Tonight we continued our series entitled "Life and Lessons of Jesus Christ." We are actually in Session Two, which is all about 'Preparation For Ministry.' It is in depth teaching on the events preceding the start of Christ's earthly ministry, including his baptism by John, and his encounter with satan in the wilderness. I am happy to bring you Lesson 2.5 of Preparation For Ministry, which examines how Jesus overcame the third temptation of satan with good old fashioned WISDOM. If we are going to prepared for ministry, we must allow the wilderness and God's Spirit to teach us wisdom. My apologies for beginning these broadcasts in mid-series (if you need any of the handouts from previous lessons, feel free to ask and I can get you copies so you can catch up!)
I am attaching a copy of the handout from tonight's lesson so you can follow along - for those of you that did attend tonight's meeting I have actually added an additional scripture (which will be emboldened so you know which one it is) to the section on knowing when to keep the ol' pizza trap shut, which (and I'm sure any preacher reading this will understand where I am coming from here) I am kicking myself for skipping over during the actual teaching.
Wisdom! It is not God's will for you to do things to yourself or others, though you may have scriptural precedent, that could do more harm instead of good - to hear the audio please click the link below! Below the link are the handout notes, plus one additional scripture, feel free to follow along - we welcome comments and questions, thank you for reading and listening, I hope this is a blessing to you all.
Click here to listen: http://apostoliclive.com/play_audio.php?audio=4989
-LIFE AND
LESSONS OF CHRIST-SESSION 2: PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY –
LESSON 2.5
“The Wilderness Test - WISDOM”
Main Text: Luke
4:9-13, Proverbs 4:7 – JAMES 3:17
KEY THEMS: WORD, WORSHIP, WISDOM – PREPARATION
FOR REAL MINISTRY
Note on James 3:17: wisdom always incorporates humility and mercy
in its judgments; looks beyond the letter of the law, into the heart of the
law. (weightier matters of the law) – (Matthew 23:23, Isaiah 28:10-13, II Tim
2:15)
Without wisdom, the word + worship tends to produce Phariseeism.
(Matthew 5:18)
-Dr Carson surgery story-
V9-11 – 3rd temptation: using scripture, or your
identity, as a license for reckless behavior, to act foolishly or fool
heartedly with scripture as a licence (out of context scripture) Romans 6:1-2;
V9 – what a dumb idea. (the devil is full of dumb ideas)
V.12- DEFENSE #3 – WISDOM
-Psalm 111:10 – “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”
– “God is not mocked…” Galatians 6:6
Examples: Woman caught in the act of adultery: John 8:2-11 (note
wisdom vs Phariseeism) – grace not a license for sin OR the maltreatment of
sinners;
-Wisdom is often demonstrated as a filter of mercy and humility for
the passing through of light and truth, and holiness, and justice, and
righteousness.
-WISDOM: Sometimes you need to shut your big pizza trap. James
1:19-26; PROVERBS 11:12-13
-moving from mere knowledge to wisdom in spiritual and scriptural
matters, such as prayer and fasting (see Matthew 6)
-Suffer the little children, and consider the weaker brother
(Matthew 19:14; Romans 14:3)
-Those that seek to be wise, will open to be taught by anyone, be
they children or a weak brother – the foolish will heap teachers, having
itching ears…(II Tim 4:3)
-the mark of spiritual maturity is not knowledge, but wisdom (see
“tools of the trade”)
