God’s Attributes 10
“Wisdom Training”
Pastor David Moore Old Testament reading: Isaiah 51:1‐8
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many. The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
“Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: Instruction will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.
“Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations.”
Wisdom is knowledge that comes with having done that, been there. The ability to make good decisions is based on experience. ~D. Moore
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Endure means to stand in a big way. ~D. Moore
Three models of wisdom:
1. Wisdom of coach or trainer
2. Wisdom of a father
3. Wisdom of a physician
The three types of wisdom builders will bring pain in order to build endurance in us. ~D. Moore
God is our ultimate wisdom builder. God has the wisdom to use the world to shape us in the way He wants us to be shaped. ~D. Moore
God has the wisdom of a trainer to build discipline, righteousness, and peace to those who will allow God to train them. 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
“Life is hard. You will fall, you will be hurt, but remember what hurts you today will make you stronger tomorrow. The only thing you have to know is to RISE.” ~Ryan D’souza
John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace said, “He never had any problem when God altered his life, but there was a big problem when God tried to alter his day.”
If God isn’t your trainer, then your whole life will be one shock after another, a life filled with self‐pity.
~D. Moore
If we understand God is our Father, who is involved in our lives to shape us, then we need to trust God’s wisdom, which has purpose for our suffering. ~D. Moore
Growing up is important. But it is even more important to grow up well. ~D. Moore
We forget that we are children and God is our Father. Everything that happens to us has the potential to shape us. We can either believe God is shaping us to create endurance or a random event of pain. ~D. Moore
God is always getting us ready for what comes next. ~D. Moore
The world doesn’t screech to a halt when we suffer. We train so that we can do what we do through the hard times. ~D. Moore 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
This week: think of all the challenges you have faced in your life and how God has gotten you through and how it has prepared you for the next challenge. Wherever you find yourself today, lean into your suffering, know God is preparing you for the future.
Believe in God’s wisdom and His plan for your life. God bless!