WEBVTT

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 Let me ask you, are you a wise person?

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 Well, before you answer that, what does it mean to be wise?

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 You know, anybody can probably fix their own, coin their own definition and make them to be wise.

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 But let's look at it.

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 The word wise in the dictionary says this.

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 To be wise means having the power of discerning and judging correctly as to what is true or right.

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 Wisdom.

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 It's not about just being smart.

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 Just having a high IQ.

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 Even what you would call a secular dictionary definition says

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 that wisdom involves the power of discerning and judging correctly as to what is true or right.

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 Being wise is not the same as being intelligent or academically inclined.

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 You know people that are highly intelligent, but they aren't wise.

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 They don't demonstrate good judgment.

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 You might even say they don't have any common sense.

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 On the other hand, you know some people that you really respect because they are wise and give wise advice.

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 But they're not highly educated.

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 They're not intellectually gifted.

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 Look on the screen at an example of someone who was obviously not very smart,

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 but he sometimes demonstrated real wisdom.

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 Go see.

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 I ain't bees coming with the uniforms.

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 I promised I'd get her another sewing machine.

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 Take charge here.

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 Okay, Gummer.

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 You heard what Andy said.

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 I'm in charge.

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 Let's get cutting.

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 You crawl in under there and I'll go get the jack.

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 Right.

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 Okay.

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 Stamp under there.

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 Could be spiders.

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 Now what makes you think there's spiders under there?

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 Call a spider spider.

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 That's where I'd go.

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 Gummer, there's no spiders under there.

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 Now let's get moving.

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 I don't know.

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 Sure looks spidery to me.

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 There's no spiders under there.

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 Now we establish.

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 You would never list Gummer Pyle as one of the smartest or wisest people you know, would you?

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 But even Gummer Pyle knew that a dark and damp place like that was a good place for a spider.

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 And he was wise enough, he wasn't going to crawl up under there no matter what Barney told him.

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 Many people in this world possess that kind of wisdom.

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 It's not something just reserved for Christians.

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 It's really a part of us being created in the image of God.

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 I'm beginning a new series this morning called Becoming Wise.

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 We're going to begin in James chapter 3, verses 13 through 18,

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 and just really get started there today and come back and finish it next week.

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 And then we're going to move to the book of Proverbs,

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 the most well-known book of wisdom in the Bible.

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 As I go wherever I go,

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 talk to whoever,

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 I can't find anyone who is not discouraged

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 about the present condition of our country right now.

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 Especially the political chaos that we call a presidential election process.

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 I mean, people of whatever political persuasion,

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 people of all walks of life, it seems,

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 are discouraged,

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 are pessimistic

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 about what we see happening around about us,

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 not just in the political world,

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 but there too.

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 What I want us to understand is what we see happening

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 and not happening before us

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 is really just a symptom of the deeper moral

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 and spiritual crisis

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 that exists in our country.

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 We desperately need God's wisdom

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 in every possible way.

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 And I want us to start seeking it

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 by looking at God's Word

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 today in James chapter 3.

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 Let's look at it.

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 James 3, 13.

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 Who is wise and understanding among you?

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 By his good conduct,

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 let him show his works

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 in the meekness of wisdom.

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 But if you have bitter jealousy

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 and selfish ambition in your hearts,

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 do not boast

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 and be false to the truth.

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 This is not the wisdom

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 that comes down from above,

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 but is earthly,

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 unspiritual,

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 demonic.

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 For where jealousy

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 and selfish ambition exist,

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 there will be disorder

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 and every vile practice.

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 But the wisdom from above

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 is first pure,

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 then peaceable,

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 gentle,

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 open to reason,

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 full of mercy

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 and good fruits,

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 impartial

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 and sincere.

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 And a harvest of righteousness

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 is sown in peace

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 by those who make peace.

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 I want us to look at verse 13 in particular

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 and the question

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 that James begins

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 by asking.

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 Who is wise and understanding among you?

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 And then you look at what's said next,

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 you know,

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 he's not looking for an answer in words.

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 He's looking for an answer

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 in people's works.

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 James is not saying,

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 define wisdom.

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 He's not telling us even to describe it.

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 He's telling us to show it

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 by the way that we live.

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 He then describes characteristics

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 of two different kinds of wisdom,

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 earthly wisdom

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 and heavenly wisdom.

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 Now,

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 you notice that everything James says

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 about earthly wisdom

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 or just human wisdom

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 is negative.

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 The reason he does that

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 in this context

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 is because he is comparing it

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 with the wisdom

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 that comes from God.

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 There is a

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 huge difference

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 between the wisdom

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 that God gives

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 to his people

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 and what we might call

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 the natural human wisdom

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 that anyone may possess.

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 But we also need to be clear

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 that neither James

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 nor any other Bible writers

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 deny the reality

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 of human wisdom.

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 You just stop

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 and think about it.

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 You can think of somebody

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 that you have really learned

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 some important things from,

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 lessons of life.

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 You consider them to be wise.

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 Maybe they were a relative,

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 a coach,

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 a teacher,

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 or a good friend.

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 But they were not Christians.

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 But as you think back

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 or just as you know them now,

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 you know that

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 there's some wisdom

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 coming from them.

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 You know,

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 throughout the history

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 of our country,

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 we as a nation

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 have been blessed

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 with wisdom

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 from leaders

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 who were not Christians.

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 in the founding

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 of our country,

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 we've read about

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 non-Christians,

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 deists,

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 and others who,

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 they were wise men

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 who helped this country

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 get started

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 and get started

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 in a good way.

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 We've had wise,

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 non-believing,

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 non-Christian leaders

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 in government,

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 in the military,

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 in educational institutions,

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 and in industry.

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 So we know

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 there's wisdom

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 out there

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 in people

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 who are not Christians.

