The Struggle Is Real (Video)

Hack series, and you know that's really big right now in the millennials and the 20 and 30 year olds on life hack. And hack basically means a skill or a novelty method that increases productivity and efficiency in all walks of life. They even have health hacks where you can hack your health and hack your body and really it's not a hack it's just you know how your body's designed. But Proverbs is, I'm going to talk about how we can hack in a good way a life hack that can really be productive and can really help us and that is going to be obviously wisdom this morning. The title is, we can probably put up there if we have it, the struggle is real. The struggle is real. What is that struggle? To obey the voice of wisdom. It is very real, it is very difficult, it is very challenging. So I want you to think of something. Commit today to obey the word of God regardless of feelings, regardless of circumstances, and regardless of the advice of others who oppose wisdom. And that is the struggle is real. Is it not to obey God's word or to drift away? To do what God's word says or to do what I want to do. The struggle is real. It's a daily struggle. I would submit to you that this happens daily. That we have choices to make that whether we either obey God's word or we don't. And that struggle is real. It's real in our children. And wisdom helps us keep decisions in check. Does anybody want to make sure they're in the will of God? I want to make sure your decisions are lined up with the will of God. That's what wisdom is for. Here's why wisdom is so important. Wisdom is actually God's voice of truth saying, here's the way to walk in it, choose life and not death. Walk in this way. So wisdom is basically what God has clearly outlined for us in his scriptures, in the word. Proverbs 1.17 is where we're going to start. I'm sorry, Proverbs 1.17, or 1 through 7 probably. The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David. So Solomon is writing the book of Proverbs. And I'm not going to go through Proverbs verse by verse. That is very challenging, very difficult. Because two verses, it's here, and then the next verse it's way over here. And it doesn't really allow a person to go through expositionally. It's more of a topical book. But we're going to start at Proverbs 1 because it does give us a lot of good information. The first chapter, the Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. To know, to know wisdom and instruction. Now here's where we make mistakes. This isn't just to know intellectually, it's actually to apply. To know it, to apply wisdom and instruction. To perceive the words of understanding. So as you look to God's word, as you're filled with wisdom, you begin to perceive the words of understanding. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. God, do we need that today? Justice, judgment, equity. Equity is just moral uprightness. There's something solid to it. To give prudence to the simple. Do you consider yourself stupid like I used to when I was younger? And not real smart? Not up there? Not mighty and noble? Like the Bible says, not many mighty and not many noble are called, but God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. And maybe didn't do that great in high school? Anybody not go to college and kind of simple? This is for you because it says, the Bible says, it will give prudence. It will give wisdom and learning. I believe, I believe a person without a college degree can be smarter than a PhD. I'll leave it there. Possibly not in the particular topic, right? Or in their field of interest. I'm not going to go and argue against a cardiologist and think, you know, I can do heart surgery better. Obviously, I can't. I wouldn't even attempt that. But when it comes to the profound things in life, when it comes to wisdom and knowing what is true, your children can know more than those with doctorate degrees. The young man, it gives prudence to the simple and to the young man, knowledge and discretion. A wise man, here's to know if you're wise, will hear and increase in learning. Meaning they're always wanting to learn. They have a teachable spirit. We want to learn. We want to listen. We want to grow. And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel. He will look for wise counsel. And it's a good test this morning. Do you look for wise counsel? Because I know a lot of people, they're not real concerned with what others say. They are going to do what they want to do. And you might say, well, Shane, you said earlier not to listen to the opinions of others. Right. If they oppose wisdom. If they oppose truth. But those who are hungry for more of God, they want to make sure they're on the right path. They will go to those who can offer godly counsel. And they will ask them, what do you think of this? I'm wanting to learn. I'm wanting to grow. I can't tell you how many times that has helped me. And given me a different side to this. I actually asked my wife's thoughts this morning on what I shared with you earlier about what's going on in our nation. Because I said, I'm struggling. I don't know what to do with this. And we have to look to others because it's good to bounce things off of them. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The fear of the Lord is a very good thing. It's a very good thing. Because when you fear God, you treat others differently. You act differently. You have respect and reverence for God, for the house of God, for worship, for the word of God. There's a reverence and a respect. And I shared last night, and I've told you this before. Maybe some of you are new and have not heard this. But when I was in construction, in the construction business, I ran heavy equipment. And in doing so, you dig underground. Which means you have to have a lot of reverence and respect for what is buried underground. You'd be amazed at what you're driving over. From storm drains to Verizon high optic cables and fiber optic, I'm sorry, fiber optic cables, Southern California Edison, right off Avenue S in the freeway. I think it's 42 inch, might be a 36 inch gas main to Texas. You know how big 36 inches is? It's about this high. Big circle when we were drilling holes over there for that park and ride many, many years ago, we had to have the gas company there with us every day. Anytime we turned on a piece of equipment, they had to be there. Why? Because there's reverence and respect. And I don't think he was joking. He said, if you guys hit that, we're all dead within a few blocks. See, it's going to change how I operate the equipment. It's going to change how I treat that job site. There's a reverence, there's a respect. Same thing, the fear of God, when you that's what's going on in our culture. That's what's going on the state of California is there's no fear of God. There's no there's they could care less. There's no God. If there is a God, he's a cosmic ball of love. He just loves us and he doesn't care what we do because God is within and we are gods. There's no reverence, no respect. Do you want your neighbor to fear God? Why? We know because it is the beginning of wisdom and the beginning of knowledge. It's the beginning of everything. Now, it's interesting here. The Bible will go on to say the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. So to really know something, if it's true knowledge, you have to fear God. And then it says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So really to apply, and that's the difference, knowledge is knowing, wisdom is doing. So you can there's people in the church, they are so knowledgeable, but they're very foolish. They know, but they don't do. That's why in marriage counseling, marriage is falling apart. It's just just falling apart. Let's just leave it that. And people will quote scripture. She just needs to come back home and submit to me knowledge. That's even out of context many times. You know it, but you have to apply it. Wisdom, walking, humility, and gentleness. I don't remember who it was, and I probably won't get this right, but I was reading a book about 150 years ago, 1850s, or maybe closer to 1900. A man was asked, a very famous preacher. He was asked by someone. This guy started explaining his marriage problems, and it's this and that. And the guy looked at him and said, I don't know you, and I don't know your wife, but I can tell you almost always that humility will fix it. Same thing goes out to us today, that there is a way to fix a lot of our issues if we would just humble ourselves and submit to God. And if you're already saying in your heart or in your mind, but, you're already off the course of wisdom. There's no but. When God's Word says something, we can't add a comma and but. I know it says this, but. Get rid of the but. That might be a good sermon title. No more buts. No more buts. Yeah, hashtag no more buts. We're gonna stop. We're gonna stop saying but about God's Word. So know how to apply equity and justice. It says you will know how to apply equity and justice. Equity is the spirit of the law. The spirit that is behind something. Actually, the reason why. For example, I mentioned last week the First Amendment. One of the benefits of reading the founding fathers in the founding era and their original writings, not what people think they believed, but you begin to see the spirit of why things were written. And you hear about freedom of speech, freedom of speech, freedom of press. It would have never been designed to protect pornography and things like that. The spirit behind it was not that. The spirit behind it was to give people a voice and not be under tyranny again. So that's what equity is. You will know the spirit behind something and also justice. You will know the application of it. What is right and what is wrong. That's why we should desire godly men and women on the Supreme Court. Godly men and women running for office. Godly men and women in our local courts and in our police officers. In all areas we should want men and women who love God and love justice. What is truly fair? Not partiality, but what is fair. Not judging off skin color, but what is fair. And then he goes on to say to give prudence to the simple. Again I clarify that the simple would be someone who doesn't have a degree. And I'm not against degrees. I think you should get one if God has called you to do that. I think it's fine to do that. You might want to have a degree if you're going to perform surgery. Not a bad idea. Some jobs actually require it. You have to know what you're doing. But for many people God's word will give prudence to the simple. To the young man knowledge and discretion. This month in September in 1536. Take your mind back there. 