WEBVTT

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 Good morning.

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 My name is Matthew Capone,

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 and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church.

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 And it's my joy to bring God's word to you today.

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 A special welcome if you're new with us.

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 We'd love to have you go to our website at www.cmpca.net.

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 And when you go there,

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 there will be a pop-up immediately with a link to our online visitor card.

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 We'd ask that you fill that out and give us a chance to connect with you.

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 Whether you're new or not,

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 I'll remind you as I always do that while you can see me,

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 I can't see you.

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 And while we can see numbers,

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 we often can't see names.

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 And so I encourage you to take a moment now to make a comment in the comment box

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 at the bottom right of the Facebook video.

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 You can say something as simple as good morning or here or great to be with

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 everyone.

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 And you can share where you're watching from and who you're watching with.

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 And that just gives us a small sense of being together,

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 even as we're separated.

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 I also want to let you know,

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 there's a lot of discussion right now in our city and in our country about

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 churches reopening.

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 And so I know many of you have questions about that.

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 We are talking about it as a leadership.

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 We're meeting again as elders and deacons this Thursday.

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 Our hope is that we can open very soon,

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 but I can't give you a date or any details.

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 I certainly don't know what the date is yet.

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 That's a discussion that we're going to have to have together.

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 And I do know there's some rumors going around.

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 And so if someone tells you the exact date that we're opening,

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 just know that I am unaware of that date.

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 And so take that with a grain of salt.

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 With that,

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 I'll remind you that we are in the book of Proverbs this summer.

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 We started last week there.

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 And the book of Proverbs is a book in the Old Testament,

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 which is the section of the Bible that was written before Jesus came.

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 And it's a book that contains Proverbs,

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 which is a way of speaking that comes in short,

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 pithy statements that contain a lot of truth.

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 But as we mentioned last week,

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 the book of Proverbs,

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 of course,

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 is not less than that,

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 but it's also much more than that.

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 The book of Proverbs is a book about wisdom.

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 And wisdom is skill in the art of living.

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 Wisdom is how we navigate the area between right and wrong.

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 God's given us clear boundaries in this world,

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 but wisdom determines how we interact well within those boundaries.

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 Wisdom is how we operate in the gray areas.

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 It helps us navigate the path that God has given us.

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 It also helps us to stay on the path that God has given us.

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 I'll remind you that one of my encouragements for you

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 as we go through the book of Proverbs

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 is to be reading it yourself.

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 One Bible reading plan that's been used by many people in the church

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 throughout the centuries is the Proverbs reading plan,

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 which is where you read the chapter of Proverbs

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 that corresponds with the day of the month.

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 There's 31 chapters in Proverbs,

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 and there's at most 31 days in a month.

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 And so you can always just pick up

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 with what the chapter is for that day.

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 Last week,

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 we looked at verses one through seven,

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 and we saw what wisdom was.

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 We also saw that it begins with the fear of the Lord.

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 The fear of the Lord is not a fear of punishment

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 because we know from 1 John 4, 18,

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 that perfect love casts out fear.

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 Instead, the fear of the Lord,

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 as we see it in Proverbs,

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 is characterized by a love of what's good

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 and a hatred of what's evil.

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 The fear of the Lord is also characterized

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 by this rich humility,

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 this desire to learn and to know God,

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 this teachability,

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 this longing for more knowledge about God and his ways.

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 I gave you one definition from a man who puts it this way.

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 The fear of the Lord is an attitude of submission,

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 respect,

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 dependence,

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 and worship.

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 Submission,

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 respect,

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 dependence,

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 and worship.

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 This week,

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 we're going to continue our introduction

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 to the book of Proverbs,

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 and we're going to be in verses eight and nine.

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 Now,

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 if you've listened to many preachers,

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 you know,

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 often things are very concise and clear

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 in three points,

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 and everything goes exactly together.

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 As we're looking at the introduction,

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 though,

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 we're going to talk about two things

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 that are related,

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 but a little bit separate.

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 First,

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 we're going to ask this question

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 about what we do

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 with the fact that the book of Proverbs

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 is very masculine in its color.

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 We have this exhortation in verse eight

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 to hear my son.

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 So what do we do with the fact

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 that it's primarily a relationship

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 between a son and a father

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 that's shown here?

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 And then we're going to continue our discussion

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 with the fear of the Lord

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 and ask how do we use the fear of the Lord

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 to receive wisdom

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 and grow in wisdom?

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 If the fear of the Lord

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 is the beginning of wisdom,

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 the beginning of knowledge,

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 how do we proceed on that path

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 once we've begun?

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 And that's what we're going to see today

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 from verses eight and nine.

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 And so I invite you to turn with me

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 to the book of Proverbs.

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 You can open it up

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 in a new browser on your computer,

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 open it up on your phone,

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 or you can turn in your physical Bible

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 like I have.

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 And as we come to it,

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 remember that this is God's word.

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 In Proverbs chapter 30,

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 verse five tells us

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 that every word of God proves true.

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 He is a shield

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 to those who take refuge in him.

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 And so that's why we read it now,

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 starting at verse eight.

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 Hear, my son,

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 your father's instruction

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 and forsake not your mother's teaching,

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 for they are a graceful garland

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 for your head

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 and pendants

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 for your neck.

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 I invite you to pray with me

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 as we come to this portion

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 of God's word.

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 Our father in heaven,

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 we thank you that you are

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 a good father

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 and that you give us

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 instruction and teaching

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 that you don't leave us

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 to figure out this world

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 on our own,

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 but instead you walk with us

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 for those who belong to you.

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 And so we ask simply this morning

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 that you would do that,

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 that you'd send your spirit,

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 that you'd walk with us

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 through these words

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 and that you'd speak

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 clearly to us,

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 that we would be convicted

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 by our need

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 for your forgiveness

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 and our need for repentance.

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 We'd also be encouraged

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 by the grace

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 that you offer

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 through your son.

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 And it's in his name,

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 the mighty name of Jesus

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 that we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 During this time

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 where we're under the threat

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 of the coronavirus,

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 many of you are probably familiar

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 with the story

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 of Captain Brett Crozier.

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 Captain Brett was in charge

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 of the aircraft carrier,

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 Theodore Roosevelt,

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 and there came a point

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 where he decided

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 he was going to write a letter

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 to those who were in authority

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 over him, above him,

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 telling them about the situation

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 occurring on his aircraft carrier

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 where they were having

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 an outbreak of the coronavirus.

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 And asking,

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 pleading that something be done.

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 And of course,

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 whether he intended it

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 to happen or not,

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 this letter ended up

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 becoming a public letter.

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 So it was written

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 to those individuals specifically

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 and ended up being read

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 by many, many people

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 who perhaps

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 it was not intended for.

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 Now, some people think

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 he's a hero.

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 Some people think

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 he's a villain.

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 Whichever side you fall on,

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 that's not the point.

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 The point is this.

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 There are many times

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 where there's a letter

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 that's written.

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 There's something that's written

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 to one person,

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 but it ends up

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 either on purpose

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 or inadvertently

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 being read by many people.

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 The book of Proverbs

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 takes that type of format

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 in many places.

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 And we see that here

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 in verse eight.

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 It's a letter to a son.

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 Hear, my son,

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 your father's instruction.

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 And we're going to see this

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 throughout the book

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 that there's going to be

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 this masculine color

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 and character

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 to the book of Proverbs.

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 So for example,

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 we'll see the son

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 warned about the woman

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 who might tempt him.

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 But we're not going to see

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 women warned about men

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 who might tempt them.

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 And so that raises a question

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 for thoughtful readers.

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 What do we do with that?

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 Why is the book

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 set up in that way?

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 And how can women

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 access this book

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 when it has that color to it?

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 I'm going to give you,

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 as I say often,

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 when I talk about things

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 that are more controversial,

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 I'm going to say something,

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 but not everything.

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 And so there are a few things,

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 a few hints

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 that we have

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 at the beginning here.

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 First of all,

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 there are things

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 that are time-bound

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 and things that are timeless.

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 One thing that's time-bound here

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 is that in the ancient Near East,

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 there was a wisdom genre.

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 So the book of Proverbs

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 is not alone

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 in being a book about wisdom.

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 There were other wisdom books

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 during that time

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 in the ancient Near East,

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 and they would take

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 a similar approach.

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 They also would teach wisdom

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 through the lens

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 of a father talking to his son.

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 And so that reminds us,

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 it highlights something for us

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 about the character of God.

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 God always speaks to his people

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 in a way that meets them

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 where they're at.

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 God speaks to his people

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 in a way that meets them

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 where they're at.

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 So it makes sense

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 that God would reveal himself

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 in his word in this way

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 because it was a genre

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 that people at that time

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 were familiar with.

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 And that's something

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 that's time-bound.

