Skip to content “come to ME” Part 4 Live with Kenny Luck Mar 7 · 35 min ...more
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Support this leader
Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Give
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
56K followers
Since 2000 Every Man Ministries has been activating men worldwide to live out their truest identity in Christ through its discipleship resources, live events, and steaming platform.
56K followers
Come to the Wise God 0:00 Welcome to the men's global livestream. If you have a bible, I want you to hold a spot in Proverbs chapter 2, and I also want to encourage you to download the notes. All the passages that you're gonna see0:12 on the screen are in the notes. All the fill ins are all in the notes. Now we are in part 4 of our series called come to me. And if you're joining us for the first time, that0:24 may sound familiar, and it should. It's Jesus's standing invitation from Matthew 11 to all believers to take advantage of his care and capacity0:37 in this life. And the goal of the series has been very simple. Don't let pride, don't let fear. Don't let ignorance limit God's powerful help0:49 from coming into your life. Why would you do that? Right? That's why Jesus issues the invitation. If Jesus makes himself available, then we should sincerely and seriously1:01 accept that invitation and act on that invitation. And the action step, right, the point of contact which transacts his care and capacity1:13 with our needs is turning to God in prayer. Now Jesus being God and all that that means, that seems kind of common sense. Right? To come to God in prayer,1:25 especially when we know who he is. But what we've been talking about in this series is that when we know that God is loving, it should move us to come to prayer and change the way we pray.1:37 When we know that God is strong, it should move us to pray more often and to come to him in prayer. And today, there's another aspect of God's character1:49 that should have the same effect, and it should make praying more inviting, more regular, and definitely more powerful. And so I want to get us thinking in2:01 the right directions by asking a question. Who's the first person that you think of and that you would go to for advice when contemplating a big2:13 life decision? You know, not a small 1, but 1 that might involve your future or it might involve a big shift in your family situation or maybe a possible,2:25 career move. And you've waited all, but you need wisdom. Right? Who's the first person that you would turn to? Right? Now outside of Chrissy, my wife,2:37 I would turn to my friend, Paul. Why? Because he's wise. He's so wise, and he knows me and is concerned for me, and I can always count2:48 on him. Do you have 1 of those people in your life right now? You see, here's the difference. Smart people are really helpful. Alright? They can give you intel.3:00 They can give you the facts that you need to make a decision. Alright? But really wise people, they save you pain. See the difference?3:12 Smart people, they can give you facts, intelligence, information. That might help you in a decision. But really wise people, they save you3:24 from pain. Hallelujah. Right? They don't push their advice on you. Right? But when they offer it, man, you lean in. Right? Because their3:35 wisdom is weighed more heavily. Their wisdom is trusted, and that's why you turn to them. Okay? Experience and insight that they have, it3:47 comes from also a deep concern and love for you. Now that's where I wanna now make a transition. Think about that. Experience, insight,3:59 coming to you in the form of wisdom, but it's motivated by a deep care, concern, and love for you. Right? And4:11 when we think about God, our maker, God, our loving father, God our strong father, you have to think about God4:23 as our most wise father. And even as I just shared sort of a human relational thing where we have our go tos when we need wisdom,4:34 God is the ultimate go to. And when you talk to him in prayer, the wisdom that he possesses, right, that's a game changer. And so4:46 that's really what we're gonna look at today. So let's relook at Jesus' invitation to come. We've been doing it every session. But then let's look at this aspect of God's character, his4:58 wisdom, and then how that affects us when we pray. Alright? So let's read Matthew 11 28 to 30, our theme verse for this series. Come to me, Jesus says,5:10 all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for5:22 my yoke is easy and my burden is light. So there's Jesus' invitation, and there's a promised impartation of rest and5:34 lightness when we come to Christ, specifically when we turn to him in prayer in this life. Now there's reasons we do that.5:46 Sometimes it's desperation, but it should be like we're talking about in this series because we know that he is loving and that he is strong. And now we're gonna look at his5:58 wisdom, and that should also make us turn to him. In Proverbs chapter 2, the spot in the Bible I told you to keep, verses 6 through 10, we're gonna get a picture, right,6:10 of God and his wisdom. Listen in, and then we'll unpack it. Alright? It says this, for the Lord grants wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.6:22 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the path of the just and protects those who are6:34 faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you'll