500 years ago almost. William Tyndale who simply translated the Bible in the common tongue of the people was executed in Belgium by strangulation and then burned at the stake. He said I defy the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life I will make a plow boy know more of the scriptures than thou dost. Than what you do. He said if God gives me the breath and the time and the energy I will make a plow boy. One of the most simplest people back then. A farmer. Knew nothing. Illiterate. Probably didn't even know how to read. He said I will make that man wiser than the papacy. Wiser than the Pope. If he can just learn the scriptures. A wise man will hear and increase learning. So wise man will hear and increase learning. A man of understanding will ask for wise counsel. So again the struggle is real. The struggle is real. Are you hearing? Are you increasing in knowledge? And not everybody. I'll just share this with you. Not everybody was happy that I kind of reached out to a black pastor and are friends with him. And we've talked. We've had unity events. And I know the heart of some people is good and there's not that many people against it. But the thought is well let's why are we wasting time in that? It's not a big deal. There's a bigger fish to fry. I don't see the point of it. And actually this is the point of it is to learn and to see from the other's perspective. Unless you put on their glasses you're not going to see from their perspective. You don't know where they're coming from. So a wise man will actually sit down and listen and see where they're coming from. Try to understand their perspective versus always wanting to be right. Always want to get the last word in. Always wanting to prove their point. It's part of wisdom to listen to those you disagree with. Can you sit down with a Muslim? Can you sit down with somebody of a different skin color and hear why they don't agree with you about Kaepernick and Nike? Can you listen? It's wise to listen and understand and grow from that. Boy it's silent this morning. Maybe I better pull out a different sermon for the second service. I'm kidding of course right? We need to hear this. I'm still upset about my first point that I want to just keep going back to that because I am just I'm just appalled at what what our nation has become and we need wisdom. We need to go back to that verse 8. My son, my son hear the instruction of your father. How many young adults in here? Make your kids listen to this part. Take the cd. We have 200 kids now at least signed into children's ministry now. They call it Westside Christian Fellowship Home. I'm hoping we can get them to hear at least this part. The Bible says my son hear the instruction of your father and do not forsake the law of your mother for they will be a graceful ornament on your head and chains about your neck. Did you hear? My son hear hear the instruction of your father and do not forsake the law of your mother. Let me tell you why. Every young adult hear me hear me loud hear me clear whether it's today whether it's in the future. Nobody cares for you more than your parents especially if they're Christian parents. I should probably clarify. Nobody cares for you more than your Christian parents. Nobody. They they here's the here's what here's why they you don't get along sometimes. Me too with with my kids as they get older. We see what is lurking ahead. We see where these choices are going to lead you. We see what could happen been there done that right. So we offer godly counsel. We say hey here's where this is going be careful. Oh mom dad you just don't want me to have fun. No it has nothing to do with fun. I don't want you to ruin your life. There's there's probably not a month goes by my son doesn't want to go climb on the roof of the house. Dad can we go get the big ladder. No you can't get on the roof. Why you don't want me to have fun. Can we go down this big hill on our bikes. No no there's cars turning the corner at 30 miles an hour. You just don't want us to have fun. Or as they get older son daughter we love you we want the best for you but that person you're dating will hurt you. They'll they'll just oh you you just don't understand. Oh no I understand. Be careful because they love you more than anyone else. They see where those bad choices are going. They see you crying on the phone a year from now realizing you married the wrong person. They see how that anger in that boy can turn into hatred and physical abuse and they want to warn you listen to the voice of your fathers and your mothers because they see god's given them the gift to speak life into you and that's another concern of my culture. We raise kids on pornography at 10 years old. They act it out. They can have sex with the prostitute in a video game and then we blame society right or we blame the church or we blame political parties when it starts in the home. Home, mom, dads, teacher, children. The struggle is real. Most problems between Christian kids and parents are because the parents see where these decisions will lead them and they want to warn them. They want to guide them. They want to to teach them how to be proper godly men godly women growing up. So there will always be this. You can't avoid that and I'm not sure a parent should be this kid's best friend. That's a toughie. They have to be what god's called them to be. Mentoring them and leading them but I also believe we need to be careful not force too much of god's word down their throat until they get sick of it and all they see is us