WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.299 And this evening we are going to continue this series on Ecclesiastic. 00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:14.880 What a particular book, what a special book that we have impression through all this Sunday evening. 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:16.879 Give me a wee sec. 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:25.920 So today I want to talk about wisdom in Ecclesiastic. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:30.920 About knowledge, what is the knowledge, what is the wisdom of God. 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:42.920 And I think that the world where we live has been never so exposed to so much information that in this very moment for example. 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:52.920 We just need to see our mobile phones and in 30 seconds you will know what is going on in every country in the world. 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:57.920 We have access to get information about everything. 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:08.920 However, this high amount of information competes with misinformation or the use that we give to that knowledge. 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:18.920 So we have a lot quantity of information but at the same time what is the use that we are given to that information. 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:28.920 It seems that we know about everything but in reality and sometimes the reality show us the opposite. 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:36.920 So the question arises, how are we going to live with this picture that we have drawn? 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:41.920 And when we talk about this, how should we live? 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:45.920 Wisdom starts to appear in this picture. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:53.920 Wisdom is what the world really needs but not only people outside, 00:01:53.920 --> 00:02:03.920 not only the person who is next to you right now, but you and I need wisdom. 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:11.920 In fact, if you say, no, I don't need wisdom, that's a clear sign that you and I would need wisdom. 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:20.919 But here it seems that the preacher or the author of Ecclesiastes talks about wisdom, 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:30.919 but he does it in two ways, namely on the one hand in an uncomfortable way, 00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:36.919 and on the other hand in a nice and maybe in a better way. 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:47.919 So for example, in chapter 1 verse 13, 15 and 18, the author here says, the preacher says, 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:54.919 and I apply my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. 00:02:54.919 --> 00:03:01.919 It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:10.919 What is crooked cannot be made straight. Verse 18, for much wisdom is much vexation, 00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:16.919 and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. 00:03:16.919 --> 00:03:21.919 After reading this, who wants to get some wisdom? 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:27.919 But the Bible calls us to get and seek wisdom. Just read the book of Proverbs. 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:37.919 So in the same way, Ecclesiastes chapter 2 verse 13 highlights that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:46.919 as there is more gain in light than in darkness. Or in chapter 7 verse 19, wisdom gives strength to the wise man 00:03:46.919 --> 00:03:50.919 more than 10 rulers who are in the city. 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:57.919 So having considered all this, why does Ecclesiastes refer to wisdom in these ways? 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:08.919 As something heavy, as a heavy task on the one hand, and on the other hand, as something good and necessary for our lives. 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:14.919 Because the author here, Ecclesiastes, displays his understanding of wisdom, 00:04:14.919 --> 00:04:24.919 considering the reality of a fallen world. What is crooked cannot be made straight. 00:04:24.919 --> 00:04:33.919 Chapter 7 verse 20, surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:48.920 3 is 16, moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, here it is, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:58.920 Finally in verse 18 from chapter 3, I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them, 00:04:58.920 --> 00:05:06.920 that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:18.920 Such a horrible picture we have here. People living as animals instead of living according to their calling or their creation purpose. 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:32.920 So the big problem is not what is going on outside on the streets or political parties or society, but it's in the very core of every human being. 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:42.920 What we see, the awful things that we watch or read on the news are the result of man's problem. 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:48.920 And it's really sad that we don't have the wisdom to discern that. 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:59.920 Therefore the big problem is that we don't see that the big problem of our heart is the sin which reigns in our heart. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:06.920 And because of sin, we don't like to call sin as sin. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:17.920 We prefer to call it errors or mistakes or failures, but we don't like to talk about the sinfulness of sin. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:28.920 But here lies another problem. If we don't recognize how serious sin is, we will not be able to appreciate the beauty of the gospel. 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:41.920 Without considering the reality of a rebellion against God, we will not be able to preach and apply the riches of God's grace and wisdom. 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:51.920 So considering that life is a veil in Hebrew, in Spanish, vapor, or in English, vapor, 00:06:51.920 --> 00:07:04.920 how are we going to live in a world full of this injustice, meaningless, considering that life is so short, how are we going to live? 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:11.920 And the Bible describes two ways or two people, two kinds of people, the full and the wise. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:21.920 Wisdom, literature, literature talks about that. And as we have seen, Ecclesiastes talks about the meaningless of life. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:27.920 And in that context, it also refers to the full and the wise. 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:35.920 There's not a middle way, there's not a third way, it's not to be like a half wise and half full, no. 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:44.920 So here the question arises, how are you living? How are we living? 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:56.920 Even as Christians, knowing that the time is so short, I would like to talk about three things in order to answer this question. 