yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:3-5

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The book of Proverbs is called the book of Wisdom and rightly so. It is filled with practical wisdom for life.  Pastor John MacArthur in his introduction to Proverbs said this:

Proverbs is Wisdom literature, by nature it is sometimes difficult to understand (1:6). Wisdom literature is part of the whole of OT truth; the Priest gave the Law, the Prophet gave a Word from the Lord, and the Sage (or wise man) gave his wise Counsel (Jer. 18:18; Ezek. 7:26).

In Proverbs, Solomon the Sage gives insight into the “knotty” issues of life (Prov. 1:6) that are not directly addressed in the Law or the Prophets. Though it is practical, Proverbs is not superficial or external because it contains moral and ethical elements stressing upright living that flow out of a right relationship with God.

For many years now, I have read a chapter of Proverbs a day, what I call the “Proverbs for the day”. That is, on the first day of the month, I read Proverbs chapter 1, on the second day, chapter 2, you get the idea.  Today, I would like to share some of my thoughts on the topic of Wisdom, thoughts I gleaned from Proverbs chapter 2.  I will explore the following very briefly: what Wisdom is, how to get it, why we need it and the ultimate purpose of wisdom.  

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While we get the general sense of what constitutes wisdom in Proverbs chapter 2, the chapter itself does not contain a definition, the writer assumes his readers already know what it is.  However, as we read the Bible, we find that there are two definitions of wisdom. I will give the first definite here, the second will appear at the end of this write up.  In both definitions, we will find that wisdom is not a matter of intellect, but a matter of the heart. Here is the first definition in a nutshell; wisdom is the ability to take the knowledge of God’s word and put it into everyday living.  The ability to rightly apply God’s word to every circumstance and situation in life is wisdom.

I identified three ways in Proverbs 2: 1-6 how one can get wisdom. They are:

1. From receiving and treasuring God’s Words
2. By earnestly calling out for it 
3. By revelation from God

Proverbs 2:1-2 says My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding.

The first way to receive Wisdom here is from God’s Words. It is not enough to listen to the Word, or read the Word or be taught the Word, we must receive it, this means we must take possession of it and obey it.  One takes possession of God’s Word by faith with a desire to obey. Once we take possession of it, we must treasure it, that means placing a high value on it. Whatever we treasure, we guard, defend, and live for. 

To live wisely is to live with the ability to separate the good from the bad as well as the good from the almost good.

The second way we get wisdom is by earnestly calling out for it. Proverbs 2:3-4 – yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,

The picture that came to mind when I read the text of verse 3 was one of a search party. When search parties go out looking for a missing person, they usually call out the name of the missing person as they are search. This is not a casual playful call, but a serious and earnest call, a call they hope will result in finding the missing person. In the same way, in seeking wisdom, we are to earnestly call out to God in prayer. 

Not only do we pray earnestly for it, but verse also 4 tells us to search for it like silver and hidden treasures, this means we have to expend some effort into the search.  No one gets silver by picking it up from the beach. Silver is mined and like all precious stones, requires hard work. This is not a one-day search, with wisdom, it is a search for a lifetime. A lifetime of digging deep by praying, studying, sitting under godly teaching and spending time in the company of those who are spiritually wise.  Just like searching for treasure, persistence and patience will be our key to success.  We get wisdom by earnest prayer and effort (persistence).

Lastly, wisdom comes only by revelation of God. When we receive and treasure God’s word in our hearts, earnestly calling out to God in prayer and making every effort to dig deep through His word in search of wisdom, then and only then will we begin to understand what it means to fear (reverence) God, for it is in the fear of God that we find wisdom. according to Proverbs 2:5-6, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  We also find this in Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Verses 7-19 of Proverbs chapter 2 lays out two man reasons why we need wisdom. They are:

1. To Know How to Live
2. For our protection

Earlier on, I defined Wisdom as the ability to take the knowledge of God’s word and use it in everyday practical living, another name for that ability is discernment.  Along with wisdom comes discernment. You cannot have one without the other. To live wisely is to live with the ability to separate the good from the bad as well as the good from the almost good. We need discernment to live out the Christian life.

Verses 9-10 tells us that wisdom brings along with it an understanding of righteousness, justice, equity and every good work. Righteousness is to be in right standing before God. It synonymous with justification. Justice is rendering to everyone their proper due. Equity means impartiality.  We can only properly determine what is righteous, just and equitable when we come into a full knowledge of the Word of God.