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 We are not as familiar

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 with that genre,

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 and so it takes some skill

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 for us to read

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 the book of Proverbs

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 that it might not have taken

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 or might not have required

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 as much thinking

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 from someone at that time.

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 I mentioned this last week,

00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:47.740
 by the way,

00:08:47.799 --> 00:08:48.919
 that that's part of wisdom

00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:50.219
 from verses one through seven.

00:08:50.839 --> 00:08:51.459
 Verse six,

00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:53.179
 wisdom is understanding

00:08:53.179 --> 00:08:54.240
 a proverb and a saying,

00:08:54.339 --> 00:08:55.139
 the words of the wise

00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:55.699
 and their riddles.

00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:56.839
 In other words,

00:08:56.899 --> 00:08:57.699
 there's a wisdom

00:08:57.699 --> 00:08:58.919
 to reading wisdom.

00:09:00.219 --> 00:09:01.439
 And so that's something

00:09:01.439 --> 00:09:02.360
 that's time-bound.

00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:04.000
 What's timeless, however,

00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:06.620
 is that there is this sense

00:09:06.620 --> 00:09:07.779
 that God has made the world

00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:08.579
 in such a way

00:09:08.579 --> 00:09:10.559
 that men have a special level

00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:11.819
 of power and authority

00:09:11.819 --> 00:09:12.980
 and responsibility.

00:09:14.099 --> 00:09:15.579
 And what the book of Proverbs does

00:09:15.579 --> 00:09:16.639
 is it highlights

00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:17.719
 what that is for.

00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:19.840
 It reminds us

00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:21.279
 that some of the privileges

00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:22.160
 that men experience

00:09:22.160 --> 00:09:22.779
 in this world

00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:23.860
 are not at all

00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:25.220
 for their comfort

00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:26.120
 or their convenience.

00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:28.180
 Instead,

00:09:29.100 --> 00:09:30.300
 authority and power

00:09:30.300 --> 00:09:31.460
 is to be used

00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:32.259
 for other people.

00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.320
 It's for sacrifice.

00:09:34.700 --> 00:09:36.040
 It's for service.

00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:38.279
 And it's for protection.

00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:40.180
 So this book

00:09:40.180 --> 00:09:41.480
 is going to be a book

00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:42.960
 that talks to men

00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:43.879
 about those things.

00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:44.560
 It's a book

00:09:44.560 --> 00:09:45.800
 about accountability

00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:47.459
 and responsibility.

00:09:48.779 --> 00:09:49.559
 Some of you know

00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:50.299
 if you've been tracking

00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:52.000
 with our Friday emails

00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:53.000
 that I've started a podcast

00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:53.899
 on the book of Proverbs

00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:54.740
 to accompany this.

00:09:55.339 --> 00:09:56.479
 And I had a wonderful conversation

00:09:56.479 --> 00:09:58.000
 with a man named Zach Eswine.

00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:58.839
 And you can find this

00:09:58.839 --> 00:09:59.439
 on our website.

00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:00.620
 And we talked about

00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:01.479
 this very aspect.

00:10:01.579 --> 00:10:02.620
 And he highlighted the fact

00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:03.859
 that this book

00:10:03.859 --> 00:10:04.979
 puts on display

00:10:04.979 --> 00:10:05.959
 what's expected

00:10:05.959 --> 00:10:06.519
 of people

00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:07.579
 who are in authority.

00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:08.959
 In other words,

00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:09.559
 it makes them

00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:10.759
 even more accountable

00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:11.759
 than they were before.

00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:12.779
 And so we should not

00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:14.740
 see this as a book

00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:15.259
 that is somehow

00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:16.460
 giving men privileges

00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:17.600
 or giving them power

00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:18.159
 in some way.

00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:19.279
 Instead, it's recognizing

00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:20.720
 there is sometimes

00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:21.439
 a power there

00:10:21.439 --> 00:10:22.480
 and there needs to be

00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:23.580
 tremendous accountability.

00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:25.340
 This, by the way,

00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:26.600
 ties into what happened

00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:27.639
 with Captain Crozier, right?

00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:28.759
 He writes this letter

00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:30.759
 and it creates pressure.

00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:32.000
 It creates increased

00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.860
 accountability on the Navy.

00:10:34.819 --> 00:10:35.840
 Same thing is true

00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:36.360
 for Proverbs.

00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:37.039
 We should be able

00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:38.639
 to look at men

00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:39.720
 in power and authority

00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:40.240
 and say,

00:10:40.800 --> 00:10:41.600
 and the book of Proverbs

00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:42.620
 says you need to act

00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.440
 in this way.

00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:44.540
 You need to act

00:10:44.540 --> 00:10:45.860
 in a way that preserves

00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:46.879
 justice and life

00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:47.960
 rather than does away with it.

00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:48.420
 You need to act

00:10:48.420 --> 00:10:49.580
 in a way that lifts people up

00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:50.720
 rather than tears them down.

00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:51.860
 You need to act

00:10:51.860 --> 00:10:53.300
 in a way that's responsible,

00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:54.180
 that protects

00:10:54.180 --> 00:10:55.480
 the dignity of other people.

00:10:57.300 --> 00:10:58.259
 And so the book of Proverbs

00:10:58.259 --> 00:10:59.080
 subverts

00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:00.720
 what we might see

00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:01.500
 in this world

00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:03.240
 from powerful men.

00:11:04.420 --> 00:11:05.120
 It's also written

00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:05.580
 in that way

00:11:05.580 --> 00:11:06.420
 because this is writing

00:11:06.420 --> 00:11:06.820
 to someone

00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:07.860
 who's going to become a king

00:11:07.860 --> 00:11:09.279
 and this male king

00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:10.299
 is going to be someone

00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:11.459
 who sets the tone

00:11:11.459 --> 00:11:12.159
 for the nation.

00:11:13.199 --> 00:11:14.519
 So it's incredibly important

00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:15.220
 that he have wisdom.

00:11:15.339 --> 00:11:16.379
 It's not that it's not important

00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:17.159
 that others don't,

00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:18.500
 but we want that wisdom

00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:19.100
 from him

00:11:19.100 --> 00:11:19.819
 to be passed

00:11:19.819 --> 00:11:20.419
 from the top

00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:21.699
 all the way down.

00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:23.779
 We see this highlighted,

00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:24.279
 by the way,

00:11:24.339 --> 00:11:25.639
 in Proverbs chapter 31.

00:11:25.939 --> 00:11:26.779
 Lemuel is the name

00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:27.319
 of a king

00:11:27.319 --> 00:11:28.659
 and Lemuel

00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:29.740
 is given some instruction

00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:30.439
 by his mom,

00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:30.919
 by the way.

00:11:31.059 --> 00:11:31.620
 We'll talk about that

00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:31.980
 in a minute,

00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:33.399
 about how to use wine.

00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:35.199
 And she helps him understand

00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:36.659
 that there's a different standard

00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:38.039
 for someone in power

00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:39.240
 when it comes to alcohol,

00:11:39.439 --> 00:11:40.199
 a higher standard.

00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:41.719
 So it's not that he has

00:11:41.719 --> 00:11:42.379
 more privileges,

00:11:43.199 --> 00:11:43.799
 it's that he has

00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:44.620
 more responsibility.

00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:46.079
 It's not that he has

00:11:46.079 --> 00:11:46.719
 more power,

00:11:47.199 --> 00:11:47.740
 but that he has

00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:48.679
 more accountability.

00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:50.860
 The other thing

00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:51.879
 we need to highlight here

00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:54.079
 is that in the world

00:11:54.079 --> 00:11:54.679
 of wisdom,

00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:56.459
 wise men

00:11:56.459 --> 00:11:58.199
 learn from women.

00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:00.759
 In the world of wisdom,

00:12:01.339 --> 00:12:02.100
 wise men

00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:03.879
 learn from wisdom.

00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:04.879
 We're going to see

00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:05.620
 in verse 8 here,

00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:06.000
 it's not just

00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:07.039
 the father's instruction,

00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:08.419
 but the mother's instruction.

00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:09.700
 We're going to see

00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.700
 in the book of Proverbs

00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:11.240
 that wisdom

00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:12.039
 is personified

00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:12.840
 not as a man,

00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.620
 but as a woman.

00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:17.279
 And we'll also see

00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.039
 something interesting

00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:19.620
 in Proverbs 31.

00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:20.500
 I mentioned before,

00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:21.240
 Proverbs 31,

00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.179
 we see this king

00:12:22.179 --> 00:12:23.559
 named King Lemuel

00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:24.840
 who is being taught

00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:25.840
 by his mother.