00:07:56.920 --> 00:08:01.920 The first one that I want to talk is about the difference between the full and the wise. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:05.920 The second point is the similarities between the full and the wise. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:13.920 And finally, the third point is the foundation of the wise man, that is, God's wisdom. 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:19.920 So first point, the difference between the full and the wise. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:28.920 What is the treasure of the wise? What is the treasure of the full man? 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:34.920 And the second point is the difference between the wise and the full. 00:08:34.920 --> 00:08:39.920 And the full lies a significant difference. 00:08:39.920 --> 00:08:47.920 The wise treasures wisdom and the full treasures madness or folly. 00:08:47.920 --> 00:08:53.920 The biblical difference between the wise and the full is their view of God and their relationship with God. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:58.919 And in the face in his heart, there is no God. 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:04.919 And because there is no God for him, he lives without God. 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:13.919 In fact, he becomes his own God because he rejects God's law and he creates his own law. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:22.919 And I think here we can smell like a kind of legalism in the full man. 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:26.919 On the other hand, for the wise, there is a God. 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:36.919 However, it is not just a vague or merely intellectual idea about God, but rather he fears God. 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:41.919 Proverbs tells us the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom or knowledge. 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:48.919 So the meaning here of Lord, it is the God of the covenant. 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:53.919 He who establishes an intimate fellowship with his people. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:10:01.919 So the wise fears God, adores God because God is his treasure. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:03.919 That's the point. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.919 God is his heritage. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:08.919 So he lives in that way. 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:17.919 He thinks in that way knowing that he belongs to God and God, he is his treasure. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:20.919 So there is a difference between the wise and the full. 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:25.919 But before you continue, we should answer the question, what is wisdom? 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:29.919 According to the Bible, wisdom is rooted in God. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:32.919 It is an attribute of God. 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:38.919 But with humans, wisdom is not equal to knowledge or information. 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:44.919 We can have intellectual knowledge and be a full man. 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:49.919 So for the Old Testament, wisdom is practical. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:53.919 It presupposes knowledge, but doesn't stop there. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:58.919 From theory, it moves to practical. 00:10:58.919 --> 00:11:04.919 So knowing what is our chief end in life. 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:09.919 So these are very good moments for parents in their houses to ask to their children, 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:15.919 what's the chief end of man, what is the purpose of life? 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:23.919 And we should reply, man's chief end is too. 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:28.919 That's right, to glorify God and enjoy him forever. 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:35.919 So how are we going to live knowing this if we know the gospel? 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:45.919 So knowing what is our chief end in life, or knowing what is the purpose of our creation and redemption, 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:47.919 how are we going to live? 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:51.919 That is the question that I want to think about that in this moment. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:55.919 How are we living according to what we know? 00:11:55.919 --> 00:12:00.919 According to what we know from the Bible or the gospel? 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:06.919 So if we know the gospel, how real is the gospel in our life reality? 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:17.919 How real is the gospel in our families, in difficult times, in times of COVID-19, in good times, bad times? 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:27.919 How real is the gospel in our temptations when we are alone, when nobody sees us? 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:30.919 How real is the gospel? 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:32.919 That is the point. 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:39.919 So we can define wisdom as the art of living for God's glory. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:46.919 Moving forward, the difference between the wise and the fool also lies in their way of life. 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:54.919 It is not just about who governs the heart, but also in their talk, in their daily walk. 00:12:54.919 --> 00:13:00.919 Ecclesiastes chapter 10, from verse 12 to 13, 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:10.919 the words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:19.919 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:29.919 The words of the wise are gracious because they flow from a heart full of God's grace. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:31.919 That's the point. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:40.919 We are talking, we are dealing in every moment in our life according to what we have in our hearts. 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:43.919 What is the treasure of our hearts? 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:49.919 But on the other hand, the lips of the fool will destroy him. 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:56.919 The fool's speech doesn't bring edification, but destruction. 00:13:56.919 --> 00:14:04.919 His own destruction, I mean his own speech brings death. 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:13.919 Actually, the word here is the lips of the fool will swallow up himself. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:18.919 It's very hard, this. 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:28.919 So, you can think about how can I destroy myself with my own speech or talk? 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:32.919 It's because think about what are you preaching to yourself? 