1 00:00:04,380 --> 00:00:07,480 Welcome to From the Pulpit in Classic Sermons. 2 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:10,840 Each week we bring you a different message 3 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,180 from some of history's greatest speakers in the 4 00:00:13,180 --> 00:00:16,320 Christian faith, and powerful sermons from modern preachers 5 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:16,660 too. 6 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,000 This week we have Warren Wiersbe with his 7 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,300 message, A Father's Council. 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:31,000 Word of God from Proverbs chapter 3, where 9 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,220 a father speaks to his son. 10 00:00:35,830 --> 00:00:39,730 My son, forget not my law, but let 11 00:00:39,730 --> 00:00:41,850 thine heart keep my commandments. 12 00:00:43,730 --> 00:00:46,190 For length of days and long life and 13 00:00:46,190 --> 00:00:47,810 peace shall they add to thee. 14 00:00:47,810 --> 00:00:52,470 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee. 15 00:00:52,650 --> 00:00:54,130 Bind them about thine neck. 16 00:00:54,270 --> 00:00:57,270 Write them upon the table of thine heart. 17 00:00:58,390 --> 00:01:02,670 So shalt thou find grace and good understanding 18 00:01:02,670 --> 00:01:04,390 in the sight of God and man. 19 00:01:06,250 --> 00:01:07,990 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, 20 00:01:08,870 --> 00:01:11,650 and lean not unto thine own understanding. 21 00:01:12,690 --> 00:01:15,430 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he 22 00:01:15,430 --> 00:01:16,870 shall direct thy paths. 23 00:01:18,270 --> 00:01:21,430 Be not wise in thine own eyes. 24 00:01:21,770 --> 00:01:24,870 Fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 25 00:01:25,910 --> 00:01:27,990 It shall be health to thy navel and 26 00:01:27,990 --> 00:01:29,330 marrow to thy bones. 27 00:01:31,230 --> 00:01:33,850 Honor the Lord with thy substance and with 28 00:01:33,850 --> 00:01:36,530 the firstfruits of all thine increase. 29 00:01:37,510 --> 00:01:40,970 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, 30 00:01:42,070 --> 00:01:44,590 and thy presses shall burst out with new 31 00:01:44,590 --> 00:01:45,090 wine. 32 00:01:46,370 --> 00:01:49,910 My son, despise not the chastening of the 33 00:01:49,910 --> 00:01:50,230 Lord. 34 00:01:51,790 --> 00:01:53,890 Neither be weary of his correction. 35 00:01:54,150 --> 00:01:58,630 For whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth, even 36 00:01:58,630 --> 00:02:00,410 as a father the son in whom he 37 00:02:00,410 --> 00:02:01,030 delighteth. 38 00:02:02,310 --> 00:02:05,150 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and 39 00:02:05,150 --> 00:02:06,670 the man that getteth understanding. 40 00:02:07,789 --> 00:02:09,910 For the merchandise of it is better than 41 00:02:09,910 --> 00:02:12,550 the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof 42 00:02:12,550 --> 00:02:13,650 than fine gold. 43 00:02:15,050 --> 00:02:17,930 She is more precious than rubies, and all 44 00:02:17,930 --> 00:02:21,230 the things that thou canst desire are not 45 00:02:21,230 --> 00:02:22,750 to be compared unto her. 46 00:02:23,910 --> 00:02:26,470 Length of days is in her right hand, 47 00:02:26,590 --> 00:02:29,110 and in her left hand riches and honor. 48 00:02:30,310 --> 00:02:33,930 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all 49 00:02:33,930 --> 00:02:35,130 her paths are peace. 50 00:02:36,470 --> 00:02:38,930 She is a tree of life to those 51 00:02:38,930 --> 00:02:42,610 who lay hold upon her, and happy is 52 00:02:42,610 --> 00:02:44,150 every one that retaineth her. 53 00:02:45,590 --> 00:02:49,550 Wise counsel from a father to his son. 54 00:02:51,210 --> 00:02:54,530 A famous man once said that older people 55 00:02:54,530 --> 00:02:59,450 love to give good advice because it saves 56 00:02:59,450 --> 00:03:01,350 them the trouble of being a good example. 57 00:03:03,970 --> 00:03:05,510 And I suppose all of us in our 58 00:03:05,510 --> 00:03:09,930 quote-unquote younger days did not appreciate it 59 00:03:09,930 --> 00:03:11,810 when dad or mother said, Now look, I 60 00:03:11,810 --> 00:03:12,990 want to have a little talk with you. 61 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:17,480 And for many of us, dad and mother 62 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,040 are no longer here to have a little 63 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:19,940 talk with us. 64 00:03:21,300 --> 00:03:23,300 And whether we appreciate it or not, they 65 00:03:23,300 --> 00:03:25,820 made a lasting investment in our lives. 66 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:33,940 Suppose that you had ten minutes in which 67 00:03:33,940 --> 00:03:36,740 to give to your son or your daughter 68 00:03:36,740 --> 00:03:39,560 or your niece or your nephew the kind 69 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:45,200 of counsel that that child would need for 70 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:46,220 the rest of his life. 71 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:46,980 What would you say? 72 00:03:48,740 --> 00:03:49,820 What would you say? 73 00:03:50,700 --> 00:03:51,720 Have you ever thought about that? 74 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,420 Let's trust that it won't happen, but suppose 75 00:03:57,420 --> 00:03:59,580 you are in some kind of an accident 76 00:03:59,580 --> 00:04:01,420 and you're rushed to the hospital and your 77 00:04:01,420 --> 00:04:03,740 family gathers around you and the doctor says 78 00:04:03,740 --> 00:04:06,280 you have just ten minutes to live. 79 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:07,100 What would you say? 80 00:04:09,220 --> 00:04:11,080 Better say something important. 81 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:14,580 It's the last chance you have. 82 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:18,740 Well, we don't know how much time we 83 00:04:18,740 --> 00:04:22,080 have in which to share our counsel and 84 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:23,860 God's counsel with those we love. 85 00:04:24,980 --> 00:04:26,480 And so perhaps it's good that we're looking 86 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:30,520 here at Proverbs chapter 3 to discover how 87 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,000 one father counseled his son. 88 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,420 Twenty-one times in the book of Proverbs 89 00:04:35,420 --> 00:04:38,420 you find my son, my son, my son. 90 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,280 My son, hear the instruction of your father. 91 00:04:41,420 --> 00:04:44,400 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thee 92 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:44,740 not. 93 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,000 My son, walk not in the way with 94 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:48,380 sinners. 95 00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:50,620 My son, forget not my law. 96 00:04:50,860 --> 00:04:52,860 Over and over again, twenty-one times, my 97 00:04:52,860 --> 00:04:53,940 son, my son. 98 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,260 And rather than hearing a human voice talking 99 00:04:58,260 --> 00:05:00,500 to a boy, let's listen to God's voice. 100 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:02,820 If you're a Christian, you belong to God's 101 00:05:02,820 --> 00:05:03,300 family. 102 00:05:03,460 --> 00:05:04,640 You're his son, his daughter. 103 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,860 And in verses 1 through 18 of Proverbs 104 00:05:08,860 --> 00:05:13,900 chapter 3, the father shares with us his 105 00:05:13,900 --> 00:05:14,560 counsel. 106 00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:20,280 And if we follow this counsel, he's going 107 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:20,840 to bless. 108 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,600 If we follow this counsel, he's going to 109 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:25,660 keep his promises. 