12/6/12

The pleasure of your treasure


My first thought was: Somebody was VERY GOOD to give themselves such a treat!!!  Then, I wondered-perhaps it was a gift?  Either way this is a wonderful thing to have (lets forget for a moment about the calories and the difficulty in even consuming such a large candy).  Its hard to imagine something better isn't it?  Wait a minute-I can....

1 Peter, Chapter 1
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you,  5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials,  7 that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—  8 whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory—  9 receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls

Lindt chocolates are amazing, but they only last a little while.  They don't stay with you (unless you account for the weight gain) but the pleasure of these little "treasures" is indeed intense.  Imagine a pleasure that stays with you unendingly; something that lasts for eternity. There is only one thing that comes to my mind-heaven.  No one really wants to die; but to live and live WELL, now there is a GOAL!!!  The picture shows a very large Lindt chocolate, but what it doesn't show is the price and I imagine that is considerable!!!  Like the chocolate, the price for heaven is considerable as well; fortunately, its been paid.  All we have to do is to obey and be faithful and then the greatest gift you can imagine is ours.  Oh, you may have some trials along the way, but they only last for a moment compared to eternity.  And, when we finally enter those pearly gates and actually see our reward- well, its going to be better than any candy you could ever possibly imagine-- and without all the calories!!!!

Bible Reading, Dec. 6


 
Dec. 6
Ezekiel 37-40

Eze 37:1 The hand of Yahweh was on me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of Yahweh, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
Eze 37:2 He caused me to pass by them all around: and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and behold, they were very dry.
Eze 37:3 He said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? I answered, Lord Yahweh, you know.
Eze 37:4 Again he said to me, Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, you dry bones, hear the word of Yahweh.
Eze 37:5 Thus says the Lord Yahweh to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
Eze 37:6 I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am Yahweh.
Eze 37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, an earthquake; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
Eze 37:8 I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.
Eze 37:9 Then said he to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.
Eze 37:10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
Eze 37:11 Then he said to me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.
Eze 37:12 Therefore prophesy, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
Eze 37:13 You shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people.
Eze 37:14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and you shall know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it, says Yahweh.
Eze 37:15 The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying,
Eze 37:16 You, son of man, take one stick, and write on it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Eze 37:17 and join them for you one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.
Eze 37:18 When the children of your people shall speak to you, saying, Will you not show us what you mean by these?
Eze 37:19 tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions; and I will put them with it, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in my hand.
Eze 37:20 The sticks whereon you write shall be in your hand before their eyes.
Eze 37:21 Say to them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, where they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
Eze 37:22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all;
Eze 37:23 neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
Eze 37:24 My servant David shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my ordinances, and observe my statutes, and do them.
Eze 37:25 They shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant, in which your fathers lived; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children's children, forever: and David my servant shall be their prince for ever.
Eze 37:26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore.
Eze 37:27 My tent also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Eze 37:28 The nations shall know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forevermore.
 

Eze 38:1 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
Eze 38:2 Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
Eze 38:3 and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal:
Eze 38:4 and I will turn you about, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords;
Eze 38:5 Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet;
Eze 38:6 Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes; even many peoples with you.
Eze 38:7 Be prepared, yes, prepare yourself, you, and all your companies who are assembled to you, and be a guard to them.
Eze 38:8 After many days you shall be visited: in the latter years you shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, on the mountains of Israel, which have been a continual waste; but it is brought forth out of the peoples, and they shall dwell securely, all of them.
Eze 38:9 You shall ascend, you shall come like a storm, you shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you, and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.
Eze 38:10 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: It shall happen in that day, that things shall come into your mind, and you shall devise an evil device:
Eze 38:11 and you shall say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates;
Eze 38:12 to take the spoil and to take the prey; to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered out of the nations, who have gotten livestock and goods, who dwell in the middle of the earth.
Eze 38:13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions of it, shall tell you, Are you come to take the spoil? have you assembled your company to take the prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great spoil?
Eze 38:14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and tell Gog, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In that day when my people Israel dwells securely, shall you not know it?
Eze 38:15 You shall come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army;
Eze 38:16 and you shall come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in you, Gog, before their eyes.
Eze 38:17 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?
Eze 38:18 It shall happen in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh, that my wrath shall come up into my nostrils.
Eze 38:19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
Eze 38:20 so that the fish of the sea, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the field, and all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
Eze 38:21 I will call for a sword against him to all my mountains, says the Lord Yahweh: every man's sword shall be against his brother.
Eze 38:22 With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him, and on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and sulfur.
Eze 38:23 I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Yahweh.
 

