WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.759 Amen. Good morning. I won't introduce myself because I know all of you. 00:00:10.300 --> 00:00:16.160 It's good to be back with you again. Good to see so many of you after so long. 00:00:16.940 --> 00:00:22.800 Thanks for your commitment to this community and so many of you who have tuned in from afar and 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:28.320 so many of you who have stepped up and served in new ways and continued serving in old ways. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:34.560 We just praise God for the way he's held us together as one community following Jesus together. 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:39.359 This morning we're going to continue in the book of Proverbs. 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:42.240 If you've been with us, you know we started that a few weeks ago. 00:00:42.380 --> 00:00:44.679 The book of Proverbs is a book about wisdom. 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:48.579 Wisdom is skill and the art of living. 00:00:48.700 --> 00:00:54.079 It's how we navigate the path that God's given us in this life and it's how we stay on the path. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:58.619 The beginning of wisdom, its very start, its foundation is the fear of the Lord, 00:00:58.739 --> 00:01:03.979 which I've been telling you from one man is an attitude of submission, respect, dependence, and worship. 00:01:05.099 --> 00:01:12.060 And as it begins with the fear of the Lord, it continues with a characteristic of humility and teachability. 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:17.039 We start with the fear of the Lord, but if we want to grow in wisdom, we want to continue in wisdom. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.300 We have to be people who are humble, who are willing to learn. 00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:24.300 Now, if there's anything we've learned over the last few months, 00:01:24.460 --> 00:01:32.719 certainly that the foundations, the things that we rested on in this world are perhaps a little less secure than we thought they were. 00:01:33.540 --> 00:01:38.700 The world's maybe a little more fragile than we would have admitted last year or realized. 00:01:38.700 --> 00:01:47.939 And sometimes there's disasters that come and some people run towards those disasters and some people run away from them. 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:55.260 If we had known in 2019 what was going to happen in 2020, maybe we would have done certain things differently. 00:01:55.400 --> 00:01:58.159 Maybe we would have prepared in a certain way. 00:01:59.240 --> 00:02:01.680 Of course, that's true of many aspects in life. 00:02:01.800 --> 00:02:05.600 There's a preparation for what's to come. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:10.079 There's a mitigation of preparing for what might happen in terms of disaster. 00:02:10.299 --> 00:02:14.979 And that's what the author of Proverbs is going to tell us about this week. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:20.519 We're going to look at how do we prepare for what's to come in this life. 00:02:22.280 --> 00:02:27.259 How can we be ready when disaster comes? 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.439 We're going to hear about a storm. 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:36.240 So our question is, how do we survive? 00:02:37.579 --> 00:02:39.639 How do we prepare for the storm that's to come? 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:43.400 It's with that that we're going to turn to Proverbs 1, verse 20. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:47.460 I invite you to turn there with me in your Bibles or in your worship guide or your phone. 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:51.819 And as we come to Proverbs 1, remember that this is God's word. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:57.439 In Proverbs 30, verse 5 tells us that every word of God proves true. 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:01.659 He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:06.139 And so that's why we read now in chapter 1, starting at verse 20. 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:09.400 Wisdom cries aloud in the street. 00:03:10.379 --> 00:03:12.659 In the markets, she raises her voice. 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:16.199 At the head of the noisy streets, she cries out. 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:19.419 At the entrance of the city gates, she speaks. 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:23.360 How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:28.159 How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:29.780 Verse 23. 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:34.319 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you. 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:36.900 I will make my words known to you. 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:40.280 Because I have called and you refused to listen, 00:03:41.020 --> 00:03:43.420 have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:47.379 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 00:03:47.860 --> 00:03:50.139 I also will laugh at your calamity. 00:03:50.139 --> 00:03:52.979 I will mock when terror strikes you, 00:03:53.339 --> 00:03:57.719 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:00.759 when distress and anguish come upon you. 00:04:01.959 --> 00:04:04.879 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer. 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:09.479 They will seek me diligently, but will not find me. 00:04:10.359 --> 00:04:11.119 Verse 29. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:15.620 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:20.040 and would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 00:04:20.899 --> 00:04:23.120 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their ways 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.379 and have their fill of their own devices. 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:28.579 For the simple are killed by their turning away 00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:31.500 and the complacency of fools destroys them. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:34.899 But whoever listens to me will dwell secure 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:39.639 and will be at ease without dread of disaster. 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:45.019 Father, I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:50.199 Our Father in heaven, we thank you 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:53.159 that you don't leave us alone, 00:04:53.300 --> 00:04:55.439 but instead you speak to us by your word. 00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:57.819 You, like a good Father, warn us 00:04:57.819 --> 00:05:01.219 of things that are going to come in the path of life. 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:05.899 You prepare us for what's to come ahead. 00:05:06.979 --> 00:05:08.959 We ask that you would do that this morning, 00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:12.180 that you would send your Holy Spirit to encourage us 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:14.199 and stir us up by your word. 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:17.539 And you'd also send him to convict us 00:05:17.539 --> 00:05:20.739 that we would have soft and tender hearts, 00:05:21.620 --> 00:05:23.899 hearts that are open to you and your wisdom. 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:26.699 We ask that you would do that now 00:05:26.699 --> 00:05:28.079 and that you teach us by your word. 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:30.159 We ask these things not because we've earned them 00:05:30.159 --> 00:05:31.259 or deserved them, 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:33.319 but because we can ask them in Jesus' name. 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:34.319 Amen. 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:41.120 As I mentioned when I was giving the announcements, 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:44.099 today is June the 14th, 00:05:44.099 --> 00:05:48.519 and I'm curious if you remember what happened two years ago 00:05:48.540 --> 00:05:51.199 on June the 12th and 13th. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:55.379 We are right at the two-year anniversary of something. 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:57.620 If you were living in Colorado Springs two years ago, 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:00.120 I can guarantee you, you haven't forgotten about this. 00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:03.699 Very beginning of June, 00:06:04.379 --> 00:06:08.339 we got hit by one of the worst hailstorms in recent memory. 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:11.219 And you all remember, 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:13.480 that was the first of two hailstorms that summer. 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:16.060 And what I remember about that hailstorm, 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:17.340 first of all, 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:18.520 I didn't really know anything about hail 00:06:18.520 --> 00:06:20.160 because I had just moved to Colorado Springs 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:21.240 a year before that, 00:06:21.819 --> 00:06:23.819 and hail was just a concept at that point. 00:06:24.819 --> 00:06:26.900 But what I remembered about that 00:06:26.900 --> 00:06:27.860 was that there was no warning. 00:06:27.960 --> 00:06:30.100 No one told us there was going to be a hailstorm that night. 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:31.439 It just happened. 00:06:32.280 --> 00:06:33.939 Now, the following hailstorm, 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:34.980 the one that happened, I believe, 00:06:35.020 --> 00:06:36.040 in August of that summer, 00:06:36.080 --> 00:06:36.920 we had some warning. 00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:40.240 And so there was more of a chance to take cover. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:42.420 Both hailstorms were destructive. 00:06:43.060 --> 00:06:44.920 Some people had to have their roofs replaced twice. 00:06:45.720 --> 00:06:46.800 It's great for those who had it, 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:49.000 who delayed and only had it replaced the second time. 00:06:50.360 --> 00:06:51.500 Well, that highlights something for us 00:06:51.500 --> 00:06:53.740 that there are two kinds of storms in this world. 00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:55.759 Sometimes there's storms that we know about. 00:06:55.840 --> 00:06:56.800 We can see them coming. 00:06:57.960 --> 00:06:59.759 And then sometimes there's storms 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:02.020 that just happen without any warning. 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:03.939 I was caught without warning. 00:07:04.020 --> 00:07:07.400 My car was outside when the first hailstorm hit. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:09.439 When the second hailstorm hit, 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:10.660 I had just picked up a rental car 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:11.740 to have my first car worked on. 00:07:12.420 --> 00:07:15.080 That's another story. 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:18.020 But there are two kinds of storms, right? 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:20.060 And we face storms in this life. 00:07:20.100 --> 00:07:21.180 And in this section of Proverbs, 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:23.720 we're told that calamity can come. 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:25.020 When we don't follow wisdom, 00:07:25.140 --> 00:07:26.460 it can happen like a storm. 00:07:26.980 --> 00:07:28.960 And the reason that it's compared to a storm 00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:30.879 is that it's going to feel in some ways 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:32.139 like something that's unexpected. 00:07:32.139 --> 00:07:34.220 It's going to come up in a moment. 00:07:34.819 --> 00:07:38.240 That's what we see here in verses 26 and 27. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:40.720 Wisdom is going to laugh at people 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:41.879 who haven't listened to her 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:44.800 when terror strikes them like a storm. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:49.480 And calamity comes like a whirlwind. 00:07:50.960 --> 00:07:53.040 There's these storms in life, in other words, 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:55.019 that we can live without wisdom. 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:57.680 We can live in foolishness for a certain amount of time 00:07:57.680 --> 00:07:59.280 and feel like we're getting away with it. 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:01.699 We can feel like there's not going to be any consequences 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:03.819 and that what we're doing is working 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:09.280 until the moment that the storm finally comes. 00:08:11.220 --> 00:08:12.680 There can be a disconnect sometimes 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:14.980 between our present actions 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:17.980 and how it's going to affect us in the future. 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:20.259 And so we're going to look at that storm this morning. 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:21.399 We're going to see a few things. 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:22.799 First, the reality of the storm, 00:08:23.659 --> 00:08:26.319 then the characters of the storm, 00:08:27.039 --> 00:08:29.339 and then the escape from the storm. 00:08:30.359 --> 00:08:31.839 The reality of the storm, 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:34.079 the characters of the storm, 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:36.919 and the escape from the storm. 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:39.179 We've already sort of talked about the reality of the storm. 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:40.519 Wisdom is warning us 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:43.240 that if we ignore her for long enough, 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:45.220 we will face a storm. 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:46.179 In fact, this is true. 00:08:46.299 --> 00:08:49.659 We know this intuitively of many areas of life. 00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:51.759 For example, if you don't save, 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:55.179 which, by the way, is a major topic 00:08:55.179 --> 00:08:56.360 in the book of Proverbs, money. 00:08:56.959 --> 00:08:57.740 If you don't save, 00:08:57.959 --> 00:08:59.279 say maybe you don't save for retirement, 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:00.120 you don't save in general, 00:09:00.199 --> 00:09:01.980 you'll be fine for a while. 00:09:03.799 --> 00:09:06.139 You won't feel any consequences for a while. 00:09:06.219 --> 00:09:07.759 You might think, this is working great. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:09.779 There's no reason I need to change my behavior 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:13.899 until one day the storm comes. 00:09:15.980 --> 00:09:17.500 One day you need the money. 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:18.779 You don't have the money. 00:09:19.959 --> 00:09:21.559 Book of Proverbs talks about alcohol. 00:09:21.699 --> 00:09:23.839 You might abuse alcohol for a time. 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:25.919 You might think, this is fine. 00:09:25.959 --> 00:09:27.379 It's not affecting me in any big way. 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:30.059 I just have a large supply of ibuprofen in the morning, 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:32.039 and I can keep doing this 00:09:32.039 --> 00:09:36.000 until one day the storm comes 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:39.500 and your health finally catches up with you. 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:41.919 It can happen in your work. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:43.459 The book of Proverbs talks about people 00:09:43.459 --> 00:09:44.799 who are lazy, the sluggard. 00:09:45.199 --> 00:09:47.500 Maybe you're not doing a great job for a time 00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:48.879 and you're on pace with your peers. 00:09:48.980 --> 00:09:50.279 You're at the same point in your career, 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:52.419 and then suddenly you wake up one day 00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:53.740 and you realize that they've advanced 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:55.179 several levels ahead of you, 00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:57.480 and you're still in the same place. 00:09:57.559 --> 00:09:59.019 Maybe even worse, you're losing your job. 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:01.620 It can happen in the other way. 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:03.059 Maybe there's overwork, 00:10:03.299 --> 00:10:04.980 and you think, I can keep running at this pace. 00:10:05.059 --> 00:10:06.779 I'm not facing the consequences yet, 00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:07.659 and then one day, 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:10.759 doing too much for too long catches up, 00:10:10.819 --> 00:10:12.839 and your heart and your mind 00:10:12.839 --> 00:10:14.279 and your body begin to shut down. 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:17.799 This can happen in your relationships as well. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:20.259 Maybe you do what the Proverbs warns against. 00:10:20.339 --> 00:10:23.199 You're foolish with your words and your emotions. 00:10:23.419 --> 00:10:25.159 Seems to be working for a time, 00:10:25.699 --> 00:10:29.839 and then one day it catches up with you, 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:31.319 and the people that you wanted 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:32.960 and thought were close to you 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:36.140 are all walking away. 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:40.420 There will come a time 00:10:40.420 --> 00:10:43.260 when foolishness catches up with us. 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:44.220 There will come a time 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:45.580 when we get what we've wished for. 00:10:45.660 --> 00:10:47.180 That's what verse 31 tells us. 00:10:47.680 --> 00:10:49.660 Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way 00:10:49.660 --> 00:10:52.840 and have their fill of their own devices. 00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:55.160 There's a time when it's too late 00:10:55.160 --> 00:10:56.740 to turn back the clock. 00:10:59.140 --> 00:11:00.360 There can come a time 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:03.080 if we ignore wisdom for long enough. 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:06.320 Wisdom will also ignore us. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:07.940 There's a tragedy that's coming, 00:11:08.060 --> 00:11:10.300 and sometimes we can't go back. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:16.000 There is a real and true storm. 00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:21.620 Now, I've talked about this real and true storm 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:23.800 in the sense of physical consequences, right? 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:26.399 Our health and our money and our friendships. 00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:30.100 There's also a real storm spiritually. 00:11:31.300 --> 00:11:34.779 It's easy to ignore God for a time 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:38.539 and not to face any of the consequences. 00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:40.639 You might think, 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:41.720 oh, this is fine. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:42.800 I'm living my life. 00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:46.019 There's these Christians who pay attention to God, 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:48.360 but I am having just as good of a life as they are. 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:51.320 Therefore, I don't understand why it's important 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:54.220 for me to embrace Jesus Christ. 00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:58.080 Well, the same thing is true spiritually 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:00.340 that's true of all these examples physically. 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:04.060 We can get away and get along for a time, 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:08.539 and one day the storm is going to come. 00:12:10.839 --> 00:12:12.359 Spiritually, when we talk about the storm, 00:12:12.439 --> 00:12:14.059 we're talking about the fact that one day 00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:15.799 we are going to face God 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:17.519 as the great judge of this world. 00:12:17.579 --> 00:12:19.099 It will happen either when we die 00:12:19.099 --> 00:12:21.459 or when Jesus Christ returns to the earth 00:12:21.459 --> 00:12:22.659 for his church. 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:27.019 And so whether it's in this life 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:29.159 or it's in our relationship with God, 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:33.120 our present actions affect future consequences. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:37.019 And just because we don't see a storm now 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:41.159 does not mean the storm isn't coming. 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:48.100 And so wisdom cries out to us. 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:51.620 Will we listen in time? 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.919 We're told in this passage that 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:58.680 not only does wisdom cry out, 00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:00.019 but there's going to come a time 00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:02.779 when it will be too late to turn back. 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:05.919 That's what we're told in verse 28. 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.100 Then they will call upon me, 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:07.980 but I will not answer. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:09.220 They will seek me diligently, 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.360 but they will not find me. 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:12.840 In other words, wisdom cries out to you 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:13.560 and you don't listen. 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.100 One day you will cry out to wisdom 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:19.159 and wisdom won't listen. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:22.340 There will be a moment 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:25.299 when it's too late to turn back. 00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:28.620 And so there's an urgency. 00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:32.360 There's an urgency to embracing wisdom, 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:34.200 to embracing the cry, 00:13:34.300 --> 00:13:35.240 to change now, 00:13:35.300 --> 00:13:36.560 to prepare for the storm 00:13:36.560 --> 00:13:38.019 before it's too late 00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:39.560 because there will come a moment 00:13:39.560 --> 00:13:41.820 when the clock cannot be turned back. 00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:48.039 That is the reality of the storm. 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:51.060 If that's the reality of the storm 00:13:51.060 --> 00:13:52.659 and wisdom is crying out, 00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:55.000 there's of course a variety of ways 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:55.879 to respond, 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:57.360 to answer the call from wisdom. 00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:58.220 And that's where we find 00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.539 the characters of the storm. 00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:01.159 We're given three characters here. 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.319 In verse 22, 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.959 we meet someone called the simple, 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:06.139 we meet the fool, 00:14:06.839 --> 00:14:07.939 and the scoffer. 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:10.120 Now the simple person 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:12.399 is someone who doesn't really understand 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.399 what we've just talked about. 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:14.719 The simple person doesn't understand 00:14:14.719 --> 00:14:15.459 the relationship 00:14:15.459 --> 00:14:17.199 between present actions 00:14:17.199 --> 00:14:18.360 and future consequences. 00:14:18.699 --> 00:14:20.620 The simple person is very naive. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:23.759 The simple person hasn't committed. 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:26.360 We talked last week about the fact 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.100 that there are really only two paths 00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:29.399 when it comes to wisdom. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:32.700 We can embrace the path of wisdom, 00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:34.620 and if we don't embrace that path, 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:36.659 we're automatically on the path of foolishness. 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:38.480 There are only two ways to live. 00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:39.800 There's only two ways to go. 00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:41.639 And so the foolish person 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:42.580 or the simple person 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:44.379 is technically on the foolish path 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:46.539 because they haven't embraced the wise path. 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:49.039 But what's different about the foolish person 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:49.840 from the other two 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:51.279 is that the foolish person, 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:52.500 there's still some hope for them. 00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:53.139 They're open. 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.899 They're naive. 00:14:55.939 --> 00:14:58.340 They're described by some people as gullible, 00:14:58.939 --> 00:15:00.699 but there's still some hope for them 00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:02.100 to return to the path of wisdom. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.819 And so you'll notice in verse 22, 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:06.980 wisdom actually is only crying out to the simple. 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:09.439 When she mentions scoffers and fools, 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:10.720 she's just commenting on them. 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.799 She's not even inviting them. 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:14.819 The fool is someone 00:15:14.819 --> 00:15:17.639 who can be invited to do what's right, 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:20.759 has not made that commitment yet, 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:23.120 or the simple is invited to do what's right, 00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:23.919 hasn't made the commitment. 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:25.000 So in that sense, 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:26.659 the simple person is a fool, 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.899 but there's hope that they might become wise. 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:32.879 Now, when it came to hailstorms, 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:35.039 I was a simple person. 00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:37.480 I was not a fool, 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:38.879 at least not yet. 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:41.340 So I was unaware of how hailstorms worked. 00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:43.019 I knew them as a theoretical concept. 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:44.759 I didn't realize the danger. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:46.740 I didn't hear wisdom crying out to me. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:48.680 My car was on the street 00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:50.840 on the night of June 12th, 2018. 00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:53.139 The great irony was that 00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:54.680 while I typically did not have access 00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:56.419 to the garage in the house I was living in, 00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:58.200 one of my housemates was out of town 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:00.159 and there was a garage slot open. 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:03.840 However, I didn't take advantage of it. 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:05.680 I was simple. 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:08.840 But I was open to the call to wisdom. 