Wisdom | Olivia Leong

You're listening to a message to go from axt church. We hope this message

will light up your day today. God's word for us this morning is about

wisdom all right. So if you can see on the screen, it's wisdom

all right. Can anybody tell me what is one character in the Bible that

relates to this word wisdom? Can give a shout out? King Solomon,

that's right, wow, so good. And anyone knows where can we find

a scripture or like you know, around wish chapter wish book from yeah?

Okay? Proverbs? Yes, the proverbs is where King Solomon writes them,

but about when he was when King Solomon asked God for wisdom around where which

book of the Bible anyone knows can flip open book? Open book? Example

pop quiz pop quiez. Anyone knows can shout out, no, can open

your book? It's okay, open the Bible. Screw First Kings, First

Kings, Yes, first Kings, very good. Roughly first Kings wich chapter

roughly sorry, okay, chapter one, se can chronicles Chapter one, First

Kings. Okay, okay, today we will go for first Kings. But

which chapter First Kings? Can flip? Flip flip where God. Where where

King Solomon asks God for wisdom a pop quiz pop quiz can flip open book

ex them First Kings is in First Kings chapter three. Very good, ray,

okay, very cold. That is where we're gonna start our main scripture

for today, First Case chapter three. Yeah. So if you're there saying

yay, so fast, okay, very good, First Kings chapter three.

Okay. So this is the word of God for us this morning, okay,

And today we will be turning to a lot of scripture and the word

of God will be the word for us today. Okay. Let our hearts

be open, and let's get ready to hear what he has to say to

us. Okay. So, First Case chapter three, we're going to read

from verse one to fifteen right here, this is the word of God that

says Now Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and married

Pharaoh's daughter. Then he brought her to the city of David until he had

finished building his own house and the House of the Lord, and the wall

all around Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the people sacrificed at the high places because there

was no house built for the name of the Lord until those days, and

Solomon loved the Lord walking in the statutes of his father David, except that

he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. Now, the king went

to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon

offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon. The Lord appeared

to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, ask what shall

I give you? And Solomon said, you have shown great mercy to your

servant, David, my father, because he walked before you in truth,

in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart. With you. You have continued

this great kindness for him, and you have given him a son to sit

on this throne as it is today. Now, O Lord, my God,

you have made your servant king in steaate of my father David. But

I am a little child. I do not know how to go out or

come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people, whom

you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted.

Therefore, give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people,

that I may discern, that I may discern between good and evil. For

who is able to judge these great people of yours? Just polsive for a

moment. You know something about King Solomon. He is even though he is

king. And we can see even from verse one, verse two, you

know verse three, and yeah, even verse four, it doesn't seem like

he is an ideal follower of God. But yet the Word of God says,

Solomon loved God. Right. And it's interesting this character. He is

king and yet he is not perfect. That's what I got from this scripture.

He's not perfect, yet he is king, and at the same time

he loved the Lord. The Word of God says here he loved the Word

of God and he loved God. Right. And you know something about this

verse nine Here King Solomon was asking again verse nine, therefore give to your

servant and understanding heart. In the amplified version, okay, in this screen

that we see here is actually from the new King James version, But from

the amplified version, it says, so give you a servant and understanding mind

and a hearing heart. Right. So King Solomon actually asked for an understanding

mind and a hearing heart. Right. It didn't say about wisdom yet,

but I think it can equate an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge

your people, so that I made discern between good and evil. For who

is able to judge and rule these great people of yours. God has called

men, you know, in Genesis, Remember God has called men to have

dominion to rule over the earth. Remember Passcanna's message about the how the purpose

of men. Right in Genesis, God has called us men too, and

women the same. Okay, when I say men is human beings, okay,

okay, men to to have dominion to rule over the earth. Right

and in Genesis God, remember God didn't allow Adam and Eve to eat from

the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Remember, but when Solomon

asked God to have an understanding mind and a hearing heart to discern between good

and evil in order to rule and have dominion, which is God's original plan

over God's people. And of course he didn't ask proudly. He asks very

humbly and with respect because he knows his limitations. He acknowledges his limitation before

