Have y'all go to 1 Timothy 4 once again, just a short review of this and what we talked about Wednesday. If you remember last Wednesday, last Sunday rather, we talked about Paul's comment to Timothy, Paul's command to Timothy to not get tangled up in debates and discussions about false teachings endless genealogies, fables, because they were of little value, actually of no value to him. But he told him to exercise himself rather unto godliness. And if he would do this, if he would train himself and exercise himself in the discipline of godliness, he would be an effective gospel minister. Look at it, 1 Timothy 4, 6. Just a quick review. Paul says, if thou put the brethren, In remembrance of these things, and of course, these things is all of what he has taught in the first chapters of the epistle, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up, that actually means trained up, in the words of faith, and of good doctrine whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness, For bodily exercise profiteth little. It's of a lot less value. But godliness is a lot more valuable. It's profitable unto all things, having promise of life, or the life that now is, and of that which is to come. And then he finishes that thought with, this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. Now, this is a pastoral epistle. But this is not just pastoral instruction. We all have a responsibility as Christians to be godly, to exercise ourselves unto godliness. Pastors are not the only ones that are called to live godly lives. We all are. But as we learned last week, after God saves someone, godliness doesn't just happen automatically. It'd be great, right? God saves you and automatically everything changes. All of your attitudes, everything just kind of downloads and you have it all and you're a complete mature Christian. But that's just not how it happens. And that was, as we learned last Wednesday, remember the subject on Wednesday was the words of Christ. Have you not read? Have you not read this? And who did Christ always say that to were those that were the religious Pharisees, the scribes, the teachers. When he spoke to them and said, these are things that you ought to know. And listen, I bring that to you. If you've been a Christian for any length of time, there's things that you should know and actually things that you should practice in your life. The truth that you know should be transforming you. And so that's what we looked at on Wednesday. And we brought that, have you not read to you? Do you read the scriptures? How are you going to exercise yourself on the godliness? How are you going to become godly? And one of the primary means to that is reading the scriptures, but not a casual reading of the scriptures. You're not just casually reading it like you would a fictional novel. but you read it prayerfully, you read it believing it, you read it in obedience and with the intent to obey it, you read it by faith, you read it as it's God's word. Remember 1 Thessalonians, for this cause also thank we God without ceasing for when you receive the word of God or let me say when you read the word of God, which you got from us, you read it or received it because when you read it, you'd be receiving it. You read it not as the words of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God. See, that's how we're to read the word. We're to receive it as the word of God. It's one of the primary means that godliness will come forth from our lives. And so we're to immerse ourselves in the word. It's one of the primary holy habits. You're to have some holy habits that you partake of. so that you may mature and grow in grace. Yes, we need God's grace and God's help if the ultimate end result is going to be godliness. Remember, we said you can't just take the scriptures like a textbook. A lost person can't just take the scriptures and read them and become a Christian. That's not how Christianity comes forth. You're made wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus, which we find in the word of God. In fact, that passage, the Holy Scriptures are able to make thee, it's the same word as power. So God uses the Scriptures to powerfully save us. Now, we move now from godliness to another, I would say, characteristic that should be true of you if you're a Christian. And it should become more prominent as you grow in grace. And that is wisdom. That is wisdom. Not only should you cultivate godliness in your life, but you should also pray for and ask God for wisdom. But again, as James says, if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and it upbraideth not, but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. So this wisdom that you ask God for isn't just going to download to you and you're gonna be full of wisdom. Wisdom doesn't just happen automatically. It's another thing, another holy habit that you must exercise yourself in. Think about it, the more you know of God and his word, the more you will know God's will. Isn't that right? This is God's revealed will. In other words, God put in the word of God what he wants you to know as a Christian. He put commands in here. He put things that are indicative that'll actually be true of you if you're a Christian. In other words, this is who you will be. But he also put many commands. And you know what a command is. I mean, I was in the military, I know what a command is. If you've never been in the military, a command is do this. Jesus gives many commands like that. Now, the more we know of God and his word, the more we know God's will. In other words, what God wants us to do. We know the mind of God. And this is how we become wise in our lives out in the world, in the things that will confront you every day. We all need this wisdom that comes from God. And so by reading the word, By giving ourselves to the word, by receiving the word, you will know how to behave in the world, how to react, how to think. And these are critical. You will know how, when, and what you should say. You'll know how to say something. You'll know when you should say something. And you'll know when you shouldn't say anything. See, we need this wisdom. And the more we know of God, the more we give ourselves to God. And listen, this is actually more than just exercise. In fact, when we read what Solomon writes in the Proverbs, it's