find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge6:46 will fill you with joy. See, when you have a wise God, you have strong confidence in prayer, and you have strong help. So let's just unpack that a little bit.6:58 The first thing that we see very clearly is that God loves to share what he knows. Aren't you glad you have friends who know a lot about things you don't know a lot about, and they love to share what they know? Well, in7:10 life, the author of life likes to share what he knows. Says, for the Lord grants wisdom, means he gives7:22 it away. Right? And the way you get that wisdom is through prayer. Secondly, what we see is God is the highest source of wisdom. The Bible7:33 is emphatic about this, and you can see it right here. It says, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Right? Ultimate knowledge, ultimate7:45 understanding. Final knowledge, final understanding. The truest thing about you is what God says is true. The truest thing about anything is what God says is true.7:57 So God, in addition to loving, sharing what he knows, is the highest source of wisdom. Third, what we see in the passage is that God's wisdom thrives in men8:09 of character. This is really important to get. But you see that the Bible says he grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.8:21 Right? He's a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the path of the just and protects those8:33 who are faithful to him. See, the the connection. Right? Honest, walks with integrity, just, faithful.8:45 What's God saying in his word right now to us? Alright? Good wisdom, God wisdom falls poorly8:57 into bad character, but good wisdom, God wisdom falls magnificently into good character. It reminds me of when Jesus says9:09 in Matthew 7, he says, don't give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine. Right?9:22 He's saying that, you know, some things you have to discern before you give them to that person. You have to discern the person before you give what is precious to that person. Because if you9:34 if you're giving what is precious to a person and they don't perceive it as precious, don't give it to them. Right? Holy, precious. Right? Pearls,9:47 precious. You use your discernment. Right? God uses discernment. And and when it comes to his wisdom thriving inside of us, man, it9:58 thrives inside a man of character, a man who is honest, who is seeking to be honest with God himself and other people, a man who has integrity, who's undivided. Right? He's the real10:10 deal between what he believes and how he actually lives. He walks the walk, so to speak. Right? A man who is just, a man who is faithful to the Lord. God10:22 discerns, and he gives what is precious, his wisdom, more fully to those who see his wisdom as precious as he does. Alright? Fourth,10:34 what we see is that God's wisdom is specific to the need. Right? It says, then you'll understand what is right, what is just, what is fair, and you'll understand the10:46 right way to go. I love that. You don't need vague wisdom. You don't need cloudy wisdom. Right? You don't need sort of wisdom. You need specific wisdom. Isn't it great when10:57 someone you get the wisdom that you need and you're like, that's it. That's exactly what I needed. Right? That's God. Right? When we go to him in prayer, we can get exactly what we need. When we go to him through his11:09 word, we can get exactly what we need. When we go to him and we ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom, who grants God's wisdom, we can get exactly what we need. How encouraging is11:20 that? Alright? And then next, what we see in the passage is that wisdom takes over your inner man. You know, when you get real wisdom for your11:32 life, it comes into you. Right? It comes into your mind, and then it takes the elevator down into your heart, and you actually feel it. You're like, that's it. That's what I need.11:45 And the Bible says, for wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Isn't it great to know and create joy just11:57 to know what's right, to know what's fair, to know the right way to go? Right? So wisdom and joy are connected. Alright? So there's Jesus's invitation.12:09 We should accept it, right, and act on it. Right? Take it seriously and take it sincerely. Right? Then here's God's wisdom. When we go to God in prayer, which is how12:21 we get an impartation from the invitation, right, what are we going to get? Well, we can get wisdom. Right? So now let's look at when we know God's wise, right, how should12:33 that impact our prayer? Right? Let's look at that right now. Alright? The first thing, when we know God is wise, how it impacts our prayer life isTrust God's Answers to Your Prayers 12:45 I trust his answers to my prayers. You know, I get this picture on this on this point. Alright? I trust his answers to my prayers of a parent and a12:57 child. Right? The child knows the what. It's like, mommy, daddy, I want this or I want that. Right? The parent knows the implications of what they're asking for. The child13:09 doesn't know the implications, but the parent does. God, our father, he knows the implications. In fact, that's kind of the spirit behind Jeremiah 29, very popular13:20 passage of scripture. But you got to look at it through this lens of we're seeking God in prayer and we're trusting God in prayer, and this is God's position. He says13:32 this, Jeremiah 