Tonight we will continue our journey of the “LIFE S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L. GUIDE.” We have already explored guidelines that govern our goal setting and the last time we were together we discussed our spiritual goals and how they must be the foundation in all that we do.

Our focus tonight is on the discipline of understanding.

1) GOD’S WORD INSTRUCTS US TO GET UNDERSTANDING

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

• Moses – Educated in Egypt
• Luke – Doctor
• Paul – Very Educated
• Jesus – Sat and taught in the temple

2) SURROUND YOURSELF WITH WISE PEOPLE  

• Luke 2:45-48 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48. And when they saw him, they were amazed:

• Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

• Elisha – Elijah
• Timothy – Paul

 3) KNOWLEDGE DOES NOT COME EASY

• Evangelism
• Discipleship
• Commitment
• Service
• Discipline

• 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

 4) LEARNING MUST BE BALANCED 

• STORY – I once knew a young man who honestly prayed for eight hours a day and then read the Bible four hours a day and then attempted to witness countless hours in the evenings! He had a wife and a new baby but had no job or his own place to live. There was no balance.

• Even Jesus Said . . .

• Matthew 22:19-21 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

• As we are educating ourselves we must be diligent to diversify ourselves. The truth is, however, that usually the above situation never occurs. We usually err on the opposite spectrum. We tend to only learn about things of this world and not things of the spirit.

• EXAMPLE: I love to read and study history. My particular interest is prominent figures in history. I love to study people. I can very easily get caught up in George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Arron Burr and Benjamin Franklin. However, I must be careful to balance my time and interests with such Biblical characters as Moses, Joseph, David, John, Paul, and Timothy.

• Acts 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

• I Love to spend time in Bookstores. I can stay hours in Borders and read and investigate new books and ideas. However, I have encountered on many occasions men and women who are at the bookstore every single day and they talk and talk and talk about ideals and philosophy and many other points of interest. They have all of this knowledge, but many of them have absolutely no personal substance – no job, no career, no financial stability.  Much learning has indeed made them mad. We can have all of the knowledge in the world, but if we have no “fruit” of our knowledge then we are out of balance.

• EXAMPLE: Matthew 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

 5) LEARNING IS A PROCESS

• Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass,

• 457 times the Word of God states, “it came to pass,” 

• John Maxwell – Compound Interest of your learning

• One of my favorite authors John Maxwell talks about the principle of compound Interest. He said just as your money has compound interest so does your time and your education. He says that the more that we invest now and read today that over the years, this knowledge will compound itself and have a profound impact in our lives. Great knowledge does not just happen; it grows over the years with maturity and experience.

• 2 Peter 1:5-7 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

CONCLUSION

Take some time to write down all of your U.nderstanding goals on this page. We are much more likely to complete these goals when they are set before us.

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UNDERSTANDING GOALS COULD INCLUDE: 

1) Start or finish a college degree

2) Learn a foreign language

3) Read 100 books

4) Complete a certificate program

5) Learn to play an instrument

 

LIFE SURVIVAL SERIES

• SERMON ONE: THE ART OF SURVIVAL
• SERMON TWO: S.PIRITUAL GOALS
• SERMON THREE: U.NDERSTANDING GOALS
• SERMON FOUR: R.ELATIONSHIP GOALS
• SERMON FIVE: V.ISION GOALS
• SERMON SIX: I.NVESTMENT GOALS
• SERMON SEVEN: V.OCATION GOALS
• SERMON EIGHT: A.SSET GOALS
• SERMON NINE: L.EISURE GOALS