110 00:05:25,660 --> 00:05:28,000 If we follow his counsel, we're going to 111 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:29,480 make a success out of life. 112 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,460 There's no reason in all the world why 113 00:05:32,460 --> 00:05:34,820 anyone has to make a mess out of 114 00:05:34,820 --> 00:05:35,220 life. 115 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:38,360 There's no reason in all the world why 116 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,360 we should take what God has given us 117 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:44,820 and waste it, ruin it, wreck it, when 118 00:05:44,820 --> 00:05:47,400 Almighty God gives to us this kind of 119 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:51,540 counsel that we have in Proverbs chapter 3. 120 00:05:52,860 --> 00:05:57,780 Now, he gives to us five admonitions, and 121 00:05:57,780 --> 00:06:01,480 these admonitions are worth obeying. 122 00:06:01,820 --> 00:06:05,500 In verses 1 through 4, he says, Learn 123 00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:07,560 God's word. 124 00:06:08,780 --> 00:06:14,360 Verses 5 through 8, Obey God's will. 125 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:22,180 Verses 9 and 10, He admonishes us to 126 00:06:22,180 --> 00:06:25,860 use God's wealth. 127 00:06:27,060 --> 00:06:32,720 Verses 11 and 12, Heed God's warning. 128 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:40,580 And verses 13 through 18, Seek God's wisdom. 129 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,940 Now, let's take these admonitions individually and trust 130 00:06:44,940 --> 00:06:46,660 the Spirit of God to speak to our 131 00:06:46,660 --> 00:06:47,140 hearts. 132 00:06:47,900 --> 00:06:50,980 If you're here today without Jesus Christ, you'll 133 00:06:50,980 --> 00:06:52,620 want to open your heart and trust him. 134 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:55,580 If you are one of God's children, you'll 135 00:06:55,580 --> 00:06:58,180 want to, I'm sure, yield to his word 136 00:06:58,180 --> 00:07:00,260 and let God have his way. 137 00:07:01,220 --> 00:07:04,500 The first admonition, verses 1 through 4, Learn 138 00:07:04,500 --> 00:07:05,600 God's word. 139 00:07:05,740 --> 00:07:10,720 My son, forget not my teaching, but let 140 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,740 thine heart keep my commandments for length of 141 00:07:13,740 --> 00:07:15,980 days and long life and peace shall they 142 00:07:15,980 --> 00:07:16,620 add to thee. 143 00:07:17,460 --> 00:07:19,960 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee, bind 144 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,000 them about thine neck, write them upon the 145 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,860 table of thine heart, so shalt thou find 146 00:07:24,860 --> 00:07:27,380 favor and good understanding in the sight of 147 00:07:27,380 --> 00:07:28,280 God and men. 148 00:07:28,500 --> 00:07:30,800 Learn God's word. 149 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:32,440 Now, what is God's word? 150 00:07:32,900 --> 00:07:36,700 God's word is God's law and God's commandment. 151 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,940 This universe runs by God's law. 152 00:07:42,060 --> 00:07:44,760 There isn't a computer in Chicago that would 153 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,460 work if God had not built laws into 154 00:07:48,460 --> 00:07:49,140 this universe. 155 00:07:50,580 --> 00:07:53,260 When visitors come to Chicago, they find their 156 00:07:53,260 --> 00:07:55,100 way down to the Museum of Science and 157 00:07:55,100 --> 00:07:57,860 Industry, a very attractive, interesting place where you 158 00:07:57,860 --> 00:08:00,860 go around pushing buttons, watching things work. 159 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,060 None of those things would work if God 160 00:08:03,060 --> 00:08:06,080 didn't have laws built into this universe. 161 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,080 All that a scientist does is think God's 162 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,260 thoughts after him, whether he knows it or 163 00:08:12,260 --> 00:08:15,420 not, and discover the laws that God's built 164 00:08:15,420 --> 00:08:17,840 into the universe and then cooperate with them. 165 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,940 Now, if we cooperate with the laws of 166 00:08:21,940 --> 00:08:26,800 God in the universe, there is power and 167 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:27,720 there's progress. 168 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,720 If we fight against the laws of God 169 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,179 in this universe, there is weakness and there's 170 00:08:35,179 --> 00:08:35,640 defeat. 171 00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:38,539 You fight against the laws of nature, they'll 172 00:08:38,539 --> 00:08:39,020 kill you. 173 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,780 You fight against the laws of health, they 174 00:08:41,780 --> 00:08:42,580 will kill you. 175 00:08:43,220 --> 00:08:45,960 You walk into a laboratory and fight against 176 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,300 the laws that God has built into the 177 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:50,280 elements, you'll blow the thing up. 178 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,880 Now, the word of God is the law 179 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,000 of God, and in this law, he has 180 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:57,720 laid down certain principles. 181 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:02,380 And if we cooperate with these principles, God 182 00:09:02,380 --> 00:09:03,920 cooperates with us. 183 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,800 All of the universe cooperates with us. 184 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,100 If we fight against these principles, we are 185 00:09:10,100 --> 00:09:12,640 fighting against the very universe that God has 186 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:14,980 built, and we're fighting against the will of 187 00:09:14,980 --> 00:09:15,380 God. 188 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:17,820 It seems to me that the most important 189 00:09:17,820 --> 00:09:19,780 thing any of us can do is to 190 00:09:19,780 --> 00:09:22,900 learn God's word. 191 00:09:23,780 --> 00:09:25,600 Now, he's telling us here not simply to 192 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:26,740 get it into our minds. 193 00:09:27,260 --> 00:09:29,700 He does say that, forget not my law, 194 00:09:29,820 --> 00:09:30,820 remember my law. 195 00:09:30,820 --> 00:09:32,060 Get it into your mind. 196 00:09:32,140 --> 00:09:34,480 He twice says, get it into your heart. 197 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,120 God wrote the original Ten Commandments on stones. 198 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:40,780 God's not doing that today. 199 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,220 2 Corinthians 3, Paul says that the Holy 200 00:09:45,220 --> 00:09:47,720 Spirit of God is taking the word of 201 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,040 God and writing it on human hearts. 202 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,000 When you were saved, God took your heart 203 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,160 and cleansed your heart and began to write 204 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:56,780 his word upon your heart. 205 00:09:56,780 --> 00:09:58,840 Thy word have I hid in my heart 206 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,320 that I might not sin against thee. 207 00:10:02,180 --> 00:10:04,220 Campbell Morgan used to say that's the best 208 00:10:04,220 --> 00:10:08,200 book, thy word, in the best place, my 209 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,140 heart, for the best purpose, that I might 210 00:10:11,140 --> 00:10:12,320 not sin against thee. 211 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:15,380 He's talking here not simply about a student 212 00:10:15,380 --> 00:10:20,420 who studies the word intellectually, outlines it and 213 00:10:20,420 --> 00:10:23,640 analyzes it, penetrates it. 214 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:27,300 He's also talking about the devoted child of 215 00:10:27,300 --> 00:10:29,220 God who takes this word and writes it 216 00:10:29,220 --> 00:10:29,920 on the heart. 