29, I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out, plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope13:44 for. And when you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. And when you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes. When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make13:56 sure you won't be disappointed. You see that picture? It's like we come to God, and we know he's loving and he's strong man, and is he ever wise. And knowing14:08 that, we could trust his answer to our prayers. He might he may know the implications better than we do. We're just we're just asking. We know the what. At least we14:20 think we know the what with respect to what we need. But he knows the implications. Alright? The answer might be no. The answer might be yes. The answer might be not yet. The answer might be14:31 yes, but in a different form, and not right now. Right? And whatever his answer is, God's got a reason. So God's saying to us men, right now, hey, I14:43 I know what I'm doing. You know? He knows us. He knows the implications. He's wise. And so we trust fully his answer. We release ourselves.14:55 We pray. We know the what, and we pray, and then we we we trust God for his answer. Alright? Talks about this in Isaiah chapter 65.15:07 It's your next verse on your note says this, seek the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord,15:19 and he will have mercy on them, and to our God for he will freely pardon. And here's God talking. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,15:31 declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. You see, God is not in the weeds15:43 of my fears and my feelings. Right? He sees things I do not see. He sees outcomes I do not see. He sees implications that15:55 I simply do not see. Same for you. So we trust his answers to our prayer, but he invites us, hey. Come on.16:07 Alright? And then trust me. Trust my timing. Right? Trust my answers. We're gonna get into the timing thing in just a sec. But I'm not in the weeds of everything you're involved in. I I16:19 can see a lot further ahead than you, and I have your best interest in mind. I know you. I know your character. I know the people connected to you. I know the ripple effect of what an answer will do. Pretty cool.16:31 Right? So we trust his answers to our prayers. The second thing, when we know God is wise, how it impacts our prayers, is I trust his direction for our prayers.Trust God's Direction in Prayer 16:43 Right? His direction for our prayers. Right? Your prayers, right, are there there's content. There's substance. Right? There's a subject matter. There's what you talk about in16:55 prayer, and and and and there's a direction that when we know his wisdom, it shapes the direction of our prayers. And a great example of this is Daniel.17:07 Now see if you can catch how God's wisdom shapes Daniel's direction in prayer. It says this in Daniel17:19 chapter 9. I, Daniel, understood from the scriptures according to the word of the Lord, given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last 7017:30 years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petitioned, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Alright?17:42 So you see Daniel, before he pleads with the Lord and before he talks with the Lord in prayer, there's this pre prayer process,17:54 right, of understanding the scriptures, right, before he turns to the Lord so that his prayers can be more targeted. Right?18:06 He gets God's wisdom here. He's soaking in in God's wisdom here. He gets God's wisdom, and he understands God's word, and now he can be18:18 more targeted in his prayer. So God's word is God's wisdom, and it is God's direction in prayer.18:29 Right? Now on this principle of knowing God's will and wisdom in his word guiding our prayer, Says this in first John chapter 5 verses 14 and 15.18:41 Right? This is the confidence we have in approaching God that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. If we know that he hears us,18:53 whatever we ask, we know that we have what we've asked of him. Right? So God's will is God's wisdom. Where do you find out where God's will is? It's right19:05 here. Right? So God's will is God's wisdom, and praying in the direction of God's will and wisdom makes us super confident19:17 in prayer. So just gotta make that connection of letting God direct our prayers and his wisdom and his will shaping19:29 and directing our prayers, and then that gives us confidence because we're asking for what God is already for. Alright? That's the key to prayer, fellas.19:41 A lot of times we ask God for things that he's really not for. But in our desperation, we'll just go ahead and ask him, instead of saying, your kingdom19:53 come, your will be done, alright, which is what he's for in the end, you know, we're just we're just asking for whatever. Right? Oh,20:04 relief, now. I've prayed those prayers. So I'm preaching to the choir. I'm preaching to myself. But what God's word says is ask according to his will.20:16 Let his word, which is his wisdom and his will, shape your prayers if you wanna have confidence in prayer. Right? So20:28 when we know God is wise, we will we will trust his direction for our prayers. Right? So we pray the scripture. If there's 120:40 powerful coaching tip when it comes to prayer, pray the scriptures. There's, you know, a lot of scriptures are prayers that