The result of all of this will be discernment which is translated as discretion in the ESV calls it. Verse 11 says discretion will watch over you and understanding will guard you. Discernment is a sign of spiritual maturity. Godly wisdom gives us the spiritual maturity needed  to discern what is needful and what is not. It guards us again error.   Ephesians 4:13-14 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

 We need discretion or discernment to be able to live a life that pleases God and to be protected (guarded) from error. The ability to discern not only shows maturity, but also keeps us away from evil and ungodly people. These are the ungodly who forsake the paths of uprightness, walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil, delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. Included in the ungodly that wisdom protects us from is the sexually immoral and adulteress.

Knowing what wisdom is, why we need and how we get it leads us to its purpose. What is the purpose of wisdom in a believer’s life?  We only need wisdom to live here on earth, we won’t need it in heaven. Verses 19-21 shows that the purpose of wisdom is to set us up on the path to eternity. To help prepare us for heaven. Matthew Henry sums it up beautifully when he said:

The righteous must leave the earth as well as the wicked; but the earth is a very different thing to them. To the wicked it is all the heaven they ever shall have; to the righteous it is the place of preparation for heaven.

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None of the above will be possible without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Which leads us to the second definition of wisdom – Wisdom is a person; His name is Jesus. 

I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion……..The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. – Proverbs 8:12, 22-23

but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. –1 Corinthians 1:24

…to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2b-3

When we connect both definitions of wisdom together, we come to understand that wisdom is eternal and can only come from God and that the heart is the seat of wisdom.

Wisdom is calling out to us today, what will your response be? – My son, give me your heart,and let your eyes observe my ways.- Proverbs 23:26

Soli Deo Gloria!

 

Thou art worthy to be
praised with my every breath,
loved with my every faculty of soul,
served with my every act of life.

 

I haven’t shared a puritan prayer here in a while, so I thought I’d share this.  This prayer is titled “Regeneration” and can be found on page 84 in the book “The Valley of Vision”.

This is prayer of praise to the Lord for the salvation of our souls as well as a prayer to walk worthy of God’s calling on our lives

O GOD OF THE HIGHEST HEAVEN,

Occupy the throne of my heart,
take full possession and reign supreme,
lay low every rebel lust,
let no vile passion resist thy holy war;
manifest thy mighty power,
and make me thine for ever.

Thou art worthy to be
praised with my every breath,
loved with my every faculty of soul,
served with my every act of life.

Thou hast loved me, espoused me, received me,
purchased, washed, favoured, clothed,
adorned me,
when I was worthless, vile, soiled, polluted.

I was dead in iniquities,
having no eyes to see thee,
no ears to hear thee,
no taste to relish thy joys,
no intelligence to know thee;

But thy Spirit has quickened me,
has brought me into a new world as a
new creature,
has given me spiritual perception,
has opened to me thy Word as light, guide,
solace, joy.

Thy presence is to me a treasure of unending peace;
No provocation can part me from thy sympathy,
for thou hast drawn me with cords of love,
and dost forgive me daily, hourly.

O help me then to walk worthy of thy love,
of my hopes, and my vocation.

Keep me, for I cannot keep myself;
Protect me that no evil befall me;
Let me lay aside every sin admired of many;
Help me to walk by thy side, lean on thy arm,
hold converse with thee,
That henceforth I may be salt of the earth
and a blessing to all.

Amen

 

Soli Deo Gloria!

 

We are commanded to give thanks:

IN everything  : 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  as well as  FOR everything :  Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

 

Thanksgiving flows from a grateful and humble heart.  As we join others in setting out aside a day to give thanks, I would like to share with some quotes on thanksgiving from two of my favorite teachers of old – Thomas Watson and JC Ryle.

 

Thanksgiving is a more noble part of God’s worship. Our needs may send us to prayer, but it takes a truly honest heart to praise God.

 

In petition we act like men; in thanksgiving we act like angels.

 

Thanksgiving is a God-exalting work “Whoever offers praise glorifies me” (Psalm 50:23). Though nothing can add the least mite to God’s essential glory—yet praise exalts him in the eyes of others.

