06/08/2017 12:59
LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE
Date: 24 July, 2017
Text: Proverbs 8:22-36
Title: Keeping Company with Christ - PART 2
Introduction:
Sometimes when we speak about things - we make them into people. (personification)
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
note: This wisdom -
1) Is more valuable than rubies. v.11
2.) Gives good council and strength. v.14
3.) This wisdom establishes earthly rulers and nobility. v.15-16
4.) Riches and Honor are the fruit of this wisdom. v.18
5.) It is more valuable than gold. v.19
6.) There is an inheritance associated with possessing this wisdom. v.21
Proverbs 8 is the personification of wisdom. But, in particular the wisdom personified is Christ.
Why do we believe this is speaking of Jesus?
THIS WISDOM IS ETERNAL.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
This WISDOM WAS ACTIVE IN CREATION.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
THIS WISDOM WAS WITH GOD. (AND ACCORDING TO JOHN 1 WAS GOD.)
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
TO POSSESS THIS WISDOM IS TO POSSESS LIFE!
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life,
And so the message this morning PART 2 - KEEPING COMANY WITH CHRIST.
Keeping Company with Christ.
Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
There is no WISER person to walk with than the Lord Jesus.
Jesus (wisdom personified) says to us this morning, "Listen to me and my wisdom and be wise!"
32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:
I. Walk with me and my wisdom!
for blessed are they that keep my ways.
HE IS FOUND IN THE WAY
OF PEACE. The world knows nothing of the way of peace.
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - There is nothing crooked in His way - His path is straight and narrow. (If your way is crooked - you are on the wrong path.)
WE GET to walk in His way by taking THE WAY OF REPENTANCE AND WAY OF SALVATION.
transition: And so, if you want to keep company with Christ, "Walk with me and my wisdom."
II. Work with JESUS and His wisdom!
exp. If you want to work with Jesus and his wisdom, you need a tender heart.
question: Have you ever tried to work with someone who disagrees with you? You'll say to them, "Just work with me on this." "If we don't agree, we aren't going to get anything done."
ill. Grandma Roth - "Negotiate!" Get an agreement so that you stop fighting.
Amo 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
app. We'll never be able to walk with Jesus if we don't agree with Him.
A. Receive His instruction.
33 Hear instruction,
ill. Jesus (wisdom) is crying out to you.
4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
question: If you want the right answer - Jesus has it. Do you want the right answer.
ill. Sometimes children will ask a question, not to know the right answer but to get the answer they want. Nelson was good at this, He would say things like, "We go to McDonald's, Yes?" We go on a bike ride, Yes?" He always anticipate getting the answer that he wanted.
ill. Our world says,
"God created evolution, Yes?"
"Good people go to Heaven, Yes?"
"Marriage is optional or adjustable, Yes?"
"Sin isn't that bad, yes?"
"Hell isn't real, yes?"
app. A lot of people want to get their answers from the Bible - instead of God's. They change God's Word and call it their interpretation. Are you willing to work with Jesus - and listen to what He has to say?
B. Respond to His instruction.
and be wise,
exp. We begin to be wise when we hear what God says and believe it - even if it is contrary to what the world teaches, what we think, or what others want us to believe.
ill. Witnessing to two boys on the viaduct - "You aren't going to stand someday on trial with your peers as judge but before the God who made all this. Does it really matter what your friends think?"
ill. I often also share with unbelievers that, "What you believe - doesn't matter - what matters is what is true." Gravity is real whether you believe in it or not. Hell and Heaven are real whether or not you believe in them.
app. Are you wise enough to just believe God? Work with him - by letting Him change your mind through His Word.
C. Refuse not His instruction.
and refuse it not.
exp. Hell is going to be full of people who didn't want God's help. They knew the Bible - but didn't care about what it said.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
ill. If you were trapped on a secluded island facing death - what would you want - A blueprint of a boat with tools to build it - or a cave full of gold and other earthly pleasures that would last you for a few years?
exp. A wise person would take the boat - who cares about temporary pleasure when death is immenent.
question: Why doesn't man realize that they are taking pleasure instead of taking salvation.
app. If you want to keep company with Christ. You need to agree with him - WORK WITH JESUS AND HIS WISDOM.
