Week 25 Grow in the Storm
“Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.”
George Herbert
Passage
14As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:14–16 (NASB95)
"Storm Chasing Sun" by Meanest Indian is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Background
Quote- George Herbert (3 April 1593 – 1 March 1633) was an English poet, orator, and priest of the Church of England. His poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets, and he is recognized as "one of the foremost British devotional lyricists." He was born in Wales into an artistic and wealthy family and largely raised in England. He received a good education that led to his admission to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1609. He went there with the intention of becoming a priest, but he became the University's Public Orator and attracted the attention of King James I.
After the death of King James, Herbert renewed his interest in ordination. He gave up his secular ambitions in his mid-thirties and took holy orders in the Church of England, spending the rest of his life as the rector of the rural parish of Fugglestone St Peter, just outside Salisbury. Henry Vaughan called him "a most glorious saint and seer". He was never a healthy man and died of consumption at age 39.
Passage- The book of Ephesians is a Prison Epistle (letter written while in prison). Paul wrote it about 60-62 A.D. The key personalities of Ephesians are the Apostle Paul and Tychicus. It was written to encourage believers to walk as fruitful followers of Christ and to serve in unity and love in the midst of persecution. Paul encourages the believer to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling”. Every believer has a responsibility to live as servants of Jesus Christ. Paul teaches that it takes hard work to be in unity with others, and that we are to be “imitators of God” (5:1). He mentions imperative truths and advice for well-functioning families, including husbands and wives who upon the oath of marriage become as “one flesh” (5:31). Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church (body of believers) and the way that Jesus Christ loved the church is the way that the husband must love his treasured wife, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (5:25).
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
In the middle of our difficulties it is often difficult to focus on anything other than the immediate needs to get out of the hardship. Only after the storm has passed do we take the time to assess what happened. Don’t let the hardships of life wash over you without learning something from them.
Ask: Why are we beset by storms, by difficulties?
Point: Sometimes because we made bad decisions. Other times because Satan wants us to turn away from the path we are on, and still others because he wants to stop us from learning something new and profound.
Ask: Can we learn new things while we are in the middle of dire problems?
Point: Yes, but often times we do not until we are on the other side of the storm and can use hindsight. Please read the following:
29And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 14:29–30 (NASB95)
Ask: As Peter was sinking do you think he learned anything? Why/why not?
Point: The immediate threat to Peter’s life of drowning in the storm likely left little room in his mind for anything other than panic.
Ask: Can we learn something from Peter’s reaction to sinking? What was it?
Point: Peter turned to Jesus in his moment of life-threatening distress. Please read the following:
10The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.
Proverbs 18:10 (NASB95)
Ask: What does that mean that the “…name of the Lord is a strong tower…?”
Point: In the days when the chariot was the height of military technology, bows and spears were the best ranged weapons, and swords were used for personal defense a tower well-built with thick stone provided impregnable safety.
Ask: What does it mean then, “…the righteous runs into it and is safe?” How do we “run into” the “name of the Lord?”
Point: Please read the following:
11A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.
13He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.
14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?
15The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Proverbs 18:11–15 (NASB95)
Ask: Where is the answer to how to “run into the name of the Lord” in that Proverbs passage (note: it is the section of verses after the Strong Tower verse?)
Point: The answer is in verse 15.
Ask: How does acquiring knowledge or seeking knowledge mean we are “running into the Lord?”
Point: The answer to this question lies in another question.
Ask: Does any kind of learning, of gaining knowledge mean we are “running into the Lord” for protection?
Point: No. All learning is not “running into the Lord.”
Ask: What kind of learning then is considered “running into the Lord?”
Point: Please read the following:
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding,
3To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity;
4To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,
5A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:1–7 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
Reflect back on the Matthew 14:29-30 reading and Peter beginning to sink. He cried out for Jesus to save him, not his friends in the boat. Peter sought God’s help in his life-threatening crisis. Peter ran into the name of the Lord. This is the lesson we should learn from those two verses. As we sit here in the comfort of our (hopefully) airconditioned classroom look at what the Lord Jesus did immediately but also, hear the admonishment of Christ to Peter, which might also ring true for us today.
29And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
Matthew 14:29–32 (NASB95)
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Read and study Chapter 2 of Proverbs paying close attention to the opening verses. Those verses have been appended to this lesson for your convenience.
Question 2 Once your study of Chapter 2 is complete, read Chapter 1 of Proverbs paying close attention to the closing verses. Those verses have been appended to this lesson for your convenience.
Question 3 Record in your journal any insight or revelations the Holy Spirit gives you and resolve to act on those things God places on your heart.
Question 4 Resolve to read the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds to the calendar day as a daily devotion from this point until you have read all of the Book of Proverbs, one chapter per day.
Definitions
17and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
19“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
Matthew 11:17–19 (NASB95)
(Note: the Greek word behind Wisdom in verse 19 has the article “o ho” attached to it here meaning divine wisdom)
Greek Word: σοφία
Greek Strong’s Number: 4678
Transliteration: sophia
Phonetic Pronunciation: sof-ee’-ah
Root: from <G4680>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 7:465,1056
Part of Speech: n f
Vine’s Words: Wisdom
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
wisdom 51
[Total Count: 51]
from <G4680> (sophos); wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual):- wisdom.
[1] James Strong, “Σοφία,” Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
Wisdom is the path to the Lord
1My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you,
2Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;
3For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
4If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God.
6For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.
10For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you,
12To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things;
13From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;
14Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
15Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways;
16To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words;
17That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; Proverbs 2:1–17 (NASB95)
A Warning From God About Learning (or not learning)
20Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square;
21At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
22“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?
23“Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
24“Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
25And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof;
26I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,
27When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
28“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
29Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord.
30“They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.
31“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.
32“For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33“But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.” Proverbs 1:20–33 (NASB95)