The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom - 5: "Apples Of Gold" Series

16, November 2003

Dakota Community Church

The Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Week Five: Apples of Gold

Proverbs 9:1-6

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.

2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

3 She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city.

4 "Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment.

5 "Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.

6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.

- We are not told what the seven pillars are.

- I believe they are themes of truth that will lead to life.

The fourth “pillar” upon which I believe wisdom is built is what I am calling “apples of gold”.

Proverbs 25: 11

11 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Perhaps the most important lesson wisdom has to teach us is the power that we all possess in our mouths.

Think about:

- The effect the words of a parent have on a child.

- The effect of the husbands words on a wife and vice versa.

- The impact of a boss on an employee when words are critical or encouraging.

- The words of a gossip.

- The words of a true friend in confrontation.

What does wisdom want us to know about our words tonight?

1. Our words reveal our hearts.

Matthew 12: 33-35

33"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

If you constantly speak negativity and death but say, well I have a good heart, I mean well – you are deceiving yourself.

Proverbs 16: 23

23 A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.

Proverbs 4: 23-24

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Romans 10: 9-10

9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead; you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

What you believe in your heart comes out of your mouth!

The key to changing your words is a change of heart! How? – Fill your heart with God’s word instead of your own understanding.

Example:

You have a hard to handle child or teen. The natural thing to do is to constantly talk about how much trouble he or she is. The word of God does not support that kind of talk and it will not help to change the situation, in fact it will strengthen the misbehavior.

Instead find God’s word:

Acts 16: 30-32

30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.

Psalms 127: 3-5

3Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior so are the children of one’s youth.

5Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Stop saying what you have and start saying what you want because:

2. Our words shape our lives.

Proverbs 6: 12-15

12 A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

13 who winks with his eye, and motions with his fingers,

14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart- he always stirs up dissension.

15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed-without remedy.

Proverbs 8: 6-8, 22-31

6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.

22 "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;