Seven Men Filled with Godly Wisdom

Introduction: The Deacon's Qualification of Wisdom

0:04 The following is the fourth and final message in the conference and is entitled, How Can I Be Filled with Godly Wisdom? The speaker is Pastor Mitch Lush from Grace Covenant Baptist Church in Westchester, Pennsylvania.

0:29 In that original selection of deacons, the church was to look for men who were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom whom we may appoint over this business. I'm very grateful that God has directed Pastor Martin to take the time to carefully lay out that exposition. Sitting there last evening, I was made aware of certain weaknesses and deficiencies in my own presentation and glad that he covered the basis for us in that.

1:09 One has written, Wisdom. Concerning that, Acts 6. 3. Wisdom not only distinguished piety, but wisdom also is necessary qualification for this office, that practical sagacity, good sense and sound judgment, which are requisite for the administration of the temporal affairs of the church, and especially the wisdom that is from above directing in all emergencies.

1:36 Well, what is that wisdom that is from above that marks a deacon in Christ's church? If deacons are to be obviously men who are full of wisdom, what will such a man look like? We must recognize that the book of Acts comes relatively late in redemptive history. And so what we want to do this morning is to go back and look at something of wisdom as it comes in the spectrum of the scriptures.

Defining Wisdom: Skill in Living and Technical Expertise

2:06 And there are 434 occurrences of wise and wisdom. In my. New King James Bible, and so it's not possible for us to go on a camping trip, be underneath each one of these wisdom trees and take our knives and cut off some of the bark or drill a hole and drain out some of the sap and boil it and and make some syrup out of it. We don't have time to dig up roots and put it and boil it and make some tea out of it and see if it clears our sinuses.

2:36 We don't have time for all of that. What we're doing is more going along in our Blackhawk or our Chinook. And we're not, we're just hovering over the top of some of these trees looking at them, but we're not looking at a detailed consideration of any one of these passages. So first of all, as you see on your handout sheet, what is wisdom?

2:58 What is wisdom? First of all, let me give a basic definition of wisdom. Basic definition of wisdom is wisdom is the art of being successful, of forming the correct plan. To gain the desired results.

3:17 Or another, it is the art of being successful in life. Or it's the skill in living in God's world. Another is written, wisdom is not primarily about knowledge, but how one uses the knowledge that he has. The opposite of wisdom is foolishness, a conscious denial that has its roots in a conscious denial of God that has its roots in a rebellious heart.

3:44 Here we're speaking of deacons in Acts 6-3, wisdom, not merely practical skill or professional experience, but heavenly prudence, teaching how to act in all emergencies. But then secondly, B, on your handout sheet, consider with me that technical skill is equated with wisdom. And seeing something of the background of this key word, kokmah, over half of the references of wisdom are this Hebrew term of kokmah. And here we consider it.

4:14 It is in Exodus 28 in verse 3 concerning the garments of the priests that were to be made. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister to me as a priest. This kokmah, this skill was needed to know what kind of garment to make and how to design it and how to actually fabricate that. And secondly, we can think of Exodus 31 that we considered last evening.

4:48 I have filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship. So he knows what to do with the gold. He knows what to do with the silver. He knows what to do with that tapestry so that there was this beautiful tapestry to divide the holy of holies and the holy place.

5:09 It didn't have holes in it. Why? Because he had wisdom. He had a skill in doing that work.

5:16 But then I found it interesting to consider a number of these side passages. I'll just give the reference. Isaiah 40 in verse 20 speaks of the idol craftsman, that when you go to have your idol made, you want to have a skillful craftsman, a wise craftsman, so that in the end your idol will not totter to get one that is level all legs and we can change it to the chair. We want a chair.

5:42 It doesn't constantly rock and doesn't totter. It takes wisdom. It takes skill to come up with that. Or the professional mourners.

5:51 Jeremiah 9 in verse 17. When you have your funeral, you got something really sad going on, you call in the professional mourners. And as you do so, you want to send for those who are skillful wailing women. They really know how to cry up a storm.

6:08 They can create a very sad mood. They are skilled. They are wise in it. Or in Ezekiel 27 verse 8 and 9, navigators and ship repairmen.

6:20 There are wise men who are pilots who know how to get you from here to there. They are skillful in their technical work. Or when that boat needs to have the caulking put into the seams, there are elders of Gebel and it's wise men were in it to caulk your seams. When you go out in a boat, you want to make sure that those seams were caulked by a.

6:42 Wise man by a skillful man, somebody who knows what decisions to make so that there is that skill that is evident in your boat staying afloat. Then the further sinfully crafty advisor, Jonadab, you remember Amnon and Tamar, and that one who was giving advice was Jonadab. And it says in the text now, Jonadab was a very crafty man. He was skillfully wise.

7:12 And no, well, you want this to happen? You want that to happen? You want this kind of situation here? We're going to create it by doing boom, boom, boom, boom.

Wisdom in Leadership and God's Unique Possession of It

7:20 So wisdom can be used to speak of simply a crafty individual who is on a very sinful mission. But then thirdly, see, leaders need wisdom and deacons, as Pastor Volo laid out, deacons are under authority and yet they must exercise authority. And Deuteronomy one verse 13 speaks of tribal heads. And leaders choose wise and understanding, knowledgeable men over your thousands, hundreds, fifties, tens officers for your tribes.

