Give Me Now Wisdom Series - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Jan 3, 2024
- 15 min read
Give Me Now Wisdom Sermon Series
2 Chron. 1:7-12
Part 1 - Introduction
Proverbs 4:5-7
Intro: We live in a world of fools. More than ever, God’s people need wisdom.
In our text in 2 Chron. 1:7-12, we read of the time Solomon prayed for wisdom.
He was given a choice of anything he wanted. (vs. 7)
Solomon asked God to give him wisdom.
Why would he ask for wisdom, when he could have anything that he wanted?
TURN TO Proverbs 4:5-7
A. The Admonition – “Get wisdom…and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Wisdom should be a priority; a goal; a desire.
Solomon said it several times.
· Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
· Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
DEFINITION of Wisdom: Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
1. The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them.
This is wisdom in act, effect, or practice. If wisdom is to be considered as a faculty of the mind, it is the faculty of discerning or judging what is most just, proper and useful, and if it is to be considered as an acquirement, it is the knowledge and use of what is best, most just, most proper, most conducive to prosperity or happiness.
Wisdom in the first sense, or practical wisdom is nearly synonymous with discretion. It differs somewhat from prudence, in this respect; prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in avoiding evils; wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good.
In other words – the simple definition of WISDOM is knowing WHAT TO DO, and HOW TO DO IT!
Solomon said - …with all thy getting get understanding!
PRINCIPLE THING - AV-beginning, firstfruits, first, chief
· Getting wisdom should precede getting a high school diploma.
· Getting wisdom should precede getting a girlfriend.
· Getting wisdom should precede getting a boyfriend.
· Getting wisdom should precede getting a driver’s license.
· Getting wisdom should precede getting a college degree.
· Getting wisdom should precede getting a job or making a career choice.
· Getting wisdom should precede getting married.
· Getting wisdom should precede getting children.
· Getting wisdom should precede getting a ministry.
· Getting wisdom should precede getting a house, or a car, or anything.
B. The Availability – “Wisdom is the principle thing, therefore get wisdom…”
We see that we are commanded to get wisdom.
This leads me to believe that it must be AVAILABLE.
Who can have it?
It is available to those that are saved; born again children of God.
· James 1:5If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given unto him.
James was writing to the believer. IF ANY OF YOU…
· 2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
· Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
· 2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
C. The Access
What are the criteria for “getting wisdom”?
Let him ask of God – it’s as simple as a prayer.
Solomon wasn’t the only one that was given wisdom because he asked for it.
Can you pray?
He giveth to all men liberally – and upbraideth not…
Satan will lie and tell you that when you acknowledge to God that you lack wisdom, He will mock you.
· DEFINITION of LIBERALLY – simply, sincerely, frankly,
· DEFINITION of UPRAIDETH NOT – means to reproach; to revile
You are a child of God – He WANTS you to have wisdom, far more than you want it.
He will not mock you, or laugh at you if you pray for wisdom.
· Psalms 66:20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
· Psalms 102:17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
NOTE: Only those that are sincere will get their prayer answered
· James 1:6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Again, we see the importance of FAITH – dependence upon God for this valuable asset called WISDOM.
The secret is ASKING IN FAITH.
· John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
· 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
· Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened; Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
And that prayer of faith MUST BE IN NOTHING WAVERING!!!
Wavering means – to discriminate; to prefer; to be at variance with one’s self; to doubt; to dispute
This is not a half-hearted prayer; this is not a prayer with your fingers crossed; this is not a prayer HOPING.
This is a prayer of FAITH – total and complete dependence upon God with no backup plan.
If you pray WITHOUT FAITH – that is wishful thinking – and let not that man think that he shall receive any thing!!!!
Conclusion: How many of you tonight will gather in the altar and pray, Give Me Now Wisdom?
Give Me Now Wisdom Sermon Series
Part 2
2 Chron. 1:7-12
God changed my message at the last minute. I only scribbled down a few points during the last song. I encourage you to go listen to the message if you can. Watch Part 2 here
Here is the outline (if you can call it that!)
