Pause and Purpose// Wisdom

Most decisions in life aren’t about which is the “right” choice, but which is the “wise” choice. Wisdom goes beyond right and wrong, and illuminates which choice is best based on the complex realities of life. Join us as we seek and gain wisdom that benefits every area of our lives. You will learn the thinking processes that are an effective filter for all your decisions!

We all have decisions to make that are difficult and make us feel uneasy. Pausing to get clarity and consider a greater purpose will regret-proof our lives. We are God’s.

Message Notes

Disintegration: Loss of unity or integrity by or as if by breaking into parts

Integrate: To form, coordinate, or blend into a functioning or unified whole

Sanctification: To be set apart; to be set apart as holy.

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”  So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
I Samuel 24:1-2 NIV

He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
I Samuel 24:3-7 NIV

Disintegration takes us out of step with the Spirit.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:16-18

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:25-26

Living in integration looks like… Jesus

Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
I Samuel 24:5-7

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
James 1:19-25

Next Steps:

Pause
…to rest and reflect
…to feel
…to Abide

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
John 15:4-10

Ask yourself, “Is there a tension right now that deserves my attention?”

Embrace the fact that the value of life is always determined by what was given away.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3:7-8

Bottom Line:
Your internal tension may be an invitation from God to enter into loving union with Christ through which you will experience the fullness of God and His wisdom.