7:53 Joshua, with everything that he's got to do in leading a couple of million people into the promised land and the battles that are going to take place and where the people are, how they're going to be fed and all of that was said of Joshua. Now Joshua, the son of none, was full of the spirit of wisdom. And again, it's sometimes you just don't know. You don't know.

8:12 You see the spirit and wisdom. Are we talking about a disposition of wisdom or are we talking about Ruach, the spirit of God and wisdom? And there's a question in that. But there is that close association further.

8:24 We've got leaders needing wisdom. King David is described as David behaved wisely in all his ways and the Lord was with him. And therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he saw was afraid of him. The way David fought.

8:41 The way that David interacted with his men. The way that David interacted with the other generals. Saul's looking at this, said this guy could be trouble because he knows what he's doing. Dying King David to Solomon, he says, therefore, according to the wisdom that you've got already as a young man, King David is not even dead yet.

9:02 Solomon hasn't even issued his prayer, but he's saying you've got wisdom and you know what Joab has done and you know what to do with him, but based on your wisdom and it reminds him of Shimei says, and now you've got wisdom. Now you deal with him according to your wisdom. So leaders need wisdom. But then fourthly, D leaders often leaned on a special class known for their wisdom.

9:23 We find this in Genesis 41, verse 33, Pharaoh speaks to Joseph. First of all, Joseph gives him the understanding of that vision of the seven years of feasts and the seven years of famine. And then they say they appoint a wise man over them to direct them. How to deal with.

9:41 Years of feasts and years of famine. And that wise and discerning man is Joseph. Then Joab, he goes to a wise woman of Toccoa to help him out. He wants something done.

9:52 He said, all right, how do I get this done? David would often consult with his hit the fell into his who shy hit the fellow of whom it was said that, man, when you go to this guy for advice, it's like he's got a direct pipeline to God. His advice is as if he is an Oracle of God. He always knows what to do.

10:13 It's almost like it's intuitive with a guy, probably not even a Christian fifthly. God uniquely possesses wisdom. And if wisdom is skill and living, then think of how God uniquely possesses wisdom. If wisdom is the ability to make this decision, then this one, then the other to attain this desired result, then there is a sense in which one author writes of the irresistible fulfillment of what God has.

10:42 In his mind, because God's the only one who says, this is what I want to accomplish. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. And he always accomplishes it. Wisdom uniquely belongs to God.

10:54 Listen to, to Daniel. Daniel has the secret revealed to him in the night vision. And even before he's gone to find out if he was right, he knew he was right. And he says in Daniel two in verse 20, blessed be the name of God forever for wisdom and might are his later on.

11:11 He gives wisdom to the wise. God uniquely knows how to get things done. And it was striking to me to consider Romans 11 in verse 33. It's right before you come to that transition of Romans 12 and verse one.

11:25 Therefore brethren, I urge you by the here are the practical things after 11 chapters of God's accomplishing redemption. And what are the last things that come in chapter 11 or the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. God. God knows how to get sinners to heaven.

Practical Lessons: Highest Wisdom and Its Foundation

11:46 And therefore he is to be blessed and praised, but then F lessons, practical lessons. The highest human wisdom is a skill in life. It's one thing to have a chair that doesn't talk. It's one thing to have skillful whaling women who can create a really sad mood, but the highest expression of or wisdom is a skill in life.

12:12 It's one thing to have that beautiful tapestry. It's one thing to have a ship that doesn't sink because it's got the tar and the seams properly. But wisdom as the art of successful living in God's world is the high point of wisdom. Wisdom is making something pretty out of your life.

12:31 Wisdom is in a sense that you've got that beautiful chair, but it's one thing to have a beautiful chair and you sit down and every time you sit down, this thing rocks and you don't. Wisdom is the ability to have something that is beautiful and functional. And what you and I must labor for under God is having lives that individuals look at our lives and say, there is something beautiful about that guy's life. There's something very functional about that man's life.

13:01 So are you making something pretty, something good, something beautiful out of your life? But secondly, wisdom starts. By bringing God into the equation, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 111 verse 10, the same Proverbs one and verse seven.

13:22 Now think of it as if he's an example of practical wisdom of what will work in the temporal realm. And in that realm, he's very good. But at the end of the day, if you ignore God and you end up in eternal damnation, then you're a fool. He was wise in time.

13:42 But fool. Foolish in the overall picture of eternity. Wisdom starts by bringing God into the equation. Biblical wisdom does.

13:51 But then thirdly, by way of practical lessons, wisdom is essential for a deacon service in the Church of Christ. Lenski writes, it is well that the wisdom is added for us to help us understand one part of what is meant by being full of the Holy Spirit. And I've slightly modified what the words there of Lenski. All the disciples had the Holy Spirit, all received one gift or another from him.

14:19 The men here, deacons needed for the task here considered, ought to have one notable gift in an a special measure, namely to such a degree as to be recognized by the members generally. This was wisdom, the ability and readiness to apply Christian knowledge to the practical affairs of life. We at once see how the congregation readily agreed. We at once see how the congregation readily agreed.

14:42 We at once see how the congregation readily agreed. To look for men only of this marked type. You are telling us under God to look for men full of wisdom. We agree.