Eze 39:1 You, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal:
Eze 39:2 and I will turn you about, and will lead you on, and will cause you to come up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I will bring you on the mountains of Israel;
Eze 39:3 and I will strike your bow out of your left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand.
Eze 39:4 You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you, and all your hordes, and the peoples who are with you: I will give you to the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the animals of the field to be devoured.
Eze 39:5 You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken it, says the Lord Yahweh.
Eze 39:6 I will send a fire on Magog, and on those who dwell securely in the islands; and they shall know that I am Yahweh.
Eze 39:7 My holy name will I make known in the midst of my people Israel; neither will I allow my holy name to be profaned any more: and the nations shall know that I am Yahweh, the Holy One in Israel.
Eze 39:8 Behold, it comes, and it shall be done, says the Lord Yahweh; this is the day about which I have spoken.
Eze 39:9 Those who dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the war clubs, and the spears, and they shall make fires of them seven years;
Eze 39:10 so that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall make fires of the weapons; and they shall plunder those who plundered them, and rob those who robbed them, says the Lord Yahweh.
Eze 39:11 It shall happen in that day, that I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the valley of those who pass through on the east of the sea; and it shall stop those who pass through: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude; and they shall call it The valley of Hamon Gog.
Eze 39:12 Seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, that they may cleanse the land.
Eze 39:13 Yes, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown in the day that I shall be glorified, says the Lord Yahweh.
Eze 39:14 They shall set apart men of continual employment, who shall pass through the land, and, with those who pass through, those who bury those who remain on the surface of the land, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
Eze 39:15 Those who pass through the land shall pass through; and when any sees a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, until the undertakers have buried it in the valley of Hamon Gog.
Eze 39:16 Hamonah shall also be the name of a city. Thus shall they cleanse the land.
Eze 39:17 You, son of man, thus says the Lord Yahweh: Speak to the birds of every sort, and to every animal of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood.
Eze 39:18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
Eze 39:19 You shall eat fat until you be full, and drink blood until you be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
Eze 39:20 You shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, says the Lord Yahweh.
Eze 39:21 I will set my glory among the nations; and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them.
Eze 39:22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am Yahweh their God, from that day and forward.
Eze 39:23 The nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they trespassed against me, and I hid my face from them: so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they fell all of them by the sword.
Eze 39:24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions did I to them; and I hid my face from them.
Eze 39:25 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Now will I bring back the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for my holy name.
Eze 39:26 They shall bear their shame, and all their trespasses by which they have trespassed against me, when they shall dwell securely in their land, and none shall make them afraid;
Eze 39:27 when I have brought them back from the peoples, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations.
Eze 39:28 They shall know that I am Yahweh their God, in that I caused them to go into captivity among the nations, and have gathered them to their own land; and I will leave none of them any more there;
Eze 39:29 neither will I hide my face any more from them; for I have poured out my Spirit on the house of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh.
 