217 00:10:30,380 --> 00:10:33,060 What is in the heart is what controls 218 00:10:33,060 --> 00:10:33,720 the life. 219 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:39,000 He even goes so far as to say 220 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,940 that the word of God should control your 221 00:10:40,940 --> 00:10:41,440 neck. 222 00:10:43,220 --> 00:10:45,240 Bind them about thy neck. 223 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,560 Now, the Jews took this literally and they 224 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:50,100 made little boxes with the scriptures in it 225 00:10:50,100 --> 00:10:52,200 and they put it on their forehead, put 226 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:53,740 it around their neck, put it around their 227 00:10:53,740 --> 00:10:56,520 arm, but he's not talking about that. 228 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:58,500 He's saying let the word of God that's 229 00:10:58,500 --> 00:11:01,180 in your heart control your neck and you 230 00:11:01,180 --> 00:11:02,620 won't look in the wrong direction. 231 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,300 Samson did not let the word of God 232 00:11:06,300 --> 00:11:10,060 control his neck and consequently he could not 233 00:11:10,060 --> 00:11:13,580 control his eyes and consequently he could not 234 00:11:13,580 --> 00:11:14,860 control his life. 235 00:11:17,100 --> 00:11:19,320 Let thine eyelids look right on. 236 00:11:20,340 --> 00:11:23,360 It's a good thing spiritually to have a 237 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,760 stiff neck and let the word of God 238 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:27,640 control us. 239 00:11:29,140 --> 00:11:30,840 Learn God's word. 240 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:32,820 Now, what's the consequence of this? 241 00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:37,360 Length of days, long life, and peace shall 242 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:38,300 they add to thee. 243 00:11:38,740 --> 00:11:40,780 I visited the grave of one of the 244 00:11:40,780 --> 00:11:43,180 most godly men who ever lived, Robert Murray 245 00:11:43,180 --> 00:11:43,780 McShane. 246 00:11:44,660 --> 00:11:47,980 When Robert Murray McShane stepped into his pulpit 247 00:11:47,980 --> 00:11:52,020 in Glasgow to preach, it was as though 248 00:11:52,020 --> 00:11:53,980 he stepped out of the very presence of 249 00:11:53,980 --> 00:11:54,180 God. 250 00:11:54,180 --> 00:11:55,760 He died at the age of 29. 251 00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:59,060 And someone says, well, he must not have 252 00:11:59,060 --> 00:12:00,840 been a very good Christian because the promise 253 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:02,720 is length of days and long life. 254 00:12:03,140 --> 00:12:07,600 David Brainerd, coughing up blood from tubercular lungs, 255 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,300 ministering to the Indians, died at the age 256 00:12:11,300 --> 00:12:11,800 of 30. 257 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,760 To the Old Testament Jew, God's blessing was 258 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:17,400 material. 259 00:12:17,700 --> 00:12:20,720 If you'll obey my law, your flocks and 260 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,420 your herds will multiply, your wife will have 261 00:12:23,420 --> 00:12:26,300 a lot of children, your crops will always 262 00:12:26,300 --> 00:12:28,880 be the best, the rain will always come, 263 00:12:29,020 --> 00:12:30,740 the enemy will be defeated, and you'll live 264 00:12:30,740 --> 00:12:31,840 a long life. 265 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:33,960 All of us know wicked people who have 266 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:34,840 lived long lives. 267 00:12:36,540 --> 00:12:38,680 I suppose just about every family may have 268 00:12:38,680 --> 00:12:41,660 a relative, shirt-tail relative or otherwise, who 269 00:12:41,660 --> 00:12:43,040 has lived like a demon all of his 270 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:44,320 life, but he's lived a long life. 271 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,820 Our Lord is not talking here about length 272 00:12:49,820 --> 00:12:54,040 of days, calendar-wise. 273 00:12:55,380 --> 00:12:57,780 There are godly people who have died young, 274 00:12:57,900 --> 00:12:59,900 there are wicked people who have died old. 275 00:13:00,820 --> 00:13:04,380 Now, generally speaking, if we learn God's word 276 00:13:04,380 --> 00:13:07,840 and obey God's will, it will spare us 277 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,000 the many things that shorten your life. 278 00:13:11,020 --> 00:13:14,360 Even Paul says godliness is profitable both for 279 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,280 this life and the life which is to 280 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:16,620 come. 281 00:13:18,860 --> 00:13:21,260 He's talking here about the kind of life 282 00:13:21,260 --> 00:13:23,540 that we live, not quantity but quality. 283 00:13:24,060 --> 00:13:26,400 What he's saying is if you learn the 284 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,800 word of God, get it into your mind 285 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,280 and remember it, get it into your heart, 286 00:13:31,460 --> 00:13:34,200 let it control your will, let the word 287 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:35,880 of God fill you. 288 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,400 What he's saying is life will be meaningful 289 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,740 and life will be full and life will 290 00:13:41,740 --> 00:13:43,620 be accomplishing things. 291 00:13:43,620 --> 00:13:46,600 Robert Murray McShane is ministering today to more 292 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:48,100 people than he ministered to when he was 293 00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:48,680 pastoring. 294 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,160 His sermons and his books, with that touch 295 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:57,660 of holy living upon them, are blessing many, 296 00:13:57,880 --> 00:13:58,300 many people. 297 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,380 Learn God's word. 298 00:14:02,220 --> 00:14:04,440 My friend, do you know more about the 299 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,560 word of God today than you knew last 300 00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:07,880 week? 301 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:12,980 Now, I know we've learned more about other 302 00:14:12,980 --> 00:14:15,740 things, but do we take time to get 303 00:14:15,740 --> 00:14:19,620 into this book and discover the laws and 304 00:14:19,620 --> 00:14:21,220 the principles of God? 305 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:23,720 You say I'm too busy, then you are 306 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:24,340 too busy. 307 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:31,560 The first essential for successful living, learn God's 308 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:32,420 word. 309 00:14:33,540 --> 00:14:35,720 Every once in a while some saint approaches 310 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:37,160 me and says, now I don't know much 311 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,260 about the Bible and quite frankly nobody knows 312 00:14:39,260 --> 00:14:40,220 much about the Bible. 313 00:14:41,060 --> 00:14:43,240 I've been studying the Bible for over 30 314 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:45,780 years and still there's so much. 315 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:47,620 The more I study, the dumber I feel, 316 00:14:47,940 --> 00:14:49,460 but I'm glad for what I know. 317 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:52,500 Mark Twain used to say, it's not what 318 00:14:52,500 --> 00:14:54,760 I don't understand about the Bible that bothers 319 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,180 me, it's what I do understand. 320 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:58,280 That's a good point. 321 00:14:58,780 --> 00:15:01,260 Learn God's word. 322 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,400 And those of you who have been too 323 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,360 busy to spend time in this book, you 324 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:07,320 confess your sin to the Lord and get 325 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:08,200 back to the Bible. 