The Christian Family: Children, Fatherhood, and Generational Faithfulness: The World And Times Of Jesse James

Ignorant Professors - Part 1 of 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Family Government

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2016-12-05

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver expounds Hebrews 3:10, where God says of the wilderness generation, 'They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways.' He argues that ignorance of God's ways is not bliss but death, and that many professing Christians are 'ignorant professors' who do not truly know God because they do not walk in His ways. Walking in God's ways is equated with keeping His commandments, fearing Him, loving Him, and cleaving to Him. Departing from His ways is wickedness, perversion, and grieves the heart of God. The sermon calls believers to examine their ways, repent, and learn to walk in God's righteous ways.

[John Weaver] Open our Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter three. Hebrews, chapter three, and we're going to read verses seven through eleven. Hebrews three, verses seven through eleven. The message that I start today will be continued and finished next Lord's Day, Lord willing. But Hebrews chapter 3 beginning there with verse 7. Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness. When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways.

[John Weaver] So I swear in my wrath they shall not enter into my rest." The text that I'm going to be dealing with today and next Sunday, Lord willing, is found in verse 10. If you'll look at it carefully, God says, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways." I've said before, and I'll say it again, if ignorance is bliss, we should be the happiest people on earth. But according to our text, ignorance is not bliss, it is death. The Israelites were ignorant of God and His ways, and they died in the wilderness. They did not enter Canaan. When you look at Hebrews 3 and verse 10 it is a quote from Psalm 95 and verse 10. In Psalm 95 verse 10 God says, 40 years long was I grieved with this generation and said, it is the people that do err in their heart and they have not known my ways. Thus I title this message, Ignorant Professors. God says they have not known my ways when you get to first Corinthians 10 in verse 5 The Bible just simply says with many of them God was not well pleased and they were overthrown in the wilderness So if you will skip down to Hebrews 3 at verses 17 through 19, you'll see

[John Weaver] essentially the same thing but with whom was he grieved 40 years and Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom swear he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. I always find it interesting when I read in the Bible there, but with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

[John Weaver] And when you stop and think about this, individuals that got into Canaan land of the original men that came out were Joshua and Caleb. So, with many of them God was not well pleased. With all of them God was not well pleased except for those two. And notice if you would again in verse 10 God says, and they have not known My ways. That is they were completely ignorant of God and His ways. And when I read that verse recently the thought hit me I wonder how many professing Christians really know God. If we really know Him we should also know His ways. If we do not know His ways then we really do not know Him. In other words His ways reveal who He is.

[John Weaver] They are the manifestation of His person and His character. So let me give it to you like this in order that you might try to Think along these lines. As parents, we have loved and raised our children, and many of them are now grown. So you have to ask yourself this question. Do my grown children really know me? Or do my grown children really understand my ways?

[John Weaver] I want to submit something for your consideration, and it's very simple. I submit to you that much conflict arises in families simply because families do not understand each other and do not know each other's ways. That's true between husband and wife, father and children, mother and children, brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles. we do not understand the ways of each other there is always conflict. And when our ways are dishonored and disrespected and disobeyed trouble always arises. So God says these people did not know my ways. I've often wondered if any of my children really know me.

[John Weaver] At times I think they do, at times I think they certainly do not. And certainly it's a source of grief for any parent when your children or a child acts contrary to that which you've said, taught, and lived. So think about it like this. If it were to hurt us and grieve us, if our children did not walk in our ways, and as godly parents we want godly children, obviously, but if our children would not walk in our ways and it would grieve us, How much more will it grieve our Heavenly Father if we do not walk in His ways? It was John the Apostle who said in 3 John verse 4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Notice that, I have no greater joy to hear than that my children walk in truth.

[John Weaver] And God said this concerning Abram in Genesis 18 and verse 19, God says, For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken concerning him. So God said, I know Abraham. So Abraham knew God and God knew Abraham and Abraham knew God's ways Now when you look at Isaiah 55 whole Hebrews chapter 3, but turn back to Isaiah 55 if you would please And look at verses 8 and 9 because in this passage we have to understand that by nature our We do not know God's ways and by nature. We do not know God's thoughts So when I say a 55 verses 8 and 9 God says this For my thoughts are not your thoughts Neither are your ways my way set the Lord for as the heavens are higher than the earth So are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts

[John Weaver] than your thoughts so clearly then If by nature we do not think God's thoughts, and if by nature we do not know His ways, when we are converted, when we are saved by His grace we have to learn to think as He thinks, and we have to learn His ways and walk in them. Now His ways are knowable and doable. In 1 Kings chapter 3 in verse 14 God said this to King Solomon as he was assuming the throne. God said, and if thou wilt walk in my ways and keep my statutes and my commandments as thy father David did walk then I will lengthen thy days. So He said if you want a long life then you walk in the ways that your Father David walked, because David walked in my ways." Interestingly when Rehoboam was king, David's grandson, the kingdom you remember was rent in twain. And Jeroboam took the ten tribes and Rehoboam kept the southern tribes. There was not a godly king in all of northern Israel. They were all wicked.

[John Weaver] Jeroboam was even one of the most wicked and here's what God said to Jeroboam in first Kings 11 and verse 38 listen carefully he said in it shall be if I would hearken unto all that I command thee I walk in my ways, and do that which is right in my sight, and keep my statutes and my commandments as David my servant did, then I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee." So God came to Jeroboam and He said, look all you've got to do is walk in my ways and keep my commandments and I will build you a sure house just like I told David. of course Jeroboam disobeyed. And Jeroboam is the one who built the two golden calves and said, these be thy gods O Israel who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. When you get to Psalm 81 in verse 13 God made a statement and here is when He said, oh that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my ways.

[John Weaver] So in the Hebrew is a wish that is contrary to reality. It is a desire that is contrary to fact. God said, Oh, that My people had hearkened to Me, but they didn't. And Israel had walked in My ways, but they didn't. But God is expressing a desire to that. So the truth is God desires that His people walk in His ways. When you get to Ephesians 5 and verse 1 the Apostle Paul said it like this,"'Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children.'" Now the word followers is a very interesting word. It is actually the word to be imitators or to mimic. he said, be ye mimickers of God, be ye imitators of God. So, clearly we must walk in His ways if we please Him. That is why in Matthew 5 and verse 48 our Lord said, be ye therefore perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect. So, when you consider the fact that God has His ways, and we have our ways, Then you have to understand what God said through the prophet Haggai.

[John Weaver] During that time when they were rebuilding the temple, God said in Haggai 1 in verse 5, Now therefore, thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways. And then he repeated it again in verse 7. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Consider your ways. So what God is asking is that we consider our ways and if our ways are not His ways then we need to repent and turn back to Him. And the reason being in Psalm 145 and verse 17 the Bible says, the Lord is righteous in all of His ways and holy in all of His works. So all of His ways are right, they are righteous. you get to the book of Revelation chapter 15 and verse 3 the Bible says, and they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, listen to this, saying, great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. So again God's ways are just and true.

[John Weaver] Now, Today I want us to look at just two points. The first one is this, you have to consider that we are commanded to walk in God's ways. I'm going to show you a number of passages just from the book of Deuteronomy. I could multiply the passages, I could take them basically out of any book of the Bible. But I want you to see the essence of what it means to walk in His ways. And I want you to understand that everything that he says is very plain, very clear, and just straightforward.

[John Weaver] In other words, it's almost impossible to misunderstand. So, let's begin in our Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 8, and let's look at verse 6. The fifth book in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy chapter 8 and verse 6. And I want you to ponder these verses with me. Deuteronomy 8 and verse 6, the Bible says this, therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God to walk in his ways and to fear him. So what does it mean then to walk in his ways? First of all, it means to keep his commandments. Secondly, it means to fear him. It is impossible to fear the Lord and not obey Him. Moreover, it is impossible to walk in His ways and then dishonor and disobey His commandments. Because if you're walking in His ways, you're walking in His commandments.

[John Weaver] You have to remember that the Word of God, the entirety of it, is God's revealed will for our lives. So He says, Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God to walk in his ways and to fear him turn if you would to Deuteronomy chapter 10 Deuteronomy chapter 10 and look at verses 12 and 13 Deuteronomy 10 verse 12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Now, go back to verse 13. He says, or verse 12 rather, he said, Now Israel, what does the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord? So what is fearing the Lord thy God? It's walking in His ways. And to love Him and to serve Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

[John Weaver] So what does it mean then to love Him and serve Him with all thy heart and all thy soul? Verse 13, to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes. which I command thee this day for thy good." So, loving the Lord, serving the Lord, and keeping His commandments is walking in His ways. And please take note of this fact that it is true that as we walk in His ways and keep His commandments we honor Him. But doing that is not just simply for His honor and glory according to verse 13, it is for our good.

[John Weaver] I will explain more next week. So look in Deuteronomy 11 and verse 22. Deuteronomy 11 verse 22, God says, if you shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him. Now, we've already pointed out from these other verses that loving the Lord and walking in His ways involve obeying His commandments.

