Wisdom Enables Us To Discern What Is True
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Intro
Intro
Last week we talked about being doers of the word not just hearers.
Humans don’t love rules. We tend to like to find ways to go around the rules… By looking into God’s perfect law and delighting in His rules, we will be blessed!
Believe in Jesus, Repent, and follow Him.
Christians have to be putting off sin, growing in holiness like God is Holy!
Keep our pride in check. Gaining a realistic view of ourselves from God’s Word, looking in the mirror and not forgetting that your are a sinner in need of saving.
Proving ourselves.. Not enough to say it, you have to then prove your words!
Now today we’re going to talk about growing in wisdom.
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
3 To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice and equity;
4 To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion,
5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
So by opening God’s Word and believing it to be true, we apply his knowledge to our lives resulting in us being blessed!
So let’s continue our discussion about God’s Authority by discussing how Jesus summed up the entire Law.
Authority / Law / Love
Authority / Law / Love
We Can’t Talk About Authority without talking about The Law, and we cannot talk about the LAW without talking about love.
The Law = Love God, Love People
The Law = Love God, Love People
37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 22
summarized the essence of God’s demands in Scripture by calling individuals to love God and their fellow man
Have you ever heard this passage reduced to ‘Love God, Love People.”?
Valentines Day is coming up which is our culture’s celebration of ‘love’.
Apart from God’s Word, how do people define love?
GOOGLE’S DEFINITION
an intense feeling of deep affection.
a feeling of deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone.
"they were both in love with her"
a great interest and pleasure in something.
feel deep affection for (someone).
like or enjoy very much.
What issues arise when we use culture’s understanding of a word to interpret a text?
How could Matthew 22:37-40 potential be misunderstood?
It could mean “you should feel deeply for the Lord and tolerate your neighbors sin.”
How is this different from what Jesus meant?
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
So really, what Jesus is saying is that all of the law can summed up in Loving God (obeying God) and loving (sacrificing and serving) people.
When you know what TRUE LOVE is you begin to see a lot of FAKE LOVE around you!
Fake Love
Fake Love
Fake love is all feelings no depth!
Fake Love is what we see every season of the Bachelor every season!!
Intense feelings... fade...
Affection... isn’t always there...
Deep romantic feelings... aren’t always present...
People are less interesting... once you get to know them… (ie. Jim and Pam the office/ stories)
The person you love… you don’t always like...
Fake love is all feelings no depth!
Fake Love has a Fake Symbol
Fake Love has a Fake Symbol
Have you ever wondered why we use the heart shape as a symbol of love?
One of the reasons is it’s what people used to think the human heart looked like.
We can learn from this!
Culture’s definiton of love is cheap and fake… so really the heart is a perfect symbol for their love.
The heart symbol that we all know of, doesn’t look like the REAL THING.
Quotes From Vox:
“It doesn’t look like the real thing.”
“It (the heart shape) might be a poor likeness for the human heart, but that is what makes it such an enduring and versatile symbol.”
The ‘love’ that we all are bombarded with, doesn’t resemble the LOVE talked about in the Bible.
So what is real love?
Real Love Has a Real Symbol
Real Love Has a Real Symbol
Real Love
Real Love
1) Biblical love is sacrificial
1) Biblical love is sacrificial
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Jesus furthers this idea when he says that in order to be his disciple...
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
2) Biblical love implies action
2) Biblical love implies action
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
3) Biblical love demands obedience
3) Biblical love demands obedience
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
Real Symbol
Real Symbol
The Cross Actually Happened
The Cross Actually Happened
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The Cross is the true symbol of love, not a heart.
The cross was sacrificial!
The cross was love in action!
The cross was an act of obedience!
Jesus did it because he loves you.
11 The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness.
God Get’s To Define Words, Since He Was Here Before Us.
God Get’s To Define Words, Since He Was Here Before Us.
Love is another one of those words that God has ownership of. It’s a timeless word that HE gets to define.
Why would some people at Keystone want to get to church early on Sundays? Coffee, talking with friends, smooth jazz playlist. But also, to reserve a seat! If they get there first, they get define where they sit. They were there first!
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
God’s Words
Grace
Truth
Love
Justice
Good
Bad
Wrong
Right
Marriage
Pure
and more!
Have you ever heard the phrase “Love is Love?”
Knowing God is Love. How would you define the phrase “Love is Love”?
Apologetics
Apologetics
Quotes from LGBTQ activists… “What does ‘love is love’ mean?”
Quotes from LGBTQ activists… “What does ‘love is love’ mean?”