God. He said that I do not know here in verse seven, right,

he say, King Solomon said, I am a little child. I

do not know how to go out or come in in verse seven, right,

this it talks about you know him as a king, and he says

he's trying to tell God, God, I'm not experienced. I can't I

can't do this because I have no experien I don't know how to come in

and go out like doing the king's business. That's what he's trying. What

King Solomon is trying to acknowledge before God his limitation, right, and God

granted his request because it is in line with what God has originally planned for

men in Genesis and also in line with who God is. God is a

just God. Right if we read again in verse nine here, for who

is able to judge and rule this great nation of yours? Right? Judge

here also means to act justly. Okay, So King Solomon wants to be

having God's characteristics, like having God's who God is like all of us here,

we want to be more and more like Jesus, right amen? Yeah,

So similarly, King Solomon wants to be like God to act justly as

a good king. Yeah. So he's asking God for an understanding mind and

a hearing heart. Okay, that's verse nine. Let's continue verse ten,

the speech please the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said

to him, because you have asked this thing and have not asked long life

for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life

of your enemies, but have asked for yourself. Understanding to discern justice.

While okay, the king is really in line with who God is right,

and here we can see very clearly and justice in another version in ESV says

understanding to discern what is right. Okay, So this is something, yeah,

something interesting. To understand. Justice also means to do what is right,

right, to recognize what is right. Okay. We continue on in

verse twelve. Behold, I have done according to your words. That's what

God is saying to King Solomon. See, I have given you a wise

and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you,

nor shall any like you arise after you verse thirteen. And I have

also given you what you have not asked. This is God speaking to King

Solomon, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like

you among the kings all your days. And verse fourteen. So if you

walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your

father David walked, then I will lengthen your days verse fifteen. Then Solomon

awoke, and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem

and stood before the arc of the Covenant of the Lord, offered the burn

offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants,

a big margan wow celebration. Even though it was a dream, King Solomon

really take it as what God has spoken to him literally and really seriously,

and he worshiped God and thanked him for the for granting him his requests.

And then in verse sixteen onwards until verse twenty seven, you can go back

and read of a scenario where King Solomon had to execute what is right?

What is just right? Interesting story there, okay, And in verse yeah,

So, as you can see in the next slide, I just summarized

three points very easy. King Solomon recognized his limitations, he relied on the

Lord, and he asked for wisdom. These three points, right, This

whole message is just about these three points, okay. And I'm sure different

one of us, even as we are even entering or have already begun,

even for you turn and I'm sure different ones of us may be going through,

you know, challenging times even right now. Right, May you be

encouraged of this word of God today, that he hears you and he sees

you in your situation right now, and he's giving you this word. Recognize

your limitations, our limitations, rely on the Lord and ask him for wisdom.

Amen. All right, and you know what's the result and what is

the outcome of this requests of King Solomon. Let's continue reading in verse twenty

eight, and all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered.

So yeah, So the verses before verse twenty eight, you know, there

was a decision made by King Solomon, and it was so amazing it blew

the minds of everyone. You know the emo emoticon that, yeah, it

blew the minds of blew the minds of the people of the Israelites, right,

yeah, And all the israel hurd the judgment which the king had ordered,

and they feared the king for they saw that the wisdom of God was

in him to administer justice. Wow, amazing. And there were many instances

as well, different records in the Bible as well that mentioned about King Solomon's

wisdom is just poof like mind blowing bomb like that. Yeah, okay,

so and let's read that, okay. In verse First King, chapter ten,

verse one to nine. Okay, this is also another incidence of mind

blowing okay, of the some people outside of Israel. All right, if

you're there, you can turn to First Kings chapter ten, verse one to

nine. Otherwise it's also will be on the screen. Right. In Verse

one of chapter ten in the Book of First King says, now, when

the Queen of Siva heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the

Lord, now, not concerning the name of King Solomon, imagina. Okay,

so remember it's the name, the fame of Solomon. Concerning the name

of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. Wow.

You know, imagine we hear of somebody so great in some places, you

know, some places, then you know, we want to try and test

to see whether is it really true or not. So that's why the Queen

of Sheba wanted to do Verse two. She came to Jerusalem with a great

retinue with camels that boret spices very much gold and precious stones. And when

she came to Solomon. She spoke with him about all that was in her

heart. So Solomon answered her questions. Wow, So Solomon answered all her

questions. There was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain

it to her. Wow, like one hundred percent marks can answer all correct

or Wow, it just blew her mind A. So, and when the

Queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he

had built, the food on his table, the sitting of his servants,

the service of his waiters and their apparel, even their clothing, his cup

bearers, and his entry way by which he went up to the house of

the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. Wow. What what?

