Will of God part 3
It’s Time to Grow up!
When it come to trying to find out what God’s will is for a specific things, I know what I want; I want God to do what He has done for the great founders of and leaders of the Bible and that is to just tell me! But God didn’t tell them every little thing.
I am sure that they were not given directions as to what camels to buy.
When there was a famine they were not told to go or not to go. That was a part of their decision unless God had a reason for giving help in that way.
If have a important decision to make then just give me the answer and give it to me now! Ok, God you aren’t going to do that well them let’s play then hint game.
How about this:
1. If I am to take this job offer will you have the next traffic light be all green.
2. If I am to take this job offer will you give me peace I my heart.
3. If I am to date this person God will you give me a sign?
4. I talked to a man who was getting burned-out in ministry. He put out a fleece. If the next man offers me a job I will now that this is from God. Now he was getting burned out because the pastor was sick and he was doing Hs JR High, Sunday School college and sometimes with 2 day notice the message as well. Quitting might not have bben the answer cutting back may have been.
How would you like to have your kids call up after they have moved out and are married call you and ask you questions like:
1. When should I mow the lawn
- What day should I pay the bills
How would you like to have your kids call up after they have moved out and are married call you and ask you questions like Dad shall I buy this car or not?
What would my response be?
Have you asked yourself the obvious questions like:
1. Can I afford it?
2. How much gas mileage does it get?
3. What the matter with your Nash Rambler? What is the matter with your old car?
4. How much money will you lose in depreciation the first year.
5. Does it have a warranty?
I don’t really know if those are the right questions or even if they are wise questions.
But the one thing that phone call tells me is that when that child moved out on their own, I did not give them one tool to live on their own. I am being a little harsh here. I did not give them the tool of Wisdom. Maybe I did part some wisdom, at least they are calling and asking advice.
Wow that’s cool!
Now if my kids are calling and asking wisdom about car buying I will be able to pass on all my mistakes in buying cars.
I think over my lifetime I have owned over 35 cars. I have financed poorly. In the end, I have two cars running and they are both paid off. I have a lot of experience!
Basically what I am saying that it is time for us to grow up and learn wisdom! It is time to come to maturity!
Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
So it is obvious the where we are going in the area of God’s will and decision-making.
1. Where God commands, we must obey and I you want to. I know that you do too!
2. Where there is no command from God, I am free to choose and I have the God- given responsibility to choose.
So now I have this great freedom what will I use to make decisions?
What one great tool do I have in making use of this newfound freedom?
Man I thought you would never ask!
3. 2. Where there is no command from God, God gives the Wisdom to choose.
It is Wisdom! What is wisdom?
J.I. Packer said,
“Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of getting it.
So wisdom in a way also fits under the first principle “ Where God commands we must obey”, because God commands us to be wise!
You cannot love God and not keep his commands and you cannot keep His commands without using wisdom.
So in the areas where God had not commanded us, we have the responsibility to make wise choices not to make stupid ones.
1Co 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
In the area of our freedom, our goal is to have our decisions glorify God and please Him. I have found many of my choices do very much contain God’s moral will. Because they involve my motives and my goals as well as my actions.
So I really want the decisions I make be:
1. “Spiritual” in that I mean God is going to behind those goals
2. Useful – I want to do what ever gets the job done, while staying in God’s moral will.
This morning we are going to look at two major things.
I. What did the people in the Bible do when God did not give special revelation?
Did they use wisdom and if so where did they get it?
A. The OT teaches wise decision making from:
AS You are reading scripture look for all the examples where decisions were made with out special revelation! See how they ere done and the consequences of good choices and bad.
1. The examples of wise men.
1. The examples of wise men.
a. Moses Exodus 18 :13-26 Jethro gave a advice to Moses
b. David 2 Sam 18 1-4 David was being pursued by Absalom his son. He wanted to go to battle but deferred to the wisdom of the people.
c. Solomon 1 Kings 3:3-14
(3) Now Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
(4) The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
(5) In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, "Ask what you wish me to give you."
(6) Then Solomon said, "You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
(7) "Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.
