Tag Archives: so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom

Not Rest On Men’s Wisdom

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 5 - 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 - Not Rest On Men's Wisdom - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 5 – 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 – Not Rest On Men’s Wisdom – Growing As Disciples

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NIV)

Your Word

What do you rely on? What do you place your faith in? What is worthy of all your trust? Do you rely on seemingly wise and persuasive words of men? Are you taken in by the wisdom of the world? Is your life founded on the thoughts, opinions and values of the world? Does your faith rest on the wisdom of men? You have asked a lot of questions. Do you have any answers? I have only one answer. Let me hear it. My faith rests on you. I would like to hear more from you on this subject. 

It is true, that at one time I placed my faith on wisdom that comes from the world. My life conformed to the thoughts and opinions and values of the world. I thought like the world thought. I spoke like the world spoke. I acted like the world acted. I was no different than anyone else that is living in the world. What did you find out? There is no hope and joy and peace in living a life that is founded on the patterns and practices of the world. There is no purpose and meaning in thinking and speaking and acting in worldly ways. My worldly life became a bruised and battered and broken life. I was empty. I wanted more. I wanted something else. I wanted you. I wanted to know you. I wanted to love you. I wanted to follow and serve you. I wanted to live my life in ways that would please you. Did I know all of this at the time? Certainly not. But you brought me to yourself. You came into my life. You forgave my sins and gave me a new life to live. Yes, I did.

How is your life now different? My faith rests on you. My faith rests on your word. My faith rests on your power. What do you know? I know that you are using your word to make me like you. Your Holy Spirit powerfully uses your word like a sword. He uses the sword of your word to fight in me, with me, for me and through me. Yes, that is true. What do you do with my word? I take your word into my heart and mind and life. I am letting your word mold and shape me. I am letting your word teach and train me. I am letting your word guard and guide me. Now I know without a doubt that my faith rests on you and the power of your word. That is good. What are you asking? I am asking for your Holy Spirit to continue to use your word to do your work in and through me. I will hear and answer that prayer. 

Lord, I will no longer place my faith in the seemingly wise and persuasive words of men. To do so would be foolish. I will rely on you. I will trust your word. I will place all my faith in the power of God. Work in, for, and through me according to your good pleasure. Amen

Key Question…  When has the power of God accomplished something that you could have never done on your own?

Living It Out…  Place all your faith in the power of God rather than on the seemingly wise and persuasive words of men.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the power of God will work in and through and for you according to His good pleasure.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your faith is resting on the power of God.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you place all your faith in God rather than on seemingly wise and persuasive words of men.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Becoming Like Christ – Day 5 – 1 Corinthians 2-4-5 – Not Rest On Men’s Wisdom – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

On God’s Power

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - So That- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 - On God's Power - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – So That- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 – On God’s Power – Growing As Disciples

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NIV) 

Demonstrate Your Power

Are you weak or are you strong? Will you rely on me or will you rely on yourself? Don’t be so quick to answer these questions with your words. Is there any other way to answer these questions other than with my words? I want you to answer these questions with your life. I’m not sure what you mean. Really, are you sure? I might have some idea of what you mean. Take a guess at what I mean. You don’t want me to say I will rely on you with my words and not back them up with my life. Yes, that’s right. Have you ever said that you were going to rely on me and then kept right on relying on yourself? I am sorry to say that I have relied on myself far too often when I have said that I was going to rely on you.

What has happened when you have relied on yourself rather than on me? When I have relied on my own strength I have failed miserably. I have not been able to accomplish what you have given me to do. I have made gigantic missteps. I have gone backwards in retreat. I have wandered aimlessly from one thing to another to look for meaning and purpose in life. I have been frustrated.  I have been fearful. I have wondered where you were. I have questioned why haven’t you helped me. I have been discouraged and depressed. I have burned out. I have given up. I have quit.

Have you grown weary of trusting in your own strength? That is an understatement. Nothing is more tiring than trying to serve you without relying on your help. I want your power and strength. I desperately need your power and strength. I cannot and will not take one more step forward without your help. That’s very good. What will you do? I will ask for your help. I will wait for your help. How long will you wait? How long will you keep asking? I will keep waiting and keep asking for your help until you tell me its time to move forward with you. You will let me lead you? Yes, that’s it exactly. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask of me. I will trust you to work in and through me to demonstrate your power and accomplish your purposes. I want you to do in and through me what only you can do. I want my life to be a witness for you. I want my faith to rest on you. I want others to place their faith in you because of what you have done in and through my weakness. In that way you will be lifted up and glorified as men and women are drawn to you. Use me for your kingdom and your glory. Yes, I will. You can count on it.

Lord, I am weak. You are strong. Without your power and strength I will be unable to do what you have given me to do for you. I am so thankful that you will work through my weaknesses so your power will demonstrated as your purposes are accomplished. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

So That – 1 Corinthians 2-4-5 – On God’s Power – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com