The Wisdom of God Applied

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Matthew 13:18-23 (New King James Version)

Application 1) How do we know who to share the love of Christ with and be sure that their hearts are already softened by God?Even if we share the Word of God with a person who has not the understanding and therefore the seed is snached away by Satan . . . will not God our Father reward us in Heaven?

27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Matthew 16:27 (New King James Version)

37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Matthew 13:37-43 (New King James Version)


Application 2) Let us not be the sons of the evil one who causes sin or who are stumbling blocks to fellow brethren in Christ, and who are eventually weeded out and thrown into the fiery furnace.

15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Matthew 15:15-20 (New King James Version)

Application 3) Let us not be dull like Peter . . . instead let us be

(a) the salt of the earth :

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

Matthew 5:13 (New King James Version)

(b) the light of the world:

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:14 (New King James Version)

(c) as wise as serpents but harmless like doves:

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:16 (New King James Version)

(d) let us follow in the path of wisdom and understanding:

1 Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? 2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet. 3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors: 4 “ To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. 5 O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart. 6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; 7 For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. 9 They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; 11 For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. 12 “ I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth. 17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. 20 I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, 21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. 22 “ The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men. 32 “ Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD; 36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 8 (New King James Version)

28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Matthew 15:28 (New King James Version)

Application 4) Our faith should be as the Canaanite woman and the centurian:

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

Matthew 8:13 (New King James Version)

the size of a mustard seed:

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 17:20 (New King James Version)

for the Lord to do His good work in us.

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:24-26 (New King James Version)

28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Matthew 16:28 (New King James Version)

Application 5) Why do we live so as to gain this world? (having boyfriends/girlfriends just to have them, celebrating by getting drunk, having the best job, newest car, biggest house just for bragging rights . . . ) Let us lose our life (on this earth) for the sake of our God so we might find our life (our eternal, immortal life in Heaven)

Which is better . . . to have "the world at your fingertips" or . . . to have "the wisdom, understanding, wealth and knowledge of our Omnipotent God?"

Ecuador Update #3

Life here has been ok, bright and sunny this last week.That´s a plus!Here is a summary of what has been happening here since I wrote last:

I went to Baños, Ecuador with 2 girls from Keene State College in New Hampshire a couple weekends ago.It was fun to be in a place where they have natural hot springs due to the volcano Tungurahua.There they have an abundance of sugar cane and taffy, so these are the 2 main things that people purchase when they come to Baños.It was nice to get away from the city life in Quito for the weekend.

Fast forward about 2-3 weeks and you have me going crazy and being ready to finally finish my 4th level of spanish class.(All the spanish classes are 6 weeks long since they are advanced.)This Monday I turned in 3 photos for a photo competition for the exchange students here at PUCE.(Pontifica Universidad Católica del Ecuador)So today, I took the final for the language part and finished discussing the last article for the culture section.Tomorrow (Wednesday) I will have the last class for this cycle of spanish and look forward to having a few days off before I start the only 4-week section of spanish class.(This means 4 hr classes instead of 3.)Thursday of this week is Thanksgiving and the university is having a special dinner for all us exchange students.This is pretty exciting, since I am not at home to celebrate the holiday with family.

Two days ago, I started a new reading plan in the Bible for my daily quiet time.It´s been great so far!

Day 1: (Morning, afternoon or lunch break) Gen. 1-2, Ps. 1
(Evening) Mat. 1-2, Pro. 1

Day 2:(Morning, afternoon or lunch break) Gen. 3-4, Ps. 2
(Evening) Mat. 3-4, Pro. 2

You get the idea . . . just as long as you´re in the New Testament, Old Testament and Psalms and Proverbs every day.God will bless your socks off if you dedicate your life to Him!

I´ve been leaning on God more and more lately and praying that He would keep me in the world as a light and not just as a person trying to live the "Christian life" on their own.It´s pretty amazing what God does when you actually unoccupy your time and set yourself away from society for a bit to refocus on God.