00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:27.320
 Now, if you've been

00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:28.120
 a Christian for a while,

00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:28.539
 you're familiar

00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:29.080
 with the Bible,

00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:30.500
 you know that the book

00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.000
 of Proverbs

00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:31.700
 has this chapter

00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:32.419
 at the very end

00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:33.259
 that's talked about

00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:33.799
 all the time

00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:34.419
 and people will talk

00:12:34.419 --> 00:12:35.620
 constantly about

00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:36.839
 the Proverbs 31 woman

00:12:36.839 --> 00:12:37.639
 and you might see books

00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:39.000
 about the Proverbs 31 woman.

00:12:39.359 --> 00:12:40.019
 You might see articles

00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:40.379
 about them,

00:12:40.439 --> 00:12:41.399
 people talking about them

00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:42.279
 and sometimes it feels

00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:43.120
 overwhelming, right,

00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:43.919
 because there's this woman

00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:45.199
 who seems impossible

00:12:45.199 --> 00:12:46.259
 to follow

00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:47.379
 in terms of her example.

00:12:48.199 --> 00:12:49.139
 That's fascinating

00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:51.159
 because Proverbs 31

00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:52.240
 is not written to women.

00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:55.099
 It's actually written to men.

00:12:56.339 --> 00:12:56.759
 And so,

00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:57.899
 my hope is that

00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:59.299
 when I'm old and gray

00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:00.799
 and potentially wise,

00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:02.079
 I will write a book

00:13:02.079 --> 00:13:03.000
 called Becoming

00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:04.919
 the Proverbs 31 man.

00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.960
 And the Proverbs 31 man

00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.340
 is going to have

00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:08.279
 several chapters in it.

00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:08.940
 Chapter 1,

00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:10.259
 which is going to come

00:13:10.259 --> 00:13:11.340
 from Proverbs 31

00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:12.379
 verses 1 through 9,

00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:14.100
 the Proverbs 31 man

00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:15.080
 listens carefully

00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:16.220
 to his mom.

00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.840
 That's what King Lemuel does.

00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:19.539
 He's instructed

00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:20.600
 by his mom in wisdom.

00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:21.539
 Then we're going to see

00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:22.340
 in chapter 2,

00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:24.419
 the Proverbs 31 man

00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:25.980
 listens very carefully

00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:26.740
 to his wife.

00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:28.059
 We're told in Proverbs 31

00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:28.759
 verse 11

00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:29.720
 that the heart

00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:30.179
 of the husband

00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:31.179
 trusts in his wife.

00:13:31.239 --> 00:13:31.599
 And of course,

00:13:31.739 --> 00:13:33.099
 if you trust in someone,

00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:34.459
 you are of course

00:13:34.459 --> 00:13:35.399
 going to want

00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:36.039
 their counsel

00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:36.699
 and their advice.

00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.259
 You're going to give

00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:38.719
 tremendous weight to that.

00:13:39.839 --> 00:13:41.079
 That's only chapter 2 though.

00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:41.919
 Chapter 3,

00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:44.179
 the Proverbs 31 man

00:13:44.179 --> 00:13:46.139
 is going to publicly praise

00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.539
 his mom and his wife

00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:49.039
 because that's again

00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:49.799
 what we see

00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:51.039
 in Proverbs 31

00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.299
 verse 28.

00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:54.620
 So as we come

00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:55.559
 to the book of Proverbs

00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:58.259
 and we have a book

00:13:58.259 --> 00:13:59.459
 that's about a son

00:13:59.459 --> 00:14:00.059
 and a father.

00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:01.739
 It's important

00:14:01.739 --> 00:14:03.079
 to remind ourselves

00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:03.579
 and remember

00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:04.139
 that women

00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:05.139
 are part of the chorus

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:05.899
 teaching wisdom

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:06.559
 to these men

00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:09.839
 and that wise men

00:14:09.839 --> 00:14:12.239
 listen very carefully

00:14:12.239 --> 00:14:13.899
 to the words of women.

00:14:15.239 --> 00:14:16.339
 Wise men

00:14:16.339 --> 00:14:18.359
 listen very carefully

00:14:18.359 --> 00:14:19.739
 to the words of women.

00:14:19.859 --> 00:14:20.939
 They want to be

00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:22.879
 Proverbs 31 men.

00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:24.459
 Men who listen

00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.060
 to their mom,

00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.500
 listen to their wives

00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:28.840
 and praise them publicly.

00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:30.940
 In the midst of that

00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:32.680
 there's still

00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:33.800
 the predominant voice

00:14:33.800 --> 00:14:35.220
 of the father here

00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.280
 in the book of Proverbs

00:14:36.280 --> 00:14:37.040
 and so that reminds us

00:14:37.040 --> 00:14:38.320
 this is a family context

00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:39.639
 much like the church

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.340
 where we want

00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:41.560
 strong fathers

00:14:41.560 --> 00:14:42.080
 and husbands

00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.040
 leading their families

00:14:43.040 --> 00:14:45.060
 and teaching them wisdom.

00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:46.820
 Finally,

00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.700
 I'll point out to you

00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:48.460
 this is a book

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.360
 for everyone

00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.080
 as we're reminded

00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:51.220
 in verses 4 through 6

00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:51.980
 from last week.

00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:53.460
 It's for the simple.

00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.980
 It's for the wise.

00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:56.519
 It's for the youth.

00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.340
 And so being wise

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:58.960
 in wisdom

00:14:58.960 --> 00:14:59.960
 is reminding us

00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:01.080
 that it's for everyone, right?

00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:02.060
 This is written to a son

00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:03.320
 but it's an adolescent male.

00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:04.560
 So even if we're men

00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.940
 very few of us

00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:06.900
 are adolescent males.

00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.540
 And if we're an adolescent male

00:15:08.540 --> 00:15:09.320
 very few of us

00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:10.240
 probably none of us

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.259
 are preparing to become

00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.160
 the king of Israel.

00:15:13.160 --> 00:15:14.019
 And so all of us

00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:15.400
 have to take a reading strategy

00:15:15.400 --> 00:15:16.160
 where we look

00:15:16.160 --> 00:15:17.139
 at the original audience

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:17.960
 and we figure out

00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:19.660
 what's meant for us.

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.240
 Now this might sound

00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:22.000
 like a bunny trail

00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:22.460
 at the beginning

00:15:22.460 --> 00:15:23.279
 but it's going to be important

00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:24.240
 for us as we go along

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.000
 the book of Proverbs

00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.000
 because we're going to encounter

00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.059
 this type of issue

00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:28.240
 over and over

00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.259
 and so we will just

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.039
 talk about it

00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:30.779
 as we go along.

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.539
 Again, I haven't said

00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.840
 everything here today

00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:34.360
 but I've said something.

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.720
 It's tempting

00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.779
 in our culture

00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:38.039
 to hear this story

00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:39.399
 about the relationship

00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:40.340
 between men and women

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.539
 as what we would call

00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:42.519
 in game theory

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.679
 a zero-sum game

00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:44.519
 which means that

00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.379
 whenever one wins

00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.080
 the other loses.

00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:47.480
 But in fact

00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.860
 the vision that the Bible

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.860
 gives us is very different.

00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:51.440
 It's a cooperative effort

00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:52.220
 that men and women

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.419
 are working together

00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:55.840
 cooperating side by side

00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:56.960
 building each other up

00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:58.680
 and using their strengths

00:15:58.680 --> 00:16:00.220
 to help each other.

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.519
 Of course that's a perfect segue

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.580
 because we've talked about

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:03.419
 hear my son

00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:04.659
 and now we're going to

00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:05.940
 look at what the son hears.

00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:06.480
 Verse 8

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.580
 Your father's instruction

00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:09.519
 and your mother's teaching.

00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:10.620
 So both the mother

00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.440
 and the father

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.919
 are working together.

00:16:13.060 --> 00:16:14.320
 The Bible sees the wisdom

00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:15.320
 as something that

00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:16.240
 both of them know

00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.200
 and both of them teach.

00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:17.800
 By the way

00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:19.299
 as this is a genre

00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:20.339
 from the ancient Near East

00:16:20.339 --> 00:16:21.620
 as often happens

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.159
 with the Bible

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.679
 it uses a genre

00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:24.659
 and it subverts it.

00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:25.639
 And so the voice

00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:26.120
 of the mother

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.779
 is going to appear here

00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:28.719
 in the book of Proverbs

00:16:28.719 --> 00:16:30.599
 more than it does

00:16:30.599 --> 00:16:32.459
 in the secular wisdom literature

00:16:32.459 --> 00:16:33.199
 that surrounds it

00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:33.639
 as the time.

00:16:33.719 --> 00:16:34.500
 It's unusual.

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.339
 It's surprising here

00:16:36.339 --> 00:16:37.879
 should be for those

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.459
 reading it

00:16:38.459 --> 00:16:39.839
 that the mother is mentioned.

