[0:00] This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church in Alfred, Georgia. It is our prayer that you will be blessed by the preaching of God's Word. I'll just lay something off my heart that's on my heart to you guys.
[0:15] Every Sunday in the Children's Church we have a country of the week. And this week, the country of the week is Nepal. And Nepal's population, just so you know, quick fun facts, is about 28 million people.
[0:26] And of those 28 million people, only less than 0.4% of those people are proclaiming Christians.
[0:37] So out of 28 million, we're looking at 135,000 people, roughly. 135,000 people that proclaim to be a Christian.
[0:49] Am I about right? Is that right? 1% is about 270,000 people, right? And so half of 270 would be like 135,000, roughly, right? So we're looking at less than 130.
[1:01] So if you could do the math in your mind, Georgia is about 9 million people. So if we times that by 3, the population of Forsyth County would be believers, if you triple the times what Georgia is right now.
[1:16] And I guess, I don't know if you know this, but it's a monarch, and their religion there is Hinduism. I always just think about that when we taught those little kids up there.
[1:28] It's our responsibility to get those people the gospel. They said less than 60% of the people actually have electricity all the time. Less than 60%. So living conditions are poor.
[1:41] Spiritual conditions are poor. We need to send people there. So I hope you guys are praying. I hope you're praying for the countries of the week. I hope you're thinking about it throughout the week.
[1:51] I hope you really, I mean, get to know what the facts are. 135, I know that's not the country of the week for this week. Was it Suriname or something like that was the country of the week for downstairs? I'm talking about the little kids, okay?
[2:02] We've got our own country of the week. We do our own stuff upstairs, all right? We have toys. We have games. We have candy. We do our own stuff up there. So that was laying on my heart this week. I hope you guys think about that.
[2:12] I hope you think about the country of the week. But pray for it. Pray that God would send forth labors. And on the flip side, I got you all depressed now, okay? Let's get some happiness, all right? I just read that, I guess, Keith Shoemaker had an evangelistic outreach yesterday.
[2:25] And over 30 people got saved out of 300. And the Lord used them greatly. And God's doing the work. And I just praise God for that. So I'm just excited. I just want to charge you, encourage you to pray for your country.
[2:37] Pray for the countries of the world. Ask God to bring forth more labors. And let us use us. I want to be a part. You know what I mean? I don't want God to look at my life and see that I went after stuff, material stuff.
[2:52] I want Him to see that I went after what He wanted. And that's what we're going to talk about a little bit here in Wisdom. But if you would, take with me and turn to Proverbs chapter 8. Well, we're out of Proverbs 7.
[3:06] Praise the Lord, okay? We talked about the strange woman for the last couple weeks. And this day, we're talking about another woman. We're talking about wisdom. And a commentator points out seven areas of contrast between the lady of wisdom and between this strange woman.
[3:22] See, the strange woman, she calls for young men, as you guys remember in Brother Gardner's preach. In Proverbs chapter 7, verse 9, in twilight and in the evening and in the black and the dark of the night, she calls out for this man.
[3:35] She calls out for this young boy. But wisdom, in Proverbs chapter 8, verses 1, she stands out in the middle of the street. And she starts crying out, begging for the simple, begging for the fool to listen to her.
[3:49] What a contrast. The strange woman, she's out there in secret. She's out there, she's in the streets, but she stands by the corner. She stands by the darkness. She's hiding. She's not wanting to be out there in the open, but she's trying to find and zone in on that simple one, that naive guy.
[4:02] But wisdom cries out to everyone. That's what our Lord does. He cries out to everyone. The strange woman is sexually loose, but wisdom is holy in Proverbs 8.8.
[4:15] The strange woman is an unreliable liar. She uses her words to lure the dumb boy into her room. She uses her words to tell him that everything's going to be alright.
[4:27] She uses her words to entice him. That's what he says in Proverbs chapter 5. Yeah, but wisdom, when wisdom speaks, it's truth. When wisdom speaks, it's faithful.