326 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,280 Now, he follows this in verses 5 through 327 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,740 8 with a second admonition, obey God's will. 328 00:15:15,020 --> 00:15:16,260 Where do you find God's will? 329 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:17,200 In God's word. 330 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,620 When you find God's will in God's word, 331 00:15:19,940 --> 00:15:20,620 obey it. 332 00:15:20,820 --> 00:15:22,700 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart 333 00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:25,460 and lean not unto thine own understanding. 334 00:15:25,580 --> 00:15:27,240 That doesn't mean you don't use your brains. 335 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,000 When he says lean not unto thine own 336 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,300 understanding, he doesn't mean we shouldn't examine the 337 00:15:33,300 --> 00:15:35,940 situation, get all the facts we can get, 338 00:15:35,940 --> 00:15:38,720 weigh the situation, think it through. 339 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,900 What he means is don't depend upon that. 340 00:15:43,180 --> 00:15:45,000 You see, down in verse 7, be not 341 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,940 wise in thine own eyes. 342 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:52,180 We must realize how difficult it is sometimes 343 00:15:52,180 --> 00:15:53,720 to discern the will of God. 344 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,520 He says, use your mind, learn everything you 345 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:59,060 can, but don't depend on that. 346 00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:03,860 Sometimes what appears right to us logically is 347 00:16:03,860 --> 00:16:05,100 wrong scripturally. 348 00:16:07,740 --> 00:16:11,160 And sometimes what appears to be wrong logically 349 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:13,220 is right scripturally. 350 00:16:17,900 --> 00:16:19,360 Obey God's will. 351 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,100 In chapters 2, 3, and 4 of Proverbs, 352 00:16:23,300 --> 00:16:26,080 and you ought to read these chapters, one 353 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,960 word is emphasized over and over again, path, 354 00:16:29,380 --> 00:16:30,860 path, path. 355 00:16:30,860 --> 00:16:33,300 He says the believer is on a path. 356 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:33,860 That's right. 357 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,680 One day we stepped off of that broad 358 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,260 road that's going to destruction, and we trusted 359 00:16:41,260 --> 00:16:42,100 Jesus Christ. 360 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:44,080 We went through that narrow gate into that 361 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,480 narrow way, and we're on a path now 362 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:47,640 that leads to life. 363 00:16:49,060 --> 00:16:51,080 Now he says when you're on this path, 364 00:16:51,140 --> 00:16:52,360 you better do the will of God. 365 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,620 In chapter 2, he says that God's will 366 00:16:55,620 --> 00:16:58,380 will protect our paths. 367 00:16:59,460 --> 00:17:02,760 You'll notice in verse 8, he keepeth the 368 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:04,400 paths of judgment. 369 00:17:04,859 --> 00:17:08,140 He preserveth the ways of his saints. 370 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:13,020 Verse 11, discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall 371 00:17:13,020 --> 00:17:13,720 keep thee. 372 00:17:13,980 --> 00:17:16,599 The whole emphasis in chapter 2 is if 373 00:17:16,599 --> 00:17:18,780 we obey the will of God, he will 374 00:17:18,780 --> 00:17:20,400 protect our path. 375 00:17:20,599 --> 00:17:23,420 In chapter 3, the emphasis is he will 376 00:17:23,420 --> 00:17:25,099 direct our paths. 377 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,400 He'll show us where we're supposed to go. 378 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,660 Trust in the Lord, lean on him, not 379 00:17:30,660 --> 00:17:31,680 on your own understanding. 380 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,080 Acknowledge him, and he will direct your path. 381 00:17:34,460 --> 00:17:36,060 In chapter 4, it gets better. 382 00:17:36,860 --> 00:17:39,020 The emphasis in chapter 4 is that he 383 00:17:39,020 --> 00:17:41,000 will perfect our path. 384 00:17:41,300 --> 00:17:43,800 It'll get better and better and brighter and 385 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:44,120 brighter. 386 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,040 Verse 18, chapter 4, but the path of 387 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,820 the just is like the shining light that 388 00:17:49,820 --> 00:17:52,140 shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 389 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,480 As we obey the will of God, he 390 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:55,820 perfects us. 391 00:17:59,110 --> 00:18:01,270 It's a delight to see a little baby 392 00:18:01,270 --> 00:18:02,490 come into a family. 393 00:18:02,610 --> 00:18:03,670 It really shakes things up. 394 00:18:05,090 --> 00:18:07,030 Life is not quite the same when there's 395 00:18:07,030 --> 00:18:08,210 a little one in the home. 396 00:18:08,730 --> 00:18:11,490 And one of the joys of parenthood is 397 00:18:11,490 --> 00:18:14,450 watching that child being perfected. 398 00:18:15,490 --> 00:18:18,990 You're thrilled with every stage of growth and 399 00:18:18,990 --> 00:18:19,610 development. 400 00:18:20,230 --> 00:18:22,050 And then one day you have the joy 401 00:18:22,050 --> 00:18:24,130 of giving that child in marriage, and it 402 00:18:24,130 --> 00:18:25,370 starts all over again. 403 00:18:25,370 --> 00:18:28,570 And there's always a new stage of development. 404 00:18:28,930 --> 00:18:29,830 That's chapter 4. 405 00:18:30,190 --> 00:18:32,470 As we obey the will of God, he 406 00:18:32,470 --> 00:18:35,110 protects our path, keeps us out of the 407 00:18:35,110 --> 00:18:36,510 messes people get in. 408 00:18:38,450 --> 00:18:41,550 And he directs our path. 409 00:18:41,890 --> 00:18:43,450 We're doing what he wants us to do. 410 00:18:45,050 --> 00:18:47,150 And he perfects our path. 411 00:18:47,390 --> 00:18:50,030 And there's that constant growth and development. 412 00:18:50,210 --> 00:18:51,210 Now, how does this happen? 413 00:18:51,310 --> 00:18:52,830 It doesn't happen by accident. 414 00:18:54,230 --> 00:18:57,010 He tells us here that God wants all 415 00:18:57,010 --> 00:19:00,570 of my heart, and God wants me to 416 00:19:00,570 --> 00:19:02,670 acknowledge him in all of my ways. 417 00:19:02,870 --> 00:19:03,150 All. 418 00:19:03,310 --> 00:19:04,370 A-L-L. 419 00:19:04,510 --> 00:19:04,970 Not part. 420 00:19:05,770 --> 00:19:08,490 Not just a part or half of my 421 00:19:08,490 --> 00:19:08,790 heart. 422 00:19:08,930 --> 00:19:11,630 I will give all to thee. 423 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,080 Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out 424 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:17,360 of it are the issues of life. 425 00:19:18,060 --> 00:19:19,980 And so God says to me, you want 426 00:19:19,980 --> 00:19:21,080 me to direct your path? 427 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:22,660 You want to obey my will? 428 00:19:22,660 --> 00:19:23,280 All right. 429 00:19:23,620 --> 00:19:25,440 Give me all of your heart. 430 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:28,360 Don't hold back anything. 431 00:19:28,860 --> 00:19:31,260 And acknowledge me in all of your ways. 432 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:32,680 That word acknowledge means fellowship. 433 00:19:33,540 --> 00:19:35,540 Fellowship with me in all of your ways. 434 00:19:35,860 --> 00:19:37,720 If there's something in your life you can't 435 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:39,780 bring me into as a partner, get rid 436 00:19:39,780 --> 00:19:40,100 of it. 437 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:43,620 And I'll direct your path. 438 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,040 Obey God's will. 439 00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:54,100 It shall be health to thy navel and 440 00:19:54,100 --> 00:19:55,040 marrow to thy bones. 