These are the notes taken on a message by Dr. Anthony George's Wednesday night Bible study series. Here is the link to the audio message from FBA's website!
How to grow in spiritual pursuit.- We must cultivate a receptive heart. Proverbs 2:1-5
- Receptive heart = accepting God's word. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
- In the Christian life, there is no such thing as instant diligence
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- We have to work on it ourselves for each day: pursue the virtues
- 2 Peter 1:5 NASB
- Ever been around someone with biblical knowledge and wise in life?
- It's up to you to want it. Pray for it.
- We must cultivate an attentive heart
- Attentive heart = diligent to cling to God's word. 2 Peter 1:5
- We must cultivate a hungry heart. Proverbs 2:4
- More than just listening, we must cry out for it and seek it more than gold and silver. Pursuing
- PROBLEM: most people don't want it. In our culture, truth is whatever truth means to you.
- Proverbs 1:22
- This is also a problem in our churches today. Where does the hunger for wisdom of God come from? How can wetrain others to hunger for this?
- Matthew 5:6 NASB
- The number 1 thing to pray for is WISDOM. You can pray for all sorts of things and receive things, but the single most important thing to ask for is wisdom. Wisdom directs every part of your life.
- Christians who are really truly hungry for wisdom are rare.
- We must ask and believe.
God rewards our fervent pursuit. Not a half-hearted pursuit, but a desperate pursuit.
- This pursuit requires faith. Asking without believing rewards nothing.
God rewards us with a proper understanding of Him.
- This gives us discernment of fear for the LORD.
- To fear Him but love Him
- To fear Him but follow Him
- To fear Him but consider Him our best friend
- Shows us the diference between Him
God rewards us with divine knowledge.
- There is nothing more exciting than this!
- Jeremiah 33:3
- He stores up wisdom for the righteous. Imagine warehouses of wisdom in Heaven waiting for you to claim them!
God is our protector. Proverbs 2:7
- You start feeling badly about the dishonorable things you do. This begins to build your integrity.
God preserves our life. Proverbs 2:8
- He's the one who puts the timeline on your life. You're invincible until He says so!
- The best protection we have is walking in wisdom.
- "I am we'll preserved"
God gives us discernment. Proverbs 2:9
- This shows us how to figure things out.
- Discernment has the power to prevent all sorts of bad decisions.
- Contrast between Worldly Wisdom and Spiritual Wisdom
- Worldly Wisdom: judge by what we see
- John 7:24 NASB
- Spiritual Wisdom: trust and see what God can see
- Get ready to get spooked when you can see what God can see!
- Worldly Wisdom: judge by what we see
- Discernment to pray for:
- Preference vs conviction
- Church traditions, Biblical values
- Flexible vs non-negotiable
- Bedrocks to the Christian faith
- Style vs substance
- Not whether we like the style, but whether the message is getting delivered
- Ideal vs grace covered
- Wizard of Oz scene: there is always a curtain to reveal something ideal to not be ideal.
- "The best of men are men at best"
- It takes grace for it all to work.
- Grace is greater than all of our sin.
- Preference vs conviction
- Discretion and understanding will protect you from the wrong kinds of associations.
- It will protect you from bad people and keep you on the path of righteousness.
God rewards pursuit.
- Jeremiah 29:13
- Proverbs 8:17
- Matthew 7:7-8
- Hebrews 11:6
- Even if you miss or get His will wrong, He will reward your interest in seeking His will.
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