Proverbs Ch9v1-18

Jonathan has been mentioned to you.

I'm from Middleton Baptist Church and I bring greetings

from your friends and families that are

worshipping with us in Middleton Baptist Church.

I was once

part of this church, so when Johnny asked me to come and

preach, and I said, wow, that's like

me coming back home. So I'm feeling more like

I'm playing a home game today. So

I think I should be more relaxed, didn't I? But nevertheless,

you know, I've made some old friends and it's good

to see you all and I'm very, very thrilled and happy to be here.

I'm standing in the air

thanking God for His grace when I was

in this church. I wasn't a member of this church. The gospel

wasn't that very clear to me. But today, I thank God for how God has transformed

myself and my family and where we are at now. I'm standing here as a student of

Monster Bible College and

still have some few modules to complete before I fully graduated.

So please, I do value your prayers. Please continue to pray for me

so that I can continue to grow in this knowledge.

So let's turn our Bible to Proverbs,

if we have already got it. Let me get it. Proverbs chapter 9.

Proverbs 9 · chapter mention

Jonathan has been given a wonderful introduction to the two invitations we're going to be looking

at this morning in Proverbs chapter 9.

Proverbs 9 · chapter mention

So let me read it.

So let me read it.

Wisdom has built her house. She has honed his seven pillars.

She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine. She has also set her table.

She has sent out her maids and she calls from the highest point of the city.

Let all who are simple come here. She says to those who lack judgment,

Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.

Leave your simple ways and you will live. Work in the ways of understanding.

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult.

Whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.

Do not rebuke a mocker, for he will hate you.

Rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still.

Teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For through me your days will be many and years will be added to your life.

If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you.

If you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

Verse 13.

The woman fully is loud.

She is undisciplined and without knowledge.

She sits at the door of her house.

On a seat at the highest point of the city.

Calling out to those who pass by.

Who go straight on their way.

Let all who are simple come in here.

She says to those who lack judgment.

Stolen water is sweet.

Food eating in secret is delicious.

But little do they know that the dead are there.

That our guests are in the death of the grave.

Let us pray for God's help.

Lord, we just want to come to your presence this morning.

As we hope in your words, we ask for your help.

Please speak through me.

I'm only a vessel.

I pray, God, that your words will come through me clearly.

And will be communicated well this morning to everyone.

And even to myself as well.

So I pray, God, that as we hear it, may we be transformed.

May your Holy Spirit help us to take it in.

And help us to apply it to our life.

Let us see clearly the invitation that you want us to choose for ourselves.

To have a better life.

To be able to live this world.

This circular world that we find ourselves in.

And to point us into your glory.

So we thank you for your help in this.

In Jesus' name.

These days, our primary reliance for navigation is Google Maps, isn't it?

To reach our destinations.

I don't know about you.

Recently, Alice and I traveled to a center of excellence.

It plays in County Mayo.

It's a GAA place where my daughter Alexis have a GAA Gaelic football match.

And on our way, Google Maps directed us through a shortcut.

It's believed to be a regular road.

But it turned out to be a road from a farm to people's backyard.

And we were wondering, what are we doing here?

Should we turn back?

But while we're desperately trying to find our way out into a better road,

we find ourselves driving through even more bushes and more, you know, uncomfortable roads,

desperately to get out onto the plain road.

But that never happened.

But thank God, somehow, we got to our destination.

But it wasn't pleasant.

Isn't it also true?

Isn't it true about our life as a journey?

As we travel through this world, we encounter various choices along the way.

And one thing we all strive to do is to ensure that we make the right decisions for ourselves.

Whether it is in choosing friends, partners, managing finances, or maintaining good health,

or even embracing a good lifestyle, or a godly lifestyle.

This passage we're going to be looking at this morning,

Solomon presents a picture of two invitations from two ladies.

One is Lady Wisdom, and the other one, Lady Folly.

Both of them are calling out to us, seeking our attention and response.

And this is what both seek every day.

In whatever we do, the constant invitation.