akin to a struggle to get it. It's almost like somebody in a cave with a pickaxe looking for a vein of gold. I mean, digging, in a tunnel, in a mine, to try and find this thing of wisdom. You see, wisdom happens in the life of one of his children when God's commands are lived and practiced. And they become almost like muscle memory. It's like, this is God in you. And that won't happen unless you're given to the word. The word is key here. Listen, by wisdom you will be led into right paths, by the wisdom that God gives. And you'll be led away from wrong paths. You will know when to avoid certain people and places. You'll be cautious, you'll ponder the path of your feet before you go there. Prudence and discernment are akin to wisdom. You will look away. You will turn away from sin and wickedness. You'll see sin and you won't just stumble right into it. You'll refuse to listen to things that would influence you away from Christ. This is how wisdom works. This is how God begins to work. It's akin to godliness. but it's a little more in that respect. Look at Deuteronomy chapter five. Let me show you, this is a good passage in Deuteronomy chapter five, four, chapter four, I'm sorry, in verse five. Deuteronomy, the book of Deuteronomy chapter four and verse five. Deuteronomy 4.5. Wisdom happens or wisdom is happening when the life of God is practiced in your life, and it's not gonna happen without giving yourself to the word. Look at verse five. Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, Moses said, that you should so do in the land whither you go to possess it. So God's given you his word basically is what Moses is saying here to the people. Now listen, he says, keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations. Now listen, think about you in the world, Christian. This is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of all the lost in the world, which shall hear all these statutes. They'll hear the word of God and they'll say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great who have God so nigh unto them? I mean, listen, that could be said of the church. as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for. And what nation is there so great that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I have set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, or keep your heart." You see, soul and heart are synonymous here. lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thine heart all the days of thy life and teach them thy sons and thy sons' sons. Parents, get this responsibility. Your kids ask you hard questions, you need to give them the answers. Don't wait for the school to give them the answers. You give them the answers. And make sure it's from the word of God. You teach them the good and right ways of the Lord. Don't let them be influenced out in the world. Let them go out into the world and be an influence to the world by what you have taught them of God. This is critical. Where is this wisdom start? Psalm 111 in verse 10, just one verse. Psalm 111 in verse 10. There's so much said about wisdom in the scriptures. I will probably leave out one of your favorite references because it would just be too much. But if, come tell it to me afterwards or if you have one. Psalm 111 verse 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And good understanding have all they that do practice his commandments. His praise endureth forever. Now look at Proverbs 1 and verse 1. It's apropos that this should be here in the beginning of one of the books of wisdom, Proverbs 1.1. Notice the Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. He says, to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity, to give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion, Now here's one of the characteristics of someone who is wise. A wise man will hear and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. And so a wise man will hear and a wise man will learn. So you see, child of God, wisdom begins with a very high view of God. And when you esteem and revere God and worship Him, that's how wisdom begins. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We saw on Timothy last time, and that from a child, Paul told Timothy, thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. So this is very important. If you do not fear the Lord, you cannot possess the wisdom of God. If you do not revere God, if you do not hold God in very high esteem, if you do not have a very high vertical view of God. Now, very important side note here. If you're not a Christian, if you've never turned from your sins to Christ, you do not and cannot possess the wisdom that is from God. But here is your opportunity, don't let it pass. Turn from your sins to Christ. This is the book that the wisdom of God is given in. You can be made wise unto salvation. In fact, as I said earlier, the Holy Scriptures are able to make you wise. That word able means that's how God saves with his word. And so know that to be of a truth. But now back to wisdom that comes from God. How do you get it? How do I get it? Well, much in the same way that you attain godliness by training, by discipline and practice of the word. But if you would possess wisdom that comes from God, if you would be wise, Again, you must be like a miner in God's word. You must seek and dig for this truth as for gold. Or like a man who painstakingly, like the man that painstakingly looked for that treasure that was in the field, Matthew chapter 13. Now turn to Proverbs 2, this is really the principle text. Matthew, I'm sorry, Proverbs 2, turn to Proverbs 2. I'm looking at Matthew 13 written on the paper here. Proverbs 2, Proverbs 2. So I'm a Christian already. You're saying I'm a Christian. How do I get this wisdom? Look at it, verse one. And listen to these words of action, words of intent, things that describe things that you must do. My son, if thou wilt receive my words and hide my commandments with thee, so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom. And where are you going to incline your ear unto wisdom? From the word of God. And you apply thine heart to understanding. Yea, if thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding. I mean, you listen to what Solomon's saying here. It's as if he's crying out to God for this. I'm crying out to God, I'm inclining my ear. I want this understanding from you, Lord. He says, if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures, Then there's that word then. When you do that, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom. Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous. He stores it up for his children. He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly, a shield He keeps the path of judgment and preserves the way of his saints. Verse nine, then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment and equity, yea, every good path. And so you see the struggle of the righteous man in Proverbs 2. Look at Proverbs 3, 13. Look here, happier, blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that gets understanding. For the merchandise of it, that word merchandise means the profit, the gain, or the value of wisdom. The merchandise of wisdom is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things that thou canst desire in the world are not to be compared unto godly wisdom. She is a tree of life. Or length of days rather is in her right hand and in her left hand, riches and honor. Her ways are the ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. You see this her ways? If you have the wisdom of God, you're going to live in certain ways. There's gonna be a way about you that is different than the way of the world. Her ways are the ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is everyone that retaineth her." Now, what does this tell us? It tells me, and it ought to tell you, that wisdom can be lost. It's perishable if you do not retain it yourself. You must retain wisdom. You must have maintenance of wisdom in your own life. So you see, like godliness, wisdom isn't going to just happen. But you must have wisdom. And I will say this, that if you're a Christian, you will have it. You will have wisdom. Listen, there are many who know a lot of truth. They would be theologians. They have a lot of the knowledge of God. But unless that truth and that knowledge that you have transforms you and your life, unless you embrace, unless you obey and practice and live that truth, you cannot and you will not be wise. There are a lot of people that are wise in their own conceit. They're conceited because they have so much knowledge, but they practice none of what they possess. See, a wise man or woman knows that they have much to learn. And as Solomon said in the beginning of Proverbs, he says, a wise man will hear and learn. So those that are wise will realize that they have much still to learn. Now, back to when God first saved you, you were made wise unto salvation through the Holy Scriptures, the gospel of Jesus Christ. If the holy scriptures are able to make you wise unto salvation, if God is able to powerfully use his word to bring you to faith in Christ, are the scriptures able to make you wise in other key aspects of your life? Are there ways that God will make you wise in every aspect of life? The fact is that every one of you and me, children of God, should be maturing in godliness and wisdom. You should be growing. Listen, in the Word of God, the Bible says days should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom. In other words, the older you are, the wiser you should be, Christian. It's terrible for you to say I've been a Christian for 50 years and you've got nothing to say, or for 20 years. The longer you're in Christ, the more you should have in the wisdom of God. I mean, you remember Psalm 1, listen. Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. Think about why he doesn't do these things. Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. See, this is where his wisdom comes from. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. And here in verse six, for the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Your way should be the way of the righteous. Now, allow me to make some applications for you, some applications of God's wisdom and how it should be in you. First, there are times when you should speak and there are times when you shouldn't say anything. And listen, these characteristics should be true of you and they should be more prominent in you as you grow in grace. In the discipline and communication or government of your tongue, your wisdom or your lack of wisdom will be known. You can know someone who is wise just by listening to them speak or not speak. Your tongue will always reveal your heart. Or if I can say, betray your heart. Ecclesiastes 3.1, look there. Two passages, Ecclesiastes 3.1. Just some, applications to make in your life. And you can ask yourself, you can evaluate yourself as you should. And listen, the scriptures teach us about how we communicate the government of our tongue. We even communicate in body language. But look at it, Ecclesiastes 3.1, to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Look at the second part of verse seven now, a time to keep silence and a time to speak. If you've got a tongue problem, you've got a heart problem. Wisdom within from God will guide you and help you to govern your tongue. It may not mean anything here, but don't you think it's notable that Solomon mentioned silence first? First he says a time to keep silence. In fact, when I was thinking about it, I was thinking time to speak and time to keep silence. But it's actually the other way around. He says a time to keep silence. I think it speaks volumes that Solomon wrote, keep silence before you speak. I heard an old saying, I don't know who said it. When I was in the military, somebody told me you have two ears and one mouth, and therefore you should listen twice as much as you speak. and so an image example for us from God. But look at Proverbs, just to show you this wisdom, Proverbs 26, four, and here's where you need wisdom, just in this passage here, in these two verses, Proverbs 26, four and five, and you've been in these situations. I know of a fact every one of you has been in a situation like this. Verse four. Answer not a fool, which by the way, a fool is the complete opposite of someone who's wise, but answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Verse five, answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. Now you need wisdom from God to know when you should answer a fool, and when you should not answer a fool. This is where you need the wisdom