Seven Supplements to Your Faith-IV (Perseverance Pays off In the End)

SEVEN SUPPLEMENTS TO YOUR FAITH- PART IV

Perseverance pays off in the end! II Peter 1:1-7

                Floyd and Sally McClung are an American couple who have pioneered Missions movements around the world.  They were involved in Kabul, Afghanistan reaching hippies way back in the 1970’s.  From Kabul they moved to Amsterdam where they pioneered YWAM and ministered there for many years.  Floyd is a well-known Christian leader and the author of several books. Wilma and I have met the McClungs a few times during our time in YWAM.

            In their late sixties they moved to Cape town, South Africa from where they were training and sending missionaries to unreached people groups in the 10/40 window. Two years ago, Floyd woke up in the middle of the night with unbearable pain in his leg, he was rushed to the hospital, was in critical condition for several weeks and in a coma.  

            Wilma has been following Sally’s blog over the past two years.  In the initial weeks and months much, fervent prayer was raised for a miracle of healing for Floyd. After months of prayer without seeing the miraculous healing, Sally asked people to pray for a miracle of either healing or heaven for Floyd.  Two years have passed and Floyd has never regained his speech or mobility. In the meantime, Sally has had two bouts of cancer and is undergoing treatment.    

            We don’t always understand why God’s children struggle, and at times their prayers go unanswered. But one thing we know by reading the McClung’s blog is that through it all Sally has continued to choose to trust the Lord and put one foot in front of the other.  Her testimony is that in the midst of this great trail she keeps finding joy and the faithfulness of God. We have been following a series titled, “Seven Supplements to Your Faith,” based on the second letter of the Apostle Peter. 2 Peter 1: 5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to,

Self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” We have learned that God supplies faith to us freely.

By His grace and through our faith in Christ alone we are saved. Faith in Christ is not an end in itself, but just the beginning. The Apostle Peter encouraged the early Christians to supplement to their faith, goodness, to goodness, knowledge and to knowledge self-control.

We looked at these three supplements more in depth in the past weeks. Today we will look at another supplement we all need, that is the supplement of perseverance, (steadfastness, long suffering or endurance).  How do we understand perseverance? What does the Bible say about perseverance? In a society where there is so much emphasis on comfort, instant gratification and least tolerance to pain and suffering, how can we cultivate perseverance?

I. UNDERSTANDING PERSEVERANCE

 Charles Spurgeon, speaking of perseverance, notes. “By perseverance the snail reached the Ark.” All the other animals were much faster on their feet than the snail, they all reached the ark much quicker. The only one left behind was the snail. The snail had to carry some extra weight on its head. It slowly made its way to the Ark. God was patient, He did not shut the door until the snail reached the Ark, because the Ark wouldn’t sail without the snail.

As I read various definitions, I came to understand perseverance as: Being steadfast in doing the right thing despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. It is continued effort to do or achieve something despite failure, or opposition. It is the attitude as Charlie brown would say, never, ever, ever give up. It is the virtue that can endure, not with a fatalistic resignation but with a vibrant hope in God.

Perseverance is the supplement we all need when going gets tough, when things are beyond our control and we feel like giving up. Here is a biblical example of someone who persevered under great trials, yet did not give up His trust and confidence in God.

II. A BIBLICAL MODEL OF PERSEVERANCE

When we talk about perseverance in the OT who comes to our mind? Job! The name Job is derived from the Hebrew word for “persecution.” thus meaning, “persecuted one.” Job was a very wealthy man of his time. He was God fearing, did what right in the sight of God, and a well-respected man in the society. All of a sudden Job lost everything. He lost seven of his sons, and three of his daughters all in one day. His wealth was gone, he was stricken with an incurable disease, sores from head to the toe, all over his body. His own friends couldn't recognize him. He had to put up with mockery of his townspeople and the hypocrisy of his friends. All this happened just because God and Satan wanted to prove a point. Job became their target.

At this point you may be tempted to shout it is just not fair! Yes, you are right! many things in life are not fair, but how do we respond in those unfair circumstances?  Listen to Job’s response to adversity and to the vitriolic advice from his own wife. Job 1:20-21, “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Let’s pause and think, how would we respond to adversity in life? Job’s first response was one of “worship.”