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:10.919 So that night when the hailstorm started, 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.519 one of my housemates came 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:15.440 and knocked on my door and woke me up, 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:17.380 told me, your car is on the street 00:16:17.380 --> 00:16:18.340 and it's hailing right now. 00:16:18.380 --> 00:16:19.240 You need to bring it in. 00:16:19.280 --> 00:16:20.340 So this is the call of wisdom 00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.580 to the simple person, right? 00:16:22.760 --> 00:16:24.460 So I ran out, except it was hailing 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:25.360 and it was huge hail. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.800 It was dangerous for people to run out in. 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:28.660 So she gave me her snowboarding helmet 00:16:28.660 --> 00:16:33.640 and I had the top of a rubbermaid bin. 00:16:33.880 --> 00:16:35.380 It's my shield to guard myself. 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:39.000 And I ran out into the hail. 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:40.960 I got into my car and I started 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.340 and I pulled it into the driveway, 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:45.759 into the garage, 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:48.360 and it was already too late. 00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:54.519 My car had already been wrecked by hail. 00:16:55.900 --> 00:16:57.420 So I was the simple person, right? 00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:59.580 And I didn't respond quickly enough. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:01.900 There's a true urgency. 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.860 What we're being taught here, 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:06.140 in part, is that there's not a time 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:07.520 to sit and consider wisdom. 00:17:07.520 --> 00:17:09.960 The time to respond to wisdom is now. 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:11.560 The time to respond is now 00:17:11.560 --> 00:17:13.240 when it comes to circumstances in our life 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:15.000 and the time to respond now 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.759 when it comes to embracing Jesus Christ. 00:17:16.840 --> 00:17:18.820 That no one of us knows the day 00:17:18.820 --> 00:17:20.360 or the hour that we'll face the Lord. 00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:24.259 And there may come a time 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:27.300 where the cry of wisdom is too late. 00:17:28.820 --> 00:17:30.340 The cry of wisdom is too late 00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.520 in our personal lives. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:34.100 There are some things that happen. 00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:35.079 And there are some things 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.799 that people in our community do 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.859 that we can't just turn the clock back on. 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:43.579 I had comprehensive coverage. 00:17:45.199 --> 00:17:47.000 So my car was fixed. 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:53.659 And it cost Geico thousands of dollars. 00:17:55.959 --> 00:17:57.959 And it cost me an enormous headache, right? 00:17:58.619 --> 00:18:00.599 My housemate could not turn the clock back 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:01.219 on that for me. 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:02.559 The call to the simple 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.940 had not happened fast enough. 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:10.480 We also meet the scoffer and the fool. 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:13.200 The fool is worse than the simple 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.940 because the fool is not open 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:15.860 in the way the simple is. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.940 The simple can still be pulled 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.980 onto the path of wisdom. 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:19.839 The fool is set. 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:21.100 Remember, we've talked about the fact 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:21.940 from Proverbs 12 00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:23.779 that the fool is wise in his own eyes. 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.100 So the fool is convinced 00:18:25.100 --> 00:18:26.059 he knows everything. 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:28.700 So the fool is going to hear the cry. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.759 The fool is going to be confronted 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.519 by people and friends and mentors 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:33.000 who describe to him 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:35.019 how foolish his life is, 00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:36.500 how the path he's on 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.599 is going to lead to destruction. 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.920 The fool's not going to listen. 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:43.339 Now, we've met people like this. 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.700 I'm sure you have people like this 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:47.420 in your family or your friend group. 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:50.279 Many people come and say, 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.539 look, the path that you're on 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.879 is not going to end well. 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:55.859 But they're wise in their own eyes, right? 00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:56.719 The fool keeps going. 00:18:58.199 --> 00:18:59.740 So that's why we see wisdom 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:01.179 is not crying out to the fool. 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:04.159 The scoffer is even worse. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.439 The scoffer's like the fool, 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:07.639 except the scoffer has this 00:19:07.639 --> 00:19:09.459 mocking tendency, 00:19:09.639 --> 00:19:11.359 makes fun of the wise. 00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:13.799 The scoffer's vindictive. 00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:17.719 The scoffer's sarcastic and cynical. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.599 The scoffer's the kind of person 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:22.439 that always points out what's wrong 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:24.360 and never sees what's right. 00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:27.200 The scoffer takes being wise 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.759 in their own eyes to an extreme. 00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:31.180 Of course, if you've lived in this world 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.259 long enough, 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:35.200 you've met people like this as well. 00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:39.820 And the challenge from wisdom 00:19:39.820 --> 00:19:40.700 is to the simple. 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.740 Turn back before it's too late. 00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:47.960 Turn back before it's too late 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:49.519 because there's going to come a time 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:52.279 when things can't be undone. 00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:54.900 When this storm comes, 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:57.920 you can't go back in time and redo. 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:01.660 Of course, I would love to go back, right, 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:03.960 and park my car in the garage on June 12th. 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.200 That's not an option. 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:10.200 Better to learn the easy way 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:11.680 than the hard way. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.980 Learn in verse 31, 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:14.619 the fool, 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:16.440 if the simple doesn't embrace wisdom, 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.200 the simple's going to eat 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.160 the fruit of their way 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:20.700 and have their fill of their own devices. 00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:22.880 Verse 28, 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:25.000 they're going to call upon wisdom, 00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:28.539 but wisdom won't be there to answer. 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.460 And so, 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:35.539 the application here for us 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.259 is simple. 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:38.519 Listen. 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:42.279 Listen to wisdom 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:44.279 before it's too late. 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:47.559 Listen to wisdom 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:49.839 before it's too late. 