The Real God - The Wisdom Of God, Part 2

The most common question I get is how can I know the will of God. I don't mean the will of God, like how to get to heaven.

I mean the will of God, like who should I marry, what school should my kids go to. What do I do with my money. I got a big decision. What I want you to know is that requires you to learn today how you have the wisdom of God to make decisions that come out the way God wants stay with thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge with shipping chips or Bible feature on this international discipleship program were studying several key attributes of God's character. Learning how he longs for us to see chips series the real God in this program she finishes his message on God's wisdom establish some groundwork in our previous broadcast mystic a great way to catch up later with shipping remap now.

Let's join them for part two of this talk from Romans chapter 11 what I want to see if this is God's plan and here's the plan. Okay, here's a lost world.

There's been a coup of about they rebelled against the most high God. The king, the creator, the sovereign will talk about the foundations of the earth, God giving the possibility of choosing knew this would come and so the second person of the Trinity, Christ says I will go I will save people and so the crew is happened soon as occurred. Christ comes.

Not now listen to the wisdom of God. He is born of a teenage girl in a stall.

Can you imagine what the demons were thinking when you know what I will got up to put this in the library plan entities can be raised by a carpenter less. Not exactly the upper elite of Jewish culture and then finally he grows up lives a perfect life and anything to choose people because he brings what the best possible plans by the best possible means. The most possible people so he chooses a bunch of brutal blue-collar guys get the job. Peter, John, James, couple fishermen, a crook. Matthew zealot a couple wackos should be called under all that Mordechai would you just cool it and you look if you look at the guys that he chose why the wisdom of God who gets the credit. When regular guys like us ordinary people like us to follow Christ are redeemed to transform and change the world. God does to God is always working for purposes that we rarely understand. But if we don't understand the big plan of redemption and understand that's his purposes behind his wisdom. We will get lost. Can you imagine how much of a failure. It look like trying to visualize yourself being there and you are a follower, you are Peter, one of the Mary's and you cared.

He loved anybody the hope of the world and you're looking up at a cross and he's hanging there and he is dying and he says it's finished and his dad in your thinking this is a fine mess you got us into left my home. I left my job I've been ridiculed I've been kicked out of the synagogue. He's dead and you can almost in in the invisible world seeing the demons going, he said, see, we God's wisdom is foolishness unto man but what happened when he died on the cross he purchased you redemption is.

He paid the price for your sin. Between Friday night and Sunday when he rose, he went to what Bill Crede says, what does it mean that he ascended, except that he descended to the lower parts of the earth, and he proclaimed to the invisible world. Death is defeated Satan is defeated. Sin has been rendered powerless. I am the victor and then he comes out of the grave and what seemed absolutely ridiculous. It seemed foolish and ridiculous was the wise plan of God and see it is in redemption that we see that God takes the things that the world Philistines and is always about turning them upside down. Listen to JI Packer, how I love his quote on this God's almighty wisdom is always active and never fails. All his works of creation and providence and grace display. It and until we can see it in them were just not seeing them straight, but we cannot recognize God's wisdom unless we know the end for which he is working. God's wisdom is not and never was pledged to keep a fallen world happy or to make ungodliness comfortable.

Not even to Christians. Has he promised a trouble-free life rather the reverse. He has other ends in view for life in this world than simply to make it easy for everyone. What is he after that you never understand the wisdom of God understand the ends is what he saying.

So what is Scott Haft what's he, after in the world what's after the culture was after the society. What the actor in you what's he, after me.

Packer goes on to say what is goal. What's his name. He plans that a great host of mankind to come to love and honor him his ultimate objective is to bring them to a state in which they please him entirely and praise him adequately and he and they rejoice continually in the knowledge of each other's love men rejoicing in the saving love of God set upon them from all eternity and God rejoicing in the responsive love of men drawn out of them by grace to the gospel. You see, until we really grasp God's ultimate purpose for our lives now and eternity, we will be perpetually frustrated and disillusioned and I think for many of us that's what happened because our aim very subtly is not God make me like your son, our aim is not very subtly we been veered off the course. Oh God, help me fulfill whatever purpose you have for this brief time on this planet for you as I will be with you forever and ever and ever. We have reversed it and we can't figure out why life is so frustrating.

And God won't come through because his number one agenda is not my personal peace and prosperity and is number one agenda is not my personal fulfillment and is number one agenda is not to cure my loneliness with another person is number one agenda is not to give me a bigger, nicer house, a nicer car in the comforts that all the world can offer he may do all those things out of his gracious love but all of those in and of themselves. If the means turn into an end. Are idols and his wisdom in your life is often bringing pain but feels unbearable because redemption is so important to pry the idols out of your hand so you don't miss out on what really matters is of a loving, good, kind, compassionate God that so loves you.

