Getting God's Perspective

Today, amongst other things, we will be hitting on wisdom. Specifically man’s wisdom and God’s wisdom. In that vain I looked up some words of wisdom

“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.” —Jack Handey

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.” —Mark Twain

“You can’t shine like a diamond, if you not willing to get cut like a diamond.” —Eric Thomas

“The Lord prefers common-looking people. That is why he made so many of them.” —Abraham Lincoln

“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” —Billy Sunday

Historical/Cultural Context -

Paul preached the gospel in Corinth in the early 50s AD during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1–18). When opposition grew fierce there, the Lord Jesus spoke to him in a vision assuring him that he had ‘many people’ in the city (Acts 18:10). With this encouragement, Paul stayed on for eighteen months, ‘teaching them the word of God’ (Acts 18:11). God used Paul’s ministry to bring about the birth and establishment of the church in Corinth.

Biblical Text -

1 Corinthians 3:18–23 NKJV

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Having God’s Perspective Takes Self-Examination, Application & Reliance On The Holy Spirit

Life Point- Examine Yourself Being Sure The Wisdom You Hear is God’s

Exegetical -

1 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

Homiletical -

In all the books we study in the new testament we come across this theme time and time again.

self-examination about our own wisdom. To see where we think we are being wise, stop and examine.

Proverbs 14:12 NKJV

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Proverbs 14:14 NKJV

The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above.

James 3:13 NLT

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

Here we find that God’s wisdom, His understanding produces some fruit.

1) It produces people who live honorable lives

What is honorable in this context?

It is living by the principles of the scriptures.

Guess what? You can’t do it perfectly. If you could then you wouldn’t need Jesus.

There is a movement of people in the church that say the Old Testament moral law has no bearing on the church.

This is a lie. If we are taught God’s law then we know when we have broken it, and how we should respond when we do.

Think about this. You are walking down a road. On one side you have law, and on the other side of you have grace. You can’t live an honorable life if you do not your mind and your heart focused on both the Old Testament and The New Testament.

Romans 7:7 NLT

Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.”

Romans 7:13–25 NLT

But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes. So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Psalm 1:1–3 NKJV

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

2) It produces Humility in the believer

When you realize that your wisdom is not God’s wisdom and then you seek God’s wisdom and know that it doesn’t come from you; that will keep you humble.

What does God’s wisdom look like?

God’s wisdom is about living the principles and precepts found in His word.

How do we get God’s wisdom?

Proverbs 2:6–7 NKJV

For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

Proverbs 4:7 NKJV

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Colossians 4:5–6 NKJV

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Proverbs 1:7 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

James 1:5 NKJV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Life Point - Apply God’s Ideas, Not Yours

Exegetical -

1 Corinthians 3:19–20 NKJV

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

Homiletical -

Christians today have a big problem. They like to talk about God, they like to do things and say it is for God, but in reality what they need is the knowledge and understanding of the scriptures.

Luke 10:38–42 NLT

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 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.”

So what does this mean for the modern Christian? They are weak and lethargic in their Christianity.

They don’t know they are doing wrong because they don’t the scriptures.

We have many devotionals today, but you can’t live on devotionals alone. Nothing takes the place of sitting down and reading the scriptures.

Spirituality is found in the application of scripture to one’s life; thereby allowing the fruit of the Holy Spirit to flourish in the believer.

2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Acts 17:10–11 NKJV

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

You can’t apply God’s Word unless you search the scriptures. To search the scriptures you have to know the scriptures. Then you can rely on the Holy Spirit to bring them to your remembrance in times of need.

Matthew 10:16–20 NKJV

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

The Apostles heard Jesus words day in and day out for 3 years. His word was in them so that the Holy Spirit could remind them.

We have to study and read and reread in order to have our senses spiritually attuned so that we can look at a situation or circumstance and know that 1) it is against scripture and 2) seek God for the wisdom to handle the situation.

Because if you don’t know something is wrong, then you don’t know to seek God or how to fix it in your life.

Life Point - Rely On The Holy Spirit To Bring Wisdom

Exegetical -

1 Corinthians 3:21–23 NLT

So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you— whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Homiletical -

Remember how Paul started this section while putting straight the Corinthians who were following a man and not God?

He takes all that wisdom and wraps it up.

Just because you work at prestigious place or worship at a so-called prestigious church, it doesn’t mean anything because you have gone from following God to following prestige. To following an idol.

There is a cult out there, called the cult of personality. There are many people in this world who are Charismatic leaders, who have big personalities. They will get people to follow them. They will get people who should know better, to turn their backs on scripture and end up in sin.

This doesn’t happen all the time, but it sure does a lot of the time.

Here is an example. A very prominent pastor from a large church in Palm Coast who was forced to resign some years back over multiple affairs. He still has people who don’t care and want him to start another church. However, to his credit he has not done that. So what happened when he left? This very large church had a huge segment of people who said, “If Pastor____ is not here, I am not coming to church anymore.”

Who are you following? God or man?

People like this have put man on a pedestal and in-so-doing have made that man their idol. Which leads to divisions within the church.

Paul says that everything belongs to us and we belong to Christ. What does this mean?

First and foremost, that person you’re following is nothing more than a servant of Christ, just like everyone else who is a true born-again-believer.

If that is the case then it means that you have the Holy Spirit living in you, who leads you to the truth found in the scriptures.

Ephesians 1:13–14 NKJV

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

1 John 2:27 NKJV

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Does this mean we don’t need pastor or ministers?

No, it means that just because someone stands up and declares something the truth, you don’t take it at face value. If they stand up and say something that doesn’t sound right to you, then go to the Bible, read and research it relying on the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth.

We need the ministry. We need ministers to help and guide us. It does not mean we throw out our own Biblical study and logic. That is how modern Christianity has gotten to where it is today. People just accepted that because the man at the front said something to be true, it must be true.

That is how so many wolves in sheep’s clothing have come into the churches today.

That being said, I think we are in a time in America where the values of Christianity haven’t just been done away with in our country but are being actively opposed in our country.

This means that the wolves in sheep’s clothing will now be more transparent to the church.

How?

Because they will start ripping scriptures out of context in order to fall in line with the world’s morality.

This means that government will make it harder and harder for a church to own property.

This also means that a lot of Bible believing churches who refuse to bow the knee to this world’s morality will find themselves burned down, the people beaten or outright killed.

We aren’t quite there yet, but it’s coming. Keep praying for the people of our nation, a revival in our nation and the power of God to come back to our churches.

Life Principle– Having God’s Perspective Takes Self-Examination, Application & Reliance On The Holy Spirit

Call to Action – altar call….