JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(Psalm 119:97) “Oh how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.”
I’ve found in my life that there is only one thing that will bring me true peace, comfort, joy, and hope in this life we live… amidst all of the chaos in this world… and that is quiet time with God!
Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33)
But what kind of "things" was He talking about?
Things like money, houses, relationships, health, and jobs.
What did He mean by "the kingdom of God?"
The answer?
Living under the rule of Christ each moment and submitting to His will in all things.
When Jesus used the word "seek," He called for three things…
?(1) Intentionality.
When something important is lost, you must put aside other things and seek until you find it.
(2) Importance.
Position, performance, prosperity, and popularity can be good things when properly used… but without the rule of Christ in your life, you'll always be vulnerable to the devil.
(3) Importunity.
No matter how long it takes, how hard you must work, or what you must rearrange… restoring your quiet time with God is the most important.
?
The Psalmist wrote, "When You said, "Seek My face", my heart said to You… 'Your face' Lord, I will seek'" (Psalm 27:8)
"Quiet time" has been called many things throughout the history of the church.
The morning watch, daily devotions, appointment with God, or personal devotional time.
?
It really doesn't matter what you call it, as long as you have it regularly.
Your quiet time with God is simply daily fellowship with Him through His Word and prayer.
It's a time you deliberately set aside to meet with Him.
The goal is that you might grow in your personal relationship with God so that you can know Him, love Him, serve Him, and become more like Him.
That’s why I take the time each day to write and post these little mini sermons or thoughts for the day.
They are not only the fruit of my quiet time with God but they are insights I post to help you, my fellow man, find a way to begin a daily habit of quiet time with God.
With out it life is overwhelming to say the least.
Good Day!
(1st Samuel 3:6)... “And the Lord called again…”
So how do I know the voice of God?
How do I know when it’s God speaking to me?
This question has been asked by countless people throughout the ages.
Samuel heard the voice of God, but did not recognize it until he was instructed or taught by Eli the prophet how to recognize it. (1st Samuel 3:1–10)
(Judges 6:17-22… 36-40) Gideon had a physical meeting with God, and he still doubted what he had heard to the point of asking for a sign, not once, but three times.
When we are listening for God’s voice, how can we know that He is the one speaking?
First of all, we have something that Gideon and Samuel did not.
We have the complete Bible, the inspired Word of God, to read, study, and meditate on.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2nd Timothy 3:16–17)
The Bible is Gods written word… and when we have a question about a certain topic or decision in our lives, we should see what the Bible has to say about it.
God will never lead us contrary to what He has taught in His Word (Titus 1:2)
Secondly, to hear God’s voice we must “belong to God”.
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice… I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27)
Those who hear God’s voice are those who belong to Him… those who have been saved by His grace through faith in the Lord Jesus.
These are the sheep “who hear and recognize” His voice, because they know Him as their Shepherd.
If we are to recognize God’s voice, we must “belong” to Him.
We hear His voice when we spend time in Bible study and quiet contemplation of His Word.
The more time we spend intimately with God and His Word, the easier it is to recognize His voice and His leading in our lives.
Employees at a bank are trained to recognize counterfeit bills by studying genuine money so closely, that it is easy to spot a fake.
We should be so familiar with God’s Word that when someone speaks error to us, it is clear that it is not the voice of God.
While God could speak audibly to people... today, He speaks primarily through His written Word.
Sometimes God’s leading can come through the Holy Spirit speaking through our conscience, through circumstances, and through the exhortations of other people.
By comparing what we hear, to the truth of Scripture, we can learn to recognize God’s voice.
But here is the catch… If you truly want to “hear the voice of God” in your life, you need to truly “want what God wants”.
And that is “a relationship” with each other!
You in Him and Him in you!
You truly must be one whom “seeks after God” with a pure and a contrite heart.
The reason God doesn’t speak and move audibly and reveal Himself as He did in the Old Testament of the Bible… is because people seldom seek His face any more.
Here is a thought and my opinion only.
We live in a quick fix society… by that I mean that we seldom are willing to wait for an answer to anything.
Whether it is money, a job, a wife, even the food we eat… we all want what we want and we want it now!
When it comes to our relationship with God… I know of few whom are willing to “take the time to wait before the Lord” in prayer, let alone wait for Him to speak to them.
What makes you think that God of heaven and earth, the God of eternity, the great God of Creation… is going to jump to your every whim at your beck and call?
Why should He take the time to meet you in your hurried, busy, selfish schedule at your every whim, or in your desperation, because of the wrong choices you have made in life.
Like He’s your little robot, there to fill all your needs to fix all your issues, on your schedule.
If you want to hear from God… if you want to hear Gods voice… you must have the right attitude.
Your going to have to reverse your thinking and realize that He is not your servant… but that you are His servant!
Yes God is there all the time.
Yes He is more than willing to pardon us of our sins and thankfully He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve.
But He is not our “genie in a bottle”.
The saints of old heard Gods voice personally and in some cases met God physically because of the attitude of their heart.
They “sought” God.
They “looked” for God!
They “defended” God!
They were “obedient” to the word of God!
They were willing and obedient to the instructions of the “Holy Word of God “recorded by the prophets of old on scrolls and manuscripts collected and stored and kept safe by the priests of the Old Testament.
The truth is, in this society we live in, we have little respect for, or willingness to submit to anything to do with God.
We live on our own time schedule, and friend of mine, that is not Gods way.
(Isaiah 55 6-9) says it this way, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call on Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”.
I meet many these days whom are wondering how they can “solicit” the help of our Creator.
Many whom are calling out, “is there a God”, “where is God”, “How do I find God”?
As Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, God is looking for true worshippers who worship “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
“For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy… ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).
“‘For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,’ says the Lord. ‘But on this one will I look… on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at [reverences] My word’” (Isaiah 66:2).
What makes a person a Christian, is the connection that he has with Jesus Christ.
That connection shapes how he thinks and feels about sin and his relationship with God.
So let me ask you this morning, whom is in control… you or God?
He is willing but are you?
“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
Believe me folks… “attitude is everything”!
Good Day!
(1st Timothy 2:4-7) “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings, and all who are in authority…
Hello friend, I remember a song from many years ago recorded by Canadian Country Music Artist Ann Murray.
The song title was called “A Little Good News” with the message of the song pleading for good news to be reported over the media rather than the constant barrage of negative information that assaults our senses every hour of every day.
No doubt all of us are worried about the state of our economy and global affairs that seem to be all heading in the wrong direction to bring about the peace and comfort we all want for our families and our selves… and I have to admit I’m even a little fearful about where our world and our society is headed.
Things going on in this world and decisions being made that we're not sure are correct, that are going to lead us to destruction or world war or the end of the world, we just don't know.
So this morning I've got a prescription for you and I, written by the Apostle Paul to a young friend of his named Timothy, written at a time when the world was in great upheaval as well… and hopefully it will bring some peace of mind to you and I.
The prescription that he gave for our peace of mind and peace of heart is found in (1st Timothy 2:4)… in which he writes the following prescription.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings, and all who are in authority… that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence”
Paul writes that we might lead peaceable or peace filled lives if we pray for and thank God for those who are in authority.
And that has a direct connection to the peaceable and godly lives we all desire and want to live.
(God is waiting for us to call Him into the picture.)
And if we do, and if we will give thanks for all things and the people who are in positions of authority,
God will govern their thinking and bring about what we're praying for, which is a peaceful and godly life for ourselves our family and our country.
Paul says… “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”.
After all… isn't this what we all want?
But it's up to us to ask God to come into the picture and operate on our behalf… even giving thanks for those that are in authority over us?
Yes, this is His prescription for peace in these troubling times!
God spoke thru the prophet saying… If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves, seek my face, pray, and turn from their wicked ways… then will I hear form heaven and then will I heal their land” (2nd Chronicles 7:14)
If you don’t like what our politicians are doing or not doing, then its time to pray!
Good Day
(James 5:11) "The Lord is very compassionate."
When it comes to Christ like compassion, the Bible teaches us two things.
One, It “relates”… to the needs of others.
Paul wrote, “Jesus…this High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He
faced all of the same testings we do” (Hebrews 4:14-15)
Jesus understands… how comforting!
Whatever situation, challenge, or adversity we find ourselves in, Jesus is saying,
“I can relate. I’ve been there… pressure, rejection, pain, temptation, slander,
lies, I’ve experienced them all”
He understands them all because He’s been there.
Secondly, compassion “responds”… to the needs of others.
It’s not enough just to recognize and relate to the needs of others.
You’ve been called to action on a practical level… otherwise your compassion is meaningless.
Jesus responded to sick people with healing, to hungry people with food, and to
lost people with the good news of the gospel.
Compassion has no limits.
It sponsors a hungry child, helps change a tire for someone stranded on the side
of the road, brings a meal to someone who’s grieving, and listens patiently to
someone who needs a friend.
Compassion gets its hands dirty… it writes checks… it sacrifices its own agenda, schedule,
desires, and dreams to meet the needs of another.
The Bible says, “God anointed Jesus…with the Holy Spirit and with power, who
went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God
was with Him” (Acts 10:38)
What’s your main concern in life… looking good or doing good?
The early Church believers were called Christians by the world around them.
The word Christian means to be Christ like.
I wonder… do people around us see our faith in the things we do and allow ourselves to be involved in.
I think sometimes, as we celebrate and rejoice over our freedom and our salvation brought about by Gods grace and unmerited favor according to (Ephesians 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved through
The Bible says, “God anointed Jesus…with the Holy Spirit and with power, who
went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God
was with Him” (Acts 10:38)
What’s your main concern in life… looking good or doing good?
The early Church believers were called Christians by the world around them.
The word Christian means to be Christ like.
I wonder… do people around us see our faith in the things we do and allow ourselves to be involved in.
I think sometimes, as we celebrate and rejoice over our freedom and our salvation brought about by Gods grace and unmerited favor according to (Ephesians 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves lest any man should boast but it is the gift of God”…
I wonder if we have overlook another one of the encouragements of that same text of scripture two verses forward which says “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10)
Compassionate people and the compassion of Christ should motivate each of us
to be involved in and be an answer to, and for, and with the pain in our world.
(James 2:18) says this “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works
show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.”
In other words if you are a follower of Christ prove it!
(Romans 2:13) “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but
does not have works? Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of
you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled’, without giving them
the things needed for the body, what good is that?
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith
apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works’.
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works
is useless?
Jesus said…“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the
Kingdom of Heaven… but the one who does the will of my Father who is in
Heaven” (Matthew 7:21)
It’s a great life this being a Child of God!
The blessings and the benefits are so fulfilling, but they must come with the realization that “we are not our own… we are bought with a price” (1st Corinthians 6:19-20)
That price is to have compassion on those around us whom have not yet
come to faith and learned to enjoy this relationship with God that is so
fulfilling… and then let that compassion move you to be the hand of
Jesus in helping meet their needs.
So let me ask you… do people “see” that you are a follower of Christ.
Are you “moved” with compassion for others?
Good Day!
I wonder if we have overlook another one of the encouragements of that same text of scripture two verses forward which says “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10)
Compassionate people and the compassion of Christ should motivate each of us
to be involved in and be an answer to, and for, and with the pain in our world.
(James 2:18) says this “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works
show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.”
In other words if you are a follower of Christ prove it!
(Romans 2:13) “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but
does not have works? Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of
you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled’, without giving them
the things needed for the body, what good is that?
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith
apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works’.
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works
is useless?
Jesus said…“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the
Kingdom of Heaven… but the one who does the will of my Father who is in
Heaven” (Matthew 7:21)
It’s a great life this being a Child of God!
The blessings and the benefits are so fulfilling, but they must come with the realization that “we are not our own… we are bought with a price” (1st Corinthians 6:19-20)
That price is to have compassion on those around us whom have not yet
come to faith and learned to enjoy this relationship with God that is so
fulfilling… and then let that compassion move you to be the hand of
Jesus in helping meet their needs.
So let me ask you… do people “see” that you are a follower of Christ.
Are you “moved” with compassion for others?
Good Day!
(1st Corinthians 16:9) "A great door for effective work has opened to me…
We all have times in life when “opportunity knocks”.
But the problem is that many won’t open the door, because they are afraid of the challenges that come with opportunity.
Nothing becomes truly great until it overcomes something that looks insurmountable.
Paul wrote, “I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me”.
Great doors of opportunity come with great challenges, and each challenge calls for greater faith and tenacity.
Think about it… if outstanding success came easily, everyone would have it.
And if everyone had it, it wouldn’t be outstanding success.
How does a caterpillar become a butterfly?
By overcoming the cocoon.
And the cocoon is so essential to the process that the caterpillar actually creates it.
Wouldn’t it be easier just to stay in the warmth and comfort of the cocoon?
On days when the caterpillar struggles to get out of it, he probably thinks so!
But deep down, he knows the price of freedom.
Flight and discovery require struggle, development, and breakthrough.
There is no other way!
Why did Jesus send His disciples into a life-threatening storm?
To teach them to trust Him in all of life’s situations.
Soon He would be leaving them, and He was using every experience, every opportunity to teach them, prepare them for their future.
So what are you struggling to overcome right now?
Instead of complaining and asking God to take it away, see it for what it is… preparation.
Remember, your level of preparation indicates the level of blessing that awaits you on the other side of it.
So if God is opening doors of opportunity for you, be prepared for challenges, because you can’t have one without the other.
How ever with those challenges He will give you the needed wisdom, (James 1:5) if you call on Him and ask Him to help you and lead you.
The biggest struggle you’ll have is keeping your focus on Him.
So today, determine in your heart to look for the door of opportunity that God wants you to walk thru and then stay focused on Him.
He says (Mark 9:23) “all things are possible to them that believe”.
Good Day!
(Proverbs 3:5) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
The biggest reason that we as believers run into so many obstacles in our walk with God… is because we are torn between two worlds.
The bible says in (John 16:17) “though we are in this world we are not of this world.”
The moment we began trusting God and walking with God… we were made citizens of another world and society, “The Kingdom Of God”.
That’s why we need to trust in God more than in ourselves or the things of this world.
That’s why the Apostle John writes… (1st John 2:15-17) “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof… but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
We need to constantly reminding our selves that, “this world is not my home, I’m just passing thru, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue”.
When you recognize that and embrace God’s plan for your life, the things of this earth grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
We need to get up every morning with the thought “could this be the day that Jesus comes or He calls me home to be with Him?”
Miss directed focus will handicap you spiritually, mentally, and emotionally and keep you from moving forward.
And it’s a mistake to think you can devote your life to the things of this earth and to play around with it’s temptations and its focus.
The devil uses that to distract us from the goal and the assignment that we all have in this life.
And what is that assignment you ask?
(Luke 10:27) “To love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your soul, and your neighbor as yourself”
But once you understand your personal assignment and tap into His power, you can start believing for success, regardless of what obstacles may stand in your way.
When you know you’re in the will of God, doing what He told you to do, you can stand confidently on these Scriptures:
“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
“One man…shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised” (Joshua 23:10).
“In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul” (Psalm 138:3).
With faith in and confidence in God, you can truly experience what Jesus said in (Mark 9:23) “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. ”
You’re not alone today…God is with you!
But you need to change your focus!
You need to rely on His wisdom… and put Heaven in your sites…
The cross before me the world behind me…
Good Day!
(Proverbs 2:6) “For the Lord gives wisdom”
I’ve been talking about wisdom for the last couple of days, because we are facing some real issue’s in our society and our world... issues that are causing our world to come unraveled with uncertainty and fear.
Humanity does not have the answers we need as we face the ravages of sin and pestilence (disease) calamities caused by weather systems that are wreaking havoc in our land.
With the recent rise of Global conflict and war... as never witnessed before in our history... we need wisdom from above as never before.
Real wisdom is basically knowing the right thing to do in every situation, knowing and doing the will of God.
But there are countless other occasions as well, when we desperately need wisdom.
We know it comes from God, but how do we get it?
There are several basic prerequisites.
The first is to admit our need.
Solomon said, “with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2)
The humble are those who do not think more highly of themselves than they should.
They are willing to admit that they do not have all the answers, that their opinions may not always be right, and that they need to know the mind of God.
In other words, they have a “teachable” spirit.
They are willing to learn and are open to change.
We can enjoy God’s wisdom, only if we admit that we need it.
The second prerequisite is to “fear” the Lord.
The Psalmist said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10)
To fear God is not to cower before Him in terror, but to bow before Him in awe, respect, and total trust in His purposes for our lives.
Just as we will put our confidence in a guide’s wisdom and follow him through a dark cave/cavern… so we must be willing to open up and receive, and follow God’s wisdom, respecting Him and believing that He will not lead us astray.
To fear Him, then, is to submit ourselves to Him.
We need not only teachable spirits… but “surrendered self will”.
The third prerequisite is to study God’s Word.
By loving, respecting and meditating on God’s Word daily, the Psalmist discovered that he was “wiser than his enemies… that he had more insight than his teachers… and more understanding than the aged” (Psalm 119:97-100)
Through the Word, he found wise guidance in life “Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105)
God’s wisdom is revealed in His Word and that is where we must find it.
The final prerequisite is to pray. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5)
Sometimes praying for Gods wisdom is the last thing we think to do when we face a problem, a difficult decision, a pressing emergency, or an alarming crisis.
The Lord is standing ready to give us His wisdom and yet we often think about everything we can do first to work out our problem, when we should really be running to Him about it.
Regardless of how big or how little the matter may be, He invites us to ask Him for wisdom.
How do we know whether the wisdom we are exercising is from God… or from men… whether it is divine wisdom or human wisdom?
One way will be to compare it to the truth of God’s Word.
His wisdom will always be consistent with all of His Word.
But there is one special passage in the Word that tells us particularly how to identify God’s wisdom…
Its found in (James 3:17) “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy”
God’s wisdom is pure, unmixed with error, untainted by immorality, unclouded by selfish motives, cleansed of all “personal” ambition.
If we are looking out for our own interests, we are probably operating by man’s wisdom rather than God’s.
Secondly, God’s wisdom is peaceable, not quarrelsome, contentious, or cutting, but promoting the harmony and peace that draws people together.
If our words or actions are arousing antagonism in others, we are probably operating by man’s wisdom rather than God’s.
Thirdly, God’s wisdom is gentle, fair, moderate, forgiving, forbearing, and considerate in the demands it puts on others.
If we are putting pressure on others to conform to our way of thinking, we are probably operating by man’s wisdom rather than God’s.
Fourthly, God’s wisdom is reasonable, easy to be entreated, not stubborn or inflexible, but pliable and willing to listen to reason.
If we have already made up our minds and refuse to be influenced by the Word of God… we are probably operating by man’s wisdom rather than God’s.
Fifthly, God’s wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits.
It shows genuine concern and extends practical help toward others in need, even when they have wronged us.
Sixthly, God’s wisdom is unwavering, not hesitant or vacillating, but standing firm on “Biblical principles”, undivided in allegiance to God and consistent from day to day.
And finally, God’s wisdom is without hypocrisy.
When we are operating with God’s wisdom we do not wear masks, play roles, or deceive people by putting on a good front.
We do not try to conceal our true thoughts, feelings, or motives in order to make ourselves look good or to accomplish our own ends.
We are open, honest, and straightforward.
When we begin to get our wisdom from Him, our homes will be happier, our lives more effective, and our God greatly glorified.
And there is really no time to lose.
As the Psalmist put it, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
It is imperative that we begin to live out our lives with Gods wisdom feeding us as never before… if we want to survive and be more than conquerors in Christ.
Good Day!
Real wisdom is basically knowing the right thing to do in every situation, knowing and doing the will of God.
But there are countless other occasions as well, when we desperately need wisdom.
We know it comes from God, but how do we get it?
There are several basic prerequisites.
The first is to admit our need.
Solomon said, “with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2)
The humble are those who do not think more highly of themselves than they should.
They are willing to admit that they do not have all the answers, that their opinions may not always be right, and that they need to know the mind of God.
In other words, they have a “teachable” spirit.
They are willing to learn and are open to change.
We can enjoy God’s wisdom, only if we admit that we need it.
The second prerequisite is to “fear” the Lord.
The Psalmist said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10)
To fear God is not to cower before Him in terror, but to bow before Him in awe, respect, and total trust in His purposes for our lives.
Just as we will put our confidence in a guide’s wisdom and follow him through a dark cave/cavern… so we must be willing to open up and receive, and follow God’s wisdom, respecting Him and believing that He will not lead us astray.
To fear Him, then, is to submit ourselves to Him.
We need not only teachable spirits… but “surrendered self will”.
The third prerequisite is to study God’s Word.
By loving, respecting and meditating on God’s Word daily, the Psalmist discovered that he was “wiser than his enemies… that he had more insight than his teachers… and more understanding than the aged” (Psalm 119:97-100)
Through the Word, he found wise guidance in life “Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105)
God’s wisdom is revealed in His Word and that is where we must find it.
The final prerequisite is to pray. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5)
Sometimes praying for Gods wisdom is the last thing we think to do when we face a problem, a difficult decision, a pressing emergency, or an alarming crisis.
The Lord is standing ready to give us His wisdom and yet we often think about everything we can do first to work out our problem, when we should really be running to Him about it.
Regardless of how big or how little the matter may be, He invites us to ask Him for wisdom.
How do we know whether the wisdom we are exercising is from God… or from men… whether it is divine wisdom or human wisdom?
One way will be to compare it to the truth of God’s Word.
His wisdom will always be consistent with all of His Word.
But there is one special passage in the Word that tells us particularly how to identify God’s wisdom…
Its found in (James 3:17) “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy”
God’s wisdom is pure, unmixed with error, untainted by immorality, unclouded by selfish motives, cleansed of all “personal” ambition.
If we are looking out for our own interests, we are probably operating by man’s wisdom rather than God’s.
Secondly, God’s wisdom is peaceable, not quarrelsome, contentious, or cutting, but promoting the harmony and peace that draws people together.
If our words or actions are arousing antagonism in others, we are probably operating by man’s wisdom rather than God’s.
Thirdly, God’s wisdom is gentle, fair, moderate, forgiving, forbearing, and considerate in the demands it puts on others.
If we are putting pressure on others to conform to our way of thinking, we are probably operating by man’s wisdom rather than God’s.
Fourthly, God’s wisdom is reasonable, easy to be entreated, not stubborn or inflexible, but pliable and willing to listen to reason.
If we have already made up our minds and refuse to be influenced by the Word of God… we are probably operating by man’s wisdom rather than God’s.
Fifthly, God’s wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits.
It shows genuine concern and extends practical help toward others in need, even when they have wronged us.
Sixthly, God’s wisdom is unwavering, not hesitant or vacillating, but standing firm on “Biblical principles”, undivided in allegiance to God and consistent from day to day.
And finally, God’s wisdom is without hypocrisy.
When we are operating with God’s wisdom we do not wear masks, play roles, or deceive people by putting on a good front.
We do not try to conceal our true thoughts, feelings, or motives in order to make ourselves look good or to accomplish our own ends.
We are open, honest, and straightforward.
When we begin to get our wisdom from Him, our homes will be happier, our lives more effective, and our God greatly glorified.
And there is really no time to lose.
As the Psalmist put it, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
It is imperative that we begin to live out our lives with Gods wisdom feeding us as never before… if we want to survive and be more than conquerors in Christ.
Good Day!