you can re pray, right, to God. Alright. Let's look at the third thing.20:52 When we know God is wise, number 3, I trust his timing in response to my prayers. Right? In the Bible, in EcclesiastesTrust God's Perfect Timing 21:04 3 1 says this, there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens. If you have the notes, please circle every21:16 activity under heaven. Right? That's here. Right? We're under heaven. Heaven is up. We're under heaven. And there's21:28 a timing. And a lot of times, at least for myself, I've had to come to the realization and make my peace that God doesn't21:39 wear 1 of these. It's such a bummer sometimes. Right? But I'm talking to a person who is outside of space and time. I'm talking to a person who wants the21:51 best outcome. Right? And I'm talking to a person who doesn't work on my emotional deadline. Right? And a lot of times22:03 we throw up our hands, and a lot of times it's like, hey, God, what's the deal? What are you doing? I mean, I have been waiting, and then we think, gosh, our patience. You know, we have been really patient. We have been22:13 saying, God, whatever your timing is, and then, you know, time passes and it is like, God, why aren't you moving? You know, this is your will. I am asking for your will. But say, here is the thing. God doesn't wear a22:24 watch. God is outside of of space and time, so he's not compelled by space and time. But here is what god god is compelled by. He wants the best outcome.22:36 Right? And he loves you. So that's how he's gonna answer, and that's gonna guide his timing. In second Peter, right, coaching believers in prayer,22:48 he he talks about this. It says this in second Peter 3 verses 8 and 9. Says, but do not forget this 1 thing. Dear friends, with the Lord, a day is like 100023:00 years, and 1000 years are like a day. The Lord is not slow about keeping his promise as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you,23:12 not any wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Alright? Now here's a couple important principles. 1 of them is what I just talked about. Alright?23:23 God's not slow about anything. God's timing is perfect. He's not early. He's not late. His timing is perfect. But when when Peter is coaching these believing23:36 Christians, he said instead he's patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance. Right? So what you might perceive as slowness, God23:48 has all this other agenda He is working out. Like, God could change the circumstance, but if He doesn't change the person's heart, if the circumstances change, then that's a fail24:01 for God. Right? Just like a good parent. Right? You don't want to reward a child who is not changing24:13 in the direction of what shows love for God and people. Right? It's just like, oh, well, I'll give you what you want even though you don't change. Right? God is all about changing the heart. He's24:25 more concerned with our character versus our comfort, and he knows. In his mind, he's like, well, I know the implications of if I answered that. If I gave him what he wanted right now, then his24:37 attitude or his character, that wouldn't change. So because I already know that, I'm I'm working through that filter, not his emotional desperation, not his24:49 fears, not his feelings, because I want repentance. Right? That wonderful word, metanoia in the Greek, which is a change of mind, where he wants25:00 that. He wants you to change your mind about something. He wants character change. He wants your thinking to change before he answers that prayer. Right?25:12 And so he's looking for that before he does this. And sometimes he'll wait. He's you think he's slow, he's waiting for you to change. There are many men right now who are25:24 listening to the sound of my voice. God's waiting on you. He's not slow. He's intentional, and he's intelligent, and he's wise. Right? And so25:36 maybe if the timing you feel is off, you gotta look in the mirror, man of God. And you gotta go, okay. Lord, what is it? I don't wanna miss this. What is it in me25:48 that you wanna change first? Let's focus on that. Change me. You don't have to change my circumstance. Change me. And if you wanna change my circumstance and if you feel like26:01 you've seen the change in me and you wanna change my circumstance, you got it. I trust your timing. Super important in prayer. Let's look at the last thing. Right? When we know God is26:13 wise, right, we trust his answer to our prayers, we trust his direction in prayer, we trust his timing. And then lastly, I trust his leadership of my life through prayer. Remember, the pointTrust God's Leadership Through Prayer 26:25 of contact of all that we're talking about is prayer. Right? Jesus says come to me. Right? You're gonna get an outcome. What's the26:37 point of contact? Prayer. God's leadership in our lives comes through communication, dialogue, talking,26:49 learning, listening, receiving, processing, internalizing, and that shapes our prayers. Right? And when we know God is wise,27:00 all wise, we trust his leadership through prayer. In the Psalms, so many of them are prayers, and I want you to listen to27:12 a very common 1 that you'll see in the Psalms. I just picked this out of Psalm 1 19 33 to 35. Listen listen in to the he's praying. The man of god is praying. Teach me, lord.27:25 The way of your decrees that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my27:37 