Eze 40:1 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was struck, in the same day, the hand of Yahweh was on me, and he brought me there.
Eze 40:2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, whereon was as it were the frame of a city on the south.
Eze 40:3 He brought me there; and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
Eze 40:4 The man said to me, Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on all that I shall show you; for, to the intent that I may show them to you, are you brought here: declare all that you see to the house of Israel.
Eze 40:5 Behold, a wall on the outside of the house all around, and in the man's hand a measuring reed six cubits long, of a cubit and a handbreadth each: so he measured the thickness of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.
Eze 40:6 Then came he to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up its steps: and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad; and the other threshold, one reed broad.
Eze 40:7 Every lodge was one reed long, and one reed broad; and the space between the lodges was five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate toward the house was one reed.
Eze 40:8 He measured also the porch of the gate toward the house, one reed.
Eze 40:9 Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and its posts, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was toward the house.
Eze 40:10 The lodges of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.
Eze 40:11 He measured the breadth of the opening of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits;
Eze 40:12 and a border before the lodges, one cubit on this side, and a border, one cubit on that side; and the lodges, six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.
Eze 40:13 He measured the gate from the roof of the one lodge to the roof of the other, a breadth of twenty-five cubits; door against door.
Eze 40:14 He made also posts, sixty cubits; and the court reached to the posts, around the gate.
Eze 40:15 From the forefront of the gate at the entrance to the forefront of the inner porch of the gate were fifty cubits.
Eze 40:16 There were closed windows to the lodges, and to their posts within the gate all around, and likewise to the arches; and windows were around inward; and on each post were palm trees.
Eze 40:17 Then brought he me into the outer court; and behold, there were chambers and a pavement, made for the court all around: thirty chambers were on the pavement.
Eze 40:18 The pavement was by the side of the gates, answerable to the length of the gates, even the lower pavement.
Eze 40:19 Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate to the forefront of the inner court outside, one hundred cubits, both on the east and on the north.
Eze 40:20 The gate of the outer court whose prospect is toward the north, he measured its length and its breadth.
Eze 40:21 The lodges of it were three on this side and three on that side; and its posts and its arches were after the measure of the first gate: its length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty-five cubits.
Eze 40:22 The windows of it, and its arches, and the palm trees of it, were after the measure of the gate whose prospect is toward the east; and they went up to it by seven steps; and its arches were before them.
Eze 40:23 There was a gate to the inner court over against the other gate, both on the north and on the east; and he measured from gate to gate one hundred cubits.
Eze 40:24 He led me toward the south; and behold, a gate toward the south: and he measured its posts and its arches according to these measures.
Eze 40:25 There were windows in it and in its arches all around, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty-five cubits.
Eze 40:26 There were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them; and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on its posts.
Eze 40:27 There was a gate to the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south a hundred cubits.
Eze 40:28 Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;
Eze 40:29 and its lodges, and its posts, and its arches, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in its arches all around; it was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits broad.
Eze 40:30 There were arches all around, twenty-five cubits long, and five cubits broad.
Eze 40:31 The arches of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts: and the ascent to it had eight steps.
Eze 40:32 He brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures;
Eze 40:33 and its lodges, and its posts, and its arches, according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in its arches all around; it was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits broad.
Eze 40:34 The arches of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.
Eze 40:35 He brought me to the north gate: and he measured it according to these measures;
Eze 40:36 its lodges, its posts, and its arches: and there were windows therein all around; the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth twenty-five cubits.
Eze 40:37 The posts of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.
Eze 40:38 A chamber with its door was by the posts at the gates; there they washed the burnt offering.
Eze 40:39 In the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to kill thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.
Eze 40:40 On the one side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side, which belonged to the porch of the gate, were two tables.
Eze 40:41 Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they killed the sacrifices.
Eze 40:42 There were four tables for the burnt offering, of cut stone, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high; whereupon they laid the instruments with which they killed the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
Eze 40:43 The hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened within all around: and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.
Eze 40:44 Outside of the inner gate were chambers for the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south; one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.
Eze 40:45 He said to me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the house;
Eze 40:46 and the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the duty of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok, who from among the sons of Levi come near to Yahweh to minister to him.
Eze 40:47 He measured the court, one hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar was before the house.
Eze 40:48 Then he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.
Eze 40:49 The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; even by the steps by which they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.


Dec. 6
1 Peter 4

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1Pe 4:3 For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.
1Pe 4:4 They think it is strange that you don't run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming:
1Pe 4:5 who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1Pe 4:6 For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.
1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
1Pe 4:8 And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
1Pe 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
1Pe 4:10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.
1Pe 4:11 If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you.
1Pe 4:13 But because you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.
1Pe 4:15 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men's matters.
1Pe 4:16 But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.
1Pe 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God?
1Pe 4:18 "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?"
1Pe 4:19 Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

Proverbs, Benefits of diligently seeking wisdom, 2:1-22, Mark Copeland

                         "THE BOOK OF PROVERBS"

             Benefits Of Diligently Seeking Wisdom (2:1-22)

INTRODUCTION

1. In chapter one of Proverbs, we began our study by noting...
   a. The prologue, stating the purpose of the book - Pr 1:1-6
   b. The theme of Proverbs, how the fear of the Lord is the beginning
      of knowledge - Pr 1:7
   c. The value of listening to one's parents - Pr 1:8-9
   d. The danger of evil companionship - Pr 1:10-19
   e. The importance of listening to wisdom (Sophia) while there is
      opportunity - Pr 1:20-33

2. The second chapter describes the benefits of seeking after wisdom...
   a. With an admonition to search for wisdom with diligence - Pr 2:1-4
   b. With a list of benefits that will come from such a search - Pr 2:
      5-22

[The benefits of seeking after wisdom are found only if we seek with the
proper disposition...]

I. QUALITIES OF A DILIGENT SEARCH FOR WISDOM

   A. AS EXPLAINED BY SOLOMON THEN...
      1. It requires a willingness - Pr 2:1
         a. To be receptive to the words of others
         b. To treasure (highly value and remember) commands of wisdom
      2. It requires an engagement - Pr 2:2-3
         a. Of the ear (willing to hear wisdom)
         b. Of the heart (willing to understand)
         c. Of the mouth (willing to cry out for discernment and
            understanding)
      3. It requires a high estimation - Pr 2:4
         a. Seeking and searching
         b. With the same fervor as seeking for silver and other hidden
            treasures
      -- Thus a diligent search for wisdom requires an "all out" effort
         on our part

