Spiritually-Wise Christians Series

Title: Spiritually-Wise Christians

Theme: Grasping the Wisdom of God

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)

A trusting relationship is what enables the child of God to walk in the wisdom of God

Bible teacher and preacher Leslie Miller told of a time when he was in North Africa. One late afternoon he watched thousands of sheep come to a watering hole and drink until satisfied. After the sheep had all they could drink, a dozen shepherds walked off in different directions, singing or speaking in different tones and ways. To the amazement of Mr. Miller the sheep broke off from the large group and began to follow each shepherd. The sheep actually rallied to the call of the shepherd they knew and trusted. Pastor Leslie never forgot the sight and he thinks of it often when he reads or meditates on the words of Jesus “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

It is important to note. A trusting relationship is what enables the child of God to walk in the wisdom of God. A true love relationship is at the heart of true obedience to God and Christ.

I would propose to you that Christianity is not made up of just the things we do or not do. It must be clear in our hearts and minds that Christianity is a relationship with God, Jesus and fellowship in the Holy Ghost. Grasping for the wisdom of God involves being attentive to Jesus’ voice, meditating on what He says, obeying His words that give life and enduring in His calling upon our lives.

Just how does a child of God become a “Spiritually Wise Christian?”

Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

Spiritually Wise Christianity knows that this life down here is a battle and there is a constant battle going on within our spiritual hearts all the time.

The apostle Paul writes about this battle that so wars against the Holy Spirit and is constantly urging us to give in to its power. Galatians 5:17 says, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”

A “Spiritually Wise Christian” knows that there is a battle for the child of God’s heart, mind, and soul. There is that enemy the New American Standard Bible calls “…the flesh [which] sets its desire against the [Holy] Spirit.” (Galatians 5:17) The King James hits the source right upon the head when it translated this verse as, “For the flesh lusteth against the [Holy] Spirit.”

The key word that the wise Christian focuses on in this particular passage of Scripture is “lusteth” (epithumeo) meaning to have a yearning passion for. The practical application is that it has a pulling affect that grabs you and won’t let go. This causes the child of God or lost sinner to desire, to want, to crave, to hunger, to thirst, to grasp and actually take a hold of that which destroys or inhibits a healthy relationship with Christ.

The Christian still has to battle that old nature of the flesh and he won’t be rid of it in this lifetime. John reminds us that, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8) The apostle Paul himself experienced this turmoil and any honest Christian will tell you that this conflict goes on daily, therefore, it is only wise to admit it, watch for it and learn the only way of mastering it.

The words that the Lord spoke to Cain are set in the back of the mind of the child of God who wants to walk in the wisdom of God, “sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7b)

There is an old hymn written by Robert Robinson, entitled “Come Thou Fount.” In that wonderful Hymn of proclamation is a plea, “Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing…” In that Hymn is also recognition of every Christian’s battle, “Prone to Wonder, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.” Dr. Joseph S. Exel, writes about this conflict within man, “The battle of life are not mainly a fighting against adverse circumstances and external evils of this world. One of man’s greatest foes is what is in his own heart. There is a great conflict internally. Thus, life is warfare and the Christian a soldier who must surrender to the will of his Commanding Officer…”