1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,120 Today, if you don't know my name is Gregg Hampton, one of the pastors here. If we've never met I would love to meet you 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:10,800 At some point maybe grab a coffee my treat and we'd love to get to know you talk about Jesus if that's something 3 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:16,280 You'd like to do as well. We are in the sixth and final week of our series called 4 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:24,000 Wisdomly lit so far. We have covered the words of Jesus. We've talked about Ecclesiastes Proverbs Job some of the Psalms and 5 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:28,200 Today we're going to be coming to the last message from the wisdom and Paul's 6 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:31,120 writings so now you may also know that 7 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,280 We we spread things around here a little bit 8 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:39,920 We like to give other people an opportunity to preach and to stand here and share the word 9 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,920 a long long time ago when we decided that we needed to do this because 10 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:49,520 Especially wanted to be a church that cares about diversity and equity and inclusion and making sure that we are trying 11 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:51,560 intentionally to be 12 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:58,560 Racially diverse we wanted to make sure that it wasn't just a white man up here talking all the time and there that was the only 13 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:04,080 Verse that ever talked about the Bible and so we have spread it around to people of different backgrounds and diversities 14 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,360 And so it's my great pleasure that this last six months 15 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:13,200 I've really been getting to know JC and I asked him if he wanted to preach and he's gonna be delivering his first sermon ever today 16 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:15,200 y'all 17 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,200 I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited 18 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:19,400 now 19 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,880 You you know him as JC's name is Jared charming 20 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:30,240 You may also know that Gigi his beloved wife gave birth to their very first daughter just a month ago one more round of applause for Zoe 21 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:37,840 Yeah, this is an exciting time for the Charmings, you know plenty busy I thought why not throw a sermon in there 22 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,320 JC was raised in Brooklyn, New York 23 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:47,480 If you were in case you were wondering which Brooklyn we were talking about 1980s 24 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,600 The way that he described it was that it was the height of the crack epidemic 25 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:54,600 He said at a young age 26 00:01:55,360 --> 00:02:01,120 He could see the God fearing neighbors and even family members were falling into addiction 27 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,600 And he could see that Sunday only 28 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:10,240 That a Sunday only kind of faith was not was what was going to help him escape that in his life 29 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,160 Wasn't what was going to help him 30 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:20,200 Maneuver away from the dangers of the world. So he became what he described as a church kid 31 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:29,840 St. Paul's Community Baptist Church was his hangout his safe haven not just Sundays, but after school Saturday mornings 32 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,880 He says that safe haven is why he made it out 33 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,440 And it's why he takes so seriously 34 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:43,760 The Christian obligation to help other people escape their oppressive situations 35 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,440 He's a strong advocate for liberation theology believing as dr 36 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,640 James H cone has written that God is a god of the oppressed 37 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:59,080 Any of you were interested in looking at some of dr. Cone's writings. I've got a few of his books here from my personal library 38 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:05,680 If you want to borrow them, I'll let you borrow them, but I just don't lose track of I'm not a fan of the 39 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,320 I just don't lose track of I'm self-conscious about losing my books. So 40 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:17,200 But feel free to ask about those if you want to look at those in yours, but listen JC is your brother in Christ 41 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:24,960 He is my personal friend and I've really cherished getting to know him. Will you please give a warm welcome to JC? 42 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:28,320 As he preaches 43 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:35,000 I'm wearing this right y'all can hear me you can hear me. All right, cool. Thank you 44 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:40,400 Holy that's who you are 45 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,560 Angels 46 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,360 And earth sing the song for your honor 47 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:56,560 Because power belongs to you power belongs to you 48 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:02,280 And I can never grow tired of telling you you're worthy 49 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,000 There's so many ways that I 50 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,720 could sing of your glory I 51 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,120 Can never grow tired of telling you you're worthy 52 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:18,040 over and over again 53 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,040 So it was 2006 54 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:30,840 So it was 2006 I graduated this is a weird thing I graduated from Morehouse School of Religion 55 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:33,880 And 56 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:39,640 I escaped without ever having to preach a real sermon like literally by the hairs of my chinny chin chin, right? 