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Wisdom’s Call
Finishing Well
I Kings 11
Pastor Tom
1-27-10

Introduction – How does someone so wise end up being deceived?

I. Solomon’s defection – vv.1-8

• A mother’s warning – Proverbs 31:3
• Scripture recounts – Nehemiah 13:26
• 700 wives, 300 concubines, none good- Ecclesiastes 7:28
• Horses first – wives second – Deuteronomy 17:16-17

II. God’s Anger – vv.9-13

• From appearance to displeasure
• Base ingratitude
• Split kingdom

III. God sent enemies – vv.14, 23

• Adversaries in David’s time
• Gave away posterity to Jeroboam – v.31

IV. Too late to change? – vv. 41- 43

• Solomon’s memoir – Ecclesiastes 7:25-26

Conclusion – God’s mercy – Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

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Wisdom’s Call
Watch Our Mouth
Proverbs 18:2, 6-8, 13, 21
James Jackson, Guest Speaker
1-20-10

Introduction: Our mouth can be our greatest weapon or worst enemy… (James 3:3, NLT)

I. Our Mouth Tells On Us (v. 2)

• Fools have trouble keeping their mouth shut
  • Wisdom uses the Word of God to filter our words
  • Fools say whatever comes to their mind
• A wise person knows when to be silent (Proverbs 17:27, NLT)
  • Listening to a person will reveal what they are.
  • Watch out for people who seem to always express their opinions, especially when their opinions are baseless and contradictory.
  • We are known by the company we keep. (Prov. 13:3, NLT)

II. Our Mouth Will Get Us into Trouble

• Our mouth can write a check the rest of our body can’t cash (V. 6)
  • This is physical trouble
  • It is wiser to run then to run your mouth (V 7)
• Our mouth may create a trap we cannot escape
  • This is spiritual trouble, and harder to get away from
  • Don’t make promises you can’t keep (James 5:12, ESV)
• James is quoting Christ’s words from Matthew 5:37
• Christ debunks the idea that swearing on something other than the Lord was an oath that could be broken (Numbers 30:2, NLT) (Ecclesiastes 5:4, ESV)
• People thought an oath would not count if it were sworn upon:
  • • The temple
    • The altar
    • The Gold on the Altar Or Today
    • Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye
    • I swear on my grandmother’s grave
    • I swear on my kid’s life
    • I swear on my mother’s eyes
    • The “Pinky” promise
• When we make a promise as Christians, the Lord will hold us to it

III. Our Mouth Can Create Evil (v8)

• Rumors are stories with unverified or doubtful truth
• Rumors sink deep down and are almost impossible to undo
  • Rumors can create a whirlwind of gossip
  • Rumors constantly change and are usually not based on facts
• Rumors and Gossip are twins
  • Rumors spread like wild fire
  • Rumors and gossip are irresistible to fools, like sweet deserts – “a moment on the lips forever on the hips”
  • Gossip is sinful
  • Gossip is hurtful (Proverbs 16:28, NLT)

IV. Our Mouth Moves Too Quick (v 13)

• It is foolish to give an answer before we have all the facts
• We should be active listeners and give others the same attention we expect

V. Our Mouth Has More Power Than We Think (v. 21)

• The mouth can kill far more people than a sword or gun
  • Hitler killed between 11-17 million people
  • Stalin killed 23 million plus people
  • Mao Ze-Dong killed an astonishing 49-78 million people
• The mouth can bring life when it is energized by the Spirit of God
  • Martin Luther King- (We celebrated his 81st birthday this week)
    • Born January 15th 1929
    • 3rd generation minister
    • His mouth was energized by the Word of God
    • His mouth brought life to countless millions of people

Conclusion: Wisdoms call is to watch our mouth as we live like we are dying. Bless those around us and think before we speak. Don’t let the enemy use our mouth to take advantage of those around us, rather be filled with the Spirit and become a blessing to others.

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Wisdom’s Call
I Thought I Saw a Puddy Cat
Proverbs 27:12 (NLT)
Pastor Tom
1-13-10

Introduction – Life would be easier the second time around but we only get one chance.

I. The wise traveler – v 12a

• He understands that life is connected
• The cause and effect relationship between today’s choice and tomorrows experience
• Appropriate action when danger is ahead

II. The naïve traveler – v.12b

• Lives as though life is disconnected
• They know it’s connected but do not act as if it is – Keep going

III. The difference

• One changes, one does not
• Suffer for being oblivious to the obvious – Proverbs 22:7(NLT)
• Michael Vick

IV. What should I do?

• Take refuge – Action – Be extreme
• What to expect: embarrassment and relief
• Pay now/play later

Conclusion – Change direction, for it determines destination

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Wisdom’s Call
Aligning Intention and Direction
Proverbs 7
Pastor Tom
1-6-10

Introduction – Good intentions do not determine direction: the road I have chosen does.

I. Connecting the Dots

• We do not lose our way purposefully
• We do not know when ‘lost’ happens
• The road we are on determines the destination
• Falsehood – If I have a good heart and intentions, no matter the path I choose, I will end up in a good place.

II. Solomon’s window – vv. 6-7

• Frontal lobe undeveloped until mid-twenties
• Where is he headed: Trouble – vv. 8-9
• How could he not see? – vv.10-12
• Quick to confess, slow to repent – vv.13-15
• The clincher – vv. 16-20

III. True destination – v. 21t

• Ox to the slaughter – v. 22a
• Throwing his future away – vv. 22b-23
• Do not go on that path – vv.24-25
• Many on the highway – vv.26-27

IV. Nothing new

• So and so needs to hear this:
• Are there disconnects between desire and choices?

Conclusion – Take a new road – Proverbs 7:4

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The Hunt for the High Places
Wisdom’s Call
Pastor Cook
December 27, 2009

Introduction: Oops, I missed Minneapolis – II Corinthians 10:4-5

I. Making it personal

• The history
• The condition
• The declaration

II. The high places tolerated

• I and II Kings, II Chronicles
• What is a high place/stronghold?
• The grace side – The mercy side

III. The Results

• A broken heart Psalm 51:17
• The New Covenant – Nehemiah 9:16-17
• The fresh oil – Psalm 92:10b, 12-14
• Life results

Conclusion: Time with God – He is The Path – The Abundance of Rain.