Sermon Notes – Pursue

Pursue, Proverbs 2
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended June 27, 2010

This is the second of a series of conversations between a father and his son. The father is pleading with his son to pursue the way of wisdom, which is to pursue Christ. Think about God the Father having the same conversation with us.

This is a classic “if/then” conversation. Parents should be extremely familiar with what makes an effective “if/then” conversation.

1. The “if” must be clearly defined.
2. You must be willing to follow through with the “then”.
3. The “then” must be a good enough motivation to do the “if”.

Another way to state this is to say:

The only things worth pursuing are the things worth having.

“If” – Proverbs 2:1-4

1. If you pursue wisdom humbly then you will receive the rewards – Proverbs 2:1

You must see your need and be humbled. A hard, prideful heart will not see the need to pursue (Matthew 5:3).

2. If you pursue wisdom submissively then you will receive the rewards – Proverbs 2:2

The terms “hear and listen” mean to externally hear and inwardly obey. You must be making changes as a result of your hearing, i.e. submitting. “As long as I am hearing and reading the Word then I am OK” is not a true statement. You can read the Bible through twelve times a year and attend a Bible preaching church every Sunday but if you aren’t obeying then you aren’t pursuing wisdom (James 1:22, Mark 8:34).

3. If you pursue wisdom primarily then you will receive the rewards – Proverbs 2:3-4

This must become the primary pursuit of your life (Matthew 6:33). God will take care of the things that we, most often, spend the most time pursuing. Having wisdom and a relationship with Christ is the greatest treasure you will ever have (Matthew 13:44-45). Seek Christ above everything else.

“Then” – Proverbs 2:5-11

1. If you pursue wisdom in the right manner then you will know God – Proverbs 2:5

Knowledge of someone means intimacy. Knowledge of God is reserved for those who pursue rightly. The reason some don’t hunger God is because they have never tasted. Once you have tasted you are always hungry for more. Paul got a taste (Philippians 3:8-10).

2. If you pursue wisdom in the right manner then you will know the way of God – Proverbs 2:9

He gives you the discernment to know the right way and the wrong way, i.e. His way. You have the ability to make the right decision.

3. If you pursue wisdom in the right manner then you will be protected on the way – Proverbs 2:11-19

We need protection from evil men, evil women and the evil way. The “strange woman” is a woman outside the covenant of God. The “strange woman” is an analogy of idolatry or something that takes your affections away.

The failure to actively seek is always a decision to passively fail.

We find then some strange realities about pursuing Christ:

1. Sin keeps us from pursuing Christ but Christ keeps us from pursuing sin.

2. Passion is often a result of seeking (Proverbs 2:10). If you start pursuing Christ you will get a passion for it. You cannot wait for a desire to pursue, passion follows the pursuit. Passion is borne out of pursuit. It takes faith to believe it is worth your life and it is the only thing worth pursuing.

Do not think that you will receive the rewards of pursuit if you are not pursuing. Begin pursuing Christ now, trusting (even if you do not feel like it) that God will keep His promises and He will reward those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6). The pursuit of God produces passion for God.

The question isn’t the “then” it is the “if”. He keeps the “then”, will you keep the “if”? Proverbs 2:20-22 show us how important this is. He will uproot those who aren’t pursuing and send them to hell.

Are you pursuing anything worth having?

Do your life, thoughts, time, and energy reflect that Christ is your primary pursuit? If not, what do they reveal as your primary pursuit? God promises that those who seek Him humbly, primarily, and submissively will then receive intimacy, protection, and discernment.

NOTE: These are my notes, taken as I listened to the sermon live. Any errors, misunderstandings or misinterpretations are my responsibility entirely and not the fault of the preacher.