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 There is such a thing

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 as human wisdom

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 that has positive benefits.

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 But James' focus

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 is on the superiority

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 of the wisdom

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 that God gives

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 to His people.

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 And the reason

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 His wisdom

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 is superior

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 is because

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 God's wisdom

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 is what enables us

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 to know Him

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 and know His will

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 and know how

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 He intends

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 for life

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 to be lived

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 in this world

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 in a way

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 that will please Him

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 and satisfy us.

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 That's why God's wisdom

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 is so important.

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 And that's going to be

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 the focus of our teaching

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 throughout this study.

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 But it's also important

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 that we understand

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 that basic human wisdom

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 is real

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 and it is a gift

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 of God

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 to all people.

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 So let's get started.

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 Number one,

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 human wisdom

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 is possible.

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 Human wisdom,

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 natural wisdom

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 we'll say,

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 is possible

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 for two reasons.

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 Number one,

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 we're created

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 in the image of God.

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 The Scripture says

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 in Genesis 1,

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 Then God said,

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 Let us make man

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 in our image

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 after our likeness.

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 So God created man

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 in His own image.

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 In the image of God,

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 He created him.

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 Male and female,

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 He created them.

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 The theologian

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 Wayne Grudem

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 points out

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 that the words

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 image and likeness

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 refer to something

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 that is similar

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 but not identical

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 to the thing

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 it represents.

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 You may have a child

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 who is like you

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 in many ways.

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 There's a resemblance.

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 There's things

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 that they do

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 that is a lot like you

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 but they're not

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 the same as you.

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 Well,

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 we're created

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 in the image of God

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 and that means

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 we are like Him

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 in many ways.

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 Not always,

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 obviously.

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 we're not God

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 but being created

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 in His image,

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 in His likeness

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 means that we are

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 like Him

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 in some ways.

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 Now,

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 in the context

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 of us talking

00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:09.120
 about wisdom,

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 one of the ways

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 that we're like God

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 is our ability

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 to think,

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 reason logically,

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 learn from experience

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 and then make

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 wise decisions.

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 I mean,

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 you think about it yourself

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 how you have been able

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 to think through

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 problems

00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:27.280
 things,

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 think through situations,

00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:30.960
 reason logically

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 about it,

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 maybe learn

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 from trial and error,

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 learn from somebody

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 else's experience

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 and then you were able

00:11:38.800 --> 00:11:40.500
 to make a wise decision.

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 It may have been about

00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:42.620
 building something.

00:11:43.040 --> 00:11:43.640
 It may have been about

00:11:43.640 --> 00:11:44.840
 figuring out something.

00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:45.520
 It may have been about

00:11:45.520 --> 00:11:46.720
 relating to people

00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:48.560
 but you know

00:11:48.560 --> 00:11:49.520
 what we're talking about here.

00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:53.019
 being able to have

00:11:53.019 --> 00:11:54.379
 such wisdom

00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:55.879
 is what's helped

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 human beings

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 move from,

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 say,

00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:59.980
 living in caves

00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:02.220
 thousands of years ago

00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:04.279
 to living in the kind

00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:05.519
 of homes we have today

00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:07.319
 where we're

00:12:07.319 --> 00:12:09.000
 cooled in the summer,

00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:11.379
 warm in the winter.

00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:13.220
 I mean,

00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.639
 we've come a long way

00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:16.279
 since early man.

00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:17.939
 We've come a long way

00:12:17.939 --> 00:12:19.179
 people my age

00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:19.580
 from when

00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:21.000
 I was young.

00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:23.080
 But no other creature

00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:23.919
 has done this.

00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.720
 Think about it.

00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:26.679
 Birds

00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:28.340
 are still building

00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:28.879
 nests

00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.820
 in trees

00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:30.759
 with little twigs

00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:31.320
 just like they've

00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:32.279
 always done it.

00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:33.279
 Unless

00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:34.340
 you

00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:35.899
 have built

00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.759
 a bird house

00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:37.559
 for a bird.

00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:39.220
 A bird would never

00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:39.779
 think about

00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:40.879
 building a bird house.

00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.080
 He couldn't

00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:43.179
 think about it.

00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:44.679
 He couldn't do it.

00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:46.159
 Because birds

00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:46.679
 are not created

00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:47.460
 in God's image.

00:12:48.059 --> 00:12:48.639
 We are.

00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:50.120
 That means

00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:51.360
 we are people

00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:52.159
 who are able

00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:54.679
 to be wise

00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:55.759
 in many ways.

00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:56.840
 Now,

00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:58.720
 after Adam and Eve

00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.580
 sinned,

00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:03.539
 everything in creation

00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.399
 was corrupted.

00:13:05.700 --> 00:13:06.240
 The ability

00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:07.139
 of human beings

00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:08.059
 to use their

00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:09.580
 God-like qualities

00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:11.360
 was greatly distorted

00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:13.919
 but it was not lost.

00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:16.340
 Since the fall,

00:13:16.460 --> 00:13:17.440
 since Genesis 3,

00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.419
 since everybody

00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:19.700
 after Adam and Eve

00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:20.039
 has been born

00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:20.659
 into this world,

00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:21.960
 everybody has still

00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:22.940
 been born

00:13:22.940 --> 00:13:25.300
 created in the image

00:13:25.300 --> 00:13:26.120
 and likeness

00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:26.779
 of God.

00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:29.120
 We still have

00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.300
 those God-like

00:13:30.300 --> 00:13:31.100
 qualities.

00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:33.759
 We are able to

00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:37.220
 understand morality,

00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:38.500
 to reason,

00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:39.500
 to use logic,

00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:40.899
 to create things,

00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:42.940
 to be wise.