throwing bible verses at them and not listening and not loving and it can really turn them away. So kids remember that here are the instruction of the father and your mother not the dope dealer down the street who wants your money. Not the person who wants you to try this new pill or this new drink. Not this person has something on their phone they want to show you. Be careful those are the wrong things to follow. But what does it mean for they will be graceful ornaments on your head and chains about your neck? Well I like what gotquestions.org says. It says this like fine jewelry wisdom is often obtained at a great cost. Jewelry has a history of value and can even be passed along to future generations. Further those who actively use the wisdom of their parents will see it reflected in their lives. Other people will notice the wise choices the wise behavior and the wise words just as someone will notice the fine jewelry a person puts on. That's what he's saying that they'll notice they'll notice that and as a word of encouragement parents if you've not succeeded in this area run to the cross. Whether your kids are old Shane it's too late now I don't know if it's ever too late. I think if you commit your works to the Lord and say Lord I'm sorry I blew it in many areas I believe God can give you that that place of leading and helping your children again. They'll look to you for advice they'll look to you for wisdom and if they're still in that young shapable age begin begin now to commit your life to God's word and to be good examples and then we read in verse 10 that enticement pulls against wisdom. Here's why the struggle is real wisdom says this enticement says this so you have a struggle. Do you ever do tug of war? Did I ever share that I used to do that at the at the fairgrounds many years ago I was 25 and it was a bodybuilders against the farmers and we never won because these farmers they get out of their truck it's like 350 pounds six foot five and he's the anchor I'm like oh lord but it was a four minute struggle and I almost passed out of heat exhaustion to pull on a rope that hard for four minutes try it it's not easy so the struggle in the Christian life is real wisdom says this enticements want this and you live in that struggle often Paul said wretched man that I am who will free me from this body of sin and death for what I want to do I don't do and what I don't want to do I do and there's there's this struggle that happens but the Bible offers much wisdom here as well my son if sinners what entice you entice you it always is enticement if it doesn't look good taste good or feel good we wouldn't do it correct who's struggling with eating too much broccoli right now chocolate donuts coffee alcohol for some marijuana it's big now it's legal I guess it's fine I won't go there I got chewed out in a store about six months ago from a lady about this issue and I totally get it on medicinal purposes but that's like one percent of usage one percent is for medicinal the rest is check out and these people are checking out and then getting in their vehicles what would you California is just I we need to we just need to go forward in Proverbs here my son if sinners entice you if they entice you do not consent if they say come with us let us lie in wait to shed blood let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause let us swallow them alive and shaol and and whole like those who go down to the pit now this seems a little extreme and he is giving an extreme example what they would do is they would wait and they would rob people they would kill them and take everything they have we shall find all kinds of precious possessions it's interesting enticement things like this sin will always promise something without the work that's why I have to be careful of money of money marketing schemes you ever heard that word pyramid I mean people say Shane you can make ten thousand dollars this month run run run run run because God blesses hard work and diligence but enticement will always relate to that easy way always take the easy way he said we will fill our house with spoil and then he said in verse 14 cast in your lot among us in other words let's go let's do this let's all have one purse come on let's just join in so I want you to notice the steps here with enticement it looks fills or tastes good whatever wisdom says the opposing view the opposing force is going to look good taste good feel good will it not for example wisdom says how's it what does wisdom say about financial success and and being diligent financially and working hard what I just said wisdom says that the enticement is pulling us in the other direction take the easy path also it shows you the benefit the profit and not the cost not what eventually happened that's where that's where the word enticement comes from it entices ah that looks good that lure looks really good to the fish as he's swimming but what happens when he right here and ends up on the boat in the skillet see it's always enticing yeah that looks good but wisdom keeps us away from taking the wrong baits and then three there is continual nagging there's continually nagging that's how temptation works it often won't just tap you on the shoulder once it's a come on come on come on come on come on it wants to wear you down whoever says that oh all right all right you remember okay let's go back when you're younger for some of you all right