Hey Brad,
You are on a roll! Another awesome post, I appreciate the way you put it
all together.
Virgie and lady Hoshi
doing business at
www.vunderwood.ktostemtech.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "B Dunse" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 9:58 AM
Subject: Wisdom Wisbanger
> Reading this morning I originally was drawn to the reward of sweet sleep
> and no fear of the enemy suddenly coming upon us and wanted to draw
> attention to that but so much more is offered. What then are the rewards
> of wisdom? As you know parts of God's word are metaphorical and others are
> literal. For instance when God talks about wisdom calling out in the
> streets and that she's waiting at the gate of the city and so forth, well
> there isn't really a woman thousands of years old who goes by the name
> of Wisdom standing at the city limits of every city in the world. So it is
> a metaphor showing God's wisdom is everywhere, in every situation, and we
> need only look and listen for it, and of course follow it. There are times
> however when God says things like do not reprove a scorner or you will
> receive disgrace. We know that is a literal statement. He gives us the
> ability to discern metaphor from literal if we only ask, I know this
> because His Word says so and personal experience has proven it to me. So
> knowing that information what then are the benefits of wisdom? And by
> wisdom, it is not intended to mean our own wisdom, that is our own
> thoughts grounded in our own devices and interests, but that of God's
> wisdom instilled in us and we then use it. What then can we look with
> anticipation and graceful expectation to receive from finding, seeking and
> using God's wisdom?
>
> If you were to hear wisdom being advertised in an infomercial on TV today,
> it might sound something like this...
>
> "Today we're offering a special price on our Wisdom Whizbanger! We're
> really out doing ourselves this time folks, never before have we offered
> such a deal. If you order today here's what you will get!! Extended life!
> That's right folks we literally can extend your life by not only days but
> years! And what good would an extended life be if it was a life filled
> with fear and strife? So we're also tossing in a life of peace. That's
> right. Peace. Not only will you be able to live longer but you will live
> longer, with more peace as well. And that's not all. If you order today at
> this special offer you will also receive the ability to enjoy favor with
> God your creator as well as your fellow man! I know, I know many have
> asked us how we can afford to be so generous but we can't believe it
> either! We must be poor business people to be offering all of this. But. I
> want to tell you there's more! Yes more. If you call now while our
> operators are standing by we will toss in not one, not two, but three, yes
> three additional gifts for ordering today. Along with a long peaceable
> life of favor with god and man you will also receive wealth, riches and
> honor! We've really gone over the edge this time folks, we can't believe
> it ourselves! Now if you... wait a minute. I'm getting a call from our
> CEO... please excuse me for just one second. 'Yes Charlie what can I do
> for you? You kidding! Are you serious! They are not going to believe this,
> are you sure about this? Well, OK then. Thanks I'll tell them'. Sorry for
> the interruption folks but you won't believe this, that was our CEO on the
> phone and, someone hit me so I know I'm not dreaming because not only are
> we offering a long peaceable life complete with favor of God and man along
> with wealth, riches and honor... I can't believe he's doing this... my CEO
> just instructed me that for those who order right now you will receive a
> life of straight paths, correction by a loving Father and that's not all
> you also will receive..."
>
> OK, OK. Enough with the infomercial bit :) I think you get the hint. As
> cheesy as that staged infomercial was, it yet carries truth in what god
> will give us by seeking wisdom. One very important thing I didn't include
> in the bit was this...
>
> Keep sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul and
> adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely and your
> foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you
> lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of
> the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your
> confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
>
> So if God's Word can be taken literal we know that seeking and obtaining
> wisdom and understanding, we know then that we can be secure, confident
> and sleep a sweet sleep without fear and interruption. The gift of wisdom
> is salvation, it is there for the taking, we only need to decide to grasp
> on to what has already been given us and reap the rewards of the offer.
> One difference between salvation and wisdom is there are times in life
> when we need to decide to apply wisdom. In salvation it is a gift in
> which we only choose to grasp on to and the Lord does the saving. With
> wisdom, we grasp on to the precepts in our given situations and yes God
> does the rewarding or sees to it that we do have favor with Himself and
> man that we do have riches, wealth, peace and all wisdom promises in His
> Word. But we do need to decide to use it, to grasp on, to apply it to our
> lives, to hold our situations up to the light of God through His gift of
> wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Imagine if you told your son to run
> to the grocery store and get a loaf of bread. He then asks well how do I
> get there. So you give him some written instructions. He runs and gets the
> bread then runs off doing whatever. Then you ask him to run to the same
> store and get some milk. He asks again how to get there. So you point out
> that you gave him written instructions. "Oh yeah, I forgot" he says. Goes
> off, comes back with the milk and goes about his business. Later you ask
> him to get some eggs from the store, and again he asks how to get there.
> Soon it would get a bit irritating would it not? We would wonder why
> isn't he using his knowledge of what I gave him instead of continually
> asking me over and over how to get there. Years ago I was being counseled
> by a wise man of God with some great insight and application of God's Word
> and I was just learning how to apply God's word to my life. He said
> seeking God in prayer for things in life, for direction is of course
> needed but praying about whether to put salad forks out with the meal is
> just irritating and not necessary. Obviously he was exaggerating to make
> the point that some things we have been given a brain, as well wisdom to
> use as a team towards our situations in life. I'll end with a precept
> which is kind of a joke at the same time. A pastor once gave this sermon
> and he did a wonderful job of it. Folks came to him after the service,
> shook his hand vigorously and said how wonderful it was and all that and
> he smiled calmly and said thank you. The following Sunday the pastor gave
> the same sermon. Folks cordially smiled, yawned and nodded as he gave the
> sermon and when he was done they again said how nice it was, shook hands
> with a slightly looser grip this time, and smiled with a bit of forced
> lips. The next Sunday the pastor gave the very same sermon. Well the
> elders began to wonder if there wasn't something wrong with the pastor.
> One more week went by and dang nabit if he didn't do it yet again. Well
> finally the elders took the pastor aside after the service and asked him,
> "Umm. Pastor? Umm. are you aware you've given the same exact sermon, uh,
> several weeks in a row now?"
>
> He replied. "Yes I know I have. And I'm going to keep giving it until you
> folks begin to actually do it".
>
> I read one of the articles on a link Phil gave us to look at from George
> Muller I think was his name. I really recommend the article which talks
> about reading the Word of God and not so much man's books. That is not to
> say teachings, encouragements and etc. are not helpful, but it is God's
> Word that can teach itself if you dig in and that ought be the stable of
> your instructional diet. Nothing replaces His Word.
>
> Brad
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