2. Ps 119:129 Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.
132 Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.

3. 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
134 Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may obey your precepts.
135 Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed. NIV

4. Overview My soul keeps your Words
The entrance of your Word gives light
Your Word gives understanding to the simple
I long for your Words
As is your custom;
direct my steps
let no iniquity have dominion over me
Redeem me from oppression
So I can keep your precepts
I weep when people don’t keep your commandments

5. Today's verse Ps 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
If you were God, what mental capacity would you require for people to have if they wanted a relationship with you?
Grade school? High School? College? Post grad?
If you were the God of the Universe, and you wrote a guidebook for your followers, how smart would they have to be to understand it?

6. The Teachings of the Bible
Deep
Theologians have wrestled with teachings for centuries
Want things to be complicated to “conquer”
Simple
Deepest thought: Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so

7. “Wise people” often scoff
1 Cor 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified:

8. : a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

9. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” NIV

10. “Wise people” have a hard time
Make things more complicated
Want to show off their mental capabilities
Pride themselves in comparing everything
Discount the simple explanation
Consider the bizarre explanation
Argue for the sake of argument
Are unwilling to be taught or to receive
Are proud

11. “Simple people” often get it
Simple people might be:
Simple minded
Unable to think deep thoughts (their fault or not)
Willing to accept without an explanation
Bright but uneducated
Childlike
Unless one becomes like a child they cannot enter the Kingdom of God
Willing to accept what they've been taught
Humble: I don't know it all

12. The Simple Message Jesus died on the cross for your sins
One must receive Jesus
One must make Jesus boss of your life
admit your sins or mistakes against God and people (confess)
decide to live a new life that is different (repent)

13. A Religion of weak willed idiots?
The Wisdom of this world?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
In my lifetime:
Godless evolution became intelligent design became aliens seeded the earth
No difference between men / women; just socialized became “oops there is a difference” to multiple genders within 2 sexes
Margarine is better for you; no butter is;
Humankind is continuing to explore and learn
THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE!

14. 18 inches to Hell The Bible speaks of a heart
Rm 1:...what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts NIV

15. 18 inches to Hell The Bible speaks of a heart
When people refuse to acknowledge God, even though His masterful work is obvious, God lets them go.
but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts...
Heart is the seat of emotions, desires, wants,
One cannot “think” your way to Heaven
One must receive Jesus into your heart

16. 18 inches to Hell
One way to learn the mind of the Creator is to study His creation. We must pay God the compliment of studying His work of art and this should apply to all realms of human thought. A refusal to use our intelligence honestly is an act of contempt for Him who gave us that intelligence.”
— Physicist Ernest Walton, who won the 1951 Nobel Prize in Physics for his “atom smashing” experiments done at Cambridge University in the early 1930s,

17. USE YOUR MIND! Think Question Explore In humility
But don't wait until you have God all figured out!
At some point, it becomes a heart matter.
It is simple; not complicated.
You need Jesus
Jerard Reed
Itis OK to question about God without questioning God.

18. USE YOUR MIND!
“The more I study science, the more I believe in God.” –Albert Einstein
“The question of whether there exists a Creator and Ruler of the Universe has been answered in the affirmative by some of the highest intellects that have ever existed.” –Charles Darwin
“I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know his thoughts; the rest are details.”– Albert Einstein

19. USE YOUR MIND! and USE YOUR HEART!
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Studying God's Word enlightens
Go deep
it gives understanding to the simple.
God's Word is challenging for the deep and understandable for the simple

20. So What? Where do you find yourself?
Deeply Mentally Challenged
Einstein
Where do you find yourself?
All head? Trying to figure it out?
Are you willing to believe with your heart like the simple person does?
Mt 11:25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

21. So what?
Rom 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
The Word of God- Deep Simplicity