What does that mean? What does that mean? There was no spirit

within her? In some translation says In ESV version it says there was no

more breath in her breathlessness. It took her breath away. Whoa In every

file version says she was breathless and awed by the wonder of it all.

In Malaysian versions say what WHOA? I don't know how this mind blowing version

yeah, century say we say we give the emotical mind blowing yes and yeah,

and then verse six then she said to the king, it was a

true re which I heard in my own land, about your words and wisdom.

However, I did not believe the words until I came and saw in

my own eyes. And indeed the half was not told to me. So

that means she came only see everything all. When she's at in Sheba,

she only saw, she only heard half of it. And now she said

saw everything. Wow. Wow, And your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame

of which I heard. Verse eight. Happy are your men, and happy

are these your servants who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom. Blessed

be the Lord your God, who delighted in you setting you on the throne

of Israel. Because the Lord has loved Israel forever. Therefore he made you

king to do justice and righteousness. Wow. Even the Queen of Sheba,

as I can understand from verse nine, because she said, blessed be the

Lord your God. I believe the Queen of Sheba doesn't believe in the God

of Israel. But seeing the wisdom and the amazing things that is in the

palace of and in Israel and house King Solomon does things, you know,

she praise God, the God of Israel. Blessed be the Lord, your

God. The world will see God in you and me and give him praise

when we have what when we walk in the ways of the Lord, and

when God grants us that wisdom. Amen, the world will see Yeah.

Wow, I'm mind blown. Can you imagine? I wish I have a

picture of it, But I think the picture cannot describe everything that is there.

Even if I have a picture, probably it won't match up to what

is written now the real thing, right, okay? So yes, okay,

So anyway, next life, Oh okay, next like sorry, Yes,

wisdom and understanding is from the Lord. Amen. Yeah, and let's

let's read the Word of God. What it has, what it says and

oh yeah, and wisdom and understanding. Every time you read the Word of

God, wisdom and understanding always come together. Okay. So let's read the

Word of God and let's read about it. And it is from the Lord.

Problems Chapter two six says for the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth,

come knowledge and understanding. Wow. This is like like you know, you

go through the mall, like and there is someone giving free gives hey,

then everybody will should rush to it. Hey, there's there's somebody giving free

gives in in the you know, something like something great? Okay and precious

God, the Lord gives wisdom. Hey, hey, where where to find

wisdom? The Lord is giving wisdom? Who doesn't want it? Right?

And it's precious. Let's read James chapter one, verse five, And how

do we get this wisdom? James Chapter one was was sorry? Verse two

to it says, my brethren counted all joy when you fall in various trials?

How many? How many of us here are in a trial? I

am in a trial right now as well? Right? Never mind? Is

okay? Right? My brethren count it all joy when you're when you fall

in various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But

let patients have its work, perfect work, that you may be perfect and

complete, lacking nothing. If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God,

who gives to all life liberally and without reproach. Without reproach means without finding

fault, right, without pointing figures, without saying, oh, because you

sin that, they I won't give you wis them? No, God won't

do that. Right. If you ask God, here is the word of

God. This is the promise of God. You can hold on to and

you can pray. And if you have doubts in your mind, this is

the word of God. You can claim, and you know pray over it,

and you know believe in your heart. It says, if anyone lacks

wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally without reproach,

and it will be given to him. Hey, this is God's promise for

us. Highlight highlight in your bible like yellow, like many rainbow colors.

Yes, claim it and memorize this right. It is given to us when

we ask in him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting.

For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed

by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything

from the Lord. He is a double He's a double minded man, unstable

in all his ways. If he doubts right, so we ask in faith,

we will receive right. Because God gives wisdom without finding fault. He

gives liberally. Amen. Amen, very good, okay. Proverbs chapter nine,

verse ten. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. When we fear God,

there is the beginning of wisdom and fear God. Fear God is an action

word also, right, it's not just a passive word, is It is

an action word. Fear the Lord. It is the beginning of wisdom.

The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. As I was meditating on this

verse, I'm reminded that knowing God is also very important. That's why we

read our Bibles and pray every day. I tell my children, read your

Bible, pray every day, and you grow grow. Oh girl, this

is very fundamental for all of us, even as adults. Yeah. And

it's very important to know the Holy One because that's where we get understanding.

Right. Sometimes if you I don't understand why am I in this trial?

