I grew up hearing those words…and most of you probably did, too. If you practice being angry, you’ll get really good at being angry. The same goes for selfishness, impatience, judgment, hatred, etc. God tells us to reject those areas and, instead, opt to practice kindness, trust, self-control, etc.

But here is where the warning comes…YOU CAN’T MEET GOD’S MEASURE in those areas! Only the Spirit of God can meet the measure of God. So, in order to meet His expectations, you need to have Him inside of you. He tells us that if we walk by the Spirit, we cannot sin. Whew—that’s a relief. But it will take practice letting Him rule and not your broken nature. So start practicing God’s way…you’ll get really good at it!

References: Romans 12:9-21, Galatians 5:1, 16-25

(Listen to entire sermon below.)

Proverbs 9 really tells it like it is! God outlines the results of using wisdom and not following mere folly…not good if you do the folly route! But there is a cost to wisdom…you often will be mocked and scoffed and not honored for that wisdom. This is where many people just lay it down and give up.

Wisdom, even though hard to follow, carries such better results. Duh-I think that’s why they call the alternate, “folly”! Who wouldn’t think that, when you know the end result of wisdom is that your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you (not “time”, but results!). Whereas the end result of folly is death and hell. Yikes – hook onto wisdom and let the folly stuff dance off into the sunset!

(Listen to entire sermon below.)

“Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.”  Isaiah 56:10-11 (NIV)

We can see how Isaiah 56:10-11 relates in today’s world with crystal clarity. The “Watchmen” were the nation’s leaders. As it was then, it is now. The leaders were, and are now, blind to every danger and, thus, did not warn when danger was coming.

They were full of self-adulation and self-richness as they sat at the top of the nations, and they grew vastly apathetic to the needs of the people they governed. They were then, and are now, more concerned with satisfying their own greed.

Leadership’s special privileges can cause them to either sacrifice for the good of their people or to sacrifice their people for their own greed. Without God in a leader’s heart, the people’s future is doomed.  “Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.” Psalm 12:1-2

It seems that sincerity and truth have nearly gone out of existence. We have one hope – the Word of God. God’s Word is pure, and it is the truth. Read His Word in the Bible and listen carefully when He speaks to you through it.

(References: Isaiah 56:10-11; Psalm 12:1-2; Isaiah 57)

(Listen to entire sermon below.)

God’s wisdom is a treasure worth more than anything else and, in the middle of the real conflicts, troubles and temptations that come into all of our lives, we cannot afford to forget the “identifying marks” of His wisdom. If these are present, it definitely is not your wisdom!

Identifying Marks of God’s Wisdom (James 3:17)

• Is Pure
• Is Peaceable
• Is Gentle
• Is Willing to Yield
• Is Full of Mercy and Good Fruits
• Is Without Hypocrisy
• Is Without Partiality

The Adam nature cannot meet the above measure. Remember, bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, arrogance, disorder, chaos and every evil thing are the signs of what is NOT OF GOD...it is of the earthly, natural and demonic level of wisdom.

James 1:5 “But if any of you LACKS wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously (bigheartedly, openhandedly, liberally) and without reproach (blame, criticism, reprimand, scolding), and it will be given to him.”

We need to “wise up” and “look up”. No excuses now…this wisdom from above is free and just for the asking. Hey, I’m smart enough at least to know that – are you? Thank you, Jesus!

(Listen to entire sermon below.)