Researching Wisdom vs Faith

Researching wisdom vs faith notes below:
http://www.fbcaltoona.org/1352108995453560/lib/1352108995453560/_files/THE_PRACTICAL_EFFECT_OF_WISDOM.pdf
1. Step one: Studying the Word of God – Job 22:22
2. Step two: Yielding to the Spirit of God – 1 Corinthians 2:6-10
3. Step three: Seeking the Wisdom of God – James 1:5-8

1) Wisdom is not given to the non-regenerate.
2) Wisdom is not given to the carnal believer.
3) Wisdom is not given to the uncommitted Christian.

OBSERVATION TWO:
-Note the phrase, “SOUND WISDOM” in verse 7. The word “SOUND” in this text refers to that which is “HEALTHY” and “SAFE.” The point is the WISDOM God gives to the RIGHTEOUS SAINTS is SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY AND SECURE. That is, IT BUILDS CHRISTIAN MATURITY!

1. He is their “Buckler.” That is, God shields the righteous saints from Satanic Destruction.
2. He is their “Keeper.” That is, God guards the path of the righteous saints from Satanic Disruption.
3. He is their “Preserver.” That is, God secures the way of the righteous saints from Satanic Dissolution.

APPLICATION: IS WISDOM AT WORK IN YOUR LIFE?
LESSON: WITHOUT DIVINE WISDOM, ONE WILL MAKE COLOSSIAL MORAL AND SPIRITUAL MISTAKES. WITH DIVINE WISDOM, ONE WILL ACHIEVE GREAT SUCCESS FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!

Render yourself wholly unto the Lord.

I found this site completely useful when researching how to give yourself to the Lord.
In Summary:

SALVATION! Think of what has been given you
I was a sinner, but now I’m clean

SALVATION! Make more of what has been given to you
Tell others about Jesus’ love, the changes that He’s made in my life…spiritually (prayer, Bible, Faith), mentally (clarity, right / wise thinking), physically (healing of back pain, saving from dangerous perils), provisions for food, housing, education, comfort and strength to endure tumultuous situations.

SALVATION! Render yourself to God for all that He has done for you. Serve, give Him everything.

Render yourself wholly unto the Lord.
http://www.archive.org/stream/renderinguntogod00talb/renderinguntogod00talb_djvu.txt
some of the info is pasted here:

I have shown you, bretheren, have I not ? that you have richly received, that ' unto you has been given much : ' and now I beg you do not let the thoughts pass away : think of these things : realize now and often your advantages : reckon up your wealth : how true is it that what we most need is not to know more or to have more, but to make more of what we have, and realize more in what we know ! Lift your eyes to the height of what is given you, for it towers high, and you must lift your eyes from your own level and the level of the things which amuse us and engross us in order to see it : enlarge your hearts to take it in, for our hearts are very narrow chambers* only God has given them a wonderful power of enlarging to take in what is good. If you do this you will ' see your' calling : ' you will feel bound to walk "worthy of that calling" which sounds to you through every blessing that God has given to you, but sounds loudest through that which you have in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Standing at the outset of your life with the unhewn block before you which it is yours to fashion, you will grasp —oh why should you not ?—what so many learn painfully and late, the true and brilliant secret of what life is, a secret which is yet plain and open for those who have eyes to see ; that it is not an enjoyment of self for self's sake alone, not an eating and drinking for a few days before we die, not a strife for success, but a rendering of ourselves to God for all the benefits that He hath done unto us.
2 Cor. 6:12 Eph 4:1

Trial vs Temptation

It looks like the root of unbelief is stemmed by temptation having the potential to become a trial leading to death. This scripture comes to mind….Blessed [is] the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Jam 1:12-15.

I like this little chart that someone once mapped out for me:
Trial
… No action
… Tears Down
… Anger
… Decreases Trust
… Run Away
… Increases Fear
Results in Distance from God

Temptation
… Act in Faith
… Increases Good
… Increases Joy
… Increases Trust
… Increases Obedience
… Increases Faith
Results in Closeness to God

Other scriptures to keep in mind if you're helping others work through trials / temptations:

1 Timothy 1:8-17 is a letter from Paul to Timothy encouraging him to love others, beware of false doctrine and to remember the mercy that transforms the worst sinners into the best saints.

Ephesians 4 is a letter from Paul to the Ephesians encouraging them towards unity in the body, with humility, gentleness, patience and love. Also encouraging them to walk as children of light, not to give the devil a foothold and to forgive others. Ephesians 4:17-32 would be good to pray over for yourself or others.

Ephesians 5 dictates that we are to be wise, making the most of every opportunity, speaking in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hbr 3:12-13

Perspective

Spurgeon keeping our work for the Lord in perspective commenting regarding Isaiah 51

“…Anything that discourages an earnest worker is a serious leakage for his strength.”