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:38.919 Are you preaching the gospel to your own heart or are you preaching a kind of legalism, 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:42.919 a kind of, I don't know, anti-nominism, liberalism? 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:52.919 I don't know, what are you preaching right now to your own heart? 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:59.919 So, this is how a person thinks, lives and talks without God. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:02.919 Try to live without God. 00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:05.919 And this is the result, destruction. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:10.919 So, how are we living in this life that is like vapor? 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:19.919 We as Christians, do we live fearing God or do we live as there is not God at all? 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:24.919 And this is very important because we can think, oh no, no, I am not an atheist. 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:31.919 I believe in God, but the question is, it is a saving knowledge, 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:36.919 it is a real knowledge in your heart, in your life? 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:42.919 You can say, I am not an atheist, but how do we live? 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:52.919 Ah, it is so terrible, my friends, to live knowing that there is a God, 00:15:52.919 --> 00:16:00.919 but living as there is not God at all, calling ourselves Christians 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:08.919 and living as a practical atheist, doing things, thinking things, 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:15.919 talking about stuff, but with no reference, a reverence, sorry, to God. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:18.919 We don't fear God. 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:23.919 Actually, to talk about the fear of God is like, no, we don't like to talk about that, 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:27.919 we prefer to talk about the grace of God, but because we talk about, 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:33.919 and because we preach about the grace of God, we need to preach and we need to live fearing God, 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:40.919 because fear means to recognize who God is, is to live with this awe, 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:46.919 to live knowing that the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, is here right now, 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:52.919 it is in your house right now, it is in your flat, it is in the midst of your relationship, 00:16:52.919 --> 00:17:00.919 it is, God is there, God is here. 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:07.920 Some churches in Latin America, because it's October, some of them are celebrating the Reformation month, October. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:12.920 Martin Luther, Calvin and all that idea that we need to remember that, 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:17.920 and we need to study and think about the Reformation, a continuous Reformation in our life, 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:23.920 but when we think about this, when we think about Martin Luther or Calvin or here, 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:30.920 just three minutes ago, from this place, John Knox and the old martyrs, the old covenanters, 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:37.920 the old preachers of the gospel, the Puritans, I don't know, 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:42.920 but there's a phrase, there's a word that they used to talk about, 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:47.920 and it is to live, codam veal, that's it, it's Latin, 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:53.920 and that is to live in the presence of God, before the face of God. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:18:00.920 So think about that for a moment, when you're being tempted to fall into sin, 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:09.920 or when you are having problems, or if you are in your deathbed, or if you are celebrating something really nice in your life, 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:14.920 and that's okay, but think that God is there, God is here. 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:22.920 How do we should think? How do we should live considering that reality? 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:28.920 We should repent of living a practical atheism. 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:31.920 So those are the difference between the fool and the wise. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:36.920 Now let's go to the second point quickly, the similarities between the fool and the wise, 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:40.920 and I hope to be brief at this point. 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:48.920 Chapter 2 verse 16 says, how the wise dies just like the fool. 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:59.920 Chapter 3 verse 20, all go to one place, all are from the dust, and to the dust all return. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:08.920 So both have the same fate, the grave, the wise and the fool dies, and that's it. 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:14.920 In one sense, everything ends for both the wise and the fool. 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:29.920 Death seals the moment where vapor disappears, or savings, or degrees, or dreams, everything ends. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:40.920 Although this vapor disappears from the sight of all people, there is someone who will bring everything to memory. 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:46.920 Actually, that's the way of how this book ends. 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:57.920 The last verse of the very last chapter is, for God will bring every deed into judgment with every secret thing, 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:02.920 whether good or evil. 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:05.920 Let's stop here for a moment. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:14.920 100 years from now, and nobody will be here. Nobody. 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:26.920 While we know that the grave is the fate for both the wise and the fool, the moment of death reveals the great difference between the wise and the fool, 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:29.920 and that is eternity. 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:34.920 Eternity. 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:37.920 And think about this in a practical way. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:44.920 We as Christians, we need to live, think and meditate upon the eternity. 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:52.920 Jonathan Edwards used to say, stamp the eternity in my eyes. 00:20:52.920 --> 00:21:02.920 That, thinking about the eternity, it doesn't mean to, oh yeah, let's think about heaven and be like, and do nothing here because we are going to heaven. 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:06.920 No, that's not, that's a foolish way to think about that eternity. 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:10.920 No, it's because I know that there's an eternity. 