57 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:46,040 Because I went to seminary to be a professor not a pastor and not a preacher 58 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:50,400 Mostly because professors can still have fun and pastors and preachers can't right? 59 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:57,520 And so I fast forward fast forward a couple decades and I see it's pastaged in here. I see pastor Jen 60 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:00,880 You and I see this guy with the baseball cap 61 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,880 Up here making the yoke look so easy and the burden looks so light. All right 62 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:12,560 So when the opportunity was presented for me to sermon I was like, oh god, here we go again 63 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:18,480 All right, and God was like dude, you said my will not yours be done. So, uh, I 64 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:20,960 Was like to say okay 65 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:25,840 All right, so we'll give it a shot. All right, so let's do this. Let's pray first 66 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:32,960 and then we'll read a passage of scripture and we'll get into a discussion about the wisdom of Paul to 67 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:38,560 Wrap up the wisdom literature and I'll tell you why I think it's so fitting that we're discussing Paul today fair enough 68 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:44,160 Cool most high and holy God you are the grand architect of the universe you are 69 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,960 Thank God, thank you for being in control. I'm so glad we're not 70 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,760 All I asked today is that your Holy Spirit will dwell in it. Who am I kidding? 71 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:55,920 Your Holy Spirit already dwells in this place 72 00:05:55,920 --> 00:06:02,240 I just ask that your spirit will be intentional that it will make my words and that it will make our ears and 73 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:04,800 That this word will be applicable to our lives 74 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:09,760 This in your name. We pray and give thanks. I say I mean amen. I say I say but amen. All right 75 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,760 We're gonna be in first Corinthians 76 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:16,240 First chapter their Bible scattered everywhere. I prefer the app 77 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:18,960 Because it helps me 78 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,440 It helps interrupt my doom scrolling on Facebook 79 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,440 When you have first Corinthians first the first chapter 80 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:31,040 Verse 19. Let me hear you say yeah 81 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,080 If you don't have it say espera 82 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:42,640 We got it if you can and are willing would you please stand for the reading of the word 83 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:51,360 We good for it is written 84 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,440 I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the wise 85 00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:02,800 For it is written. I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning. I will thwart 86 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:05,840 Where is the why the one who is wise? 87 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:08,000 Where is the scribe? 88 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:14,400 Where is the debater of this age has not god made foolish the wisdom of the world? Let's uh scroll down 89 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,760 Look down to 25 now for the foolish 90 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:25,520 The foolishness of god is wiser than men and the weakness of god is stronger than men for consider your calling brothers and sisters 91 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:31,920 Not many of you were wise according to the worldly standards. Not many were powerful. Not many were of noble birth 92 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:39,520 But god chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise god chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong 93 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:41,600 I love this verse right here 94 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:48,640 God chose what is low and despised in the world even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are 95 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:55,200 So that no human being might boast in the presence of god and because of him you are in christ jesus who became to us 96 00:07:55,440 --> 00:08:02,560 wisdom from god righteousness and sanctification and redemption so that as it is written let the one who boasts 97 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,160 Boasts in the lord. Thank you for standing and reading with me 98 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:10,640 So I come from a baptist tradition 99 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,640 Where they title their sermons? 100 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,200 So I got a title for y'all today 101 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,200 Ready? 102 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,200 It just hits different 103 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,080 It just hits different 104 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,640 Just hits different so I told you it's really fitting that we're discussing the wisdom of paul today 105 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:32,800 The reason why it's fitting is because I have never identified with paul as much as I do in this very moment right now 106 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,400 Actually if i'm being honest, it's more of who he used to be that I identify with 107 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:41,680 With saul. Oh my god, what a hard 108 00:08:42,460 --> 00:08:44,960 horrifying terrifying dude saul was 109 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:49,040 Right. This is a dude who persecuted christians just for believing in christ 110 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:51,680 He tortured them 111 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:56,400 For saul for saul the law was above all things 112 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,680 Capital l it was above compassion 113 00:09:00,560 --> 00:09:02,560 the law was above love 114 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:04,960 and in the 115 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:11,760 In the early days of the christian saga saul was a big villain. He had like that doctor evil energy like 116 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:15,520 And he was good at his job 117 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,680 Really good at his job 118 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:23,840 If you're anything like me it helps to paint a mental picture of scripture so you could get like maybe a better understanding of what's going on 119 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:25,440 right, so 120 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,900 Can't you just see saul rolling around jerusalem? 