Day 1 // The fear of the LORD #wiseupchallenge24

Blessings everyone and welcome to our 31 Days of Proverbs. We are excited to get started. We have a brand new playbook just for you as we go through these 31 days. Each day we're going to be diving into a chapter of Proverbs so that we can— what? Win at the game of life. How many of you want to have a better life? So my question to start off with: what are you getting? What did you get today? What do you plan to get tomorrow? That's, that's my question to everyone as we kick off this 31 Days of Proverbs, and look, the playbook is ready. It's set. We have some audibles that we might have to throw in. I'm not too familiar with the game of football, but when it comes to sports, you want to have a strategy. You want to have a system as you go through things, and with Proverbs, it allows us to get some insight to different life situations. Before, you know, it actually happens. And that's what Proverbs means, is pro. Like, we want to get better, we want to, we want to become a professional in life, we want to win. We don't want to, you know, lose at all times. Um, now we know we will have trouble in this world, but that does not qualify as losing when you have the playbook, you have the blueprint, you have You have the Bible, you have those instructions, and that is why we are diving into these Proverbs. And so that we can make sure that our actions are aligned with what we call our BBB— our beliefs, our behaviors, and our bearings. We want to bear much fruit of love, joy, peace, the Spirit of God. So that is why we are diving deep into Proverbs for this month, 31 days. So come on, get your pen, get your papers out, and we're going to study this playbook. Now we're getting started with Proverbs 1, and so first I want to— like I said, this is a system, this playbook. As we go through each chapter, it is a system, it's a strategy on how to diff— you know, approach different situations in life, make better decisions. Our behaviors start to change when we get better with the Bible, when we get better with words, the, the word, when we get better with a relationship with Christ and know more and more about him. And that's, that's what I, I encourage you, um, in your daily time of reflection and devotion and prayer time and, you know, to really get to know who Christ is, because he is the way, he is the truth, and he is the life. And when you start to build off of that, you'll start to see wins in your own life. So the, the purpose of this is to recognize that wisdom begins with a healthy respect for higher power. So first, we got to get in alignment. We got to get in alignment when it comes to God and knowing that he is our higher power. We are not— we are, we are, we are going through Proverbs because he is proactive. He went ahead and provided us with everything that we need. He owns everything. So we, we have to make sure that we have a healthy respect for a higher power. And this one is to my parents. And this, this, this note, because overall this playbook, it's for everyone from youth to, um, teens to young adults to adults. This is for everyone because you can apply these things. If you don't apply it today, you might need it tomorrow. And we are building up a toolbox, um, so that we know where to pull the The tools that we need. And so this one is specifically to my parents because one of the things is we have to teach on healthy respect. You don't just receive respect without teaching or knowing what it really truly means to really respect. And as we respect a height, as we respect God, and as we honor the Son and the Holy Spirit that empowers us To move forward and to teach others, to love others, to be joyful. This is key as we start this playbook for knowing a healthy— well, having a healthy understanding of respect and for higher power. So we, we put that into practice. So my encouragement to parents is just put it into practice, and because when you practice it it shows, and the, the children and everyone will be able to follow and have a healthy respect for the same higher power that you have respect for, and that's God. Um, so the mindset as we go into these 31 days, you're going to need a mindset. And when I— there you hear paradigm shift, but when I say paradigm shift, I just mean shift your understanding. Trust— when we say trust in the Lord with all your heart And lean not to your own understanding. That's something that we truly have to do. We have to really go in with a mindset of humility, and that is key, um, to know what you don't know. So as we go into these— this playbook, I want you to come in with an open mind. Come in with an open mind. Come in with like, I don't know everything. And as I sit here, I don't know everything. So this 31 days, we're going to be growing together. We're going to be getting some insights together. We're going to be crafting this playbook together. We're going to be throwing the plays together. And so it'll show in our actions as we continue to seek guidance, learn from others, and avoid shortcuts. That is one of the things I want you to remember, is to avoid shortcuts. It's, it's better to go through it the long haul because that's what faithfulness is, is longevity. We're in this for the long haul, so give yourself grace. When I say give yourself grace, that means saying, okay, well, I know that I'm not going to see a 100% change on tomorrow, but I am seeking to get better every single day, and I'm going to make sure that my actions are in alignment with that, that mindset, the mindset as far as humility. And knowing that as I continue to build this