God's Wisdom

II Corinthians 1:12

 “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conduct ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.” (NKJV)

“We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in our all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you” (NLT)

How many of us Christians have had a guilty conscience? How many do right now? It is easy to look at this passage and think “Way to go guys”; not “Are we truly doing this?”. Our culture tells us time and time again that we are flawed, but these flaws are what make us unique and others need to accept our flaws; for they make us. There is a partial truth to this. Yes, all of us are flawed and unique, but our flaws aren’t what makes us us. Our flaws and mistakes make us imperfect and in need of God’s grace. We need to conduct ourselves as Paul was. Paul strived for “a God-given holiness and sincerity in our all (his) dealings”. When I first looked at this, I thought about how this is really an impossible task and this verse was showing us how we are sinners. But that is completely wrong. This verse goes on to say, “not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God”.

Being holy and sincere in all our actions is an impossible task for us, but with God’s grace and wisdom we can. We don’t have to even attempt to try to be sincere and give glory to God in all our actions. All we need to be is God’s vessel and overflow His love onto others. If we just focus on God pouring into to us, then we will pour out Him and our actions will be for His glory and will be with God’s love.

To strive to become God’s vessel, I am going to for God to fill me up so I can pour out to others.

Praying for Wisdom

James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him”. (NKJV)

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking” (NLT)

How many of us would love to be wise? I definitely do. Wisdom is not only having knowledge, but is applying God’s knowledge and sharing it with others. Being a wise man who follows God is something we all want to strive for and it is so easy to get. All we need to do is “ask our generous God, and He will give it to” us. It is so simple, yet many of us don’t ask for His wisdom. I have had many times of struggle and hardships where I have needed to ask for God’s wisdom; but I didn’t ask for it. When I have trials come my way, I turn to my own corrupted wisdom instead of God’s pure wisdom. My wisdom and knowledge may seem to be the solution and may seem to solve the problem, but it really doesn’t. We know that, although it may have seemed to work, it wasn’t God’s outcome.

How come I don’t turn to God’s wisdom when I know it is readily available? I believe that the two main reasons are because of pride and rebellion. If we have pride than we believe we don’t need God, and if we have rebellion than we know we need God but purposefully don’t turn to Him.

Many of us have prayed for wisdom and haven’t received it. When this has happened to me I have doubted or questioned God. If we have faith in God than the answer is simple; it is because we don’t need it. We are filled with the Holy Spirit when we accept God and, most of the time, don’t need God’s wisdom because we just need to trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us wisely. If we lean on Him and not on our own understanding, He will direct our paths.

I am going to apply what I learned by praying for wisdom today, but if God doesn’t give me wisdom I won’t be discouraged; for I know that the Holy Spirit will guide.

Gaining a Foundation of Wisdom

Psalm 111:10

 “The fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise Him forever!” (NKJV)

When you want to gain wisdom, how would you? Would read the Bible? Listen to a sermon? I personally would go to God directly, through prayer, and ask for wisdom. Now prayer is the best way to help you through many things, but why isn’t it the way to gain wisdom?

Before you build a tower and become a giant of faith, you need a strong foundation. If you don’t have a strong foundation, you cannot stand. This reminds me of the parable of a man who builds his house on the sand. Although it can be way faster and easier, it is not a solid foundation and won’t stand. But the man that builds his house on the rock, the solid foundation, can build up and become a beacon of faith.

Now why do I say this? I say this because Psalm 111:10 says “The fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom”. Yes, prayer and “obey(ing) his commandments will grow… wisdom” but you need a foundation before you can grow.

Now that I know how to get wisdom (by fearing God), I can become wise; but wait! What is fearing God? Fearing God is being afraid of His power, but is also being in reverence of Him and being in awe. In order to be in reverence and in awe, you need to honor them and admire their power. You need to trust and love them.

I want to have this strong foundation, that way I can deepen my faith in God. In order to do that, I am going to write down 5 reasons why I need to fear God for the next 3 days.

Wisdom in Knowledge vs. True Wisdom

James 3:13-17

 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy”. (NKJV)

This week we are studying wisdom and, as I read this verse, I wondered what is wisdom? When I first think of wisdom, I think of knowledge; but wisdom is more than just knowledge. My bible defines it as knowledge, insight and judgment, but that definition didn’t feel like it was the correct definition. It felt like a partial definition. James 3:13 states, “Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom” than it hit me. Wisdom is knowledge, insight and good judgment, but it also needs to be expressed for it to be proven. If a wise man doesn’t prove his wisdom through his actions, than how do we know that he is wise. And what would be the point of his wisdom except to selfishly enhance only his own life.

The unwise have “bitter envy and self-seeking hearts” where “confusion and every evil thing” are. When I think of this, I think of our flesh. Our flesh is self-seeking, power hungry and bitterness due to the envy of covetousness. This is our nature. Satan does not have power over us, he only knows the weakness of the flesh and tempts us to fall.