[John Weaver] But I want you to note He adds something. He says, for if you shall diligently keep all these commandments which I commend you to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him. So the question is how do we cleave to the Lord? What does cleaving unto the Lord imply? Well, when we think of the word cleave, we think of course of holding on to and sticking close to someone. You can say, well, that individual, you see little kids, even little boys, especially when they're a year or two old, they don't want to leave mama. They're cleavers. They cleave to mama. They got to have mama all the time. Well, when we use the word cleave, that's normally what we think of, but it actually means more than to stick close to and to be close together. For instance, do you remember in Genesis chapter two and verse 24, God says this, Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."

[John Weaver] So the word cleave literally means to join together. Now stop and think about this. We are joined together with our Heavenly Father through the Lord Jesus Christ in that He enables us to by His grace and mercy to walk after His commandments and keep them and do them. Let me say this another way. My faith is revealed and evidenced and manifested by obedience. Let me go a step further. To refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication.

[John Weaver] you to hold Deuteronomy, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I want you to consider this passage in light of the Bible commanding us to cleave unto the Lord. Ok? So look in 1 Corinthians chapter 6 and let's begin reading there with verse 13. 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 13. He says, meats for the belly, and the belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. So God has made our body for Himself. The body is not to be used in an unlawful manner. Verse 14, And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by His own power. Now it begins, so look carefully.

[John Weaver] you not that your bodies are the members of Christ." So if we've been saved our bodies are the members of Christ. Remember He is the head, we are the body. So the question is, shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? Know you not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? For two shall be one flesh. There is cleaving. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication, every sin that a man doeth is without the body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?

[John Weaver] for your bulk with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." So refusing to cleave unto the Lord as the one true and living God, as the Sovereign, as the Ultimate, as the Supreme One who has given us His Law, who has given us His Word to guide our lives and to direct our lives to refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication.

[John Weaver] It is just that simple. If I am joined to the Lord I cannot use my body in an unlawful manner. I cannot cleave to another God or profess any other God. I have to cleave unto Him alone and I do so in faith and obedience. This is what our Lord said in John chapter 14 and verse 15. He said, if you love me, what? Keep my commandments. Then in John 14 verse 21, he said he that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Wow so Walking in his ways then Demonstrates that we are cleaving unto Him that He is our God truly and genuinely.

[John Weaver] Now, go back to Deuteronomy, but I want you to go to Deuteronomy 26, Deuteronomy 26, and look at verse 17. In fact, let's begin reading there with verse 13. me just tell you about this chapter without reading the entire chapter. This is where the Israelites were coming to the priests. They were bringing their offerings to the Lord, their tithes. In verse 13 they would make a confession.

[John Weaver] Then thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have brought away thy hallowed things out of mine house, and And also I have given them unto the Levite, there's the Levitical tithe, and to the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widower, that's the poor tithe, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me. I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them. I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away aught thereof for any unclean use, nor given aught thereof for the dead, which would be idolatry. But I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

[John Weaver] So here's the prayer request. Look down from thy holy habitation from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest on our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey. This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments. Thou shalt therefore keep to do them with all thine heart and with all thy soul. Now watch, thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes and his commandments and his judgments and to hearken unto his voice."

[John Weaver] Now, go back to verse 17. Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God. The word avouched is a very interesting word. We normally use the word vouch. Someone asked me, well what about David? Is he reliable? Is he a good worker? Is he honest? And I could say, I can vouch for David. All that means is I'm saying, yes, he's genuine. He's real. He's true. That is the way we use the word. However, the word means even more than that. The Hebrew word is the word Amar, which means not only to speak, But it also means to say in one's heart, and to think, and to promise. So here's what God is saying, listen carefully, that when we obey Him, and do that which He has commanding, we are saying We are thinking and we are promising that He is our God. And the way that everybody knows that He is our God is we keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments.

[John Weaver] So we are vouching that God is the Sovereign, the Supreme One, the Ultimate, and there is none but Him. Let me show you something else. This is interesting. Because as we avouch him in our obedience to him Look in your Bibles to verse 18 And the Lord hath avouched thee This day to be his peculiar people as he has promised thee and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments that amazing so as we have vouch God to be our God in obedience to him and Then God avouches the fact.

[John Weaver] Yeah, you're mine because you're obeying me. You're walking in my ways You're doing exactly that which I desire So look in Deuteronomy 28 and verse 9 Deuteronomy 28 in verse 9 Here's an interesting thing the Lord shall establish the unholy people under by unto himself as he is sworn into the if keep the commandments of the Lord by God and walk in His ways." How are we to be a holy people?

[John Weaver] How are we to demonstrate that we are His? The answer is by keeping His commandments and walking in His ways. In fact walking in His ways is keeping His commandments. Those who do not belong to the Lord are not interested in walking in His ways. They are not interested in keeping His commandments. And their lives Evidence and manifest that they're not interested Ignorant professors Do not know him Neither do they walk in his ways moreover They do not want to know him and they do not want to walk in his ways About a week and a half ago Was in Douglas, Georgia waiting to get

[John Weaver] a haircut there was one man in front of me and so I just reached over and I picked up a shopper to look through it and Here was an ad. I Nearly fell out of my chair the ad said we're starting a new church We're putting the fun back in Christianity parties Every month singing and dancing if you're interested call such-and-such number I thought Lord have mercy. Where's preaching? Where's teaching? Where's obedience? We're so putting the fun back in Christianity. I Wonder what the first century Christians thought was fun when they were being burned at the stake and thrown to the lions Can you imagine So that's why God said This is an ignorant people they have not known my ways Israel professed to be his But they were totally absolutely Ignorant they chose to walk in their own ways not in the ways of God Which brings me to the second consideration? You have to consider that to depart from the ways of the Lord is wickedness. To depart from the ways of the Lord is wickedness.

[John Weaver] When one turns from the ways of the Lord, he automatically turns to his own ways. And essentially turning to your own ways is a turning from the Lord and away from his ways. What did God say in Hebrews 3 in verse 10? He said they do always err in their hearts They have not known My ways the reason we err or make errors in our heart is because we do not know the ways of the Lord I've said this before Problem is not a problem if you know what to do You only have problems when you're ignorant and don't know what to do or do not have the ability to work it out God says we are because we do not know his ways thus implying that our ways are ways of ignorance and wickedness and David said it like this in 2 Samuel 22 verse 22, he said, For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. The same verse is quoted in Psalm 18 verse 21 where he said again, For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

[John Weaver] So in both passages David is saying that when we depart from the ways of the Lord it is wickedness. So is it not grievous to us when our children depart from our ways? Christian parents desire holy, godly, righteous, obedient children. Children that know the way of the Lord and that know the ways of their godly parents. Oftentimes when our children sin, instead of confronting them, We make excuses for them God is not like that Or he rather points out the sins Very quickly.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in your Bible. So Jeremiah whole Deuteronomy we're coming right back there, but look at Jeremiah chapter 4 and verse 22 Jeremiah 4 verse 22 Look what God says about His people. Jeremiah 4, verse 22. Look at it. God says, for my people is foolish. They are foolish. They have not known me. They are soddish children, and they have none understanding. They're wise to do evil, but to do good, they have no knowledge. Isn't that amazing? God says, for my people are foolish. They have not known me.

[John Weaver] And if they don't know him, they don't know his ways. They're sottish children.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm going to explain the word sottish in just a moment. Usually we use the word sot for our drunkard, but that's not what this word means. You can take a child that's ugly, rebellious, stubborn, won't listen, and what usually we say, that's a snotty little kid, by that we just mean he's mean and ugly, and we don't like to be around him. Well, the word sonnish here actually means foolish and to play the fool. He says, for my people are foolish, they have not known me, they are soddish children. That is they are foolish, they are playing the fool. And the evidence that they are playing the fool is they have no understanding.

[John Weaver] They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. So they may be professors, but they are ignorant professors. God says they don't know me, they have no knowledge. The only knowledge they have is to do evil and to do wickedness.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you where Israel fell and from where they fell. Hold Jeremiah chapter 4 and turn back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 4. Deuteronomy chapter 4. Here is when God is giving them the law as they came out of the land. Deuteronomy 4. Moses is speaking in verse 5 And he says this Behold I have taught you statutes and judgments Even as the Lord my God commanded me that you should do so in the land whether you go to possess it Keep therefore and do them that is the commandments and the judgments the statutes keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and And your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, with God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all the things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous, as all this law which I set before you this day?"

[John Weaver] Now isn't that interesting? God says, keep my commandments. Keep my law. This is your wisdom. This is your understanding. And all the other nations will look around and say, what nation is so great as this one? Look how close God is to them. Look how close, how nigh God is to them in all things. there is not any other nation that has so righteous judgments and statutes. And now in Jeremiah 4 and verse 22, they have fallen so far that God said, for my people are foolish, they have not known me, they are soddish children, and they have no understanding.