00:16:40.059 --> 00:16:40.759
 However as people

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.979
 who know God's heart

00:16:41.979 --> 00:16:43.279
 for his people

00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:45.279
 it should not surprise us

00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:45.659
 at all.

00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:48.139
 God sees the family

00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:50.019
 as this school

00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:50.939
 of wisdom

00:16:50.939 --> 00:16:52.019
 and these words here

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:53.279
 we see instruction

00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:53.959
 and teaching.

00:16:54.079 --> 00:16:55.079
 There's a school aspect

00:16:55.079 --> 00:16:55.860
 to those words

00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:56.719
 and an aspect

00:16:56.719 --> 00:16:57.600
 of talking

00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:58.839
 and instructing

00:16:58.839 --> 00:16:59.759
 and there's also

00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:01.120
 a boot camp aspect

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.740
 that's captured

00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.719
 by these words.

00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:03.299
 There's an aspect

00:17:03.299 --> 00:17:04.079
 of discipline

00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.039
 and training

00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.000
 and punishment.

00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.619
 And so the Christian home

00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:08.359
 that we see here

00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:09.180
 is a school

00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.379
 for wisdom.

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.079
 It's a place

00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:12.639
 where wisdom

00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.420
 is taught

00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.119
 and acted out

00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:15.159
 not just in words

00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:16.460
 but in discipline

00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.120
 and training.

00:17:18.340 --> 00:17:18.980
 And so the initial

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:20.519
 application for us

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.380
 is this.

00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.000
 Remember we're asking

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:22.560
 this question

00:17:22.560 --> 00:17:23.320
 how do we use

00:17:23.320 --> 00:17:24.200
 the fear of the Lord

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.480
 to receive

00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:26.240
 and grow

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:26.860
 in wisdom?

00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.140
 And the first way

00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:28.540
 is this.

00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.660
 Fathers and mothers

00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:31.279
 are diligently

00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.360
 training their children

00:17:32.360 --> 00:17:33.360
 in wisdom.

00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:35.759
 They're instructing them.

00:17:35.840 --> 00:17:36.759
 They're talking with them

00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.460
 about the ways

00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:37.940
 of the Lord.

00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.340
 They're giving them

00:17:39.340 --> 00:17:40.640
 punishment when necessary

00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:43.400
 not to be vindictive

00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:44.340
 because they love

00:17:44.340 --> 00:17:44.840
 their children

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:45.519
 and they want them

00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.280
 to walk in the ways

00:17:46.280 --> 00:17:46.800
 that are right.

00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:48.860
 Proverbs 13 verse 24

00:17:48.860 --> 00:17:49.640
 tells us this.

00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.880
 Whoever spares the rod

00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:51.740
 hates his son

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:53.440
 but he who loves him

00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.040
 is diligent

00:17:54.040 --> 00:17:55.240
 to discipline him.

00:17:55.820 --> 00:17:56.660
 And so this discipline

00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:58.160
 is not for the convenience

00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:58.960
 or the comfort

00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.700
 of the parents.

00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.640
 Instead it's doing

00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.460
 what's hard

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.640
 for the sake

00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:03.320
 of their children.

00:18:05.560 --> 00:18:06.259
 Like the Proverbs

00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.380
 is saying something

00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:09.780
 very stark here.

00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:12.099
 if you won't discipline

00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:12.660
 your children

00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:13.440
 if you won't teach

00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:13.980
 them wisdom

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:16.200
 you actually hate them.

00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:19.059
 Because the one

00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:20.200
 who wants what's good

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.139
 and right for their kids

00:18:21.139 --> 00:18:22.119
 wants them to learn

00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:23.000
 lessons when they're

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.819
 easy to learn

00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:25.319
 rather than learn them

00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:25.940
 when they're hard.

00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:27.319
 Imagine this.

00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.619
 Which one is easier?

00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.359
 Is it easier

00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:31.539
 to receive punishment

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.980
 when you're eight years old

00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:34.500
 for stealing five dollars?

00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.819
 Or is it easier

00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:37.879
 to receive punishment

00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:39.559
 when you're 35 years old

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.879
 or 65 years old

00:18:40.879 --> 00:18:42.899
 for stealing five million dollars?

00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:45.619
 The answer's obvious, right?

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.659
 It's much better

00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:49.359
 that you learn

00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.019
 that lesson

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:51.079
 in a small way

00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.839
 when you're young

00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:53.399
 than have to learn

00:18:53.399 --> 00:18:54.419
 in a large way

00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:55.579
 when you're old.

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.039
 And so that's part

00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.359
 of the reason

00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:58.220
 there's this emphasis

00:18:58.220 --> 00:18:59.319
 for the youth here

00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:00.359
 in the book of Proverbs.

00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:02.279
 Deuteronomy chapter 6

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.200
 tells us about this.

00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.200
 There's this instruction

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.819
 and wisdom

00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:05.700
 that happens

00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.599
 in the Christian family

00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:07.859
 that's about all of life

00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:09.279
 and it's in all of life.

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.379
 Deuteronomy chapter 6

00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:10.920
 verse 7

00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:11.660
 tells us this.

00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.500
 You shall teach them

00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.819
 diligently to your children

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:15.359
 talking about God's ways

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.319
 and shall talk of them

00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.339
 when you sit in the house

00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:18.859
 and when you walk by the way

00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:19.879
 and when you lie down

00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:21.180
 and when you rise.

00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.559
 Wisdom is something

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:25.460
 that's trained constantly

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:27.019
 by mothers,

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:27.980
 by fathers

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.039
 to their children.

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:31.559
 the command here

00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:33.200
 is not to the parents.

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:34.659
 That's what's implied here

00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:35.460
 but to the son.

00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.879
 It's the child here

00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:37.940
 that's supposed to hear

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:39.299
 the father's instruction

00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.759
 and not forsake

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.839
 the mother's teaching.

00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:42.559
 And these are not just

00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.420
 cognitive words.

00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.720
 These are words of obedience.

00:19:46.139 --> 00:19:47.960
 This hear word includes,

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:48.639
 it implies,

00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:50.339
 that it's going to be

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.619
 followed by

00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:53.099
 obeying what's heard.

00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:55.699
 And so it's not just

00:19:55.699 --> 00:19:57.199
 that parents are responsible

00:19:57.199 --> 00:19:57.899
 to their children

00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:58.980
 but children are responsible

00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.259
 to their parents.

00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:01.079
 And so our question

00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.559
 would be this.

00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:02.939
 Do you fear the Lord, kids?

00:20:04.959 --> 00:20:06.019
 Would we know

00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:07.079
 that you fear the Lord

00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:07.899
 based on the way

00:20:07.899 --> 00:20:08.659
 you respond

00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:09.399
 when your parents

00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:09.980
 teach you

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:10.679
 and correct you?

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.399
 Are you willing

00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:14.019
 to hear your father's instruction

00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.879
 and not forsake

00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:15.759
 your mother's teaching?

00:20:16.219 --> 00:20:17.339
 There's a reward here

00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:17.959
 by the way.

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.099
 It says in verse 9

00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:20.459
 for they are a graceful garland

00:20:20.459 --> 00:20:21.159
 for your head

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:22.220
 and pendants

00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:22.820
 for your neck.

00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:23.720
 Now there's many ideas

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.860
 about what's being referred

00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:25.220
 to here.

00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.080
 I would say simply

00:20:26.080 --> 00:20:27.400
 these are symbols

00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:28.620
 of prosperity

00:20:28.620 --> 00:20:29.460
 and life.

00:20:30.840 --> 00:20:32.759
 Do you want

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:34.000
 to have

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.680
 a life

00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:37.000
 that's well lived?

00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:37.960
 Do you want

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:39.080
 to prosper in life?

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.180
 Do you want

00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:41.680
 to succeed?

00:20:43.540 --> 00:20:44.420
 Do you want

00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.519
 to take hold

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.660
 of what Jesus

00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.580
 offers us

00:20:47.580 --> 00:20:48.340
 in the gospel?

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:51.559
 If you do

00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:53.000
 the call

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.459
 for you

00:20:53.459 --> 00:20:54.220
 is obedience

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.679
 and obedience

00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:56.659
 to your parents.

00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:57.779
 Proverbs

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:59.199
 chapter 20

00:20:59.199 --> 00:20:59.799
 verse 11

00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.720
 tells us this

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.899
 even a child

00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:02.619
 makes himself

00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:03.679
 known by his acts

00:21:03.679 --> 00:21:05.179
 by whether his conduct

00:21:05.179 --> 00:21:05.859
 is pure

00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:07.079
 and upright.

00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:09.240
 Do you want

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:09.819
 to learn

00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.879
 in small ways

00:21:10.879 --> 00:21:12.779
 so you don't

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.359
 have to learn

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.079
 in big ways?

