Review – Getting Closer through Christ

• Jesus was “God with us”• Jesus revealed God’s grace• We were created in Christ for

good works• Jesus gives us insight into

eternity

Increasing in WisdomWisdom Is a Necessity• Why is zeal without wisdom

dangerous?• Lk. 9:51-56• Rom. 10:2• Mt. 23:15

Increasing in WisdomProper Wisdom: How/What• How do we obtain proper

wisdom?– Jas. 1:5– 2 Tim. 2:15

• What does godly wisdom look like? (Jas. 3:13-18)

Increasing in WisdomTwo Critical Limits• Zeal must be exercised with

moral integrity–How can Satan use zeal to corrupt

our moral integrity?• Jn. 9:4• Eph. 2:10

– Protecting our moral integrity in our works (2 Pet. 1:5-11)

Review – Increasing in Wisdom

• Zeal accompanied by wisdom is a necessity.

• Wisdom is to be obtained by prayer.

• A picture of proper godly wisdom (Jas. 3:17)

• Limits on Godly zeal–Must be exercised with moral integrity

Increasing in WisdomTwo Critical Limits• Zeal must be exercised with

moral integrity• Zeal must be exercised in

spiritual battles–How was the zeal of many OT

figures illustrated?–What MUST be considered when

contem-plating their zeal?

Increasing in WisdomTwo Critical Limits• Zeal must be exercised in

spiritual battles– Jehu (2 Kings 10:16-30)– Can Christians use these examples

in exercising our zeal?–What is God’s instrument for

punishing the wicked? (Rom. 13:1-5)

Increasing in WisdomTwo Critical Limits• Zeal must be exercised in spiritual

battles– Understand our battlefield and

weapons (Eph. 6:12-20)– Understand the reason for our fight

(Rom. 12:20-21; Mt. 5:44-45; Mt. 5:16)– Understand our citizenship (Mt. 26:52;

Jn. 18:36-37; Phil. 3:17-21)

Increasing in WisdomTwo Critical Limits• Zeal must be exercised in

spiritual battles–What is one other weapon that

must be used with care? (Jas. 3:2ff)–We must use our godly zeal wisely

to fight the good fight with love!• 1 Tim. 1:18• Lk. 15:1-10