[John Weaver] They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Ignorance, disobedience Degenerated a wise and understanding holy people into a soddish disobedient and rebellious people If you look in Jeremiah chapter 9 and verse 3, here's what Jeremiah says and God says concerning these people Jeremiah 9 look if you would please at verse 3 and and they bend their tongues like their bows for lies. But they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth, for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not Me, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 9 verse 3. So they are liars. They are not valiant for the truth. They hate the truth. They don't care for the truth. They proceed from evil to evil and God says, they have not known Me. Wow! If you will turn back to Isaiah 42 and look at verse 24 Isaiah 42 and verse 24 Look at this question and Look at the answer Isaiah 42 verse 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers? Here's the answer Did not the Lord he against whom we have sinned for they would not walk in his ways Neither were they obedient to his law So God gave him up to a spoil God constantly and consistently cried out against their sin and their degradation, but they refused to listen and 2

[John Weaver] Kings 17 and verse 13, listen to this,"'Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah by all the prophets and by all the seers, saying, Turn you from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My service and prophets.'" So God sent servants. God sent prophets. And them. They refused to listen. When you get to Jeremiah 3 since you are not too far from there just go right back to Jeremiah chapter 3 and look at verse 13. Here is what God says, Jeremiah 3 verse 13, In fact we can read verse 12, here is what Jeremiah was saying, Jeremiah 3 verse 12, Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you. For I am merciful, saith the Lord, and will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree.

[John Weaver] You have not obeyed my voice said the Lord. So God said you just acknowledge that you have scattered your ways You have not obeyed my ways And of course They refused it's kind of like well, you can see it for yourself. I think it's in Jeremiah chapter 8 and verse 6 Look what Jeremiah says In fact you can read verse 5, Jeremiah 8 and verse 5,"'Why then is his people of Jerusalem slidden back by perpetual backsliding?

[John Weaver] They hold fast to seat. They refuse to return. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright. No man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done?' Everyone turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into battle." Wow! What have I done? David speaks about those who turn aside to their crooked ways, and he points out the fact that God is going to lead them with the workers of iniquity. He said in Psalm 125 and verse 5, and as such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Wow.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you something. Probably you and I have never thought about this, but we understand that departing from the ways of the Lord is sin, wickedness, rebellion. We grasp that. But have you ever considered that departing from the ways of the Lord is more than that? It is that, but it is also a perversion. You know, we talk about perverts. Maybe I ought to preach a sermon on Christian perverts.

[John Weaver] Well, there is such a thing. Look in Acts chapter 13. Except the fact that this man that was doing this was not a Christian, obviously. He was Elamus, the sorcerer. And Sergius Paulus was the deputy of the country. Paul was witnessing to him and of course Elamus was a false prophet a sorcerer and he sought to turn the deputy away from the faith in fact let's let's go begin reading at verse 6 watch verse 6 and when they had gone through the island of Paphos they found a certain sorcerer a false prophet a Jew whose name was bar Jesus and which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the Word of God. So, Sergius Paulus wanted to hear the Word of God, but Elamus the sorcerer, Forsel is his name by interpretation, withstood them. Ah, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him and said, O fool of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

[John Weaver] So anyone then who tries to lead people away from the Scriptures is a pervert. That's what Paul said to this false prophet. It's a pervert. Why was he interested in leading Sergius Paulus away from the Word of God? Well, the answer is very simple. Because he wanted to turn him to his own way. Do you realize Isaiah used this illustration in Isaiah 53 in verse 6 when he said it like this? All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to where to his own way. So when we turn to our own way, we're perverts. We're perverting the ways of God. Wow. When we walk in sin and wickedness and rebellion and perversion, we're despising God and His ways. So God commands us to consider our ways.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to make some applications, and I want you to think with me, okay? In light of this message, there are several important truths that we need to consider. And each of these truths are actually from a scripture. First of all, In Proverbs 5 verse 21 the Bible says, For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all of his goings. The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he, God, pondereth all of his goings. So God is omniscient.

[John Weaver] He sees all and He knows all there is no hiding from him. You don't go out behind the barn from God That's why Hebrews 4 verse 13 says neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight But all things are naked and open under the eyes of him with whom we have to do So we need to consider the fact that We can't hide from God and God knows every one of our ways. He knows our moves He knows our motives. He knows our motivations We need to learn to live in light of God's omniscience Because God does indeed ponder all of our goings and he ponders them to judge us Secondly when we walk in our own ways, which are perverse and We're despising God back in May. I preached a message Christians who despise God From Proverbs 14 in verse 2. Let me just give you the scripture he that walketh in his uprightness fear of the Lord, but He that is perverse in his ways despise of him So that means obviously when we walk in our own ways we are despising God and But when we walk in our uprightness that which is ethical

[John Weaver] and moral and right according to God's laws We're praising him and we're fearing him Here's the third one. We need to be aware of the reality that just simply because we do not see That something is wrong Does not mean that it is right I've heard people say so many times, I don't see anything wrong with it. Well, regardless whether you see something wrong with it or not is beside the point. If God says it's wrong, if God says it's wicked, it's wrong and it's wicked. In Proverbs 16 verse 2, the Bible says, all the ways of man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. All the ways of man are clean in his own eyes. Everyone likes his own ways better than the ways of everybody else That's why we always want to do things my way But just because I don't see something wrong with my way Does not mean that my way is right or biblical But man always prefers his ways now Want you to go back

[John Weaver] to Jeremiah chapter 6 I Want to give you another verse You remember in verse 22 of chapter 4 God called his people soddish Foolish they're playing the fool. I Because they were wise to do evil, but they had no understanding and they had no knowledge of God's ways a Sardis people or people who refused to listen They refused to hear they refused to heed they refused to obey So look in Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse 16 Jeremiah 6 verse 16, Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the all paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Look what God said. God said, You ask and For the old paths you ask the good way. That is my way and you walk therein You're gonna find peace. You're gonna find prosperity. You're gonna find protection You're gonna find everything you need if you just obey me, but they said We're not gonna walk like that we're not gonna live like that Do you realize The reason God brought destruction upon both the southern kingdom and the northern kingdom is they refused to walk in His ways.

[John Weaver] Isn't that amazing? They refused to walk in His ways. One last thing. I want you to go back, and I'll deal with this more next week Lord willing, but look in Hebrews 3 and verse 10. I'm not sure that you caught the impact of this when I read it earlier, but look at it. Hebrews 3 and verse 10, our text where we began, God said, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways. Has it ever dawned upon you that not knowing God's ways and refusing to walk in God's ways grieves the heart of God? You know, you remember that verse in Ephesians 4 and verse 30, and grieve not the Holy Spirit, whereby you're sealed in the day of your redemption. There is a way to grieve the Holy Spirit, but here in this passage it is grieving the heart of God the Father. You remember Jacob and Esau, of course Esau was the oldest. And Esau married the daughters of Heth.

[John Weaver] He married idolaters. He married unholy, unbiblical women. Which the Bible says, and they were a grief to Isaac. They were a grief to Isaac. But you know what Rebecca said? She said, I am weary of my life with these daughters of Heth. If Jacob marries one of them, I can't make it. I'm weary of life. They were a grief of mine to Isaac. If our children acting like that and doing like that grieves the heart of parents, what must it be like for God's children, or at least those who profess to be his children, to not know him and not know his ways?

[John Weaver] I remember years ago the first time that I found out that my twins had lied to me. I remember it like it was yesterday. I just never thought they would lie to me. I know all men are liars, but I always thought that, boy, this is a relationship I have with them. I speak the truth to them, they speak the truth to me. When I found out they had lied to me, I was so heartbroken, I was so devastated.

[John Weaver] And of course I confronted them and they acknowledged it and repented. But I'm just simply saying, I remember that. It just blew my, I just never thought that they would lie to me like that. They would lie to anybody else, I would understand that, but not to me. And can you imagine what it must be like with God when He looks down and says, oh, that child of mine, he's so foolish. He doesn't know me. He doesn't know my ways. It breaks my heart. Oh, He said that my people had hearkened to me and Israel had kept my ways. We need to know His ways and to walk in them. Let's pray.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We acknowledge, Lord, that we have failed to walk in Your ways a multitude of times. We're sinners. We've sinned. We've erred. We've deviated. We've fallen short of. We've transgressed. But Lord, there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be desired. And Lord, we do ask that you would teach us your ways and help us to walk in them.

[John Weaver] May we not be soddish children. And like those in Jeremiah's time who said, we will not walk therein. But help us, Lord, to walk in your way and to honor you. Give us grace that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen.

