Simple Wisdom…

Psalm 19:7-14: …. making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Making wise the simple: in Sudan education is the hope. The nation is not founded on Christian principles so people put all their hope into overcoming poverty but getting an education and then a good job. We know better…

Jesus just wants a surrendered heart and ANY of us can do that! As you study the scriptures you see the men and women God chose:
o   Gideon  - coward
o   Elisha - farmer
o   David – Shepard
o   Nehemiah - cupbearer
o   Peter, James & John – fishermen
o   Esther – orphaned girl
o   Mary Magdalene – demon-possessed woman
o   Priscilla & Aquilla – tent makers

Remember 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, mark it down and read it over later. God is not looking for the woman with the best resume and qualifications to fulfill His will.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. ~ 2 Chronicles 16:9

To God:
     Availability is worth more than aptitude
            Smarts and skills are surpassed by true surrender
Jesus wants your love and loyalty more than your quickness and qualifications.

You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep your precepts. ~ Psalm 119:98-100

What do you need wisdom or understanding for today?

·         James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (ESV)

·         I have learned to pray for everything (Philippians 4:6-7), my keys, passwords I have forgotten, wisdom as I counsel, word pictures as I teach, and even protection from corrupt leaders.

·          Be teachable, expect God to speak, go to the Word with confidence and watch what He does

For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done. ~ Hebrews 4:12-13

Please Read Proverbs 2-4 also…

A More Sure Word….

Psalm 19:7: …the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple…

The testimony of the Lord is sure: God’s Word declares clearly the consequences of sin and the only means of restoration and forgiveness.

·         Stand on the Word. Never doubt in the darkness what God has told you in the Light. When He speaks you can be confident that you are on the surest foundation. He will bring to pass what He has promised you

·         Isaiah 45:3: I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.

·         Even in this your darkest hour He has a treasure for you. Look at the treasures others found in the darkness

o   Abraham, found out God provides the sacrifice for sin on Mount Moriah

o   Hannah received Samuel and offered him back to God, giving Israel a prophet.

o   Corrie TenBoom found fleas in the concentration camp that protected her from the watchful eyes of the guards.

o   Hagar found a well and learned God sees her.

o   Joseph saved the world from famine.

Jesus as He hung on the cross, enduring the agony found joy in YOU … He saw you and I in our glorified state…To HIM, that joy far outweighed the suffering…

You too are being perfected. There is an eternal purpose in your darkness and pain. Cling to Jesus! Soon His love will be shed aboard in your heart transforming you into His likeness. Romans 5:1-5

Commit Isaiah 45:3 to memory….wait with anticipation to discover the treasure He will lavish upon you from these dark hours you are going through.

There is hidden manna for you.

There is hope to be meted out when you need it most….

Run into His secret place….He is waiting for you.

 James 4:8: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…

Word converts the soul…..

The Word is both alive and life giving…
         Achieving the impossible,

Overcoming every obstacle,

Healing the broken,

Beautifying the meek, AND

Transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary!

 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple… ~ Psalm 19:7

Converts the soul: The Scripture is like a mirror, we look into it and see ourselves and our need. The Word has Divine power to:

Rescues sinners

Restores wandering saints

Revives weary warriors

Renews strength

 Jesus is the Word!

Consider these promises:

·         Redemption comes through the Word… 1 Peter 1:22-25

·         Power to heal and restore Hosea 6:1-3

·         Teaches, admonishes, and strengthens Colossians 3:16-17

·         2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

·         Turns heaviness into praise Psalm 30:11-12

·         Our armor and protection Psalm 91:4

·         Luke 21:33: heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away.

·     Do you need revival today? The spirit gives life, the flesh profits nothing – the Words I speak are spirit and they are life.~ John 6:63

o   Psalm 119:28: strengthen

o   Psalm 119:25, 37-40: revive

o   Psalm 119:41: mercy /salvation

o   Psalm 119:50: gives life

o   Psalm 119:77: comfort

o   Psalm 119:88: lovingkindness

o   Psalm 119:116: uphold

o   Psalm 119:133: direction

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. ~ James 1:21

The power of Almighty God is in the Word! And that Word is in your hands NOW…
            What are you doing with the Word?

Jesus in the parable of the sower said the seed is the Word of God. Therefore you can rest assured the seed is always good. If we want to see our kids, our neighbors, our co-workers or anyone else in our lives saved our part is to sow!

God does the tilling of the heart! Yet so often when it’s the close family members we try to till and then wonder why there is no fruit.

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. ~ Isaiah 55:11

Let your lifestyle PROVE that you believe there is life giving power in the Word? Then go out there and use it, sow, water, pull weeds, nurture, and watch how God brings forth fruit and enables us to reap the ones you love.

Ask Jesus….

Jesus intricately weaves the scriptures together showing us, step by step, how to follow after Him. His primary way of speaking to us is the Word.

The law of the Lord is perfect… Psalm 19:7

Giving us intimate instruction is His great pleasure!

How do I personally hear what God is saying to me?
      1.      Open the Word

2.      Pray for Jesus to speak clearly to you as your read, meditate, and pray.

3.      Be committed to absolute surrender and radical obedience…

 Now it’s time to start asking Him specific questions.

1.      Begin listing questions as they come to mind…

2.      Go through your list and prioritize the questions.

3.      Pray over the order you ask…this step is vital because many times I have 20 questions that hinge on one single question, Example: “Should I be a missionary?” needs to be asked before, “Are you calling me to serve in India?”

4.      Ask God one thing at a time, so you don’t get confused about the answers…take the time to be prayerful and careful the order you ask.

5.      As you read if a verse jumps off the page stop! It doesn’t matter if you are right in the middle of a chapter, stop and pray.

6.      Don’t move on until Jesus reveals His message for you, it will be totally worth the wait!

7.      Journal His instructions, write dates next to verses in your Bible. You will be so edified as you come to the verses at a later date and remember the great things God has done for you. That is how men like David strengthened their hands in the Lord.

8.      Pray the scriptures He gives you.

      9. Be accountable with a close friend. Share what God is doing! Your intimacy with Christ   can spill over into your friendships…share! Bring Jesus into the center of all your relationships!

The Word Illuminates the Way….

How do we receive this intimate instruction?

Psalm 19:7-14: The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Let’s pause and reflect on each phrase in this passage….

The law of the Lord is perfect: Complete, whole, entire, sound, healthful, unimpaired, having integrity, all that is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact.
·         Remember that God is not in the earthquake, the roaring thunder or the rushing wind…
·         His voice comes in stillness.
·         It’s almost a whisper, not because it’s a secret but because it’s exclusive.
·         God’s intimate instruction is precise, specific, and always EXACTLY what you need to hear.

The gospel is perfect in all its parts, and perfect as a whole: it is a crime to add to it, treason to alter it, and felony to take from it. ~ Charles Spurgeon

There is not one difficulty that you are facing that God’s Word does not have an answer for.

       His Word is perfect. It can help you.

Once the Word is given you must act…NOW

Intimate instructionfrom the Lord requires radical obedienceon your part.

When Jesus is speaking to you it is not “sweet nothings.”

         He is purposeful and intentional –
Making it imperative that we come to a place of radical obedience…
         Obeying without question or hesitation…
                Trusting that He knows what He is doing AND
He ALONE is worthy of our complete and immediate submission.