 

Praise is a setting forth of God’s honor, a lifting up of his name, a displaying of the trophy of his goodness, a proclaiming of his excellence, a spreading of his renown, a breaking open of the box of ointment, whereby the sweet fragrance of God’s name is sent abroad into the world.  

– Thomas Watson

 

The wide-spread thanklessness of Christians is the disgrace of our day.  It is a plain proof of our little humility. Let us pray for a daily thankful spirit. It is the spirit which God loves and delights to honor. David and Paul were eminently thankful men.

 

It is the spirit which has marked all the brightest saints in every age of the church. McCheyne, and Bickersteth, and Haldane Stewart, were always full of praise.  It is the spirit which is the very atmosphere of heaven. Angels and “just men made perfect” are always blessing God. It is the spirit which is the source of happiness on earth.

 

If we would be anxious for nothing, we must make our requests known to God not only with prayer and supplication, but with thanksgiving. (Phil. 4:6.)  Above all, let us pray for a deeper sense of our own sinfulness, guilt, and undeserving. This, after all, is the true secret of a thankful spirit.  It is the man who daily feels his debt to grace, and daily remembers that in reality he deserves nothing but hell — this is the man who will be daily blessing and praising God.

 

Thankfulness is a flower which will never bloom well excepting upon a root of deep humility!

– JC Ryle

 

Psalms 107:1
 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all

 

Once more I repeat, if men would only study with attention the Bible and the History of the Reformation, I should have little fear of their “minds being led astray from their sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 

 

Last week, I began a two part series on what the reformation is and why we should care.  I mentioned that the reformation came about because men like Luther, Zwingli and others wanted to address some of the false teaching within the Roman catholic church.  It should be noted that Luther did not want to break away from the Catholic Church, he just wanted to reform it.  He later found out that reforming the church was impossible, so he and others eventually broke away. 

After the break up, the reformers saw the need to distinguish their teachings and beliefs from that of the Catholic Church. To put it in simples terms, they came up with what is known as the “Five Solas”:

1. Sola scriptura: “Scripture alone”
2. Sola fide: “faith alone”
3. Sola gratia: “grace alone”
4. Solo Christo: “Christ alone”
5. Soli Deo gloria: “to the glory of God alone”

Sola is a latin word that means “alone”. Latin was the language of their day. More on the “Five Solas” here

Last week, I shared the first of a two part series by Dr. RC Sproul on the reformation. This week, we will listen to part of the message.

False doctrine has plagued the Church since it’s inception. The NT books of Galatians and Colossians were written to address false doctrines within the Church. It is no different in our day. How do we arm ourselves against false doctrine?  JC Ryle explains:

 

JC Ryle in his book “Warnings to the Churches” suggested two ways to arm ourselves against false teaching: First, study the Bible and second, learn the history of the reformation. He put it this way:

(1) Let us read our Bibles from beginning to end with daily diligence, and constant prayer for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and so strive to become thoroughly familiar with their contents. Ignorance of the Bible is the root of all error, and a superficial acquaintance with it accounts for many of the sad perversions and defections of the present day. 

In a hurrying age of travel and communication, I am firmly persuaded that many Christians do not give time enough to private reading of the Scriptures. I believe seriously that English people knew their Bibles better two hundred years ago than they do now. The consequence is, that they are “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching,” and fall an easy prey to the first clever teacher of error who tries to influence their minds.

 I entreat my readers to remember this counsel, and take heed to their ways. It is as true now as ever, that the person who is versed in, or adheres strictly to, the text of the Bible, is the only good theologian, and that a familiarity with great Scriptures, is, as our Lord proved in the temptation, one of the best safeguards against error.  Arm yourself then with the sword of the Spirit, and let your hand become used to it.

I am well aware that there is no royal road to Bible-knowledge.  Without diligence and pains no one ever becomes “mighty in the Scriptures.” “Justification,” said Charles Simeon, with his characteristic quaintness, “is by faith, but knowledge of the Bible comes by works,” But of one thing I am certain: there is no labor which will be so richly repaid as laborious regular daily study of God’s Word. 

(2) The second and last counsel which I venture to offer is this. “Let us make ourselves thoroughly acquainted with the history of the Reformation.” My reason for offering this counsel is my firm conviction that this highly important part of history has of late years been undeservedly neglected. 