14:53 That's what we're going to do. If you are building a tabernacle or if you are mourning or you are fixing a seam in a ship or if you are caring for culturally diverse groups of widows, you need to make those decisions that eventuate in a beautiful solution. You need wisdom from God. But then secondly, Roman numeral two.

Why Wisdom is Important: Personal Living and Understanding Human Nature

15:21 Why is wisdom important? What is wisdom? It's skill in living, skill in living in God's world. Why is wisdom important?

15:29 Well, first of all, wisdom is important if you want skill in personal living. Here is the proving grounds before you ever get into the office. If you've got skill in your personal life, then we'll consider you for skill in the diaconal office. Proverbs three.

15:52 And now as we come to the book of Proverbs, there'll be more passages for you to look at with me. And the first Proverbs three in verse 13, happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. And what will wisdom give? Well, first of all, in verse 16, length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand, riches and honor.

16:14 Her ways are the ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her and happy are all who retain her length of days, riches and honor, ways of pleasantness, peace, happy or all who retain her. That's what wisdom will do for you. It's an advertisement.

16:36 I mean, who can refuse that? This is what we want out of life. Proverbs nine in verse 12 says. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.

16:45 And if you scoff, you will bear it alone. Now if you are wise, it will help your family. And if you are wise, it will help your community. And if you're wise, it will help your church.

16:57 But if you are wise, it will preeminently help you. If you are wise, you're wise for yourself. And if you scoff, you'll bear it alone. Proverbs 15 in verse 24.

17:08 The way of life winds up for the wise. That he may turn from hell below. And so whatever this wisdom is, it's a heavenly wisdom that involves the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the further as Bridges says, the further you go along in wisdom, the further you get away from hell. It is a way that climbs and ascends up.

17:31 Proverbs 19 eight. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. Look with me at Proverbs 24. Proverbs 24.

17:39 Do not be envious of evil men. Verse one. Nor desire to be with them for their heart does devises violence. And now verse three.

17:47 Through wisdom, a house is built. And if we understand house is a life or as Bridges does, the soul is not talking so much about a literal house or there's truth in that. But in building the house of our lives, there is wisdom that is going to be required by understanding it is established by knowledge. The rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant.

18:11 Riches. A wise man is strong. Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength for by wise counsel. You will wage your own war.

18:21 And in a multitude of counselors, there is safety. We don't often think in those. I don't often think in those terms that a wise man is strong, but that's what the Bible says is you come to these difficult circumstances. The one who's got wisdom is going to have the ability to deal with it, and it's like he's got this.

18:42 Huge amount of strength that is able to push through the great pressure of the great weight that is before him. Bridges commenting on Proverbs 24 rights. Why should we envy the prosperity of the wicked? Even if their house be built, it cannot be established by iniquity.

18:58 It is only the snow palace built in the winter and melting under the power of the summer sun. The wise woman builds her house on piety and prudence, a far more solid establishment. Let every mind be enriched with these precious and pleasant endowments. Without them, the man is without strength of character to hear what he's saying without wisdom, the creature of accident, circumstance or society thinking and living on the opinion of others.

19:29 You see what he's saying? If you don't have wisdom, if you don't have the skill to say, I want to get there and I'm going to do boom, boom, boom, boom in order to get there, then he says, you are a person of accident. It just happened to you. You didn't put yourself in the path to get there.

19:49 A general indecision marks his insignificant course. The soul, when consecrated as God's house, is built on an enlightened understanding of divine truth, and every chamber is filled with precious and pleasant riches of godliness. Are you making a beautiful life? Do you want?

20:10 Do you want skill and personal living? Do you want individuals to come and look at you five years after your conversion, 10 years and even 20 years and say, you know, the guy has done something with his life. Now we understand when I say has done something with his life, that that's the human responsibility a part of that work with what God gives you. But make sure God is in that formula of all of your decision making.

20:40 Skill and personal living. Secondly, B, if you want skill and understanding human nature, then wisdom is important to you. And I picked out five traits of human nature relevant to deacons. We could pick out 30 traits.

20:57 There are that many that are in the book of Proverbs and more. But first of all, deacons need to know something about laziness. Proverbs 10 for you as a slack hand becomes poor. Is there a reason why you've gone through three jobs in the last six months?

21:16 The lazy man says there is a lion outside and I shall be slain in the streets. Brother, it seems that you are full of excuses and you're fit the same category of you're talking about lions that are out there in the streets. Deacons need to know something about giving. I invite you to turn with me to Proverbs three, verse 27.

21:38 And as you turn there, I will. Read from Proverbs 19, 17. He who has pity on the poor lends to Jehovah and he, Jehovah, will pay back what he is given. The godly wise is not just a bookkeeper in the church, is not just making sure the numbers add up, but there is pity that goes out to the poor.

22:03 And as the poor have a special connection with Jehovah, the deacon can have the confidence Jehovah will repay us. Jehovah will repay what has been loaned to his poor. Now, Proverbs three, 27. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in the power of your hand to do so.

22:24 Do not say to your neighbor, go and come back and tomorrow I will give it to you. There is pity that says, I really want to help. But there's a principle that is given here to deacons that says, give when you have to give it. When it's yours.