441 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,000 Did you know what the will of God 442 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:58,000 is to the Christian? 443 00:19:58,160 --> 00:19:59,860 What health is to the body? 444 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:03,960 He's saying as we obey the will of 445 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:08,240 God, it makes us spiritually and emotionally healthy. 446 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,760 We have a healthy attitude toward life. 447 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:16,000 We don't go around sour, sick. 448 00:20:17,540 --> 00:20:20,580 Now in 9 and 10, he gives us 449 00:20:20,580 --> 00:20:21,660 a third admonition. 450 00:20:22,660 --> 00:20:24,240 Learn God's word. 451 00:20:24,460 --> 00:20:27,740 And this leads to obey God's will. 452 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:33,720 And this leads to use God's wealth. 453 00:20:34,900 --> 00:20:36,240 Honor the Lord with what? 454 00:20:36,340 --> 00:20:36,940 You're singing. 455 00:20:37,300 --> 00:20:38,100 Doesn't say that. 456 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,240 Honor the Lord with your praying. 457 00:20:41,580 --> 00:20:42,240 Doesn't say that. 458 00:20:42,420 --> 00:20:43,480 Honor the Lord with your substance. 459 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:53,740 Substance, money, checkbook, automobile, apartment, furniture, food, clothing. 460 00:20:55,220 --> 00:20:57,200 The things that God gives to us. 461 00:20:57,640 --> 00:20:59,360 God said to Moses, it is God that 462 00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:00,760 gives you the power to get wealth. 463 00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:04,880 And Moses warns us in Deuteronomy, when wealth 464 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:06,680 increases, don't forget God. 465 00:21:07,580 --> 00:21:09,660 When you've eaten and you're full and your 466 00:21:09,660 --> 00:21:12,160 houses are full and your vineyards are full 467 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,700 and your flocks and your herds are full, 468 00:21:15,020 --> 00:21:15,780 don't forget God. 469 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:17,100 It's God who gives you the power to 470 00:21:17,100 --> 00:21:17,540 get wealth. 471 00:21:17,540 --> 00:21:19,560 What he's saying is simply this. 472 00:21:19,860 --> 00:21:21,560 If we're going to be successful in life, 473 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:26,120 don't leave God out of your checkbook. 474 00:21:26,380 --> 00:21:27,960 You say, well, the pastor's not going to 475 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:28,880 talk about tithing. 476 00:21:28,900 --> 00:21:30,200 He doesn't even mention tithing. 477 00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:34,440 If you're content with tithing, you need to 478 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:34,740 grow. 479 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,520 He says, honor the Lord with thy substance. 480 00:21:38,860 --> 00:21:41,160 That means the way we use everything. 481 00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:45,440 Is God honored by what I bought? 482 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:48,180 Is God honored by the way we're using 483 00:21:48,180 --> 00:21:48,660 this? 484 00:21:48,980 --> 00:21:51,520 Is God being honored in what he's given 485 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:52,400 to us? 486 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:56,940 I'm always happy when God blesses his people 487 00:21:56,940 --> 00:21:57,800 materially. 488 00:21:58,020 --> 00:21:59,900 God sometimes chooses not to. 489 00:22:01,260 --> 00:22:03,740 Some of the choicest saints I have visited 490 00:22:03,740 --> 00:22:06,600 in my ministry have been poor people. 491 00:22:07,460 --> 00:22:11,660 God's provided enough for them to eat and 492 00:22:11,660 --> 00:22:13,780 to have all that they need, but he's 493 00:22:13,780 --> 00:22:15,920 not given them the excesses. 494 00:22:17,300 --> 00:22:19,440 I'm always happy when God blesses one of 495 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,240 his saints with material blessing, and I'm happier 496 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:24,520 when that saint honors the Lord with what 497 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:25,020 he's got. 498 00:22:25,340 --> 00:22:27,760 You see, he talks here about the firstfruits. 499 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:29,980 Now, the Jews knew what the firstfruits were. 500 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:33,340 You mention the word firstfruits to a Jew, 501 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:34,700 he knows what you're talking about. 502 00:22:34,980 --> 00:22:37,200 When they took their harvest, when they came 503 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:40,880 and reaped the harvest, the firstfruits were taken 504 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:42,120 and given to God. 505 00:22:43,820 --> 00:22:47,780 What he's saying is God owns everything. 506 00:22:48,120 --> 00:22:49,400 You better acknowledge that. 507 00:22:50,540 --> 00:22:52,900 Remember that farmer that Jesus talked about? 508 00:22:54,740 --> 00:22:57,080 He had a bumper crop, and he didn't 509 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:58,440 have enough room for it. 510 00:22:58,540 --> 00:22:59,540 He said, what am I going to do? 511 00:22:59,580 --> 00:23:01,020 I have all of these goods. 512 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,780 I'll tear down my barns, I'll build bigger 513 00:23:03,780 --> 00:23:06,120 barns, and I'll say to my soul, soul, 514 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:08,140 you have many goods laid out for many 515 00:23:08,140 --> 00:23:08,600 years. 516 00:23:08,820 --> 00:23:10,120 Eat, drink, and be merry. 517 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:11,940 And that night God said to him, you 518 00:23:11,940 --> 00:23:16,480 fool, this night your soul is required of 519 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:16,580 you. 520 00:23:16,580 --> 00:23:17,280 You're going to die. 521 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:18,880 Who's going to get all these things? 522 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:21,740 A lot of lessons in that parable. 523 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:23,400 But the main one is this. 524 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,320 When he looked at the blessings of life, 525 00:23:26,940 --> 00:23:29,200 they were a mirror in which he saw 526 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:29,800 himself. 527 00:23:31,380 --> 00:23:33,740 Solomon is saying here the blessings of life 528 00:23:33,740 --> 00:23:36,020 should be a window through which we see 529 00:23:36,020 --> 00:23:36,600 God. 530 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,040 When you look at your paycheck or your 531 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:41,320 house or your car, is your first thought 532 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:41,960 God? 533 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,080 God gave me this, and I'm going to 534 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:45,700 use this for God's glory. 535 00:23:45,940 --> 00:23:49,120 He's warning his son against a selfish kind 536 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:49,780 of living. 537 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:55,680 Jesus puts it in these words, but seek 538 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:59,560 ye first the kingdom of God and his 539 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:05,160 righteousness, and all these things shall be added 540 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:06,720 unto you. 541 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:08,860 Learn God's word. 542 00:24:09,100 --> 00:24:10,260 Obey God's will. 543 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:16,120 Use God's wealth and honor him in it. 544 00:24:18,110 --> 00:24:20,790 Some people are wasting wealth. 545 00:24:21,570 --> 00:24:24,510 Some people are spending wealth. 546 00:24:25,770 --> 00:24:30,630 God's people should be investing wealth. 