Oscar Mayer Has Created A Device To Turn Your iPhone Into A Bacon-Scented Alarm Clock. Why? Cuz awake in the light is good, wise and right! There are a couple clocks like this now!
Why not an alarm like this really? There's been approximately two million mentions of #bacon on Instagram, so it seems people never get tired of bacon. That’s why their team decided to develop such a device. I think it's time for Dallas Texas to wake up and smell the bacon!
You know it's not smart for anyone to stay asleep when it's time to wise up in the light. It was a bright Spring day and I found myself headed down the hill to go surfing in Dana Point with my wise high school football coach, Randy Ziglar.
He was a 4A rated surfer from Hawaii and would just tear it up, so I always listened to him when his mouth opened.
On this particular day Randy kept talkin' about his love relationship with Jesus Christ and I never knew he was the "religious type" but I still took it in.
Little did I know, but he wasn't religious at all, but he was the Saturday night evangelist up the coast at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.
I think some seeds where planted as he spoke from the heart to my heart. And you know, it really wasn't too long after that day that I turned and trusted Christ in that area.
My life of unbridled folly had been disrupted by this coach who cared and the fourth Great Awakening in America a.k.a. the Jesus Movement. Am I where I want to be with wisdom today? Nope, haven't yet arrived but I trust by His grace that I will arrive.
Can godly wisdom arrive via the Holy Spirit due to people repenting and praying for a mighty outpouring? Sure.
“This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth: O LORD, I have heard the report of You; I stand in awe, O LORD, of Your deeds. Revive them in these years; make them known in these years. In Your wrath, remember mercy!” Habakkuk 3:1-2
“I will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old.” (Psalm 77:11)
Have seen many young people delivered from very destructive lifestyles and they took hold of Jesus. There was such an outpouring during that great revival and God would heal those willing reprobates, or addicts of folly like myself. Fresh winds, and now they valued God and His wisdom instead of what they had before.
How many have there been? Four. Yes, we’ve had four Great Awakenings in America. The first, from about 1740 to 1742, was led by men such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield. Around 50,000 people were added to the churches of New England during the First Great Awakening, which was indeed significant for a U.S. population of about 300,000 at that time.
The Second Great Awakening, from the 1790s to around 1840, was led by many, including that on-fire Charles Finney. This was during the days of the shoot em up Wild West, when camp meetings were often held in tents with sawdust floors, and different itinerant preachers came through sharing the Gospel. Thousands and thousands of Americans came to faith during this time.
America’s Third Great Awakening, from 1857 to 1859, which had a unique beginning. A 48-year-old businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier began a humble prayer meeting over in New York City. Though small, it just exploded after the stock market crashed, and within six months, 10,000 New Yorkers were gathering daily for prayer. Around one million people came to believe in Jesus during that Third Great Awakening.
Then we had the Fourth Great Awakening and this last one in American history went from the late 60s and early 70s. I along with many was privileged to have a front-row seat for it..on the carpeting. Church historians call it the Jesus Movement. In So Cal turned and trusted Christ back in 1977. Who knew? There I found myself in the middle of a full-blown spiritual awakening. Could it ever happen again? I pray it will cuz what else can properly address this mess here.
The serious problems of our culture can’t be cured by ballyhoo, endless boycotts, or even at the ballot box..though I tend to go there too.
This world today always seems to be in a state of disequilibrium. The problems are too numerous to mention and mounting higher. Our friends let us know when many news channels won't. But there is a good treatment for what ails us. It’s not found in a pill or a protest or a political candidate. It's found in the Christ -- the wisdom and power of God the Father.
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11
After being asked regarding the possibility of another future awakening or revival, Pastor Chuck Smith Sr. responded with, “Well, people were desperate for revival back then. I am not sure people are desperate enough right now.”
That may be true. How desperate are we? The reality is that often we pray for prosperity in our nation and in our own lives. But the fact is that revival often explodes when there is calamity. Again, the Third Great Awakening happened after the stock market crashed.
Stories of wisdom-imparting type of revivals can spark other biblical revivals! I'm talkin' about the Holy fear of God and what Jesus does in people!
Lord, we Americans need to wise-up. Hilfe. Like You poured it out before, please do it again. What You like to send people, send it to us and through us here. The USA needs another outpouring and we each want to have a part in what you are doing. Please send a sound revival that immediately spawns an awakening to our Land.