(8) "Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.
(9) "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?"
(10) It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.
(11) God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,
(12) behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.
(13) "I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so t hat there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.
(14) "If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days."
2. Wisdom literature, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes
Ecc 2:13 And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
Pro 1:6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.
Ecc 7:11 Wisdom along with an inheritance is good And an advantage to those who see the sun.
Ecc 7:12 For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors. (money does not!)
3. Promises of success Ecc 10:10
Ecc 10:10 If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well.
Ecc 10:10 Remember: The duller the ax the harder the work; Use your head: The more brains, the less muscle.
B. Jesus commanded His servants to be wise
1. Mat 10:16 Be wise as serpents and harmless as dove.
2. Matt 25:1-13 The wise virgins about the wisdom of being ready for the coming of the Lord
C. The apostles modeled wisdom in decision making I Thes 3:1
1. 3:1 Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone,
D. The apostle commanded believers to use wisdom in decision making
1. Col 4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
II. Where are we going to get it?
A. God. Pro 1:7 Proverbs 8;17
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Pro 8:17 "I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.
1. We must ask for it James 1: 5-6. Prayer
Jas 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Jas 1:6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
Does James say how or when it would be given? No! e want it to be given is some way we don’t want to look for or study. So lets get more precise.
We are going to get wisdom from :
1. God through Scripture Psalm 119:97-100, 19, 7, 2Tim 3:15-17
Psa 119:97-100 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine.
I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts.
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
2. Outside research.
a. Joshua sent spies to Jericho. Josh 2
b. Luke Luke 1:3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
3. Wise Counselors Proverbs 11:14, 13:20, 15:22
a. Pro 11:14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.
b. Pro 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
c. Pro 15:22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed.
Two kinds of wise counselors
a. spiritual insight
b. relevant personal experience
4. Life itself
a. Proverbs 30 Go to the ant, Proverbs 6:6-11
Pro 6:6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,
Pro 6:7 Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,
Pro 6:8 Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.
Pro 6:9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
Pro 6:10 "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest"--
Pro 6:11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man
Pro 30:24 Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:
Pro 30:25 The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;
Pro 30:26 The shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;
Pro 30:27 The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ranks;
Pro 30:28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces.
Ants work when it is possible to work so when the harsh weather come there will be enough food for winter.
Don’t be lazy when it is time to work.
Dad, How come the ants don’t starve, like we do in the winter?
Shut up and play your video ganes
The shephanim built their house on firm foundations. The wise man built his house upon the rock. Who or what is your solid foundation?
Is is Christ and scrpriture?
Locust, they seem to have leadership or community maybe order.
Lizards are bold and fearless.
Maturity is gained by application of learned truth.
1. It is the product of in depth bible study
2. The conscience obedience of God’s Word
6. Direct revelation
1. Philip Acts 8 the Spirit told him to go meet the Ethiopian man.
Now some of you are going to say what about the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our hearts or the leading of the Holy Spirit.
7. Now what about the prompting of the Spirit?
The promise of guiding our steps constantly comes up in the Christian community.
The email I got yesterday said
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
This would be a great topic of discussion. But since I am trying to show what the bible tells not what is part of contemporary Christian culture or Christianese. I would be interested in the passages of scripture that show that.
Illustration of marriage
Should I marry? Free to chose.
But Not who?
2 Corinthians 6:14
(14) Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Any kind of Christian?
Men here is some wisdom
Pro 21:9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Pro 21:19 It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
Pro 25:24 It is better to live in a corner of the roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Pro 26:21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Pro 27:15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike;
Women here is some wisdom. There are more passages on a foolish men.
Pro 29:22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
Pro 29:11 A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back.
Pro 29:20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him
III. What am I supposed to do with this? Shall I wait until I have decision to make or begin to seek after wisdom now? Will I:
1. Seek out God’s truth revealed in the scriptures? When start now.
2. Do my homework?
3. Seek wide counsel? Get into life groups where people share their lives.
4. Learn from life?
5. Or just wait till God gives me a dream, vision or talks to me direct?
God help us to be wise believers.