121 00:09:28,900 --> 00:09:35,780 2 2 3 a.m. In the morning with his homeboys his goon squad. All right, and he's looking to make a name for himself 122 00:09:36,020 --> 00:09:37,540 maybe like the 123 00:09:37,540 --> 00:09:41,540 King no captain of capturing christians. That's catchy, right? 124 00:09:44,180 --> 00:09:49,300 He's trying to make a name for himself and I can see him kicking in doors waving the four four 125 00:09:50,420 --> 00:09:52,420 Uh dragging out christians 126 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,620 Handcuffing them roughing them up taking them to jail 127 00:09:55,620 --> 00:09:58,100 How about this maybe for the 128 00:09:58,820 --> 00:10:01,460 For the newer christians the baby believers 129 00:10:01,940 --> 00:10:06,980 Maybe he got some kind of sick twisted thrill out of watching them denounce their faith for their freedom 130 00:10:08,180 --> 00:10:11,060 And he his home right when they said no 131 00:10:11,940 --> 00:10:15,060 Yes, it was not the messiah him and his homeboys crackle 132 00:10:15,700 --> 00:10:17,700 ha ha ha guys 133 00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:20,100 You're not going home and you're not going to heaven 134 00:10:20,980 --> 00:10:22,980 maybe for 135 00:10:22,980 --> 00:10:24,980 maybe for the uh 136 00:10:24,980 --> 00:10:28,260 The super christians the ones who had been believing for a while 137 00:10:30,340 --> 00:10:32,340 Maybe they never even made it to jail 138 00:10:33,780 --> 00:10:35,780 Y'all get what kind of dude saw was 139 00:10:36,420 --> 00:10:42,900 How about this saw was no doubt the type of dude that would lead a group of ice agents into someone's home 140 00:10:43,540 --> 00:10:45,460 He would kick in the door 141 00:10:45,460 --> 00:10:49,780 And he would drag out a displaced family who were simply seeking asylum because their 142 00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:53,460 Native village was warren torn. That's the kind of dude 143 00:10:53,460 --> 00:10:55,460 That paul was 144 00:10:55,460 --> 00:10:57,460 Y'all feel me 145 00:11:01,460 --> 00:11:03,460 God didn't need to use all 146 00:11:03,460 --> 00:11:05,460 Like why why would god use a dude like that? 147 00:11:07,460 --> 00:11:11,460 All right, and then and then imagine saw turns into paul and he's now 148 00:11:11,460 --> 00:11:13,460 Proclaiming the name of christ doesn't that make him a hypocrite? 149 00:11:15,460 --> 00:11:17,460 After the stuff that he did after the things that saw said 150 00:11:19,460 --> 00:11:21,460 Ain't no way 151 00:11:21,460 --> 00:11:23,460 Ain't no way 152 00:11:23,460 --> 00:11:25,460 He ain't right 153 00:11:25,460 --> 00:11:27,460 Ain't good ain't 154 00:11:27,460 --> 00:11:29,460 No way 155 00:11:29,460 --> 00:11:32,180 Okay, let's breathe that out that was heavy fast forward 156 00:11:33,140 --> 00:11:37,860 Fast forward a couple millennia and you'll find a young jc sitting in a seminary classroom 157 00:11:38,740 --> 00:11:39,940 I was 158 00:11:39,940 --> 00:11:41,040 a 159 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,020 Fantastic seminarian eric. I was an even better 160 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:48,100 Cemeteryian though in that I went to seminary to bury my christian faith 161 00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:50,500 I went there to fight 162 00:11:51,780 --> 00:11:53,780 I went there to debate 163 00:11:53,780 --> 00:11:55,780 I went there frankly to piss people off 164 00:11:56,100 --> 00:11:58,100 with my truth 165 00:11:59,380 --> 00:12:01,380 I was so wise 166 00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:05,460 I took all types of courses eschatology and ontology and 167 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,240 Christology and soteri ology 168 00:12:08,980 --> 00:12:10,980 And every other ology 169 00:12:10,980 --> 00:12:18,260 Except apology because I was so shameless and proud in my foolishness 170 00:12:19,220 --> 00:12:22,420 Hey gary, I didn't need to be a christian. I was a theologian 171 00:12:23,700 --> 00:12:26,020 And I did not need faith. You know why? 172 00:12:26,820 --> 00:12:28,820 Because I had knowledge 173 00:12:29,940 --> 00:12:32,660 You should have seen me you should have seen me in action 174 00:12:32,900 --> 00:12:37,460 I had mastered the art of trolling before trolling was even an art. I would sit right up front 175 00:12:37,460 --> 00:12:39,460 Let me show you I would sit right up front in the classroom 176 00:12:39,460 --> 00:12:41,460 Something like this 177 00:12:43,460 --> 00:12:48,980 And I would wait for the professor to say anything I could find disagreement with it didn't matter whether it was the trinity 178 00:12:49,300 --> 00:12:51,300 Or whether it was noah's arc 179 00:12:52,260 --> 00:12:55,540 I didn't care. I was throwing intellectual grenades behind me 180 00:12:55,860 --> 00:13:01,780 Right. My mission was to blow wide open the closed parts minds of all of my classmates behind me 181 00:13:03,700 --> 00:13:05,700 And it didn't take long 182 00:13:05,700 --> 00:13:09,940 Before when I would raise my hand and start speaking I could hear them whispering heretic 183 00:13:10,560 --> 00:13:12,260 heretic 184 00:13:12,260 --> 00:13:14,260 I had gotten really good at my job 185 00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:18,500 So 186 00:13:18,660 --> 00:13:20,660 Something happened 187 00:13:21,540 --> 00:13:23,540 I wish I could say that 188 00:13:23,540 --> 00:13:25,540 Yes, who appeared to me 189 00:13:25,860 --> 00:13:29,300 On the way to school on martin luther king jr. Drive in the west end 190 00:13:29,300 --> 00:13:35,540 All right, and a blinding light causing me to fall on my face and my hair to go white and I lost my speech 191 00:13:35,540 --> 00:13:37,540 And I no it was nothing like that 192 00:13:37,620 --> 00:13:42,820 Nothing like that. Although it did feel like a whirlwind actually. It was a hurricane. It was 2005 193 00:13:44,660 --> 00:13:46,660 The start of my second year 194 00:13:46,740 --> 00:13:50,420 In seminary and I had a presentation in a course 195 00:13:51,300 --> 00:13:54,820 called ministry in a social context, right and this 196 00:13:54,820 --> 00:14:01,800 Professor I consider her an ally because she usually appreciated my controversial and radical contributions to class 197 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:09,320 All right, so I was all prepared to wow everybody with my expertise and my my knowledge and research and my wisdom 198 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,600 All right, and I remember I I finished this presentation 199 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:15,160 with a