Schmidt knows that your trading what is great and eternal and best for something that's cheap and it promises much and delivers love and so he want you to be wise he just want you to be wise. He wants you to understand how he has designed life and that he wants you to walk according to that design.

And when you do it will bring a goodness to your heart. A transformation in your relationships. A joy that you cannot fathom and you will fulfill his purposes. He sees it so subtle the little difference but he is about in that situation that's on your mind. He's committed to bringing the best possible ends by the best possible means. For the most possible people for the longest possible time. So let's wrap this up with some specific action steps to respond to his wisdom. How must we respond to the wisdom of God. Very simply, we must learn to live wisely. We must learn to live wisely. Ephesians 515 to 17.

What's he said he said don't be unwise. Don't walk as unwise but as wise and understandable to the Lord. Is it for the days are evil.

You're living in dark times. He says don't be unwise, but be wise, live wisely. Live according to God's plan so that you can rest and so you can trust. So there is a command not only that we be wise, but that we live in a way that reflects that we are trusting God. He wants us to rest.

He wants us to understand this is how I designed life and you know were practically God says this is how you can learn. This is how to do relationships.

This is how to handle your money.

This is how to make decisions.

This is how to walk by faith.

This is how to fulfill your purpose for me and if you will discover the way of wisdom and follow it than what he all those promises of Scripture about love, joy, peace, patients goodness, the fruit of the spirit and the rewards of that life are what God wants for you but you don't get that living in an unwise manner, and so second.

Not only must we learn to live wisely. It begins that how do you get it.

It begins with reverencing God reverencing God. Proverbs 17 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Job 2828 says any set of them. The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom and to shun evil is understanding.

So how do you learn to live wise first step is. It begins with reverence for God to have the fear of God and you know you do all kind of words that you know what to be afraid of God is and what the word fear really means like in the Hebrew and the Greek and all that stuff is be fearful of a reverential all yes that's true but we kinda trying to image the afraid but but is not afraid that is going to hurt you. If you are afraid that you won't please him. It's afraid that you can let them down. You know how to how many of you as a kid in my generation, how many times did you ever say man, I can't do that if I did that my parents would kill me right and you know what, so I didn't do it now. You are really afraid that they were to actually physically kill you. But it was a mix of consequences. You didn't want combined with a sense of betrayal and letting them down in ways that you didn't want to face and the way you got off the hook with your friends were asking you to do it I can do it by parents would kill me. What you are saying is I have a healthy fear of my mom and dad and that's where wisdom starts you. I'm afraid I don't want to mess up in my life. There are consequences. I want to do life God what the fear of the Lord essentially is.

I am going to choose to do life God's way, I'm afraid, for the consequences and am afraid for what it will do to my relationship with my heavenly father and what it says to him in light of all these done for me. I want to live with a healthy wholesome fear of God and I spent the first three years, probably my Christian life, saying, you know I'm gonna be a Frank Sinatra Christian I'm to do my way. I mean really I'm gonna do it my way and I just kept bumping my head bump in my head bumped my head you know God loves you so much you know when you really mess up beat and kick out of the family he takes to the woodshed and Hebrews 12 he'll love you. I call the velvet vice of discipline and you know what, there's gentleness in it. But you know what will just bring you if it relationships as issuer money is the issuer times issue. What he'll get your attention. He loves you so much and he'll just bring the velvet vice and you can either learn that we learn later, you don't lease total me. Some of us are hardheaded is painful and some of you may be in the velvet vice of discipline and you're not living wise lives with the fruit of living wisely because basically you could have a salad bar mentality that all choose out of the Christian life, the parts I like to do life my way on my terms and God says that's an interesting suggestion but is not one of the options she's not one of the options with me, not in light of who I am and so to respond to the wisdom of God. Yet to learn to live wisely and to learn to live wisely and begins with this reverential all in fear that you can say I'm to do life God's way because I ready for this. He's got to think that he's God he deserves for me to live in that way. Third, and requires growing or receiving his word. There is no way to live wisely without the manual that teaches us how to live wisely. As Psalm 119 997 through hundreds is all how I love your law I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies for their ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. Second Timothy 315 through 17 says all Scripture, all Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness. Why so that the man of God might be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I do not know and I don't. I'm not talking but reading your Bible little bit I'm talking about receiving the word implanted, you need to ask yourself how many videos how many magazines how many books how much TV and how much stuff is going into my mind versus how much truth of God's word because I will tell you you are what you eat. You are what you eat physically you are what you eat spiritually and is not just a little thing like okay I got little devotion on what I got from that group and I read the devotional schoolboy like a little checkmark and got that done today.