Constant invitation that is seeking our attention and looking at how we respond to it.

But first, let's have a look at the invitation of Lady Wisdom.

From verse 1 to 12.

The first thing we see with Lady Wisdom is,

have preparation.

Verse 1 says she has a beautiful home.

Wisdom has built her house.

She has set up its seven pillars.

This is not an ordinary home.

It's a home with seven pillars.

The number seven suggests completeness.

One that lacks nothing.

It's magnificent.

It's a solid and well-furnished house.

It has seven pillars, he says.

For builders who know this pillar, a pillar is needed to support a massive, massive building.

So a home with seven pillars means massive in size.

This metaphor, using describing Lady Wisdom, can be compared to the qualities of wisdom described in James 3.17.

James describes the home of wisdom.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven, he's first of all, pure.

Then peace-loving.

Considerate.

The wisdom is submissive.

It's full of mercy.

Good fruit.

It's impartial.

Impartial and sincere.

And also Proverbs 24.3-4.

It reads,

By wisdom,

By wisdom,

A house is built.

And through understanding,

It is established.

Through knowledge,

His rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

You see,

Lady Wisdom don't only just have a beautiful home.

She has prepared a feast for her guest.

Verse 2 says that she has much to offer.

She prepares a satisfying feast.

And not only she prepares that,

She beautifully presented her face on a decorated table with meat and wine.

That is appealing, right?

That is appealing.

A decorated table with plenty of meat and wine.

And not only she does that.

She doesn't just leave it there and be looking at it.

She wants to be heard.

She makes great effort.

Verse 3-9.

Tell her that she wants to be heard.

Verse 3.

She makes great effort to reach all those who will listen.

In doing so,

She sends out a servant and cries out for the highest point of the city.

Crying out.

Inviting the sinful.

Those with no saints.

Verse 4-5.

To come and join

her in a feast.

Those who are sinful.

Those that are ignorant.

They are the ignorant to the gospel.

They are not stupid.

They are smart people.

Because Jesus

also encounters

so many of them

during his ministry.

Those that lack understanding.

But there is no discrimination here.

Lady Wisdom is inviting them to come.

All of them

to come and eat

and drink

her prepared face.

This meal

she has prepared

represents

divine understanding

and insight.

She is asking them

to leave

your simple ways

and you will leave.

Wisdom is not something

that can be bought

or earned

or for privileged fuel.

Wisdom extends

all that offer

to everyone

that passes by her city.

and she invited them

to her home.

She is asking them

to forsake foolishness

and leave

to go

in the way

of insight.

Do you receive

that invitation

every day

in your life today?

Whatever you are doing

whatever you are engaging

yourself into

are you getting

that invitation

that something special

is calling you?

or are you just

a mocker

and denying

the spirit of God

calling you

to come and participate

in a banquet?

Look at verse 7

to 9

she won't invite

mockers

the mockers

are quite different

from simple

the mockers

are wicked people

that's what Jesus

called them

in Luke 11

29

the wicked generation

why?

Because they were

asking Jesus

to give them

more signs

even though

Jesus has done

so many signs

pointing them

to himself

as the Messiah

so Jesus

called them

you mockers

are wicked

generation

they refused

to heed

to Christ's wisdom

this passage

is warning us

it's a waste

of time

to seek

the company

of the wicked

to seek

the company

of mockers

because in the

hope of doing

so

or trying

to help them

you are more

likely

we are all

more likely

to be corrupted

by them

why?