22:40 When it's in your possession. There are times when you have it and they don't really deserve it. And that's envisioned in the text. There are times when they deserve it, but you don't have it to give and we can feel bad.

22:53 But this principle guides us when they can't make that mortgage payment and the trip to the Bahamas comes up. Give to them when it is due to them. It guides us. But then thirdly, deacons need to know something about lying.

23:13 Lying tongue is. But for a moment. Proverbs 1222 lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. And this struck me increasingly in our culture.

23:22 Lying is not so bad. I mean, everybody does. Lying is an abomination to the Lord. This is how we ought to view this.

23:30 An evildoer 17 for an evildoer gives heed to false lips. I don't want to be an evildoer. So this guy is not telling me the truth that this woman is feeding me a line. Then I want to be able to discern that.

23:43 I don't want to have any part in it. Proverbs 26, 28, a lying tongue hates those who crushed by, oh, it's just a little lie. No, your lie affected this damage and this damage and this damage. He crushed these people and it's an expression of hate and you've got to stop doing it.

24:01 Deacons need to know something about self-control. 1632. He is. He was slow to anger is better than the mighty.

24:11 He rules the spirit than he who takes the city. Proverbs 19, 19. A man of great wrath. He will suffer punishment for if you rescue him, you'll have to do it again.

24:22 We're rescuing somebody that is known for having a lack of self-control. Are we going to have to do this again? And as we rescue him, what sort of things are going to come in to minimize the failure in the future? Proverbs 22, 24.

24:39 Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man. Do not go lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul. Here I am trying to help this angry man. Now I've caught the contagion of his disease.

24:51 We need to know human nature. But then fifthly, deacons need to know something about the immoral woman. How much is given in the book of Proverbs? Pretty much all chapters five, six, seven, but not limited to those proverbs to invite you to look there when wisdom enters your heart.

25:12 What's wisdom going to do? Well, first thing, according to verse 12, it's going to deliver you from the way of the evil man who speaks perverse things. I'm going to give you a few things. But the second thing, when wisdom enters your heart, what's it going to do for you?

25:24 It's going to deliver you verse 16 from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words. It's a common theme, flattering with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. Then Proverbs five in verse three for the lips of an immoral woman, drip honey. We need to be on our guard.

25:48 Her mouth is smoother than oil. And in the end, she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two edged sword, and her feet go down to death. Her steps lay hold of hell. It seems so sweet and pleasant.

26:01 It's only enticing. But the Book of Proverbs would have us to know in wisdom there are deadly consequences for identifying with this one who seems so sweet and seems so pleasant. And he uses the deadly consequence. She's like a sword.

26:18 What are swords do? She leads to death and she leads to hell and she'll take you with her. Proverbs six, verse twenty eight. Can one walk on coals and his feet not be seared?

26:31 You guys can't. When you can't, do you sit around the campfire and take your shoes off and take your socks off and walk around the campfire barefoot? Why not? Well, because you don't subscribe to that notion of some cultures that you can walk across hot coals and no, you know, you step on it, that thing's going to burn in and there's going to be.

26:51 And there's going to be pain and you're going to be in the emergency room and you see where it comes in. Proverbs six, twenty eight is in the context of this immoral woman says there are consequences and just as certainly as you're not going to walk around the campfire barefoot. You need to stay away from this woman. The consequences there, there will be devastating consequences.

27:15 Expect the destruction of your soul. Verse thirty two. He who does so destroys his own soul. Verse thirty three wounds and honor.

27:22 He will get. Wounds and dishonor. He will get and his reproach will not be wiped away. Expect the destruction of your reputation.

27:32 And I trust that every one of you here is one who values your reputation. Men who are of good report, men who are of good reputation. You get involved with the immoral woman and that will be devastated. That will be destroyed.

Why Wisdom is Important: Management Decisions and Communicating Counsel

27:50 We need to know about this immoral woman for ourselves. And for our dealings with others, a skill and personal living, a skill in understanding human nature. Thirdly, see why is wisdom important if you want skill and management decisions? Proverbs two, verse one, incline your ear to wisdom.

28:07 What will happen? What will be the benefit? Verse six. For the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth, come knowledge and understanding, and he stores up wisdom for the upright.

28:16 Verse nine. He will give. He will. Then you will understand the righteousness and justice.

28:22 Equity and every good path. You want to know what path to take? Then seek this wisdom. Proverbs 21, 22.

28:32 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the trusted stronghold. What's the picture here in this proverb? One little man and this massive city with its castle like walls. And so who are you going to bet on?

28:50 And Solomon says, I'm going to bet on the one single. Little man who's got wisdom. He's going to bring her down. And that's what we ought to have.

29:00 We ought to be convinced of that. Joshua in his management decisions, full of the spirits and wisdom, the apostles sent out. Jesus says, Matthew 10, verse 16, send you out a sheep in the midst of wolves. You're Christians who are going to go up against some fairly nasty individuals in the world.

29:23 Therefore. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Don't go and try to kill all the wolves. That's not your business.

29:31 Would you be wise in where you step and who you turn your back on believers interacting with unbelievers? Colossians four and verse three. And this was a new text for me. Even though I preached through the book of Colossians, Colossians four verse three.

29:47 Meanwhile, praying also for us that God would open for us a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ. So there's evangelism. Yeah. It's worth it.

