Probing Through Proverbs

Lesson 25 - The Practice of Wisdom

Friendship

1. Good, Godly Friends Will Make You Better (Proverbs 27:17)

1. Good, Godly Friends Will Support Each Other Through Difficult Times
   1. A godly friend is there when you need them! (Pro. 17:17)
   2. A godly friend will be honest with you!
2. Good, Godly Friends Will Maintain Confidence
   1. If you can’t trust someone, they are not worthy to be your friend!
   2. A real friend will maintain confidence.  And not be false!
3. Good, Godly Friends Must be Cultivated.
   1. It takes observation!
   2. It takes effort!
   3. The Best Friend!

Message on from the Probing Through Proverbs series on the the application of God's wisdom on financial matters to our lives.

Probing Through Proverbs

Lesson 24 - The Practice of Wisdom

Financial Wisdom

1. Put Material Possessions into Perspective
   1. The Source of Material Possessions
      1. Recognize that all blessings come from God, whether they are material or spiritual. (Prov. 10:22)
      2. We live in a material work, therefore material possessions are a part of life.
      3. Material Possessions are not evil in and of themselves.
   2. The Limits of Material Possessions
      1. They are transitory and can easily be lost. (Prov. 23:4-5; 27:24; 20:21)
      2. They have no eternal value (Prov. 11:4, 28)
   3. The Pitfalls of Material Possessions
      1. They can produce conceit and false security (Prov. 11:28; 18:11; 28:11)
      2. They can lead to covetousness and greed (Prov. 27:20, 15:27; 1:10-13, 18-19)
      3. They can lead to a condescending and harsh attitude toward others. (Prov. 18:23; 22:16; 28:8; 13:7)
      4. They can turn your affections from God. (Prov. 30:7-9; 3:31-32; 24:1-2; 23:7)
2. Put Monetary Principles into Practice
   1. The Majestic Principle.
      1. Acknowledge where material blessing comes from! (Prov. 10:22)
      2. Appropriate your material blessing back to God.
         1. Through giving the firstfruits back to Him! (Prov. 3:9-10)
         2. Through giving to others in need. (Prov. 19:17; 28:27; 11:24-25)
      3. Accumulate Treasure in heaven rather than on earth. (Prov. 23:4; Matt. 6:20-21; John 6:27; Prov. 8:18-21)
   2. The Management Principle
      1. Manage what you have (Prov. 27:23-27)
      2. Conserve what you have (Prov. 21:20; 12:27)
      3. Be careful about borrowing (Prov. 22:7; Rom. 13:8; Prov. 22:26)
      4. Leave an Inheritance (Prov. 19:14; 13:22)
   3. The Measurement Principle
      1. The Value of Righteousness (Prov. 16:8; 28:6)
      2. The Value of Wisdom (Prov. 16:16; 8:10-11)
      3. The Value of Peace (Prov. 15:17; 17:1)
      4. The Value of Reputation (Prov. 22:1)

Wednesday evening Bible study at Downeast Baptist Church of Machias, Maine on August 31, 2011.  Taught by Pastor Peter Laitres.  Here is the outline:

1. What is anger?
2. Anger Defined as used in Proverbs
3. Out of Control Anger is the Mark of the Fool!
4. We’re to Stay Away from Angry People
   • Choose your Friends carefully:
   • Choose your Spouse Carefully:
5. Being slow to anger and in control of one’s emotions is the Mark of the Godly.

Year of the Bible

Message 3: The Deficiencies of Science

1 Timothy 6:20-21

1. Only the Bible, Not Science, Can Explain the Creation of the Human Race
   1. Man was made in the image of God
   2. Mankind was a Direct Creation of God, making him:
      1. Accountable to God - Laws in the Garden
      2. Answerable to God - Where Art Thou?
   3. Man is the only creature who is a “living soul.”
2. Only the Bible, Not Science, Can Explain the Curse on the Human Race 
   1. Man’s Understanding is Darkened
   2. Man’s Actions are Flawed
   3. How can Science explain this?
3. Only the Bible, Not Science, Can Explain the Consummation of the Human Race
   1. Death is Sure
   2. Judgment is Coming
   3. Mankind will destroy itself without God’s Intervention
4. Only the Bible, Not Science, Can Explain That Christ Died For the Human Race (1 Cor. 1:18-25)

A look a Proverbs 9 focusing on the comparison of Lady Wisdom's call with the Foolish Woman's Call.
1; The Invitation to Dine at the Feast Of Wisdom (9:1-6)

