Opening Scriptures:
- I Kings 3:3-15
Wisdom is indeed important to every believer. It does not on its own bring forth salvation, but does guide us into mastery of the principles and mind of God.
I. What Is Wisdom?
A. Truth
1. The building blocks of knowledge
2. Immovable facts
3. Uncompromised, proven principles
4. "Sensed"
B. Knowledge
1. The awareness of truth
2. "Learned" and "acquired"
C. Understanding
1. The ability to comprehend the principles that govern knowledge and explain them
2. "Discovered"
D. Wisdom
1. The ability to apply understanding to life's questions and obstacles
2. "Exercised"
E. Partner to the Holy Spirit
1. Wisdom and Spirit (Acts 6:8-10)
2. Wisdom of Words not enough (1 Cor 1:17)
3. Not Wisdom of Men, but Power of God (1 Cor 2:5)
II. Truth / Facts
A. Self: Honesty and Self Awareness
1. Looking In the Mirror
2. Overcoming Delusion
B. World: Creation & Science
1. We are without excuse (Romans 1:20)
C. God: The Word
1. God's Word is filled with truths and facts
2. Stories and History remind us of what God has done
3. The Word defines Truth as Christ
III. Knowledge (Proverbs 1:7)
A. Self: Our Mind
1. We "learn" knowledge
2. We must be hungry
B. World: Our Senses
1. Be vigilant (1 Peter 5:8)
2. Learn about your world (1 Kings 4:26-34)
C. God: Study
1. Through study, we acquire knowledge of God's Word
2. Education - Prerequisite for Teaching
3. The more you educate yourself, the more bullets you put in your spiritual gun
IV. Understanding (Proverbs 3:5)
A. Self: Heart
1. Transfer from mind to heart
2. May require mistakes to fully understand
B. World: Reason & Logic
1. The world around us makes sense
2. Physical, Psychological, Spiritual Roots
C. God: Prayer & Meditation
1. Speaking and Listening to God bring understanding
2. God-given understand increases faith; worldly understanding increases self-reliance
3. God-given understanding is humble; human understanding is arrogant and self-righteous
V. Wisdom (Proverbs 8:10-11)
A. Self: Discipline
1. Dying Daily
2. Overcoming Temptation
3. Single-mindedness
B. World: Purpose & Calling
1. A Servant's Heart
2. Humility
3. Compassion for the Lost
4. Appreciation of Creation
C. God: Obedience & Love
1. Mature Christian behavior
2. The result of an understanding of God and relationship with Him
3. Constant sense of awe of God and His mercy
VI. Types of Wisdom
A. Experiential Wisdom
1. From living life
2. From Making Mistakes
3. From succeeding
B. Inherited Wisdom (Proverbs 4:10-13)
1. Learning From Others
2. Wisdom Passed Down
3. Pick From Trees with Fruit
C. Inspired Wisdom (Proverbs 1:20-23; James 1:5)
VII. Conclusion / Ministry
A. God wants you to seek wisdom
B. Wisdom will help you discern
C. Discretion will keep you safe and in His ways
D. Proverbs 2:1-15