because they're

ridicule

wise words

there's nothing

you can tell

them that is

truth

that they

will not

try to

change it

or they

will not

try to

laugh about

it

and if

you're not

careful

they will

try to

destroy

someone's

reputation

no one

that Jesus

told his

disciples

supposed to

go into

the city

two by

two

but if

they don't

take you

in

if they

refuse to

hear your

words

dust your

feet

and move

on

but here's

the joyful

thing

in contrast

a wise

person

loves

lady

wisdom

and follows

his command

and wants

to learn

more

verse 8

9 says

rebuke the

wise

and they

will love

you

instruct

the wise

and they

will be

wiser

still

teach

the

righteous

and they

will

add

to

their

learning

lady

wisdom

is not

just making

this plea

for nothing

he's making

this plea

so that we

can come

and feast

in his

home

he has

set up

his

decorated

table

with

satisfying

mail

and he's

inviting

all the

sinful

to come

in

because

he

had

she

has

so much

promise

to give

them

three

promises

in verse

10

she's

going to

give them

wisdom

and

understanding

it says

the fear

of the

Lord

is the

beginning

of wisdom

and the

knowledge

of the

Holy

One

is

understanding

to fear

the Lord

is not

something

for us

to shrink

in error

but to

humbly

revere

and honor

God

that is

what it

means

to fear

the Lord

when we

have a

deep

intimate

and

respect

for God

for who

he is

the

holy

loving

master

of God

then we

will

recognize

his

greatness

his

sovereignty

and his

divine

nature

and the

result of

his

knowledge

will help

us to

turn away

from our

own

sin

and

seek

to be

Christ

like

Colossians

Colossians 2:2–3

2

verse 2

to 3

he said

my goal

is that

they may

be encouraged

in heart

and united

in love

so that

they may

have the

full

riches

of complete

understanding

so that

they may

know

the mystery

of God

namely

Christ

in whom

are healing

all the

treasures

of wisdom

and knowledge

not only

her promise

is a

wisdom

and

understanding

she also

wants us

to have

a long

life

it's

guaranteed

verse 11

said

for true

wisdom

your days

will be

many

and years

will be

added to

your life

that is

those

who walk

in a way

will be

rewarded

with more

fulfilling

life

experiencing

the blessings

of wise

living

and avoiding

negative

consequences

that often

result in

lack of

godly

wisdom

following

lady

wisdom

is a

guarantee

of

long

life

verse 12

says we

have a

fruitful

life

because she

wants us

to have

the best

life

possible

her promise

about

wisdom

understanding

long life

fruitful

life

means reward

with fruit

of the

holy spirit

we have

relationship

with god

and the

heart

and the

heart

and the

fruitful

life

we will

receive

with

lady

wisdom

assures us

that no

matter the

struggle we

face

in this

world

by heading

to the

instruction

of god

obedience

to his

command

will

will be

compensated

in

eternity

but the

last

verses

12

what a

mocker

will suffer

in

isolation

so let's

leave it

there

let's go

to the

lady

fully

13 to

18

she

competes

with lady

wisdom

for souls

of men

and women

she also

have her

own

preparation

what does

she prepare

actually

she make

no preparation

at all

verses

13

says

she's

unruly

which means

she's

loud

disordered

and knows

nothing

she lacks

understanding

she's

wayward

all

knowledge

of holy

things

is lost

and forgotten

but she

pleads

in verse

14

she sits

on a

high seat

just like

lady

wisdom

in the

higher

city

she cries

out for

the seated

position

though

she doesn't

move

unlike

lady wisdom

who sent

her servants

to be

heard

lady

falling

doesn't

move

that's a

sign of

laziness

isn't it

she waits

for simple

and those

who lack

understanding

to pass

by

and come

to her

she doesn't

cry out

she promised

in verse

17

that stolen

water

is sweet

and bread

eaten in

secret

is pleasant

when you

think about

stolen

water

I'm a

native of

Nigeria

and I

remember

when

myself

and my

wife

went to

my

mother

in

house

she

had a

well

in front

of her

house

and my

wife said

I do not

like the way

people were

coming from

all over the

place

community

just coming

to fresh

from that

well

what should

we do

and then

we decided

to have

a ring

like a

gate

to lock

it

well she's

right in

doing so

because people

were coming

