Get Wisdom: Making Godly Decisions | Ps Luke Harrison

Welcome to church. If uh we've not had

an opportunity to meet, my name is Luke.

I'm one of the associate pastors here.

Just get the privilege and honor of

serving an incredible community of

believers. Um incredible team that we

get to serve alongside volunteers. We

get to um serve alongside people that

have just gone, "Yes, we want to build

God's house." And hey, we could not be

more grateful and thankful for you. Um,

if you've joined us and you're new, like

uh, Pastor Justin said, "Hey, don't

don't don't run away after the service.

We'd love to meet you. Understand as a

community how we can serve you and

that's our heart. A place for you to

find home, a place for you to come in as

sharp and iron as iron sharp and Zion.

Um, here's the reality. Uh, we're about

to preach a message and it's a uh, we're

kicking off a new series called Get

Wisdom."

>> Yeah. I'm glad you're excited because it

is a little uncomfortable.

So, if you've got that response at the

end of the message, I'll be I'll be

happy. Hey, here's my role as one of the

pastors at our church.

On a Sunday, the goal is this. It's not

just inspiration.

My goal is to ensure that as you step

into your Monday and as you lead your

families and as you grow businesses and

as you've encounter people every day of

your life that you are equipped to walk

into the fullness of God has called you

to. And so this message today is not

high on inspiration, but I believe that

if we apply it, if we allow our heart to

be malleable enough, I believe that God

wants to do a working on our heart as we

unpack what it means to make godly

decisions. And I believe it'll start

setting us up for the for the back end

of this year. I believe God wants to do

a work in each and every one of our

lives. So, we we're going to be

unpacking uh the book of Proverbs over

the next four weeks, and it'll be four

principles from Proverbs that position

us for success for the rest of the year.

We've been speaking about making room,

and one of the areas we're looking to

make room for is in the room of wisdom.

I'm mindful that so many people live

life as if wisdom is far off concept, as

if it's only attainable by a few, and

that if I need to get wisdom, I need to

go to those wise people. And believe me,

I'm I'm all for wise counsel. Myself and

Sel, we we have people in our lives that

that we seek wise counsel from, but as

an individual, you actually have access

to wisdom. And my heart today is that

you would start living in that. So,

we're going to unpack that. The

imperative to state here that Proverbs

is not a book of promises.

It's a book of guidance.

Bruce Watkins says this. He says,

"Proverbs is a book that gives us the

skill of living in the way of eternal

life." gives us the the skill. And so my

question before we start is this to all

of us. What what fuels your decision-

making daily? Because we all have some

element

or or something that contributes to our

decision-m if we've got to be honest

with ourselves. It could be hurt and

pain, could be shame, it could be self-

ambition,

could be confusion, it could be because

we're putting safeguards around our

heart and around our lives. But we all

make decisions from some or other

position. And my heart today is that

when when we start making godly

decisions, we'll make it from a position

of wisdom.

So often I find people talking, hey

look, can you help me make decisions? I

need wisdom. And I go, it's accessible

to you if you just know how to tap into

it. If you just know how to receive the

gift. Charles Spurgeon um is quoted in

saying this. I like him.

Don't fight me. Fight him if you got an

issue. Says this. He says, "True wisdom

is the right use of knowledge. To know

is not to be wise. Many men have a great

deal. Uh many men know a great deal at

least and are greater fools for it.

There's no fool so great as a knowing

fool. But to know how to use knowledge

is to have wisdom."

And so today we'll be unpacking how do I

make godly decisions? Luke and my heart

is for you to understand that making

godly decisions aren't isn't just about

the big picture things.

But as we align to the word of God,

making godly decisions will put us on

track for the will of God for our life.

So, we're going to pray and then we're

going to unpack it. You ready? I love

it. Jesus, we just thank you, Lord.