that comes from God. And why is it so important? Because you are of God, you're a Christian, and you are to be communicating Christ in the world. Look at Proverbs 10, 19, just back up. Proverbs 10, 19, we're talking about wisdom or the lack thereof as seen in the government of the tongue. Proverbs 10, 19, in the multitude of words, there wanteth not sin. In other words, those that talk too much, sin more than those that don't talk very much. In the multitude of words, there will be sin or there wanteth not sin. But he that refraineth his lips is wise to know when not to say anything. James 119, just listen. Let every man among you, James says, be swift to hear and slow to speak and slow to anger. He goes on to say, for the wrath of man work, if not the righteousness of God. So here's wisdom. Now listen, this is not just something that's confined to the tongue and to the mouth. It's as the mouth speaks, it speaks what comes forth from the heart. And then James 1.26, just listen. James says, if any among you seem to be religious and they don't bridle their tongue, they don't control their tongue, they're deceiving their own heart. And James says, this person's, this man or woman's religion is vain. You see, the wisdom that comes from God should teach us government of the tongue, communication, When to speak, when not to speak. This is what we need God for. And God teaches us, gives us examples of this in the word of God. Second, not only will your wisdom from God be known in how you govern your tongue, but also in what you say. This is where your wisdom from God should be very apparent. Your words, listen, when you speak, Of all the people in the world, when you go out into the world, when you speak, your words should be impactful, they should be influential, they should be thought provoking, and they should be directional. And what I mean by directional is your words should point people to Christ. They might think that you're a weirdo and you're strange and you're one of those Jesus people, but good. Your words should point people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 50, don't turn there, but the prophet said there, and it's prophetic of Christ, but it should be of us too. The prophet says, I should know how to speak a word in due season to them that are faint. We should know that. Listen, the Christian shouldn't be somebody that's got nothing to say. You got a lot to say. And listen, the wisdom of God in us ought to help us to say the things that we should say. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge right. Listen, we do a disservice to Christ and we drag his name through the dirt when we are conceited with the word of God. We shouldn't do that. We should know how to use the word. The tongue of the just, the wise man says, is of choice silver. The heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many. Do your lips feed people with truth from the word of God? In other words, when you speak to people, are you pointing them to Christ? We should be. Listen, it's not an option that you have this wisdom. You must have this wisdom if you're a Christian. It's in you. It should be in you. The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom, the Bible says. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable. That should be every one of us, children of God. Ecclesiastes, in the end of the book, if you remember, it says the words of the wise are as goads, like nails. They're given by the master of assemblies. They're wise words. In other words, your words should impact people. It should stick in their minds. Wow, you know, that guy said this and maybe I didn't like it, but you know what? It might be true what he's saying about Christ. We should have impactful words. And then listen, your words when you speak should not be offensive. Listen, if you're wise and you're speaking the truth of God out in the world, and you're speaking of Christ, you're going to be seen as offensive anyway. People are going to be offended by you. But you should not purposely try and be offensive. In fact, in Colossians, in chapter 4 and verse 5, Paul wrote this. to the church of Colossae, he said, walk in wisdom toward them that are without redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, gracious, seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer every man. So there's the government of the tongue and then Brethren, next, the wisdom that comes from God will keep you from sin and wickedness. It'll keep you from going down that path that you shouldn't go down. Listen, wisdom from God is found in his word and it will keep you in the straight way and on the right path. But as you must exercise yourself unto godliness, so you must seek God's wisdom and search for it and obey it and practice it. Only then will you walk in your way safely and you will not stumble. Of course, we know what Proverbs 2 says, but look at verse 10. Go back to Proverbs 2 and verse 10. We read the first nine verses. Proverbs 2.10. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul, discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee, to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, the man that speaks forward things, wicked things, keeps you from those that are wicked, who leave the path of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice to do evil and delight in their frowardness, whose ways are crooked and they are froward or wicked in their paths. And so you'll be kept from wrong paths. In fact, Proverbs 22 says a prudent man or a wise person foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. And so wisdom will keep you from sinning against God. There's that passage in Proverbs 6, I believe. Maybe it's Proverbs 7. It's of the simple young man that goes down the street of the harlot, of the whore, of the woman that would trap him. If he knew that and if he wasn't simple, because the Bible calls him a simple man, unwise. If you know there's trouble in a certain way, don't go there. If you know that you may be tempted to sin, the young man went there and she captured him. he went down that vortex of sin, fell into sin. And so the wisdom that comes from God, beloved from his word, will keep you from sinning against God. Finally, if you would be wise, you must never settle down in your Christian life and think to yourself that you have attained. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? Proverbs 26, there is more hope of a fool than of him. You can't teach anyone who already knows it all They learn nothing who think they are wise. But the wisest in the kingdom of Christ will know and realize that they still have much learning that they need if they would be wise. In fact, Proverbs 1.5, we read that, a wise man will continue to learn. Listen to Proverbs 9 in verse seven. I'll read it to you. Scripture says, he that reproves a scorner, giveth to himself shame. And what the wise man's telling you here is don't reprove a scorner. What's a scorner? It's somebody that's gonna turn around and attack you for trying to put them on the right path. Don't reprove a scorner lest he hate thee. Notice, rebuke a wise man and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man and he will yet be wiser. Teach a just man and he will increase in learning. So you see the wisdom of the wise is that they will receive a rebuke. They will listen to someone who tells them that they were wrong. As an earring of gold and ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. Someone who listens. I asked the kids this, when Jesus was a 12 year old boy, was he as wise as he would ever be? You think about that. He was the son of God, even though he was 12 years old. Was he as wise as he would ever be? I'll just, I won't answer that. I'll just read to you what Luke 2 and 52 says. You remember that's when Jesus went to the temple and they left and they didn't know where he was and they went back and they were full of sorrow looking for him, searching for him, Mary and Joseph. Verse 49 of Luke 2, after he was rebuked by his mother, verse 48, son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, how is it that you sought me? Wish ye not or don't you know that I must be about my father's business? Now remember he says this and Joseph's standing right there. Joseph's not his real father. And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them and he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them. But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart and Jesus increased in wisdom. He increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. So there you have it. Listen, once you begin to learn wisdom, this is the final thing, you must be careful not to lose it. Solomon said this, my son, let not wisdom and understanding, let not them depart from mine eyes. keep sound wisdom and discretion, so shall they be life unto thy soul and grace to thy neck. It'll be an adornment to your life. 1 John 2.24, John says this, let that therefore the truths of Christ which he speaks of abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, if that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you. You also shall continue in the son and in the father. Now I'll close with James chapter three. James chapter three in verse 13. I'll give you one passage of contrast. In Proverbs 18 to listen, Christian, you should be one who desires to know more of God, to understand the revealed will of God, to practice and obey the truths of God. Proverbs 18.2, Solomon writes, a fool has no delight in understanding. But Christian, it should be your delight. A fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. Listen, when God teaches us from his word, the Christian life is all about discovering yourself and turning from your sins to Christ and being transformed into the image of Christ, being exercised unto godliness, becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. You can't just not deal with it. Listen, a Christian in wisdom deals with their sins before God and in the Holy Scriptures and by prayer and by dependence upon God. But a fool does not want to discover himself, just wants to stay the way he is. That's not the Christian life. James 3.13, who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Well, who is this wise man or wise woman? Let him show out of a good conversation, or in his conduct, and in his character, his works with meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish." And so there is another wisdom that you must guard against, and it's the wisdom that's in the world. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated. It's full of mercy, compassion, and good fruits. It's without partiality, it's not prejudice. and it's without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. Solomon goes on, he says this, I don't remember where, but he says, get wisdom. And with all thy getting, get understanding. He says, go after it, seek it for silver and search for it as for hid treasures. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. It's not enough simply to know the doctrines of the scriptures, beloved. That's good. But we want to be wise in those truths which our God teaches us. We want his wisdom to be in us. We want it to be part of our lives so that we may show forth Christ in this lost and dying and needy world. Amen, let's dismiss in prayer. Lord, help us, I pray. Father, I don't believe that there's a Christian in here who would say, I don't really care for this wisdom and I don't really want it. I don't think any of your children would say that. And yet, Father, if we would have it, we must pray for it, but then we must dig for it. Father, we must seek for it, search for it. Father, that we would do well and that we would make the name of Christ shine brightly in the world because of thy wisdom in us. And so I pray that you would help us, Heavenly Father, to have this wisdom that is from above. Oh God, help us to cast off the wisdom that is of this world. Lord, help us to never be wise to do evil. Oh God, we trust you. We pray that you would be with the lost. I pray that you would give them that initial wisdom of knowing Jesus Christ, that they might be saved from their sins. Father, we pray for it, we ask for it. Now we ask that you'd bless our fellowship, Father. I pray that we would speak of the things of God around the lunch table. I pray you would be exalted and lifted up. Lord, we thank you for the food, all who have prepared it and brought it. We ask for your blessings. I pray that we would not sin in eating it and receiving it. Father, you are so good to us to give us all these good things. We give you the praise in Jesus name. Amen.