29:55 What? Here's an unconverted individual. I'm going to bring the gospel to him. But the next word there in verse five is walking wisdom toward those who are outside.

30:06 Be careful gospel and yet wise that wise as serpents, harmless as does further deacons resolving the difficulty among the widows. There's a problem for the church. And what is the solution? I mean, I mean, the apostles could have said, all right.

30:24 The solution here for these widows is that you need to do in particular, but it's like they step back from the situation and they say the long term solution is to have deacons to have a board of wise men to address similar problems like this. Fourthly, D, if you want skill in communicating counsel, the wise are supposed to know something. Let's imagine for a minute that there is someone here who really is wise and really does know. And it's got some Hithophel like skill.

30:59 It's not enough to know the answer. Wisdom requires skill and communicating the answer. And at this point, it's like, oh, this is this wisdom is too demanding. It's reaches out in too many practical demands.

31:13 But Proverbs 15 in verse two, the tongue of the wise uses knowledge, rightly 1218, the tongue of the wise promotes health. 1621. I'm convicted of this. I think back of a telephone conversation earlier this week.

31:31 The wise and heart will be called prudent and sweetness of the lips increases learning. All right, deacons, you want to be wise. Do you want to sweet lips? Sweetness of lips increases learning.

31:48 Proverbs 29, eight scoffers set a city aflame, but why is men turn away wrath? There is skill in communicating. What they have to say. James three in verse 13, who is wise and understanding among you?

32:02 Well, our deacons are well left him. Those deacons show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. Verse 15. This wisdom does not descend from above that which is arrogant and causing problems and arguing with people 17, but the wisdom that is from above is pure than peaceable, gentle, willing to yield.

32:26 17. How will you know a deacon who is full of wisdom when there's meekness? When there's sweetness of speech to take the good counsel that he's got and not simply dump it, but say, all right, how can I make this knowledge to be acceptable? God's cause is not advanced by angry arguments.

32:50 Well, our angry arguments are only on the deacon board and God understands that we have to be frank with one another on the, on the deacon board. God's cause is not advanced by tactless and graceless directives. Do this. All right, brother, you're in the church.

33:09 Remember this church, aren't you? Well, this is what we expect you to do a quick complaint and get at it. All right. D skill and communicating counsel is what we're talking about.

33:20 Yeah. I want to balance this. The wisest of speech will not bat a thousand. I've had it said to me, you should have found a way.

33:30 Yes. I understand that. I understand that the speaker was wrong, but you should have found a way to deal with this in such a way that the other party's response wouldn't have been what it was. Okay.

33:44 I was looking for that way. Do you know what that way is? No, but you should have found the way that's your job. Proverbs 29 verse nine.

33:52 If a wise man contends with the foolish man, whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace. And brethren, we need this word of balance bridges. It would generally be far better not to meddle with such a fool. As is here described, we can only deal with him on very disadvantageous terms and with very little prospect of good.

34:12 If a wise man contend with a wise, he can make himself understood. And there was some hope of bringing the debate to a good issue, but to contend with a fool, there is no rest, no peace or quiet. It will go on without ends. He will either.

34:29 He will neither listen to reason nor yield to argument. So. How capable is he that he will either rage or laugh, either vent on us the fury of an ungoverned temper or laugh us to scorn. Act six.

34:47 You've got to have men who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom in act six and verse nine. There is this disputing with Stephen in act six and verse 10. It is recorded and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit. Again, that conjunction, the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke.

35:06 Alexander says. He spoke with wisdom, for he spoke by inspiration. Price says in Luke 21, 15, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. And Stephen seems to be a fulfillment of that.

35:23 But in the end, Stephen got God glory in the consciences of his enemies. But Stephen also got killed, you know, in about a thousand, even when you're manifesting wisdom in your speech. And I smile when I first thought of this. But, brethren, here's the application.

35:45 My deacon, brethren, even if you're going to get killed by your irrational adversaries, you have the responsibility to get God glory and the wisdom of your speech with them. And we're most of us aren't going to face that kind of situation, but we can still get God glory in the wisdom of our words. Further, Roman numeral three. How can I grow in wisdom?

How to Grow in Wisdom: Natural Gift, Development, and Walking with God

36:14 How can I grow in wisdom? First of all. Today, we must recognize that wisdom is, in part, a natural gift. Wisdom is, in part, a natural gift.

36:24 Ahithophel, who ended up committing suicide. The advice of Ahithophel, Second Samuel 1623, which he gave in those days, was as if one inquired at the Oracle of God. Great in political and military decisions in the here and now. You want to make the people know that there's no hope of reunification between you and your dad?

36:48 This is what you do to those concubines. You want to have military success. This is what you do tonight. You got to go.

36:55 Great political and military decisions in the here and now. Great in planning for death in the here and now. He went home and he set his house in order. Made sure his wife knew where all the financial documents were.

37:07 Made sure that his will was up to date whatever it was. But pathetic in his decisions affecting his eternal future. And where there is. no fear of God. The man is ultimately. Now, do you see how

37:23 the example of Ahithophel fits right along with what Pastor Martin was saying last night about gift is no evidence of grace?