Or how do I solve a particular issue right in a trial that you are

going through? You know, something is something? How can I respond towards

this relationship that I'm going through? Or you know, how can I speak

to my mother in law? How can I deal with my colleague? The

knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Amen, This is precious. Yeah,

So let's keep our quiet time, Let's keep to our reading of the

Word of God. Because the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Amen,

Problems Chapter twenty one, verse thirty. There is no human wisdom or

understanding or counsel that can prevail against the Lord. This is from the amplified

version. Okay, there is no human wisdom or understanding or counsel that can

prevail against the Lord. That means are anything of the of men's wisdom and

understanding that can go against God? God is all powerful. Okay. Amen,

you know all these verses. You can actually take note and meditate on

it during the wit as well or when especially when you're going through tough times,

or even before you go through tough times. Don't have to win until

you go through your trials, right, do memorize The Word of God is

very good for us. Okay. Romans Chapter eleven, Verse the detreat,

Oh, the depth of the riches, both both of the wisdom and knowledge

of God. How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out?

We are still in this topic of wisdom and understanding is from the Lord.

Oh, the depth of the riches, both the wisdom and the knowledge of

God. How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past? Finding out?

His ways past finding out a bit too deep for me for English, so

I went to search someone in the ESV. Sorry ESV version says how inscrutable

his ways? Why the English so big? Okay, how inscriptable his ways

means? Okay, I still cannot understand. I went to amplify version.

It says that how unfathomable and untraceable are his ways? Why the English also

big? I'm sure some of us are better English than me. I think

you'll understand what it means. Okay, what it means, Yeah, means

it's so it's it cannot be uh, it cannot be understandable by human wisdom.

Okay, could I not those English? Yes? Yes, okay,

thank you, thank you teacher. Okay, yes, yes, it's so

deep, so deep. Wow. But at the same time, just now,

we're read in James Chapter one, right, that God gives wisdom freely

though it's so deep we cannot understand without human beings. Yet he gives us

wisdom freely, liberally, without finding fault. Come and get it. Yeah,

he gives when we ask, right. Yeah. God is so amazing.

He is so amazing. He wants everyone to know, but not by

our own wisdom. Okay, Proverbs chapter three, verse nineteen says, the

Lord by wisdom founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.

I'm so happy that we sang the song this morning. He made the heavens

and the earth he made. And how did he make the heavens and the

earth. He spoke into being. And just now we read right out of

his mouth comes wisdom. And here in Proverbs chapter three, verse nineteen says,

the Lord by wisdom founded the earth. By understanding, he established the

heavens. Now, students, campus, students or even teenagers you're studying,

you need wisdom from God. Now this is the verse that you need to

memorize. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth. All your biology, all

your you know, equations, all is from God. Okay. How he

founded everything, How he formed everything understanding, by understanding, he established the

heavens. Everything. Right, So we need wisdom, We go to God.

God gives freely. Yay, okay, then we can understand. Okay,

Amen, very good. Now Isaiah chapter eleven, verse one. Now

let's see we're still in this topic of wisdom and understanding is from God.

Okay. And here in the Book of Isaiah prophesies that wisdom, that wisdom

will come upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Right, So we also understand that

Jesse the topic if you see in your bibles. Right. Isaiah chapter eleven

was one the top topics for the NKJV version says, the reign of Jesse's

of spring. Jesse is the father of King David, and King David is

a great great great great great great great grandfather of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Right is the descend that Jesus Christ is a descendant of Jesse. Right,

So this is a prophecy that was declared before the Lord Jesus Christ was born

here on earth. It says, Yeah. Isaiah chapter eleven was one to

two. There shall be there shall come forth a rod from the stem of

Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots to the spirit of

the Lord shall rest upon him. The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the

spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of

the Lord. Every time you see the word spirit, there we remember the

Holy Spirit. Hah. The Holy Spirit is also our teacher. We can

ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and understanding. Okay. Here the

Word of God also says that the spirit of wisdom and understanding is upon the

Lord Jesus Christ, that someone that's coming from the ancestral line of Jesse.

