G'day, friends. This is Pastor Joe here, sharing insights from our ongoing study in Proverbs. Over my 40 years in ministry, I've seen that life's challenges boil down to seven key questions: who, which, what, where, when, why, and how. Every situation fits into these, and Proverbs offers a foundation to answer them through God's wisdom.

Divine wisdom is heaven's solutions to earthly problems – the Word applied to navigate life's trials successfully. It's about doing and saying the right thing at the right time.

We prayed for instruction, righteousness, correction, and encouragement, thanking Jesus as our wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Diving into Proverbs 1:2-3 (Amplified Bible): "That people may know skillful and godly wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight. To receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice and integrity."

The Hebrew word "yada" for "know" means deep acquaintance and comprehension. This wisdom is accessible to all people – no age, background, or status barriers. God values everyone equally.

We control how much of heaven's solutions we release into our lives. As co-labourers with God (1 Corinthians 3:9), we obey His lead. There's a big difference between good ideas (which we fund) and God ideas (which He funds).

To access this wisdom, develop deliberate plans: routines, disciplines, and habits. Ideally, parents impart it early, but if not, start today. Examine your priorities and time usage – where you spend time is where you spend life.

I know life's busy with family, work, and commitments – Indra and I raised four daughters while pastoring, running a global radio ministry, and working secular jobs. But structure routines prayerfully; there's always time for essentials.

I recalled a Jordan Peterson podcast about a man equivalent to 10 PhDs, with patents and 12 companies – it's about how we use time. Commit to God's wisdom as a pathway for and through life.

Expanding to verses 2-6: We're granted access to the divine pathway for effective living – practical wisdom for daily to long-term matters, intellectual wisdom (like Paul's scholarly training), and moral wisdom for strong foundations in individuals, families, and nations.

It's open to the simple (prudence), youth (knowledge and discernment), and wise (to increase learning and understand enigmas). Stay teachable; probing wisdom adapts to changing marketplaces, ideologies, cultures, technology, and geopolitics – like AI advancements today.

We'll explore more next week. Heaven's answers to earthly matters!

God bless you all. Indra and I are dedicated to helping you become all you can in Christ. Visit livingsuccess.org to subscribe for free podcasts.

In this episode of Helping You Become, we dive into 1 Kings 3, starting from verse 4. Solomon offers 1000 burnt offerings at Gibeon, highlighting the cost of serving God—much like Jesus' call in Matthew 16:24 to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. We explore self-denial through Philippians 2:3-8 and Luke 9:23, emphasising daily commitment and humility.

God appears to Solomon in a dream, offering anything. Solomon praises God's mercy to David for his faithfulness, righteousness, and upright heart, leaving a legacy even his children admire. Acknowledging his own youth and inexperience (verse 7), Solomon asks for an understanding mind and hearing heart to discern good from evil and judge God's people wisely.

Pleased, God grants unparalleled wisdom, plus unasked riches, honour, and long life if Solomon obeys like David. This stems from humility and aligning with God's heart—identifying his greatest need relative to his calling.

We learn to pinpoint our own greatest needs in serving Jesus, seeking His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). Solomon's story shows obedience and right heart attitudes bring exceptional blessings, as seen in 1 Kings 4:29-30.

Friends, reflect: What's your greatest need in your calling? Go to livingsuccess.org for free resources to help you grow in Christ. God bless!

G'day friends. In this episode of Helping You Become, we delve into 1 Kings chapter 2, exploring divine wisdom through King Solomon's story. David, nearing death, charges Solomon to be strong, walk in God's ways, and keep His statutes, commandments, precepts, and testimonies for prosperity – echoing God's words to Joshua. David humbly focuses on obedience to God, not his own achievements.

We reflect on the extraordinary success of Joshua and Solomon, who fully adhered to God's charge. This prompts questions: What life could we lead if fully committed? How do we cut through distractions like cultural noise to prioritise Jesus?

I challenge the notion of work-life balance, noting biblical figures like Jesus and Paul were driven by their God-given tasks, not clock hours. In our prosperous age, let's leverage disciplines and routines diligently. 2 Chronicles 16:9 reminds us God supports those with blameless hearts towards Him.

The promise in 1 Kings 2:4 requires walking in truth with full heart, mind, and soul – not cultural fads. Commitment must align with God's priorities; fans show full commitment to sports, but where do we stand with Scripture?

Track your time for a month against true priorities: prayer, worship, service. If TV outpaces prayer, there's an issue. Honest self-examination honours God and invites His wisdom.