Secondly, he recognized all he had including his own life was from God, therefore God had every right to take it away whenever He wanted. Normally, when people go through calamities, they raise their fist against God and curse Him, whereas Job never once cursed God, instead he blessed the name of the Lord. Job’s own wife deserted him. “Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil or disaster?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.  Job 2:9-10

Lessons from Job’s life. First, there are matters going on right now in heaven with God that believers know nothing about; yet they affect their lives. Second, all our best efforts to explain away pain and suffering can be useless. Third, we don’t know why, but God’s people do suffer. Bad things do happen all the time to good people. Fourth, we cannot judge a person’s spirituality by his or her painful circumstances or apparent wealth and success.

Fifth, even though God seems far away, perseverance in faith is a good virtue to cultivate, since God is still good, all of the time we can safely entrust our live into His loving hands. Sixth, suffering is not an end in itself, it is the beginning of a glorious end, if we don’t give up. Finally, we can learn that a believer in the midst of suffering should not abandon God, but draw near to him, if he remains steadfast, God will bless him in the end.

Why are we talking about Job today? He is a prime example of how to face adversity yet not to deny our faith in God. It is important we study Job’s life because God testified of him later, the prophets quoted him, the apostle Paul made references from the book of Job and also James the brother of Jesus, reminded his audience of Job’s stand in the midst of suffering. James 5:10-11, “Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” How can we cultivate this highly difficult yet very rewarding supplement of perseverance in our day to day lives?

III. CULTIVATING PERSEVERANCE

                In the passage we read the Apostle Peter, encourages believers to “make every effort to add to their faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to,
Self-control, perseverance...but he did not tell them how, because he dealt with the how part in,

            I Peter 4:12-19. Here Peter draws some parallels between their suffering with the suffering of Christ and the suffering of the rest of the believers in the world. Peter explains four attitudes are necessary in cultivating perseverance. First, Vs, 12, “Beloved do not be surprised at the very trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” It is an attitude of expectation. When we expect that we would go through suffering when we commit our lives to Jesus, then we won’t be surprised. Unfortunately, the prosperity gospel doesn’t deal rightly with suffering.

            Second, Vs 13-14, “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” It is an attitude of rejoicing.  When we go through suffering of any kind let’s rejoice in the fact that Christ’s glory is revealed in us through our suffering. Third, Vs 15-18 talks about an attitude of evaluation. We need to learn to evaluate the cause of our suffering. Are we suffering because we have done something wrong and we deserve it? Or Are we suffering because we are suffering as a Christian and we bear the name of Christ.

                Fourth, Vs 19, “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” This is an attitude of entrusting our lives to God. It is to say God, I don’t understand why I am going through this suffering, but I entrust my life to you. Let your will be done, give me strength to go through this trial. We learn from scriptures that we must persevere under trials and perseverance must complete its course. James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

            Dear friend, are you tired and weary of fighting various battles of health, finances, debilitating habits and so on? God is the one who gives and He is also the one who takes, blessed be the name of the Lord. Do not quit! Stand strong! Persevere! God understands what you are going through and he will not let you suffer beyond your ability. I Corinthians 10: 13, “No temptation (trial) has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And 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.”

                Christ is our only hope in the midst of suffering. He is standing right here next to you through his Holy Spirit. He wants to hold you up tightly so that you won’t slip and fall. I don’t know what burdens you brought with you when you came to church this morning, but I want you to leave this place knowing full well that our redeemer lives!

            In closing, here are the assuring words coming from the Apostle Paul who endured much suffering in his life. My prayer is that they will give us hope when we go through our share of suffering in life. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3. Amen

Seven Supplements to Your Faith- Part III

The Supplement of Self- Control

II Peter 1:4-7

Introduction:  Daniel Akst in a secular article called, "Whose in Charge Here?" wrote:

"Life in modern Western cultures is like living at a giant all-you-can-eat buffet offering more calories, credit, sex, intoxicants, and just about anything else one could take to excess than our forebears might ever have imagined. With more possibilities for pleasure and fewer rules and constraints than ever before, the happy few will be those able to exercise self-control."

            It is so true of what Daniel Akst has said about life in modern Western culture, but it is not only limited to the West, we see this phenomenon all over the world. A call for self-control goes out more often than it is practiced. If we are honest with ourselves we all could take some help when it comes to having self-control. We have been on a journey to discover a pathway to spiritual wholeness, wellness and productivity. We have been following a series titled, “Seven Supplements to Your Faith,” based on the second letter of the Apostle Peter, 2 Peter 1: 5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

            So far, we have learned that God supplies faith to us freely. By His grace and through our faith in Christ alone we are saved. Faith in Christ is not an end in itself, but just the beginning. The Apostle Peter encouraged the early Christians to supplement to their faith goodness, to goodness, knowledge. We looked at these two supplements more in depth the last two weeks.  Today we will look into the supplement of self-control. It is not a flashy concept or an attractive idea. Preachers won't become popular when they preach on it, yet it is so important that we must not overlook the subject, so let’s get started with answering the question what is self-control?