00:21:14.179 --> 00:21:14.500
 Do you want

00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.079
 to learn

00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:15.879
 when the punishment

00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.500
 and the stakes

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.099
 are low?

00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:18.699
 Or do you

00:21:18.699 --> 00:21:19.359
 want to learn

00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:20.079
 when they're high?

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:21.819
 Of course

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.859
 a wise person

00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:24.000
 wants to learn

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.679
 when they're low.

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:26.059
 A wise child

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:27.399
 wants to learn

00:21:27.399 --> 00:21:27.899
 and gain

00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:28.379
 as much

00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:28.980
 from their parents

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.599
 as they can.

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.699
 If you go

00:21:31.699 --> 00:21:32.199
 on post

00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:33.019
 to Fort Carson

00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.480
 or really

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.019
 any of the other

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.119
 bases here in town

00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:35.459
 and you go

00:21:35.459 --> 00:21:35.959
 into one of the

00:21:35.959 --> 00:21:36.500
 gyms there

00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.119
 you'll probably

00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:37.919
 see a sign

00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:38.279
 that says

00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.139
 something like this.

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.240
 The more

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.819
 you sweat

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.419
 in training

00:21:41.419 --> 00:21:43.219
 the less

00:21:43.219 --> 00:21:43.659
 you bleed

00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:44.119
 in battle.

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:46.319
 the more

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.039
 you sweat

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.739
 in training

00:21:47.739 --> 00:21:49.379
 the less

00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.359
 you bleed

00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:51.259
 in battle.

00:21:53.399 --> 00:21:54.359
 The Christian

00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:54.819
 home

00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:56.659
 is a place

00:21:56.659 --> 00:21:57.519
 of training

00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:00.779
 and when you

00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.119
 go out

00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:01.679
 into the world

00:22:01.679 --> 00:22:02.500
 when you leave

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.000
 your parents

00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.379
 house

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.579
 you will be

00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:05.039
 in the real

00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.459
 battlefield

00:22:05.459 --> 00:22:07.779
 and so choose

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.379
 the sweat

00:22:08.379 --> 00:22:09.439
 rather than

00:22:09.439 --> 00:22:09.859
 the blood.

00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.099
 Choose

00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:12.619
 to learn

00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:13.119
 now

00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:13.719
 when the

00:22:13.719 --> 00:22:14.019
 stakes

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.779
 are low

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:16.059
 rather than

00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:16.359
 later

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:16.719
 when the

00:22:16.719 --> 00:22:16.919
 stakes

00:22:16.919 --> 00:22:17.419
 are high.

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.039
 Don't

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.439
 reject

00:22:19.439 --> 00:22:20.259
 and become

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:20.619
 bitter

00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:21.119
 at your

00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:21.439
 parents

00:22:21.439 --> 00:22:21.939
 discipline

00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:22.639
 and instruction.

00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:24.179
 Instead

00:22:24.179 --> 00:22:24.939
 embracing

00:22:24.939 --> 00:22:25.240
 it

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.679
 knowing

00:22:25.679 --> 00:22:26.199
 that it's

00:22:26.199 --> 00:22:26.799
 the way

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.939
 to life.

00:22:28.719 --> 00:22:29.219
 That is

00:22:29.219 --> 00:22:29.679
 the way

00:22:29.679 --> 00:22:30.059
 you will

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.339
 have a

00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:30.799
 graceful

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.119
 garland

00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:31.439
 for your

00:22:31.439 --> 00:22:31.759
 head

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.959
 and pendants

00:22:32.959 --> 00:22:33.279
 for your

00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:33.559
 neck.

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.039
 And so

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.519
 how is it

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:36.899
 that we

00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:37.899
 use the

00:22:37.899 --> 00:22:38.259
 fear of the

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:38.599
 Lord to

00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.039
 receive

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.559
 and take

00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:39.899
 hold of

00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.159
 wisdom?

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:40.519
 Well we

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:40.980
 do it

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:42.380
 as we

00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:42.880
 embrace

00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:43.339
 discipline

00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:43.500
 and

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:43.980
 instruction.

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.299
 Parents

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.140
 giving it

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:46.559
 and forming

00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:46.779
 it in

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:46.900
 their

00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:47.200
 children.

00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:47.559
 Children

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.059
 honoring

00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:48.360
 it and

00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:48.740
 receiving

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.019
 it

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.500
 from

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:49.660
 their

00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:50.059
 parents.

00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.500
 As I

00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:53.819
 mentioned

00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.180
 earlier

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.519
 though

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.339
 we need

00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:55.559
 to be

00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.039
 wise

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.480
 in reading

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.039
 Proverbs

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.900
 and so

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:58.200
 we don't

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:58.700
 take this

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.319
 rigidly

00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:00.420
 as just

00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:00.740
 being

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.059
 between

00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:01.519
 parents

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:01.720
 and

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.039
 children.

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:02.779
 There's

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.339
 a wisdom

00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:03.839
 to knowing

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.099
 how to

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:04.259
 read

00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:04.599
 wisdom

00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.000
 literature.

00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:05.880
 That's

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.160
 why it

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:06.559
 says in

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:06.920
 Proverbs

00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:07.539
 chapter 1

00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.160
 verse 2

00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.200
 the goal

00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.579
 here is to

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.220
 understand

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:10.660
 words of

00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.040
 insight.

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:12.519
 So how

00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:12.759
 do we

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.300
 understand

00:23:13.300 --> 00:23:13.960
 these words

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.519
 of insight

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.019
 if we're

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.700
 not parents?

00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.920
 Maybe we're

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.540
 not children.

00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:20.600
 Maybe we have

00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:20.980
 children but

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.259
 they're out of

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:21.660
 the home.

00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:22.800
 Maybe you're

00:23:22.800 --> 00:23:23.160
 single.

00:23:25.060 --> 00:23:26.240
 Well this

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:26.720
 book of

00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.800
 course isn't

00:23:27.800 --> 00:23:28.500
 a public

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.060
 letter right?

00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:30.680
 It's written

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.279
 for many

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.779
 people to

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.340
 listen in and

00:23:32.340 --> 00:23:32.800
 so there's a

00:23:32.800 --> 00:23:33.140
 broader

00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:34.460
 principle that

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.019
 all of us

00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.500
 can take

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.040
 from this

00:23:36.040 --> 00:23:36.360
 and it's

00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:36.620
 this.

00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:37.399
 wisdom is

00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:38.119
 a community

00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:38.779
 project,

00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.159
 a group

00:23:40.159 --> 00:23:40.839
 project,

00:23:41.739 --> 00:23:42.419
 a family

00:23:42.419 --> 00:23:43.019
 project.

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.699
 Wisdom is

00:23:44.699 --> 00:23:45.839
 something we

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.500
 work on

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.319
 together and

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:47.859
 wisdom is

00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:48.419
 also something

00:23:48.419 --> 00:23:49.119
 that some

00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:49.859
 people have

00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:50.439
 more of

00:23:50.439 --> 00:23:51.139
 than other

00:23:51.139 --> 00:23:51.479
 people.

00:23:52.419 --> 00:23:52.719
 Our

00:23:52.719 --> 00:23:53.159
 expectation

00:23:53.159 --> 00:23:54.199
 is that

00:23:54.199 --> 00:23:55.000
 older people

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.059
 hopefully have

00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:56.559
 more wisdom

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.099
 than younger

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:57.539
 people.

00:23:58.979 --> 00:23:59.399
 People with

00:23:59.399 --> 00:23:59.939
 more life

00:23:59.939 --> 00:24:00.639
 experience or

00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.219
 certain types

00:24:01.219 --> 00:24:01.879
 of experiences

00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:02.559
 have more

00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.119
 wisdom than

00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:03.419
 those who

00:24:03.419 --> 00:24:03.759
 have not

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.140
 had those

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.740
 experiences.

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:05.559
 And so the

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:05.799
 broader

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.480
 principle is

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:06.720
 this,

00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.900
 listen to

00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:08.519
 the wise.

00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.140
 Receive

00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:11.819
 correction and

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.279
 instruction.

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:12.819
 This is the

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.319
 vision that the

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:13.980
 Bible gives us

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:14.680
 not just for

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.680
 the nuclear

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.740
 family but also

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.359
 for our church

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:17.680
 family.

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.259
 We see in

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.200
 Titus chapter 2

00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.900
 that it's older

00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:20.539
 women teaching

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.279
 younger women.

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:22.740
 It's younger

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.460
 men who are

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:23.879
 supposed to be

00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:24.559
 subject to the

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.299
 elders also in

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.000
 Titus 2 and in

00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.119
 1 Peter chapter 5.

00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:27.839
 There's this

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.000
 dynamic where the

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.879
 less wise are

00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.779
 submitting themselves

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.420
 to the more

00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:31.839
 wise.