statement 200 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,160 on the importance of 201 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:19,720 separating church and state 202 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:21,960 And somebody in the back 203 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:23,960 They asked my opinions on 204 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:27,240 the government's delayed relief to hurricane katrina victims 205 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:30,280 and without thought I mean 206 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:37,720 Without thought I immediately responded. I'm listen. I'm talking about the absence of thought. I went into like a Kanye West rant. Okay? 207 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,720 And I started with like a some old adage like 208 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,320 Well, God helps those who help themselves 209 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,120 and I doubled down I said 210 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:50,760 something like 211 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:52,280 Why are we? 212 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,480 Why are we relying on the government to save us? 213 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,520 Where is the church? How much relief has the church given to those victims? 214 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,560 There was a deafening hush that fell over the room 215 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:12,520 The the my colleagues that normally would shake their head in agreement when I said something was shaking their head no and they were whispering to each other 216 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,080 And then this one sister 217 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:17,640 This one I'll never forget this one sister. She stood up 218 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:22,760 And when she lifted her head and looked at me a flood of tears i'm talking about niagara falls in her face 219 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,480 and she says to me 220 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:31,960 Well what she did was she explained that she hadn't spoken to her sister and mother 221 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,640 It had been about a month since katrina's 222 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:38,680 fall 223 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:40,680 She didn't know if they were dead or alive 224 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:45,720 And then she went into great detail about what happened to her sister 225 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:49,720 She went into great detail about the horrors of that hurricane 226 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:55,240 Details that were reported to her by eyewitnesses friends and family that escaped barely with their lives 227 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:58,840 And she looked at me and she said 228 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:04,680 You don't know nothing about what's going on in louisiana. Although she didn't say she didn't use the word nothing 229 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:13,400 She said you're a fool you're a fool to sit there and believe everything that the news feeds you a fool 230 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,400 You're a fool to sit there and believe everything that the news feeds you a fool 231 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:20,600 And then she began grabbing grabbing her belongings and packing her books and she headed for the door 232 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:25,800 And right up never forget right before she stepped into the hallway 233 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:28,680 She turned around 234 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,120 She said you need to get your head out your butt. She didn't say butt 235 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:39,960 And then she pointed at me and took one step forward and she said I thought she was gonna come get me she said 236 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:44,600 I'm gonna get you and you better watch how you speak on people's dead loved ones 237 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,280 She went in the hallway 238 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:50,280 and then one by one 239 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:52,840 My colleagues and my classmates started gathering their books 240 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:55,000 Heading for the door 241 00:16:55,000 --> 00:17:00,520 And discussed I could hear her weeping in the hallway. I'm still up here in front of the classroom 242 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:06,840 I could hear my classmates going out there and trying to console her. I could hear them praying for her 243 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:08,840 And then I heard her 244 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:11,960 And I heard her 245 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:17,320 She said she was just going to watch the news. I said, why are you going to go in there and tell her 246 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:20,440 Off of something that I said 247 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:25,160 See, she didn't know if her loved ones are dead or alive to her they were already dead. And what am I doing? 248 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,160 I'm here speaking theory 249 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,720 So, why do I tell this story I tell you this story not because i'm about to be some powerful preacher like paul 250 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:38,840 I let the realization that I don't know it all I let that make me silent about god 251 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:44,120 I figured if I don't know everything about god, I don't know nothing. I might as well just shut up 252 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,800 And besides after I learned that lesson 253 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:55,880 I can't just start speaking about compassion over knowledge and love over information, right? That'll make me a hypocrite, right? 254 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:58,920 After the things that i've done god doesn't need to use me, right? 