00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:47.320
 James even points out

00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:48.220
 in chapter 3,

00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:49.500
 look up a few verses

00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:50.759
 back in verse 9,

00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:52.899
 refers to people

00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:53.779
 who are made

00:13:53.779 --> 00:13:54.920
 in the likeness of God.

00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:56.600
 This is how he uses it.

00:13:57.160 --> 00:13:58.639
 James is condemning people

00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:00.000
 who use their tongue

00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:01.480
 to curse people

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:04.240
 who have been created

00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:05.799
 in the image of God.

00:14:06.319 --> 00:14:06.980
 Being created

00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:07.740
 in the image of God

00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.679
 makes you,

00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:10.620
 makes all people,

00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:13.159
 someone of worth,

00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.100
 of value,

00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:16.080
 of dignity.

00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:17.900
 That's really the basis

00:14:17.900 --> 00:14:19.080
 of self-esteem

00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:19.900
 and the only basis

00:14:19.900 --> 00:14:20.820
 that we're created

00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:22.660
 in the image of God,

00:14:23.020 --> 00:14:24.240
 the likeness of God.

00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:25.860
 That's one reason

00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:26.840
 why we can be wise.

00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:27.960
 A second reason

00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:29.080
 is because of God's

00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:30.020
 common grace.

00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:31.759
 You understand

00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:33.060
 God's saving grace.

00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:34.180
 You're familiar

00:14:34.180 --> 00:14:34.940
 with that passage

00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:36.160
 in Ephesians chapter 2

00:14:36.160 --> 00:14:36.639
 that says,

00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:37.720
 for by grace

00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:38.639
 are you saved

00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.560
 through faith.

00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.440
 We understand

00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:45.320
 God's saving grace.

00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.600
 He shows us

00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.740
 His undeserved favor

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:50.180
 through faith in Jesus.

00:14:51.280 --> 00:14:52.500
 Well, God's common grace

00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:54.280
 is also His undeserved favor,

00:14:55.520 --> 00:14:56.160
 but it's shown

00:14:56.160 --> 00:14:57.660
 to all people

00:14:57.660 --> 00:14:59.800
 as He blesses them

00:14:59.800 --> 00:15:00.500
 with the talents,

00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:01.120
 abilities,

00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:02.140
 and resources

00:15:02.140 --> 00:15:04.360
 to do all the things

00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:05.080
 that it's possible

00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:05.620
 for us to do

00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:06.160
 in this world.

00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:08.580
 Jesus talked about this

00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:09.440
 in the Sermon on the Mount.

00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.740
 He gave this example

00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:12.740
 of God's common grace.

00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:13.980
 Look at it in Matthew 5.

00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:15.480
 Jesus said,

00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:15.980
 for He,

00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:16.700
 that is God,

00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:18.220
 makes His Son

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.759
 rise on the evil

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.060
 and on the good

00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:22.659
 and sends rain

00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.620
 on the just

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.700
 and on the unjust.

00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:25.920
 I mean,

00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:26.860
 Jesus is just talking

00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:27.879
 about a simple,

00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.580
 the simple way

00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:30.360
 God just

00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.800
 blesses people.

00:15:32.800 --> 00:15:33.600
 You've got some

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.759
 godly farmers

00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:35.360
 over here.

00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.220
 You've got some

00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:37.659
 ungodly farmers

00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:38.220
 over there.

00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:39.879
 Well, God sends rain

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.500
 on both of them.

00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:42.700
 God gives favorable

00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:43.740
 weather conditions

00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:44.539
 to both.

00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:45.460
 Both can have

00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.279
 good crops.

00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.659
 Both can be blessed

00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:49.940
 in this kind of way.

00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:51.100
 The Apostle Paul

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:51.580
 said something

00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.220
 very similar

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.039
 in Acts 14.

00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:54.860
 He's writing to,

00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:55.580
 or he's talking

00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.539
 to pagans,

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.419
 unbelievers,

00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:58.299
 and he's trying

00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:59.039
 to help them understand

00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.960
 how God's always

00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:00.519
 been involved

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.240
 in your life.

00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:02.620
 God is real.

00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:03.419
 You just haven't

00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:04.100
 known Him.

00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.200
 But Paul was making

00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:05.740
 Him known.

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.799
 Look at what he said.

00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:08.379
 Yet he,

00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.199
 that is God,

00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.059
 did not leave

00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:11.240
 himself without witness,

00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:13.120
 for he did good

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:14.219
 by giving you

00:16:14.219 --> 00:16:15.379
 rains from heaven

00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.740
 and fruitful seasons,

00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.859
 satisfying your hearts

00:16:18.859 --> 00:16:20.079
 with food

00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:21.319
 and gladness.

00:16:22.219 --> 00:16:22.419
 See,

00:16:22.459 --> 00:16:23.579
 God's common grace

00:16:23.579 --> 00:16:25.620
 has always been

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.479
 in this world.

00:16:26.819 --> 00:16:28.120
 He's always shown

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.819
 His undeserved favor

00:16:29.819 --> 00:16:31.059
 to people in general

00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:34.419
 just by sending

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.199
 good weather,

00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.720
 enabling us

00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.540
 to do the kind

00:16:37.540 --> 00:16:37.900
 of things

00:16:37.900 --> 00:16:38.840
 that we can do

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.460
 and discover.

00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:40.860
 Tim Keller,

00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:42.640
 influential pastor

00:16:42.640 --> 00:16:43.540
 in New York City,

00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:45.060
 Redeemer of Presbyterian Church.

00:16:45.780 --> 00:16:46.620
 He does an excellent

00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:47.700
 job of explaining

00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.860
 how all people,

00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:50.560
 all of us,

00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:51.960
 are beneficiaries

00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:54.040
 of God's common grace.

00:16:54.280 --> 00:16:55.060
 Look at what he says.