[John Weaver] so so

Ignorant Professors - Part 1 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	eT-RU1iEf3o
Subject	Family Government
Course	The Christian Family: Children, Fatherhood, and Generational Faithfulness: The World And Times Of Jesse James
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-12-05
Dictation Name
Book	Book 032: Ignorant Professors — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	57

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: Ignorance is Death, Not Bliss

Weaver introduces Hebrews 3:10, quoting Psalm 95:10, and states that the Israelites' ignorance of God's ways led to their death in the wilderness. He contrasts the world's view that ignorance is bliss with the biblical truth that ignorance of God is deadly.

Open our Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter three. Hebrews, chapter three, and we're going to read verses seven through eleven. Hebrews three, verses seven through eleven. The message that I start today will be continued and finished next Lord's Day, Lord willing. But Hebrews chapter 3 beginning there with verse 7.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 3:7-11

Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness. When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways.

So I swear in my wrath they shall not enter into my rest.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 95:10

" The text that I'm going to be dealing with today and next Sunday, Lord willing, is found in verse 10. If you'll look at it carefully, God says, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways."

I've said before, and I'll say it again, if ignorance is bliss, we should be the happiest people on earth. But according to our text, ignorance is not bliss, it is death. The Israelites were ignorant of God and His ways, and they died in the wilderness. They did not enter Canaan. When you look at Hebrews 3 and verse 10 it is a quote from Psalm 95 and verse 10. In Psalm 95 verse 10 God says, 40 years long was I grieved with this generation and said, it is the people that do err in their heart and they have not known my ways. Thus I title this message, Ignorant Professors. God says they have not known my ways when you get to first Corinthians 10 in verse 5 The Bible just simply says with many of them God was not well pleased and they were overthrown in the wilderness So if you will skip down to Hebrews 3 at verses 17 through 19, you'll see

essentially the same thing but with whom was he grieved 40 years and Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom swear he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. I always find it interesting when I read in the Bible there, but with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Knowing God Means Knowing His Ways

Weaver argues that to know God is to know His ways, because His ways reveal His person and character. He uses the analogy of parents and children to illustrate that conflict arises when family members do not understand each other's ways, and how much more it grieves God when His children do not walk in His ways.

They are the manifestation of His person and His character. So let me give it to you like this in order that you might try to Think along these lines. As parents, we have loved and raised our children, and many of them are now grown. So you have to ask yourself this question. Do my grown children really know me? Or do my grown children really understand my ways? I want to submit something for your consideration, and it's very simple. I submit to you that much conflict arises in families simply because families do not understand each other and do not know each other's ways. That's true between husband and wife, father and children, mother and children, brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles. we do not understand the ways of each other there is always conflict. And when our ways are dishonored and disrespected and disobeyed trouble always arises. So God says these people did not know my ways. I've often wondered if any of my children really know me.

At times I think they do, at times I think they certainly do not. And certainly it's a source of grief for any parent when your children or a child acts contrary to that which you've said, taught, and lived. So think about it like this. If it were to hurt us and grieve us, if our children did not walk in our ways, and as godly parents we want godly children, obviously, but if our children would not walk in our ways and it would grieve us, How much more will it grieve our Heavenly Father if we do not walk in His ways? It was John the Apostle who said in 3 John verse 4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Notice that, I have no greater joy to hear than that my children walk in truth.

God's Ways Are Higher Than Our Ways

Weaver explains from Isaiah 55:8-9 that by nature we do not know God's thoughts or ways, but when we are converted we must learn to think as He thinks and walk in His ways. He emphasizes that God's ways are knowable and doable, citing 1 Kings 3:14 and other passages.

than your thoughts so clearly then If by nature we do not think God's thoughts, and if by nature we do not know His ways, when we are converted, when we are saved by His grace we have to learn to think as He thinks, and we have to learn His ways and walk in them. Now His ways are knowable and doable. In 1 Kings chapter 3 in verse 14 God said this to King Solomon as he was assuming the throne. God said, and if thou wilt walk in my ways and keep my statutes and my commandments as thy father David did walk then I will lengthen thy days. So He said if you want a long life then you walk in the ways that your Father David walked, because David walked in my ways." Interestingly when Rehoboam was king, David's grandson, the kingdom you remember was rent in twain. And Jeroboam took the ten tribes and Rehoboam kept the southern tribes. There was not a godly king in all of northern Israel. They were all wicked.

Jeroboam was even one of the most wicked and here's what God said to Jeroboam in first Kings 11 and verse 38 listen carefully he said in it shall be if I would hearken unto all that I command thee I walk in my ways, and do that which is right in my sight, and keep my statutes and my commandments as David my servant did, then I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee." So God came to Jeroboam and He said, look all you've got to do is walk in my ways and keep my commandments and I will build you a sure house just like I told David. of course Jeroboam disobeyed. And Jeroboam is the one who built the two golden calves and said, these be thy gods O Israel who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. When you get to Psalm 81 in verse 13 God made a statement and here is when He said, oh that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my ways.

Commanded to Walk in God's Ways (Deuteronomy)

Weaver examines several passages in Deuteronomy (8:6; 10:12-13; 11:22; 26:17; 28:9) to show that walking in God's ways means keeping His commandments, fearing Him, loving Him, serving Him, and cleaving to Him. He explains that cleaving to the Lord is joining to Him in faith and obedience, and refusing to do so is spiritual fornication.

In other words, it's almost impossible to misunderstand. So, let's begin in our Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 8, and let's look at verse 6. The fifth book in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy chapter 8 and verse 6. And I want you to ponder these verses with me. Deuteronomy 8 and verse 6, the Bible says this, therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God to walk in his ways and to fear him. So what does it mean then to walk in his ways? First of all, it means to keep his commandments. Secondly, it means to fear him. It is impossible to fear the Lord and not obey Him. Moreover, it is impossible to walk in His ways and then dishonor and disobey His commandments. Because if you're walking in His ways, you're walking in His commandments.

You have to remember that the Word of God, the entirety of it, is God's revealed will for our lives. So He says, Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God to walk in his ways and to fear him turn if you would to Deuteronomy chapter 10 Deuteronomy chapter 10 and look at verses 12 and 13 Deuteronomy 10 verse 12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Now, go back to verse 13. He says, or verse 12 rather, he said, Now Israel, what does the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord? So what is fearing the Lord thy God? It's walking in His ways. And to love Him and to serve Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

So what does it mean then to love Him and serve Him with all thy heart and all thy soul? Verse 13, to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes. which I command thee this day for thy good.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 11:22

" So, loving the Lord, serving the Lord, and keeping His commandments is walking in His ways. And please take note of this fact that it is true that as we walk in His ways and keep His commandments we honor Him. But doing that is not just simply for His honor and glory according to verse 13, it is for our good. I will explain more next week. So look in Deuteronomy 11 and verse 22. Deuteronomy 11 verse 22, God says, if you shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him. Now, we've already pointed out from these other verses that loving the Lord and walking in His ways involve obeying His commandments.

But I want you to note He adds something. He says, for if you shall diligently keep all these commandments which I commend you to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him. So the question is how do we cleave to the Lord? What does cleaving unto the Lord imply? Well, when we think of the word cleave, we think of course of holding on to and sticking close to someone. You can say, well, that individual, you see little kids, even little boys, especially when they're a year or two old, they don't want to leave mama. They're cleavers. They cleave to mama. They got to have mama all the time. Well, when we use the word cleave, that's normally what we think of, but it actually means more than to stick close to and to be close together. For instance, do you remember in Genesis chapter two and verse 24, God says this, Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."

So the word cleave literally means to join together. Now stop and think about this. We are joined together with our Heavenly Father through the Lord Jesus Christ in that He enables us to by His grace and mercy to walk after His commandments and keep them and do them. Let me say this another way. My faith is revealed and evidenced and manifested by obedience. Let me go a step further. To refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication.

you to hold Deuteronomy, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I want you to consider this passage in light of the Bible commanding us to cleave unto the Lord. Ok? So look in 1 Corinthians chapter 6 and let's begin reading there with verse 13. 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 13. He says, meats for the belly, and the belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. So God has made our body for Himself. The body is not to be used in an unlawful manner. Verse 14, And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by His own power. Now it begins, so look carefully. you not that your bodies are the members of Christ.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:13-20

" So if we've been saved our bodies are the members of Christ. Remember He is the head, we are the body. So the question is, shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? Know you not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? For two shall be one flesh. There is cleaving. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication, every sin that a man doeth is without the body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? for your bulk with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

So refusing to cleave unto the Lord as the one true and living God, as the Sovereign, as the Ultimate, as the Supreme One who has given us His Law, who has given us His Word to guide our lives and to direct our lives to refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication. It is just that simple. If I am joined to the Lord I cannot use my body in an unlawful manner. I cannot cleave to another God or profess any other God. I have to cleave unto Him alone and I do so in faith and obedience. This is what our Lord said in John chapter 14 and verse 15. He said, if you love me, what? Keep my commandments. Then in John 14 verse 21, he said he that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Wow so Walking in his ways then Demonstrates that we are cleaving unto Him that He is our God truly and genuinely.

