Growing in Wisdom... Applied

In 1952, a very brave and strong young lady waded into the Pacific Ocean. Florence Chadwick was determined to break another record. To date, no woman had ever crossed the channel between Catalina Island and the California coast, this was a twenty-six-mile stretch. Long-distance swimming wasn’t new to Florence.... but the conditions that July morning were not optimal. Not only was the water incredibly cold, but a thick blanket of fog had settled in. Florence’s coach and family followed along in a small boat, cheering her on. But it was foggy. Real foggy. And even when she’d been swimming for fifteen hours, Florence still couldn’t see the shoreline. A bit discouraged and very tired, she finally took her last stroke, telling her family she just couldn’t go on.

She quit.... Florence quit much too soon that cold July morning. She swam twenty-five and a half miles, but because she couldn’t see the end—couldn’t see the coast—Florence fell short of her goal by just half-a-mile.

—Leadership Journal Swindoll, C. R. (2016). The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (pp. 211–212). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

We are coming to the last days and hours of this year, 2018.

How is your walk with God? Stronger?

Have you grown in your relationship with Him?

How are you finishing?

Has the fog of life settled in on your soul pressing you to give up?

If so my prayer is that today's message will encourage you not to quit!

I have taken on a rather large portion of Luke for today’s message. Luke 2:39-4:13 to be exact. We will look at:

Jesus’ Childhood

The Ministry of John the Baptist

The Genealogy of Jesus

The Temptation of Jesus

Growth Starts Somewhere

(Christ's Humanity Illustrated) Luke continues the narrative of Jesus’ childhood where other writers do not… Luke 2:40

Luke 2:40 NASB95

The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

In order to make Jesus God in our minds we often strip Him of His humanity!

Jesus grew up He learned as a child would!… Without sin!

Mistakes? most likely but not sin.

Increasing in wisdom… Proverbs 9:10

Proverbs 9:10 NASB95

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Imagine the wisdom He would have knowing the Heavenly Father as He did being the Son! (we need to draw close to our heavenly Father too)

As Jesus grew He knew who He was and what He came to do… Luke 2:46-52

Luke 2:46–52 NASB95

Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

His growth was a process

His awareness was perpetual

His obedience was pure

Treasured, almost seems to be a phrase a mother would use

(the birth announcement, the shepherds message, Simeon’s prediction, and now as she reflects on his childhood)

Growing in wisdom can start today, and allow it to continue each day you live… We also need to heed His Word...

God’s Wise Words

(Pertinent & Practical) Luke transitions to John we are told “the word of God came to him” He was the forerunner!

His message… REPENT! Luke 3:3

Luke 3:3 NLT

Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

Definition: “to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness—‘to repent, to change one’s way, repentance.”

Stop Sinning!!! About face! 360 degree turn!

Live it!

If you have more share with those who don't have

If you are a soldier, don't take money, don’t falsely accuse

If you’re a tax collector, only take what you are told to, no more

So direct and confrontational was the message God gave him, Herod did not like him

(John condemned him for the relations with his brother’s wife and other wicked things)

Herod had him thrown in prison eventually beheaded

When we come to God’s Word it can rub us wrong, it is calling us to a different lifestyle. Luke wraps up John’s ministry and begins to contrast it with the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Growth Comes From Understanding

(WHO Jesus Really Is)

Jesus Baptized Luke 3:21-22 WHY?

Luke 3:21–22 NASB95

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

Picture of what He came to do

An example of taking the sin of all man

Marking the beginning of the work He came to do… This is a work of the Trinity (Father, Son, Spirit)

Jesus’ Genealogy

Luke 3:23-38 is the genealogy listed. We see three listed in scripture...

Matthew = Heir to David's Throne

Luke = Relationship to Human Race

John = Traces His Deity

Ministry Begins (Levites would begin at 30)

As Luke finishes this genealogy he goes backward all the way to Adam...

No doubt to bring readers remembrance of the first Adam who would be contrasted with the second Adam now as Jesus is tempted by Satan:

We Have an Example

(Dealing with Temptation)

James 1:13-16 is good for us to remember as we look at this scene.

James 1:13–16 NASB95

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

You and I have never struggled to the extent in our temptation as much as Jesus Christ did. We feel the desire, we maybe struggle for a while, then to get it go away… we give in!

Jesus is baptised and then… The Holy Spirit leads Jesus in the wilderness. Luke 4:1-2

Luke 4:1–2 NASB95

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry.

40 days God allows Jesus to be tested and Satan himself tempts Jesus

40 days is considered the longest one can fast without permanent harm to the body

TEST ONE

“If you are the Son of God” (Rocks to Bread, Self gratification instead of God’s Glorification)

“It is written” Deuteronomy 8:3 the mind of Christ does not engage with satan in any other way but the power of God’s Word (Scripture)

Deuteronomy 8:3 NASB95

“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

What an amazing and powerful way to live!

TEST TWO

“If You worship before me” (Easy way, Bypass the Cross, Power)

Luke 4:8 not sidetracked whether or not satan give what he says or that God the Father is ultimately in control… He addresses the real issue with Scripture!

Luke 4:8 NASB95

Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ”

Don’t get into a debate or be willing to compromise or justify. SIN IS SIN!

TEST THREE

“If You are the Son of God” (God’s Word Twisted, Test God)

Could God do this, especially for His Son? This is not the issue, rather are we willing to obey God’s Word? Jesus’ response… Luke 4:12

Luke 4:12 NASB95

And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

God can defend His Name well enough… do drag God into your insecurities, rather stand secure in His unchanging Word!

Where the first Adam failed, Jesus Christ was victorious!

This event marks the beginning of the ministry of Jesus.

Application...

We see Luke demonstrate Jesus growing in wisdom, he over views the ministry of John the Baptist, Luke shares the details of Jesus’ baptism, genealogy and temptations. These elements indicate a divine endorsement of Jesus, as well as presenting his moral and historical credentials to be the representative not only of the nation of Israel but also of all people as Son of Adam, Son of God.

So what does this all mean to us this morning?

All of us can grow in our walk and relationship with the Lord

God’s Word is vital to making this happen, knowing it and applying it

Jesus is the Son of God and He has had victory where we are weak, He prayed, He walked by the Spirit, He studied the Scriptures… as men and women what makes us think we can live right by doing any less.

By the way, Florence didn’t give up. She gave it another try. Just two months after her first attempt, she became the first woman in history to swim the twenty-six-mile channel. She set a new speed record, as well.

If you have failed, stumbled, quit… give it another try. God is understanding and what better time to start fresh than today!