547 00:24:30,630 --> 00:24:33,630 Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth. 548 00:24:34,450 --> 00:24:36,430 Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. 549 00:24:36,530 --> 00:24:37,170 We hurry on. 550 00:24:37,790 --> 00:24:40,030 In verses 11 and 12, there's a fourth 551 00:24:40,030 --> 00:24:40,850 admonition. 552 00:24:41,010 --> 00:24:44,250 When he says to his son, heed God's 553 00:24:44,250 --> 00:24:44,790 warning. 554 00:24:46,150 --> 00:24:49,550 My son, despise not the chastening of the 555 00:24:49,550 --> 00:24:52,670 Lord, neither be weary of his correction. 556 00:24:52,810 --> 00:24:54,150 It's a sign of his love. 557 00:24:56,530 --> 00:24:59,010 I was admonishing my Sunday school class this 558 00:24:59,010 --> 00:25:02,630 morning not to judge people because of sickness 559 00:25:02,630 --> 00:25:03,670 or difficulty. 560 00:25:03,830 --> 00:25:05,530 Don't you ever walk up to somebody and 561 00:25:05,530 --> 00:25:07,990 say, oh, if you had faith, this wouldn't 562 00:25:07,990 --> 00:25:08,610 have happened. 563 00:25:09,870 --> 00:25:12,650 You see, chastening is not punishing. 564 00:25:13,870 --> 00:25:18,490 A father chastens a son because he loves 565 00:25:18,490 --> 00:25:18,810 him. 566 00:25:19,250 --> 00:25:22,850 A judge punishes a criminal because he upholds 567 00:25:22,850 --> 00:25:23,310 the law. 568 00:25:23,850 --> 00:25:27,190 If the only reason I chasten my children 569 00:25:27,190 --> 00:25:29,950 is to uphold the law, they'll leave home. 570 00:25:31,750 --> 00:25:33,690 A home is not built for the upholding 571 00:25:33,690 --> 00:25:34,190 of law. 572 00:25:34,410 --> 00:25:36,170 It's built for the sharing of love. 573 00:25:37,370 --> 00:25:39,610 Now my father in heaven looks down at 574 00:25:39,610 --> 00:25:39,870 me. 575 00:25:40,250 --> 00:25:43,550 Sometimes I need to be purified. 576 00:25:44,170 --> 00:25:46,130 Sometimes there's sin in my life and God 577 00:25:46,130 --> 00:25:47,050 has to deal with me. 578 00:25:47,110 --> 00:25:47,730 I've been stubborn. 579 00:25:49,090 --> 00:25:50,790 And I haven't listened to his admonition. 580 00:25:51,170 --> 00:25:52,810 I've not heeded his word. 581 00:25:53,010 --> 00:25:54,650 And so God says, all right, I have 582 00:25:54,650 --> 00:25:55,250 to spank you. 583 00:25:55,510 --> 00:25:57,470 God chastens to purify. 584 00:25:57,470 --> 00:25:59,990 Sometimes God chastens to perfect. 585 00:26:01,910 --> 00:26:04,230 This word chastening in the New Testament means 586 00:26:04,230 --> 00:26:05,370 child training. 587 00:26:06,030 --> 00:26:07,490 The baby comes into the home. 588 00:26:07,570 --> 00:26:08,290 The baby's helpless. 589 00:26:08,450 --> 00:26:09,690 The baby has to be trained. 590 00:26:10,170 --> 00:26:11,410 And you train the child how to feed 591 00:26:11,410 --> 00:26:11,770 himself. 592 00:26:12,150 --> 00:26:13,810 You train the child how to dress himself. 593 00:26:14,150 --> 00:26:15,570 Wouldn't it be a horrible thing for a 594 00:26:15,570 --> 00:26:16,930 40-year-old man to have to be 595 00:26:16,930 --> 00:26:17,390 dressed? 596 00:26:19,350 --> 00:26:21,130 He's trained how to walk and how to 597 00:26:21,130 --> 00:26:22,130 use his hands. 598 00:26:22,130 --> 00:26:24,690 Someday he may go to surgical college and 599 00:26:24,690 --> 00:26:28,090 learn how to use those very deft tools. 600 00:26:29,190 --> 00:26:30,230 Child training. 601 00:26:31,050 --> 00:26:32,610 Now God has to train his children. 602 00:26:32,770 --> 00:26:34,930 He will not have spoiled brats. 603 00:26:36,070 --> 00:26:38,610 And sometimes God has to chasten me to 604 00:26:38,610 --> 00:26:39,490 purify me. 605 00:26:39,750 --> 00:26:42,330 And sometimes he chastens me to perfect me. 606 00:26:42,510 --> 00:26:44,750 And sometimes he chastens me to prepare me. 607 00:26:47,190 --> 00:26:47,970 He knows what's coming. 608 00:26:48,070 --> 00:26:49,850 I better prepare him for what's coming. 609 00:26:50,110 --> 00:26:51,410 Lord, why is this happening? 610 00:26:51,410 --> 00:26:52,750 You don't know now, but you will know. 611 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:58,040 And the father says to the son, now 612 00:26:58,040 --> 00:26:59,440 don't despise God's chastening. 613 00:26:59,540 --> 00:27:00,660 Don't get angry at God. 614 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:01,880 Don't argue with God. 615 00:27:01,980 --> 00:27:03,020 Don't run away from God. 616 00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:03,860 Don't say, I'm through. 617 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:04,900 Nobody loves me. 618 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:06,660 Don't have an evangelical pouch. 619 00:27:09,710 --> 00:27:11,170 And don't get weary of it. 620 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:16,120 How many times have we heard our parents 621 00:27:16,120 --> 00:27:18,460 say, how many times do I have to 622 00:27:18,460 --> 00:27:18,960 tell you? 623 00:27:20,060 --> 00:27:21,840 How many times has God had to tell 624 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:22,680 us some things? 625 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:24,060 Now, be honest. 626 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:27,520 Sometimes God has had to take his word 627 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:29,240 and hit me over the head with it. 628 00:27:31,380 --> 00:27:33,200 Like the farmer who hit the mule with 629 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:34,840 the shovel and said, you first of all 630 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:35,880 have to get his attention. 631 00:27:39,380 --> 00:27:41,580 God has to take a baseball bat sometimes 632 00:27:41,580 --> 00:27:43,140 and just, he does it in love. 633 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:44,320 He said, if he loved me, he wouldn't 634 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:44,680 do it. 635 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:45,200 No. 636 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:47,420 You and I have seen parents who have 637 00:27:47,420 --> 00:27:49,440 allowed their children to run everything. 638 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,140 The parents ought to take the children and 639 00:27:53,140 --> 00:27:54,340 discipline the children. 640 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,220 Because when power is disciplined, there's construction. 641 00:27:58,740 --> 00:28:01,620 When power is not disciplined, there's destruction. 642 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:04,220 And God helped that child whose parents don't 643 00:28:04,220 --> 00:28:05,520 love him enough to discipline him. 644 00:28:08,220 --> 00:28:10,160 And God helped that person who marries that 645 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:11,600 child who wasn't disciplined. 646 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:18,960 Heed God's warnings. 647 00:28:21,810 --> 00:28:23,950 When Peter was out walking on the water, 648 00:28:24,030 --> 00:28:24,790 he began to sink. 649 00:28:24,790 --> 00:28:26,090 And he knew he was sinking and cried 650 00:28:26,090 --> 00:28:26,670 out for help. 651 00:28:26,770 --> 00:28:27,830 At least he knew he was beginning to 652 00:28:27,830 --> 00:28:28,150 sink. 653 00:28:28,870 --> 00:28:30,750 Some of the saints don't know they're beginning 654 00:28:30,750 --> 00:28:31,270 to sink. 655 00:28:32,150 --> 00:28:33,510 Some of them are ten foot under and 656 00:28:33,510 --> 00:28:34,550 don't know they're sinking. 657 00:28:35,750 --> 00:28:37,350 Peter was smart enough to know he was 658 00:28:37,350 --> 00:28:37,810 in trouble. 659 00:28:38,150 --> 00:28:39,450 He cried out for God's help. 660 00:28:43,010 --> 00:28:45,370 The last admonition he gives is in verses 661 00:28:45,370 --> 00:28:46,570 13 through 18. 662 00:28:47,250 --> 00:28:48,410 Learn God's word. 663 00:28:48,550 --> 00:28:49,650 That's the beginning of everything. 664 00:28:51,350 --> 00:28:53,590 Thy word have I hid in my heart. 665 00:28:53,590 --> 00:28:56,350 Let the word of Christ dwell in you 666 00:28:56,350 --> 00:28:57,630 richly. 667 00:28:59,910 --> 00:29:01,230 Obey God's will. 668 00:29:02,250 --> 00:29:04,410 When we obey God's will, then we're in 669 00:29:04,410 --> 00:29:06,650 the place where God can direct us and 670 00:29:06,650 --> 00:29:08,610 perfect us and protect us. 671 00:29:10,790 --> 00:29:12,330 Invest God's wealth. 672 00:29:13,750 --> 00:29:15,830 Be a steward of what God has given 673 00:29:15,830 --> 00:29:16,350 to you. 674 00:29:16,730 --> 00:29:19,150 And give him first place in your checkbook. 