“GOD KNOWS BEST”
By: Dr. Dennis Deese - www.dennisdeese.com
JOHN 12:9-34
The Situation Comedy “Father knows best” aired October 3, 1954 - September 17, 1962 CBS & NBC - 203 Episodes
The Anderson family: Jim, manager of the General Insurance Company; his wife Margaret; and their children, Betty, Bud, and Kathy
. Jim Anderson, played by Robert Young, every evening would come home from the office, take off his sports jacket, put on his comfortable sweater, and deal with the everyday problems of a growing family.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
Man’s Wisdom
1 Corinthians 3:19-20 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."
God’s Wisdom
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Job 12:13 With him [is] wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
Psalms 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
Jeremiah 10:7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise [men] of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, [there is] none like unto thee.
God’s faultless wisdom should be the daily guide of our lives. Our passion and discipline should be a daily commitment to find and follow God’s way in all that we do. There is much to be learned about doing things God’s way in this passage. Let’s take a broad perspective of this subject based on this passage. I want you to notice that doing things God’s way is:
1. AIDED 12:9 & 11:15 (The resurrection of Lazarus and the fulfillment of Scripture)
2. REJECTED 12:10-11
Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
3. DISREGARDED 12:12-19
One day a three-year-old little girl, Beverly, was playing with her toys. Her mother, who was folding laundry across the room, noticed Beverly’s shirt was dirty and needed to be changed. After calling two times with no response, her mother gave her the full three-name call: "Beverly Elizabeth Provost, did you hear me?" Beverly answered, "Yes, Mama. My ears did, but my legs didn’t." Marguerite Provost, Georgia. Today’s Christian Woman, "Small Talk."
IV. EMBRACED 23-27
The basis for us doing things God’s way are listed here:
1. Trust 12:24
2. Eternity 12:25
3. Self-denial 12:25
4. Faith 12:26 “If”
5. Service 12:26 “serve me”
6. Surrender 12:26 “follow me”
7. Dependancy 12:26 “where I am, there shall also my servant be”
8. Spirituality 12:26 “him will my Father honor”
22. AFFIRMED 12:28
VI. ANTICIPATED 12:30-32
John Newton, the writer of the most popular hymn in history, "Amazing Grace" said: "¼ if two angels in heaven were given assignments by God at the same time, one of them to go and rule over the greatest nation on earth and the other to go sweep the streets of the dirtiest village, each angel would be completely indifferent as to which one got which assignment. It simply wouldn’t matter to them. Why? Because the real joy lies in being obedient to God. For a Christ follower, the important thing isn’t what God has us doing; the important thing is that we’re doing what God wants us to do." Lee Strobel, God’s Outrageous Claims, 93
"Richard Baxter, a great Puritan thinker and writer, well understood the real truth. He used to write these words whenever he was asked to sign one of his books: "Lord, what Thou wilt, where Thou wilt, and when Thou wilt." In the old Puritan manner of speaking he was saying, "Lord, whatever you want, wherever you want it, and whenever you want it, that’s what I want." David Jeremiah, Prayer, the Great Adventure, p. 106