00:16:56.140 --> 00:16:57.160
 God gives out

00:16:57.160 --> 00:16:58.400
 gifts of wisdom,

00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.220
 talent,

00:16:59.560 --> 00:16:59.860
 beauty,

00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.740
 and skill

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:02.500
 according to His grace.

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.600
 that is,

00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.559
 in a completely

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.119
 unmerited way.

00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:08.240
 He casts them

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.640
 across the human race

00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.640
 like seed

00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:12.420
 in order to enrich,

00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:13.180
 brighten,

00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.680
 and preserve the world.

00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.460
 By rights,

00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.079
 sin should be making

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.200
 life on earth here

00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:21.539
 much more unbearable

00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.519
 than it is.

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.720
 And in fact,

00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:24.779
 all of creation

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.420
 and culture

00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:27.480
 should have fallen apart

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:28.180
 by now.

00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:30.140
 The reason that it is

00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:30.880
 not worse

00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:32.960
 is because of the gift

00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:34.420
 of common grace.

00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:36.080
 Without an understanding

00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:36.980
 of common grace,

00:17:37.800 --> 00:17:38.580
 Christians will have

00:17:38.580 --> 00:17:39.720
 trouble understanding

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:41.580
 why non-Christians

00:17:41.580 --> 00:17:43.480
 so often exceed

00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:45.560
 Christians morally

00:17:45.560 --> 00:17:47.980
 and in wisdom.

00:17:50.080 --> 00:17:51.500
 I've always heard

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.680
 people talk about

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:54.860
 and trying to argue

00:17:54.860 --> 00:17:55.500
 against

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:58.020
 how we're all born

00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:58.579
 as sinners

00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.519
 and in need

00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.139
 of a Savior.

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.000
 I've always heard

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.519
 people say,

00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.920
 but I know

00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:04.539
 these people

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.579
 who are not Christians

00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:07.639
 and they're more

00:18:07.639 --> 00:18:09.920
 morally upright

00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:11.680
 than most church members.

00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.420
 That's true.

00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:19.519
 But the truth is,

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.619
 as Keller points out,

00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:23.219
 it's because of God's

00:18:23.219 --> 00:18:25.419
 common grace.

00:18:26.979 --> 00:18:28.639
 He's just used

00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.559
 some people

00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:31.559
 in some good

00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:33.039
 and helpful ways

00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:34.939
 because that's how

00:18:34.939 --> 00:18:35.619
 he accomplished

00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:36.439
 his purpose.

00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:39.739
 Such common grace wisdom

00:18:39.739 --> 00:18:40.439
 that we're talking

00:18:40.439 --> 00:18:40.919
 about here

00:18:40.919 --> 00:18:43.139
 is how all cultures

00:18:43.139 --> 00:18:43.979
 throughout history

00:18:43.979 --> 00:18:45.599
 have had wise men

00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.259
 and the Bible

00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.219
 talks about that.

00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.599
 The Bible refers

00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.859
 to wise men.

00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:50.639
 The wise men

00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:51.799
 of Israel's

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.859
 pagan,

00:18:53.939 --> 00:18:55.159
 unbelieving neighbors.

00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:56.799
 The Bible refers

00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.479
 to them as having

00:18:57.479 --> 00:18:58.459
 a certain kind

00:18:58.459 --> 00:18:59.319
 of wisdom.

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.259
 Look at it

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.699
 from 1 Kings chapter 4.

00:19:02.919 --> 00:19:03.979
 And God gave Solomon

00:19:03.979 --> 00:19:05.599
 wisdom and understanding

00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:07.019
 beyond measure

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:09.179
 so that Solomon's wisdom

00:19:09.179 --> 00:19:10.459
 surpassed the wisdom

00:19:10.459 --> 00:19:11.339
 of all the people

00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:12.039
 of the east

00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:13.799
 and all of the wisdom

00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:14.379
 of Egypt.

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.079
 Now,

00:19:16.919 --> 00:19:17.959
 this description

00:19:17.959 --> 00:19:19.079
 of Solomon's wisdom

00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:21.559
 exceeding the wisdom

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.899
 of everyone else

00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:25.939
 meant that everyone else

00:19:25.939 --> 00:19:27.980
 did have wisdom.

00:19:29.379 --> 00:19:30.899
 You can't exceed

00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:32.299
 other people's wisdom

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.699
 if they don't have any.

00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.819
 So the Bible's acknowledging

00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:38.519
 unbelieving people

00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:40.659
 can be wise.

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.579
 Old Testament scholar

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.819
 Derek Kidner

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:45.699
 explains how this is taught

00:19:45.699 --> 00:19:46.679
 throughout the Old Testament.

00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:47.460
 He says,

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.120
 The Old Testament

00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:49.220
 clearly implies

00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.360
 that a man can still

00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:51.700
 think validly

00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:53.240
 and talk wisely

00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:55.019
 within a limited field

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:57.759
 without special revelation.

00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:00.039
 So what we're doing here,

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.400
 we're beginning

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.620
 a study of wisdom.

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:05.019
 As we do this,

00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:07.120
 honesty requires

00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:07.680
 that we acknowledge

00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:10.320
 that God created

00:20:10.320 --> 00:20:11.820
 all human beings

00:20:11.820 --> 00:20:12.880
 with a capacity

00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:13.560
 for wisdom.

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:15.539
 and God

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:16.279
 has so worked

00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:16.960
 in some people

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.460
 by His common grace

00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:22.419
 that we see it.

00:20:23.419 --> 00:20:24.480
 We see

00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:25.779
 wise people

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.940
 benefit

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:27.940
 from their wisdom,

00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:29.700
 but they're not Christians.

00:20:31.159 --> 00:20:32.079
 We've got to be

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.000
 very careful now

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.399
 about thinking

00:20:34.399 --> 00:20:35.339
 too highly

00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:38.119
 of our capacity

00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:39.740
 for wisdom.