What a privilege and honor, Lord it is

to gather under your name, the name

that's above every other name. Jesus, we

just pray that you'd speak to us all

individually as we sit here. Lord, I

pray that your word would go out, but it

won't return void, but rather that it

would break chains, restore hearts, but

ultimately, here's the goal, Lord,

that those who are far from you, Lord,

that salvation will come to this house

today. that people may know and believe

that you died on the cross. You rose

again for the joy set before you. The

Bible says, Lord, and that joy was us

and knowing that we could have eternal

life with you. So I pray, Jesus, have

your way. And all God's people said,

"Amen." I'd love to tell you a story.

I'll preface a story here. My wife's on

that side, so I'm going to talk about it

here for a second. I'll preface a story

saying I love my wife. Blanket statement

so we all are clear on that. I love my

wife. But who knows in the in marriage

you get two types of people. You you get

the type that um have a great

understanding of directions like

phenomenal and they just they somehow

know where they're going. And then you

get those that have decided that the

apps that have been created do a good

enough job and you don't have to stress

and remember things. you just follow the

apps. Got to be honest, I'm the latter.

I uh I'm directionally challenged, would

you call it? So much so when my wife and

I first came to Australia, we're going

to church on a Sunday for six months.

Literally every week, I'd be like, "Is

it left here or is it right here?" She's

like, "We've been doing this for six

months. Get it together." But one day we

were dropping my daughter at school. Um,

and she started school this year and we

we're dropping her at school and we drop

her off and we need to get back for a

meeting and I'm mindful that there's

traffic in the morning. So I stick it in

ways. There's this debate going on in

our team. Ways is better than Google

Maps. We all know that.

Amen. Come on. I got amen at the back.

So everything else that's said after

this is untrue. No, ways is the best.

Uh, but I stick it in ways and uh, as I

stick it in ways, we're driving and we

hit some traffic and as we hit traffic,

my wife turns to me and says, "Just just

go left." Yeah.

I'm like, "But ways says that."

She turned to me and said, "Just trust

me." Now men, in my short span of

marriage, the one thing I've learned

when your wife says just trust me,

there's no option in there, but I'm a

grown man and I've made my decision cuz

I'm a man. So I trusted my wife and I

went left. And so I go left and

women are like, "Yeah, someone finally

got it. We're learning. We take long

guys, guys." Well, I go left and now

we're going left and we need some more

traffic. So she's like, "Go right. Go

left, go right. And we kept responding

and reacting to every problem we find in

our way. Every time we turned left or

right, we hit a new set of traffic. We

hit a new problem. And we kept reacting

according to the problem that was in

front of us. Eventually, we get to an

intersection

and I watch cars go past me. I'm like,

that looks familiar. That looks

familiar. That looks familiar. Come to

be that all those cars were behind me.

I'm seeing wives elbow husbands at this

stage. It's awesome. See, I told you

just listen to ways.

But here's the thing. I think so much,

you know, we we're so much like us in

that situation when it comes to wisdom.

You see, wisdom, just like ways, not

only plots out the best route for your

life, but it also calls out when there's

accidents,

calls out where where there's incidents

for you to avoid. It calls out the path

of least resistance sometimes. But so

often instead of listening to ways, we

make decisions based on knee-jerk

reactions. And I love what Awtoer says

about this. He says this around this

issue of wisdom. He says, "Wisdom, among

other things, is the ability to devise

perfect ends and to achieve those by the

most perfect means." And here's the part

that I love. It sees the end from the

beginning. So there can be no need to

guess or conjecture.

Many of you going, "Well, that's great,

Luke. Thanks for that piece of

information, but why? Why do we need

wisdom? Why do we need to make godly

decisions and better yet daily godly

decisions?" Well, I'm glad you've asked.

Let me tell you. Proverbs 1:7 says this.

Proverbs 1:7

Says, "The fear of the Lord is the

beginning of knowledge. Fools despise

wisdom and instruction.

The problem with this verse, and there's

only one, is that we interpret the word

fear incorrectly.

When we read fear, we think trembling,

scared. But the word's better translated

into the word reverence. And so when we

apply that lens to the word, it's the

reverence of God that is the beginning

of wisdom.

