January 27,2013 Sunday Sermon Review
( from my home church I attend regularly )
Topic - The Wisdom of Solomon
Guest Speaker: Pierre Gilbert from CMU
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The service started with singing several songs including "Be Thou My Vision" , "Name Above All Names", and "It Is Well With My Soul".
The worship leader read from Isaiah 44:6-8 and reminded us that there is purpose in our present sufferings.
Isaiah 44:8 says Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
We had a presentation from GoMission. Our church is connected to this. You can visit their website at www.gomission.ca
Our speaker today is a professor at CMU university in Winnipeg. He was very interesting but I found it bit harder to take notes. I would like to share some of his insights as best as I can here.
So here is some of what Pierre Gilbert said:
Choosing the Way of Wisdom in an Age of Freedom
Wisdom - what is it good for?
King Solomon started well but finished badly.
What is wisdom? - We think of those with grey hair and gray beard.
Some thought provoking wisdom questions:
Why is it necessary to nail down the lid of a coffin?
Why do we never see this headline in the news - psychic wins lottery?
Why do doctors call what they do "Practice"?
Why is the word "abbreviated" such a long word?
Money or Wisdom?
If you were given the choice - money or wisdom, which would you choose?
Solomon chose wisdom.
Wisdom is discernment. It's purpose is to put evidence in that which favors life.
The time of youth is the primary time to impart wisdom.
But wisdom is needed for us in all our years.
The time of youth presents great potential to mess up. Senior years present less potential to mess up than in youth.
The life of the elderly is pretty basic, while in youth your whole life is before you.
Youth are tempted to reject traditional values.
Youth can be cynical and try new stuff even if it is stupid stuff.
Choose the way of Life rather than the way of Death
There are many options in life.
Real excitement is in faith in the Holy God of Israel.
Four Levels of Wisdom
1.0 - The wisdom of a trade
2.0 - The widsom of intelligent shrewdness
3.0 - The wisdom of common sense
4.0 - The wisdom of Understanding the Fundamental Question -
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
4.0 Wisdom is the highest level of wisdom. It cannot be bought. It is a choice. It is to choose God - to love and serve God.
Solomon had every level of wisdom except 4.0. He did not choose to serve God. He went after the religions around him, idols and after foreign women.
( 1 Kings 3: 5 - 13)
verses 9 and 10 say Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
1) Solomon asks for wisdom. He makes the right choice.
2) But things go south for him. 1 Kings 11: 1-11
note verses 1-2 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:
Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
3) Why, Why do things go badly for Solomon?
He got:
1.0 knowledge,
2.0 shrewdness,
3.0 common sense BUT
Solomon did not choose 4.0 the fear of the LORD for his life.
Remain Faithful to God
1 Kings 9:4-5 says And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
Wisdom 4.0 must be chosen. It cannot be given. Solomon did not choose this. He chose idols, false gods and women. Solomon got an F.
We are face with critical choices. We need to seek the wisdom that only God can give.
The choice is ours!
( from my home church I attend regularly )
Topic - The Wisdom of Solomon
Guest Speaker: Pierre Gilbert from CMU
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The service started with singing several songs including "Be Thou My Vision" , "Name Above All Names", and "It Is Well With My Soul".
The worship leader read from Isaiah 44:6-8 and reminded us that there is purpose in our present sufferings.
Isaiah 44:8 says Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
We had a presentation from GoMission. Our church is connected to this. You can visit their website at www.gomission.ca
Our speaker today is a professor at CMU university in Winnipeg. He was very interesting but I found it bit harder to take notes. I would like to share some of his insights as best as I can here.
So here is some of what Pierre Gilbert said:
Choosing the Way of Wisdom in an Age of Freedom
Wisdom - what is it good for?
King Solomon started well but finished badly.
What is wisdom? - We think of those with grey hair and gray beard.
Some thought provoking wisdom questions:
Why is it necessary to nail down the lid of a coffin?
Why do we never see this headline in the news - psychic wins lottery?
Why do doctors call what they do "Practice"?
Why is the word "abbreviated" such a long word?
Money or Wisdom?
If you were given the choice - money or wisdom, which would you choose?
Solomon chose wisdom.
Wisdom is discernment. It's purpose is to put evidence in that which favors life.
The time of youth is the primary time to impart wisdom.
But wisdom is needed for us in all our years.
The time of youth presents great potential to mess up. Senior years present less potential to mess up than in youth.
The life of the elderly is pretty basic, while in youth your whole life is before you.
Youth are tempted to reject traditional values.
Youth can be cynical and try new stuff even if it is stupid stuff.
Choose the way of Life rather than the way of Death
There are many options in life.
Real excitement is in faith in the Holy God of Israel.
Four Levels of Wisdom
1.0 - The wisdom of a trade
2.0 - The widsom of intelligent shrewdness
3.0 - The wisdom of common sense
4.0 - The wisdom of Understanding the Fundamental Question -
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
4.0 Wisdom is the highest level of wisdom. It cannot be bought. It is a choice. It is to choose God - to love and serve God.
Solomon had every level of wisdom except 4.0. He did not choose to serve God. He went after the religions around him, idols and after foreign women.
( 1 Kings 3: 5 - 13)
verses 9 and 10 say Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
1) Solomon asks for wisdom. He makes the right choice.
2) But things go south for him. 1 Kings 11: 1-11
note verses 1-2 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:
Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
3) Why, Why do things go badly for Solomon?
He got:
1.0 knowledge,
2.0 shrewdness,
3.0 common sense BUT
Solomon did not choose 4.0 the fear of the LORD for his life.
Remain Faithful to God
1 Kings 9:4-5 says And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
Wisdom 4.0 must be chosen. It cannot be given. Solomon did not choose this. He chose idols, false gods and women. Solomon got an F.
We are face with critical choices. We need to seek the wisdom that only God can give.
The choice is ours!
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