heart. Direct me, circle that, in the path of your commands for there I find delight. So he's praying, and27:49 he's trusting God for leadership in his life. And he's saying, man, you're my number 1. You're the source of all wisdom. Teach me28:01 your way. Right? So I can follow. You teach me your way, and then I can follow it. And this is all a prayer conversation. Follow it to the28:12 end. Give me understanding, right, so that I can keep your law and obey it. Direct me. Right? Give me understanding and direct me. That's all happening through prayers. Right?28:24 Leadership through prayer. You want God's leadership, man of God? You gotta be praying and asking for it. Here's a good example. Write that down. Psalm 1 19 33 to 35. Pray it. Right?28:36 You don't even have to come up with the prayer. You can just pray a great prayer that incorporates everything that we're talking about. Alright? Another example is from Psalm 73. Listen to this.28:48 It's a man of God talking to his God. Right? He says this, quote, you guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious29:00 destiny. Man, when you know God is wise, when you know God's counsel is wise, when you are soaking in his mind, the Bible says you can get his mind through his word. You have the mind of Christ, and the29:12 Holy Spirit is animating the wisdom that you're reading because you're a child and the son of God and you have access to that, and Jesus is saying, come on down. You get guidance. You get leadership.29:24 Where is it headed? To a glorious destiny. Say that with me, a glorious destiny. Say this with me, God has for me a glorious destiny. But you know,29:36 that comes out of you and I listening to his counsel. Right? So when you know God is wise, it changes the game in prayer. Right?29:48 We trust his answer, right, because he knows us, he knows others, he knows the implication. We trust his direction. Right? In prayer. Right? He directs our prayers according to the30:00 scripture. Right? We trust his timing in response to our prayers. Why? Doesn't wear 1 of those. Remember? And he's working toward the absolute best outcome, and we trust30:12 his leadership through prayer. Say this with me. Wise counsel leads to glorious destinies. God is wise,30:24 and he has a glorious destiny for us, a heavenly 1, an eternal 1. Right? 1 that matters to him. Why is that important? Because what30:36 matters to him is most was is most important, not what matters to culture or your your friends or people watching you. You're gonna stand before him. Right? That's30:48 your glorious, glorious destiny. And we have to know that our loving father, our strong father, our wise father wants us talking to30:59 him so that he can counsel us and he can lead us to that glorious destiny. So, here's what I want you to do before31:11 we pray. I want you to meet with a friend. I want you to identify an area of trust31:23 that matches your situation today. Alright? Just this is what I'm trusting God with. Alright? And then pray over that area31:36 and express to God what we have talked about. God, I trust your answer. I trust your direction. I trust your timing. Right? I trust your leadership. Guide me. Right?31:48 So we're gonna pray right now, and we're gonna apply what we've learned. But make sure that you get with somebody, identify an area you're trusting God with, pray over that area, and affirm32:01 God's wisdom in these ways. Alright? So wherever you are, could be coffee shop, couch, church hall, put your pencils down. This is a moment.32:13 Stop. We're gonna talk to God right now. Let's go to God, our father, our loving father, our strong father, our wise32:24 father, our father who issues us an invitation every moment of every day to come to him. Father, forgive us32:36 for not turning to you more often, for seeking for not seeking you. We need and confess32:48 that we need your wisdom for our lives, and we want your wisdom to fall into good character. So33:00 today, help me to pursue honesty. Help me to pursue integrity. Help me to be the real thing.33:12 Help me to live out my convictions publicly and privately. Help me to be just a man of compassion and justice. Help me to be faithful so that your wisdom33:24 can thrive in me. Lord, I want your wisdom, and I want your wisdom to take over my inner man. Fill me33:36 with your wisdom, god. Fill me with your will. Fill me with your word, which is your will and is your33:47 wisdom, And let that be the guiding force in my life and in my prayers, God. Thank you in advance that you33:59 will answer. Thank you in advance, God, that you will direct me today. Thank you in advance that your timing is just right. I trust it. I thank you in advance for your34:11 outcome in response to my prayers. And, Jesus, thank you for the invitation to have your leadership, your care, your capacity34:24 in my life. In your name, I pray. Amen. So to close out our time on the livestream, I wanna put a scripture34:36 up on the screen. It's Romans 16 27, and then I want us to read that together. Alright? To the only wise34:48 God be glory forever through Jesus Christ. Amen. We'll see you next week.In this video 0:00 Come to the Wise God12:36 Trust God's Answers to Your Prayers16:32 Trust God's Direction in Prayer20:58 Trust God's Perfect Timing26:14 Trust God's Leadership Through PrayerComments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
Comments
Keep it kind. Comments are public.