The beginning of knowledge, wisdom and foolishness

As we as Christians pursue growth in knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, it should also mean a growth in wisdom, where wisdom means the ability to apply our knowledge in order to accomplish our God-given purposes and callings. We hope it is the case, but we find that knowledge and wisdom often do not live together in the same person.

In Proverbs 1: 7 we read:  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

What is the fear of the LORD?

The LORD is the God about whom Isaiah said:

(Is 40:14 and18) Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?  To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?

Our God is awesome, almighty, holy, glorious, infinite, invisible, and completely wise.

What does it mean to "fear" this LORD? This fear means having a right relationship, based on respect, a worshipping attitude of praise and thanksgiving and the acknowledgement that he alone has all authority in our lives.  Fear of the Lord means to serve with discipline – to obediently and faithfully walk in God's ways, because you have some understanding of who God revealed that he is.

What is the beginning of knowledge?

It means taking what the Bible says and apply it in my relationship with the LORD, because I can know all about the LORD without knowing the LORD himself. I can memorize the whole Bible, know a lot of church tradition and even some theology, and still not know the LORD personally.  Without the fear of the LORD,  all that you will have is facts, but no knowledge, figures but no wisdom, details but no understanding, rules and laws but no morality.

We need to spend enough time with the Bible. We need to be fed spiritually. We need family and personal devotions and we need faithful attendance of worship services until we own the knowledge that will make us wise, because we fear the awesome LORD that we love!

Humans look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7:  The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The central Bible truth from this verse is

that we humans look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

a) On one level, there is a theological lesson: God loves you for your whole being and not as you outwardly appear.  Humans judge others on what is visible and sometimes imagined characteristics based on your status, wealth, class, race, gender, culture, education and many others things.  But when our hearts are right with God we have a relationship with him and all these worldly tags and stereotypes make no difference to the Lord and his love for us.  God looks on the heart.

b)  On a second level, it has an ethical lesson: We ought to view other people as God views them. We should honour them for what they, by the grace of God, became through their relationship with Christ

or for what they became in turning away from God.

People are either our brothers and sisters in the Lord, or

people in need of Christ and his redemption and we should reach out to them with the gospel.

Liturgical Prayers for Sunday 20 October 2013

Greeting.

Good morning.

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and Jesus Christ, our Lord, through the gracious work of the Holy Spirit.

The Call to Worship comes from Psalms 96: 7 – 10

Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

Glory to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Prayer of Praise .

Holy God, worshiped by all the company in heaven and by all the believers on earth through all ages, and also today across the globe: we worship you as our almighty, our omnipotent God, Saviour and Redeemer! Father, grant us a sense of your majesty and your grace, of your holiness and your mercy!  Fuel the flame of our adoration by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Help us to glorify your Name and reveal to us the power of the resurrected Christ and make us victorious through him.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Prayer for the forgiveness of sins.

Heavenly Father, protect us against the snares of temptation and evil thoughts, desires, words and deeds.

Grant us through the work of your Spirit holy love for you our Lord, to love you with all our heart, all our soul and all our strength and all our mind and help us to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Assure us once more of your grace and forgiveness, your cleansing, on the grounds of the sacrifice our Saviour Jesus made once and for all for all our sins on the cross. And give us victory though his resurrection power.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Intercession

Gracious heavenly Father, our Lord and our salvation.

Great is the majesty of your name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, ever-living and ever-merciful God.

As we meet together as your Body, as the community of believers called by your Name, grant to us that we may hear what you say to us, that we will not live according to the foolishness of the world, but according to your holy will and divine wisdom.

Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus.  Open our ears Lord, and help us to listen to you.

Almighty God, for the unity of the Church of Christ, the salvation of all people and the peace of the whole world, we pray.

We beg for peace in the Middle-East, and your gracious mercy for all who reside in this troubled part of the world!

Lord, look upon us and this church with compassion. Show us your love in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For our city, and for the faithful who live here and strive to serve you with reverence and humility, we pray.

For the beloved country and all who here proclaim the good news in Christ Jesus and who set the captives free through your Word, we pray.

For those in authority and for those who have power to influence our society, and as such impact on your church, we humbly pray that you will grant them good health, wisdom and a clear understanding of what is right and what is good.