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.220 We've seen the reality of the storm, 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:52.399 that there are real storms 00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:53.639 coming in this life, 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.700 physically, materially, 00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:56.200 and also spiritually. 00:20:57.399 --> 00:20:58.619 We've seen the characters 00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.480 of the storm, 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:01.119 that there are a variety of ways 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.319 to respond 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.599 when we're being warned 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.299 about the storm. 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:06.799 But there's also 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:08.259 an escape from the storm, 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:09.359 and that's what we see here 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:10.899 in verses 20 through 24. 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.940 Wisdom is crying out. 00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:14.200 Wisdom isn't doing something 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.860 in secret. 00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.259 Wisdom isn't doing this 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:16.960 in a seminar 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:18.720 that you have to be invited to 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.860 and pay money for. 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.440 No, 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.799 wisdom's crying aloud 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.420 in the streets, 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:22.980 verse 20, 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:24.580 in the markets she raises her voice. 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.960 Wisdom is not a respecter 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:26.380 of persons. 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.400 She's not crying out 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:29.160 only to some classes 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:29.920 and not to others. 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.820 She's not crying out 00:21:30.820 --> 00:21:31.759 only to rich, 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.519 but not to poor. 00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:32.700 No, 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.600 she's crying out 00:21:33.600 --> 00:21:34.279 in public 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.400 to everyone. 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.740 Anyone and everyone 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.580 can have access 00:21:37.580 --> 00:21:38.180 to wisdom. 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:40.880 She's loud. 00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:42.300 She's urgent. 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.340 She's highlighting the fact 00:21:44.340 --> 00:21:45.120 that the decision 00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:46.620 has to be made, 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:49.160 and all they have to do 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:50.500 is listen. 00:21:52.040 --> 00:21:53.040 She's crying out. 00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:53.780 She's speaking. 00:21:55.580 --> 00:21:56.240 Verse 23, 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:57.680 if you turn at my reproof, 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.420 in other words, 00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.120 if you listen 00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:00.440 and do what I've told you to do, 00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:01.920 I will make my words 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:02.580 known to you. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.520 I'll speak to you. 00:22:04.760 --> 00:22:05.620 Verse 24, 00:22:05.760 --> 00:22:06.480 she's called out 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.800 and you refuse to what? 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.520 Refuse to listen. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:12.379 I stretch out my hand 00:22:12.379 --> 00:22:13.279 and no one has heeded. 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:13.940 In other words, 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.900 no one has listened. 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.660 Verse 25, 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.639 you have ignored 00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:17.420 all my counsel. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:17.980 In other words, 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:19.079 no one listened. 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:22.759 The call of wisdom 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:24.079 is for everyone 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:26.700 and the call of wisdom 00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:28.779 is a limited time offer. 00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:32.859 And so the time 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:34.059 to act 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:35.559 is now. 00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:37.259 The time to listen 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:38.220 is now. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:42.879 wisdom 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:43.900 doesn't just 00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.599 cry out 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.220 and call. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.480 Wisdom also 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.440 makes it easy. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.279 The command here 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:52.980 is not that we 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.980 pull ourselves up 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.879 by our bootstraps, 00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:56.000 not that we go off 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.379 on some journey 00:22:57.379 --> 00:22:57.960 where we have to 00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.440 put together 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.379 a habit tracker 00:22:59.379 --> 00:23:00.799 and make sure 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.599 we're setting 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:03.019 a new set, 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:03.879 a new threshold 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.339 and bar 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:04.779 that we have to 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.980 jump over every day. 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:07.620 wisdom actually 00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:08.980 offers to help us 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.740 and give us 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.920 everything we need. 00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:12.920 You know, 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.500 there are many 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.319 adventures in 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.180 Colorado Springs 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:15.640 that if you want 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:16.500 to be successful 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:18.120 and you have no 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.680 experience, 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.279 you're going to want 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.240 to hire a guide. 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:21.039 If you've never 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.860 hunted before 00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:22.940 and you decide 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.380 this is something 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.279 I want to get into, 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:25.319 you can hire someone 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:25.839 to help you 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.559 and show you the way. 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.079 If you want to be 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.940 a fly fisher, 00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.299 you don't know 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.000 the right spots 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.559 to go to, 00:23:30.620 --> 00:23:31.720 you can hire someone 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.900 to come with you. 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.240 Wisdom here 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.400 is telling us 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:38.400 she is there 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.339 to be a guide 00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:41.180 but we don't 00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:42.019 have to hire her. 00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:44.319 She's actually free. 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.200 We don't have 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.019 to hire wisdom. 00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:48.360 We don't have 00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:49.440 to pay anything. 