Okay, and then true enough, the prophecy was fulfilled. In Luke chapter

two, verse forty, we can see and the child grew, the child

here referring to the Lord Jesus Christ when he was young, and the child

grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of

God was upon him. Right And in Mark chapter six, verse two,

this is where we will see the witness of the people around Jesus Christ when

he was in when he was in the temple teaching right Mark chapter six,

verse two days and when the Sabbath had come, he began he is Jesus

Christ began to teach in the synagogue. Synagogue is like a temple or like

a church like that, all right, And many hearing him were astonished,

saying, where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this

which is given to him that such mighty works are performed by his hands?

Wow. This is also another another incident of mind blowing. Okay, a

lot of mind blowing things going on today are Yeah, so here the people

are also mind blown. Wow, Jesus when he speaks the word of God,

he reveals the scriptures, it's so amazing, right, and you know

they're saying, wow, this man, it has just to be from God,

right. Okay, so just bringing true bringing us through these scriptures.

Okay, that was wisdom and understanding. Okay, next topic, wisdom and

humility. In the Bible, we also read a lot about how wisdom and

humility is always together. Right. You don't see wisdom and pride together,

they are like enemies. Okay, how let's read the word of God together.

Proverbs chapter eleven, verse two. When pride comes, then comes shame.

But when humble, but with the humble is wisdom. Similarly, we

see this very evidently in King Solomon when he asked God for wisdom, he

was humble. He wasn't prideful. He was very respectful. He acknowledges his

limitation. He humbly come before God, God, I really need you.

I can't even go in and now I'm like a child. I don't even

know how to come in and go out as a king to do the king's

business. I need your help. I need wisdom. So same as this.

I think that's how King Solomon writes that, right when pride comes,

then comes shame. But with the humble is wisdom. They are comparing with

King Nebukens in the Book of Daniel. You know, king was so prideful

and God brought him down right right, Okay, another word for humble in

this verse. But with the humble is wisdom. This humble. In the

amplified version did mention that humble means the teachable who have been chiseled, chiseled

by trial, and who have learned to walk humbly with God. Wow,

the teachable, the humble, humble is the one who is teachable who have

been chiseled by trial. What the word chisel means? You know, you

have a wood, you have a wood carving. The wood coving is in

the beginning, it's not calved, right, so it's just a wood.

Right to be carved, it has to be chiseled, and it's painful if

you are the wood right cheel, it's painful because some things are taken out

of you. All right, it's chiseled, right, The word of God

says, Yeah, the humble is the teachable who have been chiseled by trial.

Wow, cheezled by trial, not even cheezeled by God. Chezell by

trial allowed by God. I believe so right. God allows us to go

through trials and fire. Yeah. God allows us to do that so that

we can be cheerseled, oh painful. And and this is so that we

can learn to walk humbly with God. Yeah. Be reminded. Yeah ah,

yes, because many are times when we go through trials. Sometimes we

tend to want to blame others or maybe sometimes blame ourselves. Be encouraged,

brothers and sisters. This trial sometimes is a lot by God so that we

can learn to walk humbly with Him. Amen. Right, Okay. Proverbs

Stapture thirteen, verse ten. By pride comes nothing but strife. But with

the well advised is wisdom. Right in esv Virgincies, by insolence comes nothing

but strive. But with those who take advice is wisdom. Wow, those

who take advice is wisdom. Right. I'm very you know, I'm always

reminded every time I read Proverbs is when when I was younger in the faith,

or you know, when I was younger. I don't like to receive

instruction. I'm very rebellious. I'm very revert. I really don't like people

telling me to do things right. But every time when I read the word

of God, God reminds me that with those who take advice is wisdom right,

no matter who gives you, especially those people who are of authority above

us, even though we like them or not. After I admit it,

right if whether is it your parents, or in my case, is my

mother in law or my father in law, God has placed them above me,

My pastors, my leaders, my home leaders, yes, homelead homely

yes right? Or you know our senior pastor. When senior pastors say,

hey, come come for p R. Four, y come for prayer.

Rarely come come, come listen to advice. Come come. Of course,

if you can really make time to come because it is good for us,

it is wisdom. You know it is, and we learn to to to

be wise. Even the word of God says he, with those who take

advice is wisdom. Okay right. Proverbs chapter fifteen, Verse they three,

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom. And before honor is

humility. Wow, before honor is humility. Basically, yes, we like

to focus on the word honor, but I want to encourage us to focus

on the word humility because that is our action. Right. If you don't

do humility, then if you don't act in humility, there's no honor.

