(Part  V)

THE WISDOM OF CONTENTMENT AND GRATITUDE

Ruth 1

Now it came to pass…that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. ² The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. ³ Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. ⁴ Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. ⁵ Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

⁶ Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, … ⁸ And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house… ⁹ The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” … ¹⁰ And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”

¹¹ But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? ¹² Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, ¹³ would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!”

¹⁴ Then they lifted up their voices and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. ¹⁵ And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

¹⁶ But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. ¹⁷ Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”…

²² So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Gratitude and Contentment are inseparable. You can’t have one without the other. But they are also extremely powerful. They are the key to life more abundantly. They are a shield to our soul against the fiery darts of the wicked. When we have these two we cannot be defeated. We are invincible. We like Paul the Apostle must learn to be content in whatsoever state we are in,

Phil 4:10-13

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now, at last, your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I.                   WHAT IS CONTENTMENT?

A state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be 1

1 Timothy 6:6

⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain…

1.      It is opposed to envy

James 3:16

¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there

2.      It is opposite of greed for material things. 

Hebrews 13:5

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

3.      It is opposed to personal ambition

4.      It’s free from anxiety.

Matthew 6:25,34

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

5.      It’s opposed to complaining

1 Corinthians. 10:9-10

⁹ nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; ¹⁰ nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

6.      It is an inward disposition and is the offspring of humility.

II.                THE EXPRESSION OF CONTENTMENT IS GRATITUDE/THANKFULNESS

1.       Inner Attitudes like (love, joy, peace, kindness, humility, etc.) are real powers

2.       These attitudes radiate out from us as a force

3.       Power is a wavelength and a vibration.

4.       Every negative emotion is a force in the spiritual realm.

5.        Bitterness, anger, jealousy and self-pity is a power and force in the spirit which we release in the spirit.  When we manifest them we clothe ourselves in them

6.       Every trait good or evil is manifest as a power that's emitted from us

1 John 2:9-10 

Isaiah 61:3 

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

                        Garment – mantle, vestment, cloak

                        Praise – (Thillah) – laudation, genuine appreciation

                        Spirit of (ruach) – spirit, breath

                        Heaviness – faint, dim, dark , dimly burning wick (Is 42:4)

When you praise you clothe yourself in light that has the power to transform you

III.             THE ATTITUDE OF THANKSGIVING

            Psalm 100:4 

            Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be        thankful unto him, and bless his name.

           

            Colossians 3:15 

            And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called     in one body; and be ye thankful.

                        - These are related you can’t have peace without being thankful

            Psalm 69:30 

             I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify him with    thanksgiving.

                        - Magnify (gadal) – grow up, become great, promote

           

            2 Corinthians 4:15

            For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through        the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

-          When you are thankful it causes grace to be multiplied to you

-          Health can be multiplied through thanksgiving

-          Supply can be multiplied through thanksgiving

-          Being thankful will provide a channel of God to change you circumstances

-          WHATEVER YOU GLORIFY WILL MULTIPLY

-          SELF PITY WILL ATTRACT POVERTY TO YOU FOR THE REST OF YOR LFE

-          The power of thanksgiving will become a living flame

-          We must learn to be thankful in ALL things

-          When we allow self-pity, bitterness etc we wrap ourselves in its power and it becomes hard to break out from it

We make our own prisons from what we emit

(Part IV)

WISDOM FOR YOUR NEXT LEVEL

Isaiah 33:6

⁶ And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Stability   -  mû∙nā(h)) 1. faithfulness, dependable  2. steadiness A state which has no linear or non-linear movement

Genesis 6:1-22

“… ⁵ Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ And the Lord were sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. ⁷ So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” ⁸ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord…¹³ And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. ¹⁴ Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch…²² Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.”

THE TIMES

§ (Flood was coming) Noah Building the Ark

§ Joseph in Egypt

§ Daniel in Babylon

§ Moses in Egypt (Build Tabernacle etc.)

§ Personal Times

         James 1:2-5

         ² My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; ³ Knowing this,     that the trying of your faith worketh patience. ⁴ But let patience have her perfect   work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. ⁵ If any of you lack       wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;    and it shall be given him.

DAILY LIVING

Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to choose or act to consistently to produce the optimum results with a minimum of time and energy.

Wisdom is the ability to optimally (effectively and efficiently) apply perceptions and knowledge and so produce the desired results.

Wisdom is comprehension of what is true or right coupled with optimum judgment as to action.

Synonyms include sagacity, discernment, or insight. Wisdom often requires control of one's emotional reactions (the "passions") so that one's principles, reason, and knowledge prevail to determine one's actions. – Wikipedia definition

 I. WHAT IS WISDOM

1.      Insight into the true nature of things.

        

1 Kings 4:29-34

God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. ³⁰ Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. ³¹ For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. ³² He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. ³³ Also, he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. ³⁴ And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

2.       Hearing Ear

            1 Kings 3:5-12

⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” ⁶ And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. ⁷ Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. ⁹ Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” ¹⁰ The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. ¹¹ Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, ¹² behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.

3.      A Person

1 Cor. 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Colossians 2:2-3

² That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; ³ In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4.      2 Kinds of Wisdom

1 Corinthians 1:26

²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

James 3:13-17

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy        

The result is fruit, what it produces – Motive is key (serving or selfish).

BITTER ENVY

“A feeling of resentment and jealousy toward another person because of his possessions or good qualities. When we envy someone, we want something that they have, whether possessions or money or anything else

             

            SELF-SEEKING

 Constantly looking out only for yourself.

             

Worldly wisdom suggests that we ourselves should be first in our lives with no regard for others.

            The origin of worldly wisdom (3:15).

                        1. It does not come from above (from God).

                        2. It is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

           

II. HOW VALUABLE IS WISDOM

         1. The Principal Thing

          Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

2. Better than Rubies

3. Better than all that one can desire

                   Proverbs 8:11

          For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are    not to be compared to it 

4. Better than Gold

          Proverbs 16:16

          How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding        rather be chosen than silver!

5. A Defense and life

          Eccl 7:12

          ¹² For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of        knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

6. Better than Strength.  Eccl 9:16

7. Better than Weapons of War.  Eccl 9:18

David’s reign was a reign of war – Solomon’s a reign of rest

2 Chronicles  22:6-11

⁶ Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. ⁷ And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house unto the name of the LORD my God: ⁸ But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. ⁹ Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. ¹⁰ He shall build a house for my name, and he shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever. ¹¹ Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.

David was able to build and ark (anointing, glory, gifts etc.) but not a place of habitation

III. HOW DO YOU GET WISDOM

1.      Ask

            James 1:5

            ⁵  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,    and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and       tossed.

2. Impartation

            Deut 34:9

⁹ And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.