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.900 She offers 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:51.559 her services 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:52.620 to anyone 00:23:52.620 --> 00:23:53.480 who's willing 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.440 to accept them. 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.100 That's what we see 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:57.019 in verse 23. 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:57.700 If you turn 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.400 at my reproof, 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:58.900 behold, 00:23:59.000 --> 00:23:59.940 I will pour out 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.920 my spirit to you. 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.940 I will make 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.880 my words known 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.340 to you. 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.860 This is freely 00:24:04.860 --> 00:24:05.460 available. 00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:06.900 Not only am I 00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:07.580 going to be 00:24:07.580 --> 00:24:08.220 your guide, 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.560 not only am I 00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:10.140 going to take you 00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:11.019 on the hunting trip, 00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.480 I'm going to provide 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.620 the guns that you need. 00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:14.480 I'm bringing 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.700 all the food with us. 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:17.240 I'm packing everything. 00:24:18.820 --> 00:24:20.060 All you have to do 00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:20.940 is get in the car. 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.720 That's what wisdom 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.400 is offering. 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:27.259 Wisdom is offering 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.160 to empower 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.720 and enable. 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:32.740 whatever we need, 00:24:32.840 --> 00:24:33.740 all we have to do 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.800 is listen and accept. 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.840 All we have to do 00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:37.080 is receive 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:37.840 the correction, 00:24:38.060 --> 00:24:38.740 what here is called 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.440 reproof. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.820 Verse 23 00:24:40.820 --> 00:24:41.840 and 25. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.580 All we have to do 00:24:44.580 --> 00:24:45.259 is here 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:47.200 to turn away 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.140 from foolishness 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:48.620 and to turn 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.140 to wisdom. 00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:52.519 If the simple person 00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.600 teaches us anything, 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.200 it's this. 00:24:54.580 --> 00:24:56.060 There is no middle ground. 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:58.059 ultimately, 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:00.299 we either choose 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.179 to be wise 00:25:01.179 --> 00:25:02.619 or we choose 00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:03.980 to be foolish. 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.779 And so we have to 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.579 listen before 00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.299 it's too late. 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.599 We have to heed 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.259 wisdom before 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:10.839 it's too late. 00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.700 If we're people 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.339 who have faith 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.139 in Jesus Christ, 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:14.339 we heed the call 00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:14.799 of wisdom 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.419 in all sorts 00:25:15.419 --> 00:25:16.379 of areas of life. 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.659 We heed the call 00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:18.039 of wisdom 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.940 in our relationships 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:20.179 before they're destroyed. 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.319 We heed 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.599 the call of wisdom 00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:23.819 when it comes 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.459 to the way 00:25:24.459 --> 00:25:25.339 we treat food 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:25.819 and drink 00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:26.919 before we hurt 00:25:26.919 --> 00:25:27.759 ourselves and others. 00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:28.859 We heed 00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:30.199 the call of wisdom 00:25:30.199 --> 00:25:31.319 when it comes 00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:31.939 to dealing 00:25:31.939 --> 00:25:32.599 with those 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:33.459 who have more power 00:25:33.459 --> 00:25:33.839 than us 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.399 and those who have 00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:34.879 less power. 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:35.839 We heed the call 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:36.279 of wisdom 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:37.259 when it comes 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.240 to bringing justice 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.899 and loving goodness. 00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:42.519 Because God 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.259 wants us to walk 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.459 well in this world. 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.299 He doesn't want 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.539 us to face 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.359 the disaster 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:49.099 that happens 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:49.759 when we disregard 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.279 wisdom. 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:53.200 If you're not 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:53.720 a Christian, 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.399 remember that 00:25:55.399 --> 00:25:55.920 the beginning 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:56.539 of wisdom, 00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.019 the beginning 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.539 of knowledge 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.160 is the fear 00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.700 of the Lord. 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:00.920 And so before 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:01.759 we embrace 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.559 anything else, 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.680 we have to embrace 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.559 Jesus Christ. 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:07.240 We can't have 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:08.339 wisdom without Him. 00:26:08.619 --> 00:26:09.119 And just like 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:10.240 there's a coming storm 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:10.940 in the physical 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:11.639 circumstances 00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.440 of this life, 00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.359 there's a coming 00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:13.879 destruction 00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:14.680 that while things 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:15.819 may seem good now, 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.859 there is a time 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.299 and a day 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.359 when Jesus is going 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:19.720 to return to this earth. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.980 And if we die 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.619 before then, 00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:23.259 we will also 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.139 have to face Him. 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.420 And so no matter 00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:26.279 how good things 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.039 are going now, 00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.599 we need to be 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:29.139 prepared for that. 