Wisdom For 2020, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. Mankind send separate eternal separation as God offers to sell, offer solution, I love you all so much else on my side of the advisors you and I that's God. The gospel is the wisdom of God in the person of Jesus Christ and how does most the world reacted not listening 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 University of Pittsburgh. Oh, wisdom, philosophy when you say you made of what you made in the love of wisdom. So I read everybody from the pre-Socratic's all the way to modern existentialist and guess what. Knowing bidding and pardoning.

In fact, each set of philosophers hundreds of years apart, would spend most their time telling you why the last prevailing philosophy, then bring you any happiness. And it doesn't work, we have a new form of philosophy then eventually get existentialism and existential philosophy is an interesting philosophy because it's philosophy is this. Nothing works and nothing really matters. There, that's philosophy. So in one sense, it was great, but another sense it doesn't give you much hope meaning and purpose just doesn't work that way. He says look you're never going to find this, he said, comes from God. That's where this comes from infecting the next statement will question Alaska's where you find it Job disorder gave us an idea how I find it here. Go with me to Proverbs chapter 1 Proverbs chapter 1, and what we see here is so important about it is this what happens if we just ignore most, but as a child of God. What James is telling you don't ignore because if you ignore what will happen as you seemed fine whenever circumstances are great in your life whenever you go through your like 2020. Go find you have no resources emotional resources to deal with it and you won't find your life full of all joy.

You'll find your life despairing. That's what I went up happening. That's what happens if you ignore it now will notice what he says here and in Proverbs chapter 1 and verse 20 same ideas before wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square at the head of the noisy streets she cries out at the entrance of the gates of the city she utters her sayings. God keeps saying I just keep inundating people what they need wisdom of shouting everywhere now watch what you shouts this time how long, O naïve ones, will you love being simpleminded and scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge, there's God's assessment.

If you don't apply as was that's what he says, oh, what am I like, I'll tell you there's three things you are your simpleminded your scoffer in your full that's who you are, you ignore my wisdom go head better. You are the he said turned my my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit when you and I will make my words known to you because I call you and you refused. I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention and you neglected all my counsel, and you did not want my reproof I'm trying people see what God is saying in 2020 W. I'm trying I'm actually trying to reach you about how you acquire wisdom so that your life can be full of joy and you're not getting it. You're ignoring me and you start the whole pity party. Woe is me this is a terrible time. I don't want you can do that said, I'm offering it to you is parts a little bit personal. Verse 26 God's reaction will react this way. I also will laugh at your calamity and love that no there are very few times people asked me for this God ever laugh.

Here's one when you act like an idiot to laugh.

He laughs at you. What are you thinking what are you doing why are you acting this way when the circumstances have overcome the circumstances. See how this works as I laugh and laugh at your calamity. He said I will mock. He says when you dread comes when you get what you deserve. When you reap what you sow. Is it a market for that because you should know better, but we don't.

He says when you dread, comes like a storm in your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Sometimes the circumstances of life. It is just like a category five hurricane. Come right upon us and everything changes and what do you do then you count it all joy will actually not be happy about here is a lot to be happy about like what about me see how about no no I don't. I know you're there, but I like to be happy based on my circumstances. God's of life doesn't work that way. We are sinful people we live in a fallen planet, a lot of stuff happens, he says, then they will call on me. He says I will not answer then they will seek me and diligently, but will not find me because they hated knowledge.

They did not choose the fear of the Lord they would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof, so they shall eat the fruit of their own way and he says be satiated with their own devices for the waywardness of the naïve shall kill them.

That's is when you reject wisdom you pay. The consequence think about this.

Think of the hope of mankind. Mankind's sinful sin separated from God and eternal separation does God offer solution that God's is our offer solution. The big picture. I love you all so much. I'll send my son into the world to live a perfect life and you guys are substitute on the cross and you and I can spend eternity together. That's God's wisdom. So when you say that to a lot of people. How they respond. Not for Mary love. I I like religion better earn my way.