37:33 Tremendous abilities here, but it is no true evidence of a heart that has been regenerated by the grace of God. Solomon, in his life, when he had locked God out for that period of years where he was horribly backslidden, it says in Ecclesiastes two and verse nine. So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. And my wisdom remained with me. We may quibble and say, well, God, why do you do that?

38:02 How can a guy get so backslidden, get so cold hearted? And yet to everybody looking on, he's still the oracle. He still has all of this gift that is there. Even this natural ability of the unconverted or the grossly backslidden is given by God. And that's what we have to recognize.

38:21 Even with all the grace that God gives us, we may never attain to the kind of wisdom of Ahithophel in giving political and military advice. But that's not our goal. Our goal is to have wisdom in the large spectrum that begins with our first conversion and ends out there in infinity, in eternity. Some have an almost intuitive ability to solve difficulties. The New American

38:52 Standard renders Proverbs 10.23. This way, doing wickedness is like a sport to a fool. That was fun. Come up with this scheme and this. That was good.

39:01 And so is wisdom to a man of understanding. Dalish agrees with this view. You got a problem? Good.

39:09 Give me the problem. I'd like to work on it with you. It's like a game. It's like working math problems. I just, you know, I get a thrill. You got a problem?

39:18 Let's work through it. And boom, that's where we're going to end up. Wisdom. It's solving problems.

39:25 It's solving problems. It's like a sport to a man of understanding.

39:30 But then secondly, if it's natural gift, that's part of it. We recognize we'll never attain to that. And there's a sense which we don't want.

39:41 We don't want that. But B, we must believe that wisdom can be developed. Job says in chapter 12, verse 12, wisdom is with age and men. And that's encouraging to us.

39:53 Because even if I'm a little short on wisdom now, if I live long enough, I'm going to wise up. And perhaps with love and natural yarrow, ii. Water, I think Kris knows so well what jota was saying. You can grow in it to get knocked around and you'll learn some of those lessons of life. Look at the Lord Jesus Christ, the God man. Luke two in verse forty.

40:23 The child grew and become strong spirit filled with wisdom. Increased. Luke to? to the simple.

40:30 Well, that's a simple person. Don't even deal with him. There's no sense. It's simple.

40:35 There's no... Why waste your time?

40:38 No, no, no. The book of Proverbs is designed for that one who is simple to give him prudence. And a wise man will hear and increase learning. It's not like you've got a certain level of gift and that's where you are and you're locked into it for the rest of your life.

40:53 No, the book of Proverbs comes. Wisdom is out there recruiting new students. Proverbs 1, verse 20. It calls aloud in the streets, raises her voice in the open square and calling for the naive to come in so that they can wise up.

41:06 There's hope for us.

41:09 David to the young boy Solomon. Proverbs 4. When I was my father's son, tender and the only one on the side of my mother. Verse 5.

41:18 What did Dad say to the young Solomon? Get wisdom. Get understanding. See, it can be increased.

41:25 Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore, get wisdom. Proverbs 7. Proverbs.

41:29 6 and verse 6. You know, go to the aunt. You sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise.

41:35 All right, sluggard. I want you to change. There's hope of developing wisdom. Proverbs 9, verse 1.

41:42 Wisdom is build her house. She's got a banquet. She's mixed her wine, furnished her table, and then she goes out and she cries out. Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.

41:50 I want to help him out. I want to feed him.

41:55 Proverbs 9, verse 9. Give instruction to a wise man and he will still be wiser. Is there any hope of developing wisdom? Proverbs 19, 20.

42:05 Listen to counsel and receive instruction that you may be wise in your latter days. I'm 30 years old and I don't think I have a fifth of all like capabilities. That's all right. You hang in there and in your latter days, you'll be wiser.

42:22 But then thirdly, see, if we want wisdom, how's it going to be increased? Well, it's in part a natural gift. We must believe that it can be developed. Thirdly, see, we must walk with God.

42:33 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. You are to fear the Lord. You're not to be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord.

42:40 Depart from evil. Proverbs 3, verse 7. There's a recent discussion of wisdom. One of our ladies said, before I was a Christian, I thought I was pretty wise because I thought I had all the answers.

42:53 Now that I've begun to fear the Lord, now that I've become a Christian, I've seen how foolish I really was. Proverbs 11, 2, with the humblest wisdom. And then if you would, turn with me to Psalm 51. Psalm 51 and verse 6.

43:11 Psalm 51, you say, Psalm 51, why is he turning us to Psalm 51? That's David's prayer of repentance. What's this got to do with wisdom?

43:21 Well, he acknowledges his sin against you only have I sinned, verse 4. Verse 5, I was brought forth in iniquity and my mother in sin. My mother conceived me. Now, verse 6.

43:34 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part, you will make me to know wisdom. Listen to Spurgeon. The penitent feels that God is teaching him truth concerning his nature, which he had not before perceived. The love of the heart, the mystery of its fall and the way of its purification.

43:57 This is hidden wisdom we must all attain. And it is a great blessing to be able to believe that the Lord will make, make us to know it. So you see this skill in living. It's not just in saying, all right, we've got a problem here with the widows.

44:11 How are we going to solve this? But the wisdom is going to come and it's going to deal with such practical matters as our walk with God, specifically dealing with our sin. And God's going to give us skill in confessing and forsaking our sins. See the breadth of this wisdom?