to her

to her

yard

to take

water

that doesn't

belong to

them

this is

also

implied

to

when

we

we're

thrilled

in doing

what is

forbidding

or dodgy

activities

and we're

thinking that

stolen water

is sweet

the more

prohibited

the more

unlawful

things are

the more

things belong

to us

the more

tempting

and desirable

it becomes

because why

because we get

excited about

you know

I can quickly

just get away

with it

nobody

will save

me

a few

weeks ago

4.2

million

worth of

cocaine

was discovered

for money

for stolen

water

for

2017

reminds us

that food

gained

by fraud

tastes

sweet

but one

hander

with a

mouth

full of

gravel

food

the sad

thing is

the followers

of

lady

folly

they do

not know

the true

promise

about this

that

they were

all ended

up in the

house of

dead

their way

is a way

to hell

we are here

this morning

we hear

these two

invitations

coming into

our mind

every time

we long

for

wisdom

and understanding

we long

for fruitful

life

we long

for

long

life

or

a mouth

full of

gravel

taking

things

that doesn't

belong to

us

and calling

it

smartness

so with

invitation

shall we

accept

this morning

is it

that of

lady

wisdom

who has

prepared

much

and

delivered

what she

promises

or that

of lady

folly

who promises

much

and delivers

the opposite

let me

remind you

lady folly

delivers the

worst life

possible

she doesn't

offer

forgiveness

once you

fall into

her house

she's a

house of

hell

you're

dead

eternal

condemnation

you're not

going to

come out

of it

her punishment

is irreversible

there is no

single benefit

offered by her

she does not

only provide

obvious

worldly

laws

and the

morality

that destroys

human souls

she's also

present in

false

teachings

of God's

words

with

doctrines

that flatter

pride

and give

liberty

to lust

that destroy

people's

life

changing the

gospel

for something

that the

Bible doesn't

say

or try to

twist the

word of

God

into

something

that become

sweet water

and use

that as an

excuse

that you can

get away

with things

become

immoral

because

they're all

tradition

these are all

work of

Satan

which Lady

Foley

represents

2 Corinthians

11

13

sorry

2 Corinthians

11

3

warns us

that

just as

Eve

was deceived

by the

serpent

cunning

our minds

may somehow

be led

astray

from our

sincere

and pure

devotion

to Christ

in the

same

chapter

verse 11

that Satan

even disguises

himself as

an angel of

light

guys there are

things out

there

that are

out to

get us

serious

invitation

to turn

away

from a

godly way

into

the life

of lies

and ruin

I don't

know about

you

but my

choice

is Lady

Wisdom

between the

two

invitations

where Lady

Wisdom

symbolizes a

metaphor

for Jesus

Jesus

identifies

himself

as wisdom

he is the

creator of

wisdom

from

in Genesis

Genesis 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1

26 to 7

he initiated

creating a

man

in God's

image

if you

turn your

Bible

to me

please

to

Proverb

8

just to

flip back

from

22 to

31

let me

introduce

Jesus to

you

again

Jesus

introduced

himself

he says

the

Lord

brought

me

forth

as the

first

of his

works

before

his

deeds

of

old

I

was

appointed

from

eternity

from the

beginning

before

the world

began

when there

is no

oceans

I was

given

birth

when there

was no

springs

abounding

with water

before the

mountains

were settled

in place

before the

hills

I was

given

birth

before he

made

the hell

or his

field

or any

of his

doors of

the world

I

was

there

when he

set

the heavens

in place

where he

marked out

the horizons

on the

face of

the deep

when he

established

the clouds

above

and fixed

securely

the fountains

of the

deep

when he

gave the

sea

his

boundary

so the

waters

would not

overstep

his

command

when he

marked

out

the

foundation

of

the

earth

then

I

was

a

craft

man

at his

side

I

was

filled

with

delight

day

after

day

rejoicing

always

in his

presence

rejoicing

in his

in his

whole

world

and

delighting

in

mankind

that's

Jesus

for you

all of us

are sinful

people

by God's

standard

we can

easily

be influenced

to do

things

that are

opposite

to God's

command

but

fortunately

God's

wisdom

is

readily

accessible

to anyone

to all

of us

this

morning

he does

know we

told it

for those

who

earnestly