Now, go back to Deuteronomy, but I want you to go to Deuteronomy 26, Deuteronomy 26, and look at verse 17. In fact, let's begin reading there with verse 13. me just tell you about this chapter without reading the entire chapter. This is where the Israelites were coming to the priests. They were bringing their offerings to the Lord, their tithes. In verse 13 they would make a confession.

Then thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have brought away thy hallowed things out of mine house, and And also I have given them unto the Levite, there's the Levitical tithe, and to the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widower, that's the poor tithe, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me. I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them. I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away aught thereof for any unclean use, nor given aught thereof for the dead, which would be idolatry. But I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

So here's the prayer request. Look down from thy holy habitation from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest on our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey. This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments. Thou shalt therefore keep to do them with all thine heart and with all thy soul. Now watch, thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes and his commandments and his judgments and to hearken unto his voice."

Now, go back to verse 17. Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God. The word avouched is a very interesting word. We normally use the word vouch. Someone asked me, well what about David? Is he reliable? Is he a good worker? Is he honest? And I could say, I can vouch for David. All that means is I'm saying, yes, he's genuine. He's real. He's true. That is the way we use the word. However, the word means even more than that. The Hebrew word is the word Amar, which means not only to speak, But it also means to say in one's heart, and to think, and to promise. So here's what God is saying, listen carefully, that when we obey Him, and do that which He has commanding, we are saying We are thinking and we are promising that He is our God. And the way that everybody knows that He is our God is we keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments.

So we are vouching that God is the Sovereign, the Supreme One, the Ultimate, and there is none but Him. Let me show you something else. This is interesting. Because as we avouch him in our obedience to him Look in your Bibles to verse 18 And the Lord hath avouched thee This day to be his peculiar people as he has promised thee and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments that amazing so as we have vouch God to be our God in obedience to him and Then God avouches the fact. Yeah, you're mine because you're obeying me. You're walking in my ways You're doing exactly that which I desire So look in Deuteronomy 28 and verse 9 Deuteronomy 28 in verse 9 Here's an interesting thing the Lord shall establish the unholy people under by unto himself as he is sworn into the if keep the commandments of the Lord by God and walk in His ways." How are we to be a holy people?

How are we to demonstrate that we are His? The answer is by keeping His commandments and walking in His ways. In fact walking in His ways is keeping His commandments. Those who do not belong to the Lord are not interested in walking in His ways. They are not interested in keeping His commandments. And their lives Evidence and manifest that they're not interested Ignorant professors Do not know him Neither do they walk in his ways moreover They do not want to know him and they do not want to walk in his ways About a week and a half ago Was in Douglas, Georgia waiting to get a haircut there was one man in front of me and so I just reached over and I picked up a shopper to look through it and Here was an ad. I Nearly fell out of my chair the ad said we're starting a new church We're putting the fun back in Christianity parties Every month singing and dancing if you're interested call such-and-such number I thought Lord have mercy. Where's preaching? Where's teaching? Where's obedience? We're so putting the fun back in Christianity. I Wonder what the first century Christians thought was fun when they were being burned at the stake and thrown to the lions Can you imagine So that's why God said This is an ignorant people they have not known my ways Israel professed to be his But they were totally absolutely Ignorant they chose to walk in their own ways not in the ways of God Which brings me to the second consideration? You have to consider that to depart from the ways of the Lord is wickedness. To depart from the ways of the Lord is wickedness.

Departing from God's Ways is Wickedness and Perversion

Weaver teaches that turning from God's ways is wickedness (2 Samuel 22:22; Psalm 18:21) and leads to foolishness and ignorance (Jeremiah 4:22). He shows how Israel fell from being a wise and understanding people (Deuteronomy 4:5-8) to a sottish, disobedient people. He also argues from Acts 13:10 that leading people away from God's ways is perverting the right ways of the Lord.

When one turns from the ways of the Lord, he automatically turns to his own ways. And essentially turning to your own ways is a turning from the Lord and away from his ways. What did God say in Hebrews 3 in verse 10? He said they do always err in their hearts They have not known My ways the reason we err or make errors in our heart is because we do not know the ways of the Lord I've said this before Problem is not a problem if you know what to do You only have problems when you're ignorant and don't know what to do or do not have the ability to work it out God says we are because we do not know his ways thus implying that our ways are ways of ignorance and wickedness and David said it like this in 2 Samuel 22 verse 22, he said, For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. The same verse is quoted in Psalm 18 verse 21 where he said again, For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

So in both passages David is saying that when we depart from the ways of the Lord it is wickedness. So is it not grievous to us when our children depart from our ways? Christian parents desire holy, godly, righteous, obedient children. Children that know the way of the Lord and that know the ways of their godly parents. Oftentimes when our children sin, instead of confronting them, We make excuses for them God is not like that Or he rather points out the sins Very quickly. I want you to look in your Bible. So Jeremiah whole Deuteronomy we're coming right back there, but look at Jeremiah chapter 4 and verse 22 Jeremiah 4 verse 22 Look what God says about His people. Jeremiah 4, verse 22. Look at it. God says, for my people is foolish. They are foolish. They have not known me. They are soddish children, and they have none understanding. They're wise to do evil, but to do good, they have no knowledge. Isn't that amazing? God says, for my people are foolish. They have not known me.

And if they don't know him, they don't know his ways. They're sottish children. Now, I'm going to explain the word sottish in just a moment. Usually we use the word sot for our drunkard, but that's not what this word means. You can take a child that's ugly, rebellious, stubborn, won't listen, and what usually we say, that's a snotty little kid, by that we just mean he's mean and ugly, and we don't like to be around him. Well, the word sonnish here actually means foolish and to play the fool. He says, for my people are foolish, they have not known me, they are soddish children. That is they are foolish, they are playing the fool. And the evidence that they are playing the fool is they have no understanding.

They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. So they may be professors, but they are ignorant professors. God says they don't know me, they have no knowledge. The only knowledge they have is to do evil and to do wickedness.

Now, let me show you where Israel fell and from where they fell. Hold Jeremiah chapter 4 and turn back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 4. Deuteronomy chapter 4. Here is when God is giving them the law as they came out of the land. Deuteronomy 4. Moses is speaking in verse 5 And he says this Behold I have taught you statutes and judgments Even as the Lord my God commanded me that you should do so in the land whether you go to possess it Keep therefore and do them that is the commandments and the judgments the statutes keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and And your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, with God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all the things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous, as all this law which I set before you this day?"

Now isn't that interesting? God says, keep my commandments. Keep my law. This is your wisdom. This is your understanding. And all the other nations will look around and say, what nation is so great as this one? Look how close God is to them. Look how close, how nigh God is to them in all things. there is not any other nation that has so righteous judgments and statutes. And now in Jeremiah 4 and verse 22, they have fallen so far that God said, for my people are foolish, they have not known me, they are soddish children, and they have no understanding.

They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Ignorance, disobedience Degenerated a wise and understanding holy people into a soddish disobedient and rebellious people If you look in Jeremiah chapter 9 and verse 3, here's what Jeremiah says and God says concerning these people Jeremiah 9 look if you would please at verse 3 and and they bend their tongues like their bows for lies. But they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth, for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not Me, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 9 verse 3. So they are liars. They are not valiant for the truth. They hate the truth. They don't care for the truth. They proceed from evil to evil and God says, they have not known Me. Wow! If you will turn back to Isaiah 42 and look at verse 24 Isaiah 42 and verse 24 Look at this question and Look at the answer Isaiah 42 verse 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers? Here's the answer Did not the Lord he against whom we have sinned for they would not walk in his ways Neither were they obedient to his law So God gave him up to a spoil God constantly and consistently cried out against their sin and their degradation, but they refused to listen and 2

Kings 17 and verse 13, listen to this, "'Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah by all the prophets and by all the seers, saying, Turn you from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My service and prophets.'" So God sent servants. God sent prophets. And them. They refused to listen. When you get to Jeremiah 3 since you are not too far from there just go right back to Jeremiah chapter 3 and look at verse 13. Here is what God says, Jeremiah 3 verse 13, In fact we can read verse 12, here is what Jeremiah was saying, Jeremiah 3 verse 12, Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you. For I am merciful, saith the Lord, and will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree.

You have not obeyed my voice said the Lord. So God said you just acknowledge that you have scattered your ways You have not obeyed my ways And of course They refused it's kind of like well, you can see it for yourself. I think it's in Jeremiah chapter 8 and verse 6 Look what Jeremiah says In fact you can read verse 5, Jeremiah 8 and verse 5, "'Why then is his people of Jerusalem slidden back by perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to seat. They refuse to return. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright. No man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done?' Everyone turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into battle." Wow! What have I done? David speaks about those who turn aside to their crooked ways, and he points out the fact that God is going to lead them with the workers of iniquity. He said in Psalm 125 and verse 5, and as such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Wow.

