Proverbs: Instruction on How to Live Life in Godly Wisdom

We had Pastor Alan back for a couple of weeks, and he continued his teaching in the Book of Proverbs. Here is the message from Sunday, January 8th. It’s all about knowing what is godly wisdom, and the process of applying that godly wisdom to your life.

To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Alan’s outline with links to Bible Gateway for Scripture references. Enjoy!

Proverbs: Instruction on How to Live Life in Godly Wisdom

1. Godly wisdom involves the learned ability to discern and then apply Godly wisdom to life’s situations and decisions. (Proverbs 4:1-9; James 1:5, 2)
   • There is a difference between common sense and godly widsom
   • You can have knowledge without wisdom, but not wisdom without knowledge
   • Wisdom is applying the knowledge of the Word of God
2. Godly wisdom is always built on the foundation of the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1:7)
   • The fear of the Lord is to acknowledge God’s existence, power, and control
   • We can do nothing apart from Him (James 4:13-17)
3. Godly wisdom is an applied process of ongoing life decisions that bring life, rather than death, into a person’s life. (Proverbs 4:20-23)
   • This process involves at least five parts

The Five Parts

1. Godly wisdom operates within a framework of relationship: specifically, a relationship with Christ.
   • 1 Corinthians 1:22-31
   • Wisdom is found in Christ
2. Godly wisdom calls us to daily repentance (turning).
   • Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor, theologian, martyr, and spy, was asked in 1943 how it was possible for the Church to sit back and let Hitler seize absolute power. His firm answer: “It was the teaching of cheap grace. Cheap grace is the teaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.” We live in a time and culture that not only teaches cheap grace but praises it.
   • Proverbs is a continual call to turn from folly to wisdom. (Proverbs 1:20-33)
   • Proverbs outlines the Seven Deadly Sins to turn from:
     • envy
     • gluttony
     • greed
     • lust
     • pride
     • laziness
     • wrath
   • Proverbs drives home the painful truth that moral neutrality is not a choice!
3. Godly wisdom calls us to review everyday choices.
   • The beginning of a new year is a good time to review where you went wrong before! (Proverbs 5:21-23)
   • God sees all we do, so we need to examine ourselves & make wise changes
4. Godly wisdom calls us to resolve to live a “much more” life.
   • The “Much More” Life according to Romans.
     • We are much more than just justified. Being reconciled to God allows us to live in God (Romans 5:6-11).
     • The much more life is a life of freedom from the destruction of sin’s habitual enslavement (Romans 6:8-11, 15-23).
     • The much more life stands & operates in the grace of God (Romans 5:1-2).
     • The much more life is a life of assurance, not ruled by continual anxiety and fear (Romans 8:37-39).
     • The much more life is living the resurrected life of Christ (Romans 6:4-11).
     • Galatians 2:20
5. Godly wisdom calls for daily renewal by walking in the way of wisdom. (Proverbs 10:17)

We must relate, review, repent, resolve, & renew. It’s the wise way to go!