[4:39] In Proverbs chapter 8, verse 7, he says, For my mouth shall speak the truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. And all the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
[4:50] There is nothing froward or perverse in them. So I've got a question for you guys, real quick. What does froward mean? Do you want to give a stab at that? What does froward mean? The word froward.
[5:02] Anybody want to try? Go for it, Chris. Okay. Okay. Anyone else want to give? That's close. We're giving out. You got 500 points.
[5:13] What? Twisted. That's exactly it. It's twisted. It means she's playing tricks on you. She's being deceptive. She's trying to get you to struggle with something. And so when this woman speaks froward, that's what the strange woman does.
[5:28] But wisdom speaks truth. There is no frowardness. What does perverse mean? Will has a sense that it's the same thing as froward. It's twisted or false. Someone that changes something from its natural use.
[5:40] That's why we call a person a pervert. Because he's done something that's not natural. He changes something from the natural use. And truth says, or wisdom says, there is no perversion in my mouth.
[5:51] There is no frowardness in my mouth. I don't try to trick you. I don't try to be deceptive. I don't tell you one thing and do another thing. I don't twist the truth. What I tell you is it's truth. It's truth.
[6:02] That's what wisdom does. It speaks righteousness and truth. The strange woman, she gives her body, but she doesn't give herself. Wisdom says, I offer you true love.
[6:13] In Proverbs 8, verse 17, the Bible says this. He says, I love them that love me. And those that seek me early shall find me. The strange woman, she offers fleeting pleasures.
[6:24] But wisdom provides a remaining and enduring gift. In Proverbs 8, verse 18, wisdom, she cries out and she says this. He says, riches and honors are with me.
[6:35] Yea, durable riches. Durable riches and righteousness. Something that endures sticks with wisdom. The strange woman offers a night of satisfaction.
[6:48] The strange woman offers something that's just pleasurable for a moment. But what wisdom has to offer is something that endures. Something that's, what she says, she'll fill our treasures.
[6:59] Adulterous. Adulterous. The selfish, the strange woman is selfish. Giving only to get wisdom, delights to give and serve.
[7:11] Guess where the strange woman leads you. Do you have your Bible? Who wants to read it? Proverbs 7, 27. Where does the strange woman lead us? You want to read it?
[7:22] Perhaps we have failed, going down from the chamber to death. What is, where, what does wisdom lead us? Someone gets Proverbs 8, 35 and someone gets Proverbs 3, 18.
[7:34] What does the strange woman lead us? Proverbs 3, 18. Proverbs 3, 18. Proverbs 3, 18. Proverbs 3, 18. Wisdom offers you life. Strange woman offers you hell.
[7:47] Today, we're going to discuss about wisdom. And what she comes to speak about. If we start, let's start our Bibles. Just turn with me real quick. The Proverbs chapter 8, verses 1. And we'll read down to verse 5.
[7:59] We're going to go through this entire chapter. We're going to figure out what wisdom is calling for. Right now, wisdom's calling. And in Proverbs chapter 8, verse 1, it says, Doth not wisdom cry? And understanding put forth her voice?
[8:13] She standeth on top of high places, by the way, and the places of the path. And she crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the door.
[8:24] Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O ye simple, understand wisdom, and ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
[8:35] Let's pray. Heavenly Father, as I come to you in prayer, Lord, I ask that you would just clear my mind. Lord, I ask that you would just communicate this truth, Lord, that wisdom is calling out to us, Lord. If we're going to obey, we need to make a decision right now, Lord.
[8:47] I thank you for what you've done in my life through this text. And Lord, I ask that you just impress on the lives of these other men, Lord, that wisdom is crying out. She's calling us to do what's right. She's calling us to follow Jesus.
[8:58] And Lord, help us to do that now more than ever. And we'll give you all the praise in Jesus' name. Amen. I want you guys to notice wisdom is making a plea. And I want to ask you some questions. The first question I want to ask you is, is this wisdom's first plea?
[9:11] Is this the first time in Proverbs that wisdom is making a plea to this man? This is a simple question. Is this wisdom's first time she's making a plea to this man? No?