Thousands of Christians nowadays have a most inadequate notion of the amount of our debt to our martyred Reformers. They have no distinct conception of the state of darkness and superstition in which our fathers lived, and of the light and liberty which the Reformation brought in. And the consequence is that they see no great harm in the Roman Catholic movement of the present day, and have very indistinct ideas of the real nature and work of Catholicism. It is high time that a better state of things should begin. 

Of one thing I am thoroughly convinced: a vast amount of the prevailing apathy about the Romanizing movement of the day may be traced up to gross ignorance, both of the true nature of Catholicism and of the Protestant Reformation. Ignorance, after all, is one of the best friends of false doctrine. More light is one of the great wants of the day, even in our century. Thousands are led astray by Catholicism or infidelity from sheer want of reading and information.

Once more I repeat, if men would only study with attention the Bible and the History of the Reformation, I should have little fear of their “minds being led astray from their sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 

Emphasis mine.

In 2017, the 500th anniversary of the reformation was celebrated by Christians all over the world. You can watch the celebration conference by ligonier ministries here :

Reformation 500 Celebration

Soli Deo Gloria!

 

The quote above is part of the famous speech given by Martin Luther in defense of his protest against the catholic church at the Imperial Diet of Worms (both are german words pronounced ‘deet of vorms’) on April 18, 1521.

Reformation day is celebrated on October 31, on the Church calendar.  If you are a Christian, you have probably heard of haloween, but have you heard of the protestant reformation? Did you know there was a connection between haloween and the reformation? Surprised?  

According to Wikipedia, “Reformation Day is a Protestant Christian religious holiday celebrated on 31 October, alongside All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) during the triduum of Allhallowtide, in remembrance of the onset of the Reformation.”

If you are like me, you probably never heard of the protestant reformation growing up, neither was it ever talked about nor celebrated in your church. This is really sad indeed  There are probably millions of Christians around the world who have never heard and know nothing about the reformation.  

Just at the same time the culture will be celebrating halloween, the  church will be celebrating the  reformation,. Both are celebrated on October the 31st. What exactly is the reformation and why should we care?

From gotquestions.org : “The Protestant Reformation was a widespread theological revolt in Europe against the abuses and totalitarian control of the Roman Catholic Church. Reformers such as Martin Luther in Germany, Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland, and John Calvin in France protested various unbiblical practices of the Catholic Church and promoted a return to sound biblical doctrine. The precipitating event of the Protestant Reformation is generally considered to be Luther’s posting of his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church on October 31, 1517.”

The men of the reformation were willing to die for their faith and indeed  many were killed, burned at the stake.  Outside of the God’s word itself –  the Bible, the reformation is one of most important event in Christian history.  

What was it that drove them to risk their lives in such a manner?  In order to learn how the reformation came about and what it is, I have decided to share the two part series by the late Dr. RC Sproul.  As always, he does a masterful job of explaining what the reformation is and it’s importance. I will share part 1 this week and Part 2 next week.

Soli Deo Gloria!

You may weep under preaching one day, and be lifted to the third heaven by joyous excitement another day, and yet be dead to God.

 

Your religion, if it is authentic, and given by the Holy Spirit,

must be in your heart.

It must hold the reins.

It must sway the affections.

It must lead the will.

It must direct the tastes.

It must influence the choices and decisions.

It must fill the deepest, lowest, inmost seat in your soul.

Is this your religion?

– JC Ryle –  Practical Religion

 

In a day like this, when hearing and thinking without doing, is so common, no one can rightly wonder that I press upon men the absolute need of self-examination.  Once more, then, I ask my readers to consider the question of my text, “How is it with our souls?”

 

Let me ask, in the third place, whether we are trying to satisfy our consciences with a mere formal religion?

 

There are myriads at this moment who are making shipwreck on this rock. Like the Pharisees of old, they make much ado about the outward part of Christianity, while the inward and spiritual part is totally neglected.

 

– J.C. Ryle – Practical Religion

 

If you follow me on twitter, you will know that one of my all time favorite Christian author and theologian is JC Ryle. I call him my bishop. Every morning on my twitter account, I tweet the proverbs for the day, some other scripture verses and JC Ryle.  Bishop Ryle was a master theologian and a prolific writer.  Some of His famous works are:

• Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots
• Practical Religion
• Commentary on the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John)
• The Cross
• Knots Untied
• Repentance
• A Call to Prayer
• Thoughts for Young Men
• The Duties of Parents

All his works are truly a gift to the body of Christ. His work on holiness, practical religion and commentaries on the gospel are by far my favorites.  Honestly, I love all of his works, they are all my favorites.  A modern preacher that compares to JC Ryle today would be John MacArthur. Both are similar in their love for scripture, in-depth  knowledge of the word and boldness in proclaiming the gospel.