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:19.920 It's because I know that I will be in front before the God Almighty. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:24.920 I live in a wise way with wisdom. 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:29.920 Being faithful to my calling here on earth. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:39.920 People who are really thinking on eternity are people who really think about the vocation, the vocatio, the calling here on earth, 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:49.920 as Christians, as mothers, as fathers, as daughter, sons, I don't know, in your office, in your work, in your job, in your marriage, 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:55.920 in your bad moments, in your very special and beautiful moments. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:22:06.920 We live knowing that we will be before the throne of God. 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:12.920 But not fearing in a bad way like, oh, I'm so scared about that thought. 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:22.920 No, it's because the God Almighty who is calling you right now to live in this way because he loves you. 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:28.920 That's the reason of why we fear God and we love God and we adore his name. 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:38.920 So, while, as I said, the grave is not the end of a story. 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:46.920 In fact, it is the beginning of what both the wise and the fool have solved. 00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:58.920 It is the beginning, death. Here it is. It is the beginning of a consummation of a life with or without God. 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:10.920 In the very moment when we close our eyes and pass into eternity, it is the beginning of a life full of joy and delight in heaven 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:16.920 because Christ is there, or Savior is there. 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:29.920 That's the reason of why heaven is heaven, because our Savior, the God-man is there, the most beautiful man, the God-man is there. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:42.920 So, it is the beginning of a life full of joy and delight in heaven, or of a life full of pain and torment in hell forever. 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:49.920 So, where lies the big similarities between the wise and the fool and this? 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:55.920 And please hear this. Both need God's wisdom. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:59.920 And where lies the big difference between the wise and the fool? 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:04.920 The relationship with God's wisdom. 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:13.920 Both the fool and the wise born as fool or sinners. That's our nature when we need our fallen nature. 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:19.920 So, how can we, as sinners, as fool people, became wise? 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:32.920 And this is very important to consider this. Not by our own efforts or good deeds, not by getting nowhere and more nowhere every day, not by getting degrees. 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:46.920 Here it is in God's name. It is only by the sovereign work of the Almighty God who brings life to death people, who brings life to death families, 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:54.920 to bring life to your heart, to my heart. It is passing, it is passing from death to life. 00:24:54.920 --> 00:25:03.920 It is because God Himself, the wisdom of God, comes to our heart. 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:14.920 And this is the final point and third point. The foundation of the wise. What is the foundation? What is the ground of the wise man? 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:21.920 And that is God's wisdom. We can see God's wisdom in the works of creation and providence. 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:27.920 Yeah, we see injustice, awful things outside. 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:38.920 But at the same time, we can see the beauty of nature, the beauty of the highlands, of the sky. Such a beautiful island. 00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:45.920 We can see the beauty in the south of Chile or in every country, in the universe, in this planet. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:56.920 But also we can see God's wisdom in providence. In providence that in this moment you are hearing the word of God. 00:25:56.920 --> 00:26:10.920 But, however, God's wisdom is displayed in an indescribable way in the Gospel. Therefore, God's wisdom is the Gospel. 00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:18.920 What do we deserve for our sins? What do we deserve for our hypocrisy? 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:28.920 As a couple of sentences ago, that sermon about the Pharisees and hypocrisy is a very hard text. 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:37.920 But what do we deserve for living in that way? What do we deserve for living two lives in one person? 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:49.920 Being a Christian here, but then at home, we live as animals, maybe as Ecclesiastes describes. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:57.920 What do we deserve for that? What do we deserve for our practical atheism? 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:02.920 The justice of God cries out for satisfaction. 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:08.920 On the other hand, God's goodness cries out for recovering our fellowship with God. 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:16.920 So how can we understand God's justice and God's mercy at the same time? 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:20.920 And that is in God's wisdom. 00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:25.920 In the Gospel of God, Psalm 85 verse 10, 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:33.920 it says, instead of love and faithfulness, meet righteousness and peace. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:41.920 Kiss each other. That kiss between righteousness and peace. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:45.920 That kiss is God's wisdom. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:47.920 This is God's wisdom. 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:55.920 God in Christ took a human nature to live in representing the foolish people. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:59.920 Christ lived a life that feared God and kept the law. 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:03.920 He loved and he loves God with all his heart. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:07.920 I love and love his people with all his heart. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:17.920 Christ also died for what we as sinners and foolish people who reject God's wisdom deserves. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:19.920 The wrath of God. 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:28.920 In this way, the wise one, the incarnate wisdom, 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:37.920 experience of death in order to bring life to the fool. 