And so the reverence of God leads to a

desire to live in the fullness of what

he has called us to which leads us to a

desire to seek the perfect will of God

for for our lives. Which leads to a

Roman 12:2 type of life which says this.

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed

Romans 12:2

to this world, but be transformed by the

renewal of your mind, that by testing

you may discern what is the will of God,

what is good and acceptable and

perfect."

Ephesians 5:15 says this, says, "Look

Ephesians 5:15

carefully then, how you walk, not as

unwise, but as wise, making the best use

of the time because the days are evil.

Therefore, do not be uh foolish, but

understand what the will of the Lord is.

And do not get drunk with wine, for that

is debortionary, but be filled, the

Bible says, with the spirit, addressing

one another in psalms and hymns and

spiritual songs, singing and making

melody to the Lord with your heart,

giving thanks always for everything to

God the Father in the name of our Lord

Jesus Christ. And here it is, submitting

to one another out of reverence for

Christ. And so wisdom is not just this

abstract concept, but is rather used for

daily application to draw us into the

perfect will of God.

So that's the why.

Now, how which is typically the hard

part and like I said, this part of the

message is not the inspiration part.

This is the equipping part. This is

where I've got to be honest that if this

is just words to your ear and you walk

out here and don't change anything, then

this message will be nothing. Because

the thing about wisdom, it requires

application.

So, uh this is the equipping part. But

remember, we all love each other. We're

all on the journey together and learning

together.

Remember that. So, if you got your

Bibles with you, what I'd love to do is

unpack a piece of scripture and from

that piece of scripture, give us three

ideas about how we can live in wisdom

and make daily godly decisions. So, if

you've got your Bible with you, turn

with me to First Kings 3:3.

1 Kings 3:3

First Kings 3:3. If you've got your

1 Kings 3:3

Bible and you've got it, say, "I've got

it."

You guys are much quicker than the first

service, let me tell you. I was helping

them. If you're in Deuteronomy, you need

to move forward. If you're in Matthew,

swing all the way back. First Kings 3:3

1 Kings 3:3

says this.

One of my favorite pieces of scripture

says, "Solomon

loved the Lord." Uh, love the Lord

walking in the statutes of David his

father. Only he sacrificed and made

offerings at the high places. That's a

whole different message in itself. And

the king went to Gibian to sacrifice

there, for that was the great high place

Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt

offerings on the altar at Gibian. The

Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by

night. And God said, "Ask what I shall

give you." And Solomon said, "You have

shown great and steadfast love to your

servant David, my father, because he

walked before you in faithfulness, in

righteousness, in uprightness of heart

towards you. And you have kept for him

this great and steadfast love, and have

given him a son to sit on his throne."

That's Solomon. And now, oh Lord my God,

you have made your servant king in place

of David my father. Although I am but a

little child, I do not know how to go

out or come in. And your servant is in

the midst of your people whom you have

chosen, a great people to many to be

numbered or counted for multitude. Give

your servant therefore an understanding

mind to govern your people that I may

discern between good and evil for what

is able to govern this your great

people.

goes on and says that God responds in

verse 12.

Behold, the Lord says,

"I do according to your word. Behold, I

give you a wise and discerning minds

that none like you has been before

uh has been before you at least, and

none like you shall arise after you. I

give you also what you have not asked,

both riches and honor, so that no other

king shall compare with you all your

days. And if, again, this is important,

if you will walk in my ways, keeping my

statutes and my commandments as your

father David walked, then I will

lengthen your days. Solomon understood

his calling. He loved the Lord and his

desire was to walk into the will of God

for his life, but he also understood his

inadequacy. He understood that he'd been

called to something, but realize his

inadequacy to fulfill it.

Many of us find ourselves in the same

position.

See the favor of God in our life. We see

a situation. We we find ourselves in a

calling.

Many times we don't ask for the wisdom

to outwork that calling in our lives.

God on God went on not only to to

qualify Solomon for the work he called

him for, but gave him so much more than

he even asked for.