Now, let me show you something. Probably you and I have never thought about this, but we understand that departing from the ways of the Lord is sin, wickedness, rebellion. We grasp that. But have you ever considered that departing from the ways of the Lord is more than that? It is that, but it is also a perversion. You know, we talk about perverts. Maybe I ought to preach a sermon on Christian perverts.

Well, there is such a thing. Look in Acts chapter 13. Except the fact that this man that was doing this was not a Christian, obviously. He was Elymas, the sorcerer. And Sergius Paulus was the deputy of the country. Paul was witnessing to him and of course Elymas was a false prophet a sorcerer and he sought to turn the deputy away from the faith in fact let's let's go begin reading at verse 6 watch verse 6 and when they had gone through the island of Paphos they found a certain sorcerer a false prophet a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus and which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the Word of God. So, Sergius Paulus wanted to hear the Word of God, but Elymas the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation, withstood them. Ah, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him and said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

So anyone then who tries to lead people away from the Scriptures is a pervert. That's what Paul said to this false prophet. It's a pervert. Why was he interested in leading Sergius Paulus away from the Word of God? Well, the answer is very simple. Because he wanted to turn him to his own way. Do you realize Isaiah used this illustration in Isaiah 53 in verse 6 when he said it like this? All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to where to his own way. So when we turn to our own way, we're perverts. We're perverting the ways of God. Wow. When we walk in sin and wickedness and rebellion and perversion, we're despising God and His ways. So God commands us to consider our ways.

Applications: Living in Light of God's Omniscience and Our Ways

Weaver applies the message by reminding listeners that God sees all our ways (Proverbs 5:21), that walking in perverse ways despises God (Proverbs 14:2), that our own perception of rightness does not make our ways right (Proverbs 16:2), and that refusing to walk in God's ways grieves His heart (Hebrews 3:10). He concludes with a call to repentance and prayer.

Now, I want to make some applications, and I want you to think with me, okay? In light of this message, there are several important truths that we need to consider. And each of these truths are actually from a scripture. First of all, In Proverbs 5 verse 21 the Bible says, For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all of his goings. The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he, God, pondereth all of his goings. So God is omniscient. He sees all and He knows all there is no hiding from him. You don't go out behind the barn from God That's why Hebrews 4 verse 13 says neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight But all things are naked and open under the eyes of him with whom we have to do So we need to consider the fact that We can't hide from God and God knows every one of our ways. He knows our moves He knows our motives. He knows our motivations We need to learn to live in light of God's omniscience Because God does indeed ponder all of our goings and he ponders them to judge us Secondly when we walk in our own ways, which are perverse and We're despising God back in May. I preached a message Christians who despise God From Proverbs 14 in verse 2. Let me just give you the scripture he that walketh in his uprightness fear of the Lord, but He that is perverse in his ways despise of him So that means obviously when we walk in our own ways we are despising God and But when we walk in our uprightness that which is ethical

and moral and right according to God's laws We're praising him and we're fearing him Here's the third one. We need to be aware of the reality that just simply because we do not see That something is wrong Does not mean that it is right I've heard people say so many times, I don't see anything wrong with it. Well, regardless whether you see something wrong with it or not is beside the point. If God says it's wrong, if God says it's wicked, it's wrong and it's wicked. In Proverbs 16 verse 2, the Bible says, all the ways of man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. All the ways of man are clean in his own eyes. Everyone likes his own ways better than the ways of everybody else That's why we always want to do things my way But just because I don't see something wrong with my way Does not mean that my way is right or biblical But man always prefers his ways now Want you to go back

to Jeremiah chapter 6 I Want to give you another verse You remember in verse 22 of chapter 4 God called his people soddish Foolish they're playing the fool. I Because they were wise to do evil, but they had no understanding and they had no knowledge of God's ways a Sardis people or people who refused to listen They refused to hear they refused to heed they refused to obey So look in Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse 16 Jeremiah 6 verse 16, Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the all paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Look what God said. God said, You ask and For the old paths you ask the good way. That is my way and you walk therein You're gonna find peace. You're gonna find prosperity. You're gonna find protection You're gonna find everything you need if you just obey me, but they said We're not gonna walk like that we're not gonna live like that Do you realize The reason God brought destruction upon both the southern kingdom and the northern kingdom is they refused to walk in His ways.

Isn't that amazing? They refused to walk in His ways. One last thing. I want you to go back, and I'll deal with this more next week Lord willing, but look in Hebrews 3 and verse 10. I'm not sure that you caught the impact of this when I read it earlier, but look at it. Hebrews 3 and verse 10, our text where we began, God said, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways. Has it ever dawned upon you that not knowing God's ways and refusing to walk in God's ways grieves the heart of God? You know, you remember that verse in Ephesians 4 and verse 30, and grieve not the Holy Spirit, whereby you're sealed in the day of your redemption. There is a way to grieve the Holy Spirit, but here in this passage it is grieving the heart of God the Father. You remember Jacob and Esau, of course Esau was the oldest. And Esau married the daughters of Heth.

He married idolaters. He married unholy, unbiblical women. Which the Bible says, and they were a grief to Isaac. They were a grief to Isaac. But you know what Rebecca said? She said, I am weary of my life with these daughters of Heth. If Jacob marries one of them, I can't make it. I'm weary of life. They were a grief of mine to Isaac. If our children acting like that and doing like that grieves the heart of parents, what must it be like for God's children, or at least those who profess to be his children, to not know him and not know his ways?

I remember years ago the first time that I found out that my twins had lied to me. I remember it like it was yesterday. I just never thought they would lie to me. I know all men are liars, but I always thought that, boy, this is a relationship I have with them. I speak the truth to them, they speak the truth to me. When I found out they had lied to me, I was so heartbroken, I was so devastated. And of course I confronted them and they acknowledged it and repented. But I'm just simply saying, I remember that. It just blew my, I just never thought that they would lie to me like that. They would lie to anybody else, I would understand that, but not to me. And can you imagine what it must be like with God when He looks down and says, oh, that child of mine, he's so foolish. He doesn't know me. He doesn't know my ways. It breaks my heart. Oh, He said that my people had hearkened to me and Israel had kept my ways. We need to know His ways and to walk in them. Let's pray.

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We acknowledge, Lord, that we have failed to walk in Your ways a multitude of times. We're sinners. We've sinned. We've erred. We've deviated. We've fallen short of. We've transgressed. But Lord, there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be desired. And Lord, we do ask that you would teach us your ways and help us to walk in them.

May we not be soddish children. And like those in Jeremiah's time who said, we will not walk therein. But help us, Lord, to walk in your way and to honor you. Give us grace that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Ignorance of God's Ways is Deadly

Summary: The sermon's central thesis is that not knowing and walking in God's ways leads to spiritual death, as exemplified by the Israelites who perished in the wilderness.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'ignorance is not bliss, it is death. The Israelites were ignorant of God and His ways, and they died in the wilderness.'

Walking in God's Ways Equals Obedience to His Commandments

Summary: Weaver repeatedly equates walking in God's ways with keeping His commandments, statutes, and judgments, as seen in multiple Deuteronomy passages.

Evidence: In Deuteronomy 8:6, he says, 'to walk in his ways... means to keep his commandments... to fear him.'

Departing from God's Ways is Wickedness and Perversion

Summary: Turning to one's own ways is described as wickedness, foolishness, and a perversion of God's right ways.

Evidence: Weaver cites 2 Samuel 22:22 and Acts 13:10, saying, 'when we depart from the ways of the Lord it is wickedness' and 'anyone then who tries to lead people away from the Scriptures is a pervert.'

Grieving the Heart of God

Summary: Not knowing and refusing to walk in God's ways grieves God the Father, just as disobedient children grieve earthly parents.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Has it ever dawned upon you that not knowing God's ways and refusing to walk in God's ways grieves the heart of God?'

The Necessity of Self-Examination

Summary: Believers are called to consider their ways in light of God's omniscience and to repent where their ways do not align with His.

Evidence: Weaver references Haggai 1:5,7 and Proverbs 5:21, urging listeners to 'consider our ways and if our ways are not His ways then we need to repent.'

Key Arguments

Knowing God Necessitates Knowing His Ways

Summary: Weaver argues that if we truly know God, we will know His ways, because His ways are the manifestation of His person and character.

Evidence: He says, 'If we really know Him we should also know His ways. If we do not know His ways then we really do not know Him.'

Walking in God's Ways is Commanded and Defined by Scripture

Summary: Through a series of Deuteronomy texts, Weaver demonstrates that walking in God's ways is not a vague concept but is clearly defined as keeping His commandments, fearing, loving, serving, and cleaving to Him.

Evidence: He summarizes Deuteronomy 10:12-13: 'loving the Lord, serving the Lord, and keeping His commandments is walking in His ways.'

