The Principle Thing!
Our Text: 2 Chronicles 1:7-12
"On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?" And Solomon said to God:"You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. "Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. "Now give me wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of yours?" And God said to Solomon:"Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life - but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king-"wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."
The Lord shown me TWO things that he is about to increase in the True Body of Christ:
1. WISDOM
2. FAVOR
- I believe with all my heart that these are the two most important ingredients that will bring the greatest years that we have ever seen!
JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52
JESUS GREW IN WISDOM:
This is the Intellectual Development.
- As you can see, Jesus exemplified the epitome of intelligence when He confronted the teachers, masters of the Law of His day, the Pharisees, and everyone who wanted to test His knowledge as a recognized Teacher of His day. They were amazed and astonished with His answers.
JESUS GREW IN FAVOR WITH MEN:
This is the Social Dimension.
- As we mature in our walk with Jesus, notice that the circle of unbelieving friends in our life become smaller. Is this good? No, we must function like Jesus. He always came in contact with sinners, healing the sick and oppressed, teaching and telling about the Kingdom of heaven. Was He not branded to be a friend of sinners and the gluttons, and drunkards, and prostitutes and lepers?
JESUS GREW IN FAVOR WITH GOD:
This is the Spiritual Development.
- This aspect of your life is part of a larger process. Jesus said it very clearly in Matthew 6:33 -" But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
YOUR UPGRADE IS ALREADY HERE, IT'S NOW TIME TO WALK IN IT!
I. WISDOM
- 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7
- "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8
1. What is the principal thing?
- Not tongues
- Not baptism of the spirit
- Not soul winning
- Not money
- Not fellowship
- Not having a great marriage
- Not having a successful business
- All of these are important, but still not the "principal" thing according to Scripture.
The MAIN thing is the PRINCIPAL thing: WISDOM
2. What is wisdom?
- The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight. Common sense; good judgment. The sum of learning through the ages; knowledge. The Fear of the Lord.
Wisdom has two parts here:
1) One - is knowing what God wants
2) Two - is doing what God wants.
It's not enough to give mental accent to the truth, but to put that truth into action moves me to the wisdom of God.
- Not just "common sense"
- Not just "book smarts"
- "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. "James 3:13
Godly Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge.
- You gain knowledge by looking around; you gain wisdom by looking up.
- "Wisdom is the God-given ability to perceive the true nature of a matter and to implement the will of God in that matter".
3. Why is it so important?
- Knowledge without wisdom leads to chaos and all kinds of problems. We've all known people who are very smart and intelligent who were unable to carry out the simplest of tasks. They can run computers, but cannot run their own lives. Man can build a rocket and fire it to the moon, but he has yet to figure out how to keep a teenager off of drugs, or a man from beating his wife.
Here's why - God's reality and Man's reality are often very different.
4. Consider the Value of Wisdom
Wisdom is greater than:
A. Monetary Power.
- "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Proverbs 3:13-17
People don't have a money problem today, people have a wisdom problem.
- You can have all the money in the world, but if you don't know why you have the money, it will destroy you.
- Natural wisdom says to tithe only if you feel like it, only if there's enough left over to do all the things you want to do.
- Spiritual wisdom says it's a command, it's a trust issue, and it's the right thing to do no matter how you feel.
THINK ABOUT THIS -
Experts have studied the histories of past lottery winners and have discovered that an alarming number of them went bankrupt. These studies revealed that many lottery winners lacked the experience and knowledge to handle a sudden increase in wealth. Unable to cope, they mismanaged their resources till they ran dry:
Some Lottery Winners Who Splurged Their Lottery Payments:
* Evelyn Adams won the NJ lottery twice (1985, 1986), but was unable to save and now lives in a trailer.
* William Post won $16.2M in the PA lottery in 1988, but now lives on his Social Security.
* Suzanne Mullins won $4.2M in the VA lottery in 1993, but is now deeply in debt.
* Ken Proxmire won $1M in the MI lottery and within five years filed for bankruptcy.
* Willie Hurt of Lansing, MI won $3.1M in 1989 and ended up broke and charged with murder two years later.
* Charles Riddle of Belleville, MI won $1M in 1975 and had a life troubled by divorce, lawsuits and drug dealing.
* Janite Lee of Missouri won $18M in 1993 and, according to published reports, only has $700 left in two bank accounts and no cash on hand.
* A Southeastern family won $4.2M in the early 90s, bought a huge house and unthinkingly kept helping family members pay off debts till nothing was left of their winnings.
B. Greater than Military Power.
- "I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me. There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good." Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
What we need in Washington DC is not more "Power" of might, but of Mighty Power of Almighty God who gives wisdom.
C. Greater than Mental Power.
- "He also taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you." Proverbs 4:4-9
Wisdom and knowledge are linked together, but not the same. They are two different words.
How do you get this kind of mental power?
Step One:
A Right relationship with a Person.
- People have said that if they could just go to some mountain top and sit at the feet of some wise man, then they will gain wisdom. Many have tried and failed.
What person?
- We all need coaches, mentors. But the best is living inside you right now. He has a name, Jesus Christ!
- "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." 1 Corinthians 1:30
- "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God" being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully." Colossians 1:9-11
Some of the smartest people in the world will end up in Hell, because they were not wise enough to do the simplest thing? Give their heart to Jesus.
Step Two:
A Right relationship with a Book.
- "How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. " Psalm 119:103-10
- "I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." Job 23:12
- "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty." Jeremiah 15:16
Have you ever just wanted to talk to the author of a book you were reading? How about a How-to book? You have the author of the Bible living inside of you.
- "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16
Be Blessed!
Brother Ron