So this is what we're going to do. three

three very basic simple applications

about how we walk in wisdom

and make godly decisions.

So, you ready? Ready. All right. Here we

go. Here's the first one. Super complex.

You know me, simple South African. 1

plus 1 is three.

And so, we've got to keep it simple for

me. Here it is.

You ask and apply.

James 1:5-6 says, "If any of you lacks

James 1:5–6

wisdom, let him ask God who gives

generously to all without reproach, and

it will be given him." Now listen, it

said, "But let him ask in what?" In in

faith with no doubting, for the one who

doubts is like a wave of the sea that is

driven and tossed by wind. Let him ask

in in faith. And faith without works is

so if we ask for wisdom, we need to

apply and outwork it.

Well, that's all good and well, Luke,

but how do I do that? So, we start by

asking, Lord, Lord, can I have wisdom?

Lord, your word says that you are

gracious enough to give beyond measure.

I love Proverbs 4:7. It says the

Proverbs 4:7

beginning of wisdom is this. Get wisdom.

Don't you love the Bible? Sometimes

you're like, But how Lord it was about

15 years ago I learned something around

decision- making that I would love to

share with you from a practical aspect

it's something that has shaped the way

that I make decisions that I s think is

a simple way and a manner that we can

apply so it has a starting position and

here's the starting position we we start

by revering God so we started there and

reverence leads to uh is the start of

that wisdom like we spoke about. So it

starts from that position.

But then the question is, Luke, how do I

make daily godly decisions? And here's

the outwork.

It's a simple line, but it has

transformed the way that I make

decisions considering my past. It says

the things I've been through, my

testimony, what my schedule has looked

like, life in the past, and my present

situation. What do things currently look

like for me? But yet more importantly,

my future. What has God called me to?

What are the things that I believe is

put on my heart to achieve? Considering

those three things, my present, my past,

my past, my present, and my future, what

is the wise thing for me to do?

So, let's outwork this very simply, but

I think you all are smarter than the

8:30. You are not allowed to say that. I

can't say. No, you you are the smarter.

No, no, I'm joking.

How do we outwork this practically?

Simple example, but I think you can all

relate it to any situation in your life.

The boys at church invite me to a footy

game. I like sport. Heck, I'll go watch

any live sport. So, if you tell me where

there's a game, I'm going. That's my

natural inclination. I want to go to

live sport. So, they invite me. The

question is, do I go or don't I go?

This is how I process it. Considering my

past, what has the last few weeks look

like for me and my family? Has it been

slightly chaotic? Has my kids got the

best of me? Have I been diligent and

invested time in my marriage and my

relationships with other people? The

present situation. I I know my calendar

for the next few weeks and today is not

looking good.

And my future situation, what's my

heart? My wife and I want to leave a

legacy to our kids. And one of those

legacies is a spiritual legacy where

they've got a relationship with King

Jesus. And therefore, that requires

investment from me. And so considering

those three aspects, what's the wise

thing for me to do? It's probably not to

go to the game.

For you, it could be something

different. You might have spent time

with your family. You've invested.

Calendar's looking great. So, could be

the wise thing for you to go. And I know

that's a simple uh correlation or

example, but think about it in sense of

big decisions as well. Do I eat this? Do

I not eat this?

Do I marry them or don't I marry them?

Do I take that job or do I not take that

job?

Do I move or don't I move? Do I stay and

be planted or don't I?

And so the decision-making criteria that

I think if we ply from the from the

start point of reverence to God and

wanting to be in line with the will of

God for our lives, then can start

shaping the way that we make godly

decisions. Remember what we said? We

said that if we would apply wisdom to

the daily decisions we had, we wouldn't

be going off route. But I think so often

we just make decisions just, yeah, that

seems like a good idea. What? No harm,

no foul. Like, oh, that's not a big

decision. So that won't impact my life

too much.

But considering my my past, my present,

and my future, what's the wise thing for

Luke to do? We all have things like

that. So that's the first thing we ask

and apply. Simple. There ends the

lesson.