255 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,040 I ain't no good 256 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:03,560 I ain't right 257 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:05,560 Ain't no way 258 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:13,640 What kind of wisdom is that what kind of wisdom was I using then? 259 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,040 It's the kind of wisdom 260 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:24,760 It's the kind of wisdom that says eric you failed once so you'll likely fail again. So why should you even try? 261 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:29,480 It's the kind of wisdom that says 262 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,800 A human being can be illegal 263 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,760 And if they're illegal you can treat them like a dog 264 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:39,080 And if they're illegal in america, you can treat them worse than the dog. You know why because 265 00:18:39,700 --> 00:18:41,800 Doodles and pit bulls even have rights here 266 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:47,880 It's the kind of wisdom that says 267 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:53,720 Women are too stupid to make decisions about their own bodies. So might as well just take their rights away 268 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:57,960 That sound familiar to y'all 269 00:18:57,960 --> 00:18:59,960 It should 270 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,200 Because it's pretty basic 271 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:04,840 It's common 272 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:06,760 It's worldly 273 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,320 and when when paul speaks about 274 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:16,760 When he speaks about wisdom he uses the greek word sophia in his letter to the church of corinth 275 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,080 That's the distinction he wants us to make 276 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,160 He wants us to make the distinction that 277 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:23,960 god's wisdom 278 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:25,400 is different 279 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:30,520 From the world's wisdom godly wisdom isn't comparable to worldly wisdom god's wisdom. Y'all ready 280 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:32,120 just 281 00:19:32,120 --> 00:19:33,000 hits 282 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,000 different 283 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,560 God's wisdom just hits different 284 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:47,880 So let's let's let's take one moment here and let's think about that godly wisdom isn't comparable to worldly wisdom. Does that make sense to y'all? 285 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:54,920 Yeah, right. Is that easy easy for us all to understand godly wisdom is different from worldly wisdom 286 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:58,120 Yes, is it easy to understand? Don't get scared 287 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:06,200 Ah, y'all are smart. It's not easy to understand. I tried to trick you. It's not it's it's a complete upending of worldly wisdom 288 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:12,520 Godly wisdom is an upending of worldly wisdom godly wisdom will come in and say up is down and down is up 289 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:14,840 Left is right and right is left 290 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:16,840 Is left and right is right 291 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,640 The world says first god says last 292 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:24,760 The world says right god says wrong 293 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:29,000 The world says hurt god says laughs 294 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,280 The world says weak 295 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:34,760 And god says strong 296 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:39,880 That makes sense to you weak is strong the meek inherit the earth 297 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:44,120 Are the poor what? 298 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:52,280 Think of paul as all on the road to damascus. What is he headed to damascus to do? 299 00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:56,360 He's the captain of capturing christians 300 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,160 He's been sent there by the high priest 301 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:03,640 To go ahead business as usual go get them christians. Let's capture them up 302 00:21:04,360 --> 00:21:07,400 And then he has this conversion experience where yeshua appears to him 303 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,120 And then speaks to him and not only is 304 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:12,120 Saul converted 305 00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:15,880 But so are his homeboys and they didn't even see yeshua. They just heard his voice 306 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:21,480 So I imagine that the conversion in saul must have been so strong that even his homies were like, whoa, this must be real 307 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:24,120 right 308 00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:26,120 But what trips me out about it is 309 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,800 Saul has two options here conversion experience is great 310 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:33,640 But he has two options the way I see it one he can continue on the road to damascus 311 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:39,080 Is gone business as usual he can just continue making a name for himself regardless of what happened 312 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:42,040 I don't know what he could say could say to his homeboys. Maybe we shouldn't uh, 313 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,480 Those were some funny looking mushrooms in the desert last night. I shouldn't have eaten them 314 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:50,200 Maybe I shouldn't have drank so much wine. He could have rationalized it any way that he chose 315 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:53,800 That's one option. The other option is what he could have went to heck home 316 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:58,040 That's probably what I would have did. I would have just went home. I would have told the high priest. Hey, man 317 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:00,040 I got sick stomach was messed up 318 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:03,640 I would have laid down for about three days and tried to figure out what was going on 319 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:06,920 Dude didn't even do that 320 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:08,360 he chose 321 00:22:08,360 --> 00:22:10,920 What I would say is the worst option the dumbest option 322 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,240 Do continues on to damascus and he decides to preach the gospel of christ 323 00:22:16,120 --> 00:22:19,720 He decides to preach the gospel to christ to a group of jews 324 