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.259
 Point number two,

00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:42.279
 human wisdom

00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:43.019
 is limited.

00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:45.099
 Only God's wisdom

00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:46.079
 is without limitation.

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.480
 Even if sin

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.039
 had not entered

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:49.779
 the world,

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.819
 human wisdom

00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.579
 would never be

00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:54.220
 equal with God's

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.220
 because we're not God.

00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:57.220
 We're not all-knowing,

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.019
 all-powerful,

00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:58.879
 everywhere present.

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:01.980
 But since everything

00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:02.700
 has been corrupted

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.279
 by sin,

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:06.140
 we know for a fact

00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:06.900
 that our wisdom

00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:07.799
 is not only limited,

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:09.319
 our wisdom

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:10.079
 is flawed.

00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.259
 I want us to look

00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.059
 at two examples

00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:14.659
 of imperfect wisdom.

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.019
 First,

00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.759
 we don't always

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.519
 know the facts

00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.639
 in a given situation.

00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:21.720
 Lisa and I

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.960
 a while back

00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:24.119
 were going to a place

00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:24.680
 in Anderson

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.680
 on Highway 81.

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.659
 Well,

00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:31.399
 I knew that we could

00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:32.240
 get there quicker

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.259
 and avoid a lot

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.819
 of traffic

00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:34.740
 at that time of day

00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:36.200
 by going through

00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.180
 easily and some

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:38.160
 back roads

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.559
 and weaving our way

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.299
 to Highway 81.

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.200
 I've done it before

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.039
 and you could do it

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.819
 and we took off.

00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:46.000
 But we got down

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.920
 one of those

00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:47.799
 back roads

00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:49.640
 and all of a sudden

00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:51.039
 the road was blocked.

00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:52.420
 There was a sign,

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:54.059
 Road Closed.

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.700
 So we had to turn around.

00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:59.099
 We had to turn around

00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:00.539
 and find another way

00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:04.379
 and we wound up

00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:06.180
 taking more time

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:08.299
 getting there

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:10.139
 than I intended

00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:10.759
 for us to take.

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.559
 It took a lot longer

00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.680
 going that way.

00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:16.299
 I made an unwise

00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.240
 decision to take

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:18.220
 those back roads

00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:20.240
 but it was not

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:22.180
 a foolish decision

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:24.680
 because I didn't

00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:25.680
 know the road

00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.319
 was closed.

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:28.939
 For us,

00:22:29.379 --> 00:22:30.779
 we don't always

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.539
 act wisely

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.139
 because we don't

00:22:32.139 --> 00:22:33.119
 know all the facts.

00:22:34.159 --> 00:22:35.619
 But God always

00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:36.700
 acts wisely

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:38.240
 because He knows

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.220
 all the facts.

00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:41.159
 Another reason

00:22:41.159 --> 00:22:42.319
 why we act

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:44.019
 unwisely sometimes

00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:45.859
 is because we're

00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:46.759
 incapable

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:48.200
 of understanding

00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.039
 all the facts.

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.639
 Let's think,

00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:53.059
 if we went over

00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:53.879
 to the preschool area

00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:54.460
 right now,

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:58.299
 and I walked up

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:58.880
 to one of the

00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.799
 three-year-olds

00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:01.480
 and I said,

00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:03.160
 here is a dime,

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:05.380
 here is a nickel.

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.480
 You can have

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.480
 whichever one you want

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.319
 and I put them

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:10.220
 in my hand

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:10.700
 where they can see

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:11.259
 the dime

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.500
 and the nickel.

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:16.059
 That three-year-old

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.180
 most likely

00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:19.480
 will pick

00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.680
 the nickel

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:22.920
 because it's bigger.

00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:24.960
 That does not

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:26.140
 mean that three-year-old

00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:26.860
 is foolish.

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.580
 It just means

00:23:29.580 --> 00:23:30.759
 that that three-year-old

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.660
 hasn't learned

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.220
 the value

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.240
 of coins yet.

00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:35.620
 That three-year-old

00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:36.640
 is incapable

00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.340
 of understanding

00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:38.300
 the dime is worth

00:23:38.300 --> 00:23:39.080
 more than the nickel

00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:41.740
 because he thinks

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.560
 bigger is better.

00:23:45.560 --> 00:23:46.560
 We don't always

00:23:46.560 --> 00:23:47.519
 act wisely

00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:49.720
 because sometimes

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.740
 we're not capable

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.500
 of understanding

00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.619
 all the facts

00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:54.039
 in a given situation.

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.319
 But God always

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.079
 acts wisely

00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:59.440
 because he not only

00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.279
 knows the facts,

00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:01.220
 he understands

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:02.440
 and he also knows

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.319
 how he is going

00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.140
 to work

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:06.380
 to bring about

00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:07.779
 his purpose

00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:10.119
 in our lives

00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.900
 and in the situation.

00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.680
 Human wisdom

00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.920
 is always limited

00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:16.539
 because there's things

00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.559
 that we do not know

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.660
 and we're not capable

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.180
 of knowing.

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:21.660
 that's why we

00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.900
 need

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:25.779
 the special gift

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.700
 of wisdom

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:28.600
 that God gives

00:24:28.600 --> 00:24:29.340
 to his children.

00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:31.279
 But there's one more

00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:32.360
 aspect of human wisdom

00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:34.000
 that we must look at

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.140
 because it is

00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:36.560
 the major emphasis

00:24:36.560 --> 00:24:38.140
 of the Bible's teaching

00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:38.660
 on wisdom.

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.039
 Number three,

00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:41.259
 human wisdom

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.360
 is defective.

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.220
 Human wisdom

00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:44.880
 has been corrupted

00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.700
 by sin

00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.680
 as I pointed out

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.100
 earlier.

