If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)
In last week’s broadcast I spoke briefly about the state of the Church. I talked about God’s plumb line in Isaiah 28:16-17, “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line;”
Saints of God, in these uncertain times when we know who we are, trust in and rely on the precious cornerstone of Jesus Christ we will never be ashamed or stricken with panic. God is sovereign. It’s easy to overlook God’s sovereignty in uncertain times. Yet, “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens; and his sovereignty rules over all.” Sovereignty can be defined as having supreme authority, control, and power over all that has happened, is happening, and will happen in the future. He is sovereign over history and all the nations of the earth. He is the Supreme Ruler who rules over all affairs in the universe and this includes our personal lives both as individuals as well as the body of believers.
I believe many people get up and go through the motions some days and never really expect God do anything. Yet, your Heavenly Father has access to every moment of your life from beginning to end. We can make our plans, yet the Lords purpose prevails. Proverbs 19:21
We can rest in his sovereignty. The Apostle Paul expressed in Romans 8:28-30, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
In struggling financial times and global uncertainty we need the wisdom of God. We must discern the times so that we know what to do. The Tribe of Issachar was one of the twelve tribes of Israel. They had understanding of the times and seasons. They were very sensitive to God’s direction. They had some insight into things because of their sensitivity to God. 1 Chronicles 12:32, “from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” Understanding the times and seasons is key for victory in our personal lives, our communities, our churches, and our nation.
God desires to communicate His wisdom with us. In Jeremiah 33:3 we are instructed to call upon him with the expectation that he hears us. Wisdom cries out in the streets. Proverbs 1:20 says, “Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public.”
We need godly wisdom in this present day. Proverbs 2:7 says, ” he gives wisdom to those who walk upright with Lord. He guards their course and protects his faithful ones.” Beloved, he is our shield, he protects us and guards our path
Man’s wisdom is foolishness to God. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 says our wisdom is useless, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
James 1:5 says we can ask God for wisdom. “And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.”
James 3:17 tells us, “But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form.
There is so much more to life in Christ then what most of us are presently experiencing. Our lifestyles should model the early Church community if we are to walk in the New Testament demonstration of the gospel and the power of God.
On one hand we’ve watered down the message we preach and teach more and more over the years. We’ve preached less about God to whom we are accountable We’ve moved away from any message that would make people feel uncomfortable. We haven’t been willing to confront sin. We have let our standard’s drop. We have left our first love.
Not only that, the result of not recognizing the onslaught of culture and the infiltration of worldly seduction, greed, materialism, and other things. Instead of recognizing how powerful these sinful influences are and what we need to do to be vigilant in our walk with the Lord, we’ve become comfortable with the status quo. We’ve allowed the flood of worldly influence to enter our midst.
Sadly, we’ve adopted a theory of cultural relevance. I don’t believe Jesus, nor the Apostle Paul was concerned about being culturally relevant in their day. As believers, our beliefs and values should reflect a Kingdom culture. The Bible teaches that we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the World. We are to be present in the world but not of the world.
We are not to engage in the sinful activities of the world. Rather, we are not to conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Then we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2).
The world refers to the world system, ruled by Satan. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 1 John 5:19 says, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
Saints, we must have eyes to see beyond the natural and ears to hear what the Lord I’d speaking at this time. Acts 17:24-28 says, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Wow…just that one paragraph speaks volumes. We have the very life and nature of God within us. In Him, we live and move and have our being. Faith works in time and place. You are in a certain time and a certain place so you can grab a hold of Him and gain purpose in your life. He knew you before the foundation of the earth. He sees your destiny through the Blood of His Son. He doesn’t see you through your faults, shortcomings or mistakes. He sees you as you were meant to be. How you respond to Him, by faith, is how you become, and then overcome in a changing world.
We are entering a new beginning . . . God is doing something new and fresh in the earth today. You do not want to be a spectator, you want to be a participant. We must see beyond what has been, what worked in the past. Leave behind old models and look at things from a new perspective. When we shift our view to see from God’s perspective we will begin to see our circumstances in a fresh new way.
We must let go of old ways to embrace the new. At times we struggle to let go, so we hang on instead of gracefully letting go to receive the new. Leaving behind the old can be painful, and at times we have to face the pain to advance. We need revelation To move into new place. Isaiah 43:18-19 which says: “Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over times gone by! I am doing something NEW! It’s springing up – can’t you see it? I am making a road in the desert, rivers in the wasteland.” ( Complete Jewish Bible – CJB)
Are you willing to go beyond where you are today into a new dimension, and step into your future! We cannot be passive in this new season. We must embrace the new thing God is doing. We, the Body of Christ, must manifest who we are and Who we represent!
Blessing,
Dr. Francine Green
BEYOND CHURCH WALLS 