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:22,440 What? 325 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:26,440 If i'm gonna go to damascus and preach the gospel of christ i'm gonna preach it to the christians at least he wouldn't 326 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:31,240 He went and spoke to jews. That makes no sense to me. What does make sense is that they booed him 327 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,700 What makes sense to me is that they ran him out of damascus 328 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:43,640 He put his life on the line for godly wisdom man, it's a hard decision to make 329 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,400 How many of y'all are facing difficult decisions right now 330 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:54,360 Something is just sitting heavy in your heart and you don't know which way to go 331 00:22:54,360 --> 00:22:56,360 I don't know it could be maybe 332 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:02,680 Maybe everybody you know is voting this way. I don't know they're voting up and and you feel compelled to vote down 333 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:05,000 or 334 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:07,000 Maybe your work environment is toxic 335 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,400 I'm talking about as soon as you get in your car and get ready to go to work 336 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:15,560 You just feel anxiety and depression just wash all over you and you know, you need to quit this job. But guess what you got bills 337 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,040 Or maybe your plan was to go to college 338 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:25,960 Maybe your plan was to go to college but something is whispering a different plan in your heart or or maybe 339 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,080 The friends that you grew up with and were so close to they're all just starting to 340 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:35,320 Go separate ways and you don't know whether to hold on to it or just let it go or maybe the doctor says to you 341 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:42,200 With this diagnosis here. You have got to use traditional medicine and there's something telling you 342 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,480 Maybe there's a more holistic approach. I don't know what 343 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,200 Difficult situation that you're facing 344 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:55,080 But what I do know is this we all share the commonality that we want to feel confident that we're making the best decisions for our lives 345 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:56,600 Amen 346 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,660 Amen. I told y'all i'm baptist. Amen 347 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:02,520 Thank you 348 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:07,000 But I I don't feel confident that I can make the best decisions for my life 349 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:12,120 I feel confident that god can and the only way that i'm going to be able to 350 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:16,600 Allow god to make decisions in my life is if I can distinguish 351 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,320 Godly wisdom from what from worldly wisdom? 352 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:22,280 So let's look at that distinction really quickly 353 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:26,280 Worldly wisdom says things like 354 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:28,840 Hey, greg if we hang out and you steal from me 355 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:33,080 You're a thief and i'd be wise to never hang out with you again 356 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:35,720 right makes sense to y'all 357 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:38,280 Godly wisdom says even a thief 358 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:44,760 A known thief who's literally being crucified on the cross even that thief can inherit the kingdom of god 359 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:46,760 and be with yeshua 360 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:48,760 after god experience 361 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:52,360 Worldly wisdom says if you look different and you talk different then we're not the same 362 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,640 And if we're not the same guess what I can be better than you 363 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:04,280 God's wisdom says in first corinthians 1221 the eye cannot say to the hand I have no need of you 364 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:09,480 Nor again the head to the feet I have no need of you true wisdom 365 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,160 Says we're all one in the body of christ 366 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:17,880 Worldly wisdom says ko worldly wisdom says if they hit you what do you do? 367 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:20,200 You hit back 368 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:21,160 right 369 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,160 If they hit you you hit them back 370 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:25,640 an eye for an eye 371 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:33,480 Godly wisdom in matthew 539 do not resist the one who is evil, but if anyone slaps you 372 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:36,440 If anyone slaps you on the right cheek 373 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,600 Turn to him also that turn my other cheek bro 374 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:43,800 He slapped me on my face and you want me to turn my other cheek 375 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,920 That makes sense to y'all that's easy to understand 376 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:56,120 What if it's your wife that gets smacked on the cheek? Am I supposed to tell her to turn the other cheek too godly wisdom is not 377 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:58,760 easy 378 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:05,960 Worldly wisdom says if you're an addict you'll always be an addict 379 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:08,200 Period 380 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,200 godly wisdom 381 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:15,720 1st corinthians 1013 no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man 382 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,400 God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability 383 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:24,680 But with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it 384 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,720 