Wise Up—Discretion

(S1) — Viewer Discretion Advised

What determines the decisions you make? Do you take caution think things through? Or are you impulsive? Have you ever made a decision you later regretted? Made a comment or impulsive remark you wish you could take back?

What if every thought we had, choice we faced, or decision we had to make, had a standard that could be applied; a warning label...

Good news! There is! Series

Proverbs 1:1–4 “...for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—”

Prudence is Godly wisdom APPLIED; The portrait of the prudent is wise behavior…

— The one who us prudent; seeks the wisdom of God; shows restraint; perceives trouble; follows the way of Jesus; loves discipline

(S2) — DISCRETION

“Judge wisely” our words, thoughts, actions, and decisions we make—Good judgement; to plan/think through…

‘Our decisions under the INFLUENCE of the wisdom of God’

Discretion is but another name for prudence, — if it be not rather a part of it, as it is sometimes referred to our outward behavior, — and means, the ordering our words and actions right. Works of John Wesley, Vol. 7, page 58

...a discerning spirit; takes every thought, action, or decision, and filters is through the wisdom of God! It helps us to see our way through the fog of deception, untruth, and cultural indifference; to a better path.

Proverbs 2:11 “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.”

Discretion is our moral and ethical compass; under the influence of the spirit of God

BIBLES/PRAY

(S3) — Solomon’s wisdom/prayer…

{1 Kings 3:7-9}

When Solomon led and lived wisely, under the wisdom of God; the people prospered.

{Proverbs 2:1-5}

…prudence, discretion/discernment, and obedience…all begin with the fear of the Lord

“One cannot gain knowledge of spiritual things if they begin at the wrong point.”

Spiritual Discretion—our decisions under the influence of the spirit of God

(S4) —

6 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

...not something gained because you are smart…but the wisdom of God GIVEN to every believer

I. Spiritual Discretion is a GIFT of God!

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 15: Proverbs Scripture Outline

“What is clear in all of Proverbs, chapter 2 makes explicit: Wisdom comes from God and no one can enjoy it who does not choose God’s paths”

This means that a non-believer does know the wisdom of God and is not guided by it.

Paul makes this abundantly clear...(Bibles)

{1 Corinthians 2:14–16}

Ever try to express your point of view based on your faith and understanding of God, with a non-believer?

British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge once had a discussion with a man who firmly believed that children should not be given formal religious instruction, but should be free to choose their own religious faith when they reached maturity. Coleridge did not disagree, but later invited the man into his somewhat neglected garden. "Do you call this a garden?" the visitor exclaimed. "There are nothing but weeds here!"

"Well, you see," Coleridge replied, "I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way. I was just giving the garden a chance to express itself." Daily Walk, March 28, 1992

One who does not walk with God; does not have S.D. therefore rely on only human wisdom

FB posts…just plain...stupid?

S. D. is a gift given to the believer by God

6... from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

logos...the very word of God...

Isaiah 6:5–7 ““Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”” ”

Discretion is decision making filtered through the spoken word of God as it touches our own lips…

Proverbs 5:1–2 “My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.”

How do we practice discretion; the gift of God?

— by letting the very word of God touch our lips…

(S7)—

(ESV) 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

...discretion is the treasure of God’s wisdom stored up by the believer. This storing up provides...

— sound judgement for the upright…wisdom you can trust...

— protection (shield) from the arrows of adversity for those who walk with integrity

Ephesians 6:10–11 “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

— wisdom that watches over the way or path of the faithful

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

II. Spiritual Discretion is being under the SHELTER of God’s wisdom

Proverbs 30:5 ““Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Job…

Wisdom stores up…helps a person know what is right, just, and fair

Proverbs 2:9 “Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.”

S.D. is not only letting the gift of God’s word touch our lips, but allowing it to be stored it up…as a shelter of God’s wisdom

Do you know the word of God? Do you use the word of God?

(S8)

Proverbs 2:10 “For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.”

S.D. is not only knowing the word and wisdom of God but allowing it to transform us in the core of our being; the heart

“The heart is the whole person; the seat of our affections, emotions, our decisions..

III. Spiritual Discretion is in the HEART of the believer!

With the wisdom of God comes the peace and the assurance of not knowing the GIFT of God; being SHELTERED under the wisdom of God; but trusting in our hearts the way of God’s wisdom.

Letting the wisdom of God fill our hearts, brings joy…

Proverbs 3:21–22 “My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.”

Has the wisdom of God filled your heart?

(S9)

11 “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.”

When we think through…discretion not only protects and gives us understanding to make the better choice before us…

IV. Spiritual Discretion GUARDS what God has given!

Guards against evil and the wickedness in the world

{Proverbs 2:12-15}

Guards against seductive words and worldly ways

{Proverbs 2:16-19}

Discretion Guards the word we know, the wisdom given, the heart of the believer

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

1 Timothy 6:20 “guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,”

S.D. guards what God has given

(S9)

Discretion is our decisions…under the INFLUENCE of the wisdom of God’

Gift of God—Under the SHELTER of God’s wisdom—In the HEART of every believer—GUARDS what God has given

Are you walking in the wisdom of God? Does Spiritual Discernment play a role in your decision making?

If it did, what would that look like...for your family, marriage/single life, your work, the church?

Think of one right now that you can surrender to the wisdom of God...

The one who uses discretion; WEIGHS the outcome(s) of their decisions. Chooses wisely by the wisdom of God

Matthew 7:13–14 ““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

2. The one who uses discretion; FILTERS the choices before them through the word of God—Searches the scriptures—Seeks truth

John 5:39 “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,”

3. The one who uses discretion; THINKS like Jesus—not what would Jesus do, but what did Jesus do?

Matthew 4:19 ““Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will show you how to fish for people.””

(S10) — Fog

“...the average person makes an eye-popping 35,000 choices per day.”—viewer discretion advised

The good news—Spiritual Discretion/the wisdom of God helps us see through the fog of indecision in the world. Find the right path that leads to God’s best for us.

Discretion is our moral and ethical compass; under the influence of the spirit of God. Our decisions under the INFLUENCE of the wisdom of God

...a discerning spirit; takes every thought, action, or decision, and filters is through the wisdom of Jesus who is the spirit of God in us!

1 Corinthians 1:30 “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

References

Viewer Discretion Is Advised | Ray Noah | Faith In Motion