The LORD's Day January 27, 2008

Walk With the Wise

Proverbs 13.20 (v.14-20)

Proverbs is a Book of Wisdom. It give us direction for life.

One of the things it counsels us on is our relationships- who we should have as our close associates and who we should become friends with. It tells us the kind of person we should look for in wife or husband. It tells us how to keep our relationships healthy and pure.

It tells us who we should spend time with.

Very simply stated we are told he who walks with the wise becomes wise. Walking means a manner of life or journeying. Live with the wise. Make your journey of life with them.

We are all on a journey to eternity. If you are have believed on Jesus to forgive your sins you are headed to heaven. Along that path it is good to make close relationships with those who are wise. We should seek to spend our time with the wise. We will learn from them if we do.

How do we do this?


1. Reading the Proverbs Meditatively is a Way of Walking With the Wise.

The Proverbs were written to be read slowly, carefully and meditatively.

Reading meditatively means to think deeply with reflection. (c.1)

*What is this verse saying about me?
*Is there anything I need to change in my life to fully obey this?
*How am I measuring up to this now?
*Help me obey this, LORD.
*Speak LORD, your servant is listening. Then listen- Be still. Let God’s Spirit speak to your heart.

The Proverbs are meant to be read continually through our lives.
There are things in this book for young, middle age and old. There is a dynamic to God’s Word that corresponds to our spiritual growth.

The Proverbs are so vast, like the whole of the Word of God it will take our whole lifetime to take it in and even then we will just begin to get to its depths. Read them carefully. (3.1-6)

The Proverbs came as a result of an answer to prayer on behalf of Solomon. God’s answer was “I will give you a wise and discerning heart.” (I Kings 3.12) God gave Solomon wisdom. The Proverbs are his record of it. So it makes sense for us to study it.

However the tragedy of Solomon was with all this vast wisdom he didn’t live by some simple directions God gave to him and to all who sat on the throne governing Israel. So while it is good to follow the wisdom and to take warnings from his wrong decisions, we actually need to turn our attention to people other than Solomon for examples of how to live the life of wisdom out...

2. Reading and Rereading the accounts in the scriptures of men and women of God is a way of walking with the wise.

Joseph Genesis 37-50

Look at how he handled personal injustice.
Look at how he handled family problems that were centered around him.
Look at how he prospered in the most difficult circumstances. He kept his integrity.

Daniel Daniel 1-6

Look at how he did what was right when faced with certain persecution.
Look at how he faced danger with courage.
Look at how he kept faithful to the LORD. With his eyes fixed upon God’s glory and obedience.

David I-II Samuel
Look at how he desired God’s Glory.
Look at how humble he was. Whom am I? This was passed onto Solomon. Humility can be.
Look at how he reacted when confronted with sin- the right way

Read Hebrews 11- the Hall of Faith. Then go back and read the references in the Old Testament. Read the New Testament as well. We see the wise and read of their lives.


3. Reading the Biographies of Christian People is Another Way.

I love to read biographies of Christians who are with Jesus. I don’t have wonder if they are going to mess up.

They have finished the course.
They have kept the faith.
It shows me how to do that.

Make them your heroes.
Read several biographies of missionaries, leaders who were servants. Get some old biographies- some are to be gotten at garage sales Use the church library. (Books set out now)

Learn from their lives
What were their Bible Reading habits?
What was their prayer life like?
Look at how little they talked about themselves and how much they talked about Jesus

Notice their lifestyles. They were never investigated for excessive spending by congress.

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13.7

Think about those who have influenced you in your decision to follow Jesus. Considering this is a way of walking with the wise- yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One and Mystic Sweet Communion with those whose race is won. Web sites in the bulletin this morning.

4. Connecting Up with Older Wise Believers is a Wise Thing to Do. II Timothy 1.5
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

I am thankful the LORD gave me that desire- to connect up with the older believers around me.

The blessings have been abundant.

I have learned so much.

Avoid a person who talks too much. We don’t need to fill our minds with the details of others lives- that is the LORD’s job. Don’t make friends with an angry person- someone who talks about all the people who insulted them, someone who is looking for fights or relishes them when they happen to others.

Look for those whose are strong and stable, those who have been where they are for a long time, they have let nothing move them. Too many believers lives have been follow the bouncing ball.


5. Walking with Jesus is the Way to Walk With the One Who Is the Wisdom of God.

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. I John 2.6

Keep it simple. It is about following Him, praying, reading His Word, keeping in step with the Spirit.

Stay Humble. Don’t let pride well up. Remember that we are what we are by God’s Grace.

Be a Servant. Look for places to quietly do things for Jesus.

Be Content. There is little of this around in our country. Rest in Jesus and enjoy what He has given you

Keep you Eyes Fixed on Him.



The main reason for this is He is our LORD. He is our source of strength. He leads us. We are to seek to be like Him. A secondary reason is that in doing so we will not look at others and how God is dealing with them. That is none of our business. It messes us all up. We get side tracked.

Walk with Wise. Become Wise. Become more like Jesus.

I Want To Be Like Jesus

*****************************************
The LORD’s Day
January 27, 2008

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Walk With the Wise
Proverbs 13.20

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for bagels and coffee downstairs if you are visiting today.
Prayer -6pm at the Parsonage

This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 14
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm at the parsonage 1312 Pine Acres Blvd.
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am at the church
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children) The LORD’s Supper
Spanish Service- 4pm


In Your Prayers For All of God’s People

Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son finished his third tour of Iraq- His parents thank us for praying for him. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Stateside now being redeployed in April... Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan, Ken Brown and Tom Hindelang, Billy Knapp Jr. safe during their times in Iraq. Pray for peace... Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her... Remember Jean Louis on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back and uindergoing Physical Therapy. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito remains in serious condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly recovering from a mastectomy. Please remember this whole family in prayer..she has completed chemo therapy for now and is undergoing another round of radiation. .... Pastor’s Dad, Larry Mancini, Sr. waiting to be released from the hospital. He is being treated for a blood clot. There is a blog for him: www.papa2all.blogspot.com . Joey Reda (Charlie and Diane Davison’s Grandson) experiencing some heart arrhythmia. Prudy’s Mom, Rose Ragusa, undergoing treatment- doing well. Jack Simon, a friend of Pastor’s, undergoing treatment for a lung problem.... Leah May facing surgery shortly.... Please pray for healing.. Pastor and Lucy’s Aunt Vivian has been released from the hospital and is home and doing better... Janine Van Cott recovering from back surgery. Tania MacDonald’s Mom, Eloise Naves, went to be with the LORD a few days before Christmas. Please remember her and her family in prayer. Continue to pray for those in our church family who lost loved ones this past year: Rianna, Alice, Anka, Katharina, Eloise’s family, the Muccis... Ilona under the care of a neurosurgeon ... Mary and Warren Von Fricken’s daughter-in-law, Carlina, diagnosed with breast cancer... Anne Smith, the Philadelphia District Superintendent’s (Newell) wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer as well and will be facing a mastectomy very soon. They are long time friends of Pastor.

As we face a new year in very uncertain times let’s give thanks that our LORD leads us and is going before us.
Romans 8.31 If God is for us, who can be against us?
****************************

Notes on Our Time in God’s Word This Morning...

Walk With the Wise

Proverbs 13.20

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/dkuyken/profilesoffamouschristians.htm

http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/biographies/default.asp

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436