We touch on 1 Kings 3:3 – Solomon loved the Lord, walking in David's statutes. True love for Jesus (John 14:15) shows in obedience and prioritising His Word.

We're out of time, but join next week for more on prevailing Proverbs. Check livingsuccess.org for free resources like "So What's Next" – a study on steps after committing to Christ. Share it widely!

G'day friends, it's Pastor Joe here from the Helping You Become podcast. In this episode, we dove into Proverbs chapter 4, emphasising the pursuit of God's wisdom as the principal thing in life. We explored verse 7 from the Amplified Bible: "The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom, skillful and godly wisdom! For skillful and godly wisdom is the principal thing. And with all you have gotten, get understanding, discernment, comprehension, and interpretation."

I unpacked the Hebrew word for "principal" – re'shiyth – meaning the first in place, time, order, or rank, like firstfruits or the chief thing. We must deliberately seek, learn, and apply God's wisdom daily, and crucially, pass it on to our children and grandchildren from a young age. Imagine if our parents had ingrained this in us from three years old – it would become first nature, creating unstoppable momentum towards living in God's ways.

I reflected on how different our lives could be, drawing from Luke chapter 2, where young Jesus at age 12 astonished the teachers with his depth of scriptural understanding. Perhaps Mary taught him systematically. This isn't pie in the sky; it's a practical step to build godly wisdom into generations.

Moving on, verses 8-9 promise that prizing wisdom exalts us, bringing honour, grace, and glory. But remember, true wisdom is grounded in the reverent fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7), sourced from God through His Word and relationship with Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit.

In verses 10-12, the fatherly plea is clear: "Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many. I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly wisdom... When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered; your path will be clear and open; and when you run, you shall not stumble." This contrasts with the wicked who stumble in darkness (Proverbs 4:19). God's wisdom separates us from worldly ways, clearing obstacles like pushing through brambles to reach a trout stream – a memory from my New Zealand youth!

We then turned to Deuteronomy 4:5-6, where Moses instructs: "Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances... So keep them and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'"

The process is key: Learn God's ways first, then apply them, demonstrate wisdom publicly, and it becomes a powerful witness – even evangelising nations through biblical principles in action. What an opportunity to raise a generation steeped in God's wisdom from toddlerhood!

Join me next week as we continue this study. Head to livingsuccess.org to subscribe – it's free, with heaps of resources to help you grow in Christ. God bless you all!

The story of Christmas is far more than a historical account or a sentimental holiday tradition. It is a living, breathing source of profound guidance for our daily lives. It teaches us to see the end in the beginning, to nurture our calling, to act with consideration, to eliminate what holds us back, and to awaken to the work God is already doing.

This Christmas season, as you reflect on these lessons, what is the one thing God is asking you to wake up to?

1. The Christmas Story Begins with the Ending in Mind

2. Your Calling is a Sacred Pregnancy

3. Even Good People Can Get It Wrong

4. Your Future is Often Decided by What You Eliminate

5. It's Time to 'Wake Up' to What God is Already DoingConclusion

G'day friends, Pastor Joe here. In this episode of Helping You Become, we dive into Proverbs chapter 4, verses 5-7, emphasising the urgent call to "get wisdom" – to procure, possess, and redeem godly wisdom and understanding. We explore the Hebrew meanings behind "get," urging a focused pursuit of discernment, comprehension, and interpretation. Don't forget or turn away from God's words through laziness, disagreement, or excuses.

I challenge the common notion of us as mere "broken vessels" or simple clay pots, often used to justify inaction or poor behaviour. Instead, scripture calls us to holiness – read 1 Peter 1:12 to 2:5 in the Amplified Bible for a deep dive into developing holy speech and conduct. No excuses! Apply New Testament lenses to Jeremiah 18-19 and Romans 4-6, where impurities are dealt with through Christ's righteousness.

Drawing from 2 Timothy 2:19-22, we see God's firm foundation: depart from iniquity, cleanse ourselves from dishonour, and become vessels of gold and silver – honourable, holy, and useful for the Master's work. Flee youthful passions; pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

Don't forsake wisdom; she will defend, protect, and guard you. Wisdom is the principal thing – first in place, time, order, and rank. It's our life's pathway, building momentum and direction. Seek God-ideas over good ideas; He'll fund the former!

Imagine if parents instilled this pursuit from age three, making wisdom integral to who we are. Join me next week for more on activating God's wisdom. Check livingsuccess.org for free resources. God bless!