Quote 1
Quote 1
"'Love is love' means to me that we all should be able to love how we want, and there's nothing wrong with any kind of love. Love is going to save our planet."
— Angelique Kenney, 52
Claim #1: We should be able to love how we want,...
Claim #1: We should be able to love how we want,...
The church’s goal isn’t to legislate our beliefs and force them on other people.
Now that’s not to say we don’t try to create a justice system that protects people.
But in no way are we forcing people to be straight.
We make choices all the time! And you can choose to live any way you want. That’s your freedom of choice!
There are Christians who have the political belief that gay marriage should be legal, but also believe it’s not how God intended marriage.
The word HOW is interesting. She’s basically arguing that everyone should be able to love HOW they want. So if, HOW I love is by murdering, according to her logic, my murdering someone out of love should be allowed.
2 Weeks Ago I said that “Everyone is searching for Truth. These days, everyone thinks they have the ‘truth’, because we are taught that the truth lies within ourselves.“
They search their own opinions for what they feel is truth, and their feelings prove their belief is true.
Biblical Response: The Bible says in John 14:6 that Jesus IS TRUTH and that he’s incapable of falsehood. Therefore there are not multiple ‘truths’ because Truth is a person, and that person is Jesus Christ. Any idea or opinion contrary to His Word is a LIE.
Supporting Points:
In order to argue for multiple ‘truths’, you have to make a truth claim.
If two people have different opinions, how are they both right if they contradict?
Claim #2: there’s nothing wrong with any kind of love.
Claim #2: there’s nothing wrong with any kind of love.
Biblical Response: What about selfish love? Phil 2:3 says to do nothing from selfishness. Is stalking wrong? Is a 40 year old having a physical relationship with an 8 year old wrong? YES!
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Is there something wrong with a person’s love that causes a little one harm? YES!
Claim #3: This 'love’ is going to save our planet.
Claim #3: This 'love’ is going to save our planet.
What would happen if everyone on the planet did whatever they wanted, even if was wrong?
We see sins effects on the world in Genesis 6 right before God decides to purify the earth with a flood.
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Quote 2
Quote 2
"To me, 'love is love' means that my friends and family and anyone who might love someone is able to love them, freely and willingly. No one is telling them that that's not okay. They can be celebrated for their differences and appreciated for who they are."
— Sarah Fox, 25
Claim #1: Love means… “No one is telling them that that’s not okay.”
Claim #1: Love means… “No one is telling them that that’s not okay.”
Claim #2: Love means...“They are celebrated and appreciated for who they are.”
Claim #2: Love means...“They are celebrated and appreciated for who they are.”
The Only Way to Discern What is True, is to have WISDOM.
The Only Way to Discern What is True, is to have WISDOM.
Main Text: James 1:5-8
Main Text: James 1:5-8
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
If any of you lack W, ask!
If any of you lack W, ask!
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
But in order to ask, we have to be aware of our true needs.
Some can accomplish everything they want in this lifetime, and still not be able to accomplish the task of finding rest for their souls.
26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
What’s the beginning of W?
What’s the beginning of W?
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.
What Keeps Us From Growing in Wisdom?
What Keeps Us From Growing in Wisdom?
1. Doubting the Gospel
1. Doubting the Gospel
What’s the difference between “the one who doubts” in James and Thomas?
What’s the difference between “the one who doubts” in James and Thomas?
James is speaking of ‘double-minded’ people who have not been made pure by Christ’s sacrifice.
James is speaking of ‘double-minded’ people who have not been made pure by Christ’s sacrifice.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Christians and Non-Christians can both have doubts, but Christians cannot be double minded.
Christians and Non-Christians can both have doubts, but Christians cannot be double minded.
What makes a person double-minded?
What makes a person double-minded?
They haven’t made a decision about Jesus.
They haven’t made a decision about Jesus.
2. Failing to Put Off Sin
2. Failing to Put Off Sin
3. An Inflated View of Yourself
3. An Inflated View of Yourself
4. Lack of Passion (Zeal)
4. Lack of Passion (Zeal)
Not Desiring to PROVE YOURSELF
Not Desiring to PROVE YOURSELF
5. Double-Mindedness
5. Double-Mindedness
The Usefulness of Proverbs
The Usefulness of Proverbs
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
3 To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice and equity;
4 To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion,
5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.
The Fear of the Lord
The Fear of the Lord
We All Lack Wisdom
We All Lack Wisdom
Solomon Asked, God Overdelivered!
Solomon Asked, God Overdelivered!
6 Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 “Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.
8 “Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.
9 “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,
12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.
13 “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.
14 “If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”