Here's a second one. You need to align

that decision to scripture.

First Kings 3:14 says that uh Solomon um

1 Kings 3:14

held the statutes and commandments of

the Lord and held it close to him.

And so when you're making a decision,

the question you need to ask yourself

is, does this decision align to what the

word of God says? So often I I have

people coming to me as a pastor asking

me questions

and my first question is does it align

with the word of God? Because because

sometimes I'm going to be honest we are

all people but some of the questions

that I get I'm like wow

read your Bible. That's the most wisdom

I can get you. Believe me I'm not

pointing a finger because that's me as

well. I'm like Luke have you considered

what the Bible says? Oh should probably

start there.

What does what does the Bible say about

your decision?

You can pray and seek God, but good way

to hear from God is to read him.

So, we align the decision-making

criteria to to the word of God.

Proverbs 74 uh 71-4 says, "This says,

"My son, keep my words and treasure up

my commandments with you. Keep my

commandments and live. Keep my teaching

as the apple of your eye. Bind them on

your fingers. Write them on the tablet

of your heart. Say to wisdom, you're my

sister and call insight your intimate

friend.

So we ask for wisdom. We apply in faith.

We align it to the word of God and what

God's word says. Here's the final one.

We we seek the peace of God.

See, the thing about wisdom and peace

doesn't necessarily mean it's the easy

part. I think so often we think, "Oh,

it's easy. If it's peaceful, it needs to

be easy."

In the short life that I've lived, I've

come to realize that's just not the

case. Peacefulness doesn't always mean

mean easy or ease.

And so when we seek peace, Proverbs 3:1

Proverbs 3:1

says this. Says, "My son, do not forget

my teaching, but let your heart keep my

commandments for length of days and

years of life, and peace they will add

to you." Proverbs 3:17 says, "Her ways

Proverbs 3:17

are ways of pleasantness, and all the

paths are peace."

One of my favorite Bible verses a lot of

you would know is Philippians 4:6-7.

Philippians 4:6–7

Verse 5 says, "The Lord is at hand. The

Lord is close." And then it goes and

says, "Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything through prayer and

supplication, make your requests known

to God." And here it is. And the peace

of God which surpasses what? All

understanding, wisdom,

would guide or guard your heart and your

mind. And so often we make the easy

decision, but it's not necessarily the

peaceful decision.

You know, I'll give you an example. Many

of you know that Sel and I um were part

of a quite a a flourishing church in

South Africa, a church that was

impacting nations. We were leading um

quite large teams and just just part of

a phenomenal move of God. And I remember

driving home one day from from church

and God I felt Holy Spirit prompt me in

that moment and say, "Luke, you've

become the ceiling for the ministry.

it's time you step out the way. And

initially my heart was like, have I done

something wrong? And I felt Holy Spirit

just softly say, no, no, you've done a

good job, but you've done what you

needed to do.

It's time for someone else to step in,

take it to the next level.

Long story short, it it ended up being

was Danell and I moving to Australia, a

decision that made no sense.

We sought God. We applied wisdom. But

the thing that we followed was a sense

of peace

unexplainable.

A lot of people were confused by the

decision because we were living in what

we thought was the call of God in our

life.

But we followed peace.

You remember I'll never forget the first

day I went to work.

I stood in front of the mirror

and I just looked in the mirror and I

just said, "God, have I just made the

worst decision of my life?" Like, is

that it for me, God? Like, have I just

messed this up completely? Have I missed

you somewhere in this decision-making

criteria?

Have I lied to myself? Have I Have I

just just messed this up completely and

and you're done with me? Have I lost my

opportunity, Lord? I remember standing

in the bathroom and just tears pouring

from my eyes,

just just weeping because I was so

worried that I'd missed the things of

God.

And all I knew I had in myself was

peace. And I couldn't explain it because

the situation didn't make sense. And for

seven years, Nell and I just sat in an

anonymity.

