"YOUR FAITH WILL MAKE YOU WISE"

From the series, "What Faith Will Do"

"Your Faith Will Make You Wise"

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

Our faith in God comes from hearing the truth of the gospel through the word of God! We have heard leaders all over the world expressing popular beliefs, opinions and philosophy in recent years, but the Bible says that we will receive the faith that we need by the hearing of the word of God. It appears that Paul is asking himself in the book of Romans,"Has all of the earth heard this message of faith?" and then he answers his own question in the same verse. Let's look at this,

But I say, "Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world". ~ Romans 10:18

Into all the earth! Their words went to the ends of the world as they knew it in their day! Every nation had heard the Gospel by way of disciples, apostles, kings and servants. The message had been spread to everyone that lived and they didn't even have Internet or cable television! Isn't that amazing!
God has always made a way to get His word to the people of the earth. We don't have to take it all on ourselves to reach every man. God is at work in the hearts and lives of each person who believes and accepts Him by faith. Knowing this takes a huge burden off of me as a forgiven and compassionate child of God. When I look around, it's easy for me to become overwhelmed with the masses that are following the idols of this world and people of all ages that have bought into the lies of advertising while on their quest to satisfies their inner longing.

One of the best sellers on the music charts even told the world for almost 50 years, "I can't get no satisfaction!" and still people go out in groves searching for satisfaction week after week, month after month, year after year until their lives have literally slipped through their fingers and finding themselves at the end of their life without the satisfaction they had been promised by this world.

The satisfaction that we long for and search for all of our lives is experienced in faith, faith in the living God of our universe and this faith is found in the hearing of the message found in the word of God. Paul was a very educated man who had been in positions in government that required him to make many tough decisions, but the best decision that Paul ever made was the decision to believe and follow the Messiah who had come to save the world and to accept His message by faith!

It was the same man,Paul, that wrote this passage in Romans that had also, at one time, persecuted the Christians and their families.

The challenges we face today don't even begin to compare to the challenges Christians faced before Paul accepted Christ! Christians were scattered all over the globe, trying to escape this man and his wrath! His name was Saul and God changed it to Paul. His business was to wipe out every Christian alive because he believed man, but God stopped him and he heard the word of God.
Paul went from a proud murderer to an humble servant of God overnight! His eyes were opened and he could see the wisdom of the word and the satisfaction filled his heart; that satisfaction that he had longed for every night when he closed his eyes and heard the screams of those he had persecuted.

It is evident in Paul's writings that he had faith by the hearing of the word of God! Paul had gained a wisdom that couldn't be found in biographies and philosophy. This wisdom couldn't be found on the porches of Athens or in meetings with the King's counsel. This wisdom that Paul found came only through the word of God. The faith that Paul found gave him the satisfaction that we all have longed for in our lives, even today!

Paul is talking to the Gentiles in chapter eleven and he is telling them that it is because of the Jews lack of repentance that the gospel went out and had spread to their Gentile nations. It was because of the lack of faith in the Jewish nation that the Jewish believers were directed by God to go into all the world, so that the Jews would become jealous of the mercy that the Gentiles had obtained through God and come back to receive their faith in God. The Jews were going to see the wisdom of the rest of the world through their receiving of the word of God by faith. They would long for the mercy, Paul says, that the Gentiles had obtained!

Even so have these(Jews) also now not believed, that through your(Gentiles) mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all (all nations) in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor? ~ Rom 11:31-34

We can learn so much from the word of God and it is clear that Paul feels just as I do today! I feel that the wisdom and knowledge found in God is beyond anything else that I can get my hands on in this world! So let's treasure what we have found in His word and in communion with God; the wisdom and knowledge that starts with faith in Him.

When we come to realize how great a God we serve, the fear (reverence), forgiving (mercy) and faith (wisdom) will be so incredible that it not only changes us, but others long to know and have what we have! Listen to how Paul described this at the end of chapter eleven of Romans.

For of him(God), and through him(God), and to him(God), are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. ~ Romans 11:36

Those are words of wisdom!

It is my prayer that you have this FAITH THAT WILL MAKE YOU WISE!