I don't have to call myself an addict once I call myself a child of god 385 00:26:28,360 --> 00:26:30,360 Thank you god 386 00:26:30,360 --> 00:26:35,240 Worldly wisdom says believe it when you see it godly wisdom says faith is the substance of things 387 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:42,280 Hope for and the evidence of things yet seen and with that faith you can walk on water and you can move mountains move mountains 388 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:47,560 worldly wisdom says a promiscuous woman is a whore that should be 389 00:26:48,360 --> 00:26:49,640 That should be 390 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:51,160 shamed 391 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:53,160 But a promiscuous man he a player 392 00:26:54,120 --> 00:26:56,120 He should be praised 393 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:02,120 Godly wisdom says in luke 736 even a prostitute 394 00:27:02,120 --> 00:27:05,160 Can sit at the feet of yeshua and wash them with her tears 395 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:10,440 I don't think we should be fooled though 396 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:14,280 worldly wisdom knows scripture too like uh that verse in proverbs 397 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:16,840 The one that says spare the rod spoil the child 398 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,040 Right according to worldly wisdom. What does that mean? 399 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:24,840 Spare the rod spoil the child worldly wisdom tells us that means to beat your kids 400 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:27,800 If you don't beat your kids, you're not a good parent 401 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:31,960 All right, but godly wisdom knows that shepherds never hit their sheep 402 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:37,080 Sheep are precious to them. They use the rod and the staff to guide them in the way that they should go 403 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:39,640 All right, and speaking of children 404 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:42,920 worldly wisdom says 405 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:47,880 Worldly wisdom says that a child 406 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:50,920 A child that's born without a family 407 00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:54,280 Or even a name 408 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:56,440 Baby girls are born without a family 409 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:58,440 Baby girl baby girl is doomed 410 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:01,480 She's doing to a life of struggle and trouble 411 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:05,960 But godly wisdom says I have set apart a family 412 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:08,680 One who I fortify 413 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:13,320 One who i've prepared through struggles and troubles of their own so now that same baby girl 414 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:15,960 She has a beautiful name 415 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:17,400 Her name is zela 416 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:19,400 And not only that 417 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:25,240 But she receives more love and is showered with more love than many children in this country who are born to traditional families 418 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:27,240 That is godly wisdom 419 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:31,640 Worldly wisdom worldly wisdom says if your arms don't work and your legs don't work 420 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:42,120 Worldly wisdom says if your arms don't work and your legs don't work then your body is broken and so too should be your spirit 421 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,080 But godly wisdom led me here to the house 422 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:50,600 Where one of the clearest messages i've ever received from god came from a vessel named scott sitting in a wheelchair 423 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:54,520 Worldly wisdom says our elders our elders are wise 424 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,120 And children should be seen in our earth 425 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:00,920 But godly wisdom let me hear 426 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:03,640 Where I see a young man named liam 427 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:06,440 I watched this young man smile from the inside out 428 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:08,920 And it teaches me a lesson about joy 429 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:11,560 It teaches me that joy that it can't be given or taken away 430 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:17,480 It's something that comes from inside you and you know what else joy is an intentional an intentional action every day 431 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:20,840 Every single day many times a day 432 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:28,520 Godly wisdom may seem like foolishness to the world 433 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:31,560 But I got one for you 434 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:33,560 It's cool to be a fool in christ 435 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:39,960 Let's make it a bar it's cool to be a fool in christ because in christ we have more life 436 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:45,160 So let's let's get ready to get out of here two questions we need to answer okay one 437 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:49,320 How can we align ourselves with godly wisdom 438 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:55,960 And two how can we make sure that we're functioning under godly wisdom promise you we'll hit those two questions 439 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:59,320 We'll get out of here all right so one how do we align ourselves first let's remember 440 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:01,080 gods 441 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:03,080 We're going to be living in the world 442 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,080 We're going to be living in the world 443 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:07,080 We're going to be living in the world 444 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:13,160 How do we align ourselves first let's remember god's wisdom comes from what god experienced 445 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,360 All right, and we can experience god in a variety of ways 446 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:21,160 First one I recommend is communication 447 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:23,720 talk to god 448 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:25,320 