So why focus on the honor. Let's focus on the humility because that's the

word that we need to do first before the honor comes. Right, That's

how I read it when I was meditating on this word. Right, the

fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom. Of course, the fear

of the Lord again is an action word. The fear of the Lord is

the instruction of wisdom. And before honor is humility. Right, yeap,

So on the next slide. So just a reminder again the three points,

recognize our limitations, rely on the Lord. Knowing that yes, we are

going through trials and being chiseled by trials. Recognize that, rely on the

Lord and ask the Lord for wisdom. Right. So just allow me to

share my testimony also, And you know, if when I was meditating on

the word of God earlier this month during our Saturday Actuallyders training as well,

we were talking about blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the

Kingdom of Heaven. Right. It's been some months since I've met my high

school friend also, and in January this year, I was asked. I

was led to ask my friend if we could meet up someday, and and

I was drawn intentionally to set a date to meet with her. I don't

usually do this, okay, but somehow I was led. And though the

day to meet up was Saturday, that was and she was available, and

that Saturday was the day before I had to share the word of God.

And usually the Saturday before I shared a word of God, I try my

best not to occupy myself so that I can prepare slights for us, you

know. Yeah, so and prepare myself right, and yes, but then

she said, okay, there's this Saturday, Okay, that Saturday. I'm

like, okay, okay, there's not a time, but God, you

have to come true for me, right, Okay. So I still was

in the midst of preparing my slices for Sunday's message. And Saturdays are usually

family time also, and my husband also graciously released me that Saturday to meet

with my friend. And thank you Andrew for taking care of the kids that

day. Who also I was also led, you know, to pray in

tongues and worship God intentionally on my way to meet her where she was staying

in kl so asking God for wisdom in my conversation. I don't know why,

but I was just led to, uh, just pray and you ask

God for wisdom in our conversations at that time, okay, and also to

help me to finish my slides. I was like, okay, the slides,

the slides, okay. So I was also yeah, so when I

reached there at a venue, I was early to book the restaurant and also

to finish up my slides at the same time. So when she, she

and her son, my friend and her son came. She we had a

good time for at lunch and catching up casually. And later she also opened

up to share about her marriage struggles, which took me by surprise as they

were actually doing very well last year and we last met. Yeah, I

was quite shocked. From the lunch meet, it got extended till evening,

so I also felt like, yeah, you know, I feel that I

really need to be there with her. And true enough, you know,

we spent many hours until almost evening right with her, just catching up with

her, just talking to her and and yes and yeah, and from the

lunch meet up. We I actually got a chance to even share Christ of

how Christ's love really really is really bonded me and allowed me to forgive.

And I sheared about the forgiveness of Christ to her and his love for her

as well. And I don't usually I'm very bold in doing this, I

have to honestly say, and I don't know why, but I was very

I was led to do it. It was really indeed a fulfilling we can

just spending time with her and her son. Though there wasn't any response of

salvation yet, but I believe a seat is planted in Man. And then

during soult earlier this month, on the exercise to ask God for someone in

our phone contact list and to ask them if they would need prayer or not,

you know, I was led to message this friend of mine and she

responded that she was. She wished that she could be around me more often,

So that shows like I don't often God, and I need to mean

okay, So she's asking for that, So that's a good sign, right

right, And then she then shared even her progress on the counseling sessions that

she is actually going through and she and her husband are yeah, and you

know. Yeah, and yes, and she and her husband are one of

the friends that I have I have been praying for in my Uturn prayer list

as well. Yeah. So really amazing. I think I think God is

moving that even made this testimony also encourage us to ask God to lead us

to someone that we we can even share Christ too. That leads me to

the next point, wisdom and soul winning. This is a call to action

for all of us, Right, wisdom and so winning. Did you know,

like just now we say wisdom and understand wisdom and humility. Do you

know that in the Bible it talks about wisdom and soul winning, meaning to

say to share Christ with friends? Right? There is a lot of verses

in the Bible. Let's let's read Proverbs chapter eleven, verse thirty. The

fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls

is wise. WHOA? Did you know that that this verse exists in the

Bible? Right? Those who he who wins souls is wise? Whoa?

Whoa? It's a revelation to me when I first read it, Like really,

okay, wow, I want to I want to do this. I

want to win souls. I want to be wise. I want to win

souls, but and this is how how how to do it? Right?

What do you mean win souls? How to how to win souls? How

can we win souls and be wise? In Collisions, Chapter four, verse

five to six says, walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming

the time. Let your speech always be with grace season results that you may

know how you ought to answer each one? Right? Wow? Very practical.