2 Chronicles 1
I. Solomon's Hunt for God - vs. 2 "...Solomon and the congregation sought unto it."
II. Solomon's Heart for God - vs. 6 "...and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it."
III. Solomon's Hand from God - vs. 7 "...ask what I shall give thee."
IV. Solomon's Humility before God - vs. 8-10 "...who can judge this thy people..."
V. Solomon's Honour from God - vs. 11-12 "...I will give thee riches and wealth and honor..."
Give Me Now Wisdom Series Part 3
The Appraisal of Wisdom
Proverbs 1:1-7
IV. The Appraisal of Wisdom
It is imperative that we as Christians full appreciate just how important wisdom is!
God has a very strict policy about giving things of value to those that do not appreciate it!
· Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
God was impressed with Solomon because he understood just how significant wisdom was in his life.
NOTE: Wisdom is not the cherry on top of the ice cream; or the icing on the cake. Wisdom is the PRINCIPLE THING!!
A. The Recognition of Wisdom - vs. 2 “To know wisdom, and to perceive the words of understanding.”
KNOW: to perceive; to perceive and see, find out and discern; to discriminate, distinguish; to know by experience
It is essential as Christians that when God puts pearls of wisdom in our path, we recognize it for what it is!
It is very important that we do not dismiss godly wisdom as “opinion”, “philosophy”, “ancient methods.”
Solomon’s desire was for his son to KNOW wisdom and to PERCEIVE the words of understanding.
It is essential for us, for our family and for the church to RECOGNIZE WISDOM!
We must hunger for it, long for it, pray for it, reach for it and APPRECIATE IT WHEN GOD GIVES IT TO US!
A KEY TO RECOGNIZING WISDOM IS BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE FOOLISHNESS!!
Wisdom is crying in the streets.
20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
But the voice of foolishness is also crying in the streets!
11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
EXAMPLE: Recently, I was driving to the meeting in Lansing, NC and my GPS lost signal.
Guess what I did? I stopped. I didn’t drive another mile until I knew where I was going.
It turned out that I would have missed my road. I stopped, turned around and changed directions!
If you are here today and you are on the wrong road in your marriage – stop and turn around!
If you are here today and you are on the wrong road with your children – stop and turn around!
If you are here today and you are on the wrong road in your relationship with Christ – turn around and GET WISDOM!
If you are here today and you have never been saved – stop and turn around! You are definitely on the wrong road!
B. The Receptiveness to Wisdom - vs. 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
A sad reality is the many people that RECOGNIZE wisdom but are not RECEPTIVE to it.
Their stubborn pride is hindering them from acknowledging that the wisdom being offered is what they need.
Solomon’s desire was for his son to KNOW wisdom, and to RECEIVE it.
The Bible is very plain and very clear – only a fool will recognize wisdom and then reject it!
He gives us a list of FOUR VALUABLE ASSETS in verse 3 that we should be receptive to:
· 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
· The instruction of wisdom – being right in our PERCEPTION – consideration; pondering; understanding
· The instruction of justice – being right in our PRACTICE – righteous, as in weights and measures; right
· The instruction of judgment – being right in our PROCESS – judgment; like unto a courtroom procedure.
· The instruction of equity – being right in our POSITION – upright; level, smooth and balanced
C. The Results of Wisdom - vs. 4-7a
Notice the results of those that RECOGNIZE AND RECEIVE wisdom:
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:
In other words, we need wisdom in order to hear wisdom.
We need wisdom in order to attain unto wise counsels.
We need wisdom to understand wisdom and interpret the words of the wise.
D. The Rejection of Wisdom - vs. 7b; 21-32
The context of verses 23-32 is a detailed description of those REJECTING GOD’S WISDOM.
The Bible is clear – fools despise wisdom and instruction. (7b)
1. We see the Delight of the Fool – vs. 22
· 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
They love simplicity. They delight in their scorning. They hate knowledge.
