But this is worldly wisdom and not of God, this is the way to a carnal sinning church and christian people, not the pathway to a set apart holy people.

-23

Whenever our pursuit becomes selfish then sins of all kind come in, even sins against ones own body - that is - sins agains the temple of God.

Thus it is written:

1 Corinthians 6:

You are to glorify God in how you live.

John

You are to abide in Christ and live

You are to live in godliness, set apart as His own people.

That is how you live in the presence of God.

Yet, the blessing of God amoungst His people was not upon there perfect stature of life but rather upon their seeking of Him.

It is built upon a people who are walking as though covering their ears to God, a people who are doing the exact opposite of what God has called them to and yet he is there saying - listen - turn - obey.