I just show up in certain places and got me so pleased that I showed up to let me in for others of us are more moralist we say look, I don't think anyone doesn't get in unless you really, really bad.

That's always Hitler or someone like that and you won't get in.

But I think God's going to gratis on the curve and on as long as I'm not terrible and then right know and they rejected as the with the gospel is the wisdom of God in the person of Jesus Christ and how does most the world react to it. Not listening that's is okay to pay the consequences. See you decided to reject it, but we, as his children in the same way that a reap what we sow two as his children.

When God offers us his perspective and his wisdom as a gift to washed out to live through the most difficult of times and we rejected. We don't want any part of God's wisdom, God says that's going to be a terrible thing he says in verse 33 but he who listens to me shall live securely and shall be at ease from the dread of evil James that we should be joyful now.

This is your secure when we apply the wisdom of God. Let me give you a fact of God, a fact but to have wisdom.

It can apply to your life.

You have me say this all the time.

The worst thing that could happen to you can happen. As wisdom so I'm not that afraid the last day of my life will be the best day of my life. It's the day I absent from the body and present with the Lord is God's perspective. I need that because life can be really difficult and really painful. But if I ignore it when you land up with fourth tear, frightened, worried, angry. He said that's what happened to me because I just which I got I don't hear that now that's what we end up being and we end up reaping what we so so what happens when read more wisdom we get calamity and dread, and many of us unfortunately are getting that now. Last question how I get the wisdom little I need to do to get the list first pass 2 is Jeremiah chapter 9 and verse 23 Jeremiah 923 is a certain posture I have to have if I'm going to get God's wisdom. Verse 23 Jeremiah 9.

Thus says the Lord, let not a wise man back to again these are wise men. Let not a wise man boast in his wisdom, let not a wise man boast in his wisdom, so I don't I can't walk want to save you guys have any idea just how wise I am me you needed come to me. I got the wisdom so you don't boast in wisdom.

What's the opposite of boasting humility is a lot like a wise man boast in his wisdom, he said, and let not the mighty man boast in his might MetLife the rich man boast in his riches, and we do any of that. And that's what we have the stuff right if I can boast about it. Let everyone know how much I got was a fun of that said no don't do that. He's let him who boasts boast of this that he understands me and knows me and that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, righteousness on earth, for I delight in the same sticklers Lord Withers versus Tommy's bill God loves. Humility when you're humble in front of him. That's one of things I wanted to share this year is been a perplexing year with all the experience I have is a pastor and all the training I have. I have no answers to how to really pastor a church through all the circumstances I have and find any answers from my colleagues over the country because there everywhere all over the map so they can all be right. Everyone have a whole different approach so I can do is get up in the morning and ask God to show it to me. I have no answers and I was a perplexing thing but got I guy don't have an answer to this.

I don't know what to do. I don't know what the best approach will be the God's young so easy. You have one part of it is you have to be humble. He says before God.

That's the way you have to be.

Secondly, you have to seek wisdom with all your heart of first go with me to Psalm 86 Psalm 86 verse 11 is a Psalm of David. Remember I said the first thing is you have to be humble.

The second thing is yet to sit with all your heart.

Now, how hard would this be for David which understand little bit about him when David was a teenager he slew Goliath and 9'9" Philistine everyone Israel terrified of Ms. teenager slow and guess what the whole country did when they responded.

They sing songs about the whole country everywhere you go juice, sing songs about how great David was.

I say 15 now the whole country was singing accolades to you in 15 how would you do everybody top 10 list everywhere, singing songs do you then he went back home and Samuel was told by God that he he's going to actually appoint the next king. The real King Saul had already been appointed King and he's been a failure so sick. Simba goes to Jesse's house.