God calls them simple, scorners and fools.
2 Peter 3:5 says that the scoffers in the last day are “willingly ignorant”.
2. We see the Disregard of the Fool – vs. 23-25
· 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
· 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
· 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
3. We see the Distress of the Fool – vs. 26-28
· 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
· 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
· 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
4. We see the Despising of the Fool – vs. 7b; vs. 29, 30
· 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
· 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
· 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
They didn’t appreciate God’s efforts to enable and enrich their lives with His wisdom.
The WISDOM OF GOD held no value or importance to them.
Proverbs 17:16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
· Proverbs 23:9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
5. We see the Destruction of the Fool – vs. 31, 32
· 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
· 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
They disregarded Him, and they suffered for it.
They laughed at Him, and they suffered for it.
They set at nought all His counsel, and they suffered for it.
They hated knowledge, and they suffered for it.
They did not choose the fear of the Lord, and they suffered for it.
They shall eat of the fruit of their own way…
They shall be filled with their own devices…
They turned away, and they are slain for it.
They chose the prosperity of the fools, and it shall destroy them.
Conclusion: The chapter ends with an amazing promise for those that APPRECIATE the value of wisdom.
· 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me (wisdom) shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Give Me Now Wisdom Sermon Series
Part 4
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
V. The Assessment
The Bible is very clear about one thing – all wisdom is not the same.
Godly wisdom is foolishness to the world; and worldly wisdom is foolishness to God.
What God demands always appears foolish to the natural man.
I imagine the “Thou shalt not eat of this tree” rule sounded pretty foolish then. How about now??
Build an ark and put two of every animal on it sounded foolish then. But what about now?
When it comes to the two different wisdoms, let’s study these out and see what God’s Word says.
A. Notice the Contrast – vs. 18; 25
· 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.
· 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
In our text, Paul draws a sharp contrast between God’s wisdom and the world’s wisdom.
As I study the Word of God, I see a consistent theme; the world mocks God’s way, and God mocks the world’s way.
· God in His wisdom teaches the sanctity of life; Man’s wisdom promotes abortion.
· God in His wisdom teaches responsibility and accountability; Man’s wisdom looks for someone to blame.
· God in His wisdom promotes initiative and hard work; Man’s wisdom teaches dependence on others for survival.
· God in His wisdom instituted marriage; Man’s wisdom promotes divorce and immorality.
· God in His wisdom created males and females to marry and procreate; Man’s wisdom embraces homosexuality.
· God in His wisdom intended for men to lead and protect; Men’s wisdom mocks any display of manliness.
· God in His wisdom inspired the Scripture; Man’s wisdom revises and rewrites and rejects the Scripture.
· God in His wisdom desires for all men to be saved; Men’s wisdom denies the need for salvation.
· God in His wisdom provided salvation full and free to every person; Man’s wisdom insists on paying his own way.
Example: Genesis 4:3, 4 The story of Cain and Abel’s offering.
Cain’s offering was based on man’s wisdom – God will appreciate the value of my hard work and sweat
Abel’s offering was based on God’s wisdom – a sacrificial lamb
Cain’s offering was rejected.
Abel’s offering was accepted.
Cain’s reaction was to punish the righteous.
God’s reaction was to punish Cain.
NOTE: Man’s wisdom will always try to right a wrong by punishing those that are right!
Illustration: Modern-day courts that prosecute law-abiding citizens that own firearms, while releasing felons that are convicted of armed robbery and murder.
Our churches are filling up with people that have a bigger problem with being judgmental than with being immoral.
Our churches are filling up with people that have a bigger problem with people that have standards than with people that do not.
People today are quicker to break fellowship with a person striving for holiness than with those living in open sin.
They will always justify their failures by eliminating those that are not failures.
They will never deal with the heart of the problem; they will only deal with the peripheral issues.
B. Notice the Consequences – vs. 19
· 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Isaiah 29
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
Because they had lip service, but their heart was far from him, he proceeded to destroy their wisdom.