Help us now to commit ourselves, our brothers and sisters in Christ and all our sorrows, heartaches and challenges as well as our calling and opportunities, to your care, o Lord, whose power is beyond compare and whose divine mercy and love are never-ending.

We pray for the sick, for your healing touch and comfort,

for the suffering, for your strength and help,

for those in prison, and for their salvation,

for travelling mercies for all who travel to work every day, and for those who travel long distances this week.

For good weather and enough rain and for all the farmers who provide food security in our country, our continent and the world, that you bless their labour and in your mercy grant them good harvests. Heal our economy and deliver as from wastefulness and teach us the simple life of the followers of Jesus.

Hear, Father God, our prayers today for..... (specific people in the congregation)

Almighty God, remember us and listen to our prayers.

Father, have mercy on us!

Christ, have mercy on us!

Lord, have mercy on us!

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Amen.

Why not invite a tax collector to Church this week?

Out of all the people Jesus could have chosen to call to be part of his faith community, he chose Levi, also known as Matthew, a tax collector. They were the most hated men in all Israel. They were men who had a license to steal from their own people, because they could keep any money that was raised over the amount the Roman government required as taxes.

Mark 2: 14 – 17 “As Jesus walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Here was a man who was hurting inside, who knew loneliness and who needed Jesus. And Jesus called him to follow him. He chose him to be his disciple.

Then Jesus went home with him to a supper where many of Levi’s tax-collector friends had been invited, and ate with them. Jesus was meeting a real human need the only way it could be met. He was the Doctor of sinners and they needed him because they were lost.

The Pharisees who thought they needed no physician did not follow Jesus. They did not consider themselves sick and in need of the Healer of People, Jesus, the Great Physician.

It is true that we are called to be separated from the ways of the sin-sick world, in order to offer an alternative – a life for Jesus.

Christians cannot look away when they know someone who needs salvation.

Jesus saves everyone who calls on his name because they know they are soul-sick, lost and separated from God!

When last did you invite a “tax collector” to come to Church with you, or enjoy a ladies or men’s get-together, or share a Pamoja social?

Christ’s mission has a Church to be his voice. A voice that says to “tax-collectors”, “follow me” (Jesus) and a voice that calls them to share a meal with our Saviour, and be healed.

Are you willing to be the voice of Christ that thirsty sinners can be saved?

Is despondency a sin?

Psalm 73: 26: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

“My flesh and my heart may fail" defines despondency, meaning unhappiness, sadness, hopelessness and misery. There are three parts to this little phrase.

"My flesh" – there is a physical component to despondency. The body weakens, there are aches, pains, fatigue and eventually the risk of serious illness as a result of constant misery – ulcers, strokes, heart decease – and there always is exhaustion.

Secondly, "and my heart" - there is an emotional-spiritual dimension to despondency. We feel discouraged, depressed, gloomy and burned out.

Thirdly, there is this word, "fail."  It means to come to your wits end and be depleted of resources.

Is it a sin to experience despondency?

Under sad and hopeless circumstances it is no sin to feel despondent.  Many of the exemplary believers in the Scriptures experienced deep and dark sadness and even hopelessness. Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow in Gethsemane.

But, what is a sin is to yield to despondency. To make it your partner for life, to refuse to fight it and to think that God cannot reach you in that dark space – or that God cannot change your broken heart into a source of gladness and joy! 

The most important 2 words in this verse are:  "But God..."

Psalm 73:26 contains this truth:  "My flesh and my heart may fail":

And then comes the spiritual counter attack: “but God.”

So here we are. Often feeling that the plug is pulled out at the bottom of our lives and we are left empty and without plan or joy.

“But God”. God is the strength of my life.

And God is my portion forever!

Despondency comes from many places. 

Faith comes from one place only.  It comes from the willingness to say:  “but God.” But God can fill me with gladness again.

In Gethsemane Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow.

But he found peace in the wisdom of God’s sovereign will.

He was content to surrender to God:  “Father, your will be done” he prayed.

Thus our Saviour found peace – inner tranquility, because he yielded to his Father’s will and purpose for his life! 

He still went to the cross - and there he committed his spirit into his Father’s hands, fulfilled his purpose and went to Paradise. 

