Choose God's Wisdom, Part 2

Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ to waste two sets of wisdom, world wisdom God. He said for jealousy and selfish ambition existence disorder and every evil thing. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, general reasonable for mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without a pop. Just like last is a pure busy peaceable is a general is a reasonable was able mercy and good fruits, unwavering in his and that's what you need for joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now again he shows us how God's word meets our work question got asked God to ask what you wish me to get wonder just met God speak to Solomon US whatever it is what you want to see you have anything Solomon said I want was I know what you're thinking ever think that I wished I would ask me.

You have to worry about that you have the same access to the wisdom of God to Solomon Goleta James chapter 1 in the New Testament James chapter 1 in these verses by the way, will tell you right off the bat.

Whether you have any wisdom at all or not the yet to be honest with yourself. You are in church. Church always one signature to thing the right thing. Think about the way your life really works is always starts in verse two. Consider it all joy, my brother, when you encounter the worst days of your life that you not say worst days, but does say consider all joy, my brother, when you encounter various trials is a response you consider all joy when you encounter the most difficult times your life do you consider that to be wise to them. I tell you how wise you are. You see white but that doesn't make sense to me most the people I get involved and when something that they face a trial inevitably would and responses are usually like this how this possibly happen to me why me, why now what's going on here. Where's God is that wisdom look what he says. That's it. I'll tell you why.

He said, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Yeah why do various trials come to me and you got is a test of faith. See one of things you learn throughout the Scripture is if you have real faith you can measure it by how much were your faith and door you tell me how much your faith will endure not tell you much faith you. That's what happens in Hebrews chapter 10 chapter 11 beginning in chapter 12 faith endorse Chapter 11 we call the Hall of Fame of faith and guess what it's all about what with a endure. How much were you and door and still have faith. That's how the Bible measures the amount of faith you have, what will it indoor and he said when you wander various trials. Many times what other choice do you have a lot to endure. I got to endure the strong gotchas yeah that's important things notice knowing that the testing your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, or telling us complete results so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. What's that mean you mature you gotchas on the various trial comes your way and you do it, it will mature you spiritually will be more conformed to the image of Christ than you were before. That's why am at various trust him in your life and what that is. That's wisdom you might be sinners and I don't get it. I just don't understand that God says okay let me show you. He said in verse five. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously without reproach to be given to as a promise you lack wisdom that's an argument you know I can't back too much wisdom about this as I said to God, got this spell what's going on here. I don't get it got us a bill, listen carefully, and I'm going to tell me know what to say to me, building a read the verses before did you just read. I just gave you the wisdom he said, knowing that the testing your faith produces endurance, and going to love is perfect result, you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

There's the wisdom bill. Thank you Lord, you see, there's the wisdom of that kind of a situation. For each and every one of us, but gotchas all give you wisdom. The reason is because I want you to have wisdom. I want to live with wisdom. Why, because he loves us, isn't that exactly what you do if your good parent is never good parenting is son, daughter, I want you to make wise choices in life. You see it when you have the best possible life you can.

I want you to be discerning. I want you to make good choices. I want to live wisely. Why because I love you. That's the whole point. You see, and that's what God says to us, that's what I hope happens. That's what I want to have happen. There is another kind of wisdom.

Look at chapter 3. James verse 13. Here he makes the comparison and he says who among you is wise and understanding. Let them show no notice he didn't say raise your hand.

How many people in here wise see what you put on a test.

Do you consider yourself wise. Yes gotchas no and mean it that way. He says here who among you is wise and understanding let him show by his good behavior and deeds in the gentleness of wisdom when it otherwise like to show it to make solid choices you want with anxiety and worry one of your lies. That's what will happen in your life. He said it, but if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart.

He said do not be arrogant. So does lie against the truth, he says, look, you can't be that kind of person. If you are a person that is you find yourself jealous of what other people have. If you have selfish ambition you're looking out for number one.

Remember, what's the wisdom of the world.

The greatest thing you can do is look out for you right that's what our world says, what does the Bible say consider everybody else is more important in your that's the wise approach. What's the world approach. You look out for number one your number one see selfish ambition as part of the American dream and it that's the whole point for us.

He says look if you're doing that, he said. Notice what he says this wisdom, he said, is not that which comes down from above is not God's earthly it's natural.

It's demonic. While you commit two ways to set the wisdom of the world's wisdom God's.