I.SELF-CONTROL, WHAT IS IT?

            Let’s look at what it is not first. Have you ever opened a bag of chips took one or two then in no time finished the entire bag, that is lack of self-control! Have you walked through Macy's or Sears kept picking up clothes though you didn’t need them but then charged it to your credit card, that’s lack of self-control! Have you ever lost your cool over a trivial matter and kept yelling at your loved ones that is lack of self-control! I could go on... you get the point, right?

What is self-control then? Self-control is the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations. It is to say enough- is enough! It is to stop yourself from doing things you want to do but that might not be in your best interest or others. Who needs self-control? If we care to admit, we all need it in one area or the other, if we want to be productive and successful in life.

            In the passage we read, Peter was urging early Christians to exercise self-control because at that time many false teachers were misleading people saying, self-control is unnecessary all you need is knowledge, whereas according to Peter Christian knowledge leads to self-control.  Self-control literally means “holding oneself in.” In Peter’s day, self-control was used of athletes, who were to be self-restrained and self-disciplined. Similarly, a disciple of Christ is called to control the flesh, passions and bodily desires rather than allowing himself to be controlled by them.

            We will be entering into a forty-day lent season beginning February 14, (Ash Wednesday concluding on March 29). This is a good time for us to pause, take a stock of our lives and see where perhaps we need to exercise self-control and self-restraint.

            For now, I invite you to look with me, at the implications of a life that lacks self-control, what the Bible says about self-control and the end times, can self-control be taught, and how can we cultivate self-control?

II. THE IMPLICATIONS OF LACK OF SELF-CONTROL

            God has given all of us certain natural appetites, they are the appetite to eat, drink, sleep and to have sex. We are to control those appetites rather than other way around. It’s like putting a rein over our appetites and control them, otherwise they will ride over us. Some research tells us how devastating life can be when we lack self-control. (Knoch & Fehr, 2007):  The self-control theory of crime, tells us that the lack of individual self-control is the main factor behind criminal behavior. Lack of self-control leads to selfishness.

            Scriptures are very clear about the consequences of a life that lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28, “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” In ancient times the cities were built with a wall around them. For example, the city of Jericho and the city of Jerusalem. The walls are there to protect the residents from the invasion of wild animals, thieves and their enemies. Hence these walls were tightly guarded and protected. When they are broken down, the inhabitants are exposed to all kinds of vulnerabilities and they live in insecurity, fear and danger.

            Similarly, self-control acts as a defensive wall in our lives. When we lack self-control in the area of food and eat any and everything, that defensive wall of immunity breaks down making way for the “free radicals” to attack our health. When we don't have self-control over negative emotions such as anger and sadness they can have adverse effects on our well-being.

We must also exercise self-restraint in the area of sexuality. In a time where there are so many illicit relationships, infidelity and affairs, all those who are aspiring to be married or currently married, have an awesome responsibility to rein in our sexual desires. We need to honor the sanctity and integrity of marriage lest we come under God’s judgment. Hebrews 13:4“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

            But on the other hand, when we do exercise temperance, another word for self-control we will be doing a favor to ourselves and to our loved ones. A person who is self-controlled is a pleasant to be around and to live with. Can you imagine how many fights could have been averted, marriages and families spared from heartache, if only people could control their anger?

If you want to keep yourself out of trouble pay attention to these wise words of Solomon:

Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” An antidote to anger and arrogance can be found in Proverbs 16th chapter. Here are a couple of verses: Proverbs 16:24, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb.  sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:32, “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Lack of self-control is one of the signs of the end times. 

III. SELF-CONTROL AND THE END TIMES

            The Apostle Paul warns his young disciple Timothy about the Last Days. II Timothy 3:1-5, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud...without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure... having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

            I Peter 4:7, “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” I Peter 5: 8-11, “Be self-controlled and vigilant always, for your enemy the devil is always about, prowling like a lion roaring for its prey. Resist him, standing firm in your faith and remember that the strain is the same for all your fellow-Christians in other parts of the world.” (J.B. Phillips New Testament). These and many other scriptures highlights the importance of self-control in the life of a believer, but how are we to cultivate self-control?