Wisdom is more valuable than anything in this world!
God says in Proverbs 3:1–10 (nkjv): “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands (a positive proactive, review);
[2] For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you (benefits).
[3] Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart (positive proactive, memorize, meditate upon, do),
[4] And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man (beneficial).
[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart (another positive proactive), and lean not on your own understanding (good negative, what not to do);
[6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (positive-proactive, seeking, to inquire trusting in. To hear well, to obey Him and subsequently to be blessed n be a blessing!)
“In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth, removing obstacles that block your way.” Prov. 3:6 amp.
Yada - acknowledge Him in all!
[7] Do not be wise in your own eyes (good neg, don't do); fear the LORD and depart from evil.
(proactive positive)[8] It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones (benefit, #emph.mine).
[9] Honor the LORD with your possessions (proactive positive), and with the firstfruits of all your increase;
[10] So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine (benefits).
In His will for you -- wise! Gettin' wise in the Word is livin' well, so focus on the Christ, but also watch over your heart.
* Your heart (Proverbs 3:1–8). What you do with your heart determines what you do with your life (Prov. 4:23). Cultivate an obedient heart (v. 1) that receives God’s Word (v. 3. See 2 Cor. 3:1–3) and a trusting heart that obeys (vv. 5–6). Verse 5 does not suggest that you ignore your mind or common sense, but that you not lean only on them and reject God’s way.
* Your possessions (9–20). Put God first in the way you use His wealth (Matt. 6:33) and major on the things that money cannot buy (vv. 13–18). When God corrects you, accept it as an evidence of His love (Heb. 12:5–6).
* Your conduct (21–26). Let every part of your body be controlled by God’s wisdom (Rom. 12:1–2). Sleep is one of the tests of faith and true surrender to God (Ps. 4).
* Your neighbors (27–35). If you want God’s blessing on your home, be a blessing to those around you. Share what you have and never plan evil against others (Rom. 12:9–21).
- Wisdom in Jesus is more valuable than anything we could have in this world! He is our wisdom!
Foreshadowings: The theme of wisdom and its necessity in our lives finds its fulfillment in Christ. We are continually exhorted in Proverbs to seek wisdom, get wisdom, and understand wisdom. Proverbs also tells us—and repeats it— that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (1:7; 9:10). Our fear of the Lord’s wrath and justice is what drives us to Christ, who is the embodiment of God’s wisdom as expressed in His glorious plan of redemption for mankind. In Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3), we find the answer to our search for wisdom, the remedy for our fear of God, and the “righteousness, holiness and redemption” that we so desperately need (1 Corinthians 1:30). The wisdom that is found only in Christ is in contrast to the foolishness of the world which encourages us to be wise in our own eyes. But Proverbs also tells us that the world’s way is not God’s way (Proverbs 3:7) and leads only to death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).
Early in Disney’s animated “now classic” The Lion King, King Mufasa takes his son, Simba, to the top of Pride Rock to gaze over his kingdom. One phrase stands out in the conversation he has with Simba – never go toward the place covered by shadow. But Simba is impetuous and short-sighted. Deciding to brave into the place his father warned him against, he takes the plunge into danger. Then he barely escapes death – only because of the strength, smarts and bravery of his father – showing himself unworthy for the mantle of king. In The Lion King, Mufasa offers a valuable piece of advice and wisdom to his son as he develops into the future king, but Simba disregards this wisdom because he wants to forge his own identity by making his own right choices. Because Simba makes this choice, a series of events is set into motion that causes his life to spiral. All because he was unwilling to listen to his father’s wisdom.
Q: What are some unwise decisions that you made as a child? What were the consequences?
Q: Did anybody warn you against this action? Why did that person warn you?
Trust in our wise Lord, instead of primarily trusting in you as Lord, or in your, or in another person, or in your company. Christ Himself is the wisdom and power of God the Father. And He said He is the way, truth and life!
Q: What do love and faithfulness have to do with trusting in the Lord’s wisdom?
Q: What promises do these verses make to us?
Check out Proverbs 3, how it can be divided into three sections:
(1) 3:1–10: five sets of instruction with a result for each,
(2) 3:12–20: a hymn in praise of wisdom,
(3) 3:21–35: an appeal to walk in wisdom.
