The Apprentice Series

The Apprentice

April 18, 2004 AM

Psalm 25:1-14

There is much talk right now about another of the reality type TV shows called the "Apprentice.

It stars Donald Trump -- the billionaire --

And it gives young men and women a chance to work under him and possibly land a really nice job.

And of course everyone hopes and prays that during the staff meetings they don’t hear the words -- "you’re fired".

The real truth is that their goal is to win money -- but if they are smart they will learn some shrewd business wisdom as they go.

I personally believe that the Bible is a great textbook.

It is a text book for almost any subject you can imagine -- including business.

There are some great principles in the word for success --

Regardless of what field or career you may be in.

What I want to do in the next few messages is to look at some principles, some basics of wisdom, that we can build on --

In other words -- I want to walk us through an apprenticeship with God.

An apprenticeship where we never have to fear hearing the words -- "you’re fired".

Let’s begin by looking at some scripture --]

(Psa 25:1 NKJV) To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

(Psa 25:2 NKJV) O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me.

(Psa 25:3 NKJV) Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

(Psa 25:4 NKJV) Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.

(Psa 25:5 NKJV) Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

(Psa 25:6 NKJV) Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old.]

(Psa 25:7 NKJV) Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.

(Psa 25:8 NKJV) Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.

(Psa 25:9 NKJV) The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.

(Psa 25:10 NKJV) All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

(Psa 25:11 NKJV) For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

(Psa 25:12 NKJV) Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.

(Psa 25:13 NKJV) He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth.

(Psa 25:14 NKJV) The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.

Let me share the last 3 verses from TLB --

(Psa 25:12 TLB) Where is the man who fears the Lord? God will teach him how to choose the best.

(Psa 25:13 TLB) He shall live within God’s circle of blessing, and his children shall inherit the earth.

(Psa 25:14 TLB) Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises.

Can I read those verse one more time from the Message Bible;

12) My question; what are God-worshippers like? Your answer; Arrows aimed at God’s bull’s eye

13) They settle down in a promising place, their kids inherit a prosperous farm

14) God friendship is for God-worshippers; they are the ones God confides in

I want to talk about being an apprentice with God --

Learning to walk in covenant, learning the secrets that come from choosing the best instead of the good.

I’m going to be blunt -- I’m going to say it the way it really is.

I heard someone say the other day that with regards to the failing apprentices, Donald Trump is brutal.

So I may have be brutal this morning.

I may kill some of your sacred cows or expose one of your favorite victim stories.

I may offend you -- you may think I am insensitive or uncaring --

But the bottom line is --

We can do it God’s way, or we can struggle everyday of our life.

But if you’re willing listen to God’s secrets,

And gain understanding and wisdom, then you’re life can change.

I want to share seven secrets to being successful in our covenant walk.

1) Secret # 1 ; The buck stops here

There was a sign on President Truman’s desk in his White House office which said "The Buck Stops Here"

The sign was made in the Federal Reformatory at El Reno, Oklahoma.

The saying "the buck stops here" is derived from the slang expression "pass the buck" which means passing the responsibility on to someone else.