God’s plan for me is that he will always be first in my life. (6)

God’s plan is that he will be first in my life.

The results of living a self-seeking life are before us all the time: unbearable stress about our jobs, neglected marriages and families, few if any real friendships, and the nagging sense that none of what we do is really making a difference. There are times when we sense it, but for the most part we live life virtually oblivious to the fruitlessness of a life where we, and not Christ, are in the centre of our concerns.

What is keeping us from being able to put God's priorities first today? Jesus also encountered people who had the "I'll get around to God’s stuff when I have the time" attitude.

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:25, 27 and 33:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ... Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Jesus is telling us that when self-seeking concerns take precedence over following him and doing his work, we need to re-evaluate. We should not let our worries about material security be the reason for saying "I'll get around to God’s stuff when I have the time”.

The amazing thing is that God is not asking us to do anything that he himself did not do first. In Jesus Christ, before we ever thought of doing anything for God, he gave up everything for us. He gave us his best. He gave us his only Son.

When I do my best for God, then he promises to do his best, for me too!

May you be blessed when you put God’s priorities for your life first – and he adds everything you need unto you.

Spiritual pride comes to a fall!

Let’s not put our trust on anything else, but on God. Let’s never think that we are exempt from falling. Let’s rather cultivate God-confidence.

No circumstance or test or temptation that comes your way is harder than what others have to face sometimes in their lives. What we need to remember is that God will never let us down. He will never allow us to be pushed beyond our limits and will always be there to help us when we are at risk to fall.

Paul says (1 Cor 10:12) "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"

Paul is not thinking of a man falling on a slippery surface. Paul is thinking of a man slipping and falling on temptation. He thinks of a Christian who is spiritually over-confident and self-assured. He is thinking of a Christian who believes he or she is so strong in the faith in Christ that temptation can come knocking, but the door will not be opened.

The church in Corinth struggled with spiritual pride. They boasted about all the gifts of the Spirit in their church. They were proud of all the prophecy, speaking in tongues and miraculous healings that took place amongst them. They were sure that they would not fall. They believed that “spiritual people” cannot fall. Yet they did fall into sin. Some of them committed the most terrible immoralities and abominations. And most of them fell for the temptation to become spiritually boastful and proud!

Let’s remember what God does not promise to do. God does not promise to remove temptation. That's simply not the way things are. God's desire for us is that we should be able to endure, to bear, to say no to temptation.

God's desire is that we remain standing in spite of temptation. And that we can remain standing, because ( 1Cor 10: 13) “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

The Lord’s plan is to save us. (5)

I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. (5)

The Lord’s plan is to save us.  We are saved from the perils that are the results of our sin, imperfection and disobedience and of the values of the society in which we live. 

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."  This statement from 1 Tim 1:15 sums up the entire ministry and life of Jesus: to save sinners. Paul’s statement lies at the heart of the gospel.  It is the most glorious proof of God's love for us. It is the foundation of the Church's message and the key to understanding everything written in the Bible.

It also is a key truth in understanding and believing that God has a plan for our lives and that his plan is that we will prosper and not be harmed, because Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners.

Whenever we find our faith wavering, our hope growing dim and our concerns about all facets of life we have to deal with discouraging, we should spend some time reflecting on the truth that Christ came to save sinners. Our failure to love, to believe or to hope and our inability to live for God show that we are sinners. We know that all of us need saving and that none of us can save ourselves.

But what does it mean to be saved?

It means forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, being granted the righteousness of Christ and redemption, in other words, to be bought by the sacrifice of Jesus to belong to God. It means acceptance by God for the sake of Christ Jesus and that the darkness of evil is replaced by the light of Christ's presence in our lives.

To be saved also means to receive everlasting life.

And because we are saved by grace, we live through faith and in hope.

We are not alone. We are saved from the perils that are the result of our sin, imperfection and disobedience and of the values of the society in which we live. Therefore our faith gives us the courage to look forward to being victorious followers of Jesus, in spite of our uncertainties and our concerns!

Take heart – Christ Jesus became one of us to save us from our sins and from the consequences of our foolishness and from the lack of good sense in the world. Be courageous and live with peace in your heart!

Because we have been saved from ourselves.