2. The Instruction to Discern the Foolish from the Wise (9:7-9)

3. The incentive to Decide to Follow Wisdom (9:10-12)

4. The Incitement to Destruction by the Foolish Woman (9:13-18)

Message 1 in the Year of the Bible Series. Message uses Matthew 4:4 as the main text and looks at the Bible in the following ways:
I. The Bible Contains the Very Words of God
II. The Bible is Required for Us to Live For God
III. The Bible is Always Under Satanic Attack

Message 2 in the Year of the Bible series. This message was preached at Downeast Baptist Church of Machias, Maine by Pastor Peter Laitres on August 21, 2011. It uses John 16:12-15 as the main text and takes a look at how Christians are to understand the Bible, focusing on the Holy Spirit's ministry of Illumination.
I. To Understand the Bible, You Must ACCEPT it as the WORD of God
A. It is the INSPIRED Word fo God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
B. It is the INERRANT Word of God (Matt. 5:17-18)
C. It is the INFALLIBLE Word of God (John 3:33; Isa. 55:11)
II. To Understand the Bible, You Must be ILLUMINATED by the SPIRIT of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-13; John 16:13-15)
A. The SPIRIT REVEALS Truth to You (1 Cor. 2:10)
B. The SPIRIT TEACHES Truth to You (John 14:26)
C. The SPIRIT GUIDES You Through the Truth (John 16:13)
III. To Understand the Bible, You Must READ and STUDY the WORD of God DILIGENTLY (2 Timothy 2:15)
A. It is RIGOROUS WORK!
B. It is REWARDING WORK!
C. It is REQUIRED WORK!

The Personifciation of Wisdom - Proverbs 8:1-9:18

1. Wisdom's Call, 8:1-11
2. Wisdom's Rewards, 8:12-21
   1. The Moral Rewards (8:12-13)
      1. Wisdom Considers the Results of Every Work (V. 12)
      2. Wisdom Chooses to Reject Evil Ways (V. 13)
   2. The Monarchal Rewards (8:14-16)
      1. Wisdom is Sufficient (V. 14)
      2. Wisdom is Sovereign (V. 15)
      3. Wisdom is Supreme (V. 16)
   3. The Mutual Rewards (8:17)
   4. The Monetary Rewards (8:18-21)
      1. There is Value (vv. 18-21)
      2. There is Virtue (vv. 18, 20)
      3. There is Vision (V. 21)

Message from John 1:35-51 on how Christians must be faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ. Preached at Downeast Baptist Church of Machias, Maine on July 24, 2011 by Pastor Peter Laitres.

Message from various portions of Scripture looking at the subject of God's Right Hand.

Final message in the Haggai: Completing the Task series focusing on Haggai 2:20-23 as preached at Downeast Baptist Church of Machias, Maine by Pastor Peter Laitres.

Message as preached at Downeast Baptist Church of Machias, Maine by Pastor Peter Laitres on April 10, 2011.

1. The RULING by the PRIESTS (2:10-13)
2. The REPRIMAND by the PROPHET (2:14-17)
3. The REWARD of the PEOPLE (2:18-19)

Application:

• Let Us DRAW NEAR
• Let Us HOLD FAST
• Let Us CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER

Message from Colossians 3:5-11 as preached at Downeast Baptist Church on April 10, 2011 by Pastor Peter Laitres.

1. A Funeral for the Old Self (3:5-6)
   • The Command (3:5a)
   • The Checklist (3:5b)
   • The Consequence (3:6)
2. A Forsaking of Our Sin (3:7-9)
   • The Way We Were (3:7)
   • The Way We Are (3:8-9)
3. A Formation of Our Savior (3:10-11)
   • A New Creation (3:10)
   • A New Category (3:11)

The Preciousness of Wisdom

1. The EXPERIENCE of Wisdom (4:1-4)
   • The CALL to ALL (4:1-3)
   • The COMMAND to OBEY (4:4)
2. The EVALUATION of Wisdom (4:5-7)
   • SEEK Wisdom (4:5)
   • KEEP Wisdom (4:6)
   • VALUE Wisdom (4:7)
3. The EXALTATION of Wisdom (4:8-9)
   • EXALT Wisdom
   • EMBRACE Wisdom
   • EXHIBIT Wisdom

1. Jehovah's Program (2:6)
2. Jehovah's Presence (2:7-9a)
   • The Desire of All Nations is a Messianic reference to the Lord Jesus Christ
   • How?  Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:3), Isaiah 42:1-7, 59:15b-60:3, cf. Luke 2:25-32 and Romans 8:18-23
3. Jehovah's Peace (2:9b)