675 00:29:20,110 --> 00:29:21,730 Heed God's warnings. 676 00:29:23,310 --> 00:29:28,950 And finally, verses 13 through 18, seek God's 677 00:29:28,950 --> 00:29:29,650 wisdom. 678 00:29:30,050 --> 00:29:33,130 Happy is the man, the woman, that findeth 679 00:29:33,130 --> 00:29:37,950 wisdom, that getteth understanding, more precious than rubies. 680 00:29:38,430 --> 00:29:41,030 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all 681 00:29:41,030 --> 00:29:42,270 her paths are peace. 682 00:29:42,690 --> 00:29:44,370 We live in a world that has a 683 00:29:44,370 --> 00:29:46,830 great deal of knowledge and very little wisdom. 684 00:29:47,930 --> 00:29:52,070 Now, the word of God never criticizes knowledge. 685 00:29:52,610 --> 00:29:54,290 It criticizes stupidity. 686 00:29:54,810 --> 00:29:56,490 It criticizes ignorance. 687 00:29:58,070 --> 00:29:59,730 Some of the saints of God think that 688 00:29:59,730 --> 00:30:02,130 the more ignorant you are, the more spiritual 689 00:30:02,130 --> 00:30:02,830 you are. 690 00:30:03,670 --> 00:30:05,290 If that's the case, why did God write 691 00:30:05,290 --> 00:30:05,870 a book? 692 00:30:06,810 --> 00:30:08,950 Why did he call a brilliant man like 693 00:30:08,950 --> 00:30:10,410 Moses to lead Israel? 694 00:30:10,570 --> 00:30:14,670 A brilliant man like Paul to write the 695 00:30:14,670 --> 00:30:15,250 New Testament? 696 00:30:16,370 --> 00:30:18,970 God puts no premium on ignorance. 697 00:30:20,310 --> 00:30:22,990 A little midget-minded man came up to 698 00:30:22,990 --> 00:30:24,910 John Wesley one day, and Wesley was a 699 00:30:24,910 --> 00:30:25,590 brilliant fellow. 700 00:30:25,770 --> 00:30:28,050 Wesley wrote a grammar of Latin. 701 00:30:28,230 --> 00:30:29,510 He wrote a Hebrew grammar, wrote a Greek 702 00:30:29,510 --> 00:30:30,770 grammar, wrote an English grammar. 703 00:30:32,230 --> 00:30:34,650 The complete works of Wesley in my library 704 00:30:34,650 --> 00:30:36,110 sit on a shelf like this. 705 00:30:36,290 --> 00:30:36,950 Thick books. 706 00:30:37,390 --> 00:30:38,130 Brilliant man. 707 00:30:38,350 --> 00:30:39,350 Oxford scholar. 708 00:30:40,150 --> 00:30:43,830 And this midget-minded man said to Wesley, 709 00:30:44,090 --> 00:30:46,870 God doesn't need your intelligence. 710 00:30:48,940 --> 00:30:51,400 Wesley said, I never said God needed my 711 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:55,340 intelligence, but neither does God need your ignorance. 712 00:30:59,390 --> 00:31:01,850 We've had too much of this attitude among 713 00:31:01,850 --> 00:31:02,630 some people. 714 00:31:04,150 --> 00:31:05,910 He says you seek wisdom. 715 00:31:06,330 --> 00:31:09,230 Now, the Bible never criticizes knowledge as long 716 00:31:09,230 --> 00:31:09,810 as you've got wisdom. 717 00:31:10,650 --> 00:31:12,410 The fear of the Lord is the beginning 718 00:31:12,410 --> 00:31:13,130 of knowledge. 719 00:31:14,310 --> 00:31:16,590 If we have wisdom, we can use knowledge. 720 00:31:16,890 --> 00:31:18,710 Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. 721 00:31:19,030 --> 00:31:20,970 All of us know people who are so 722 00:31:20,970 --> 00:31:21,850 smart they're stupid. 723 00:31:23,830 --> 00:31:25,330 They've died by degrees. 724 00:31:26,790 --> 00:31:29,170 They've wandered about the earth in sheepskins. 725 00:31:30,510 --> 00:31:32,710 They have learned everything there is to learn, 726 00:31:32,770 --> 00:31:34,090 and they can't tie their own shoes. 727 00:31:34,970 --> 00:31:36,610 We know people like this. 728 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:43,140 He's saying to us here, seek God's wisdom. 729 00:31:43,500 --> 00:31:45,480 You see, knowledge has to do with facts. 730 00:31:46,620 --> 00:31:48,460 Wisdom has to do with truths. 731 00:31:49,500 --> 00:31:51,740 Knowledge has to do with what happened. 732 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:54,520 Wisdom has to do with why it happened. 733 00:31:55,180 --> 00:31:57,000 Knowledge takes things apart. 734 00:31:57,440 --> 00:31:59,540 Wisdom puts things together. 735 00:31:59,980 --> 00:32:01,640 Knowledge helps you to make a living. 736 00:32:02,100 --> 00:32:03,780 Wisdom helps you to make a life. 737 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:05,440 There's a difference. 738 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:09,080 Knowledge knows all about prices. 739 00:32:09,420 --> 00:32:11,280 Wisdom knows about values. 740 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:13,900 Knowledge deals with a little part of life. 741 00:32:14,260 --> 00:32:16,200 Wisdom deals with all of life. 742 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:18,920 Knowledge puts you in touch with this world. 743 00:32:19,340 --> 00:32:21,260 Wisdom puts you in touch with the next 744 00:32:21,260 --> 00:32:21,720 world. 745 00:32:25,860 --> 00:32:27,180 And the great need of the hour is 746 00:32:27,180 --> 00:32:27,780 for wisdom. 747 00:32:29,700 --> 00:32:32,180 He says, wisdom is the most precious thing 748 00:32:32,180 --> 00:32:33,380 you can have, and it is. 749 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:34,760 It is. 750 00:32:35,220 --> 00:32:36,480 How do we get this wisdom? 751 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:38,580 We heed God's warnings. 752 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:40,840 How do we get this wisdom? 753 00:32:40,980 --> 00:32:41,980 We obey God's will. 754 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:43,340 How do we get this wisdom? 755 00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:44,860 We study God's word. 756 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:49,160 This word is the word of wisdom. 757 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:52,020 And the result of this wisdom is not 758 00:32:52,020 --> 00:32:54,280 an easy life, but a pleasant life. 759 00:32:55,620 --> 00:32:58,000 The result of this wisdom is a peaceful 760 00:32:58,000 --> 00:32:58,440 life. 761 00:32:58,620 --> 00:32:59,400 There are problems. 762 00:32:59,540 --> 00:33:00,320 There are storms. 763 00:33:00,460 --> 00:33:01,040 There are burdens. 764 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:01,940 There are difficulties. 765 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:05,700 But the person who lives by wisdom is 766 00:33:05,700 --> 00:33:08,820 lifted up above the toys and the games 767 00:33:08,820 --> 00:33:11,000 in the playpens of life. 768 00:33:11,860 --> 00:33:14,120 He's a mountaintop person. 769 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:15,700 He has perspective. 770 00:33:16,340 --> 00:33:18,300 He has strength because he has the wisdom 771 00:33:18,300 --> 00:33:19,020 of God. 772 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:20,660 We need this today. 773 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:24,460 People are tripping over the cracks in the 774 00:33:24,460 --> 00:33:25,440 sidewalks. 775 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:26,440 What are they going to do when the 776 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:27,900 boulders start falling? 777 00:33:31,270 --> 00:33:34,150 People complain because the breeze is too warm. 778 00:33:34,310 --> 00:33:35,030 What are they going to do when the 779 00:33:35,030 --> 00:33:36,350 storm starts blowing? 780 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:42,480 If you've run with the footman and you're 781 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:44,520 weary, said Jeremiah, how are you going to 782 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:45,700 do when the horses start? 783 00:33:45,780 --> 00:33:46,320 And what are you going to do in 784 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:47,220 the swelling of Jordan? 785 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:49,860 You get down there in the jungles of 786 00:33:49,860 --> 00:33:50,320 Jordan. 787 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:51,920 If you couldn't make it up there on 788 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:52,800 the highway, what are you going to do 789 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:53,420 down there? 790 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:55,440 Wisdom. 791 00:33:58,130 --> 00:34:00,890 In the Bible, Jesus Christ is God's wisdom. 792 00:34:01,910 --> 00:34:03,850 He's the wisdom of God and he's the 793 00:34:03,850 --> 00:34:04,770 power of God. 794 00:34:04,870 --> 00:34:07,550 And in him are hid all the treasures 795 00:34:07,550 --> 00:34:08,650 of God's wisdom. 