How to Grow in Wisdom: Prayer, Scripture, and Wise Friendships

44:35 Fourthly, D. We must pray for wisdom. As our brother read James 1 verse 5, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. Striking to see that David was praying for his son, Solomon 1 Chronicles 22 verse 12.

44:50 Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding. He's on his deathbed. This is what I want for you. So Solomon, the new king first came three and verse seven, and he goes in before the Lord and he says, but I am but a little child.

45:06 Dad's already told me that you're a wise man. You're going to know, what to do with Shimei. You're a wise man. You're going to know what to do with Joab.

45:14 Dad's gone. The Lord appears to him and he says, I am but a little boy. I'm a little child. I don't know what to do.

45:23 And he asks that God would give him an understanding heart to judge the people, that he would discern this. And the Lord says, yes, I'm going to do it for you. I will give you wisdom. Proverbs 2.

45:38 We must ask for it. If you cry for discernment, too, in verse two, but getting wisdom is not automatic, like getting older. It's rather a spiritual exercise based on this communion with God. If we don't have that kind of wisdom involved in confessing and forsaking our sins, we're not going to grow in the breadth of godly wisdom.

46:05 Act six and verse three men who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. One is written this close relationship between spirit and wisdom noted in the scriptures is significant. I can say, man, you ask, well, what is all the significance? And I say, well, it is significant.

46:24 It is significant. This indicates that true wisdom is never a purely intellectual exercise, although the intellect is involved in putting wisdom into practice. God must give this wisdom as we ask for it, as he did for Joseph. It's interesting.

46:39 Act seven in verse nine, very close to our act six and verse three. Concerning Joseph, but God was with him and delivered him out of all of his troubles, and God gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh. God gave it to him. My brother spoke in the introduction of of how there are times the end of the deacons being the Lord's been with us.

47:01 He's heard our prayer at the beginning and he's given us help. And we would then you a lot to say at those times, not man, we got the wisest deacon board this side of the Mississippi. No, but with Daniel, you say, let's be the name of God forever and ever for wisdom and might are his. He gives wisdom to the wise.

47:27 There is that which God must do, but there is that which we must do in seeking for this wisdom. Further, E we must seek for wisdom from God's book. So 19 in verse seven, the law of the Lord is perfect. Converting the soul of the testimony of the Lord.

47:44 That's the scriptures is sure. Making wise the simple. Well, I'm a little short on wisdom. Where are you going to get it?

47:51 You're going to get it from God's book. Paul to Timothy that from childhood, you've known the holy scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation. Colossians three in verse 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another.

48:07 And it's a question as to whether or not the in all wisdom. Is that the way in which the word comes to you? Or is it the way in which you admonish and teach others? And there's a sense which it doesn't matter.

48:18 The word of Christ has got to dwell in your richly. If you're going to have that wisdom, how are you and I going to grow in this without daily reading, study and meditation in God's fairly safe and walking up to any one of you gentlemen as a deacon and say, I know the will of God for you. God wants you to be wise. God wants you to be in his book.

48:50 And as we heard last night, not just in the standard of the normal, devotional life of the people of God, but you are to be men who are marked by wisdom. You got a basket that's full of bread. You got a man that's full of leprosy. And we want men who are full of wisdom.

49:09 And how are they going to get it from the book? We helps our recommend wisdom for today's issues. And all this is, is the book of Proverbs put in topical categories, some 30, 40 categories. You will learn about the fool.

49:27 All the verses on the fool, right? There you won't learn about giving. It's right there. Proverbs by Derek Kidner, some eight categories of topical arrangement here, the practice of wisdom, a topical guide to the proverbs.

49:41 Pastor Martin's recommendation to some of us years ago, a proverb a day, chapter one on day one of the month today will be the 26th chapter. And brethren, if one of you would want to take one of these books and read this and record, if you got a decent, reading voice and provide us with a CD, that is only the proverbs arranged topically. I'm telling you that there's one copy already sold right here. I'll take it.

50:12 I would appreciate F. We must seek wisdom by wise and godly friendships receiving reproof from these friends. The key text is Proverbs 1320. He walks with the wise will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

50:30 Proverbs 1920. We've heard this before. Listen to counsel and receive instruction that you may be wise in your latter days. Well, won't I be smarter?

50:40 Won't I be wiser if I simply make my own decisions? Yeah, I have to work through it and I suffer the content. I'll be wise. I just stick on my own.

50:48 Why, if I let somebody else help me make the decision, how's that going to increase my wisdom? Well, even in the business world, several heads are better than one. And if you hang out with the wise, you can begin to think. Now, if I went, and asked brother such and such about this, I can almost predict that he's going to say this and this and this, and he's going to approach it from this angle.

51:13 So what are we learning when we hang out with the wise? We're not only learning the specific answer or a specific direction, but we're learning wisdom as to how to approach the problem. And so if you'll hang out with these guys, you'll actually increase your wisdom. My self made man, deacon friend, get over your independence.

51:40 Do you never seek counsel? It is to your detriment to limit yourself to yourself. Proverbs 10, verse eight, the wise and heart will receive commands, but a prating fool will fall. 1215.

51:57 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. Proverbs 15, 12, a scoffer does not love the one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise. And if someone slipped into the, the act will office without being willing to get advice. Then here's a word of direction for you.