He said for jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there's disorder never evil thing. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, general reasonable for mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy, but I just describe the character of Jesus Christ as Christ. Just like last week is a pure busy peaceable is a general is a reasonable with you for mercy and good fruits, unwavering, and without hypocrisy. Yes is the wisdom from above is, that's what you need to have God tells us to pursue wisdom most important question is how do we do that how do we pursue wisdom. What can we do nothing here or shattering, but three points. I think it will help us understand how to pursue wisdom.

The first one is found in Proverbs chapter 13 Proverbs chapter 13 in verse 20 and this should instruct you in all.

Proverbs 13 in verse 20. Here Solomon says this he who walks with wise men will be wise, the companion of fools will suffer harm first thing we can do hang out with wise people hang out with wise people is just the first thing you can do mass could do. You have wise people that you can go to that you know have biblical wisdom should see. You should have that kind of wisdom should be able to do that is important.

None of us live in a vacuum. James Emery White says this I'm shocked how many people attempt to make life-changing decisions try to deter to try to determine God's will for their lives or seek to follow their life purposes and never bring other people into the process. This is causes you to miss to the very important tools that God wants to use in guiding you the first one is objectivity. Be honest, none of us are objective about ourselves, much less our lives. Neither my I'm surrounded by my emotions my circumstances my biases and my desires. I need to go to people see things completely independent of that, but that's not how I get decent, but that's not all I got through good counsel.

I also get wisdom when I go to someone I get his or her experiences, maturity and knowledge concerning what I'm trying to decide this is an about what ruining my life and letting my light by committee or taking what somebody says and feeling as though I have to follow it. It certainly shouldn't be used as a shortcut for the hard work of studying God's word and God's moral will when investing in prayer alone in evaluating my circumstances or even using common sense but going to someone who is intimate with God and intimate with you will be able to help you give you advice. It's invaluable you do that see when you're making choices and I don't mean to talk to my friends about it.

Measure certain friends walk with God and that they have some sense of wisdom.

I can remember some time ago I to make a decision. It was extremely important when one of the most difficult, gut wrenching decisions I've ever made. And I remember when I made it I decided to reach out and contact some men that I knew one of the men I contacted was the president of the seminary that I attended was a friend of mine, and in each case, every man told me exactly what I'd already decided what was that reassuring had a lot of emotion in that kind of a decision, but they said this is the wise thing to do. I learned that you have to learn to hang out with wise people. That's the point in again. Think of yourself as a parent what you pray for your teenagers and hang out with wise people I tell people this all the time. I don't like it okay if you want to know what kind of kid you really have just meet the friends you look at their friends and you know what kind of kid you have a lot of parents not on on.

I know he's a great kid. His friends are not good, but he's a he's a great kid. That's not the way it works in life. Water seeks its own level.

That's the way friendship works among teenagers you want to know about your child what the really like to see their friends. That'll tell you what's going on so we have to hang out with wise people.

Secondly, let's go to Job 28 Job 28. The second thing we have to do is if you acquire wisdom you have to have a humble spirit as soon as your spirit is not humble you, you cut off the chance of wisdom getting the that's a very important part of this Job 28 verse 12 says Job rights as he says, working wisdom be found and where is the place of understanding what you're going get wisdom. He said men does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.

That'll tell you clearly were. Don't you get you don't get about their wisdom is not sold out there.

You'll never get it out there. He said men doesn't know its value and in is never found in the land of the living verse 15 pure gold cannot be given to exchange Fort Morgan so will be weighed is price.

You can buy wisdom something is not acquired to buying verse 20, where then does wisdom come from and where is the place of understanding.

He said thus he said it is hidden from the eyes of all the living you'll never find it out there. Verse 23. God understands its way. He knows its place is only one source with Scott. There is no other source. Verse 28 it says and the man he said, behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom to depart from evil and understanding the fear of the Lord. That is wisdom what you mean by that Sinclair Ferguson describes the fear the Lord. This way it is that indefinable mixture of reverence and fear and pleasure and joy and awe, which fills our hearts when we realize who God is and what he's done for us seek whenever I realize who God is, guess what else happens.

I realize who I am as soon as I get into the presence of God. That way I understand me the higher I think of God, the less I think of me is not comparable, he says, look on the dispenser of the wisdom you come to me with this humble spirit. Any city can have an enormous effect on you. Fear of the Lord go with me for a moment the Jeremiah chapter 9 verse 23 Jeremiah 923 two when I go to God. I'm seeking wisdom that's pretty much what I'm seeking. And sometimes we have to be careful with this, if I go to God.

I say in my prayer God where are you the Masters at wise is where is he I think his words always been removed.

So if there's been a change in our relationship. Was it him or me, it's me is to humbly go and say Lord I don't know what I've done or I've done some things I know were not walking close to you all were God, don't you care. Please understand something that's virtually blasphemous.