   B. AS EXPERIENCED BY CHRISTIANS TODAY...
      1. It requires hearing the Word of God
         a. Note:  "incline your ear to wisdom" - Pr 2:2
         b. Listening to preachers and teachers carefully (with all
            readiness) - Ac 17:11
         c. Studying the Bible on your own (searched the Scriptures
            daily) - Ac 17:11
      2. It requires meditating upon the Word of God
         a. Note:  "apply your heart to understanding" - Pr 2:2
         b. Taking time to reflect and ponder on the Word - cf. Php 4:8
         c. Like the Psalmist sung of his meditations - cf. Ps 119:
            97-100
      3. It requires diligent prayer for wisdom
         a. Note:  "cry out for discernment...lift up your voice for
            understanding" - Pr 2:3
         b. We must ask in prayer with faith - Jm 1:5
         c. We must persist in our asking - cf. Mt 7:7-11
      4. It requires the same effort others expend seeking for material
         wealth
         a. Note:  "seek her as silver...as for hidden treasures" - Pro
            2:4
         b. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and
            knowledge - Col 2:3
         c. Here's a simple test to see if you are expending the proper
            effort to seek wisdom:
            1) If you worked as hard for your employer as you do seeking
               for God's wisdom...
            2) ...would you have your job very long?
      -- Finding God's wisdom today requires the same diligence it did
         in Solomon's day

[Is the effort worth it?  Let's go now to Pr 2:5-22 and find out what
are the...]

II. BENEFITS OF A DILIGENT SEARCH FOR WISDOM

   A. KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND HIS PROTECTION...
      1. You will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge
         of God
         a. That fear of the Lord which is the beginning of knowledge
            - Pr 2:5a; cf. Pr 1:7
         b. That knowledge of God, whose storehouse of wisdom and
            understanding He gives to the upright - Pr 2:5b-7a
      2. You will have God's providential protection guiding your life
         a. He is a shield to those who walk uprightly - Pr 2:7b; cf.
            30:5
         b. He guards the paths of justice (which the righteous take)
            - Pr 2:8a; cf. Ps 23:3
         c. He preserves the way of His saints - Pr 2:8b; cf. Ps 121:
            5-8
      -- What a blessing to go through life with God at your side!

   B. MORAL DISCERNMENT  FOR LIVING...
      1. You will have great understanding
         a. Of righteousness and justice - Pr 2:9a
         b. Of equity (fairness) and every good path - Pr 2:9b; cf.
            David's prayer, Ps 143:8-10
      2. You will have great discretion
         a. Once wisdom enters your heart and knowledge is pleasant to
            you - Pr 2:10
         b. They will preserve and keep you - Pr 2:11; cf. 6:22-23
      -- What a blessing to go through life with God's wisdom at your
         disposal!

   C. DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL MEN...
      1. Who speak perverse things - Pr 2:12; e.g., Ac 20:30
      2. Who leave upright paths, walk in the ways of darkness - Pro
         2:13; e.g., 2Pe 2:20-22
      3. Who rejoice in doing evil, delight in the perversity of the
         wicked - Pr 2:14; cf. 10:23
      4. Whose ways are crooked, and devious in their paths - Pr 2:15;
         e.g., 1:10-19
      -- Wisdom can deliver us from evil men and their evil ways!

   D. DELIVERANCE FROM IMMORAL WOMEN...
      1. The seductress flatters with her words - Pr 2:16; e.g., 7:5-21
      2. The adulteress who forsakes her husband and covenant with God
         - Pr 2:17; cf. Mal 2:14
      3. Whose house and paths lead to death, and the place of no return
         - Pr 2:18-19; cf. 9:13-18
      -- Wisdom can deliver us from immoral women and their destructive
         ways!

   E. ENABLEMENT FOR RIGHTEOUS LIVING...
      1. To walk in the way of goodness and keep to righteous paths
         - Pr 2:20; cf. Ps 23:3,6
      2. To be upright and blameless, to dwell and remain in the land
         - Pr 2:21; cf. Ps 37:3
      3. Unlike the wicked and unfaithful, cut off and uprooted from the
         earth - Pr 2:22; cf. Ps 37:37-38
      -- Wisdom can empower us to live more blessed, if not longer,
         lives on this earth!

CONCLUSION

1. Are not the benefits of wisdom worth the effort necessary to obtain
   it...?
   a. To know God and enjoy His providential care?
   b. To obtain discernment for making the right moral choices?
   c. To be delivered from the shenanigans of evil men?
   d. To be delivered from the seductions of immoral women?
   e. To be able to walk in goodness and righteousness, living lives
      blessed by God?

2. And what is the effort required to obtain God's wisdom...?
   a. To hear the word of God ("incline your ear to wisdom")
   b. To meditate on the word of God ("apply your heart to
      understanding")
   c. To ask in faith for wisdom ("cry out for discernment...lift up
      your voice for understanding")
   d. To highly value its worth ("seek her as silver...as for hidden
      treasures")

With such effort, one will not only find wisdom for daily, practical
living, but will also find Jesus Christ...

   "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
                                                       - Col 2:3

He is indeed the greatest benefit of diligently seeking wisdom!