00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:48.159
 when Adam and Eve

00:24:48.159 --> 00:24:48.759
 sinned in the

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.379
 Garden of Eden,

00:24:49.699 --> 00:24:51.059
 it corrupted everything

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:52.759
 that God had created

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:54.879
 including human wisdom.

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.139
 Now one of the most

00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:58.699
 devastating aspects

00:24:58.699 --> 00:25:00.779
 of human wisdom,

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:03.179
 one of the things

00:25:03.179 --> 00:25:03.719
 that makes it

00:25:03.719 --> 00:25:05.199
 so defective

00:25:05.199 --> 00:25:06.539
 is that

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:08.259
 it cannot enable us

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:10.819
 to understand God

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:12.059
 or understand

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.139
 or understand

00:25:12.139 --> 00:25:12.700
 the things

00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.220
 of God.

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.139
 Paul pointed out

00:25:16.139 --> 00:25:17.700
 the inferiority

00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:18.799
 of human wisdom

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.819
 in 1 Corinthians

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.519
 chapter 1

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.220
 and chapter 2.

00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:22.819
 Paul goes

00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:24.099
 to great lengths

00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:25.460
 in those two chapters

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.700
 to say

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:28.960
 wise people

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.639
 in this world

00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:31.159
 could never

00:25:31.159 --> 00:25:32.419
 figure out

00:25:32.419 --> 00:25:34.240
 that God's

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.220
 way of salvation

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.119
 was through

00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:37.419
 sending his son

00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:38.179
 to die

00:25:38.179 --> 00:25:39.359
 a criminal's death

00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.079
 on the cross

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:42.259
 and that

00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.319
 we could be

00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:43.699
 forgiven

00:25:43.699 --> 00:25:44.399
 by trusting

00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:44.859
 in him.

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.639
 Look at what

00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:46.919
 he says

00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.719
 in 1 Corinthians

00:25:47.719 --> 00:25:48.419
 chapter 1

00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:48.879
 verse 20

00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:49.519
 to start with.

00:25:50.419 --> 00:25:52.679
 Has not God

00:25:52.679 --> 00:25:53.619
 made foolish

00:25:53.619 --> 00:25:54.199
 the wisdom

00:25:54.199 --> 00:25:54.759
 of the world?

00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:55.839
 For since

00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.359
 in the wisdom

00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:56.919
 of God

00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:57.619
 the world

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.619
 did not know

00:25:58.619 --> 00:25:59.439
 God

00:25:59.439 --> 00:26:00.859
 through wisdom.

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.240
 It pleased God

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:02.959
 through the folly

00:26:02.959 --> 00:26:04.019
 of what was preached

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:05.939
 to save those

00:26:05.939 --> 00:26:07.099
 who believe.

00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:08.899
 nobody could ever

00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:09.839
 figure out God

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:11.299
 God's ways.

00:26:11.439 --> 00:26:12.139
 God had to make

00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:12.599
 it known

00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:13.399
 and he made it

00:26:13.399 --> 00:26:14.279
 known in ways

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:15.740
 that caused

00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.579
 wise people

00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:16.959
 to think

00:26:16.959 --> 00:26:17.919
 that's just crazy.

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.099
 The Greeks

00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:22.240
 they thought

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.119
 it was foolishness.

00:26:23.179 --> 00:26:23.799
 They laughed.

00:26:26.639 --> 00:26:27.199
 God's

00:26:27.199 --> 00:26:27.819
 it takes

00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.500
 God's

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.500
 wisdom

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:30.099
 God's

00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:31.399
 opening our minds

00:26:31.399 --> 00:26:32.599
 to be able

00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:33.699
 to believe

00:26:33.699 --> 00:26:34.379
 the gospel

00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:35.780
 to know

00:26:35.780 --> 00:26:36.500
 it's real

00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.620
 to trust

00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:38.580
 Jesus that way.

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.740
 He also

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.100
 goes on

00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:41.000
 in 1 Corinthians 2

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.400
 the natural

00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.320
 person does not

00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:44.260
 accept the things

00:26:44.260 --> 00:26:44.720
 of the Spirit

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.240
 of God

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.260
 for they are

00:26:46.260 --> 00:26:47.380
 folly to him

00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:48.400
 and he is not

00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.360
 able to understand

00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:50.140
 them because

00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.580
 they are

00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.280
 spiritually

00:26:51.280 --> 00:26:52.380
 discerned.

00:26:54.020 --> 00:26:54.840
 What Paul

00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:55.600
 is saying here

00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:57.540
 is why

00:26:57.540 --> 00:26:58.320
 Solomon

00:26:58.320 --> 00:27:00.740
 was greater

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.380
 Solomon's

00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.400
 wisdom

00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:03.160
 was greater

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:03.640
 than all

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.420
 the wisdom

00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:05.880
 of the pagan

00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.660
 wise men

00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.259
 in his day.

00:27:08.560 --> 00:27:09.180
 Solomon's

00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:09.480
 wisdom

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.040
 was greater

00:27:10.040 --> 00:27:10.680
 because God

00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:11.279
 had given him

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:13.540
 a special

00:27:13.540 --> 00:27:14.200
 gift.

00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:15.900
 God had

00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.420
 given him

00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.759
 his wisdom

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.380
 wisdom from

00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:18.860
 above

00:27:18.860 --> 00:27:19.340
 wisdom

00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:20.279
 from heaven.

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.019
 Now going

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.860
 back to James

00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:24.100
 James tells us

00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:24.920
 that there are

00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:25.540
 two kinds

00:27:25.540 --> 00:27:26.100
 of wisdom

00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:26.660
 at work

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.279
 in people's

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.860
 lives.

