The Mind of God! Part 1 of 2

Hey this is Jim Graham from the masculine dirty podcast where we explore relationship instead a religion every week your chosen Truth Network podcast is starting in just a few seconds to enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening you for choosing The Truth Podcast Network. This is the Truth Network do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill to file Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God. Find God, and please God do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today.

Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose of local Triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious. Part one of a specialty episode bobbles and open up to the first correct answer which is right before psychic reckons only look at it. Just wanted to okay not entitle this message this morning the mind of God.

So what you all listen with the mind of God is given you with your mind and your heart to what God has to say to us to his work is amazing when you think about how much time we spend preparing our minds and our bodies for things that will not last. Silly things are good things.

Some people spend years studying medicine so they can become good doctors and that's a good thing because we need good doctors.

Some people spent hours reading the Wall Street Journal so that they can make better investment decisions and is nothing necessarily wrong with that. We need to all be good stewards of whatever God has entrusted to us.

Some people spend hours exercising their body so they will be healthy and strong, and again that's a good thing we all need to exercise some people spend hours and hours reading books about their favorite hobbies or reading mystery novels old already books about history and of course reading is a good thing but I want you to understand this truth.

None of these things will last no matter how great a doctor's knowledge of the human body is patients will eventually die, and about how much time you spent trying to figure the stock market. When you die you could take none of your money with you and all the books that have been written will one day become nothing but dust.

Except for one book understand that everything that you can see with your eyes is literally passing away. In fact, your very life is passing away.

I just turned 60. About two weeks ago and some only I'm definitely over seven. On the downside of the top of the hill for my lack of concern Jerry lifespans and why. Try to be morbid. James 414 says your you are a mist or vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes in one day, perhaps in the very near future. This world that we live in is going to cease to exist. Paul writes in first correct in chapter 7, verse 31 for this world in its present form is passing away and so why do we invest so much time on things and activities that will not last. In many of which have absolutely no eternal value is another question I want to ask why do so many people seek answers to the deep mysterious questions about life from sources that can never provide correct answers questions like answers to questions like why am I here what is my purpose in life what it is like all about what happens after death will happen to my body. Do I really have a so if I have a so what happened to my soul when I die, is there really life after death, John Spurgeon, the great 19th century British preacher new where to find the answers to these deep mysterious questions about life is said that one Sunday when the top reading Scripture came he left the Bible on his pulpit close shut like this one and he looked at his congregation, which numbered in the thousands.

And he said some of found fault with me contending that I'm too old fashion I'm always quoting the Bible and do not say enough about science when there's a pool winner sitting here this morning who recently lost her only son. She wants to know she don't want to see him again and so let's turn to science for the answer. Science will she see him where you see is death, the end of everything. There was a long pause, waiting for an answer. He said this woman is anxious another long pause nothing to say there will turn to the book the ticket was Bible he began to read all the wonderful promises concerning heaven and eternal life that are recorded in the book in that pool winner left Metropolitan Tabernacle church that morning with a renewed hope and full of wisdom Samuel Chadwick who was another great British for a British preacher once said, I've got them alive by the Bible for more than 60 years after the snow book like it is a miracle of literature, a printer with a perennial spring of wisdom and wonder of surprises, a revelation of mystery and infallible guide of conduct and unspeakable source of comfort.

Pay no attention to people who discredited far tell you that they speak without knowledge is the word of God itself studied. According to its own direction live bots. Principals believe it's message follow its precepts.

No man is uneducated, who knows the Bible and no one is wise whose ignorant of its teachings.

You thought about this is awesome. The sermon is amazing to me to you. Think about this and see if you don't agree with this is amazing to me how the more educated a society becomes, the more foolish its philosophies, principles and beliefs become just consider zoologist geologist and archaeologist.

They have been studying the earth and animal life for centuries where they concluded that over the course of billions of years time and chance have worked together to produce from some primordial glob. The human body with all of its complexity. Once the Bible say that God created the heavens and the earth and everything that exists in seven days from the dust of the earth.

God from the man and then he breathe life into his nostrils. That is foolishness to man consider psychologist they been studying the human psyche for centuries as well.

What are they concluded that human nature is basically good that people have the answers to their problems within themselves that an individual's problems are the result of what someone else is done to them was the Bible say the Bible says that we are all sinners and God who is the screen of the soul is the only one who has the remedy in Scripture itself is the only manual for truly understanding our condition that is foolishness to man consider theologians they been studying the Bible since it was written in one of my concluded that the Bible is full of errors and contradictions in because man's philosophy does not allow for the miraculous man attempts to identify myths in the Bible and remove them. And so in reality, theologians have determine what is and is not God's word. What is the Bible say that all Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, and Jesus himself declared that heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away, but again this is foolishness to man John MacArthur in his commentary of first Corinthians right writes this about man's wisdom listen carefully to what he writes without exception man's wisdom elevates himself and lowers God.

Man's wisdom always no matter how sincere an objective and scholarly caters to man's self will pride and independence. The reason men love complex and elaborate philosophies and religions is because these appeal to human ego that they offer the challenge of understanding and doing something complex and difficult for the same reason some Minskoff of the gospel.