AND

“Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. They fall! They fall! They are as the slain. The day breaketh, and the shadows flee away. O ye watchers that look for the dawning, fall not asleep through sorrowful weariness. The morning cometh. It shall not tarry. Do you doubt it? Know ye not that the Lord reigneth? Is he not the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” If you doubt it, dissolve your Missionary Society, and do not pretend to do a work in which you have no faith; but if you believe in the triumph of God’s work, and that you are called to it, behave worthily to so divine an enterprise. God do so to you as you deal with him in this matter. Amen….

Faith, too, has a great power of reception, and therein lies much of her adaptation to the divine purpose. Self-confidence, courage, resolution, cool reasoning, whatever else they are good at, are bad at humbly receiving. Those vessels which are full already are of no use as receivers; but faith presents her emptiness to God, and opens her mouth that God may fill it. Mercy needs not a jewel, but a casket into which to put her gems, and faith is exactly what she wants.

Then, again, faith always uses the strength that God gives her. Pride would vapour with it, and doubt would evaporate it; but faith is practical, and economically uses the talent entrusted to her. Faith has already spent all her own strength, and she so yearns to achieve her purposes that she uses all the power that God will lend her. Faith eats her manna and leaves not a morsel for worms to breed in."

Dedication to Sunshine

Dedication To Sunshine:
Sunshine came home with us after our trip to Colorado. We waited for each other for 2 weeks after we met and fell in love at first sight. She was quite the different bird when she came home. She had a rough life…she was stepped on, the door to her cage was shut on top of her, she flew into a few windows and tended to bite others when they weren’t looking. Nevertheless she was a fun bird that loved to charge Sam when we put her on the floor. He giggled and squealed as she could chase him around the entire house. She lived with us first and got used to Jimmy, our dog, that was great with her. Then came Howie (another dog) and two cats that we worried about. The cats also did fine with her. She tended to get out of her cage mysteriously at times, but the cats never bothered her. One day we came home and she was screeching and we ran to find out that Howie had made her his personal chew toy. She was rescued from his fangs, but not soon enough. She had no cuts or outward injuries and looked like she was going to make it, but soon after we attempted to clean the dog saliva off of her, she passed as we prayed, “Oh Lord if she has to die please let it be peaceful.” She passed into His hands while bathing in warm water and drinking water from my fingertips as she always used to do in the shower. Her favorite sounds were the “wet fart” sound, something that sounded like, “I’m right here,” and “Sammy” which could also be translated, “Jimmy.”

10.24.2008

Psa 131:1-3     A Song of Ascents. Of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child [is] my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD From this time forth and forever. 

“If we rejoice in God that our times are in his hand, that all events are at his disposal, and that he is our God in covenant, this rejoicing is good; the wisdom, power, and providence of God, are then concerned to make all things work together for our good: but, if we rejoice in our own vain confidences and presumptuous boasts, this is evil; it is an evil carefully to be avoided by all wise and good men.” Commentary by Matthew Henry

Open my eyes that I would see the blessings before me,

open my ears that I would hear your quiet still voice,

open my mouth that you would fill it with psalms and hymns,

let my hands be gentle with all that I do,

let my mind be full of your truth and remembrances of your answered prayers,

let my stomach digest whatever you give me whether it be sweet or sour,

let my feet run swiftly, steadily, stepping on sure ground and not moving to the left or to the right, but straight forward to win the race, never losing ground or becoming lost, but walled into obedience,

let my flesh be removed that your Holy Spirit would fill me.

That whatever your will is, however you want to use me would be clear that it’s you and not me and that I would praise you for it continuously! Thank YOU JESUS, in your name, AMEN.

Psalm 131 NKJV  http://www.blueletterbible.org

Matthew Henry Commentary on James 4 retrieved on October 24, 2008. http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=4&contentID=1835&commInfo=5&topic=James

The Three of Us

The three of us have been friends for awhile now and we've walked along with the Lord. He's shown us that He's faithful, that He's all that we need, especially when the world comes crashing down around us. We've held each other in contention and we've loved on each other, we've been angry and frustrated and we've had patience as we confront each other in love and He's been with us through our refining friendship. I'm so thankful that my friends are real with me and that they're serving Him and desiring to love Him and know Him more.

He's aloud Jessica to go through the School of Evangelism at Horizon, providing for her along the way and He's aloud Smaranda to join our worship team, become our worship leader and minister to the women at Home Fellowship. He's aloud me to find healing in becoming a Preschool teacher loving on the children. He's reigniting some old desires that He's put on my heart and helping me see that they might not be that impossible with faith.

Smaranda's reading, "Man of Faith," and reminding me that we can have dreams and desires, we can have love for one another, we can have all the good intentions in the world, but we'll always have a choice and without choosing action, without choosing to move forward with the Lord, it's as if those intentions weren't even there at all. His word shows us that without faith it is impossible to please Him and He calls us to be in the business of pleasing Him, to find out what pleases Him, what honors Him and what encourages Him to keep working in our lives. We're reminded that our faith without work is dead, just as work without faith is dead and that there's nothing worse than love that's kept secret...who after all hides his light. Oh NO! We must let our light shine before all men that they would see the good work and PRAISE our father in Heaven.

I love you Jesus!