Uh. The ESV version says you know when when it says what in

wisdom toward those who are outside? Outside means those who haven't known Christ yet?

Okay, what in wisdom with them? Redeeming the time? ESV version

says, make making the best use of time. The amplified version says about

redeeming the time, make the most of each opportunity, treating it as something

precious, my precious, all the movies all coming up right, precious,

Make every moment precious, Make it like wow, it will never come again.

This is the only time, no other time, right, This time

will not repeat itself. If you realize, even though every morning the sun

comes up, but it's actually different. If you see the sky outside,

right, it's it's different. The sky is different every morning. Every day.

It won't be the same again. It's the same, like the time

that we have with our friends. It's that time, only it's precious,

treating it as precious opportunity. All right, Walk in wisdom? What is

wisdom? Verse James, Chapter three, Verse the thing says, who is

wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works

are done in the meekness of wisdom. In the amplified version, meekness means

gentleness and humility. Okay, there, humility come again, gentleness and humility

right just now, Sorry, I just backtrack the verse the Collisions, Chapter

four, verse five to six. I was meditating on this word also in

war in wisdom, towards those who are outside, redeeming the time. Verse

six. Let your speech always always be with grace always always. When I

think about always, I think of the time when especially I cannot walk,

I cannot, I cannot let my speech be with grace always. So I

allow the word of God to speak to me always, including the time when

I cannot, I cannot with my own strength, speak with grace, especially

when I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm fasting right the word of God speaks

to me, and I'm so encouraged and reminded. Let your speech always be

gracious. Always tell my children they always fighting with each other, and you

know my children are, so I always tell them, please talk nicely to

each other. Okay, you don't like about something, talk nicely. So

this is the word of God here, talk nicely. Let your speech always

be with great season, with salt. Okay, that you may know how

you ought to answer each one. All right? Okay, then James said

the three verse the teen also talks about that right, let us show by

good conduct that his works are done in meekness of wisdom, gentleness, and

humility. Okay, next verse Luke, chapter twenty one, verse ten to

nineteen. This one very important, then, Luke. You see the book

of Luke. The Luk is in the New Testament. Okay, Luke chapter

twenty one. Okay, you see the chapter twenty one. This is when

Jesus is speaking with his disciples, and his disciples have been with him for

a long time already, from the beginning of Luke and until chapter twenty one.

So the disciples are really learning from him, and Jesus is speaking real

to meet right now okay, so let our hearts be ready to receive this

word. Then, Jesus he said to his disciples, Nation will rise against

nation, and Kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various

places, and famines and pestilences, and there will be fearful sights and great

signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands

on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.

You will be brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. Verse thirteen.

Highlight highlight verse thirteen. But it will turn Oh sorry I didn't highlight.

But it will turn out for you as an ocasion for testimony. Wow

wow Verse the teen. But it will turn out for you as an occasion

for testimony. Throughout all this that's going through Nation rights again, Nation,

Kingdom against kingdom, earthquakes, They will deliver you pestilencers. You know,

so many trials and challenges. Verse the teen says, but it will turn

out for you, followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son and daughters

of the Most High God. It will turn out for you as an occasion

for testimony. The amplified version says, this will be a time and an

opportunity for you to testify about me. Wow, precious time. Okay,

well, I pray that I will not miss this time in the midst of

all this craziness. Yes, okay Verse fourteen. Continue. Therefore, settle

it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you shall what you will

say? What? What do you mean, Jesus? Shouldn't you not prepare

ourselves for all these crazy things when we need to say But Jesus say no.

Therefore, settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you

will answer verse fifteen. For I will give you, Jesus promise, for

I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be

able to contradict or resist. Wow. That me is. Wow, That

me is Your adversaries and your your enemies will have their minds blown away again?

Okay, that mind blowing things coming again? Right? That? Because

God will, Jesus say, he will give us a mouth and wisdom which

all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. Wow. Okay.

Verse sixteen. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives

and friends. And they will put some of you to death, and you

will be hated by all for my name's sake, But not a hair of

your hate shall be lost. By your patience, possess your soul. Wow,

Jesus is saying, by your patience in amplified version says, by your

patience, endurance, empowered by the Holy Spirit, you will gain your soul.