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:32.759
 There's this

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.599
 recognition that

00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.259
 all of us in

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.819
 life are in

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.519
 places where we

00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.679
 don't have all

00:24:36.679 --> 00:24:37.299
 the wisdom we

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:37.980
 need but God's

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.539
 given us a

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.159
 community that

00:24:39.159 --> 00:24:40.579
 surrounds us and

00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:42.059
 he tells us to

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.899
 embrace the

00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:43.500
 wisdom that's

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:43.779
 there.

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.199
 Proverbs chapter

00:24:46.199 --> 00:24:47.500
 13 verse 20

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.419
 tells us that he

00:24:48.419 --> 00:24:49.199
 who walks with

00:24:49.199 --> 00:24:50.480
 the wise grows

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.980
 wise.

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.219
 And so if we

00:24:53.219 --> 00:24:54.579
 want to embrace

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.299
 wisdom, if we

00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.279
 want to grow in

00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:56.859
 wisdom, if we

00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:58.339
 want the type of

00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:58.839
 knowledge that

00:24:58.839 --> 00:24:59.480
 comes from the

00:24:59.480 --> 00:24:59.899
 fear of the

00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:00.419
 Lord, we need

00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:01.759
 to find wise

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.199
 people.

00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:05.459
 And submit to

00:25:05.459 --> 00:25:06.199
 their instruction

00:25:06.199 --> 00:25:07.139
 and their

00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:07.619
 discipline.

00:25:09.399 --> 00:25:10.879
 Wisdom is not

00:25:10.879 --> 00:25:13.459
 connected to the

00:25:13.459 --> 00:25:14.639
 size of your

00:25:14.639 --> 00:25:15.219
 library.

00:25:17.219 --> 00:25:18.579
 Wisdom is instead

00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.799
 connected to the

00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:20.779
 size of your

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.319
 humility.

00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:25.399
 Wisdom is not

00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:27.059
 connected to the

00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:27.879
 size of your

00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.419
 library.

00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:30.659
 Wisdom is not

00:25:30.659 --> 00:25:31.519
 connected to the

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.139
 length of your

00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:32.520
 resume.

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.300
 Wisdom is

00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:36.660
 directly connected

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:38.540
 to how much

00:25:38.540 --> 00:25:39.840
 humility you

00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:40.280
 have.

00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:44.400
 There's one man

00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:45.380
 who says this and

00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:46.360
 he puts it very

00:25:46.360 --> 00:25:46.940
 starkly.

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.700
 Hearts that are

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:50.340
 not humble are

00:25:50.340 --> 00:25:51.100
 hearts that are

00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:51.860
 not really

00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:53.360
 connected with

00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:54.000
 the Lord.

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:56.200
 One cannot

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:58.580
 know God and

00:25:58.580 --> 00:25:59.680
 hold on to a

00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:01.000
 proud heart at

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.880
 the same time.

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.099
 Hearts that are

00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.859
 humble are not

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:06.000
 humble are

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.700
 hearts that are

00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.460
 not really

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.460
 connected with

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.000
 the Lord.

00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:11.119
 One cannot

00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:13.319
 know God and

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:14.200
 hold on to a

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:15.859
 proud heart at

00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:16.619
 the same time.

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.920
 We cannot

00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.839
 believe that we

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:21.660
 know what we

00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:23.460
 need to know and

00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:24.200
 also grow in

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:24.500
 wisdom.

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:28.799
 it's a rich and

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:30.839
 deep humility that

00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:31.660
 allows us to

00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.859
 embrace wisdom and

00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.420
 grow in it.

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.299
 When I was in

00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:37.000
 seminary and I

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.259
 took a class on

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:39.039
 Proverbs I had a

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:41.160
 wise instructor and

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:41.920
 he understood this

00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.299
 concept.

00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.119
 He knew that it

00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:43.759
 wasn't going to be

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:45.000
 helpful for his

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.799
 class just to

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.839
 receive words from

00:26:46.839 --> 00:26:47.440
 him about the

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.019
 book of Proverbs

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.859
 and so he gave an

00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:50.380
 optional assignment

00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:51.039
 to students a

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.660
 challenge and it

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.019
 was this.

00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:55.099
 Go home and

00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:56.240
 since humility is

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.839
 the beginning of

00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:58.900
 wisdom ask your

00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.599
 spouse if you're

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:01.480
 married or ask a

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.160
 good friend if

00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:04.019
 you're not how

00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:05.740
 good am I at

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.839
 receiving correction?

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:09.900
 How free do you

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:11.019
 as my spouse feel

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.180
 in giving me

00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.539
 feedback?

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.519
 And when you do

00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.460
 how do I respond

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:15.859
 to that?

00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:18.039
 In other words am I

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:19.819
 a humble person and

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.660
 am I willing to

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.859
 grow in wisdom?

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:24.180
 That would be a

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:25.440
 good challenge for

00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:25.879
 us.

00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.420
 Kids it would be a

00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:28.059
 good challenge for

00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:28.240
 you.

00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:28.859
 Ask your parents

00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:30.460
 how wise am I?

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.960
 What can I do to

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.559
 be better at

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.660
 responding and

00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.920
 receiving correction?

00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.539
 Over the coming

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.879
 weeks he would ask

00:27:39.879 --> 00:27:40.639
 students to report

00:27:40.639 --> 00:27:40.879
 in.

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.559
 Hey who has

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.039
 completed the

00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.660
 project and what

00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:43.139
 did you hear?

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.180
 And there were

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:46.180
 some brave souls

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.940
 who undertook it.

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.339
 Some of them

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.339
 reported things that

00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:48.779
 were somewhat

00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.599
 encouraging and some

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.180
 of them had heard

00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:50.839
 things that were

00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.940
 very very hard.

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:55.059
 these are people

00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.779
 who are training

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:57.440
 in a seminary to

00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.319
 know God

00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:02.720
 challenged to see

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.339
 how much they

00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:04.259
 actually knew God

00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:05.259
 not by a test

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.940
 not by a paper

00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:07.859
 or an exam

00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:09.740
 but by the

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.700
 demonstration of

00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:12.200
 humility in their

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:13.359
 lives and their

00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:14.000
 relationships.

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.140
 relationships.

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:19.579
 During my time in

00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:22.539
 the church I have

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.900
 met very many

00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.680
 people who are

00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:26.299
 eager to talk and

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:27.220
 have a lot to say.

00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:31.119
 I have met very

00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:33.019
 few people who are

00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:34.880
 eager to listen and

00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.420
 have a lot of

00:28:35.420 --> 00:28:36.240
 questions to ask.

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:39.559
 I have met very

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:41.299
 many people who are

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.559
 eager to talk and

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.579
 have a lot to say.

00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:46.779
 I have met fewer

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:48.460
 people who are eager

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:50.319
 to listen and have

00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.159
 a lot of questions.

00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:55.179
 One of those is the

00:28:55.179 --> 00:28:57.819
 way of the wise and

00:28:57.819 --> 00:29:00.139
 one is the way of

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:00.579
 the fool.

00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:04.079
 James chapter 1

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.419
 verses 19 through 20

00:29:05.419 --> 00:29:06.759
 tells us to be quick

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:09.099
 to listen and slow to

00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:09.460
 speak.

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:12.759
 And yet so many of us

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.759
 are quick to speak

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:16.059
 and slow to listen.

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.319
 Remember that the

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:20.299
 fear of the Lord is

00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:20.940
 an attitude of

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:22.059
 submission, respect,

00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.620
 dependence, and

00:29:23.620 --> 00:29:23.960
 worship.

00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:26.059
 It's about humility,

00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:27.200
 obedience, and

00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:27.640
 submission.

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:29.160
 Fear of the Lord

00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:30.579
 reveals itself in how

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.360
 we interact with

00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:31.620
 others.

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:34.259
 How much wisdom we

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:36.680
 have reveals itself in

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.579
 how we interact with

00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:37.879
 others?

00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:42.119
 So are we open to

00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:42.519
 correction?

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.960
 How do you respond when

00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:47.919
 you receive feedback

00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:48.639
 that's negative?

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.379
 Proverbs chapter 27

00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:53.619
 verse 6 tells us this,

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.559
 faithful are the

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.500
 wounds of a friend,

00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:56.919
 profuse are the kisses

00:29:56.919 --> 00:29:57.500
 of an enemy.

00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:59.699
 When you receive a

00:29:59.699 --> 00:30:00.720
 wound from a friend,

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.439
 do you consider it

00:30:02.439 --> 00:30:02.859
 faithful?

00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:04.699
 Or would you rather

00:30:04.699 --> 00:30:05.659
 receive kisses from

00:30:05.659 --> 00:30:05.979
 an enemy?

