Sermon Notes: Seek Wisdom

Background Story

2 Chronicles‬ ‭1:6-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.””

  • Having godly wisdom means we strive to see life from God’s perspective and act accordingly. Godly wisdom can be discovered in the Proverbs…
  • Proverbs 1:1‭-‬5 NIV The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:  for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;  for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—  let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—
  • James‬ ‭1:5-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

‭‭Remember

  • Hebrews 11:6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Observation: Too often we look at man to understand God.  Instead we should look at God to understand man…

James‬ ‭3:13-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬ (The Two Types of Wisdom)

13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Worldly Wisdom

14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 

Godly Wisdom

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere

18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Peacemakers (Leading others to peace with God)

Matthew 5:9 is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in which He says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” The Greek word translated “peacemaker” is used in only one other place in the New Testament, in a slightly different form. Colossians 1:20 says, “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

God delights in those who reconcile others to Himself—those who bring the gospel are “beautiful” (Isaiah 52:7). God “reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). 

God “reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). 

Note: A person must have a real relationship with God before he or she can help someone else know God. 

This relationship is the true foundation to Wisdom