Refusing to Cleave to God is Spiritual Fornication

Summary: Weaver uses 1 Corinthians 6 to argue that being joined to the Lord means we cannot use our bodies unlawfully or cleave to other gods; to refuse to cleave to Him is spiritual fornication.

Evidence: He states, 'to refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication.'

Obedience is the Evidence of Faith and Love

Summary: Weaver argues that our faith is revealed and evidenced by obedience, and that loving Christ is demonstrated by keeping His commandments (John 14:15,21).

Evidence: He says, 'My faith is revealed and evidenced and manifested by obedience.'

Ignorant Professors are Foolish and Have No Understanding

Summary: Using Jeremiah 4:22, Weaver shows that those who do not know God are foolish, sottish children with no understanding, wise only to do evil.

Evidence: He reads Jeremiah 4:22: 'For my people is foolish... they are soddish children, and they have none understanding.'

God's Judgment Comes for Refusing His Ways

Summary: Weaver points to Isaiah 42:24 and 2 Kings 17:13 to show that God gave Israel over to spoil and destruction because they would not walk in His ways or obey His law.

Evidence: He quotes Isaiah 42:24: 'Who gave Jacob for a spoil... Did not the Lord he against whom we have sinned for they would not walk in his ways.'

Scripture References

Hebrews 3:7-11

Context: The opening reading and the primary text for the sermon, focusing on verse 10 where God says the Israelites always err in heart and have not known His ways.

Psalm 95:10

Context: Weaver notes that Hebrews 3:10 is a quote from Psalm 95:10, emphasizing God's grief over the generation that did not know His ways.

1 Corinthians 10:5

Context: Cited to show that with many of the Israelites God was not well pleased and they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Hebrews 3:17-19

Context: Weaver reads these verses to show that the Israelites could not enter God's rest because of unbelief.

3 John 1:4

Context: Quoted to illustrate the joy of a parent when children walk in truth, contrasting with the grief when they do not.

Genesis 18:19

Context: Used to show that God knew Abraham would command his household to keep the way of the Lord.

Isaiah 55:8-9

Context: Explained to show that by nature our thoughts and ways are not God's, but we must learn His ways after conversion.

1 Kings 3:14

Context: God's promise to Solomon that if he walked in God's ways, his days would be lengthened.

1 Kings 11:38

Context: God's conditional promise to Jeroboam that if he walked in God's ways, God would build him a sure house.

Psalm 81:13

Context: God's lament that His people did not hearken to Him or walk in His ways.

Ephesians 5:1

Context: Paul's command to be imitators of God as dear children.

Matthew 5:48

Context: Jesus' command to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect, connected to walking in God's ways.

Haggai 1:5,7

Context: God's command to consider your ways, used to call for self-examination.

Psalm 145:17

Context: Declares that the Lord is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works.

Revelation 15:3

Context: The song of Moses and the Lamb declares God's ways are just and true.

Deuteronomy 8:6

Context: Command to keep God's commandments, walk in His ways, and fear Him.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Context: What God requires: fear, walk in all His ways, love, serve, keep commandments.

Deuteronomy 11:22

Context: Command to diligently keep commandments, love God, walk in His ways, and cleave to Him.

Genesis 2:24

Context: Used to define 'cleave' as joining together, applied to cleaving to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:13-20

Context: Extended reading to argue that being joined to the Lord means not using the body for fornication; refusing to cleave to God is spiritual fornication.

Historical References

Israelites in the wilderness

Context: The generation that came out of Egypt but died in the wilderness because they did not know God's ways and did not believe.

Joshua and Caleb

Context: The only two original men who entered Canaan because they pleased God, contrasting with the many who were overthrown.

King Solomon

Context: God promised Solomon long life if he walked in God's ways as David did (1 Kings 3:14).

Rehoboam and Jeroboam

Context: The kingdom was divided; Jeroboam was offered a sure house if he walked in God's ways but disobeyed and built golden calves.

Elymas the sorcerer

Context: In Acts 13, Paul called Elymas a child of the devil for perverting the right ways of the Lord by trying to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith.

Jacob and Esau

Context: Esau married idolatrous women who were a grief to Isaac and Rebekah, illustrating how children's disobedience grieves parents.

Important Quotes

if ignorance is bliss, we should be the happiest people on earth. But according to our text, ignorance is not bliss, it is death.

Significance: Sets up the central contrast of the sermon: the world's view versus God's view of ignorance.

If we really know Him we should also know His ways. If we do not know His ways then we really do not know Him.

Significance: Core argument that knowledge of God and knowledge of His ways are inseparable.

to refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication.

Significance: Strong language emphasizing the seriousness of not being joined to God in obedience.

My faith is revealed and evidenced and manifested by obedience.

Significance: Succinct statement of the relationship between faith and works in the believer's life.

for my people is foolish. They are foolish. They have not known me. They are soddish children, and they have none understanding. They're wise to do evil, but to do good, they have no knowledge.

Significance: Quoting Jeremiah 4:22 to describe the state of ignorant professors.

anyone then who tries to lead people away from the Scriptures is a pervert.

Significance: Application of Acts 13:10 to modern contexts, defining perversion of God's ways.

Has it ever dawned upon you that not knowing God's ways and refusing to walk in God's ways grieves the heart of God?

Significance: Emotional appeal to consider the personal grief caused to God by disobedience.

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to 'know God's ways' according to this sermon, and how is that different from simply knowing about God?

Context: Weaver argues that knowing God's ways is essential to knowing God Himself, and that His ways are revealed in His commandments.

How does the analogy of parent-child relationships help us understand God's grief over His people's ignorance and disobedience?

Context: Weaver uses the grief of parents when children lie or act contrary to their teaching to illustrate God's heart.

In what ways might professing Christians today be 'ignorant professors' who do not truly know God's ways?

Context: The sermon challenges listeners to examine whether their profession matches their walk, citing the example of the Israelites.

What is the relationship between loving God and keeping His commandments according to John 14:15,21 and Deuteronomy 10:12-13?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that love for God is demonstrated by obedience to His commandments.

Why does Weaver call refusing to cleave to the Lord 'spiritual fornication,' and what does that imply about our relationship with God?

Context: Using 1 Corinthians 6, he argues that being joined to the Lord means exclusive loyalty and obedience.

How does the concept of 'perverting the right ways of the Lord' (Acts 13:10) apply to those who lead others away from biblical truth today?

Context: Weaver applies Paul's rebuke of Elymas to anyone who distorts or opposes God's ways.

What does it mean practically to 'consider your ways' in light of God's omniscience (Proverbs 5:21; Haggai 1:5,7)?

Context: The sermon calls for self-examination and repentance where our ways do not align with God's.

Applications

Examine Your Ways in Light of God's Word

Summary: Believers are urged to consider their ways and repent if they are not walking in God's commandments, as God sees all and ponders our goings.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'we need to consider the fact that We can't hide from God and God knows every one of our ways.'

Walk in Obedience as Evidence of Faith

Summary: True faith is manifested by obedience to God's commandments; walking in His ways is the proof that we know Him.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'My faith is revealed and evidenced and manifested by obedience.'

Cleave to the Lord Exclusively

Summary: Believers must join themselves to God alone, avoiding spiritual fornication by not cleaving to other gods or walking in their own perverse ways.

Evidence: Weaver warns, 'to refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication.'

Do Not Grieve God by Ignorance and Disobedience

Summary: Recognize that not knowing and refusing to walk in God's ways grieves the heart of God, and strive to bring Him joy by walking in truth.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'Has it ever dawned upon you that not knowing God's ways and refusing to walk in God's ways grieves the heart of God?'

Reject the World's Redefinition of Christianity

Summary: Weaver warns against a 'fun-centered' Christianity that neglects preaching, teaching, and obedience, calling believers to return to the old paths of God's ways.