Should I know better than to say, God, do you care sure I should is not a wise thing to say, does care. I know that you know you think this is can this possibly work out for me all things work together for the good. So I'm asking that question. Just be careful with the Cypress see him elevate him to who he is and understand who I am hearing the Jeremiah 9 verse 23 thus says the Lord, let not a wise man boast of his wisdom by way wise men will never tire the wise see wise people never tell you otherwise. Other people say the wise. But if you use a view you wise, you bet I one of the wisest guys you'll ever know. That tells you right then I don't.

I am not wise.

This is not a matter of somebody saying it on their own at all.

That's not the way this works. He said let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast in his might, but not the rich man boast of his riches most that's all pride. Let him who boasts boast in this he understands and knows me.

He said that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth.

I delight in these things seem and go to someone was was the make and secretary were God's table.

God said because I know God such an important factor with this hang out with wise people maintain a humble spirit and one more have to hear with a submissive heart go with me to Proverbs 22 Proverbs 22 in verse 17 and 18. You know, when Solomon prayed to the Lord to get wisdom.

He said to the Lord in his prayer. Verse King Street. He said give therefore your servant, hearing heart, but I want to hear you with my heart know the only thing I was say here numeric and standard is off base here.

I have to use the verse to the piping from the words wrong. They translated wrongly, but that's the way goes it says in verse 17 incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge that word mind is not mine. That's the Hebrew word Labbe it means heart King James version heart new King James version heart NIV heart ESV part everybody translates it hard to accept numeric and standard with translated mind. It's the word for heart, what's it mean it means my interbeing. It means my soul which nature it means, in a sense where my will exist see even the place where my will exist where I make choices and he says incline, he says. Notice that apply your heart to my knowledge, he said, for it will be pleasant and keep you and he said and keep them within you that they may be ready on your lips so that you make sure you so that your trust may be in the Lord have taught you, even the day. He said that's the way this works you gotta be convicted by let me say this way were not wise because we have God's work were not were not wise because we desire God's word, not wise because you know God's word you're not wise because you memorize God's word you wise only if you do God's work.

That's why James said don't be your only gotta be a doer, he said he here deludes themselves here sees himself in a word, and then goes it looks in the mirror says and forgets what kind of man is his only doing the word of God. You see in churches just like ours. We have an awful lot of people to know the word of God desire the word of God. They don't do it through the word of God and knowing the word of God really memorize the word of God does not make you wise or spiritual. It's only how you do the word of God. That's what he saying you have to hear with a submissive heart. So the Bible says there's two ways to live your life, you commit with the knowledge of the world that he calls folly or you can move with the knowledge of God. Biblical wisdom, God tells us we have to pursue wisdom make every effort having a great value and guard our lives.

Cipro Texas one of the great truths of Scripture which I wish wasn't there but it's clear in Galatians, Paul says God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, what he will reap what that mean your product of your choices you make foolish choices and you'll get foolish consequences be painful for you at this point.

That's why wisdom is so important that you understand wisdom, so you don't have to face all those terrible consequences in God's more than willing to give us his wisdom, how we pursuant we hang out with wise people.

We maintain a humble heart before the Lord and we have a hearing, sensitive heart wisdom will guide you through all the choices of your life. If you wonder how practical this is when you apply biblical wisdom. I just want to tell you changes everything. How do I handle the finances of my life with words or not what they say. What's the word say how I treat my spouse with the word say how I raise my kids with word say she now what what are they saying out there, what's the word say how I deal with them almost impossible. People with the word say how I do with my enemies.

People don't like me with the words, how I face the suffering that I'm going through which the word say she's extremely practical thing without biblical wisdom without biblical wisdom. None of us will ever experience the abundant life that Christ spoke up. We have to choose wisdom rather than falling Spring father. My prayer is simple. May your spirit convict us. These things are not difficult to understand the Scriptures are clear. You want us to acquire wisdom. You told us we can ask you for you know give it and you told us that if we do we will mature and become formed and growing our spiritual lives and be more like our Savior. And if we don't we will face the consequences of all of the bad choices we have made. Father I pray that we ask ourselves, my wise do I seek the wisdom of God. With great effort I want to take that wisdom and passing on to others, especially my own father. When we do this. It's for a good pastor broke your heart on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever miss one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like the message one more time. Remember that you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the Fellowship in the Word online event website you will find on today's broadcast. So many of our previous audio programs as well have Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that SBC and LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sermon series you're looking for or you can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listen at your own. And remember all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org forecaster program heart disease and heart. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order