See you later got I'm not talking about reading the Bible reading being a Bible study I'm talking about receiving the word that you have to read it to receive it. Yes, yes, the study to receive it.

Yes but I'm talking about saying God I want to go through religious routines.

I want you to speak to me. I love you.

You're showing me some things so I want to take your word and will see what it says and I want to be the mirror to point out things that need correction. I want to be the mirror that says that you love me and affirming despite of where I met and that I'm to write down those specific promises that I need on a 3 x 5 card and I'm gonna read them over and I'm to ponder, then I'm gonna meditate on them because I need to trust you in this because I'm a people pleaser. I need to trust you in this because I'm a workaholic. I need to trust you and this because I keep lusting and falling back on these patterns, some to take these promises of your word. I'm in receipt of the my heart. I'm gonna memorize them and meditate on them and ask you for the grace to take the written word and make it the living word in my heart as I trust in you so that you transform my life as a receipt. That's what God wants me to do. That's how that's how you live wisely. It's not just knowing the right thing. It's putting it into practice. Knowing the Bible never changed anyone is applying what you know of the Bible that brings life change itself to live wisely begins with reverence.

It means receiving the word and then it requires asking for specifically. James 15 but if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives all men generously and without reproach would lead when he asked, let him ask in faith without any doubting that a man who doubts is like a wave in the sea, tossed here and there.

This is this is an airtight promise and in the wisdom here is you don't know what to do about a decision you don't know what to do about this relationship you don't know what to do about your finances, you don't know what to do about a wayward child you know what to do.

Should I take this job or that job should I take a promotion. Should I move or not move. What do you want me to do.

Don't you have a lot of things in your life.

I do you know what this passage says it comes out of the context of enduring suffering is written to a group of people to disperse and they lost their family lost their jobs and they been disowned and that that they been told. Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials of know this testing of your faith today. What hang in there, endure, and Gotto use it to develop your character, but in the midst of your pain in your suffering. If you don't know how to handle it if any man lack wisdom, let him ask God promises 100% of the time to show you exactly what to do if you come and ask, and wisdom is not.

Don't make me smart. In this we you show me what it looks like to follow your way in your will and the situation. That's what wisdom is this what you're asking. Show me what it looks like to do what you want me to do in a situation now, here's the condition that will let him ask without any doubting that phrase. There does not mean an intellectual doubt or that's not like honest doubts about like one verse in the Bible. This is a picture of a person is coming to God.

But they're coming. Literally we get our word schizophrenia double minded doubting double minded.

It has the idea of someone who comes to God says should I date this person or this person should I take this job or that job should I do this with my money or this with my money. Should I move here remove their God. I want you to show me exactly what you want me to do so I can take it under consideration. I would really like you to show me exactly what you want to do and I'll tell you what I'll all think about that and if it's what I want. I just might do it and if I don't I just might not. That's the double that's the doubting of the double minded man you want to know how to get God's wisdom in areas where you're not sure what to do. Here's a word picture, whatever that area is you you you imagine a blank check in on the top of that, checking or you write it out to someone you imagine. I need to know what God wants me to do right have this big decision about this or this or this or that and then what you do is is you write on the bottom the check reassign your name, you sign your name and then you take that check and you walk over, in your mind's heart in this the throne room of God and you take it and you shove it under the door there's light coming out from under the door and you signed your name and he fills out the top what you're saying is Lord, whatever you show me in advance whatever you show me I'm committed to doing if you will show me I will do it hundred percent. If you say break off the relationship. I will if you say move on, move if you say confront the situation. I'll confront if you say quit this job. I'll quit this job. Whatever you tell me to do. I will do I sign my name on the check. I put on the door of heaven, and now Lord, you promise you will give wisdom to anyone who asked without reproach, even if the reason I'm here is because I've messed up in the past. These are some consequences of my sin and I really feel bad asking you what to do because I'm here because I really know I messed up that print that phrases Hill cut outcome without reproach. God will not give wisdom and sight as one when you come and you really did mess up in you getting what you deserve. That's not the passage says just the opposite. God will say I'm glad you came. And I'm not here to condemn you. You understand what you done wrong. You've come with an honest heart, and you repented and now you need to know what to do and I want you to know when ever any one of my children come and they are willing to do what ever I show them.

If you will ask me.

I guarantee 100% of the time I will show you exactly what to do and so about 98% of the will of God in these cut areas is being willing to do what he says. And if you're willing to do in advance. He will show you and maybe through book and maybe through person and maybe through counsel, or maybe through pastor may be through a series of events were seven people say exactly the same thing. They don't know each other. Do you it may be a strong prompting in your spirit, and by the way, if it's other centered, loving biblical moral and has some sacrifice involved.

