The Big If

Dear Brethren,

Going against God's clear instructions never brings happiness or success.  God alone tells us how we can have understanding, wisdom and spiritual maturity. There are absolute requirements.  These precious gifts are conditional.  God says, If...Then."  We must be careful not to become bitter or turned-off.  The question is, "Will we do it God's way?"

"My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee;  So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;   Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."  (Proverbs 2:1-5)

These special gifts of knowledge, understanding and wisdom are not generally available to those in the world.  The world follows the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - which precludes them from coming to spiritual maturity.  All right wisdom comes only from God.

"For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.  He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path."  (Proverbs 2:6-9)

We are not born with Godly wisdom, nor does it pop-into us at the time of our baptism.  There is only one way for Godly wisdom to enter into our hearts.  Godly wisdom must be sought for, and acquired according to God's instructions.

"When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shal keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh forward things;  Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness."  (Proverbs 2:10-13)

The choice is ours; will we stick to the ways of God, or will we attempt the impossible?  It is not possible to live both God's way and the ways of this world.

"Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;  Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:  To deliver thee from the strange woman, [un-Godly wisdom] even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous."  (Proverbs 2:14-20)

If, we seek God's will in every aspect of our lives, Then, Godly wisdom will help in furtherance of His over-all plan and He will achieve His will in our lives.  We will receive the blessings of God.

"For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it."  (Proverbs 2:21-22) 

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Sermon:	"The Big If"
Sermon:	"Then"