relationship with God and the actions based off of the actions that he has given us in the blueprint, which is the Bible. And so we're going to be going through a lot of the verses as we break it down. So first, just for the purpose of Proverbs, let's start with Proverbs 1:1. The Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. Is for gaining wisdom and instruction. So my question was at the beginning, what are you getting? Are you getting wisdom? Are you getting instructions daily? And so it's for understanding words of insight, for receiving instruction in prudent behavior. So cautious, you know, be cautious about the things that you are receiving. So that's what it means, like prudent behavior. I want you to take Take some time. Be slow. Be slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to be angry. So that's being prudent. Taking those instructions and actually being prudent. So doing what is right and just and fair. Forgiving prudence to those who are simple knowledge and discretion to the young. So I want y'all to remember those three things: to the simple. Those who are simple have knowledge and discretion, and the young. So this is what we're going to be giving to the young is is knowledge and discretion. I actually I keep saying discretion, but dis um but let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance for understanding proverbs. And parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instructions. So we don't want to be like the fool who, who rejects, um, or despise wisdom and instruction. This is why we're going into Proverbs, because we, we identify to where we can locate ourselves. And that's why I said when we come in with a humility or respect, And say, okay, I'm open to locating me and saying, okay, we've all rejected some wisdom and instruction, but this is why we want to win at the game of life. We want to locate ourselves. If we're at the end of the— let me use an analogy. If we're at the end of the field goal or the court— I know basketball, I don't know too much about football. But if we're at the end of the court and we're trying to get to the other side, we have to first locate ourselves. And so that way we can measure, you know, and count the cost, um, like the word. So, and not say, okay, well, you know, yeah, count the cost. Let's just count the cost. And so now at that point in time, we might get to the point where we might have to throw an audible. This is where the audible come into play with you throwing, you know, so you find yourself at the back of the court. Mm-hmm. And, or you feel like you're just behind. That's why I said we're going to come in with giving ourselves some grace, because if you're feeling overwhelmed, you want to shift your focus to small manageable goals. So you have the free throw line, you have the half court, you have the other free throw line. So okay, well, I'm going to make it to the free throw line today. I'm going to shoot to the free throw line. And that's why it says listen. My son, to your father's instructions, and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. So really just taking heed to instructions, because someone probably already made it down the court and they're probably trying to guide you. So you have to kind of really— when you say— when I say locate yourself really saying, okay, let me sit still, let me, let me really listen. Now, it— I know sometimes it could be hard to listen because that is a skill. Listening is not just something that you just, you know, you're born with. You— yet you're born with hearing, but when it comes to actually listening, that's going to take action. And that's why we're diving into Proverbs, because we need to know how to Act. We need to be taught how to act, and that's why we're going through each one of these. So we can go through the— like you said, the scripture. Every scripture is God's breath and is useful for teaching us, correcting us, rebuking, and training us in righteousness. So we have to be— we have to be trained in righteousness. And as we get older, there's going to be some things that needs to be rebuked. There's going to be some things that needs to be um, correct it. And so as we go through these teachings that Proverbs is, is guiding us through, we can actually heed and take and take understanding and take those instructions and actually put it into our lives. So it says, my son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. So it already tells you right there, you're going to be facing in this game, in this game of life, you're going to be facing some things where some men are going to try to entice you entice you to do something that is sinful. Now, it doesn't matter whether who you are, there is going to be someone who— because we have our sinful nature, and if that sinful nature has not yet matured into Christ, it's going to entice you to do some things that you, you should not, um, that is sinful. Um, so you don't want to give in to that other sinful nature that they're enticing you to do. So if they say, come along with us, let's lie in wait for innocent blood, let's ambush some harmless soul, let's swallow them alive like the grave and whole like those who go down to the pit, we will get all sorts of valuable things. So therefore, let's, let's, let's take a moment to really re— redefine— well, not redefine, but let's reimagine the law, the, the Commandments. Or we have to— I want to remind you guys of the Commandments because this is talking and hitting on some of the Commandments and the, the enticement into breaking one of those Ten Commandments as far as being enticed based off of someone else's sinful nature. And Um, telling you to go take valuable things. That's stealing, which thou shalt not steal. Um, so we have to be reminded, we have to remember. And one of the things that as we win in the game of life, we want to remember that we have a choice. And that's one of the things that the enemy, the, the devil, the, the, the things of evil, of our sinful nature, try to come after is our ability to remember. And so we want to remember those— the commandments as we go through here. So we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder. Cast lots with us, we will all share the loot. My son, do not go along with them. Do not go along with them. Do not set foot on their paths. For their feet rush into evil; they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves. Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain. Ill-gotten gain. It takes away the life of those who get it. So going after that path, that's the wrong path to go on. So this is basically giving us instructions to say when you are being enticed by someone else's sinful nature, they're trying to get you to do something, we need to be aware. We need to operate in awareness. That's why we want to start with humility to a higher power, like, okay God, Once we know we have that respect, we, we can remember that this is the words that God has already told us, because he already told us that these are some of the things that we're going to face. Now, without knowing the— having the wisdom and instructions, you are putting yourself at a risk of running into such as this, as it speaks in Proverbs. Because they lie in wait for their own blood. They ambush only themselves. Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain. It takes away the life of those who get it. Out in the open, wisdom calls aloud. She raises her voice in the public square. So this is an introduction to, um, wisdom. This is a, a, and, and Lady Wisdom. I want you guys to remember Lady Wisdom. Now she's like the I would say she's like the quarterback, okay? Or, you know, calling the plays. And she's trying to advise you guys of what is the, the, um, the defense that is coming against you. And she's just— she's crying out to everyone, right? Like, right now I'm crying out to everyone right now saying we really need to Take some time to really study Proverbs and up our playbook. Our playbook needs to be, um, really put into practice. So you know how you have the plays? You have to practice the plays. One time is not enough. Um, we have to continue to remind ourselves of the plays, um, of the audibles. Like, okay, this person is trying to entice me. Um, this person is saying exactly what the, you know, the word in Proverbs said. Um, this helps me to discern, you know, I've never heard, um, I never heard someone say this before, and but now you hear it. But at the same time, the, the life philosophy as far as, okay, when people try to entice you, the scripture becomes your life philosophy to say, okay, This the filter I'm going to put this through, and I know that this is, this is an automatic no. And so this is what I'm crying out to everyone as we kick off this 31 Days of Proverbs, is how long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? And that's why I really wanted to do this 31 Days of Proverbs so that we can get some knowledge and actually sit down and teach, correct, rebuke, and, and train others in righteousness. It's one thing that I'm doing this also so that others that is in my path, they too can Be led in righteousness, be taught in righteousness. If I don't know, if you don't know, you, you— do you know what path you on? Do you even know if you're on the path that they're talking about with someone enticing you? Do you know? And so we have to— and even if somebody is on that path, if you're on that path, you can actually help somebody and you both can, you know, turn. Now let's— that's, that's where I want to get into next. Let's go ahead into a whole nother audible. If in need of direction, call on mentors or support groups. So there's someone that can guide you into the path, and that's why it says repent at my rebuke. Then I will pour out my thoughts to you. I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call, and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept In turn, I will laugh when disaster strikes you. I will mock when calamity overtakes you. When calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you, then they will call to me, but I will not answer. They will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. And that is the key. That's when we're talking about humility. It's fear in the Lord. Without this, these words, this knowledge, this understanding, without this instructions, we are putting ourselves at a, at a, at a place of disaster. We're putting our, um, our lives, and we are going to have trouble. But this type of trouble, when you don't have the knowledge and understanding, is a different type of trouble. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's like the Lord is not protecting you. It's like you're walking and you think, okay, I'm— I got God with me, but you, you're really not covered because he's giving you— he wants you to really study to show yourself approved. So since they will not accept my advice and spurn my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and will be filled with the fruit of their schemes. So, for the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease without fear of harm. So that's the first play, is what? Fear the Lord. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.