00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:29.580
 Wisdom

00:27:29.580 --> 00:27:30.440
 of the world

00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.000
 or human

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.500
 wisdom

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.100
 that's in

00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:33.019
 verses 13

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:34.139
 through 16

00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:35.299
 than the

00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:35.619
 wisdom

00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.259
 of God.

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.079
 That's in

00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.960
 verses 13

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:39.259
 and 17

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:39.740
 and 18.

00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.019
 We're going

00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.440
 to look at

00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:41.940
 that in

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.660
 detail next

00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:42.960
 week.

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.259
 What I want

00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:45.460
 us to

00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.000
 understand on

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.559
 this first

00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.279
 Sunday of

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:49.940
 seeking to

00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.579
 find out

00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:50.940
 what it

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.339
 means to be

00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:51.839
 wise,

00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:54.079
 I want us

00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:54.599
 to understand

00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:56.220
 human wisdom

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.660
 is real

00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:59.220
 and it

00:27:59.220 --> 00:27:59.720
 does have

00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.720
 many positive

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.940
 benefits.

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.380
 That's

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:04.900
 because we're

00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.300
 created in

00:28:05.300 --> 00:28:05.540
 the image

00:28:05.540 --> 00:28:05.980
 of God

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:08.100
 and God

00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:08.560
 by his

00:28:08.560 --> 00:28:08.880
 common

00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.300
 grace

00:28:09.300 --> 00:28:09.860
 continues

00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.980
 to work

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.920
 and bless

00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:12.440
 people's

00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:12.880
 lives.

00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:15.400
 The wisdom

00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:16.200
 of someone

00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:17.620
 not very

00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.200
 bright

00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.580
 like

00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:18.840
 Gomer

00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:19.279
 Powell

00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:21.060
 and

00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:21.720
 technological

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.620
 geniuses

00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.379
 like Steve

00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:24.199
 Jobs

00:28:24.199 --> 00:28:25.739
 are good

00:28:25.739 --> 00:28:26.419
 examples

00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:28.299
 of this

00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:28.979
 human

00:28:28.979 --> 00:28:29.699
 earthly

00:28:29.699 --> 00:28:30.579
 kind of

00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:30.979
 wisdom.

00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.579
 But as

00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:33.839
 we're going

00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.219
 to see in

00:28:34.219 --> 00:28:34.859
 James

00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:37.779
 next week

00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.359
 and as

00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:38.739
 we've already

00:28:38.739 --> 00:28:39.259
 read this

00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.599
 morning

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.839
 and we're

00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.019
 going to

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.539
 see throughout

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:41.839
 the book

00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:42.759
 of Proverbs

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.859
 in the coming

00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.379
 weeks,

00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.599
 human wisdom

00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:48.859
 is inferior

00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.539
 to the wisdom

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.039
 that God

00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:50.519
 gives to

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.000
 his people.

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.839
 The reason

00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:53.180
 that our

00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:53.759
 country's

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.180
 in the

00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:54.720
 mess

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.480
 that we're

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:55.980
 in today

00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:57.539
 is because

00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.680
 most people

00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.599
 function with

00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:01.220
 only human

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:01.720
 wisdom,

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.180
 worldly

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.740
 wisdom.

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.420
 We know

00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:06.220
 that's true

00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:08.200
 by reading

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:08.940
 what James

00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.700
 says about

00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:09.900
 it.

00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.380
 This is what

00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:11.920
 we see

00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.579
 every day

00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.200
 all around

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.359
 us,

00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:13.720
 isn't it?

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.059
 Look in

00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.720
 verse 16.

00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.019
 For where

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.740
 jealousy

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:18.539
 and selfish

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.180
 ambition

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:20.019
 exist,

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.299
 there will

00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:21.480
 be

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.160
 disorder

00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:23.319
 and every

00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.180
 vile or

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:24.599
 evil

00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:25.279
 practice

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:27.200
 all around

00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:27.700
 us today.

00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.359
 People

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:30.960
 can't

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.559
 appreciate

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:32.660
 what other

00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.380
 people have

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:33.779
 and do.

00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.299
 We're

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:34.900
 jealous.

00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:37.019
 We're all

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.319
 about

00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:38.259
 ourselves.

00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:39.759
 We're

00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.319
 selfish.

00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:41.500
 We have

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.119
 selfish

00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:42.839
 ambition.

00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:44.799
 And so

00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:45.400
 the result

00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:46.799
 is just

00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.039
 about

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.519
 everywhere

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:47.960
 you

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:48.539
 look,

00:29:49.419 --> 00:29:50.799
 there's

00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.440
 disorder

00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:53.399
 and every

00:29:53.399 --> 00:29:54.259
 vile

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.319
 practice.

00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:58.740
 I have

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.159
 no

00:29:59.159 --> 00:29:59.659
 political

00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.079
 motive

00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:00.460
 behind

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:00.939
 this,

00:30:01.679 --> 00:30:02.299
 but I

00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:02.619
 think you

00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:02.759
 could

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.419
 describe

00:30:03.419 --> 00:30:03.960
 the

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:08.700
 democratic

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:10.599
 situation,

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.480
 Hillary Clinton's

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.000
 campaign,

00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.220
 and the

00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:14.960
 Republican,

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.319
 Donald Trump's

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:16.839
 campaign,

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.319
 both

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:20.220
 campaigns of

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:20.879
 disorder

00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:23.060
 and every

00:30:23.060 --> 00:30:23.420
 vile

00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:24.080
 practice.

00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:28.220
 Think about

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.120
 what you

00:30:29.120 --> 00:30:29.640
 read,

00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:30.380
 what you

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:30.800
 hear,

00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:31.520
 what you

00:30:31.520 --> 00:30:31.980
 see.

