Real God 3: Wise, Patient
• Father’s Day – “God”? – Series Intro – Pray
Identity
- God made us male/female (masculine/feminine reflections)
- God made us for relationship w/each other & Him (not good to be alone)
- Human beings are under God, & over lower Creation (animals, “environment”)
Purpose
- Human beings alone bear God’s image (He’s Spirit)
- We were made to mirror God’s shared attributes by Spirit
- Our purpose is not found in creating our own identity & being true to ourselves1 slide
Jesus Christ – perfectly reflects every shared attribute of God (Father Heart God) Warning: Dr. Drew Pinsky “The Mirror Effect” on celebrity narcissism
1. Broken Mirrors 2. Fun House Mirrors GOSPEL INVITATION
1 slide
You were made to mirror
Genesis 1:26–27 God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let
them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over
the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the
earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male
and female he created them.
Jesus Christ is the perfect mirror
2 Corinthians 4:4 the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them
from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
John 14:9 Jesus said…Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
God is Wise
Wisdom uses practical skills for successful living.
Job 12:13 “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
Daniel 2:20-21 Daniel…said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong
wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he
gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding…
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Romans 16:27 …to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
1 Corinthians 3:18-20 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in
this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly
with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows
the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
- God = Creator everyone/everything w/a divine design.
- Satan’s first temptation was a lie to be wise that lead to ruin. Same Plan.
-Classic Car Manual “factor settings” – engineer who created
Why wisdom is different than knowledge and wordly wisdom
1 Corinthians 8:1 “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.
1 Corinthians 1:20-21 Where is the one who is wise?…Has not God made foolish the
wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God
through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who
believe.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.
lower 3rd
- Knowledge is knowing the truth, wisdom is knowing that to do with it.
- Knowledge it theoretical, wisdom is practical.
- Knowledge fills libraries, wisdom fills lives.
- Knowledge is truthful, wisdom is useful.
- Knowledge provides information, wisdom provides transformation.
- Knowledge tells you what to believe, wisdom tells you how to behave.
- Knowledge finds the problem, wisdom finds the solution.
- Knowledge is for smart people, wisdom is for humble people.
- Knowledge has increased, wisdom has decreased (tech)
NT – Greek language/culture. Dualistic. Education = mind, knowledge, pride. Practical & working w/hands for peasants/slaves. = goal a life of comfort, ease, philosophy, art, ideas.
College Hamas protestors demand food because forgot to pack lunch to riots/protests.
1 slide
Principles vs Methods (led by HS every situation)
1 slide
1. Scripture (book of James is part of Wisdom Literature)
2. Listening Prayer (“ask God, who gives generously”)
3. Experience (journaling)
4. Wise Counsel (XN counselor, friend, parent, mentor, book, podcast, sermon, James)
1 slide
Jesus Christ is perfect wisdom
Matthew 12:43 [NLT] someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.
1 Corinthians 1:24 …Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Wisdom begins with fearing God
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NLT) That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear
God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom
and instruction.
God is Patient
Patience is the ability to endure hardship, wrong, and even evil without acting ungodly, inviting
others come to repentance and grace.
Exodus 34:6–7 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God
merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping
steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no
means clear the guilty
Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed
among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in
Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding
in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.
• We want patience for us, impatience for them (MIRROR!) 1 slide
1. Tolerancecelebratessin,patiencegivestimeforrepentanceofsin.
2. Toleranceisaboutavoidingachangeprocess,patienceisaboutworkingachangeprocess. 3. Toleranceencouragespeopletobetruetothemselves,patiencehelpspeoplebecometrue
to their God.
4. Humantolerancehasnoend,God’spatiencedoescometoanend.
- XN – nagging or secret sin?
- NON XN – become XN, repent
CLOSE –
2 Dads story (I am supposed to reflect Him!)
1. Be a son first 2. Then be a Father Practical
- I am not reacting to the child, I am responding to the Father
- Wisdom: Stop & pray for (Jm 1), both do Bible study & research, admit wrong
- Patience: Take a breath, go for a walk, cool down
YOUR CHILDREN WILL MIRROR YOU. SO, YOU NEED TO MIRROR HIM!