III. Watch for me and my wisdom!
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates,
ill. Sadly, many people will que for hours to see the pope, a man who claims to be a representative of God - but will those same people daily read the Bible looking for the Son of God Himself.
exp. Those who keep company with Christ "watch daily at His gates."
ill. George Mueller - a man who walked with God - started orphanages that would hold 2,000 orphans at a time. He prayed in millions of dollars, food and clothing.
Interestingly - this man who knew so well THE PROMISES OF GOD'S WORD had read through His Bible nearly 200 times in his lifetime.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
question: How much time do you spend daily in the Word of God? How well then do you know Jesus?
ill. When I was dating my wife - I spent every free moment I could with her. When I got a letter from her, I would read it more than once and I kept them all.
app. How is your devotion for the Lord? Are you seeking him early - watching daily at His gates?
transition : KEEP COMPANY WITH CHRIST - BY WORKING WITH HIM AND HIS WISDOM - BY WATCHING FOR HIM AND HIS WISDOM -
IV. Wait on Him and His wisdom!
waiting at the posts of my doors.
exp. If you want to wait on Jesus this morning, you can just wait upon Him in prayer.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
exp. What have you received from Jesus because you have waited at the posts of His doors? Does your prayer life show that you believe God will answer your prayers?
ill. Abraham - had to wait at the posts of God's doors for a child for many years. Interestingly when he prayed for the fertility of others - it was answered immediately -
Gen 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
Gen 21:1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
ill. Job had to wait a long time for health - but God answered - Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
ill. Daniel had to wait a long time for an answer but God heard - Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
app. How often would we find you in prayer? Are you keeping company with Christ - by waiting at the posts of His door - It may get lonely waiting for that DOOR TO OPEN - BUT WOULD WE FIND YOU THERE?
TRANSITION - YOU KEEP COMPANY WITH CHRIST -
WALKING WITH HIM AND HIS WISDOM
BY WORKING WITH HIM AND HIS WISDOM
BY WATCHING FOR HIM AND HIS WISDOM
BY WAITING UPON HIM AND HIS WISDOM.
V. Win with me and my wisdom!
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
ill. Alexander Fleming - discovery of Penicillin
"It arose simply from a fortunate occurrence which happened when I was working on a purely academic bacteriological problem which had nothing to do with antagonism, or moulds, or antiseptics, or antibiotics."
"...penicillin started as a chance observation. My only merit is that I did not neglect the observation and that I pursued the subject as a bacteriologist. My publication in 1929 was the starting-point of the work of others who developed penicillin especially in the chemical field."
It is estimated that it has saved between 80 million to 200 million people and continues to save millions of lives around the globe.
exp. If you need Penicillin you should take it - it could save your Physical life is 70-100 years - Eternal life - NEVER ENDING.
2 Thesallonians 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
app. Is that you friend - standing at the judgment and being cast into Hell. Would you foolishly miss the opportunity to take the cure to eternal death?
V. Wrong your soul, without me and my wisdom!
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Ill. Matthew Bryce - Glasgow - early in March - swept out to sea on his surfboard. 32 hours later, when hope was fading he was found by a helicopter crew 13 miles out to sea.
question: What would you think of Mr. Bryce if he hated his rescuers and refused their rescue? He loves death.
app. Those who go to Hell - do so over the crucified body of a loving Saviour who has been waiting to rescue them. Those who don't want His company - wrong their own soul - and resign their soul to an eternal lake of fire.
conclusion:
Are you keeping company with Christ today?
Are you walking with him?
Have you taken the path of repentance and salvaiton to get to the way of righteousness and peace?
Are you working with Him?
Listening to Him and agreeing with Him.
Are you watching for Him daily?
Early getting into His Word.
Are you waiting at the posts of His doors?
Knowing that the answer and open door is coming.
Are you winning? FINDING LIFE Or have you wronged your soul? LOVING DEATH Date: 24 July, 2017
Text: Proverbs 8:22-36
Title: Keeping Company with Christ - PART 2
Introduction:
Sometimes when we speak about things - we make them into people. (personification)
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
note: This wisdom -
1) Is more valuable than rubies. v.11
2.) Gives good council and strength. v.14
3.) This wisdom establishes earthly rulers and nobility. v.15-16
4.) Riches and Honor are the fruit of this wisdom. v.18
5.) It is more valuable than gold. v.19
6.) There is an inheritance associated with possessing this wisdom. v.21
Proverbs 8 is the personification of wisdom. But, in particular the wisdom personified is Christ.
Why do we believe this is speaking of Jesus?
THIS WISDOM IS ETERNAL.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
This WISDOM WAS ACTIVE IN CREATION.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
THIS WISDOM WAS WITH GOD. (AND ACCORDING TO JOHN 1 WAS GOD.)
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
TO POSSESS THIS WISDOM IS TO POSSESS LIFE!
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life,
And so the message this morning PART 2 - KEEPING COMANY WITH CHRIST.
Keeping Company with Christ.
Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
There is no WISER person to walk with than the Lord Jesus.
Jesus (wisdom personified) says to us this morning, "Listen to me and my wisdom and be wise!"
32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:
I. Walk with me and my wisdom!
for blessed are they that keep my ways.
HE IS FOUND IN THE WAY
OF PEACE. The world knows nothing of the way of peace.
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - There is nothing crooked in His way - His path is straight and narrow. (If your way is crooked - you are on the wrong path.)
WE GET to walk in His way by taking THE WAY OF REPENTANCE AND WAY OF SALVATION.
transition: And so, if you want to keep company with Christ, "Walk with me and my wisdom."
II. Work with JESUS and His wisdom!
exp. If you want to work with Jesus and his wisdom, you need a tender heart.
question: Have you ever tried to work with someone who disagrees with you? You'll say to them, "Just work with me on this." "If we don't agree, we aren't going to get anything done."
ill. Grandma Roth - "Negotiate!" Get an agreement so that you stop fighting.
Amo 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
app. We'll never be able to walk with Jesus if we don't agree with Him.
A. Receive His instruction.
33 Hear instruction,
ill. Jesus (wisdom) is crying out to you.
4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
question: If you want the right answer - Jesus has it. Do you want the right answer.
ill. Sometimes children will ask a question, not to know the right answer but to get the answer they want. Nelson was good at this, He would say things like, "We go to McDonald's, Yes?" We go on a bike ride, Yes?" He always anticipate getting the answer that he wanted.
ill. Our world says,
"God created evolution, Yes?"
"Good people go to Heaven, Yes?"
"Marriage is optional or adjustable, Yes?"
"Sin isn't that bad, yes?"
"Hell isn't real, yes?"
app. A lot of people want to get their answers from the Bible - instead of God's. They change God's Word and call it their interpretation. Are you willing to work with Jesus - and listen to what He has to say?
B. Respond to His instruction.
and be wise,
exp. We begin to be wise when we hear what God says and believe it - even if it is contrary to what the world teaches, what we think, or what others want us to believe.
ill. Witnessing to two boys on the viaduct - "You aren't going to stand someday on trial with your peers as judge but before the God who made all this. Does it really matter what your friends think?"
ill. I often also share with unbelievers that, "What you believe - doesn't matter - what matters is what is true." Gravity is real whether you believe in it or not. Hell and Heaven are real whether or not you believe in them.
app. Are you wise enough to just believe God? Work with him - by letting Him change your mind through His Word.
C. Refuse not His instruction.
and refuse it not.
exp. Hell is going to be full of people who didn't want God's help. They knew the Bible - but didn't care about what it said.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
ill. If you were trapped on a secluded island facing death - what would you want - A blueprint of a boat with tools to build it - or a cave full of gold and other earthly pleasures that would last you for a few years?
exp. A wise person would take the boat - who cares about temporary pleasure when death is immenent.
question: Why doesn't man realize that they are taking pleasure instead of taking salvation.
app. If you want to keep company with Christ. You need to agree with him - WORK WITH JESUS AND HIS WISDOM.
III. Watch for me and my wisdom!
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates,
ill. Sadly, many people will que for hours to see the pope, a man who claims to be a representative of God - but will those same people daily read the Bible looking for the Son of God Himself.
exp. Those who keep company with Christ "watch daily at His gates."
ill. George Mueller - a man who walked with God - started orphanages that would hold 2,000 orphans at a time. He prayed in millions of dollars, food and clothing.
Interestingly - this man who knew so well THE PROMISES OF GOD'S WORD had read through His Bible nearly 200 times in his lifetime.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
question: How much time do you spend daily in the Word of God? How well then do you know Jesus?
ill. When I was dating my wife - I spent every free moment I could with her. When I got a letter from her, I would read it more than once and I kept them all.
app. How is your devotion for the Lord? Are you seeking him early - watching daily at His gates?
transition : KEEP COMPANY WITH CHRIST - BY WORKING WITH HIM AND HIS WISDOM - BY WATCHING FOR HIM AND HIS WISDOM -
IV. Wait on Him and His wisdom!
waiting at the posts of my doors.
exp. If you want to wait on Jesus this morning, you can just wait upon Him in prayer.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
exp. What have you received from Jesus because you have waited at the posts of His doors? Does your prayer life show that you believe God will answer your prayers?
ill. Abraham - had to wait at the posts of God's doors for a child for many years. Interestingly when he prayed for the fertility of others - it was answered immediately -
Gen 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
Gen 21:1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
ill. Job had to wait a long time for health - but God answered - Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
ill. Daniel had to wait a long time for an answer but God heard - Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
app. How often would we find you in prayer? Are you keeping company with Christ - by waiting at the posts of His door - It may get lonely waiting for that DOOR TO OPEN - BUT WOULD WE FIND YOU THERE?
TRANSITION - YOU KEEP COMPANY WITH CHRIST -
WALKING WITH HIM AND HIS WISDOM
BY WORKING WITH HIM AND HIS WISDOM
BY WATCHING FOR HIM AND HIS WISDOM
BY WAITING UPON HIM AND HIS WISDOM.
V. Win with me and my wisdom!
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
ill. Alexander Fleming - discovery of Penicillin
"It arose simply from a fortunate occurrence which happened when I was working on a purely academic bacteriological problem which had nothing to do with antagonism, or moulds, or antiseptics, or antibiotics."
"...penicillin started as a chance observation. My only merit is that I did not neglect the observation and that I pursued the subject as a bacteriologist. My publication in 1929 was the starting-point of the work of others who developed penicillin especially in the chemical field."
It is estimated that it has saved between 80 million to 200 million people and continues to save millions of lives around the globe.
exp. If you need Penicillin you should take it - it could save your Physical life is 70-100 years - Eternal life - NEVER ENDING.
2 Thesallonians 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
app. Is that you friend - standing at the judgment and being cast into Hell. Would you foolishly miss the opportunity to take the cure to eternal death?
V. Wrong your soul, without me and my wisdom!
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Ill. Matthew Bryce - Glasgow - early in March - swept out to sea on his surfboard. 32 hours later, when hope was fading he was found by a helicopter crew 13 miles out to sea.
question: What would you think of Mr. Bryce if he hated his rescuers and refused their rescue? He loves death.
app. Those who go to Hell - do so over the crucified body of a loving Saviour who has been waiting to rescue them. Those who don't want His company - wrong their own soul - and resign their soul to an eternal lake of fire.
conclusion:
Are you keeping company with Christ today?
Are you walking with him?
Have you taken the path of repentance and salvaiton to get to the way of righteousness and peace?
Are you working with Him?
Listening to Him and agreeing with Him.
Are you watching for Him daily?
Early getting into His Word.
Are you waiting at the posts of His doors?
Knowing that the answer and open door is coming.
Are you winning? FINDING LIFE Or have you wronged your soul? LOVING DEATH
Date: 24 July, 2017
Text: Proverbs 8:22-36
Title: Keeping Company with Christ - PART 2
Introduction:
Sometimes when we speak about things - we make them into people. (personification)
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
note: This wisdom -
1) Is more valuable than rubies. v.11
2.) Gives good council and strength. v.14
3.) This wisdom establishes earthly rulers and nobility. v.15-16
4.) Riches and Honor are the fruit of this wisdom. v.18
5.) It is more valuable than gold. v.19
6.) There is an inheritance associated with possessing this wisdom. v.21
Proverbs 8 is the personification of wisdom. But, in particular the wisdom personified is Christ.
Why do we believe this is speaking of Jesus?
THIS WISDOM IS ETERNAL.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
This WISDOM WAS ACTIVE IN CREATION.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
THIS WISDOM WAS WITH GOD. (AND ACCORDING TO JOHN 1 WAS GOD.)
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
TO POSSESS THIS WISDOM IS TO POSSESS LIFE!
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life,
And so the message this morning PART 2 - KEEPING COMANY WITH CHRIST.
Keeping Company with Christ.
Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
There is no WISER person to walk with than the Lord Jesus.
Jesus (wisdom personified) says to us this morning, "Listen to me and my wisdom and be wise!"
32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:
I. Walk with me and my wisdom!
for blessed are they that keep my ways.
HE IS FOUND IN THE WAY
OF PEACE. The world knows nothing of the way of peace.
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - There is nothing crooked in His way - His path is straight and narrow. (If your way is crooked - you are on the wrong path.)
WE GET to walk in His way by taking THE WAY OF REPENTANCE AND WAY OF SALVATION.
transition: And so, if you want to keep company with Christ, "Walk with me and my wisdom."
II. Work with JESUS and His wisdom!
exp. If you want to work with Jesus and his wisdom, you need a tender heart.
question: Have you ever tried to work with someone who disagrees with you? You'll say to them, "Just work with me on this." "If we don't agree, we aren't going to get anything done."
ill. Grandma Roth - "Negotiate!" Get an agreement so that you stop fighting.
Amo 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
app. We'll never be able to walk with Jesus if we don't agree with Him.
A. Receive His instruction.
33 Hear instruction,
ill. Jesus (wisdom) is crying out to you.
4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
question: If you want the right answer - Jesus has it. Do you want the right answer.
ill. Sometimes children will ask a question, not to know the right answer but to get the answer they want. Nelson was good at this, He would say things like, "We go to McDonald's, Yes?" We go on a bike ride, Yes?" He always anticipate getting the answer that he wanted.
ill. Our world says,
"God created evolution, Yes?"
"Good people go to Heaven, Yes?"
"Marriage is optional or adjustable, Yes?"
"Sin isn't that bad, yes?"
"Hell isn't real, yes?"
app. A lot of people want to get their answers from the Bible - instead of God's. They change God's Word and call it their interpretation. Are you willing to work with Jesus - and listen to what He has to say?
B. Respond to His instruction.
and be wise,
exp. We begin to be wise when we hear what God says and believe it - even if it is contrary to what the world teaches, what we think, or what others want us to believe.
ill. Witnessing to two boys on the viaduct - "You aren't going to stand someday on trial with your peers as judge but before the God who made all this. Does it really matter what your friends think?"
ill. I often also share with unbelievers that, "What you believe - doesn't matter - what matters is what is true." Gravity is real whether you believe in it or not. Hell and Heaven are real whether or not you believe in them.
app. Are you wise enough to just believe God? Work with him - by letting Him change your mind through His Word.
C. Refuse not His instruction.
and refuse it not.
exp. Hell is going to be full of people who didn't want God's help. They knew the Bible - but didn't care about what it said.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
ill. If you were trapped on a secluded island facing death - what would you want - A blueprint of a boat with tools to build it - or a cave full of gold and other earthly pleasures that would last you for a few years?
exp. A wise person would take the boat - who cares about temporary pleasure when death is immenent.
question: Why doesn't man realize that they are taking pleasure instead of taking salvation.
app. If you want to keep company with Christ. You need to agree with him - WORK WITH JESUS AND HIS WISDOM.
III. Watch for me and my wisdom!
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates,
ill. Sadly, many people will que for hours to see the pope, a man who claims to be a representative of God - but will those same people daily read the Bible looking for the Son of God Himself.
exp. Those who keep company with Christ "watch daily at His gates."
ill. George Mueller - a man who walked with God - started orphanages that would hold 2,000 orphans at a time. He prayed in millions of dollars, food and clothing.
Interestingly - this man who knew so well THE PROMISES OF GOD'S WORD had read through His Bible nearly 200 times in his lifetime.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
question: How much time do you spend daily in the Word of God? How well then do you know Jesus?
ill. When I was dating my wife - I spent every free moment I could with her. When I got a letter from her, I would read it more than once and I kept them all.
app. How is your devotion for the Lord? Are you seeking him early - watching daily at His gates?
transition : KEEP COMPANY WITH CHRIST - BY WORKING WITH HIM AND HIS WISDOM - BY WATCHING FOR HIM AND HIS WISDOM -
IV. Wait on Him and His wisdom!
waiting at the posts of my doors.
exp. If you want to wait on Jesus this morning, you can just wait upon Him in prayer.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
exp. What have you received from Jesus because you have waited at the posts of His doors? Does your prayer life show that you believe God will answer your prayers?
ill. Abraham - had to wait at the posts of God's doors for a child for many years. Interestingly when he prayed for the fertility of others - it was answered immediately -
Gen 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
Gen 21:1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
ill. Job had to wait a long time for health - but God answered - Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
ill. Daniel had to wait a long time for an answer but God heard - Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
app. How often would we find you in prayer? Are you keeping company with Christ - by waiting at the posts of His door - It may get lonely waiting for that DOOR TO OPEN - BUT WOULD WE FIND YOU THERE?
TRANSITION - YOU KEEP COMPANY WITH CHRIST -
WALKING WITH HIM AND HIS WISDOM
BY WORKING WITH HIM AND HIS WISDOM
BY WATCHING FOR HIM AND HIS WISDOM
BY WAITING UPON HIM AND HIS WISDOM.
V. Win with me and my wisdom!
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
ill. Alexander Fleming - discovery of Penicillin
"It arose simply from a fortunate occurrence which happened when I was working on a purely academic bacteriological problem which had nothing to do with antagonism, or moulds, or antiseptics, or antibiotics."
"...penicillin started as a chance observation. My only merit is that I did not neglect the observation and that I pursued the subject as a bacteriologist. My publication in 1929 was the starting-point of the work of others who developed penicillin especially in the chemical field."
It is estimated that it has saved between 80 million to 200 million people and continues to save millions of lives around the globe.
exp. If you need Penicillin you should take it - it could save your Physical life is 70-100 years - Eternal life - NEVER ENDING.
2 Thesallonians 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
app. Is that you friend - standing at the judgment and being cast into Hell. Would you foolishly miss the opportunity to take the cure to eternal death?
V. Wrong your soul, without me and my wisdom!
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Ill. Matthew Bryce - Glasgow - early in March - swept out to sea on his surfboard. 32 hours later, when hope was fading he was found by a helicopter crew 13 miles out to sea.
question: What would you think of Mr. Bryce if he hated his rescuers and refused their rescue? He loves death.
app. Those who go to Hell - do so over the crucified body of a loving Saviour who has been waiting to rescue them. Those who don't want His company - wrong their own soul - and resign their soul to an eternal lake of fire.
conclusion:
Are you keeping company with Christ today?
Are you walking with him?
Have you taken the path of repentance and salvaiton to get to the way of righteousness and peace?
Are you working with Him?
Listening to Him and agreeing with Him.
Are you watching for Him daily?
Early getting into His Word.
Are you waiting at the posts of His doors?
Knowing that the answer and open door is coming.
Are you winning? FINDING LIFE Or have you wronged your soul? LOVING DEATH