If you find you don't have the faith I spoke of today, but would like to know that you do; please contact me by phone or email and I will be glad to help you begin this wonderful, satisfying experience in your life today! The experience of God's forgiveness and mercy by faith in Him!

SO YOU'RE A WISE GUY?

James 1:5

Who needs wisdom?

Take a minute to ponder this question. Do you have all the wisdom that you will need to handle any situation that could arise in your lifetime? If we answer this in all honesty, we would all have to admit that we couldn't possibly have the wisdom now that we will need for the rest of our lives! So, how can we be sure that we will have the wisdom when we need it, so we will make the right decisions? Is it possible that you may have an important decision to make right now, as you are reading this Daily Light post today?


Now let's ask ourselves this, "Do you understand why we sometimes lack the wisdom that we need in order to make the proper decisions and choices for your life and your family"? I know that is allot to think about all at once and I really just wanted you to take a minute to think about this predicament of decision making without possessing true wisdom. We often find it much easier to just ignore this crucial missing link to making decisions wisely! This can effect the outcome greatly concerning some of the most important decisions of our lives. The choices made out of ignorance often lead to regret and emotional injury and those injuries take a long time to heal. Then why do we still make these kind of decisions when we know the risk of injury to follow?

Many times we'll tell ourselves that we just don't have the time to find out everything we need to make an informed decision. So we act in haste and bulldoze our way through life, leaving casualties all along the way or paying highly with the loss of friends and relationships. Does this describe you or someone you know? Most of us know someone else like this, but today we all need to stop and take a look at ourselves. We all are just as capable of this as the next guy.
Sometimes our decisions are made out of ignorance because we are just too stubborn to let anyone else offer you any helpful advice. Has anyone ever shared a reference with you and you just brushed it off like a piece of lent; acting s if it was an annoyance to you that they even offered to help. This stubbornness stems back to pride and pride is a characteristic that takes us down every time, as Jesus taught His disciples this throughout the Word of God. Is it wrong for us to ignore this teaching? Of course it is, but it could be that we often feel that we have no other choice but to move ahead ignorantly because we don't have time or resources at our fingertips.

Let's look at what a writer who was inspired by God wrote about this very need that we all face when we are making these critical decisions.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Can it really be this simple brothers and sisters? James speaks from experience. James was called a "pillar" of the church at Jerusalem by Paul.(Galatians 2:9) He must have had times when he felt that he lacked the wisdom he needed, but he knew where he could turn for help. Let's look a little more in depth at what James is teaching the scattered followers of Christ in this passage. He says first of all without any judgement or piety, "If any man lack wisdom"; and that's going to include every man, isn't it? So James didn't specify any nationality, religious group, occupation, class or race. Next he said, "let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally". The Greek for the word "liberally" used in this passage is "haplōs" and it literally means "bountifully". So we are to ask for wisdom and God will give us wisdom bountifully!

With James spiritual strength and being a follower of Jesus, he would know firsthand just how much God would give when we ask! As if that wasn't enough, James followed that great news with this,"and upbraideth not; and it will be given him.". That should excite everyone to know that all we have to do is ask and it WILL be given to us! But look at this small added piece of detail that James added in his statement,"upbraideth not". "And God upbraideth not." Why did he include such a statement in between telling us to ask and telling us that we will receive?

The word "upbraideth" in the Greek is "oneidezō" and is pronounced on-i-did'-zo. This Greek word literally means to defame, that is, rail at, chide, taunt ; also (suffer) reproach, revile or upbraid. Have you ever felt that maybe God would look at you in disbelief if you dare to ask Him for direction with a situation? Have you ever been too embarassed to ask God about a decision in your life?

Believe me when I tell you that you should NEVER EVER feel like God will embarass you for your requesting His help you brothers and sisters! Our God loves us so and cares for our every need. That is our assurance today! Ask and you will receive bountifully from a God who will never embarrass you or give you a hard time!

With our Lord God of Abraham,Isaac and Isreal, the only silly or embarassing question you may have is the question that you didn't ask God!

If any man lacks Wisdom, let him ask of God....James 1:5