IV. CULTIVATING SELF-CONTROL

            We talked a lot about self-control from the world’s and scriptural point of view, but can self-control be learned and taught? We will ask an expert, “Marshmallow man” Walter Mischel is an Ivy League professor known for his experiments in self-control. Nearly 50 years ago, he created a test to see how various five-year-olds would respond to being left alone with a marshmallow for 15 minutes with instructions not to eat it — and with the promises that if they didn’t, they would be given two. Famously, preschoolers who waited longest for the marshmallow went on to have higher SAT scores than the ones who couldn’t wait. In later years they were thinner, earned more advanced degrees, used less cocaine, and coped better with stress.

            As these first marshmallow kids now enter their 50s, Mr. Mischel and colleagues are investigating whether the good delayers are richer, too. Now Mischel eighty and wants to make sure that the nervous parents of self-indulgent children don’t miss his key finding: “Whether you eat the marshmallow at age 5 isn’t your destiny. Self-control can be taught.”

            Self-control is easier said than done, however I would suggest a couple of ways that might be helpful in cultivating self-control. It begins with honesty and a determination. We need to honestly face and answer these sets of questions: First set of questions: what am I a slave to? Food? Lust? Power? Money? The Past? Drugs? Alcohol? Bitterness? Jealousy? Anger? List can go on these deal with what is having a grip on our lives, and the things that we like to work on.

            The second set of questions: What do I have to say “no” to right now? What do I have to say “yes” to right now? Where/how do I better incorporate the fruits into my life? These questions deal with on or two things you can actually to work on and take responsibility.

Once we face and answer these questions honestly, then we need to confess to the lord and ask him his forgiveness of the sins we may have committed due to lack of self-control. 

            Remember God is faithful, when we confess he will forgive and cleanse us from our sin and give us another chance to live rightly.  With a forgiven heart now, we will find a trusted friend or a confidant to hold us accountable and walk with us as we work through our challenges.

You may be saying, Pastor it is hard work to develop self-control in my life.

            I hear you, yes, it is indeed hard work, but remember Christ has done the hardest work, by going to the cross on your behalf. He offered His life as a sacrifice so that you and I can walk away from our bondage to sin and live as free people. He adopted us into His family of committed brothers and sisters who once were sinners but saved by grace. By being part of such a family we can work together, hold each other accountable, spur one another to good works and challenge one another not to give up but to hold on to our faith. Moreover, Jesus deposited His Holy Spirit inside of us. As we learn to listen, and obey the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit, by His strength we will be able to cultivate self-control which is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Amen

THE SUPPLEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE II Peter 1:1-7

SEVEN SUPPLEMENTS FOR YOUR FAITH-PART II

(The Supplement of Knowledge) II Peter 1:1-7, 2/42018

          There's a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, "O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge." Socrates recognized a pompous numb skull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, "What do you want?" "Knowledge, O wise Socrates," said the young man with a smile. Socrates put his strong hands on the man's shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. "What do you want?" he asked again. Wisdom," the young man sputtered, "O great and wise Socrates." Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. "What do you want, young man?" Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, "Knowledge, O wise and wonderful..."Socrates jammed him under again Forty seconds passed. Fifty. "What do you want?" "Air!" the young man screeched. "I need air!" Socrates said, "When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge."

            Last week we saw how the Apostle Peter reminded the persecuted believers of his time that only by God’s grace and through their faith in Jesus Christ they were saved. But after that God calls believers for total dedication. Peter used these words, “for this very reason, make every effort” to emphasize the fact that they were to make every disciplined effort to supplement to their faith with the following seven supplements. 2 Peter 1: 5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

            Undoubtedly many of us take supplements daily because we came to believe that they are necessary due to our sedentary life style and eating habits. Supplements may add to what may be missing in our regular diet, therefore our quality of life may be improved. In the passage we read, the Apostle Peter recommends seven supplements to all those who want to be spiritually healthy and productive. Last week we learned that, faith without works is dead. We are called to do good, respect and honor all people. How do we know what is the difference between good and evil? Who is our standard when it comes to doing good? What will increase goodness in us? Let’s explore the second supplement called Knowledge to find answers to these questions.

I. THE SUPPLEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE: (WISDOM)

            During the time of Peter’s writing of this letter, Gnosticism seemed to threaten the core foundations of the Christian faith. Gnostics believed that, “acquiring special, and mystical knowledge as the means for salvation which is contrary to the message of salvation through Christ alone (Acts 4:12). Peter challenged the heretics and their heresies by highlighting the true knowledge of Christ. The Greek word, ginosko which is translated into English “Knowledge” literally means, “to know experientially.”