all right just one all right all right just this time just this time all right i know i shouldn't watch that movie but let's go let's go see it's a nagging delilah that's how temptation works it's often it's pretty easy for most christians say no i'm not going there i'm not going there but then that sin begins to nag and a lot of times what happens is our thinking starts to to diminish we are initially so strong in our thinking no no no and then as it nags try fasting back to the broccoli issue right it's no i'm doing this i mean everybody can fast after a big breakfast they commit to it anyway all right starting tomorrow starting tomorrow i'm going to fast oh that sounds so great but then come tomorrow and that's how enticement works it begins to nag it begins to pull like these guys come on and that's what we should warn our kids other kids will do that come on come on it's no big deal come on it's no big deal others are doing it oh okay that should make it okay then more often than not if the culture is going this direction kids you should be going the opposite direction and adults so there's a nagging that happens it begins to it begins to just just uh night and day sometimes it'll it'll nag on us until we cave in or bring it to the cross and flee the devil i'm sorry resist the devil and he will flee and resist those things and say no this is what god's word says see sometimes sometimes you have to go back to the promises of god here's why it's so hard we often don't feel like going back to the promises of god but god says do it regardless of how you feel jesus defeated satan with the word of god it is written man shall not eat bread alone but he but what every word that proceeds from the mouth of god it is written see he was hungry how do you know that chain the bible said after 40 days and 40 nights which is usually when the body resorts to real genuine hunger or you're going to die it's beginning to consume itself believe it or not it can last for a while as it's as it's as it's fueling off of your fat storage your adipose tissue and ketones ketones and ketogenic diets and all that that's where they get all that from but your body's fine for a season but when it's time to eat your body will tell you and the body says jesus and the bible says jesus became hungry he hungered and the devil said now that's my opportunity so when he said no i'm not listening to you he went against his feelings he felt like eating he felt like giving in so when it comes to wisdom you often have to go against how you feel and do what is right and then the feelings will come later the feelings of peace and enjoyment because self-discipline has taken place so rarely will you feel like obeying god's word all the time i shouldn't say rarely because most of us do we feel like it but there will be challenging times where the word of god won't feel good to you at least obeying it and forgetting the promises and like oh i'm just a mess i'm gonna cave in don't do it that's a time to strengthen yourself verse 15 my son do not walk in the way with them my son do not walk in the way with them keep your foot from their path for what i'm sorry for their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood again verse 15 my son do not walk in the way with them so he's saying don't even walk in the way with them now the picture i get anyway is you know the person said no i'm not i'm not i'm not going to do that with you guys i'm not going to participate okay would you would you at least walk with us down the road at least come with us at least walk with us i know you're not going to do it but would you walk with us would you just go with us well of course i can do that he's saying don't even do that because that's one step of compromise you don't negotiate with sin you don't negotiate with enticement and right when i read this psalm i'm sorry yeah psalm 1 1 came right to my mind blessed is the man who what who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly you don't even you don't walk with him nor does he stand in the path of sinners nor does he sit in the seat of the scornful but his delight is in the what law of the lord and that's where i think a lot of christians get in trouble i'm not going to do it but i'll walk with you i don't want to say too much here in case this person listens they don't go here they don't even live here but friends i knew from high school he was sober i don't know four months and they took a trip somewhere yeah i'm not i'm not i'm not drinking but i'll go with you i'll go with you on the trip well who's going to be the stronger person on that trip and he fell back into it again now his wife's filing for divorce i'll go but i'm not see you can't you can't that's compromise and the devil says okay that's just one step closer that's one step closer where i want them to be we don't have them yet read read c.s lewis's book the screw tape letters it's interesting how the devil works so you're walking with them you're participating with them but people might say but how do you minister to people then well take it to the lord if you can if you can walk with them and minister to them and they're going to not pull you down then of course by all means but we know those certain trigger points we know those areas we can't walk with just yet we know there are areas in our lives where we're not strong enough we have to use wisdom we say no i can't go down that i can't