want it

because

Jesus

as we

just read

from that

passage

chapter 8

30

31

he says

then I

was a

craftsman

at his

side

I was

filled

with

delight

day

after day

rejoicing

always

in his

presence

rejoicing

in his

whole

world

and

delighting

in

mankind

Jesus

is

constantly

reaching

out to

us

in

Jeremiah

1 5

his

water

firms

he knew

us

even

before

we were

formed

in the

womb

this is

what

this

passage

is

saying

he

loves

us

before

we

loved

him

he

becomes

for us

wisdom

from

God

our

righteousness

holiness

and our

redemption

therefore

if we

want to

acquire

his

wisdom

we

must

earnestly

desire it

and ask

him for

it

that's

what

James

advised

us

to

do

if

any

of

us

lack

wisdom

we

should

ask

God

we

give

generously

to

all

without

finding

fault

and

it

will

be

given

to

you

in

Proverbs

18

17

also

emphasize

that

he

loves

those

who

love

him

and

those

who

take

him

will

find

him

神

like

proget

the

that

dziele

of

course

the

bible

set

the path straight for us.

And not only set our path straight,

he points

us to Christ.

He points us to Christ

to show us his love

for us.

That he gave himself for us

as a fragrant

offering and a sacrifice to God.

Without the Christ wisdom

revealed to us in the Bible,

we cannot know the best choice

that prevents us from falling

into the hand of Lady Foley.

A theologian,

Donald Whitney,

says that there is simply

no healthy Christian

life apart

from a diet of milk

and meat of Scripture.

This means we need a

regular intake of words

as a spiritual diet to know

the ways and the will of the Lord,

to know what is pleasing to God

as well as what is

ultimately best

and most fulfilling

for ourselves.

Friends, this is crucial

to remember we're not only

the ones in these situations.

We have people out there,

the simples are out there,

and we need to go out

and invite them.

We need to let them know

about the nourishment

the words of God

offers.

That Christ

loves

for all.

So that we're not only

partakers in the feast,

but to extend

the invitation to others,

allowing them

to experience

God's grace

and to undergo

the transformation

through his wisdom.

Friends, if we accept

Christ's invitation

this morning,

through repentance

means

lady fully

has

no

more

power over us.

Simple as that.

We will receive

forgiveness.

We will become

an insider.

The mystery

of the gospel

will be unveiled

to us.

We will become

an adopter

child of God.

Becoming partakers

in his inheritance

and assurance

for eternal life

and

a grand

banquet

to come.

let me finish

by just reading

from Isaiah

25

6-8

It's a prayer

I want to leave

with you.

It says,

On this mountain

the Lord

Almighty

will prepare

a feast

of rich food

for all people.

a banquet

of aged

wine

the best

meats

and the finest

of wines.

On this mountain

he will destroy

the shroud

that enfolds

our peoples

the sheath

that covers

all nations.

He will swallow

up death

forever.

The sovereign

Lord

will wipe away

the tears

from all faces.

he will remove

his people

from all

the elves.

The Lord

has spoken.

Let us come

to him

in his invitation

as we experience

God's invitation

every day

in everything

that we do.

Once we are

in Christ

we have it all.

Satan

or Lady Foley

or whatever

description

that they can

come with it

has no power

over us.

So I plead

with you

this morning.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus

we thank you

for your words.

We thank you

for your word

is truth.

We thank you

for your love

that's shown

from the beginning

of Genesis

to the end

of Revelation.

We thank you

that your love

for us

never ceased.

They are fresh

every morning.

Lord please

I beg

and I pray

that you will

reach out to us

every day

whatever our position

with you.

If we are right

with you

Lord please

continue to

guide us

energize us

and encourage us

and increase

our faith

in you

Lord.

And we are

not sure

where we are

today

with you.

Lord we pray

God that you

will make us

right with you.

You bring us

to that position

not only to

tremble at your

words

but to submit

to it

and to give

honor

to you

and call you

Habba

Father.

So I pray

this in Jesus

name.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you

Aaron

and what

a wonderful

reminder

that Jesus

still calls us

he still gives us

that invitation

and just

thinking

to