Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher - Jim Rickard Tuesday, July 9, 2013

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.— Amen.

The Book of Proverbs Chapter 8 Wisdom’s Benefits, Part 1

III. Second Exhortation: Choose wisdom above all else, 8: Reason: Wisdom is most valuable, 8: Reason: Wisdom has immediate benefits, 8: Reason: Wisdom’s origin, antiquity and work, 8:22-31.

Nine Categories of Benefits! 1. Dwelling in Prudence and Discretion, Vs. 12.

Being wise in handling practical matters, exercising good judgment or common sense; the capacity for judging in advance the probable results to your actions.

The rest of your life always lies in the future, and future success depends on effective present planning.

2. Hating Evil, Vs. 13. This should be your attitude toward evil and Satan’s Cosmic System, versus loving it or embracing it.

Pride is morally wrong presumption and defiant arrogance, a self-confident attitude that throws off God’s rule to pursue selfish interests, cf. Prov 16:19; 29:23.

Arrogance destroys a relationship with the Lord, perverts order, and leads to unethical behavior against one’s neighbor, cf. Job 35:12; Psa 10:2; 17:10; 73:6; 140:5.

Deut 32:20, “Then He said, ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be; for they are a perverse generation, sons in whom is no faithfulness.”

3. Counsel to make courageous decisions, Vs. 14.

Four benefits of wisdom, “counsel, sound wisdom, understanding and power.” As owner of these virtues she can bestow them on those who love her.

“Heroic strength” 1) “Valor” in warfare, (i.e., we are all part of the spiritual warfare of the Angelic Conflict), brave, capable of confronting fearsome adversaries.

2) Capability, or of qualification and therefore “valor”, cf. Micah 3:8.

Micah 3:8, “On the other hand I am filled with power - with the Spirit of the LORD - and with justice and courage (GEBURAH) to make known to Jacob his rebellious act, even to Israel his sin.”

In Job 12:13; Isa 9:6; 11:2, our Lord has these four characteristics and is therefore a benefit to our lives as “wisdom” is the mind of Christ, 1 Cor 2:16.

Job 12:13, “With Him are wisdom and might; to Him belong counsel and understanding.”

Isa 9:6, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isa 11:2, “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.”

1 Cor 1:30, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”

4. Rulership over your soul, Vs

Wisdom is indispensable to good government since she is the source of all good advice, fruitful planning, insight and strength.

Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords, 1 Tim 6:15; Rev 17:14; 19:16.

This benefit is how to live as a king inside the Royal Family of God, which includes the Royal Family Honor Code.

James 2:8, “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.”

Grace Fellowship Church Tuesday July 9, 2013 Tape # Proverbs Chapter 7 Wisdom’s Benefit, Part 1 Prov 8:112-16; Job 12:13; Isa 9:6; 11:2; Micah 3:8; 1 Cor 1:30 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2013