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:40.920 That is God's wisdom. 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:46.920 Both the wise and the fool experience death. 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:48.920 Can you imagine? 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:51.920 Can you meditate about this? 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:55.920 That God who is life himself, 00:28:55.920 --> 00:29:02.920 he took a human nature and died in your place, in my place, 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:11.920 to bring life, real life, to bring joy and delight in his presence. 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:17.920 God's wisdom is applied in the heart of those who are destroying themselves 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:24.920 through self-righteousness, false morality and immorality. 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:27.920 That is God's wisdom. 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:33.920 We know that we deserve death. 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:37.920 And God, he also knows that, 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:44.920 but to bring life to your heart, to your family, 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:51.920 to bring life when you fall into sin and you're desperate and you don't know what to do 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:56.920 and you're not failing in the same sin like every single day. 00:29:56.920 --> 00:30:03.920 But God, he experienced this. 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:05.920 I don't have words to describe this, 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:16.920 but in God's wisdom, he became flesh and died for you to give you life. 00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:24.920 If you ask Christian, if you have received this life, how are you living? 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:32.920 Why we should continue living for all fallen dreams? 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:39.920 Why we should continue living for our self-righteousness? 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:41.920 When? 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:45.920 When are we going to live for God? 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:50.920 Wisdom, because wisdom is in our heart. 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:59.920 So this is God's wisdom, and this is why it's so close to the preaching of the gospel. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:03.920 So let me finish with this, reading this. 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:09.920 1 Corinthians chapter 1 from verse 21, 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:15.920 For since in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom. 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:23.920 It pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:28.920 For Jews demand science and Greek wisdom. 00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:35.920 Maybe you are looking for science for something spectacular. 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:42.920 Maybe you are waiting for a voice of an angel telling you, hey, wake up. 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:51.920 Or maybe you are just seeking wisdom for the sake of wisdom itself, but no. 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:56.920 Verse 23, But we preach Christ crucified. 00:31:56.920 --> 00:32:04.920 And that is God's wisdom, and that is what we need as Christians, as church, as inner families. 00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:08.920 We need to preach every day. We need to preach to ourselves. 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:16.920 We need to preach to our families, to our wives, to our children, to our children, to our children. 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:24.920 And he is right now at the right hand of the Father, and from that place he will come one day, as the Apostles Creed said. 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:27.920 We need to preach Christ crucified. 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:41.920 We don't need to continue preaching about good stuff, about I don't know what society wants to know more about that, know what creation needs. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:45.920 Is the Creator who is the Redeemer. 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:48.920 That is God's wisdom. That is what we need. 00:32:48.920 --> 00:32:54.920 That is what you need right now. 00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:59.920 But for that, we need to love this, the Word of God. 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:04.920 We need the Holy Spirit, and I finished with this. Sorry. 00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:14.920 But two Fridays ago I was sharing a word in the Friday morning devotional about the Holy Spirit and God's wisdom. 00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:20.920 And we should pray for this, for the Holy Spirit. 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:27.920 This brings the wisdom of our Triune Heart, of the Triune God. 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:34.920 We need to ask for the Holy Spirit who knows the depths of God. 00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:47.920 We need to pray for the Holy Spirit to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to really live according to God's wisdom. 00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:56.920 That is the gospel. Let's pray. 00:33:56.920 --> 00:34:16.920 Father, thank you for your holy wisdom that you gave your own son for us. 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:22.920 To become your sons and daughters. 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:27.920 Thank you for the cross. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:33.920 Lead us to every day remember this precious gospel. 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:37.920 Because this is what we need now. 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:45.920 And this is what we are going to need in the very moment of our death. 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:52.920 It is to know Christ and Christ crucified. 00:34:52.920 --> 00:35:03.920 Help us to be faithful in our calling as fathers, mothers, children. 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:16.920 Guide us to be men and women of God who fears your name. 00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:34.920 Father, we ask for this for a sense of who you are to live with all in your presence. 00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:39.920 Thank you for this moment. Thank you for this day. 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:45.920 Thank you because Christ bore the growth of God. 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:52.920 And now we are really free. Free to live according to God's wisdom. 00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:56.920 Free to fear you and love your law. 00:35:56.920 --> 00:36:03.920 That is to love you with all our hearts and love our neighbor. 00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:19.920 In your precious name we pray. Amen. Amen.