Jesse shows him all his sons and God says the same. That's not them the same access to questioners or anyone else to go. Others the boy now I told you, by the way, everyone doesn't like Annette Housel doesn't like David much because everyone singing about. He said he sees out the pastor tending a few sheep to bring a man say comes in and God whispers in same as you, he's the king denies the king so he's the king and the boy who slew Goliath, everybody sings about him, and he has unparalleled success defeating all of Israel's enemies is incredible what he is done now want to see his prayer. Verse 11 Teach Me Your Way overboard and I will walk in your truth, unite my heart to fear your name. I will give thanks to you oh Lord my God with all my heart and will glorify your name forever to doing he's humbly approaching God with all this hard cases God it's all about you not get every reason not to be humble before the Lord, or seek the Lord with all his heart but he does and it's an amazing thing. How he pursues it now want to see his son last passage first Kings chapter 3 verse seven first Kings chapter 3 verse seven. His name is Solomon.

And now he's getting famous story verse seven now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in a place of my father, David, and yet I my little child, I do not know how to go out or come in your servant is in the midst of your people which you have chosen a great people who are too many to be numbered in comic so give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours.

He asked for wisdom says it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing, and God said them because you have asked this thing and not have asked for yourself for long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for your discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words, behold, he says, I have given you a wise and discerning heart so that there has been no one like you before you, nor someone like you arise after you know that story. Solomon is the wisest man who ever lived God. David was a gift not that's an amazing thing is that how you pursue wisdom you pursue wisdom, as is the most important thing in your life because it is you dedicate yourself humbly before the Lord to pursue his wisdom, the way you've dedicated yourselves to be success. Educate yourselves all the sacrifices I made for this company. The hours I've spent the nights I didn't sleep what you pursuant because whatever it is it's not wisdom can be compared to wisdom CDU pursue things that way it's like we know that's an important thing that we really don't act like it's an important thing I found this this week is a good reminder. I think the way we often are I were a lot like the CEO is visited by an angel in the middle of a board meeting so the whole boards of the table and the CEO was there an angel come to stand right in the middle of the room and the board and the angel said to him because of your pious life. I'm going to give you a choice between unbounded wisdom, wealth, or beauty with no hesitation. The man said wisdom very well. The angel said to disappear. So the man that is sitting at the head of the table in the boardroom and its just going in all the board members are just watching and finally one of them said say something to us. We want to hear the voice of wisdom. He said I should've taken the money is a picture of us that's the way we act you see on one hand which owner I think the wisdom would you really waive your sacrifice to get God's wisdom waive your sacrifice for the stuff you see you have to seek it with all your heart yet to humbly be in front of the Lord, and it's worth it because it will make you happy and content will give you life a piece a life of joy, a life of hope. It doesn't matter if it's 2020 warming any difference at all. So what does wisdom look like it's seeing life from God's perspective.

Why is wisdom so important because it gives you can sustaining contentment and joy where you find wisdom only one source, God, and what happened to be ignored. Calamity and dread and terrible feelings.

Like many of us have right now and how do I get it. Be humble before the Lord and seek it from the will all your heart. Who knows maybe when this is all over, someday you'll look back and say 2020 was the best year of my life father so often we just get mesmerized by the circumstances and that affects our attitude and we express that attitude is despairing even though we know that you are sovereign over the circumstances, even though we know that all things work together for our good.

Even though we know we have the full assurance of your presence. Now with us in our presence forever with you. We still allow the circumstances to destroy our relationship with you and make ineffective our testimony to others when we could have a life of all joy, all peace, all because of the peace beyond all comprehension and we can have a whole the surety of Jesus Christ. The circumstances we find ourselves in in the world right now are circumstances that we should be able to use for your glory that we should be salt and light their wish we would either reach out to people who don't have the hope that we have in Christ. Father I pray that all of us examine our own heart and ask ourselves the release of the pray this in Jesus, Pastor Bill Gebhardt on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever miss one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like to listen to the message one more time. Remember the good a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online that 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.

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