796 00:34:09,090 --> 00:34:11,170 And when you receive Jesus Christ as your 797 00:34:11,170 --> 00:34:13,710 Savior, not only does he forgive you all 798 00:34:13,710 --> 00:34:15,870 your sins, not only does he assure you 799 00:34:15,870 --> 00:34:18,650 of eternal life in heaven and abundant life 800 00:34:18,650 --> 00:34:20,750 right now, but he gives to you his 801 00:34:20,750 --> 00:34:21,370 wisdom. 802 00:34:21,370 --> 00:34:27,469 This is why the humblest, uneducated saint can 803 00:34:27,469 --> 00:34:31,730 be wiser than the college professor. 804 00:34:32,150 --> 00:34:35,290 Not smarter, but wiser. 805 00:34:36,969 --> 00:34:39,170 In the first church that I pastored, we 806 00:34:39,170 --> 00:34:40,790 had a dear lady. 807 00:34:40,889 --> 00:34:42,710 She's still living, loves the Lord, was a 808 00:34:42,710 --> 00:34:43,610 great help to me. 809 00:34:44,090 --> 00:34:46,150 I don't think she went past eighth grade, 810 00:34:46,370 --> 00:34:47,469 perhaps not that far. 811 00:34:48,170 --> 00:34:50,510 But she read her Bible on her knees, 812 00:34:51,030 --> 00:34:52,850 and she prayed over her Bible, and she 813 00:34:52,850 --> 00:34:55,250 wept over her Bible, and oh, the wisdom 814 00:34:55,250 --> 00:34:56,510 that woman had. 815 00:34:57,190 --> 00:34:59,530 Here I was, a young seminary student, and 816 00:34:59,530 --> 00:35:02,010 I could say words like logos and things 817 00:35:02,010 --> 00:35:02,650 like that. 818 00:35:04,390 --> 00:35:06,770 I had my Greek New Testament and my 819 00:35:06,770 --> 00:35:09,450 Hebrew Bible, and I'd listen to what she 820 00:35:09,450 --> 00:35:11,330 had to say about the Word of God. 821 00:35:13,090 --> 00:35:14,670 I'd never heard that before. 822 00:35:17,220 --> 00:35:19,320 And so finally I decided once a week 823 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:20,940 I'd just stop at her house, and we'd 824 00:35:20,940 --> 00:35:22,140 pray together, and I'd listen. 825 00:35:23,980 --> 00:35:26,620 It was like a postgraduate course in the 826 00:35:26,620 --> 00:35:27,420 things of the Lord. 827 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:30,060 Where did she get her wisdom from God? 828 00:35:31,140 --> 00:35:32,720 That's a beautiful thing when you can take 829 00:35:32,720 --> 00:35:35,480 knowledge and skill and blend it with wisdom. 830 00:35:35,660 --> 00:35:36,620 Oh, that's great. 831 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:39,980 I think it was William Lyon Phelps, professor 832 00:35:39,980 --> 00:35:41,760 at Columbia University, who said if I had 833 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:44,880 to take a choice, make a choice, between 834 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:47,160 a university education and a knowledge of the 835 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:48,680 Word of God, I'd take the knowledge of 836 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:49,340 the Word of God. 837 00:35:53,820 --> 00:35:57,780 Seek God's wisdom, and that begins with Jesus 838 00:35:57,780 --> 00:35:58,380 Christ. 839 00:36:00,060 --> 00:36:02,520 So here's a wise father talking to his 840 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:04,460 son, and he's saying something like this to 841 00:36:04,460 --> 00:36:04,620 him. 842 00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:06,640 Son, you're going to make it. 843 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:09,600 You've got life ahead of you. 844 00:36:09,640 --> 00:36:11,120 Daughter, you've got life ahead of you. 845 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:11,720 You're going to make it. 846 00:36:11,780 --> 00:36:12,660 You're going to make it if you start 847 00:36:12,660 --> 00:36:13,680 with Jesus Christ. 848 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:17,380 You trust Jesus Christ as your Savior. 849 00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:18,500 You yield to Him. 850 00:36:19,120 --> 00:36:21,480 Give your life to Him, and learn God's 851 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:27,520 Word, and obey God's will, and invest God's 852 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:27,980 wealth. 853 00:36:28,120 --> 00:36:29,680 Put God first in your money. 854 00:36:32,660 --> 00:36:33,760 Heed God's warnings. 855 00:36:33,900 --> 00:36:34,640 He spanks you. 856 00:36:34,740 --> 00:36:35,000 Listen. 857 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:39,000 And seek God's wisdom, and you put all 858 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:42,180 of that together, and you'll have God's blessing. 859 00:36:42,180 --> 00:36:45,320 And the path of the just is as 860 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:48,260 the shining light that shineth more and more 861 00:36:48,260 --> 00:36:50,820 and more and more unto the perfect day. 862 00:36:50,940 --> 00:36:51,660 An easy life? 863 00:36:51,780 --> 00:36:52,980 No, but a pleasant life. 864 00:36:56,140 --> 00:36:58,120 A burden-free life? 865 00:36:58,240 --> 00:36:59,620 No, but a peaceful life. 866 00:37:01,340 --> 00:37:03,400 A life of material wealth? 867 00:37:03,460 --> 00:37:06,380 Not necessarily, but an abundant life. 868 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:10,400 A beautiful life, a life that one day 869 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:12,020 will step from earth to glory. 870 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:17,960 My son, are you His son? 871 00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:18,800 Are you His daughter? 872 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:20,100 Have you trusted Him? 873 00:37:21,460 --> 00:37:22,980 You say, yes, I have. 874 00:37:23,700 --> 00:37:25,920 Then these are the admonitions for us to 875 00:37:25,920 --> 00:37:26,260 follow. 876 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:32,020 If you haven't, trust Him today. 877 00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:39,140 Gracious Father, it rejoices our hearts that we 878 00:37:39,140 --> 00:37:40,000 are your children. 879 00:37:41,180 --> 00:37:42,840 We don't deserve it. 880 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:46,760 And since trusting Jesus Christ and being born 881 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:48,520 again, we've done nothing to merit it. 882 00:37:50,040 --> 00:37:51,680 And yet you've saved us. 883 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:53,880 Now help us to heed your admonitions. 884 00:37:54,620 --> 00:37:56,820 Help us, Heavenly Father, not to be careless 885 00:37:56,820 --> 00:37:58,040 with our lives. 886 00:37:59,020 --> 00:38:00,540 Oh, may our lives count. 887 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:03,440 May we make a difference in this world, 888 00:38:03,540 --> 00:38:05,160 in our community, in our family. 889 00:38:06,260 --> 00:38:09,320 Oh, gracious God in heaven, take the young 890 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:11,960 people of this congregation, direct their lives. 891 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:13,860 May they put their lives wholly in your 892 00:38:13,860 --> 00:38:14,400 hands. 893 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:17,900 Take each of us, Father, even that one 894 00:38:17,900 --> 00:38:19,740 who is strayed away, bring him back. 895 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:21,900 That one who has been sinning. 896 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:23,500 Oh, God, convict and cleanse. 897 00:38:24,860 --> 00:38:26,220 And may each of us be in that 898 00:38:26,220 --> 00:38:29,100 place of your blessing, no matter what it 899 00:38:29,100 --> 00:38:29,760 may cost. 900 00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:32,620 I pray for Jesus' sake. 901 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:33,400 Amen. 902 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:37,220 You've been listening to the From the Pulpit 903 00:38:37,220 --> 00:38:38,620 in Classic Sermons series. 904 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:41,560 This week you heard Warren Wearsby with his 905 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:43,460 message, A Father's Counsel. 906 00:38:45,860 --> 00:38:48,160 Tune in next week to hear Leonard Ravenhill 907 00:38:48,160 --> 00:38:51,100 talk about A Man of God, Part 1, 908 00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:53,680 on From the Pulpit and Classic Sermons.