We just sat and God just refined us for

seven years. Refined our marriage and

the way we viewed each other, revi

refined our hearts and in a moment of

uncomfortability. And if anybody knows

when you go through refining, it's not

comfortable. But we had peace.

And the crazy thing is I wouldn't be

standing up here

if it wasn't for following peace.

and what we're able to be a part of

within this church and the community,

the friends we've made, the family we've

we we've created and added.

Wisdom doesn't always make sense to the

common the common mind. But the things

of God call us into perfect alignment

with him.

just an awkward standard South African,

not the most eloquent talking,

but simply standing here saying, "You've

got an opportunity to live into the

fullness of God because I simply

responded to a call of wisdom and peace

upon my life. Got nothing to do with me.

a decision I felt to my heart. God said,

"Whether this decision was right or

wrong, because you believe that you're

honoring me with your decision, I will

bless that decision because I sought

peace and I sought wisdom." And my heart

was positioned from a position of

reverence and said, "God, even when this

feels uncomfortable and everybody around

us are asking questions that we can't

answer, Lord, what I know is that you've

called us."

He called us into seven years of

anonymity. And so for seven years, all

we had was peace and wisdom. Daily

decisions of peace just molding us and

directing us from one place to another.

Wisdom doesn't have to be this

far-fetched faroff concept that can only

be applied for daily decisions. But I

stand here as living proof going it was

because of the daily decisions we made

that we're here. There was not one

orchestrated massive decision that we

made that we're here. It was just daily

wise decisions that have aligned us into

the call of God on our lives.

Ask for wisdom and apply. Align it to

scripture.

Seek the peace of God.

Obtaining wisdom is a gift. It's a gift

from God and applying it is one of the

greatest gifts.

But in order to do so, it starts with us

all just accepting the greatest gift

that was on offer for us and is on offer

for us. It's the gift of salvation.

For the joy set before you, the Bible

said he endured the cross. That joy was

each and every one of you individually

sitting in this room. He had you in mind

when he died upon that cross. As he hung

on that cross with nails pierced through

his hands, it was your faith. It was

your life. It was your story that had

that he had in mind. The Bible and

you've heard it so so often. It was

saying you people say it's love that

that held him to the cross that loves

you

individually. He had you in mind.

And so in a moment what I'd love to do

across this room is give people an

opportunity to respond to Jesus to allow

him to be the Lord and Savior of your

life.

It's a small step of a big decision.

Revelations 3:20 says that he stands at

Revelation 3:20

the door and knocks. Oh, he's the

ultimate gentleman. And he'll just knock

on the heart of your door right now.

That's what he's doing. Just let me in.

Let me in.

And the moment you open up that door,

the love, peace, and the grace and the

wisdom

just flow and emanate through you.

In this world, you'll have trouble. But

the Bible says, "Take heart for I

overcome." So, with every head bowed and

eye closed to give people a moment of

privacy, I don't want to embarrass

anybody. I'm not going to call you

forward. I'm not going to ask you to do

something you're not comfortable with.

But if that's you either for the first

time or you know in your heart you need

to recommmit your life to the Lord and

start this journey of walking in wisdom,

then would you be bold enough just to

raise your hand high enough and long

enough that I know who I'm praying for

and then you can put it down. The count

of three. One, friend, know that Jesus

loves you so so much. Two, would you

have the courage to say yes to him

today? You don't raise your hand to me,

but you raise it to him. three. If

that's you, you want to commit your life

to the Lord Jesus

all across the room.

Christians praying everywhere,

believing that God's encountering his

people online. If that's you,

even if you're sitting at home, would

you raise your hand? Say, "That's me."

Come on, we're going to say a prayer

together. Whether you raised your hand

or not, but you know in your heart that

you said yes to Jesus today that as a

church family, we want to say this

prayer together with you. Would you

repeat after me? You say, "Dear Lord

Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross

for me.

Lord, I invite you to be the Lord and

Savior of my life.

Guide me, guide me, and give me the

strength

to walk in the wisdom that you've called

me to.

in Jesus mighty name.