[9:22] When else did she say it? Do you guys remember? If you've got your Bibles, turn to Proverbs chapter 1, verse 20. And whoever gets there first, you guys can read it. Keep on going down to verse 22.
[9:47] So, sorry, sorry. That's good right there. Hate knowledge. Okay. So, is this the first time that wisdom is crying out in this book? No. No, we would say no. No. Now, the question is in Proverbs chapter 8 is, who is she crying to?
[10:00] Who is she crying to? If you guys take your Bibles, go back to, flip back to 8 verses 4. Who is she crying to? To men. Okay. Okay, that's good. To all men. Isn't that what she said?
[10:10] Unto, I call, I call, oh men. Yes, in my voice. Unto all. Unto you. Now, another question is, is who does she direct, who does she speak directly to in this passage?
[10:23] The simple ones and the who else? And the fools. Now, is this like a, what's the difference between Proverbs chapter 8 and Proverbs chapter 1? Who does she speak to directly in Proverbs chapter 1?
[10:35] And who does she speak to directly in Proverbs chapter 8? Okay. And who else? Yeah.
[10:49] One versus, what is that? Is it, did they mention the scorners anywhere in Proverbs chapter 8? Hmm. Take note, I want you guys to take note of that.
[11:01] The simple and the fools, but not to the scorners. The scorners laughed at her message and turned away from the truth so their opportunities were over. Not because God wasn't speaking, but because their hearts were too hard.
[11:16] There's something we've got to learn. The more we, I mean, there's a time when, if you look through the Bible and you look at Pharaoh and how he mocked and he scorned and he made fun of God and how he would hear it and he wouldn't heed to it.
[11:28] He was a scorner. There's a time where God will stop talking. Hebrews chapter 4, he says this in Hebrews chapter 4, verse 7. He says, again, he limited to a certain day saying to David, today, after so long a time, and as it is said, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart.
[11:48] There's a, there's a, there's a, we have to realize in our spiritual lives that we have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit tells us to do something, when we read through scripture and we find that God's talking to us, that we need to be sensitive.
[12:00] We don't need to harden our heart. And in Proverbs chapter 1, the scorner probably hardened his heart. He heard what the, he heard what wisdom was crying out, but yet he hardened his heart. He said, I'm going to mock, I'm not, he didn't say I'm going to mock it.
[12:12] He mocked it. And he says, I'm not going to obey it. I'm not going to heed to it. That's, that's for a bunch of fools. That's for a bunch of lunatics. And he didn't listen to it. And in Proverbs chapter 8, he's not, he's not spoke to.
[12:22] But yet the fools and the simple ones are. In Hebrews chapter 12, verse 25, he says, see that you refuse not him that speaketh. So today I'm going to give you a couple things. We're going to talk about what, what is wisdom crying out?
[12:36] Wisdom is calling. Wisdom is making a call today. And what is she calling? Well, in verse 6, I want you guys to read this. And we'll read down to verse 9. He says this. He says, here, for I will speak of excellent things.
[12:47] And open my lips, and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. For all the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
[13:00] There is nothing forward or perverse in them. They are plain to him that understandeth, and to the right that findeth knowledge. The first thing I want you guys to realize is that wisdom is calling out.
[13:10] It's crying out. She's saying, trust me. Trust me. She says in verse 6, she says, she will speak of excellent things. Verse 6. Hear.
[13:21] Hear. Listen to me. For I will speak excellent things. What does excellent word, excellent mean? Excellent is a word that's often translated to, to, to, translated to captain or ruler in the Old Testament.
[13:32] It means something worthy. It means noble or princely. And since God's message is the word, it's the king. And he indeed is noble and princely.
[13:43] So wisdom's crying out. She's saying, trust me. What I have to tell you is something excellent. What I have something to tell you is something noble, something princely. Trust me. Listen to me.
[13:53] Listen to me. Listen to my words. These things that, these things that I have to say, are not what you will hear in the bar. These things that I have to say is not what you'll hear in the break room. These things I have to say is not what you're going to hear at work.