            What did Peter mean when he said, supplement to your faith, goodness and to goodness, knowledge? He was saying as you exercise goodness in your life, continue to grow in the experiential knowledge of Christ. We need to acquire not just the head knowledge but experience Christ deep in our hearts. How can we get to know God deeply? When we are desperate for Him, when we yearn for Him as the deer pants for the waters.

            When we can say like Paul, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8 When we press on to know Him, then we will have the true knowledge of Christ.

            Unlike in many other religions including Judaism, in Christianity God calls His children to know Him intimately and it is possible for us to develop such intimate relationship with God. Christianity is not a religion made up of bunch of dos’ and don’ts, but it is a relationship with Jesus. The Apostle Peter was making a distinction between the knowledge of the world vs the Knowledge of Christ in II Peter, (1: 2,3,5-6, 8, 2:20, and 3:18).

            Not only here in Peter but throughout the scripture God makes such distinction between the worldly knowledge and spiritual knowledge. Consider the following scriptures: We hear the wise King Solomon talking about a worldly knowledge that leaves God out, and when people go after such knowledge in the end they are stricken with grief and sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:16-18, “I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.”

            Unfortunately, there are so many highly educated, and bright minds like Richard Dawkins and the likes with all their acquired earthly knowledge and wisdom think that they are greater than God, they deny the very existence of God who is the wisdom and the source of all wisdom. How would God deal with such foolishness? I Corinthians 3:19, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” Isaiah 29:14, “Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” These are just a few scriptures in regards to how God views all those who only pursue worldly knowledge but never pay attention to know God and His ways. God is delighted when we run after Him.

            After acquiring worldly wealth and knowledge later in life, we hear the wise King Solomon giving fatherly advice to his son about pursuing true knowledge and wisdom: Proverbs  2:1-6, “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

            How many of us want to pursue this kind of wisdom, knowledge and understanding? This wisdom is not taught in universities. It comes by knowing Christ personally and pursuing to know Him. This truth is often ignored by educated and successful but cherished by the uneducated, yet whose hearts are transformed by the love of God. Let me Illustrate:

            Alexander Grigolia had immigrated to America from Soviet Georgia, learned English, earned three doctoral degrees, and become a successful professor at the University of Pennsylvania. But despite his achievements, he had a misery in his heart that he couldn’t dislodge. One day while getting a shoeshine, he noticed that the bootblack went about his work with a sense of joy, scrubbing and buffing and smiling and talking. Finally, Dr. Grigolia could stand it no longer. He said in his funny sounding accent, “What always you so happy?”

           

            Looking up, the bootblack paused and replied, “Jesus, He love me, He died so God could forgive my badness. He makes me happy.” The professor snapped his newspaper back in front of his face, and the bootblack went back to work. But Dr. Grigolia never escaped those words, and they brought him eventually to the savior. He later became a professor of anthropology at Wheaton College and taught, among others, a young student named Billy Graham.” What a powerful story! What matters here is not how much you know but Who you know.

            The bootblack knew his savior, he knew that he was dearly loved, in that he found his purpose in life, even if it was just shining the boots of others, he did it cheerfully and joy fully.

We talked a lot about wisdom, but what is wisdom, why is it important that we get it and how do we get it? Proverbs is a great book to read if we want to know what is wisdom like, how you can obtain it and grow in it. Proverbs starts with these words: “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: “for gaining wisdom, and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young.”

            Let’s hear what Wisdom have to say to us, Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 19:8, “The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.” Here Wisdom is talking, Proverbs 8: 35-36, “For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.” It is only to our folly when we don’t seek wisdom for in it is life and prosperity.

            Let me explain practically how we can grow in the wisdom of the Lord? Firstly, we ask God to give us wisdom who is the source of all wisdom, like King Solomon asked. Secondly, when we ask God for wisdom as James puts it, “we must ask in faith without doubting.” When we ask Him sincerely in faith we will receive wisdom. We are encouraged to supplement to our faith, goodness and to goodness knowledge. Not the worldly knowledge but the experiential knowledge of Christ. Let me leave you with this question, do you know Jesus, I mean do you really know Him? The way you will get to know Him is by spending time in prayer and reading His Word daily, not as a must do item in your list. But cultivating a discipline which leads to desire and delight in God. When we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. Amen!