It probably isn't the enemy trying to you know a really funny how this can be from God. You know every in response to God's wisdom. We must learn to live wisely and that begins with reverence for God grows with receiving his word requires asking for specifically. And finally, we must learn to trust completely trust that all the comes our ways from the hand of a good and loving God who, knowing all things actual and possible is exerting his unlimited power to execute the best possible outcomes by the best possible meeting fulfill the highest possible to be back in just a minute just to remind her this message.

The wisdom of God is from his series, the real God. In this eight parter chip explains that we naturally tend to imagine God with human characteristics. Moody, impatient, unforgiving, because it's what we know about ourselves and others, but nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to God. That's why it's essential to see him as he really is.

That's what this series the real God is all about. If you're ready for a clear understanding of who God is and how that changes everything you've ever thought about the best way is to do this study with a small group of friends. So for a limited time. We've discovered these resources because we want to do everything we can to help you get to know the real God. For more information or to order your small group materials today go to LivingontheEdge.org Special offers on the chipping remap or give us a call at AAA 83336003 that's AAA 333-6003 will trip as we work our way through this series were also in the season when people are thinking about starting small groups in their homes for church or with a few friends over coffee so all the series we have available and discounted right now. Which one would you recommend will Dave. It's interesting that you asked me that because I have a very quick answer.

AW Koser has a quote that really change the course of my life. He says what comes into your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you. Everything rises and falls with her view of God. It was on to say, there's a secret of the soul that we unconsciously gravitate toward our view of God. What I want people to know is that how you see God if you see him accurately. It affects your emotions, your view of yourself. Every decision if you don't seem as good. You can't trust them.

If you don't seem as sovereign life just seems like up and down random chance but it's not enough to read a book about God is not enough just to study about God. Real learning occurs when you take that study and then you get with the group of people and you begin to dialogue and share and pray, and you begin to take the truth about who God is and begin to talk with one another about what does that look like in your everyday life. And so that's why are the real God. Small group resource is my number one recommendation for everyone.

Of all the things I've studied all my life.

In fact, that little book by toes or is still in my briefcase. I must be a slow reader because I've been reading the same book for over 30 years. But what I really mean by that is been studying the character of God. And as I've done that with other people clearer. That gets the more accurate. That gets the more transformed my life and the life of others become. If you're ready to get back into community.

I would say to our listeners. Now is the time in the real God would be my number one recommendation will to help you make getting to know God. Your number one priority and we encourage you to do this study with a small group of friends. We've temporarily discounted the small group resources for the real God doing this series together will get you into a deeper level of understanding. As you process and talk about these key attributes of who God really is included in each discounted workbook is a unique code to unlock the online videos get the workbooks, user codes and you're good to go.

To take advantage of this limited time offer. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org or tap special offers on the chipping remap for more information. Give us a call at AAA 333-6003.

Without your strip with his application. How do we tap into the wisdom of God. How do we get his mind in his heart about what to do when to do it where to go, what decisions to make, what not to do so that we honor him and it works for our good.

Today we covered three specific things that you need to do and I need to do if were going to tap into God's wisdom, let me review them number one. It begins with reverence for God, you know, at the heart of this. I don't know where you're at. At the heart of this is you will never get God's wisdom into you bow the knee and say I'm to do life your way. You know this. There's no compromise here. I'm going to do life your way. Your word says it, I'm going to do it when I know what's right to do. I may feel like I may not. I'm going to do it so it begins with reverence. Second, it requires asking for it specifically, God says, ask for wisdom and give it to you. What's the situation where you need to know the mind of God. Are you asking specifically but remember the condition you are willing to do whatever he says third it grows with receiving his word. God's not dropping little wonderful ideas about what to do out of the sky.

It doesn't happen in a vacuum member. We said it's his word.

It's a lamp unto our feet. It's a light into our path as you soak your mind and your heart in the word of God.

Wisdom will literally lose out a bit by the power of the Holy Spirit as you come with that surrendered heart and so here's your assignment. Are you ready much to do this today I would like you to sit quietly for 15 minutes and ponder your most difficult circumstance and say Lord we you give me your wisdom and Lord what ever you show me all do.

He may bring a verse to your mind, he may bring an idea he may prompt you to go talk to someone. He may even say once you read that chapter in JI Packer's book knowing God.

Pages 93 to 97 and you may get a perspective that you've never had before, make God grant you his wisdom today. Amen. Just before we close. I want to thank each of you who's making this program possible for your generous giving 100% of your gifts are going directly to the ministry to help Christians really live like Christians. A few phone chips teaching helpful which are not yet on the team. Would you consider doing that today to donate.

Just go to LivingontheEdge.org Donate on the app or give us a call at AAA 333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003 and let me thank you in advance for whatever the Lord leads you to do well and selects time for everyone here. This is Dave Drewry saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge