FAMILIES BUILT BY WISDOM AND FAITH

God provides wisdom and the faith to trust Him. But unfortunately, WE often do not encounter the problem of too much of God’s wisdom, but usually we just kinda muddle through life hoping everything will work out. We see this in many relationships: husband/wives, parents/children, coworkers and in friendships.

I believe God wants us to operate under His leading and His influence and that can happen if we will just exercise some faith and learn to Trust Him.

But we usually do not exercise enough faith to allow God to work as He wants.

Envious-pained with the desire to possess a superior good that another possesses.

Wisdom-the right use of knowledge

Understanding-comprehending; apprehending the ideas or sense of another.

Knowledge-a clear perception of that which exist or of truth and fact.

God has designed the Christian home to be built upon His Wisdom(Word of God) and our Faith-Obeying the Word of God.

The idea that marriage doesn’t work is not valid when the Word of God guides it.

We need a lot less of the world’s wisdom and more of God’s wisdom….

There is nothing more discouraging than purchasing an item that doesn’t work.

Ill – Waterproof IPhone case….”caution may not protect phone in water”

Ill – Guaranteed spot remover

Many homes/marriages/friendships/jobs are not working today and those involved in them are frustrated, angry, bitter, resentful and leaving.

James 2:17-18

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

Many families are experiencing a crisis of their faith.

Is the faith or the Word faulty; or is our practice faulty?

God has provided everything necessary for a faith that works. He has provided the wisdom to build the home mentioned in the book of Proverbs.

A family or a life that is being built with wisdom and Faith will demonstrate the following truths.

I. A Guiding Presence of the Holy Spirit

A. The Indwelling of the Spirit

Note – The new birth is a spiritual birth.

John 3:6

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

2 Peter 1:4

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

John 6:63 KJV 1900

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Note – It is a wonderful thing when two diverse people are both indwelt by the same Spirit.

Note – The Holy Spirit will give life to the relationship of two yielded Christians who are not living in violation of Scriptures.

Al Stone-In most cases a loss of love for a spouse is preceded by a loss of love for Jesus Christ!!

It is power from within, not pressure from without that holds the church and the home together.

B. The Purposes of the Spirit

1. He is our Comfort

John 14:16 KJV 1900

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Ill – Young couple celebrating their 2nd anniversary.

The young husband called a florist and said, “Tell her Happy Anniversary – year number two!”

When she got the card it said, “Happy anniversary – “You’re number two!”

2. He is our Teacher

John 14:26 KJV 1900

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

3. He will glorify Christ

John 16:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Note – There is no way that our homes can glorify Christ apart from yielding to the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The ultimate purpose in every home is to glorify Christ.

C. The Evidences of the Spirit

Note – Not tongues….

1 Corinthians 12:30–31 KJV 1900

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1. A godly lifestyle – (Fruitful)

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Note – Galatians 5:16-26 – “Walking in the Spirit” is not some emotional experience, detached from everyday life.

It is the daily experience of the believer who feeds on the Word, prays, and obeys what the Bible says.

2. A holy lifestyle

Galatians 5:16 KJV 1900

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Note – Ephesians 5:18-6:9 – The marks of a Spirit-filled Christian are not unusual emotional experiences, miracles, and tongues, but rather Christian character.

A family being built with wisdom and faith has:

A Guiding Presence of the Holy Spirit

II. A Biblical View of Self

Note – We can’t enter into this week thinking that we are the greatest and that we posses all strength and we have all the answers.

Our flesh will fight the Spirit’s leading to develop a spiritual home.

Selfishness shows up in: angry outbursts, lying, foul language, tantrums, pouting, etc….by the way if your kid demonstrates these traits, then they are just following your lead!!!

A married couple had a quarrel and ended up giving each other the silent treatment. Two days into their mute argument, the man realized he needed his wife’s help. In order to catch a flight to Chicago for a business meeting, he had to get up at 5 a.m.

Not wanting to be the first to break the silence, he wrote on a piece of paper, “Please wake me at 5 a.m.”

The next morning the man woke up only to discover his wife was already out of bed, it was 9 a.m., and his flight had long since departed. He was about to find his wife and demand an answer for her failings when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. He read, “It’s 5 a.m. Wake up.”

A. “Self” or Pride is the Destroyer of All Relationships

Proverbs 13:10 KJV 1900

10 Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.

Galatians 6:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Psalm 10:4 KJV 1900

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

1. Pride produces Fleshly actions

1 John 2:15–17 KJV 1900

15 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. 16 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. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

2. Pride Produces Fleshly speech

Proverbs 6:12 KJV 1900

12 A naughty person, a wicked man, Walketh with a froward mouth.

Froward-perverse, ungovernable, uncontrollable

James 3:6 KJV 1900

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

R.B. Oullette- “Very seldom do I get into trouble for what I don’t say”

Note – A Spirit–filled Christian has a fresh vocabulary.

Ill – A girl from a church youth group worked at a department store after school.

One day she was asked to announce the holiday specials over the loud speaker.

She finished her announcement with “Thank you for shopping with us and have a nice day.” Then without thinking, she added: “In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

B. Pride is Defeated When We Appropriate Scripture

Find a verse that deals with pride-read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it!!!

SEE THE BIBLE PROMISE BOOK!!

Turn – Romans 6:6-10

Romans 6:6–10 KJV 1900

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Note – When Christ died, we died with Him; when He was raised, we were raised to newness of life with Him.

This is our new permanent position in Christ.

Christ not only died for sin, but He also died unto sin (6:10).

That is, He broke the power of sin and put out of commission (destroyed) the old nature (6:6).

The old nature is still there, this we know; but it has been robbed of its power by the cross of Christ, for we died with Christ to all that belongs to the old life.

The believer no longer is a slave to the old sinful nature…the believer now has the freedom to choose whether to become a servant to Jesus/Holy Ghost or a servant to sin.

The old adage- “the devil made me do it” is only applicable to unsaved persons. The devil cannot make a believer do anything, but he can entice the believer and the believer then has a choice. Choose obedience to the Holy Spirit or Choose disobedience.

A Family Being built be wisdom and faith has:

A Guiding Presence of the Holy Spirit

A Biblical View of Self

III. A Daily Practice of Serving

For the most part women need love and men need respect.

Ill – Sometimes it is hard to have a servant’s heart after a long day’s work.

Ill-A husband read an article to his wife about how women use 30,000 words a day to a man’s 15,000. The wife replied, “That’s because we have to repeat everything to men.” The husband turned to his wife and said, “What?”

A. We Are to Submit to One Another

Ephesians 5:21

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

B. We Are To Serve One Another

Wives need to be loved and Husband’s need to be respected.

Ephesians 5:25 KJV 1900

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Ephesians 5:33 KJV 1900

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Ill – An exhaustive study shows that no woman has ever shot her husband while he was doing the dishes.

Truth: if both of you work “full time” outside of the home then both of you ought to work inside the home.

Galatians 5:13 KJV 1900

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Note – Christ–like love is a sacrificial love.

Ill – One man when asked--what women want... he said “After twenty years of marriage, I’m finally scratching the surface. I think the answer lies somewhere between conversation and chocolate.”

Conclusion

Someone may be here today saying, “Our family is not growing as a family of faith.”

Well, you could do what so many families do, and “throw away your faith.” Or you could get in the Book and seek God’s direction for your family.

Someone here may realize that your home is not one that is filled with God’s love and God’s Spirit…

Someone may realize that character traits that infuriate you in your children are being learned from you!!!

In your relationships are you: Surrendered,Selfless,Serving?

If your home is going to be that which God desires then:

A Guiding Presence of the Holy Spirit

A Biblical Perspective of Self

A Daily Practice of Serving

REMEMBER-You can have all of the right tools yet if you do not use them they are of little use…

Exercise Equipment

Of course you get it with the best intentions! The thinking is probably something along the lines of, “I know I’m not working out right now, but if I buy a (insert desired exercise equipment here) and have it in the house, THEN I’ll definitely start working out.”

Unfortunately the reality is… you end up with a very expensive clothes hanger/dirty clothes hamper/place to stack piles of things.

For many people, their fantasies about starting to exercise come around the beginning of the year with their New Year’s Resolutions. But according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, 25% of New Year’s resolutions don’t make it past the first week. And 54% fail within the first six months.

That totals to $1.2 billion wasted on exercise equipment each year. Wow.

Bible Reading….

You have the tools that are needed now, the decision is what are you going to do???

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