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.200 And so we do that 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.599 as the author 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.519 of Proverbs tells us 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.220 by receiving 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:34.079 the reproof, 00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:35.160 which is a repentance 00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:35.619 word, 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:36.460 a turning away 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.200 from sin, 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:39.119 repenting of our sins 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:39.639 and turning 00:26:39.639 --> 00:26:40.940 to Jesus Christ. 00:26:42.879 --> 00:26:44.099 No matter what we do, 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:45.220 we have to remember 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.460 the lesson of the simple 00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:47.720 and embrace wisdom 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:49.680 now because it is urgent. 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:52.559 embrace wisdom 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.539 now because wisdom 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.899 provides everything 00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:55.859 that we need. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.680 It invites us 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.779 to go on a journey 00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:01.000 and she supplies 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:02.039 everything that's needed 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.720 for the path. 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:06.960 I've been telling you 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.579 as we've been going 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.019 through the book 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.539 of Proverbs 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.660 about Matthew 12, 00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:10.500 verse 42, 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:11.440 which tells us 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.740 that Jesus is greater 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.380 than Solomon. 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.519 He's the great 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.299 wisdom teacher. 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:19.000 He's even greater. 00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:20.160 He teaches us more 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:20.759 than what we learn 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.400 in the Proverbs. 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:22.799 But that's not 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.680 the only aspect 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.680 of wisdom 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.799 that we see in Jesus. 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.460 We're also told 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.620 in Colossians 2, 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:29.119 verse 3, 00:27:29.899 --> 00:27:31.359 that in Jesus 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:31.839 are hidden 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:32.439 all the treasures 00:27:32.439 --> 00:27:33.439 of wisdom and knowledge. 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.439 We're told 00:27:35.439 --> 00:27:36.819 in 1 Corinthians 1, 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.779 verse 24, 00:27:37.959 --> 00:27:38.339 that Christ 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.519 is the power of God 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.619 and the wisdom of God. 00:27:40.899 --> 00:27:41.479 In other words, 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.500 Jesus doesn't just 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.619 teach us wisdom. 00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:46.259 He is the full 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.899 and final 00:27:46.899 --> 00:27:48.159 and greatest embodiment 00:27:48.159 --> 00:27:49.000 of God's wisdom. 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:51.319 This woman represents 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.839 wisdom, 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.659 lady wisdom, 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:54.060 in Proverbs 1. 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:57.420 Jesus is the greatest 00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.100 fulfillment 00:27:58.100 --> 00:27:59.380 and embodiment 00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.660 of God's wisdom. 00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:03.500 That's why we're told 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.560 in verse 29, 00:28:05.100 --> 00:28:05.900 hating knowledge 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:06.860 means not choosing 00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.820 the fear of the Lord. 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.540 Jesus is the one 00:28:09.540 --> 00:28:10.140 who comes 00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:11.180 and actually allows us 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:12.360 to have true fear 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:12.800 of the Lord, 00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:14.480 not fear of punishment, 00:28:15.860 --> 00:28:17.960 but fear of displeasing 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.820 the God who offers 00:28:18.820 --> 00:28:19.540 us salvation. 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:22.960 And we know 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:23.960 even more 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:24.779 than people 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.519 in the Old Testament 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.519 about this spirit 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.519 that's going to be 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.920 poured out in verse 23. 00:28:29.159 --> 00:28:29.799 How is it 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.480 that we're going 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:30.940 to be given 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.159 everything we need 00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:32.720 for the journey 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.240 of wisdom? 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:34.240 Well, it's because 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.460 God is pouring out 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.960 his spirit on us 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:38.460 because of Jesus Christ. 00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:41.519 He offers us 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.559 not worldly wisdom, 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.180 not wisdom 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:44.039 we have to create 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.619 and build, 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.200 but wisdom 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:45.920 that he gives us 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.659 through his word 00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:47.519 and by his spirit. 00:28:47.659 --> 00:28:48.420 And so God 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.920 provides everything 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.960 needed for wisdom 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:52.019 for those who will 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.539 simply hear 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.680 and listen 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.800 in turn. 00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:56.500 God doesn't just 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.560 change our hearts. 00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.080 He gives us 00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:59.380 a new and true 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.960 desire for wisdom. 00:29:02.080 --> 00:29:02.980 And he helps us 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.759 to grow in it. 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.259 He helps us 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.000 through his word. 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.240 He helps us 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.000 through his spirit 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.700 and he helps us 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:08.480 through the community 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.460 that he's given us 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.560 in one another 00:29:10.560 --> 00:29:11.220 in the church 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.519 that we would have 00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:13.480 what we need 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.519 to listen 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.620 to wisdom. 00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:15.679 wisdom. 00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:19.419 So how is it 00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:20.599 that we are prepared? 