The gospel calls on them to do nothing. It allows them to do nothing but accept in simple faith what God is already done in his own wisdom. Man inevitably exchanged the truth of God for a lot and worships the creature rather than the creator man's wisdom is founded in his own will is always directed toward the fulfilling of his own will.

Consequently, man's wisdom always stands against God's wisdom and God's will and this is one of the reasons I have always loved first Corinthians chapter 1 because it takes such a correct picture about the contrast between man's wisdom and God's wisdom. Paul writes begin with verse 18 for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but also the insight it is the power of God for it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, the intelligence of the intelligent. I will frustrate where is the wise man wears the scholar where's the floss of this age. Do you know where they are dinnerware of scholars in our wise men and philosophers are your where they are.

They are in the department in the religion department at our universities and most divinity schools teaching their students to the Bible is full of myths and contradictions and that anyone who believes the Bible is a fool, but has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world forces in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him.

God was pleased to the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Years ago a street evangelists came to Chapel Hill and still flocking straight and proclaim the gospel. Can you believe that, would you be willing to do that think the Army professors were probably walking on that sidewalk ridiculing him under their breath. But one day in the own looking crown stood on a young loss Jewish student by the name of Lon Solomon who is trying to find answers to those deep mysterious questions that I just did to you. He attended class at you and say that were taught by some of those professors who were now mocking the street evangelists, but there was something about that evangelistic captivated lawn and so one day Lon met with him.

He began to talk with him about Jesus Christ. God work. Power off powerfully through months of interaction between the street evangelists and Lon Solomon, resulting in Lon deciding to receive Jesus Christ into his heart is his Lord and Messiah that was back in 1971. Today, 43 years D nor Lon Solomon is under a lot of you do. He's the pastor of the McLean Bible Church in McLean Virginia which I think has a membership of about 10,000 people and you can hear him preach on the radio to thousands upon thousands every day. That's the wisdom of God. Paul writes Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified a stunning block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God in the wisdom of God for the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength brothers not talking to you and sisters.

Think of what you were when you will call not mean if you were wise by human standards, not many were influential, not many were of noble birth. But God chose this, the foolish things of the world to shame the wise God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things in the things that are not, to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him see one day Jesus is going to return to this earth. He's going to separate the wise from the foolish to listen to her.

Joe not say this about 20 years ago. I've never forgotten it. If you want to look wise today but foolish 50 years from now just ridicule the Bible. On the other hand, if you want to look foolish today but why 50 years from now you hold of the truths of the Bible to a scoffing world and live by them. See, it's because of Jesus is present him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God.

That is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written that him who boast, boast in the Lord. Let me ask you a question this morning about my sons always kid because they said that you asked too many questions.

Just take your message.

I won't get you thinking. So let me ask you this question would you do you really desire. True wisdom. Did you want to be wise, if you do then let me show you this morning how you can live your life knowing that you and the perfect will of God. Let me show you this morning how you can actually think about this take on the mind of God and begin to think like him, which led me to do that one will show you how. From first Corinthians chapter 2 is so in honor of the ring of God's word audacity all stand up as I read in archery along with me not allow us to yourself first British opportunity and all of chapter 2 just what other chapter 1 and you go to sleep.

This is legal see some nuggets of wisdom. And here they can really change the way you live the rest of your life how to show this morning as God is shown me how you can literally take on the mind of Christ and begin to look at everything through God's and from his perspective and therefore you can make wise decisions. As you come to forks in the road you decide which fork to take you with me. Paul writes when I came to your brothers.

I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom is I proclaim to you the testimony about God. Farmers often know nothing wise with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power surge of faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. We do have her speak a message of wisdom among the mature but not the wisdom of this age or the rules of the site you are coming to nothing that we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and it got destined for glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood, for they had they would not of crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, Newmont has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him, but God has revealed it is his wisdom to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God for who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man Spirit within him in the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God that we may understand what God has forgiven us. This will we speak, not a war started by human wisdom, but worse, taught by the spirit expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words, the man without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God for their foolishness to him and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment for who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him.

We have the mind of Christ. You have receded dearly. Father I pray that you will take your words and effort to become my words. I pray Lord that you take the will this message that you've given me over the last week in my office and I know that it's come from you. I pray Lord that every word that I put in my manuscript will be a war that originated in your mind and heart, and I saw Lord how you wart off of the week changing even phrases in particular words so there would resonate with your truth so I pray Lord that you would anoint your word that he would go forth and accomplish the purpose for which you intend and on the law that it will not return void prepare our minds and our hearts to hear from you this morning knowing that I pray.

Amen. Okay from the first British opportunity.

I want to share with you the three truths that the Lord shared with me concerning the wisdom of God in here is truth number one in your outline.

God's wisdom is revealed only to his children. If Paul begins this chapter by Roddy that he did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom for Paul mean by this. Will Paul was not a trained orator and he was. Not trying to impress his audience with United fancy words were impressive phrases. He just wanted them to hear the truth of God's word and let God's word speak for itself, is a he trusted God's word to be enough and it is enough as it 5511 states so is my word that goes out of my mouth. It will not return to be empty, will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent you a grant of the world. The world places great value on intelligence, good looks well prestige and power.