52:22 The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a full. All right. Give us a brother.

52:33 I have one thing to say to you. Please understand. And this is what it is book, book, book, book over and done. God takes it to heart.

52:41 It changes. You bring the fool up. And say, this is what we're trying to tell you. Boom, boom.

52:51 A hundred times. And you walk away and say, all right, which one's going to be more effective? This one.

Hindrances to Wisdom: Self-Centeredness, Unrestrained Speech, and Foolish Companionship

52:59 Because what was in his heart?

53:03 Fourthly, and here just very quickly, what chiefly hinders wisdom? We want deacons who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. What is chiefly going to hinder it? First of all, a self-centered impulsiveness.

53:18 A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident. What's the mark of the fool? He's self-confident. 12.15.

53:29 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. Why would I need to seek counsel? I already know what to do. 21.5.

53:35 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty surely to poverty.

53:43 22.3. A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself. But the simple pass on and are punished.

53:51 You and I need to develop this mindset that if I do this, then this may happen. What if I do this? Then this is going to happen. And we consider those consequences.

54:03 Oh, I'm glad I thought of that before I did it. Let me hide myself from that. But sometimes there's a tendency. Oh, that's a good idea.

54:15 I want to do it. I want to do it now.

54:19 And if we have no time. Take counsel. And if we have no desire to take counsel, it will be a major stumbling block to your brothers developing in wisdom. But then secondly, be there was a hindrance of an unrestrained speech.

54:37 29.20. Do you see a man hasty in his words? There's more hope for a fool than for him.

54:44 18.2. A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart. Are you talking?

54:52 So much that it hinders your listening.

54:56 What's going to be one of the marks of a man who is full of the Holy Spirit and full of wisdom?

55:02 He's not talking 100 miles an hour. A deacon who is always talking is hurting himself and his church.

55:14 What demands when the balance of wisdom is made on your personality?

55:21 Does the balance of wisdom come and say, brother, you need to be more quiet. You need to be asking more. Questions or does the balance of wisdom come to you and said, brother, you need to speak up a little bit.

55:36 You need to consider how you say what you say, but you go ahead and speak up a little bit.

55:42 But then thirdly, see hindrances. What will hinder a growth in wisdom? A comfortable companionship with fools. Proverbs 13.20.

55:54 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. I believe it was in Massachusetts. I just saw on the news here this last week of a 16. Year old girl and her what 17 year old cousin that worked with her and they killed the parents up there.

56:11 And just seeing the pictures, you thought, how much did this cousin, this male cousin influence this girl?

56:19 Now, it's not part of wisdom for me to jump to any conclusions on that. But you see it with Jonadab and Amnon. One counsels the companion of fools will be destroyed. Proverbs 14 says, go from the presence of a foolish man when you do not perceive in him.

56:36 The lips of knowledge.

56:40 And someone could say, so why is he telling us we're members of churches? We're members of reformed churches.

56:47 What's he talking about? Our friends.

56:51 Well, what about your TV and your movie friends?

56:57 Do you discern wisdom in them? When you don't discern wisdom, we need to walk away from them. Would you say that God is making something beautiful out of the lives of your TV? And movie friends, but certainly be careful how much time we spend, go from the presence of the foolish man when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge because they influence us.

Hindrances to Wisdom: Arrogant Ignorance of God's Word and Concluding Exhortation

57:25 Brother, fourthly, D, what will hinder an arrogant ignorance of God's word? Proverbs 10, 14. Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Proverbs 120.

57:41 Wisdom calls aloud outside. She raises her voice in the open squares. She cries. She cries out in the chief concourses at the openings of the gates in the city.

57:51 She speaks her words. How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorners and fools hate knowledge. Turn at my rebuke.

58:00 Surely I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.

58:07 You have a whole inspired book that is calling out to you and me saying, come in and banquet with me. And I'll tell you what's going on. I'll give you understanding. I'll give you wisdom.

58:25 And remember those words of our savior.

58:29 Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine and does that, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house.

58:44 You and I need to build on the rock of Jesus. Say, are you a marked man full of bread, full of leprosy, full of wisdom? It's evident. You and I can see it.

59:03 Are you marked by that? Well, this morning, are you feeling a little bit more like the boy feeling small and like a boy among men, like young Solomon, overwhelmed by his God given responsibilities? If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally with our approach and it will be given to him.

59:37 Bless our God for his. Kindness and his mercy to us. Father, make us to be wise as penitents.

59:51 Give us skill in living in your world, confessing and forsaking our sins as David.

59:59 Help us to derive wisdom from your books so that we will know the decisions to make. We'll understand human nature right. That we'll have some measure of access and accomplishing that which we desire for ourselves, for our families, for the church. And we pray our God that you'd give us.

60:19 Wisdom, even in the communication of our council, that we would truly believe and increasingly live out that proverb that would speak of how sweetness of speech increases learning. Our God, show us mercy. Help us to see the areas of hindrance that are yet too dominant in our own lives. And give us the grace, Lord, to walk away from our friends who do not possess wisdom.

60:52 Give us hope. We thank you, Lord, for this tremendously kind encouragement that you promised to give us wisdom if we will but ask. That you'll give it to us liberally. Lord, we pray for it.

61:04 In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.