[14:06] It's not what you're going to hear in the locker room. It's not what you're going to hear in the gym. These are excellent things. These are things that princes and nobles and kings speak of. And she's crying out and she's saying, trust me.
[14:18] Trust me. She also speaks the right things. The Bible says that an opening my lips shall be right things. And she speaketh truth. She says, for my mouth shall speak truth.
[14:31] And she speaks words of righteousness. All the words in my mouth are righteousness. She's using reasoning right now to persuade the simple and the fool because their current path will not only lead them to destruction and to heartache and to more problems.
[14:46] There's a problem right now in this day and age. And if you were just to sit down and you were to talk to people and see what their problems were, you would realize that they're listening to the wrong thing. There's many things.
[14:58] There are many voices out there that are speaking right now. But the problem is not, are you listening? It's just, which one are you listening to? And wisdom cries out. She says, trust me.
[15:09] I have the words of truth. I have the excellent things. I have the right. I have the straight path. I have the righteous. Only righteousness are in my mouth. There's no lie. There's no perversion. There's no forwardness in my mouth.
[15:20] I have the right things. Please trust me. If you were to look at people today and you see their problems and you see, why do you do such and such? Well, I feel this way. What is that person listening to?
[15:33] He's listening to his feelings. Well, this person says, well, I just thought in my own mind. What are you listening to? Your own reasoning? Or the person says, I just followed my heart.
[15:46] Isn't that what we hear? I mean, from a little child. And I watch, I don't watch, I do watch Disney movies, okay? I've got two daughters. I apologize. It's just confession time. That's why I watched it, yeah.
[15:59] But when I watch that, all I hear time and time again is these little princesses and these little queens saying, follow your heart. Follow your heart. But what do we know about our heart?
[16:10] It's wicked. Above all things, don't follow your heart. Don't follow your heart. Let's use our reasoning. Let's think this one through. Well, reasoning shows, proves that.
[16:21] I mean, how could God create this world in six literal days? Reasoning's against that. And wisdom's crying out in the streets and she's saying, trust me. Don't you realize what I have?
[16:34] Hear me, young man. Hear me, simple. Hear me, fools. I have the excellent things. I have the high things. I have things from a God. I have the straight things. I have the right things. I have truth.
[16:45] I have wisdom. I have wisdom. I am wisdom. Listen to me. In a day and age where, if you just look at everywhere, our problems is, is we're not listening to the right one.
[16:59] We're not listening to wisdom. And the only way that we'll ever find truth is in this, is we get to God's Word. It's the only way that we can be sure that we're in the family of God is by reading His Word.
[17:14] It's the only way that we can know that God, that we know that there is a God, is by listening and trusting God's Word. I was listening to the radio yesterday.
[17:26] There was a commercial came on. I don't know if you, I don't want to name names, but the guy was using, he says, let me show you, let me convince you by just logic that Jesus rose again.
[17:39] Is that what Jesus said? Is that what Abraham said to the man down in the pit of hell? The rich man? Did Abraham say, you're right, we need to send Lazarus back because he'll listen to somebody who's come back from the dead.
[17:54] No, what did Abraham say? He said he had the prophets and he had Moses. And if he's not listening to them, he's not going to listen to anything else. If that can't change him, reasoning won't, experience won't, feelings won't, your heart won't, this word changes and nothing alone.
[18:12] We need to hear wisdom. We need to listen to wisdom because she's crying out, trust me. And that's the only thing we can trust in.
[18:23] There are millions of voices out there speaking and wanting to speak into your life. And I believe the problem today is that we're not, it's not that are you listening, but rather who you're listening to, who are you trusting?
[18:37] That's why the Apostle Paul in Colossians chapter 2, when he says, man, I have a great conflict, I have great battle, I have great turmoil, I got a great struggle going on for you guys.
[18:47] And I haven't even seen you, I haven't even seen you in the face. Colossians chapter 2 verses 1. He says, but my prayer for you is this, is that you would, that you would, your hearts would be comforted, that your hearts, that your hearts would be strengthened, that your hearts would be, would be guarded.