Yet, these are actually very things which God has determined a place in the bottom she God turns everything upside down.

Consider John the Baptist. He had no formal edge education. No real profession. He had no money or political power.

He had no social position or really any prestige and apparently he was a very impressive looking and you. Jesus said that among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist simile Paul the apostle did not come with any fancy degrees North, the wealthy is a tent maker. Remember, apparently, his appearance was not that impressive. I think he was short and baldheaded, and I think you have poor eyesight not to say that I'm a lot like Paul proceeds of the gold rush unit lightly by letting go there anyway but you see appearance doesn't matter in God's economy would send you want to select the next king of the usual to replace all God said to Sandra do not consider his appearance or his height five rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.

Man looks at the outer appearance, but the Lord looks at what the heart don't you consider yourself you feel that God can use you for some reason.

Maybe you'll see yourself as being very attractive. Maybe you are particularly well educated maybe you were born with some difficult physical problems that you think make you unqualified to be used by God made you even said yourself I'm I'm too short I'm too fat to poor. I'm too uneducated I'm too you fill in the blank. If you're thinking that this morning I want you to listen carefully what to what God says to you, Paul writes that God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him who did God choose. He chose the foolish, the week the lowly. The despised and the things that are not so if you are not attractive if you're not well educated.

If you are not wealthy. If you not anything that the world says that you need to be in order to be successful and guess what you are a perfect candidate for God to choose to use receipt because you are not to think about this because you are not. God is particularly attracted to you. Did you know that I can help. Imagine my good friend from a sinner days. David cell, who was born down syndrome due to the world says you should do with a pregnant woman is your baby's Down syndrome aborting David was a godly young man at age 30, who still dreamed of being a preacher and all he wanted for his birthday and Christmas as will books about the Bible and commentaries said when he grew up he could be a preacher's corporate 20 in heaven told him to sell him on the yard for me share this before told not to sell him his father, who was one of my best friends at seminary.

As you know we get to heaven then it will be great. Davis will be like us to tell me to rush we get to heaven will be like David always think about Joyce McFarland. This black lady is a friend of mine who grew up in eastern North Carolina.

She was born she was born premature and the doctor told her grandmother because her mother died shortly thereafter. Think during childbirth that this thing was it worth saving. Just take it home and take it home and let it die. So her grandmother who became a mother to go home and put a little shoebox and raptor with you little note cloths and took over the warm bottling nurtured a health and took her when she was his million month old plump baby back to the daughters of this is that thing that you said wasn't worth saving.

Joyce is a she doesn't come from not shuttling Chevron winter college. She God chose her to inherit his kingdom.

James chapter 2 verse five is listen, my dear brothers has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him to most of the people that I know who are physically attractive, attractive and in healthy and who are well educated and who were very wealthy and not really been used by God. In fact, most of them are not even interested in the things of God is a God says that his chosen things that are not, to nullify the things that are yours. What happened to the things that are the things of this world that are powerful prestigious and popular legal to come to nothing.

They're going to come to the end of life and be found wanting to look amid universes six through 10. See these five verses we learn that the wisdom of of this world and the leaders of this world coming to nothing.

In essence they are wasting their time bloviating about nothing. There just running their mouth spewing out nothingness and mentor them in the pulpit to Say that, but it's the truth.

If you listen to liberal theologians in the pulpit and you and you analyze with us in the riddle say much is no deserve neat that you can sink your teeth into. It is very little scripture if any is there no hard truths that you can cling to. They say nothing and all those people out there you know that we've all been called up there probably pursue the things this world. Try to keep my wealth. Jesus said in Matthew 16 verse 26. What good will it be for a man to gain the whole world.

It forfeits his soul.

John MacArthur writes all human wisdom is passing away is empty, futile, and comes to note in Augustine's confessions about his professors quote this again is about his professors today so many true things about the creation but they do not seek with true devotion for the truth. T the architect of creation, and hence they do not find him the wisdom of this world were negligent to God and in the end it will amount to nothing. We also learned something very interesting in these five verses that God's wisdom is a secret wisdom. Joe then is in is actually hidden from the natural man that is the man without the spirit, the nonbeliever God conceals his secret wisdom from the nonbeliever. Did you know that the sitter of the first truth we learn about the wisdom of God as it is revealed only to his true children. Verse seven. Look at verse seven is that we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that is been what what you're listening, hidden God's wisdom is held in secret and he only visited him, he will specifically to his chosen children.

God intentionally withhold it from the natural man, the man without the spirit.

That's why Paul writes no. I have seen, no ear has heard their modest conceive of God's prepared for those who love him.

Nice to read at the waist talk about the doors of heaven. I think you save in that sense but that's not what he is talking about here in this passage because this passage is about wisdom and what he saying is that that you cannot the natural man cannot rely on his physical eyes. His physical ears in his mind to understand spiritual matters, it's impossible.

This concludes part one IT will air next week. Being a Christian is not about being religious but about having a dynamic and alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders, a local triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living. You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local tribal men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net