00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.199 How is it 00:29:21.199 --> 00:29:22.239 that we look forward 00:29:22.239 --> 00:29:23.799 knowing that we're ready 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.799 for the storms 00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:25.539 that are to come? 00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:28.939 We have to know 00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:30.079 that the storm 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:30.639 is real. 00:29:32.399 --> 00:29:33.439 We have to choose 00:29:33.439 --> 00:29:34.239 not the way 00:29:34.239 --> 00:29:34.919 of the simple 00:29:34.919 --> 00:29:35.479 but the way 00:29:35.479 --> 00:29:36.139 of the wise, 00:29:36.239 --> 00:29:36.719 the person who 00:29:36.719 --> 00:29:37.799 embraces wisdom 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:39.039 and listens. 00:29:40.959 --> 00:29:41.959 That's how we're ready 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:44.200 for what is to come 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:45.039 spiritually 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:46.000 and physically 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.539 in this world. 00:29:50.380 --> 00:29:51.220 In his book 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.019 Deep Survival 00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.640 Who Lives 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:53.360 Who Dies 00:29:53.360 --> 00:29:54.079 and Why 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:56.200 a man named 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:56.880 Lawrence Gonzalez 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.900 tells the time 00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:58.620 that he spent 00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:59.180 at the Vermont 00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.640 Wilderness 00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:00.600 Survival School 00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:02.420 with a man 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.220 named Mark Morey. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:05.000 And during that time 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:06.640 in the survival school 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:09.240 they would spend time 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:09.759 walking through 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.579 the forest together 00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.299 and one thing 00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:12.019 that Mark taught him 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:12.740 is that he had to 00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.740 listen to the birds 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:15.619 because the birds 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.299 were what he called 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.000 the radars 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.779 of the forest. 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.019 That when the birds 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:20.919 were making noise 00:30:20.919 --> 00:30:22.099 it was time to listen 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.659 because there was 00:30:22.659 --> 00:30:23.599 something going on. 00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:26.500 That reminded Lawrence 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.220 of another time 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:28.019 when he was hiking 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:29.740 on the U.S.-Mexico border 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:31.139 and it was incredibly 00:30:31.139 --> 00:30:31.819 hot outside 00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:32.919 it was over 100 degrees 00:30:32.919 --> 00:30:33.559 and so he wasn't 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.460 thinking very clearly 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.839 but he was with 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:36.619 a hiking partner 00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:38.119 and this woman 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:38.859 he was hiking with 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:39.480 at one point 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.179 put out her hand 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.860 and stopped him 00:30:40.860 --> 00:30:41.440 on the trail. 00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:44.759 He looked up 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.380 and what was there 00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:46.039 making noise 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.640 but a bird 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:47.400 there was a 00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:49.240 a blue jay 00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:50.180 who was screeching. 00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:53.340 He looked up 00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:53.860 at the blue jay 00:30:53.860 --> 00:30:54.560 that was screeching 00:30:54.560 --> 00:30:55.340 and then his guide 00:30:55.340 --> 00:30:56.600 pointed him to the ground 00:30:56.600 --> 00:30:58.000 and he saw 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.920 right in front of them 00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.820 across the path 00:30:59.820 --> 00:31:01.340 a huge rattlesnake 00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:04.259 that had just devoured 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:05.320 the little baby 00:31:05.320 --> 00:31:06.000 of the blue jay. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:09.079 the blue jay 00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:10.359 was crying out 00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:12.220 warning him 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:12.960 of the danger 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.740 that was to come 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:17.500 and all he had to do 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:19.380 was listen. 00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:22.900 Wisdom 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:24.680 is crying out. 00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.680 All we have to do 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.420 is listen 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:30.319 and live. 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:32.859 I invite you 00:31:32.859 --> 00:31:33.500 to pray with me. 00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:37.180 Our Father in heaven 00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:38.799 we praise you 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.819 and we thank you 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.839 that you don't let us 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.559 stumble 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.779 and wander along 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.279 but instead 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.400 you cry out 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:45.900 with your wisdom. 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:48.000 You invite us 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.759 to walk with you 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.599 on a journey 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.680 that you provide 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.440 everything 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.839 we need. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:56.319 We ask that you do this now 00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:56.740 that you 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.559 if we're simple 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:59.119 that you stir up our hearts 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:00.079 to commit to you 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:01.539 and be wise. 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.599 If we're scoffers 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:04.720 you'd soften our hearts 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.419 and convict them 00:32:05.419 --> 00:32:05.879 of sin 00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:08.079 and that if you're foolish 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:09.159 we're foolish 00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:10.199 you'd help us to know 00:32:10.199 --> 00:32:11.319 that we shouldn't be wise 00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:12.079 in our own eyes 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:13.500 but we need to learn 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:14.019 from you. 00:32:14.939 --> 00:32:16.220 Ask that you'd encourage us 00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:17.319 that you give us 00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:17.839 your spirit 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:19.439 that we don't walk 00:32:19.439 --> 00:32:20.720 the way of wisdom alone 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:22.139 but it's a place 00:32:22.139 --> 00:32:23.339 that we walk with you 00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:24.559 as our guide 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:25.919 and our comforter. 00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:27.519 We praise you 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.099 that we can learn 00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:28.659 these things 00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:29.340 from your word 00:32:29.340 --> 00:32:29.880 together 00:32:29.880 --> 00:32:31.900 that we can worship you 00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.860 with one voice. 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:35.060 So we ask these things 00:32:35.060 --> 00:32:36.560 not because we've earned them 00:32:36.560 --> 00:32:37.140 or deserve them 00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:37.740 but we ask them 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.460 in Jesus' name. 00:32:39.100 --> 00:32:39.320 Amen.