[19:00] What does that mean? Is that they would get in truth. That they would be able to discern false lies, vain, what does he say, he says, philosophy, vain, vain traditions.
[19:17] That you'd be able to discern between that. That you would comfort your heart and you would strengthen your heart. And the truth will lie in your heart. That's what we need today. We need to listen to wisdom and realize what she's speaking is truth.
[19:30] There are many sources out there trying to get our attention and your heart's focused. But which one are you listening to? Like I said, you can't listen to your heart, you can't listen to your feelings, you can't even set up your own reasoning as a source to listen to.
[19:44] But all these will fail you and lead you into a trap. They will lead you astray. You need to listen to truth. And wisdom cries out and she says, I am truth. I am truth.
[19:58] Wisdom cries out and she says, you can trust me. I speak excellent things. Noble things. My words that I talk about are the straight way.
[20:09] My words speak of truth. My words are in righteousness. They are words of God's, what I have to say. And you're going to listen to them and trust wisdom. That's the question. Are you going to listen to them?
[20:21] Are you going to trust wisdom? That's the first thing is wisdom cries out and she asks for you to trust her. And the second thing is, if you look in verse 10, wisdom cries out and she says this.
[20:35] She says, I will show you what true wealth is. Receive my instruction, verse 10. Receive my instruction and not silver. And knowledge rather than choice gold.
[20:48] For wisdom is far better than rubies. And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. You get what she's saying right there?
[21:02] She's saying, you seek after me. You receive my instruction rather than receiving silver. You go after my knowledge rather than the choice gold. Anything that you could desire, what I have, can't even compare to it.
[21:16] True wealth is found in wisdom. I wisdom, she says in verse 12, dwell with prudence. And to find out knowledge of witty inventions.
[21:31] The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Pride and arrogancy and the evil way. The froward mouth do I hate. Counsel is mine of sound wisdom. I am understanding. I have strength.
[21:44] By me, kings reign. And princes decree justice. By me, princes rule. And nobles. And even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me.
[21:57] And those that seek me shall find me early. Listen to what she says. Riches and honor are with me. Yea, durable.
[22:08] Enduring riches and righteousness. That's who's with wisdom. My fruit is better than gold. Yea, then fine gold. And my revenue, then choice silver.
[22:21] Listen to what she says. I lead in the way of righteousness. In what? In the midst of what? The paths of judgment.
[22:32] That I might cause those that love me to inherit substance. And I will fill their treasures. I want you guys to know this passage is not dealing with how the world views wealth.
[22:47] But rather what true riches are. This is like the Old Testament equivalent of Matthew 6.33. Remember when Jesus is talking and he says, take no thought of what you shall eat or what you shall drink or what you're going to clothe your body.
[23:03] Because that's what the Gentiles do. Look at the birds. Look at the lilies of the valley. Solomon couldn't array himself in such beauties. But what God's done.
[23:14] He says this. He says, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And he's going to add you all this other stuff. What was he saying there? True riches is found in seeking after Christ.
[23:28] That's all we need to seek after. Because we find that all wisdom is hid in Christ. That's what he says in Colossians 2.3. But what he's saying is to seek after, find what true riches are.
[23:43] And you know what? I have a tendency to fall on this prosperity theology. That my worldly goods show God's favor and love for me. If I'm doing good and my bank account's going well, and I've got a lot of money in the bank, and everything seems to go well, I've got a full kitchen, the food, no worries, man, God's good to me, God's loved me, He's shown His favor on me.
[24:10] But you let that time when I blow out a tire and there's no money in the bank account, and the baby needs to go to the doctor, and mom is sick, and everyone else, you think, God, why'd you do this to me? Don't we fall into that type of theology?
[24:23] It's a mindset that wealth is a sign of God's blessing while poverty and trouble are evidence that you are out of God's favor, or you had less of God's favor. Wisdom says, what I have to offer is far better than any of the material stuff that the world can offer you.
