Book: Proverbs
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PROVERBS 9:10

"THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM"

Intro: In 1:6, we are told "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of
       knowledge. Different Hebrew words translated beginning in one-six
       word means sum total. Here, the Hebrew word means primary or
       commencement, starting place.

I. THE DESIRE TO BEGIN AGAIN.
        A. There are certain days set.
                1. New years.
                2. Birthday or anniversaries.
        B. I want to start over fresh.
                1. I hope to have better wisdom.
                2. I want to avoid the follies of my past.
                3. I'm starting my new diet tomorrow.
        C. There is for us no true beginning.
                1. Everything has been preceded by something else. 
                        a. If I desire to plant an Avocado tree.
                        b. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
                        c. I may desire to start anew, but there is all my
                           past HET.
        D. Where can I begin.? "The fear of the Lord is the starting place
           of wisdom.

II. WHAT IS MEANT BY, "THE FEAR OF THE LORD?"
        A. The classical definition is reverential awe.
                1. This is more than bowing my head when I pray.
                2. Or removing my hat when I come inside the church
                   building. 3. This means giving God proper place in my
                   life.
                        a. Yielding my will to His.
                        b. Living to please Him rather than myself.
                        c. Seeking to love the things God loves and hating
                           the things God hates.
        B. "To fear the Lord is to hate evil."
                1. We have developed a high tolerance for evil.
                        a. We have been glutted with evil.
                                1. Survey indicates that by the time your
                                   child graduates from High School, watched
                                   16,000 murders.
                                2. Evil no longer shocks.
                                3. No longer a strong revulsion.
                                4. We've been too satiated with it.
                2. Those doing evil are demanding acceptance.
                        a. Our bachelor governor pushed for the consenting
                          adult bill.
                                1. He pressed for anti-discrimination laws
                                   to protect those with        preferences.
                                2. Featured guest for the fund raising 
                                   dinner for           .
                        b. In the name of freedom, people are being let
                           into        .
                                1.         of their own flesh.
                                2. Your flesh is the world's greatest
                                   tyrant.
                        c. The public school system is dominated by
                           humanistic teaching.
                                1. A Dr. Simon has introduced a concept
                                   known as value clarification.
                                        a. It's okay to lie, steal, cheat,
                                                   , if that's a part of
                                           your value system and you have
                                           clarified these values for
                                           yourself.
                                         1. Makes own choice freely, must
                                            disregard what he was taught by
                                            parent or church.
                                         2. Investigate all alternatives.
                                         3. Weigh the consequence of each.
                                         4. Select what you prize most.
                                         5. Make public affirmation of
                                            choice.
                                         6. Act on choice.
                                         7. Adopt it as your lifestyle.
        C. The knowledge of the Holy is understanding.
                1. What is holy or pure?