Wisdom for Living, #4 | Mac Hammond
 
Recap
Pastor Mac taught his fourth installment in his series entitled, “Wisdom for Living.” The basic text of the series is “According to the Word of God, wisdom in the principle thing.” Not faith. Not grace. Not love. Not any of the other important subjects that we often emphasize… Wisdom is the principle thing. Wisdom is defined as the ability to make knowledge produce the desired result. And when it comes to wisdom, we must remember 1st Corinthians 1:30 says, “Christ is made unto us wisdom.”
 
Dive Deeper
 
Obviously, just because you are born again doesn’t mean you automatically operate in the wisdom of God. It’s available to you through Christ’s finished work on the cross.
 
In Christ, you have access to wisdom that has the ability to transform your life. But you have to learn how to assess the wisdom Jesus made available to you.
 
The Holy Spirit is often referred to as the Spirit of wisdom. When we are filled with the Spirit and yield to His indwelling presence and pray in tongues, you are praying the wisdom of God in a mystery.
 
Oftentimes when you’re praying in the Holy Ghost, a.k.a. tongues, it’s the Spirit praying through you about God’s will and plan for your life. He’s praying about the “best ends” for your life.
 
1st Corinthians 2:13 says, “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” This verse says when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, He prays through us with God’s wisdom. This is the purpose of praying in tongues.
 
1st Corinthians 2:9 says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” God has an amazing plan for your life. When you pray in the Spirit, He is able to reveal the plans He has for your life.
 
James 1:5 says, “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.” Wisdom is something that should be asked for in faith on certain occasions and regarding certain things.
 
Satan will work to bring adversity in your life to test and to put pressure on what you believe.
 
Some people mistakenly think God brings adversity into their lives to teach them a lesson or to chasten them. But James 1:13 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” We’re not to even say that temptation and adversity come from God.
 
We know where adversity comes from. Satan is the tempter. He is the enemy of your soul.
 
Satan knows he can’t change your destiny in God unless he can change what you believe. He will try to change what you’re believing about the Word of God, and he does that by bringing circumstance that is contrary to the promise of God for which you are believing.
 
Read About It
 
1 Cor. 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
 
1 Cor. 1:30 says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
 
James 1:5, “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.”
 
1st Cor. 14:2, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
 
Discussion Questions
 
Who is the Person through which wisdom comes?
How do we access the wisdom of God?
Can you give a definition of wisdom?
 
 
Annual Report:
 
“Attached please find the 2022 year in review annual report. We are providing this this vital document digitally to over 4,000 households that subscribe to the weekly email or are part of our online congregation.
 
Because of your generosity in time, talent, and finance we were able to accomplish much. As you review these pages you’ll be blessed knowing you are a big part of what God is doing at Living Word, in our community, and around the world.
 
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to our church and the kingdom!”
 

Recent Sermon Notes

The Impossible Dream | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught the first message in his new series entitled, “The Impossible Dream.” He said “the impossible dream” is a good message for the outset of a new year. However, it’s a good message for all to hear at any time during the year. He began the message by asking a rhetorical question: “Do your dreams fall only within the realm of logical possibility. Or do your dreams require the element of the miraculous in order to be realized?” He went on to explain how God-given dreams will always necessitate the supernatural power of God in order for them to be fulfilled.

GRACE UNVEILED, “Dominion of Grace” #25 | Jim Hammond

This past Sunday, Pastor Jim gave the 25th installment to his teaching series entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” In the past messages, we’ve been studying Romans 3, 4, 5, and 6. Before teaching on chapter 7, Pastor Jim wanted to break down these chapters again in a way we have not heard them before. He said, “You’re going to hear these chapters taught in a different way.” So far, we focused on the gift of righteousness. And we focused on justification. But there is a third subject that Pastor Jim wanted to focus on before we moved on to the next chapter.   

GRACE UNVEILED, #24, “The Dominion of Grace” | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim was back and gave his 24th installment of his study on the book of Romans called “Unveiled Grace: The Dominion of Grace.” By now, the congregants that have been following Pastor Jim’s teaching on Romans should have a clear understanding of what justification is and what it means to the believer. There are many benefits to this justification. It’s a gift of New Testament righteousness. But this righteousness is something you must be established in. And fortunately, by the time this study on Romans has been completed, you absolutely will have been established in it. Because, as Pastor Jim said, “I’ve been hammering it and hammering it and hammering it!” 

How to Finish the Year Strong 1 | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac gave a message entitled, “How to Finish the Year Strong.” We’re at the end of the year and many use this time as an occasion to pray about what the Lord would have them do in the coming year…to set their sail in Christ, so to speak. They want the Lord to help them identify the marks they are to press toward in order to finish their race. To that end, Pastor Mac spoke to us about “finishing strong.”

Releasing the Anointing | Releasing the Anointing

Special guest Dr. James Tan continued his message entitled, “Releasing the Anointing.” He used Hebrews 5:14 as his text: “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Dr. James said, “This tells us there is solid food available, but it only belongs to those who are full age.” If there is full age, then that means these is a half age, or partial age, or young age. God’s goal for us is that we grow and mature into “full age.”