00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:08.779
 Do we welcome the

00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.679
 input of those who

00:30:09.679 --> 00:30:10.699
 are wiser and older?

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.979
 Do we seek it out?

00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.079
 Or do we think we

00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:14.819
 already have all the

00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.119
 answers?

00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:20.559
 Do we resent feedback

00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.500
 when we receive it,

00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.359
 or do we welcome it?

00:30:22.419 --> 00:30:23.419
 Do we apply it?

00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:25.579
 Do we learn and move

00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.240
 forward with the

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.039
 lessons that God's

00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.519
 given us?

00:30:29.159 --> 00:30:30.319
 Do we choose

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:32.159
 growing and learning,

00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:34.840
 over the need to be

00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.259
 right?

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:38.140
 Do we choose

00:30:38.140 --> 00:30:39.440
 growing and learning

00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.519
 over the need to be

00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:40.779
 right?

00:30:40.860 --> 00:30:41.500
 The gospel,

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.640
 the very entry to the

00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:44.000
 gospel,

00:30:44.320 --> 00:30:44.960
 the fear of the Lord,

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:45.759
 means admitting that

00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:46.580
 we're not right.

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:50.000
 It's possible to be

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:52.320
 able to explain the

00:30:52.320 --> 00:30:52.820
 doctrine of

00:30:52.820 --> 00:30:53.740
 justification in

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.200
 detail,

00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:55.779
 the doctrine that

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.680
 tells us that God

00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.420
 has paid our sins

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.120
 and we're right with

00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:58.320
 him,

00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.220
 and at the same

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.400
 time still be

00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:02.000
 desperate.

00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:04.279
 for other people to

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:05.680
 believe that we've

00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:06.360
 got it all together.

00:31:07.860 --> 00:31:10.259
 It's easy to know

00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.160
 the doctrine of

00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:12.000
 justification in

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:13.019
 detail and be able to

00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:13.660
 explain it,

00:31:14.320 --> 00:31:15.540
 and still be desperate

00:31:15.540 --> 00:31:16.660
 for other people to

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:18.160
 believe that we have it

00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.660
 all together.

00:31:20.540 --> 00:31:21.880
 And yet true wisdom

00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:23.560
 here is characterized

00:31:23.560 --> 00:31:24.519
 by humility.

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.200
 It's someone who's

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:26.340
 open to instruction

00:31:26.340 --> 00:31:27.600
 and teaching.

00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:32.699
 Our Lord Jesus tells us

00:31:32.699 --> 00:31:33.879
 the same thing as

00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:34.179
 well.

00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.319
 We saw last week

00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:36.559
 from Matthew chapter

00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.000
 12,

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.779
 verse 42,

00:31:37.939 --> 00:31:38.759
 that Jesus tells us

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.659
 he's greater than

00:31:39.659 --> 00:31:40.059
 Solomon.

00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.079
 Solomon,

00:31:42.199 --> 00:31:43.079
 who's the author of

00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:43.959
 this book of wisdom.

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.339
 Solomon knew wisdom.

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.939
 Jesus is wisdom.

00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:50.059
 He's an even greater

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:51.639
 wisdom teacher than the

00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:52.480
 author of this book,

00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:54.179
 and he himself tells us

00:31:54.179 --> 00:31:56.019
 about what it takes to

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.799
 receive the kingdom.

00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:56.940
 him.

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:59.460
 In Matthew chapter 18,

00:31:59.659 --> 00:32:00.980
 it tells us a story

00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.139
 about the disciples

00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:03.000
 coming to Jesus,

00:32:03.139 --> 00:32:03.539
 and they say,

00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:04.399
 who is the greatest

00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:05.220
 in the kingdom of

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:05.460
 heaven?

00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.519
 It says,

00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:08.460
 Jesus called to him a

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:08.759
 child.

00:32:08.879 --> 00:32:10.000
 He put him in the midst

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.579
 of them and said,

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.740
 truly I say to you,

00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.839
 unless you turn and

00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:15.039
 become like children,

00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.680
 you will never enter

00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.579
 the kingdom of heaven.

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:20.480
 Whoever humbles

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.779
 himself like this

00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:23.619
 child is the greatest

00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:24.619
 in the kingdom of

00:32:24.619 --> 00:32:24.839
 heaven.

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:28.259
 Do you want to enter

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.119
 the kingdom of heaven?

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:32.119
 Do you want to be

00:32:32.119 --> 00:32:33.220
 what Jesus calls the

00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.000
 greatest here?

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:36.579
 Do you want to be

00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.119
 wise?

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.440
 And you have to

00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:41.200
 humble yourself

00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.180
 like a child.

00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:44.399
 You have to be

00:32:44.399 --> 00:32:45.259
 characterized by

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:45.799
 dependence,

00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:46.680
 obedience,

00:32:47.139 --> 00:32:47.639
 and submission.

00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:50.700
 Jesus then goes on

00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.220
 to tell us in

00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.380
 Matthew chapter 19,

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:53.860
 we hear that children

00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:54.580
 are brought to him

00:32:54.580 --> 00:32:55.180
 that he might lay

00:32:55.180 --> 00:32:55.900
 his hands on them

00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:56.300
 and pray.

00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:57.940
 The disciples

00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:58.860
 rebuked the people,

00:32:59.020 --> 00:32:59.620
 but Jesus said,

00:32:59.880 --> 00:33:00.240
 let the little

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.340
 children come to me

00:33:01.340 --> 00:33:02.060
 and do not hinder

00:33:02.060 --> 00:33:02.380
 them,

00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:03.759
 for to such

00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.620
 belongs the

00:33:04.620 --> 00:33:05.259
 kingdom of heaven.

00:33:06.020 --> 00:33:07.020
 And he laid his

00:33:07.020 --> 00:33:07.660
 hands on them

00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:08.500
 and went away.

00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.160
 Our Lord Jesus,

00:33:11.300 --> 00:33:11.960
 the great teacher

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.560
 of wisdom,

00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:14.799
 tells us

00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:15.619
 even more

00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:16.319
 than what we

00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:17.000
 see here in

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.179
 Proverbs chapter 1

00:33:18.179 --> 00:33:19.059
 verses 8 and 9,

00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.419
 which is that if we

00:33:20.419 --> 00:33:21.279
 want to receive

00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:21.700
 the kingdom,

00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:23.299
 if we want to

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.220
 belong to him

00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:25.379
 as his children,

00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.559
 then we must

00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:27.220
 become like

00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:27.539
 children.

00:33:28.399 --> 00:33:29.619
 We have to know

00:33:29.619 --> 00:33:31.399
 and understand

00:33:31.399 --> 00:33:32.240
 not how much

00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:32.899
 we've mastered,

00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:34.099
 but how much

00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:34.740
 we have to learn.

00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:37.140
 we don't protect

00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:39.500
 believing that we

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.220
 have to convince

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:40.839
 other people

00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:41.559
 that we've arrived,

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.180
 but instead we

00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:43.680
 confess that we

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.579
 haven't arrived.

00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:45.140
 In fact,

00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:45.680
 that's the heart

00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.220
 of the gospel,

00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:46.420
 right?

00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.220
 We cannot call

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:48.180
 ourselves a Christian

00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:49.539
 if we've not

00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.180
 confessed our

00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:51.079
 desperate need

00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:51.839
 of God's grace

00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:52.460
 and his wisdom.

00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:54.720
 The gospel is not

00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:56.140
 for people who

00:33:56.140 --> 00:33:56.720
 get it right,

00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:57.440
 who are perfect.

00:33:58.420 --> 00:33:59.079
 The gospel is for

00:33:59.079 --> 00:33:59.819
 people who don't

00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.559
 get it right and

00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.440
 aren't perfect

00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:03.099
 and are humble

00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:04.240
 enough to admit it

00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.380
 and seek to grow.

00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:07.220
 They're humble

00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:08.239
 enough and secure

00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:09.800
 enough in Jesus

00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:11.079
 and his love

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:13.099
 to be able to say,

00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:13.980
 I need to learn

00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:15.739
 and I'm not right.

00:34:17.219 --> 00:34:18.579
 It's enough to admit

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.840
 our need for God's

00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:20.719
 grace and to run

00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.059
 to it.

00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:22.599
 Jesus accepts us

00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:24.059
 as we are

00:34:24.059 --> 00:34:26.059
 and as we saw,

00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:26.599
 even with the

00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:27.639
 genre of this book,

00:34:27.739 --> 00:34:28.699
 he meets us

00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:30.019
 where we are.

00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.400
 And so the gospel

00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:33.420
 requires us to be

00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:33.900
 honest,

00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:35.500
 about where we are,

00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:37.119
 requires us to be

00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:37.479
 humble.

00:34:38.839 --> 00:34:40.619
 Wisdom is only

00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:41.819
 for the humble.

