So if you don’t have wisdom or understanding in something then you can seek out wisdom and understanding from others. But you can’t just ask anybody. Unless that person is all knowing.  Or really cute.

To recap: The first two elements of discerning God’s will is: 1. Scripture 2 Godly Wisdom So where do you turn if you don’t have wisdom in a particular situation?  Others.

But there are some considerations when looking for help discerning God’s will.

1.  The person you’re looking to get help from has to be explaining it from a Godly standpoint. 

It can’t just be their own interpretation of it. Mark 16:15 says, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” …that includes dogs!  And you thought I was stupid for witnessing to that Beagle.  Now Poodles on the other hand, they all love Satan – so don’t even bother with them.”

Their wisdom must have the goal of being obedient to God.

2.  The person doesn’t have to be all wise in all aspects of life – just the one you’re asking about.

If you’re reading a passage about suffering, that person who thinks dogs can be saved may have gone through major suffering where God taught them a lot about what a passage really means through that suffering.  Ask them to explain how God brought them through their suffering.  Not canine evangelism.

3.  The person doesn’t even have to alive. I’m talking about the dead who have written their explanations down in a book. 

Like a theology book, or a devotional, or a Sunday School book, that type of thing. Like if you have a question about the Trinity – well there’s about a million people who have written books trying to explain it with a whole lot of Bible verses and original Hebrew and Greek translations, etc.  Those authors could be alive or dead.  Doesn’t matter.  It’s written down. You can even do an internet search.  That stuff is written down too.

So what do we do?

First we pray for wisdom.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

We pray for widsom as we obey the command to seek widsom

Prov 15:22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

You will definitely need to use wisdom on who to ask for help.  So ask for it first. Once you’ve started praying for wisdom, now start seeking out godly counsel.

What if you have two people you think have godly wisdom, but they’re saying opposite things?  Who do you believe?  Maybe they’re both wrong.  You’ll have to use wisdom to try to line up they say against scripture. Maybe you can get other people’s wisdom on who’s wisdom to ask for. 

Okay, that might be confusing so I’ll use examples. You’re going through a rough time and you don’t know who to ask for help.  Well Billy might not know the answer, but he might be able to refer you to someone who might. So use wisdom by asking someone for wisdom on who to ask for wisdom.  Then when you get their wisdom, use wisdom to know if what they are saying is Biblical or not. So discerning God’s will is a proactive thing.  

You ask for wisdom and you seek wisdom. Once you do that, only then will you have enough wisdom to evangelize to puppies.

PR 2:1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, PR 2:2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, PR 2:3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, PR 2:4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, PR 2:5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. PR 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. PR 2:7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, PR 2:8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. PR 2:9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair–every good path. PR 2:10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. PR 2:11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

Today’s Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, faithfulness to continually seek wisdom

Take time to pray: Ask for wisdom especially to find people (books, etc) that will help you understand what passages and life situations you’re dealing with.