[24:40] Receive my instruction and my silver. Acknowledge, rather, the choice gold, for wisdom is better than rubies, and all that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
[24:54] This mindset, if we have wealth and health, then God has favor, or if I have troubles and poverty, then I don't have God's favor, is the same mindset that Job's friends fell into.
[25:06] You guys remember when Job's friend came by and they came to encourage him? By the end of it, they're saying, Job, you're such a great sinner. If you weren't such a great sinner, then you wouldn't be suffering as much.
[25:21] But the reality is, what was going on in Job's heart? God was allowing a trial in Job's life to make him more like himself.
[25:32] God was allowing different problems, different trials, different temptations, different trials to mold him to be more like him. So, when we go through trials, this is a little side note, glory in our trials, rejoice in our tribulation, count it all joy, knowing this is the trying of your faith, work with patience.
[25:57] And what happens when patience completes your work? You're perfect. You're mature. You're more like him. Wisdom cries out, she says, come and see my true wealth.
[26:10] She's crying, she says, I have the true wealth. The world has to offer you anything you can desire can't be compared to what I have. Are you going to listen?
[26:23] What wisdom has to offer, it's enduring. It will last. Not only that, but it says this, where does it say, in verse chapter, chapter 8, she says in verse 20, she says, I will lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of paths of judgment.
[26:44] What does that mean? What does that mean? It means when you're in righteousness, that road goes through judgment, nothing's going to happen to you.
[26:59] You're not going to be hurt. You're not going to be condemned. Don't you realize that if we're born again, we have the righteousness of Christ? There is now, therefore, no condemnation who are in Christ Jesus.
[27:11] Praise God. what greater riches is there to a man than that? Knowing that this light, this small, small, limited amount of time is not it.
[27:25] So when judgment comes, you know what? You'll be passed over. You can go through judgment because you have righteousness. You have the true righteousness of God. What's going to stop you? That's true riches. Wisdom cries out in the marketplace.
[27:37] She cries out in the road. She cries out in the corner. And she's saying, listen to me. Trust me. I have true riches. Come after me. Come after me.
[27:48] Don't go after the world. What they have is unfulfilling. What they have is just only condemnation and judgment. But I have righteousness. I have stuff that you can't even compare with.
[28:00] Wisdom is calling. Are you listening? Do you see and do you know deep down in your heart that you have real wealth if you're born again? If you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and you're saved, do you realize what you have?
[28:18] Or are you listening to the world as it's pulling you away to their desires? So many times. It's hard here in America. Especially when you look at your neighbor and you see that they got this, they got that.
[28:33] You drive down the road and you say, God, what in the world? Why is the wicked being blessed? That's our prosperity theology. But we realize, what we need to realize is that we have the true wealth.
[28:50] We have the mind of Christ in us. We have God's Word. We have true riches. Christ lives in us. And that's the hope of all glory.
[29:02] Could you imagine that? That God decided to pull up and make residence inside you. Do you realize what that means? No trial. No tribulation. No money.
[29:13] No health. Now you can have the best health and live to 150 years old. It could be worth what wisdom has to offer. The question is, are you listening to her? Are you listening?
[29:25] Are you listening to wisdom? The third thing that wisdom cries, she's crying out because she's been here before the beginning.
[29:38] In verse 22, she says, the Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from the everlasting, from the beginning, wherever the earth was.
[29:52] When there were no depths, I was brought forth. When there was no fountains abounding in the water, before the mountains were settled, before the hills were, was I brought forth.
[30:03] While as yet, had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there. When He set the compass upon the face of the depth, when He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the fountains of the deep, when He gave the sea His decree, the waters should not pass His commandment.
[30:24] When He appointed the foundations of the earth, then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him. And I was daily, daily, His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth.
[30:41] My delights, are with the sons of men. Who possessed wisdom in the beginning? The Lord? When was wisdom possessed?
[30:53] It was possessed in the beginning. Why is she informing us how long she's been around? Why should we even care? Let's read verse 30 again. Then I was by Him at the beginning, as one brought up with Him.