We are always so busy in this life with things that aren´t going to mean a thing at the end of the little span of time we have here on earth.So as always I leave you with a challenge to "unoccupy" your time in your life.Step back from the things you "have to get done", listen to what God has to say, read God´s Word, meditate on God and what He did for you on the cross, and place God first in everything you do . . . decisions, thoughts, finances, family, friends, computer time etc.

As always, I remain here living the life God has gifted me.

+-unitl then-+

Just Because . . .

This is a weekly e-mail I receive from the Christian group leader at the Art Institute of Seattle.I thought this was an appropriate entry for this week.Enjoy reading the wisdom from God´s Word and the word´s of wisdom from a man who not even 10 years ago was living his life against God´s Word.This is what God can with a heart He calls to Himself in His power.

(Words in red are Jesus´words and words in blue are from my friend Fred.)

Just because...

"But the LORD shall endure for ever:
He hath prepared his throne for judgment.
And he shall judge the world in righteousness,
He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee:
For thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion:
Declare unto the people his doings." Psalm 9;7-11

"Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass
yourselves about with sparks:
Walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks ye have kindled.
This shall ye have of mine hand; Ye shall lie down in sorrow." Isaiah 50;11

"Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way,
and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not;
for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak;
then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies,
and an adversary unto thine adversaries." Exodus 23;20-22

"Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Masseh" Deuteronomy 6;16

"And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him,
seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith,
Why doth this generation seek after a sign?
verily I say unto you, There shall be no sign given to this generation." Mark 8;11-12

...Meditations...

So...sow.
Can the fertile ground reject the seed lovingly planted,
and refuse it to grow?
Neither can a heart, quickened by the Father,
make unfruitful the word sown.
For the Word is his love and our Lord Jesus.
Would a farmer seek to uproot that from which
he seeketh to produce fruit?
Just so does the Father protect and nourish
those he hath given to his Son.
"For as the rain cometh down,
And the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither,
But watereth the earth, And maketh it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
It shall not return unto me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
For ye shall go out with joy, And be lead forth with peace:
The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Isaiah 55;10-12
"And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit
unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth
may rejoice together.
And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth." John 4;36-37
"And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice
to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap:
for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth;
and the earth was reaped." Revelation 14;15-16
Thus and so do we sow thy word Lord Jesus. Amen.

The gospel in Psalms;
"O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me;
Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles." Psalm 43;3

"He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach
of him that would swallow me up. Selah.
God shall send forth his mercy and his truth." Psalm 57;3

To all the saints at AIS and to those in the world; now is the time to stand in our faith, even the Word which is Christ Jesus, for the wickedness of the world is closing in about all those that truly trust in the Lord. One by one the local congregations are falling to the concerns of men and falling away from the concerns of God. Worldliness has entered in the form of outreach, politics and environmentalism have begun to supplant the Word of God, gospels of covetousness have spread as leaven, leavening the true bread which was given as hope to the world. How sad this is, but did not the Lord so prophesieth?
"This know also, that in the last days perilous time shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof; from such turn away." 2 Timothy 3;1-4
"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." 1 Timothy 4;1-2
Even so Lord Jesus do we stand, knowing with all surety that by thy will are we strengthened. Amen.

Until then I remain,
in His Surrender, Obedience and Service always for you,
Fred

Just because...
Just because the world of men is blind to the angel of the Lord
does not mean that the enemy is not cowering in fear before him,
terrified in the rejection of righteousness, and the judgment that awaits...
...And just because we cannot see the angels which compass about
those who love the Lord, in no way denies their presence nor the comfort
derived from the knowing...
Just because the wicked seem to prosper, seemingly, unchecked by God,
in no way implies that the wrath of God doth not weigh heavily upon them...
...And just because we seek to separate ourselves from the covetous pursuit
of worldly riches, diminishes not one promise of the heaven sent riches of God's
great wisdom given to those he hath elected to salvation...
For our God is just and will judge all as a consuming fire.
Amen Lord, even so come quickly.

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,
and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." John 16;8-11

"These words spake Jesus, and lift up his eyes to heaven, and said,
Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life
to as many as thou hast given him.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17;1-3

"I and my Father are one." John 10;30