prayer 449 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:30,360 Prayer is a simple conversation with the creator. Don't think of it as like this puffed up thing 450 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:35,320 Where you have to use like these big words and pontificated phrases and thou art and oh 451 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:37,320 Has thou 452 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:39,240 Okay 453 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:41,080 It's a conversation 454 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:45,960 And and and remember god knows your mind god knows your heart and god can't be tricked 455 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:50,840 But keep this in mind god cares much more about what you feel than what you say 456 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:53,640 All right, talk to god 457 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:55,640 Keep it real 458 00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:59,820 Last thing about communication 459 00:31:01,940 --> 00:31:03,940 Communication isn't just talking right 460 00:31:03,940 --> 00:31:05,940 So if we're talking to god, we should be doing what else? 461 00:31:06,660 --> 00:31:08,660 We got to listen to right 462 00:31:09,300 --> 00:31:11,300 So for me it started with prayer 463 00:31:11,780 --> 00:31:17,860 Once I felt a genuine connection to the creator. I then wanted to worship that creator just to say thank you 464 00:31:19,380 --> 00:31:24,740 And in that god experience of worship, I then developed a deeper hunger to know more about that creator 465 00:31:24,740 --> 00:31:27,380 I wanted to know what the creator did for other people 466 00:31:28,020 --> 00:31:30,820 I want to know what the creator can do for me now 467 00:31:30,820 --> 00:31:34,580 I wanted to know what the creator is going to do in the future. So I began studying 468 00:31:36,020 --> 00:31:38,740 Scripture as well as other faith inspired works 469 00:31:40,660 --> 00:31:45,300 So for me the equation was prayer worship scripture study equals god experience for you 470 00:31:45,300 --> 00:31:46,180 It could be different 471 00:31:46,180 --> 00:31:51,780 So some people just come to church and have a worship experience and that leads them into prayer that leads them into study 472 00:31:52,740 --> 00:31:54,740 Biggest picture is god experience 473 00:31:54,740 --> 00:31:59,860 Lastly how do we know how can we make sure that we are operating under god's wisdom? 474 00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:08,020 Pastor greg told us when we went over solomon a few weeks back that solomon the wisest man in the world 700 wives 475 00:32:08,660 --> 00:32:10,340 300 concumines 476 00:32:10,340 --> 00:32:15,380 He started making worldly decisions even though he was the wisest man that had god's wisdom 477 00:32:16,020 --> 00:32:20,660 So what that tells us is that we need to steward godly wisdom. You can't just be like, okay, i'm wise 478 00:32:20,660 --> 00:32:24,100 Now I could say and do whatever I want. All right 479 00:32:24,660 --> 00:32:28,020 Doesn't work that way or even when I was preparing for paul paul 480 00:32:28,980 --> 00:32:30,980 He's telling us all these things about wisdom, right? 481 00:32:31,540 --> 00:32:34,180 And i'm getting this great message from god about godly wisdom 482 00:32:34,180 --> 00:32:38,900 But even paul fell victim to worldly wisdom sometimes if you look later in corinthians 483 00:32:38,900 --> 00:32:43,940 He says some pretty dumb things about homosexuality some dumb things about women, right? 484 00:32:45,140 --> 00:32:47,140 So we have to steward godly wisdom 485 00:32:47,140 --> 00:32:54,660 The best way that we can do that is following yeshuah's example. Yeshuah gave us two commandments to check ourselves 486 00:32:55,700 --> 00:32:58,020 Love god with all your heart soul and mind 487 00:32:58,900 --> 00:33:00,900 And love your neighbor as you love yourself 488 00:33:01,460 --> 00:33:03,140 love 489 00:33:03,140 --> 00:33:09,140 He also said something I really like he said a healthy tree bears healthy fruit and I like how that leads into paul 490 00:33:09,860 --> 00:33:12,740 Paul gives us a beautiful example of how we can do that 491 00:33:12,740 --> 00:33:19,380 Bears healthy fruit and I like how that leads into paul paul gives us a beautiful blueprint in his letter to the galatians 492 00:33:19,940 --> 00:33:21,700 That you can use 493 00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:23,700 He gives us the blueprint of the fruit of the spirit 494 00:33:24,420 --> 00:33:26,260 So when you're operating 495 00:33:26,260 --> 00:33:29,620 When you're operating on the godly wisdom, you'll you'll grow everywhere you go 496 00:33:30,660 --> 00:33:33,220 You'll grow the the fruit of love and joy 497 00:33:34,020 --> 00:33:35,140 fruit of 498 00:33:35,140 --> 00:33:37,140 patience and peace 499 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:41,160 Kindness gentleness goodness faithfulness 500 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:43,160 And self-control 501 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:47,320 You'll grow everywhere you go so in conclusion 502 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:53,480 Godly wisdom just hits different from worldly wisdom worldly wisdom says things like you can't 503 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:55,720 You aren't 504 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:57,720 You won't 505 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:05,240 Worldly wisdom reminds you of who you used to be to distract you from who you're meant to be 506 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:10,040 Worldly wisdom reminds you of who you used to be to distract you of who you're meant to be 507 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:17,160 Godly wisdom says you can you are and you will godly wisdom says you are better than your worst day 508 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:25,240 Worldly wisdom is common because it's based on a human experience and godly wisdom is based on a god experience 509 00:34:25,720 --> 00:34:31,000 And you need to appropriately steward godly wisdom. They make sure you're not trading it for the world 510 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:36,380 You can make sure you're operating under godly wisdom by following the model of christ as well as the fruit of the spirit given to us by paul 511 00:34:36,380 --> 00:34:41,000 You can make sure you're operating under godly wisdom by following the model of christ as well as the fruit of the spirit given to us by paul 512 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:44,600 And lastly, I have hope 513 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:47,640 I have hope that as we begin to move under godly wisdom 514 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:50,440 We'll not only begin to 515 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:53,960 Change our lives for the better but begin to change the lives of our neighbors as well 516 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:59,960 Thank you all for this talk