[31:08] And I was daily His delight. She had been with Him since the beginning. And she knows what He delights in.
[31:21] She knows how we can please Him. He delights in wisdom. That's what the Father delights in. He delights in wisdom. And she's saying, listen guys, I've been there since the beginning.
[31:36] I know how this works. I've seen it all. And I know what He wants. So would you listen to me? Would you listen to me when I cry out?
[31:48] Would you listen to me? Would you wake up a little bit early in the morning and seek me? Would you listen to me? I know what He wants. When a new training center student comes, I'm not trying to put myself up with wisdom.
[32:06] I hope you guys realize that. When a new training center student comes, I try to give them a little bit of wisdom. I try to tell them what to do and what not to do.
[32:19] Because I have a little bit of experience. I've done a lot of bit of the stuff you probably shouldn't do. I've been around other people that have done the stuff that you, I know you shouldn't have done. Mark Coffey?
[32:30] No, I'm just picking. So I try to tell them. I've been there in the beginning. I know what Pastor Gardner delights in. I know what you need to do if you want to succeed.
[32:44] That's what I, I mean, I'm not trying to put myself in a pedestal. That's what I try to do with some of the students. That's what wisdom's doing here. He said, I've been around. I've seen the mistakes.
[32:55] I know what he delights in. Won't you come follow me? Let me show you some pointers. Won't you seek after me?
[33:07] And where is all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge hidden? It's found in Christ. So who do we seek after? We seek after Christ.
[33:20] He says in Colossians chapter 2 verses 2 and 3, he says, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
[33:35] I wonder why Paul said that his number one goal in life was not that he had more churches, not that he gave more money, not that he preached more times, but that his goal, his mark, that he pressed towards was what?
[33:50] That I may know him. That I may know Jesus. Because Paul found the mother load of all gold resources, the mine of it all.
[34:03] as I seek after him and I put him first daily and I set my heart and my affections on him, man, that's where true riches are.
[34:14] That's where he delights in. That's what, that's what truth is. That's what wisdom's crying out. Wisdom cries out.
[34:25] Trust me, wisdom cries out. I know the true riches. Wisdom cries out. I've been here since the beginning. Wisdom also cries out. She says this. She says, it's decision time.
[34:39] It's decision time. Verse 32. Now therefore, hearken unto me, O ye children, for blessed are they that keep my ways.
[34:52] Hear instruction and be wise and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my gates, waiting at my post of my door.
[35:05] For whosoever findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favor of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul.
[35:20] All they that hate me loveth death. Here it is, guys. The choice is left up to you. This is a salvation call.
[35:31] This is a call to put Christ first. Wisdom has declared that God's truth. Wisdom has declared God's truth. She has shown you what she has to offer.
[35:42] And she has shown you her credentials to prove it. Now it's decision time. Now therefore, hearken unto me. It's impossible to be neutral on this.
[35:55] You have to decide will you listen to wisdom and trust or not. The question I ask you today is wisdom is crying out.
[36:07] Are you listening? Are you seeking? Are you trusting? Not in your head but in your heart? Does it show forth in your life?
[36:21] People see, man, that guy really does seek after God. He loves God more than anything else in his life. You can tell by any part of his life. Wisdom's crying out.
[36:33] Are you listening? Heavenly Father, as we come to you in prayer, Lord, thank you for this text. Thank you for what your word says, Lord.
[36:44] Lord, I ask that you would just touch our hearts, Lord. If a man here is not saved, Lord, I ask that you would save him. If someone's backslidden and he's drifting afar and he's not really seeking after wisdom, Lord, I ask that you would just renew his mind and his heart and help him to guard his heart with truth that your way is the best, that your way provides life, that your way there is true riches, Lord, and help him to seek you early, help him to seek you daily, help him to love you with all his mind, his heart, and his soul.
[37:22] I'll give you all the praise. For it's in your son's name. Amen. This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church in Alfredo, Georgia. For more information, log on to www.visionbaptist.com where you can find our service times, location, contact information, and more audio and video recordings.