Sunday Wk 46: Truth Needs a Guide

Seeds need time to grow…

we need the seed planted way before the harvest.

Right here in Oklahoma...

Spring Wheat-5 mo

Durum Wheat-4 mo

Winter Wheat-7 to 8 mo

Bamboo

How long for bamboo to grow?

3 years to develop its roots and establish itself in the ground.

5 to 7 years to reach maturity and be ready for harvest.

Fruit Trees too

3-4 years Avocado or 5-13 years from seed

5-10 years Apple tree from seed.

The Word ALSO needs time to grow…

Roman.10.17

Romans 10:17 NLT

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

John 20.31

John 20:31 (NLT)

But these are written so that you may continue to believe* that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

This was the purpose John wrote his book.

that we would HEAR and BELIEVE.

80 - 15 - 5% Principle

80% Anyone can do it.

15% Someone with some measure of training could do it.

5% Only you can do it.

Cordeiro, Wayne. The Divine Mentor (p. 42). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

You are the only one who can do for You…

You choose Good choices

Good health

Good food or

You choose Poor choices

Self-harm

create stressful moments

Only You Can Sit at Jesus Feet

Mary and Martha

Mary had to do for her

Martha chose to do different for her

Luke 10.41-42

Luke 10:41–42 (NLT)

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

KEYNOTE THOUGHT:

TRUTH NEEDS A GUIDE

As new believers we often make a very common error.

We want others to study hard and prepare well so they could dump bushels of knowledge into our brains.

[MARCIE]

I didn’t realize that knowledge—even Biblical knowledge—is like sodium in raw form. Sodium can be destructive to humans . . . until it gets converted into a higher form: sodium chloride, or table salt.

In the same way, knowledge is never an end in itself.

Knowledge must be converted into a higher form—wisdom—for it to become useful and beneficial to us.

To that end, God sends us the Holy Spirit, who will ‘‘guide us into all truth’’ . . . because truth needs a guide.

John 14.16-17a

“16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17a He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into ALL truth.

TRUTH NEEDS A GUIDE

and

God has assigned His Spirit to be our Guide

this Guide will deposit God’s very wisdom into our lives.

So how does this work?

It works through the Power of the Holy Spirit!

QUESTION:

Does the Holy Spirit primarily implant information and insight into our subconscious minds while we sleep?

Does He build a golden aqueduct between heaven and our soul, and then open wisdom’s floodgates so that it can pour directly into our minds?

No. Not exactly.

WHAT HE DOES DO:

1. He guides us to the truth: The bible teaches that Jesus is Truth, and the Truth can set us free; free from sin, death, loneliness.

john 16.13

John 16:13 NLT

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

We receive direct revelation about God and discover His wonderful promises in only one place: the Bible.

Through God’s Word.

2. He guides us away from sin: Through prayer, our powerful communication tool that enables us to hear from God, we are able to be led by the Spirit.  When we are walking with the Spirit, He will guide us into Godly pursuits.

Gal. 5.16

Galatians 5:16 NLT

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

3. He guides us to our Purpose: When we seek God, He will reveal our giftings; the talents we have to help others, and fulfil our missions.

Luke 4.18

Luke 4:18 NLT

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,

No matter what He calls us to do, He equips us to complete our mission.

4. He guides us to the will of God:  When David prayed, he asked God to teach him and lead him in the way of God, not simply the easiest way. No matter where Gods will leads us, we can trust Him to be with us every step of the way.

ps. 143.10

Psalm 143:10 NLT

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

The psalmist cried out,

Ps. 138.2

Psalm 138:2 (NLT)

2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.

God has exalted His Word above His name

God’s Word, the Bible, is crucially important to our everyday lives.

And don’t think obscure religious knowledge here.

Think food. Think water. Think air.

SONG: 🎶This the Air I Breathe🎶

Without God’s insights and wisdom you will not make it

As a licensed minister who has worked with people for over forty years, I agree with Wayne Cordeiro. “I’ve watched them implode.” Or “Twist off”.

We gain all-important wisdom only as the Divine Mentor—the Holy Spirit instructs us through a living interaction with and understanding of God’s Word.

Our need for such a guide as the end-times get closer.

Spiritual deception will become most rampant.

Matt 24.11

Matthew 24:11 NLT

And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.

Paul cautioned that many people living in those days will have a strong tendency to be ‘‘always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.’’ ( 2Tim. 3)

Without the Guide, we can learn facts all day long and yet never move one inch closer to the truth that will make a difference in our lives.

But with the Spirit imparting to us God’s wisdom as He reveals it to us from His Word, the whole picture changes.

With the Lord and the Holy Sprit, wisdom of the ages gradually becomes our own.

YOU CAN BELIEVE GOD’S WORD!

2tIM 3.16

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

IF WE DO NOT SPEND TIME, UNRUSHED TIME, IN GOD’S WORD THE ENEMY HAS ALREADY WON THE BATTLE.

HOW WILL YOU FIND

What’s wrong with your life?

What’s needing to be corrected?

What TRUTH really is?

Ps. 119.138

Psalm 119:138 NLT

138 Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy.

Psalm 119:140 NLT

140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much.

Psalm 119.160

Psalm 119:160 NASB95

160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

WHAT IS OUR TAKE AWAY TODAY MARCIE?

WE HAVE SAID...

TRUTH NEEDS A GUIDE and

God has assigned His Spirit to be our Guide

[MARCIE’S TAKE AWAY]

God has exalted His Word above His name

Think food.

Think water.

Think air.