go down that path don't even stand on the path have no relationship with the unfruitful works of darkness and they make haste to shed blood isn't interesting it's talking about shedding blood for a profit that still happens today verse 17 surely in vain the net is spread in sight of any bird surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird but they lie in wait for their own blood they lurk secretly secretly for their own lives so are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain it takes away the life of its owner so everyone who is greedy for gain greedy i've got to have it selfish you're you're you're actually going to rob yourself of life it may eventually kill you and it's funny he says here even surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird in other words these foolish sinners see the trap and still they walk right in they see the trap and they walk right in and then verse 20 to 23 the call of wisdom the call of wisdom so now we have heard the bad news let's look at the good news wisdom calls aloud outside this is incredible wisdom calls out loud outside she raises her voice see it's okay to raise my voice when i preach if it's wisdom so that's what wisdom is doing wisdom calls outside it's calling to you it raises her voice in the open square the open squares usually where they would debate or answer questions or the king or or the officials would be there they would handle legal matters so it's even there it's even there wisdom is crying out in the open square she raises her voice that says she cries out in the chief concourses i mean the the highest positions of authority in the land wisdom is crying out at the opening of the gates in the city she speaks her words and she says how long you simple ones how long will you love simplicity for scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge so this is a wonderful picture and i still believe it's for us today that wisdom cries out wisdom calls out wisdom goes out everywhere it cries out look turn back turn back to god simple of heart those who strayed turn back to god wisdom is clearly and loudly proclaiming the truths of god's word but will we listen it says how long will you not listen for scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge but then it says something interesting turn at my rebuke turn at my rebuke surely i will pour out my spirit on you i will make my words known to you so there's a promise here you can take god to the bank on this one turn at my rebuke does anybody being rebuked during the sermon by the word of god that's not too encouraging just just go like this but here's the answer turn at my rebuke surely i will pour out my spirit on you what a reward what a reward god says when you turn back to me i'm going to pour out my spirit upon you i'm going to have you feel peace and joy again so how long she calls she raises her voice she cries out and that's why preaching must include rebukes from time to time because we are looking at the wisdom of god's word it's not just it's not all just touchy-feely it's not all just love and grace and mercy thank god for those things i need his mercy and his love and grace on a daily basis we preach his mercy we preach his grace we see songs about it but sometimes sometimes the wander within needs to be challenged and and saying come back to the voice of truth he says surely i will pour out my spirit on you i will pour out my spirit on you that's what i spoke about last night on revival i reminded everybody that god often revives those who are broken god revives those who who say god break me bend me use me god i'm crying out i'm giving you all of my life i'm turning from this foolishness and god says i will fill you with my spirit and it's interesting king david had had the joy of his salvation renewed and restored when he turned back to god and then the bible says and then he teached others the way of god that's what god always does always does he says you turn back to me and then you'll be a voice to help others you turn back to me again believers there's need to there needs to come from within a heart cry a heart cry to be desperate for more of god one thing have i desired the bible says one thing have i desired one thing is it a lot of money a lot of success one thing have i desired david said to dwell in the house of my god all the days of my life though the enemies come against me i will trust in you lord i will trust in your word i will trust in wisdom you can take that to the bank let me close in prayer and i'll have the team come back up and close this out in worship i'm wondering if there's any areas of life where we're compromising anybody compromising right now because it always starts small too busy for church this has gotten my life now i'm not in the word of god anymore i'm not putting worship on i'm putting other music on that's really not sending me in the right direction my thoughts are beginning to become unpure on a regular basis and and we and it's it's the things that are small compromises the small fox right is the one who begins to go after the great vines because the big things we see we see if satan was red pitchfork we said okay that's going to cost me that's going to cost me if we could see it the enticement wouldn't be as strong so if there's areas this morning that you see the enemy is possibly working in confess those bring them to the light and get back on track with wisdom