Over the next several weeks, I intend to share some quotes from his works on this blog. First let me introduce you to the man I call my bishop.

John Charles Ryle (1816-1900) was born in Macclesfield, England the son of a wealthy banker. He was headed for a career in politics before being called into the ministry. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford where he was an athlete who rowed and played Cricket. He was offered a teaching position, which he declined.

He was spiritually awakened in 1838 while hearing Ephesians 2 read in church. He was ordained by Bishop Sumner at Winchester in 1842. After holding a curacy at Exbury in Hampshire, he became rector of St Thomas’s, Winchester (1843), rector of Helmingham, Suffolk (1844), vicar of Stradbroke (1861), honorary canon of Norwich (1872), and dean of Salisbury (1880).

In 1880, at age 64, he became the first bishop of Liverpool, at the recommendation of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. In his diocese, he formed a clergy pension fund for his diocese and built over forty churches. Controversially, he emphasized raising clergy salaries ahead of building a cathedral for his new diocese. He retired in 1900 at age 83 and died later the same year. He is buried in the All Saints’ Church, Childwall, Liverpool.

Ryle was a strong supporter of the evangelical school and a critic of ritualism. J.C. Ryle was a prolific writer, vigorous preacher, faithful pastor, husband of three wives, [widowed three times: Matilda died in 1847, Jessie died in 1860, Henrietta died in 1889] and the father to five children [1 with Matilta and 4 with Jessie]. He was thoroughly evangelical in his doctrine and uncompromising in his Biblical principles.

 

But it does cost something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible.

 

There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, an Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, a race to be run.

 

Conversion is not putting a man in an arm-chair and taking him easily to heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict, in which it costs much to win the victory. Hence arises the unspeakable importance of “counting the cost.”…………….

 

Surely a Christian should be willing to give up anything which stands between him and heaven.

 

A religion that costs nothing is worth nothing! A cheap Christianity, without a cross, will prove in the end a useless Christianity, without a crown.

 

– JC Ryle – Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots

Niceness is not Christian love and cannot be because niceness is self-focused and based on feelings. The Bible does not call us to be nice, but to be kind. Kindness is born out of the pursuit of holiness. Where the Holy Spirit is, Truth prevails.

Continue reading →

 

Unmask to me sin’s deformity,
that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it.

 

The Valley of Vision is a gift and a treasure to the body of Christ. I will be forever grateful to Christins in days gone by who took the time to write down their heart felt prayers.

As Christians, we sometimes underestimate the power of sin over our lives. While we are victorious in Christ, we still have to contend with the world, the flesh and the devil daily.  Sin is deceitful and comes in very subtle ways. Until we understand the power and deceitfulness of sin, we will not be able to truly live victoriously.

This prayer “Yet I Sin” can be found on page 124. It is a prayer of confession, repentance, and a cry to be made more like Jesus.  

 

ETERNAL FATHER,

Thou art good beyond all thought,
But I am vile, wretched, miserable, blind;
My lips are ready to confess,
but my heart is slow to feel,
and my ways reluctant to amend.

I bring my soul to thee;
break it, wound it, bend it, mould it.

My faculties have been a weapon of revolt
against thee;
as a rebel I have misused my strength,
and served the foul adversary of thy kingdom.
Give me grace to bewail my insensate folly,
Grant me to know that the way of transgressors
is hard,
that evil paths are wretched paths,
that to depart from thee is to lose all good.

I have seen the purity and beauty of thy perfect law,
the happiness of those in whose heart it reigns,
the calm dignity of the walk to which it calls,
yet I daily violate and contemn its precepts.
Thy loving Spirit strives within me,
brings me Scripture warnings,
speaks in startling providences,
allures by secret whispers,
yet I choose devices and desires to my own hurt,
impiously resent, grieve,
and provoke him to abandon me.

All these sins I mourn, lament, and for them
cry pardon.

Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief
that trembles and fears,
yet ever trusts and loves,
which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Grant that through the tears of repentance
I may see more clearly the brightness
and glories of the saving cross.

Amen.