Wednesday, March 6, 2013

WISDOM (Proverbs): Accept the Invitation!

Wisdom has built her house. She has made seven pillars to hold it up. She has cooked her food, and has mixed her wine, and she has set her table. She has sent out the young women who work for her. (Proverbs 9:1-3 NLV)

As we studied in the previous lesson, God gave us Christ to be our wisdom. (see WISDOM: From Creation to Now) In a future study, we will go into more detail about the significance about the seven pillars, but the important thing for us to understand now is that Christ Jesus is Wisdom, and we who believe in Him are ...members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22) Not only has God prepared the "house", our bodies, but He's also prepared everything inside the house, the "table".  All we have to do is let Wisdom into our hearts; Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelations 3:20)

She calls from the highest places of the city, “Whoever is easy to fool, let him turn in here!” She says to the one without understanding, “Come and eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. Turn from your foolish way, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.” (Proverbs 9:3-6 NLV) When we resume our studies of the THE GOSPEL, we will eventually study a parable Jesus taught about a great supper; Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." (Luke 14:16-18, 21, 23) In other words, Wisdom has invited eaach of us into His house, His family and there is room for EVERYONE who chooses eternal life in Christ Jesus.

He who speaks strong words to the man who laughs at the truth brings shame upon himself. He who speaks strong words to a sinful man gets hurt. Do not speak strong words to a man who laughs at the truth, or he will hate you. Speak strong words to a wise man, and he will love you. Give teaching to a wise man and he will be even wiser. Teach a man who is right and good, and he will grow in learning.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. To learn about the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will grow in number, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom is a help to you. If you laugh at the truth, you alone will suffer for it. (Proverbs 9:7-12 NLV) Basically, God is telling us to be wise with whom we share the Truth, the Word of God.  If a person won't receive the Word of God, don't try to force it on them, move on! These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:13-14)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom! He who has ears to hear, let him hear: Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a stick is for the back of him who has no understanding. (Proverbs 10:13 NLV) Wise men store up learning, but the foolish will be destroyed with their mouths. (Proverbs 10:14 NLV) The lips of those who are right with God feed many, but fools die for want of understanding. (Proverbs 10:21 NLV) When pride comes, then comes shame, but wisdom is with those who have no pride. (Proverbs 11:2 NLV) A wise man hides how much learning he has, but the heart of fools makes known their foolish way. (Proverbs 12:23 NLV) Fighting comes only from pride, but wisdom is with those who listen when told what they should do. (Proverbs 13:10 NLV) Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known. (Proverbs 14:33 NLV) The fear of the Lord is the teaching for wisdom, and having no pride comes before honor. (Proverbs 15:33 NLV) He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding will find good. (Proverbs 19:8 NLV) AMEN

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