That means you'll save your soul. And you are patient going through that

trial. And you know sometimes you may not have the words to say towards

your adversary and the thing that or people around you. But God says he

promises to give us what we need to say on that time. Okay,

be encouraged, brothers and sisters. Right first Clarrinthians, Chapter one, verse

eighteen. I hope you guys are doing Okay. It's a hard word,

but yeah, be encouraged. Okay. Here it says Christ the power and

wisdom of God. This is the last scripture that we're going to read today,

Okay. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are

perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of

God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise

and bring to nothing the understanding of the pruden Verse twenty Where is the wise?

Where is the scribe? Where is the disputa? Or another version saying,

where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the

wisdom of this world for sins in the wisdom of God? The world true

wisdom did not know God. The world true, the worldly wisdom did not

know God. It pleased God true. The foolishness of this message preached to

save those who believe. That means God is happy to use the foolishness of

you know what the world thinks is foolishness. God uses that right. God

uses that right in verse Yes, that's verse twenty one, Verse twenty two.

For the Jews requests a sign and Greeks seek after wisdom Verse twenty three.

But we preach Christ Crucified to the Jews a stumbling block. Christ is

like a stumbling block to the Jews, Christ Crucified to the Jews a stumbling

block, and to the Greeks foolishness. But to those who are called both

Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Right, Amen, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of

God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness

of God is stronger than men. Wow, powerful, Okay Verse twenty six.

For you see you're calling brethren that not only wise, that not many

wise according to the flesh, Not many mighty, not many noble are called.

You see, all those big people that we see, not many are

called, right, or those big names right. Not people who are strong

in physics, right are called. But God chose, God has chosen.

Amen, Thank you God that he's not neglecting us who are not that you

know great. Right. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world

to put the shame the wise. And God has chosen the weak things of

the world to put the shame the things which are mighty verse twenty eight.

And the base things of the world, and the thing which are despised.

God has chosen and the things which are not to bring to nothing, the

things that are that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him

you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God. Christ

Jesus is wisdom from God. Repeat after me, Christ Jesus is wisdom from

God. Right, So Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God

and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, meaning to say that, but it is

in amplified version for verse thy he says, but it is from Him that

you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God. Revealing

wisdom from God means Christ Jesus is the answer or is revealing the place plan

of God for salvation and righteousness, making us acceptable to God, and sanctification,

making us holy and setting us apart for God. And the redemption means

providing our ransom for penalty of sin. Verse thirty one that as it is

reasen written, he who glories, let him, let him glory in the

Lord. Amen. Amen. Right. I know it's a lot for us

even this morning. I hope we have written down those verses and take time

to meditate on the Word of God and allow the Word of God to speak

to your heart and be blessed as I have been very blessed just preparing this

message for us this morning, right, and next light. In closing,

Yeah, I can invite the extremers up as well. Three points, recognize

our limitations, rely on the Lord, and ask the Lord for wisdom right

and especially in relations with I take this personally as well, because I know

I'm not all perfect. I also need wisdom. Right in my relationship with

my husband, I need God the Grand May wisdom. In my relationship with

my children, how should I bring them up in the ways of the Lord.

Right in my relationship with my in laws, I also need wisdom right

as the Word of God says those who win souls are wise. So I

also want to yeah, live according to the Word of God and how I

relate in my colleagues as well. Right, I'm not perfect, but I

think I really need God. I just want to humble myself before God and

say God, I want to I want to do what you want me to

do. And even as I as I have been commissioned as an assistant church

plant coordinator, it's a big role to me, it's a big role.

I'm like, God, how do I leave these people? This is amazing?

Amazing? Some of these are already like gone ahead, you know of

me, And I'm like, this puts to me out And God, you

asked me to stay okay God, Okay okay, ilmbling. So I also

prayed something like the King Solomon's prayer, God, grant me wisdom how to

do this. So yeah, as an assistant church plant coordinator, or even

as a homes leader, as a shepherd as well, or all the roles

that God has graciously given to me. Though I know I have a lot

of limitations, I recognize my limitation. I acknowledge them before the Lord,

and I rely on the Lord, and I asked him for wisdom to do

this. And I also want to thank all of us here, especially my

homies, and and all of us here, you know, just being so

gracious to me, allowing me to speak over your lives as well. We

hope you've been blessed by this message. For more information on our church,

please visit exchurch org. We are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're

believing that this week is going to be a good week, a hit for

you. God bless