But to combat this, God gives us wisdom and understanding. He gives us “pure” wisdom that gives us peace, gentleness, joy, mercy and humility. Ecclesiastes 7:12 says “wisdom gives life to those who have it”. I want this wisdom. I want this life.

To apply what I have learned and to start to obtain this wisdom, I am going to write down a verse on wisdom and tape it to the wall. Every time I see it, I am going to read it and pray for God’s wisdom.

Crying out Even During the Dry Seasons

Mark 10:47-49

 “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” (NKJV)

Jesus was a popular guy. By this time, Jesus had a large following everywhere He went. Jesus’ following was so big, that everyone was gathered in the city with their wounded before He even arrived.

 Now imagine what it would like to be a blind beggar. All you do every day is ask for money and say thank you when you hear a coin land into your cup. You don’t see anyone; you don’t know how they act. All you know is from what is said. I can’t image what life would be like.

But this day a blind man, named Bartimaeus, hears that Jesus has come into town. He screams out “Son of David, have mercy on me!” There is no result, so he says it again and again, only to be shushed by the crowd.

I know I am not the only one that has needed God because of trials and my faith has dwindled. I have called out to Him in desperation, but I have been shushed both by others and by Satan. I then have called out again and have been shushed a second time. I hate to admit it, but I have given up because I haven’t felt Jesus. I have cried out, and felt like there is no effect. Now I wish I had faith like this; unstoppable.

We need to faith in God that, no matter the circumstances, no matter how many times we are shushed that we continue to persevere and continue to pray to God, like Job. Job went through all kinds of persecution and continued to turn to God until God saved him.

I am going to apply this verse by writing down a passage that will continue to propel during my trials. I am going to find a verse in the next week that will encourage me to cry out to God, no matter how many times I am shushed and will have Julio as accountability.

Having Faith No Matter the Affliction

Luke 8:22-25

 “Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.’ And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ Then He aroused and rebuked the wind and the raging of water. And they ceased, and there was a calm”. (NKJV)

At first when I read this, I think to myself what were the disciples thinking? I first think of how little faith these disciples had when they were with Jesus on a lake. I have grown up hearing this bible story so much and every time I hear it I solely think of how little faith the disciples have. But we need to picture this situation before we judge. The disciples with Jesus on a boat and the winds start picking up. Jesus is sleeping peacefully while Peter and Andrew, both people who have spent their lives fishing, are scaling these waves. Now it is pretty likely that these brothers have been in some pretty tough waters while fishing and know how to read waves. Now when you put that into consideration and read that the disciples say “Master, Master, we are perishing!” then you know they must be in some pretty rough seas.

I know in my life I have had some pretty rough seas. I have been pummeled by the wind and waves and my little boat that was once on course was sinking and has lost direction. When your boat starts to fill up with water and you start to drown in the chaos, you need to pray to Jesus and have Him save you. What does Jesus do? When the disciples woke Him up, Jesus rebuked the wind and waves. Jesus saved them.

I know so many times I start to drown, but instead of calling to God I start bailing water and try to get to shore. I know that God can save me, but I don’t ask. I can’t describe my reasoning because it is just a feeling; an emotion that seems to be good reasoning in the moment, but is really just a lame excuse.

For my application of this verse, I am going to ask my roommates to, whenever I seemed overwhelmed or am sinking in the waves, encourage me to seek God and pray with me.

Faith that God is Proud of

Matthew 8:9-10

 “For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go’, and he goes; and to another ‘come’, and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this’ and he does it. When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (NKJV)

What would it be like for Jesus to marvel at you? Man, if Jesus marveled at me I would feel amazed and so happy. What is the definition of marvel? To marvel means to be filled with wonder or astonishment. If Jesus, the God of the universe, was filled with wonder because of my faith I would feel so much pride. God, being astonished because of my faith! The next sentence says that there is no greater faith in all of Israel. Wow! So how did the centurion react to this complement of his faith? Sadly, we do not know. All the Scripture says is that the centurion went back home and found his servant healed. But just imagine how much faith the centurion had?

What did the centurion say to wow God? He starts by saying “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof”. When I read this I realize that this is true. We are not worthy to have God underneath our roves of our homes or even in the shelter of our hearts. I am not worthy of God. We are not worthy of God, yet God loves us and makes us whole. The centurion then makes a statement that shows how admirable his faith is in God. He says “only speak a word, and my servant will be healed”.

I truly wish I had a faith like that. This centurion, a member of the Roman army, had so much faith that he knew that God was going to heal his servant. He didn’t need proof and didn’t need immediate satisfaction, for he knew that God was going to do it because God is faithful.

Application

I am going to write down a prayer about God increasing my faith and show it to my roommate  for accountability.