ILLUSTRATION: Government took prayer out of the schools, along with the TEN COMMANDMENTS.
You know – the ones that says THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
Now they wonder why there is violence and shootings in the schools.
God has proven once again that man’s wisdom is foolishness!
What are some statistics on children when prayer was taken out of school?
In 1963, Madalyn Murray O'Hair won a lawsuit against the Baltimore School System, which voted in her favor 8-1 to ban school prayer and label it "unconstitutional". Though not all prayer was immediately banned from schools at that time, through a process of time, almost all school prayer is banned today.
1. Young People
1. After 1963, pregnancies for girls age 15-19 increased 187% in the next 15 years.
2. For younger girls, ages 10 to 14 years, pregnancies since 1963 are up 553%.
3. 1963, sexually transmitted diseases were up 226% in the next 12 years.
2. The Family
1. Before 1963 divorce rates had been declining for 15 years. After 1963 divorces increased 300% each year for the next 15 years.
2. Since 1963 unmarried people living together was up 353%
3. Education
1. From 1963 SAT scores rapidly declined for 18 consecutive years, even though the same test has been used since 1941.
2. In 1974-75 the rate of decline of the SAT scores decreased, even though they continued to decline. That was when there was an explosion of private religious schools. There were only 1000 Christian schools in 1965. Between 1974 to 1984 they increased to 32,000.
4. The Nation
1. Since 1963 violent crime has increased 544%.
2. Illegal drugs have become an enormous & uncontrollable problem.
3. The nation has been deprived of an estimated 63 million citizens through legal abortions just since 1973.
4. Oh – and America hasn’t won a war since….
And this is just ONE example of man trying to be smart. There are multiple examples of this in history.
1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
C. Notice the Confirmation – vs. 22
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
The world is always looking for PROOF.
They love POLLS, STUDIES, REPORTS, SURVEYS, STATISTICS, EVIDENCE, ETC.
Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Notice verse 22 ends with a colon: the thought continues in the following verses.
God, while condemning man’s need for a sign, provides several of them!
1. The Method of Wisdom – The Preaching of the Cross
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
We’ll say more about this later, but God-called preachers are an instrument of God to convey God’s wisdom!
It’s not through polls, surveys, votes, government studies, college and university experiments!!
God’s method of conveying the PROOF of His wisdom is through a God-called PREACHER!!!
1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
2. The Manifestation of Wisdom – The Power of the Cross
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
The proof is in the POWER that accompanies the wisdom of God.
This power is referenced in verses 18 and 24.
Man’s wisdom is accompanied by failure and foolishness.
Adam and Eve’s great idea got them ran out of the garden.
Cain’s wisdom turned him into the first cold-blooded murderer and vagabond.
The wisdom of Babel resulted in the confounding of the languages and a worldwide scattering.
Man’s wisdom says TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.
Man’s wisdom says GET BAPTIZED AND JOIN THE CHURCH.
Man’s wisdom says GIVE MONEY TO THE CHURCH, BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR…
Man’s wisdom will put you in the lake of fire for all eternity!
God’s wisdom says REPENT! PUT YOUR FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CALVARY!
God’s wisdom is evident by the POWER of changed lives, sins forgiven, intimacy with God and answered prayer!!!
3. The Man of Wisdom – The Person of the Cross
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Conclusion: The Bible is very clear about this matter of Getting Wisdom.
Wisdom is available for those that ask, but it is imperative that we understand that God’s wisdom is a far cry better than man’s wisdom.
And God’s wisdom begins with an introduction to the Son of God – Jesus Christ.
According to 1 Corinthians 1:30, it’s not until we are IN CHRIST JESUS that He is made unto us WISDOM, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND SANCTIFICATION AND REDEMPTION.
Wisdom – the power of Christ
Righteousness – the product of Christ
Sanctification – the purpose of Christ
Redemption – the purchase of Christ
