WINNING WITH WISDOM #1: LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF WISDOM by Rabbi Brian Bileci 1-5-25

SERIES BREAKDOWN: 

WINNING WITH WISDOM is a sermon series that will help us start the year off right as we take a deep dive into the wisdom of Solomon, as we weekly read through the book of Proverbs that he wrote. With 31 chapters we have a devotional read for every day this month. We are preparing to win in life as we apply the principles of wisdom to our personal lives and spiritual growth.

SERIES OUTCOME:

We believe that God wants to impart wisdom to all who desire to have it. If we ask for wisdom, He has promised to give us the wisdom that we so desperately need. Thirty-one days of devouring the book of Proverbs will empower us to make wiser decisions, eliminate unnecessary distractions, and to fulfill our God-given purpose. 

“May you hear the VOICE of WISDOM. LISTENING, may you ACT with TRUST.” ~ Charlene Costanzo

HOW TO HEAR AND DISCERN GOD’S WISDOM FROM HIS WORD:

1. MASTER THE ART OF LISTENING TO DEEPEN YOUR LEARNING

1 The PROVERBS of Solomon, the son of David king of Israel: 2 Designed to enable people to appreciate WISDOM and DISCIPLINE and to comprehend words that foster insight…5 By LISTENING to them the WISE will add to their LEARNING, and those gifted with DISCERNMENT will increase their ability 6 to perceive the meaning of PROVERBS and obscure sayings, the words of the sages and their riddles. - Proverbs 1:1-2,5-6 (NCB)

“Most people do not LISTEN with the intent to UNDERSTAND; they LISTEN with the intent to reply.” ~ Stephen R. Covey

1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 LISTENING to WISDOM and directing your heart to UNDERSTANDING… 4…and search for it like HIDDEN TREASURE, 5 then you will UNDERSTAND the fear of the Lord and discover the KNOWLEDGE of God. 6 For the Lord gives WISDOM; from His mouth come KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING.- Proverbs 2:1-2 (CSB)

2. MEDITATE ON ITS MEANING TO EXPAND YOUR UNDERSTANDING

27 Make me UNDERSTAND the way of your precepts, and I will MEDITATE on your wonders…32 I will run the way of your mitzvot [“commandments”], for you have broadened my UNDERSTANDING…34 Give me UNDERSTANDING; then I will keep your Torah; I will observe it with all my heart. 35 Guide me on the path of your mitzvot [“commandments”], for I take pleasure in it…99 I have more UNDERSTANDING than all my TEACHERS, because I MEDITATE on your instruction. 100 I UNDERSTAND more than my elders, because I keep your precepts. - Psalm 119:27,32,34,99 (CJB)

“Meditation is the process of chewing on the Word. We take a Scripture, speak it, think on it, and then we do it again. This is the biblical way to get the word into our system and to receive revelation and understanding from its wisdom. To meditate, therefore, means to ponder, regurgitate, think aloud, consider continuously and to utter something over and over again.” ~ Rabbi Brian Bileci; Hearing God with Messenger International

•  Pray before you read the Bible and ask for the Spirit of God to give you wisdom and understanding

•  Read the Scriptures out loud and meditate on the author’s message to the original audience before yourself

•  Prepare your heart to obey what it says and put God’s Word into action after you “chew” on it’s meaning

•  Make room for more revelation that the Holy Spirit wants to give you and journal what you’ve learned

•  Allow your devotion of God’s Word to emulate your teachers and dig even deeper for increased wisdom

46 After three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the center of the TEACHERS, LISTENING to them and ASKING them QUESTIONS. 47 And all those hearing Him were astonished at His UNDERSTANDING and His answer