G'day, friends. In this message on Prevailing Proverbs, we dive into the second 'W': wisdom. I've pondered God's wisdom for decades—it's profound yet simple, like applying His Word to life. God grants us access to His divine wisdom through Christ to underwrite our born-again lives amid sin and evil loosed on earth. Just as God is love (1 John 4:8), wisdom is integral to His being; He has infinite wisdom, and Jesus embodies it (Proverbs personifies wisdom as feminine, yet we can grow in it).

Drawing from 1 Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified), Christ is our wisdom, righteousness (right standing with God), sanctification (purity and holiness), and redemption (ransom from sin's penalty). These six life-changing gifts include:

1. New life in Christ with boundless opportunities.
2. Wisdom for wise decisions—short, medium, and long-term.
3. Salvation: reintroducing choice, so none need face eternal separation (fools reject God, per Proverbs).
4. Righteousness: upright relationship with a holy God (2 Corinthians 5:17—all things new).
5. Consecration: overcoming fleshly sins and temptations (God provides escape, 1 Corinthians 10:13).
6. Redemption: freed from captivity due to Adam's sin, with debts paid.

I urge committing this verse to memory—it transforms deeply. As believers, applying God's wisdom can thwart sin's effects, restoring creation's goodness. We're far more powerful through Christ's resurrection than sin's fall in Adam.

Focusing on Proverbs 4:5-11 (Amplified): "Get skillful and godly wisdom... Do not forget... Forsake not wisdom, and she will keep, defend, and protect you." Wisdom is the principal thing—prize it, and it exalts you. The Hebrew 'get' implies procuring, buying, redeeming it as a life focus. Meditate on God's Word day and night for success (Joshua 1:8). Lifting Jesus draws all (John 12:32).

As Solomon glimpsed, divine wisdom brings staggering success from God's view. Let's pursue it to live effectively and holy, drawing the unsaved. Parents, pray daily for your kids—watch for that 'third voice' like in Eden.

God bless—check livingsuccess.org for free resources to become all you can in Christ.

G'day friends, it's Pastor Joe here wrapping up our five-week study on words from the book of Proverbs. We've delved into how our speech shapes our lives, and today we focus on Proverbs 31:26, describing the virtuous woman who opens her mouth with skillful and godly wisdom, with kindness on her tongue, offering counsel and instruction.

This Proverbs 31 woman is a powerhouse – productive, forward-thinking, a devoted wife and mother. She exemplifies how words reveal our true character. Ladies, you play a vital role in guiding society with your discerning wisdom. I've learnt the hard way – ignoring my wife Linda's intuition once cost us our first home! Scripture affirms wisdom is for all, men and women alike (1 Corinthians 1:30). Don't let anyone diminish your intelligence; God's truth is available to lifelong learners who prioritise His Word, managing habits and time effectively, just like this remarkable woman.

Over the weeks, we've explored Proverbs verses on words, and you can find the full study at livingsuccess.org. Now, let's tie it off with key scriptures outside Proverbs.

In Matthew 12:33-37, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for accusing Him of demonic power after healing a blind and mute man. He declares: "The tree is known by its fruit" – and Proverbs 18 reminds us words are that fruit. Out of the heart's abundance, the mouth speaks (v34). Good hearts produce good words; evil ones, evil. We'll give account for every idle word on judgment day – by words we're justified or condemned, not just actions.

Luke 6:45 echoes this: The good person brings forth good from their heart's treasure; the evil, evil. Our mouths reveal our inner world. To change our hearts? Psalm 119:11 – "I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Read, memorise, meditate on Scripture daily; let it transform knowledge into revelation.

Ephesians 4:29-31 urges: Let no unwholesome words come from your mouth, but only those building others up, blessing hearers – and remember, the spirit world listens too. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit with bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, slander, or malice. Instead, be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving, as Christ forgave us.

James 3:5-8 warns the tongue is like a ship's rudder or a small spark igniting a forest fire – small but capable of great destruction. It contaminates the body, sets life's course ablaze, full of deadly poison. No human can tame it, but God can. We must choose words that honour, putting away bitterness and slander.

Finally, 1 Peter 3:10 (quoting Psalm 34): To enjoy life and see good days, keep your tongue from evil and lips from deceit. Obedient speech invites God's blessings; disobedient, His discipline.

Friends, words matter profoundly – they're the rudder of our lives. Handwrite Proverbs daily, even just 5-10 verses, to embed God's wisdom. I pray this study blesses you. Visit livingsuccess.org, subscribe free, and share. God bless!