00:34:43.879 --> 00:34:45.179
 As Jesus tells us

00:34:45.179 --> 00:34:45.859
 in Matthew chapter

00:34:45.859 --> 00:34:46.899
 18 and 19,

00:34:47.079 --> 00:34:47.619
 his kingdom

00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:49.439
 is only for the

00:34:49.439 --> 00:34:50.879
 humble as well.

00:34:52.799 --> 00:34:53.719
 So how is it

00:34:53.719 --> 00:34:54.679
 that we use

00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.939
 the fear of the Lord

00:34:55.939 --> 00:34:56.639
 to receive

00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.699
 and grow in wisdom?

00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:00.259
 Well, we have to be

00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:00.879
 people who are

00:35:00.879 --> 00:35:01.859
 characterized by

00:35:01.859 --> 00:35:02.819
 humility as well.

00:35:02.820 --> 00:35:03.720
 There's a family

00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.559
 wisdom.

00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.080
 We're learning

00:35:05.080 --> 00:35:05.800
 from one another.

00:35:07.260 --> 00:35:08.300
 There's a rich

00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:09.160
 humility

00:35:09.160 --> 00:35:10.660
 following after

00:35:10.660 --> 00:35:11.880
 Jesus as a family

00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:13.240
 because we've been

00:35:13.240 --> 00:35:14.260
 adopted by him

00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:15.280
 into his family.

00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.160
 Jesus is the one

00:35:16.160 --> 00:35:17.180
 who empowers us

00:35:17.180 --> 00:35:18.000
 to be humble

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:20.240
 and he's the one

00:35:20.240 --> 00:35:21.380
 who provides us

00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:22.200
 with the community

00:35:22.200 --> 00:35:22.980
 that surrounds us

00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:23.900
 that actually has

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.640
 the true wisdom

00:35:24.640 --> 00:35:26.160
 that he's given us

00:35:26.160 --> 00:35:26.700
 through others

00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:27.859
 and he's given us

00:35:27.859 --> 00:35:28.919
 through his word.

00:35:30.739 --> 00:35:31.960
 And so he's the one

00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.899
 who provides

00:35:32.899 --> 00:35:33.579
 the wisdom

00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.819
 that comes

00:35:34.819 --> 00:35:35.799
 from humility.

00:35:36.859 --> 00:35:37.639
 The wisdom

00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:38.219
 that comes

00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:39.339
 from those around us

00:35:39.339 --> 00:35:41.139
 and the wisdom

00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:42.519
 that comes to us

00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.579
 through his instruction

00:35:43.579 --> 00:35:44.159
 and his word.

00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:47.519
 Proverbs chapter 30

00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.259
 verse 5

00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:48.980
 tells us

00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:50.599
 that every word

00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:51.099
 of God

00:35:51.099 --> 00:35:51.960
 proves true.

00:35:53.059 --> 00:35:54.159
 He is a refuge

00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:55.500
 to those

00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:56.460
 he's a shield

00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:57.359
 to those

00:35:57.359 --> 00:35:58.059
 who take refuge

00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:58.480
 in him.

00:35:59.379 --> 00:36:00.119
 And so it's

00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:00.859
 with that hope

00:36:00.859 --> 00:36:01.799
 and that promise

00:36:01.799 --> 00:36:02.460
 that we come

00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:03.299
 to him

00:36:03.299 --> 00:36:03.799
 in humility

00:36:03.799 --> 00:36:04.480
 looking to grow

00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:04.879
 in wisdom.

00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:06.440
 And so I invite you

00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:07.079
 to come and pray

00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:08.019
 with me now

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:09.179
 that we would be

00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:10.039
 those kinds of people

00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:10.879
 humble people

00:36:10.879 --> 00:36:12.299
 coming to Jesus

00:36:12.299 --> 00:36:13.279
 admitting our need

00:36:13.279 --> 00:36:14.059
 and looking for

00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:14.639
 his wisdom

00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:15.679
 and his forgiveness.

00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:17.019
 So please pray with me.

00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:21.379
 Our Father in heaven

00:36:21.379 --> 00:36:22.219
 we thank you

00:36:22.219 --> 00:36:23.139
 that you've given us

00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:23.619
 your word

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:26.059
 we thank you

00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:27.039
 that you use it

00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:28.239
 to pierce

00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:29.699
 through bone and marrow

00:36:29.699 --> 00:36:30.139
 you use it

00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:31.079
 to pierce our hearts

00:36:31.079 --> 00:36:31.900
 to convict us

00:36:31.900 --> 00:36:32.859
 of our need for you

00:36:32.859 --> 00:36:34.219
 and to show us

00:36:34.219 --> 00:36:34.579
 the hope

00:36:34.579 --> 00:36:35.339
 that you offer us

00:36:35.339 --> 00:36:35.719
 in Jesus.

00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:36.380
 We ask that you'd

00:36:36.380 --> 00:36:37.440
 continue to do this now

00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:38.380
 that for those of us

00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:38.980
 who are proud

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:40.639
 you would give us

00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:41.420
 hearts of humility.

00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:43.179
 For those of us

00:36:43.179 --> 00:36:43.659
 who are bitter

00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:45.159
 towards instruction

00:36:45.159 --> 00:36:46.960
 you would make us

00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:47.659
 open to it.

00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:49.380
 Most of all

00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:49.980
 we ask that you

00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:50.819
 would make Jesus

00:36:50.819 --> 00:36:51.699
 more beautiful

00:36:51.699 --> 00:36:52.839
 and glorious to us

00:36:52.839 --> 00:36:53.599
 that we would see

00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.360
 the security

00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:55.639
 the confidence

00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:56.659
 that we have in him

00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:58.619
 and so we'd be able

00:36:58.619 --> 00:36:59.219
 to say

00:36:59.219 --> 00:37:00.299
 Jesus is perfect

00:37:00.299 --> 00:37:02.259
 and so I'm free

00:37:02.259 --> 00:37:02.960
 to admit I'm not

00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:05.480
 but Jesus is also loving

00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:06.960
 and so he's going to

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.739
 walk with me to grow.

00:37:08.779 --> 00:37:09.900
 We ask these things

00:37:09.900 --> 00:37:10.699
 praising you

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.380
 that we don't have

00:37:11.380 --> 00:37:12.000
 to earn them

00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:12.759
 by our wisdom

00:37:12.759 --> 00:37:15.059
 but we can ask them

00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:15.900
 to you

00:37:15.900 --> 00:37:16.779
 in our foolishness

00:37:16.779 --> 00:37:18.239
 coming to you

00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:18.759
 in humility

00:37:18.759 --> 00:37:19.739
 knowing that Jesus

00:37:19.739 --> 00:37:20.420
 will cover them

00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:21.260
 and so we ask it

00:37:21.260 --> 00:37:21.840
 in his name

00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:22.680
 amen.

00:37:25.680 --> 00:37:26.500
 We're going to end

00:37:26.500 --> 00:37:27.059
 our time

00:37:27.059 --> 00:37:28.420
 together with a benediction

00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:29.940
 and I remind you

00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:30.480
 that a benediction

00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:31.340
 is a good word

00:37:31.340 --> 00:37:31.840
 from God.

00:37:31.980 --> 00:37:32.420
 It's a word

00:37:32.420 --> 00:37:33.019
 that's true

00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:34.440
 in the midst

00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:34.940
 of a world

00:37:34.940 --> 00:37:35.880
 filled with words

00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:36.619
 that are not true.

00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:38.019
 It's tradition

00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:38.619
 for the minister

00:37:38.619 --> 00:37:39.599
 to hold up his hand

00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:40.680
 to send out God's blessing

00:37:40.680 --> 00:37:41.420
 on God's people

00:37:41.420 --> 00:37:42.619
 and for God's people

00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:43.700
 to hold out their hands

00:37:43.700 --> 00:37:44.880
 to receive God's blessing.

00:37:45.680 --> 00:37:46.500
 And so hear now

00:37:46.500 --> 00:37:47.260
 God's good word

00:37:47.260 --> 00:37:47.660
 over you

00:37:47.660 --> 00:37:48.920
 from Numbers chapter 6.

00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:50.860
 The Lord bless you

00:37:50.860 --> 00:37:51.640
 and keep you.

00:37:52.220 --> 00:37:53.280
 The Lord make his face

00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:54.559
 to shine upon you

00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.840
 and be gracious to you.

00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:57.579
 The Lord lift up

00:37:57.579 --> 00:37:58.880
 his countenance upon you

00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:00.079
 and give you peace

00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:01.680
 now and forever.

00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:03.000
 So go now

00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:03.860
 in the grace and peace

00:38:03.860 --> 00:38:04.860
 of our Lord and Savior

00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:05.680
 Jesus Christ.

00:38:06.180 --> 00:38:06.460
 Amen.