00:30:33.800 --> 00:30:34.520
 I want

00:30:34.520 --> 00:30:34.940
 to encourage

00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.300
 you to

00:30:35.300 --> 00:30:35.880
 make a

00:30:35.880 --> 00:30:36.260
 commitment

00:30:36.260 --> 00:30:37.400
 to be a

00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:37.680
 part of

00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:37.880
 these

00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:38.480
 studies

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:40.120
 with a

00:30:40.120 --> 00:30:40.580
 prayer that

00:30:40.580 --> 00:30:40.940
 God will

00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:41.260
 help you

00:30:41.260 --> 00:30:41.580
 to truly

00:30:41.580 --> 00:30:42.320
 understand

00:30:42.320 --> 00:30:43.400
 His

00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:44.200
 wisdom,

00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:46.480
 why you

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.100
 need it,

00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:48.560
 and how

00:30:48.560 --> 00:30:49.060
 you can

00:30:49.060 --> 00:30:49.740
 come to

00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.940
 possess it

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.740
 and experience

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.319
 it.

00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:53.539
 I want to

00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.039
 encourage you

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.359
 to go ahead

00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:54.620
 and start

00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:55.160
 reading in

00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:55.380
 the book

00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.240
 of Proverbs.

00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:56.839
 We'll start

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.799
 two weeks

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.380
 from today,

00:30:59.279 --> 00:30:59.759
 Proverbs

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.599
 1-1,

00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:01.500
 and we're

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:01.660
 going to

00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:02.099
 move through

00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.620
 most of

00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:03.279
 that book.

00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:06.339
 But in

00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:06.980
 this crazy

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.599
 and chaotic

00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.240
 world

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:11.839
 that we're

00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.200
 in,

00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:13.059
 we know

00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:16.019
 we desperately

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:17.039
 need what

00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.519
 we don't

00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:17.980
 have.

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:19.940
 we desperately

00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.700
 need the

00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.620
 special wisdom

00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:22.559
 that God

00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.120
 gives to

00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.799
 His people.

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.299
 But get

00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:25.819
 this now,

00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.360
 God's only

00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:28.700
 going to

00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.860
 give this

00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:30.720
 wisdom,

00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.440
 His wisdom,

00:31:32.120 --> 00:31:32.839
 to us,

00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.480
 His people,

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.759
 if, number

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.380
 one, we

00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.339
 value it,

00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:39.240
 we want it,

00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.700
 and if,

00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.259
 number two,

00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:42.900
 we put forth

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.440
 the effort

00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:45.820
 to seek it

00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:47.820
 and acquire it.

00:31:48.820 --> 00:31:49.580
 Let's pray

00:31:49.580 --> 00:31:49.900
 together.

00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:51.200
 Father,

00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:51.279
 Father,

00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:55.799
 help us to

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:57.400
 see that

00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:59.539
 while we

00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:00.380
 may display

00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:01.360
 some good

00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:02.320
 qualities of

00:32:02.320 --> 00:32:03.080
 human wisdom

00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:05.759
 as we see

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.779
 in this world,

00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:10.200
 help us,

00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:10.539
 Father,

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:12.720
 to see

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.059
 that it

00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.379
 is

00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:14.980
 inadequate.

00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:19.579
 It will

00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:20.079
 not help

00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:20.460
 us to

00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:21.159
 truly know

00:32:21.159 --> 00:32:21.700
 You and

00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.379
 Your ways

00:32:22.379 --> 00:32:22.700
 and Your

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.259
 will so

00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:23.500
 that we

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:23.859
 can do

00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:24.279
 Your will

00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:24.740
 and please

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:24.980
 You.

00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.879
 It won't

00:32:26.879 --> 00:32:27.379
 help us to

00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:28.000
 live life

00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:28.480
 in a way

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.779
 that serves

00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:30.579
 Your purpose,

00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.859
 helps truly

00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:33.700
 other people,

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.359
 and brings

00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:35.940
 joy to our

00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.720
 own lives.

00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:38.579
 Help us to

00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:39.039
 see, Father,

00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.480
 that it's

00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.480
 human wisdom

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.119
 only.

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.799
 It's got us

00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:44.200
 to where we

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.740
 are today.

00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:47.779
 So help us,

00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.200
 dear God,

00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:50.519
 to desire

00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:53.220
 and to be

00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:54.059
 willing to

00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:55.399
 seek

00:32:55.399 --> 00:32:57.579
 wisdom

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.379
 from You.

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:01.859
 Wisdom

00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:02.480
 that brings

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:02.980
 about

00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:04.519
 peace,

00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:06.940
 gentleness,

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:08.940
 reasonableness,

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.519
 mercy,

00:33:12.080 --> 00:33:13.259
 impartiality,

00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:15.140
 sincerity,

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:16.980
 and all

00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:17.440
 kinds of

00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:18.180
 good fruits.

00:33:22.580 --> 00:33:23.180
 Show us,

00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:23.460
 Father,

00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.220
 how we should

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:25.920
 respond to You

00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:26.460
 this morning,

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.299
 the kind of

00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:28.860
 commitment we

00:33:28.860 --> 00:33:29.600
 should make.

00:33:30.860 --> 00:33:31.700
 Help us to do

00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:32.220
 that now.

00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:33.539
 In an attitude

00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:34.019
 of prayer,

00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.039
 listen to the

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.279
 Lord,

00:33:35.879 --> 00:33:36.379
 do what He's

00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:36.839
 telling you to

00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:37.059
 do.

00:33:37.619 --> 00:33:38.200
 If I could pray

00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:38.579
 with you during

00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.000
 this time,

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.039
 I'd be happy

00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:40.420
 to do that.

00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:40.759
 I'll be here

00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.159
 at the front.

00:33:41.159 --> 00:33:41.639
 I'll be here

00:33:41.639 --> 00:33:41.779
 at the front.

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.339
 I'll be here

00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:42.440
 at the front.