Each section opens with “my son,” as many proverbs do, but this book is not only written for Solomon’s biological sons. It is also written for all the “children” of Israel and any of us who want to learn from his wisdom. You and I want to learn his wisdom. King Solomon shared that these teachings would:
• Prolong your life for many years (v. 2)
• Bring you peace and prosperity (v. 2)
• Help you win favor and a good name with man and God (v. 4)
• Make your paths straight (v. 6)
• Bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones (v. 8)
• Give you plenty of food and drink (v. 10)
Again, please remember that these promises are not guarantees. They are probabilities, or general principles.
1.) In general, if you live by God’s wisdom, you will have peace, prosperity, favor and health. But plenty of people who live by God’s wisdom get sick through no fault of their own. Not everyone who follows Jesus is prosperous, at least financially. And Jesus said that if you follow Him, the world may hate you because of it (John 15:18-20).
That doesn’t sound like winning favor with man. Solomon was not guaranteeing health and wealth, as some “prosperity Gospel” preachers do. He was saying that these proverbs are a good way to live. They are not only the right thing to do in God’s eyes, but they will also benefit you. The well-known and often memorized verses 5–6 are right in the middle of this section, acting as the thesis statement. If we trust in the Lord and lean on His understanding instead of our own, He will make our paths straight. Imagine the benefit of a straight path over one that winds through the wilderness – over hills, through valleys, around obstacles. A straight path gets you where you’re going so much faster!
2.) This doesn’t mean that God will take away every obstacle and make things easy and smooth for you, but the general principle applies. If you follow your own wisdom instead of God’s, you’re more likely to take wrong steps that have negative consequences and throw you off track. We must realize that sometimes the path may seem winding and bumpy to us, but from God’s perspective it’s actually “straight.”
It’s taking us right where He wants us to go. As pastor R. C. Sproul wrote, “Hindsight, as they say, is always twenty-twenty. When we find ourselves in the place where the Lord wants us, we can often look back and see that the confusing path it took us to get there was actually perfectly straight, and that what seemed like twists and turns at the time were necessary steps along the road. When we feel as if we are wandering, we must remember that if we are trusting in God, He is actually guiding us on His straight path.”
3.) The focus in this passage is on the Lord – following His commands (v.1) quickly (Thanks for this Pstr. Jason Snyder & team), having His heart of love (v. 3), fearing Him (v. 7), and honoring Him with all we have (v. 9). Following God isn’t about rules or religious ritual; it’s about our hearts, and our hearts have to be “all in” (v. 5; Romans 2:28–29). We are to honor Him with all that we are and all we have. Our whole lives belong to Him (v. 9; Romans 12:1–2; Colossians 3:17). Moses told the people to bind God’s law on their foreheads and hands (Deuteronomy 6:8), Solomon tells them to write love and faithfulness on the tablet of their hearts (v. 3).
“Tablet” refers to the law of Moses, written on two stone tablets by the very finger of God (Exodus 31:18). But in the new covenant, God promised He would write the law on their hearts instead (Jeremiah 31:33). Here, instead of the law written on their hearts, it’s love and faithfulness, because God’s law is the law of love.
The law is summed up in two things: love God and love others (but always love God far more. Matthew 22:36–40). Jesus said His command is love (John 13:34–35).
Paul wrote that none of the religious stuff we do matters if it isn’t done in love (v. 3; 1 Corinthians 13:1–3). Refills are free -- the wise Holy Spirit will help you walk in and show love. When we live in steadfast love and faithfulness, we walk in God’s wisdom, trusting in His path rather than our own.
Q: Share a time when you trusted in God’s wisdom over your own. What was the result after applying the word wisely?
Q: Give some examples of how following Jesus is the way of love and faithfulness. Proverbs 3:11–20
Awake with God's wisdom is more valuable than gold, silver, or jewels!
Q: Why does God discipline the one He loves?
Q: Have several high-dollar universities retained their value in the USA or have they simply gone way off the tracks.. away from the Bible? Wisdom is more valuable than anything else we could have in this world.
Q: What are some practical reasons that wisdom is so valuable?
Solomon gave us some practical good results that we get from walking in God’s wisdom – straight path, prosperity, health and favor. Here he exploded into a hymn of praise for wisdom, personified as a woman (“she”), just as we saw in chapter 9.
This hymn has the same sentiment we saw there – wisdom is worth all out pursuing with the same passion you would righteously get to know a wonderful wife. Wisdom is more precious than all the valuable things of this world: silver, gold, precious stones (vv. 14–15). Solomon even said wisdom “yields better returns” than gold (v. 14, niv).
Wisdom, going after it, this is a solid investment. When we invest in God's wisdom, we will see great returns in our lives. What kinds of returns? Solomon listed things similar to those listed in the first part: long life, riches, honor, pleasantness and peace.
Again, none of these things is guaranteed in this life, but living by God’s wisdom, generally speaking, is more likely to lead to these things. When we read this passage, we can’t help but think about the kingdom to come, not only because of the description of peace and life is heavenly, but because Solomon’s description of wisdom reminds us of Jesus’ description of the kingdom of God. It is more precious than any jewel. Nothing you desire compares with it. It’s worth selling everything to attain it (v. 15; Matthew 13:44–46).
One day we will experience the final kingdom, but until then, we can get a taste of it now, whenever we live as kingdom people walking in His wisdom on this earth. Things won’t be perfect physically because we live in a fallen world. But we can experience things like supernatural peace (Philippians 4:6–7) and a new abundant life (John 3:1–8; 10:10) in the here and now. In the last part of this hymn, Solomon said God created this world by His wisdom (vv. 19–20).
That means when we walk by God’s wisdom, we are living the way He intended for us to live. Since He is the Creator of this whole world and of us, who knows better the way for us to live in this world? It’s only logical that God has always known best. Knowing that He knows best and knowing how much He loves us are the reasons why we can trust in Him and His path for our lives. Take the wise path, not the path of folly.
The Bible (esv) says, “Just as wisdom is the means by which the Lord founded and established creation (v. 19), so it is the means by which the one who finds it will be sustained (v. 19) and established (Prov. 13–19).”
Q: Describe a time when you experienced the fact that wisdom was more valuable to you than physical riches. How did wisdom help you when money couldn’t?
Q: What are some of the spiritual riches God has given you? Proverbs 3:21–35
God isn’t distracted, sedentary, lazy or passive. He never has been. Therefore godly wisdom in our day (any day really) doesn’t just stay in a mind or heart, it will lead to productive action(s) that glorify the Lord and bless others too. Yes indeed, in doing good to others according to their needs. It has a positive effect. Humbly request wisdom.
Q: Summarize the “do nots” in this passage in one sentence.
Q: How does humility help in the pursuit of wisdom?
Each of these three sections begins with a similar command to “my son” to not forget his father’s teaching (vv. 1–2), to not grow weary of God’s rebuke and discipline (vv. 11– 12), and to not lose sight of wisdom and discretion (vv. 21–22). These are reminders of the importance of wisdom and of persevering in the journey to pursuing it. With all the distractions and temptations in this world, it is easy to lose sight of wisdom. But if we stay the course and keep pursuing it, we will not need to fear (vv. 24–26) and our feet will not stumble (vv. 23, 26). Even deeper, it will be life for our souls (v. 22). In the center is a series of “do not” commands about how not to treat others:
• Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due (vv. 27–28).
• Do not plan evil against your neighbor (v. 29).
• Do not contend with a man for no reason (v. 30).
• Do not envy or follow a man of violence (v. 31).
Solomon has already told us that wisdom is about love and faithfulness. This section shows us love in action. These aren’t just commands, they’re descriptions of how to love your neighbor. Theologian and author of Exposition of Proverbs Charles Bridges said these verses “strike at the root of selfishness.”6 Each of these principles is about loving others in humility, putting the needs of others ahead of your own, as Christ later exemplified (Philippians 2:1–11). These “do nots” aren’t specific rules, as we see in the Mosaic law (Exodus– Deuteronomy), but they provide us with general principles – do good and not evil (vv. 27–29) and don’t fight for no reason or be violent at all (vv. 30–31). This is strikingly similar to Paul’s description of how to live in community in Romans 12: “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:9–21). This passage in Romans also frames loving other as humility or putting others needs before your own (Romans 12:10). This is how Christ loved us – washing our feet, laying down His life for us – and it’s how He commanded us to love others (John 13).
Q: Why is it hard to put the needs of others before your own?
Q: Why is withholding good from someone just as bad as doing evil to them?
Q: How is God calling you to humble yourself and love someone as Christ loved you?
