How To Survive These "Unstable Times" Godly "Reverence, Wisdom, Knowledge and Joy

Common Sense Commentary: As in the eye of a HURRICANE, we and the world are in the center of a perfect storm of powerful forces revealing themselves one after the other, each seemingly more devastating than the other. The front edge hit us from north to south, then this calm in the eye. The back edge will hit us from the opposite direction with double the damage. I won't repeat the myriad of wave after wave of reversals, crisis, and loss our country has already suffered, but I must tell you, I think it will get worse before it gets better. That's "pessimistic optimism". How does a person, a family, or nation survive through such compounded loss, hardship and fear ? Here is the Scriptural progression of our path through this wild and dangerous jungle of swamps, swarms of biting insects, poisonous snakes and carnivores. Our path to survival must begin with Reverencing God by yielding our lives to Him through Jesus Christ. "Reverence"of God leads to the second leg of our journey which "Reverence" opens
the heart to receive, "Wisdom"."Wisdom" in turn leads us on through to the third leg of our journey, the accumulation of "Knowledge". Finally, "Reverence, Wisdom and Knowledge bring us to our "survival destination", "Joy". Follow the Scriptural path below to that blessed, Godly, destination and safety.



I. The need of our times is Reverence to God, Godly wisdom, Godly Knowledge and
Godly Joy in his service and worship. Isaiah 33:6 "Wisdom and Knowledge shall be the stability of thy times ... the 'Reverence' of the Lord is His treasure." Reverence leads us to Wisdom, Knowledge and Joy.

......1. The wise preacher teaches the people knowledge. Ecc.12:9

.....2. Wisdom is a defence and gives life to those who have it. Ecc.7:12 "Wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellence of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."

.....3. Wisdom seeks Knowledge. Prov.18:15"The ear of the wise seeketh knowledge"

.....4. Wisdom stores up Knowledge. Prov.10:14 "Wise men lay up knowledge ...."




II. Where and How do we find Wisdom and Knowledge ? Ecc.2:26 "God gives to a man that which is good in His sight WISDOM, and KNOWLEDGE, and JOY...."

......1. Reverence of God is the beginning of Wisdom. Prov.9:10 "The Reverence of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the holy is understanding"

......2. Wisdom is a gift from God. Jm.1:5 "If any of you lack Wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth .... and it shall be given him."




III. Wisdom opens the life to God's Rewards. Prov.24:14 "So shall the Knowledge of Wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then shall there be a Reward.

.......1. Godly Wisdom uses Knowledge properly. Col.1:9 "...We ... pray for you ... that
ye might be filled with the Knowledge of His will in all Wisdom and spiritual understanding."

........2. Godly Wisdom builds things well. Prov.24:3 "Through Wisdom is an house builded ... and established."

...... 3. Knowledge fills your chambers with good things. Prov.24:4 "And by Knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." "For the LOVE of money is the root of all evil (not MONEY or the things it buys). 1Ti.6:10



IV. Evil resists and opposes Reverence, Wisdom, Knowledge and Joy. Rom.1:28 "Even as they did not like to retain God in their Knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not acceptable."

........1. Evil often uses people to resist Good. Lk.11:52 "Woe unto you lawyers for ye have taken away the KEY of Knowledge; ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."

.........2. Religious Zeal is no substitute for true conversion. Rom.10:2 "...They have a zeal for God, but not according to Knowledge."

"O the depth of the riches both of the WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE of GOD !" Rom.11:33



Pass It On. RB