Evidence: He recounts an ad for a church 'putting the fun back in Christianity' and contrasts it with the suffering of early Christians.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:01:54Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T23:37:20Z

Clean Transcript

Ignorant Professors - Part 1 of 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Open our Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter three. Hebrews, chapter three, and we're going to read verses seven through eleven. Hebrews three, verses seven through eleven. The message that I start today will be continued and finished next Lord's Day, Lord willing. But Hebrews chapter 3 beginning there with verse 7. Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness. When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways.
#1 | 0:13 to 1:04 | cleaned
So I swear in my wrath they shall not enter into my rest." The text that I'm going to be dealing with today and next Sunday, Lord willing, is found in verse 10. If you'll look at it carefully, God says, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways." I've said before, and I'll say it again, if ignorance is bliss, we should be the happiest people on earth. But according to our text, ignorance is not bliss, it is death. The Israelites were ignorant of God and His ways, and they died in the wilderness. They did not enter Canaan. When you look at Hebrews 3 and verse 10 it is a quote from Psalm 95 and verse 10. In Psalm 95 verse 10 God says, 40 years long was I grieved with this generation and said, it is the people that do err in their heart and they have not known my ways. Thus I title this message, Ignorant Professors. God says they have not known my ways when you get to first Corinthians 10 in verse 5 The Bible just simply says with many of them God was not well pleased and they were overthrown in the wilderness So if you will skip down to Hebrews 3 at verses 17 through 19, you'll see
#2 | 1:05 to 2:42 | cleaned
essentially the same thing but with whom was he grieved 40 years and Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom swear he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. I always find it interesting when I read in the Bible there, but with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
#3 | 2:42 to 3:13 | cleaned
And when you stop and think about this, individuals that got into Canaan land of the original men that came out were Joshua and Caleb. So, with many of them God was not well pleased. With all of them God was not well pleased except for those two. And notice if you would again in verse 10 God says, and they have not known My ways. That is they were completely ignorant of God and His ways. And when I read that verse recently the thought hit me I wonder how many professing Christians really know God. If we really know Him we should also know His ways. If we do not know His ways then we really do not know Him. In other words His ways reveal who He is.
#4 | 3:14 to 4:06 | cleaned
They are the manifestation of His person and His character. So let me give it to you like this in order that you might try to Think along these lines. As parents, we have loved and raised our children, and many of them are now grown. So you have to ask yourself this question. Do my grown children really know me? Or do my grown children really understand my ways?
#5 | 4:06 to 4:42 | cleaned
I want to submit something for your consideration, and it's very simple. I submit to you that much conflict arises in families simply because families do not understand each other and do not know each other's ways. That's true between husband and wife, father and children, mother and children, brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles. we do not understand the ways of each other there is always conflict. And when our ways are dishonored and disrespected and disobeyed trouble always arises. So God says these people did not know my ways. I've often wondered if any of my children really know me.
#6 | 4:44 to 5:35 | cleaned
At times I think they do, at times I think they certainly do not. And certainly it's a source of grief for any parent when your children or a child acts contrary to that which you've said, taught, and lived. So think about it like this. If it were to hurt us and grieve us, if our children did not walk in our ways, and as godly parents we want godly children, obviously, but if our children would not walk in our ways and it would grieve us, How much more will it grieve our Heavenly Father if we do not walk in His ways? It was John the Apostle who said in 3 John verse 4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Notice that, I have no greater joy to hear than that my children walk in truth.
#7 | 5:36 to 6:33 | cleaned
And God said this concerning Abram in Genesis 18 and verse 19, God says, For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken concerning him. So God said, I know Abraham. So Abraham knew God and God knew Abraham and Abraham knew God's ways Now when you look at Isaiah 55 whole Hebrews chapter 3, but turn back to Isaiah 55 if you would please And look at verses 8 and 9 because in this passage we have to understand that by nature our We do not know God's ways and by nature. We do not know God's thoughts So when I say a 55 verses 8 and 9 God says this For my thoughts are not your thoughts Neither are your ways my way set the Lord for as the heavens are higher than the earth So are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts
#8 | 6:33 to 7:46 | cleaned
than your thoughts so clearly then If by nature we do not think God's thoughts, and if by nature we do not know His ways, when we are converted, when we are saved by His grace we have to learn to think as He thinks, and we have to learn His ways and walk in them. Now His ways are knowable and doable. In 1 Kings chapter 3 in verse 14 God said this to King Solomon as he was assuming the throne. God said, and if thou wilt walk in my ways and keep my statutes and my commandments as thy father David did walk then I will lengthen thy days. So He said if you want a long life then you walk in the ways that your Father David walked, because David walked in my ways." Interestingly when Rehoboam was king, David's grandson, the kingdom you remember was rent in twain. And Jeroboam took the ten tribes and Rehoboam kept the southern tribes. There was not a godly king in all of northern Israel. They were all wicked.
#9 | 7:46 to 9:07 | cleaned
Jeroboam was even one of the most wicked and here's what God said to Jeroboam in first Kings 11 and verse 38 listen carefully he said in it shall be if I would hearken unto all that I command thee I walk in my ways, and do that which is right in my sight, and keep my statutes and my commandments as David my servant did, then I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee." So God came to Jeroboam and He said, look all you've got to do is walk in my ways and keep my commandments and I will build you a sure house just like I told David. of course Jeroboam disobeyed. And Jeroboam is the one who built the two golden calves and said, these be thy gods O Israel who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. When you get to Psalm 81 in verse 13 God made a statement and here is when He said, oh that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my ways.
#10 | 9:07 to 10:14 | cleaned
So in the Hebrew is a wish that is contrary to reality. It is a desire that is contrary to fact. God said, Oh, that My people had hearkened to Me, but they didn't. And Israel had walked in My ways, but they didn't. But God is expressing a desire to that. So the truth is God desires that His people walk in His ways. When you get to Ephesians 5 and verse 1 the Apostle Paul said it like this, "'Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children.'" Now the word followers is a very interesting word. It is actually the word to be imitators or to mimic. he said, be ye mimickers of God, be ye imitators of God. So, clearly we must walk in His ways if we please Him. That is why in Matthew 5 and verse 48 our Lord said, be ye therefore perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect. So, when you consider the fact that God has His ways, and we have our ways, Then you have to understand what God said through the prophet Haggai.
#11 | 10:15 to 11:36 | cleaned
During that time when they were rebuilding the temple, God said in Haggai 1 in verse 5, Now therefore, thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways. And then he repeated it again in verse 7. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Consider your ways. So what God is asking is that we consider our ways and if our ways are not His ways then we need to repent and turn back to Him. And the reason being in Psalm 145 and verse 17 the Bible says, the Lord is righteous in all of His ways and holy in all of His works. So all of His ways are right, they are righteous. you get to the book of Revelation chapter 15 and verse 3 the Bible says, and they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, listen to this, saying, great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. So again God's ways are just and true.
#12 | 11:37 to 12:47 | cleaned
Now, Today I want us to look at just two points. The first one is this, you have to consider that we are commanded to walk in God's ways. I'm going to show you a number of passages just from the book of Deuteronomy. I could multiply the passages, I could take them basically out of any book of the Bible. But I want you to see the essence of what it means to walk in His ways. And I want you to understand that everything that he says is very plain, very clear, and just straightforward.
#13 | 12:48 to 13:25 | cleaned
In other words, it's almost impossible to misunderstand. So, let's begin in our Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 8, and let's look at verse 6. The fifth book in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy chapter 8 and verse 6. And I want you to ponder these verses with me. Deuteronomy 8 and verse 6, the Bible says this, therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God to walk in his ways and to fear him. So what does it mean then to walk in his ways? First of all, it means to keep his commandments. Secondly, it means to fear him. It is impossible to fear the Lord and not obey Him. Moreover, it is impossible to walk in His ways and then dishonor and disobey His commandments. Because if you're walking in His ways, you're walking in His commandments.
#14 | 13:26 to 14:32 | cleaned
You have to remember that the Word of God, the entirety of it, is God's revealed will for our lives. So He says, Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God to walk in his ways and to fear him turn if you would to Deuteronomy chapter 10 Deuteronomy chapter 10 and look at verses 12 and 13 Deuteronomy 10 verse 12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Now, go back to verse 13. He says, or verse 12 rather, he said, Now Israel, what does the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord? So what is fearing the Lord thy God? It's walking in His ways. And to love Him and to serve Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
#15 | 14:32 to 15:43 | cleaned
So what does it mean then to love Him and serve Him with all thy heart and all thy soul? Verse 13, to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes. which I command thee this day for thy good." So, loving the Lord, serving the Lord, and keeping His commandments is walking in His ways. And please take note of this fact that it is true that as we walk in His ways and keep His commandments we honor Him. But doing that is not just simply for His honor and glory according to verse 13, it is for our good.
#16 | 15:43 to 16:18 | cleaned
I will explain more next week. So look in Deuteronomy 11 and verse 22. Deuteronomy 11 verse 22, God says, if you shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him. Now, we've already pointed out from these other verses that loving the Lord and walking in His ways involve obeying His commandments.
#17 | 16:19 to 16:58 | cleaned
But I want you to note He adds something. He says, for if you shall diligently keep all these commandments which I commend you to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him. So the question is how do we cleave to the Lord? What does cleaving unto the Lord imply? Well, when we think of the word cleave, we think of course of holding on to and sticking close to someone. You can say, well, that individual, you see little kids, even little boys, especially when they're a year or two old, they don't want to leave mama. They're cleavers. They cleave to mama. They got to have mama all the time. Well, when we use the word cleave, that's normally what we think of, but it actually means more than to stick close to and to be close together. For instance, do you remember in Genesis chapter two and verse 24, God says this, Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."
#18 | 16:59 to 18:23 | cleaned
So the word cleave literally means to join together. Now stop and think about this. We are joined together with our Heavenly Father through the Lord Jesus Christ in that He enables us to by His grace and mercy to walk after His commandments and keep them and do them. Let me say this another way. My faith is revealed and evidenced and manifested by obedience. Let me go a step further. To refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication.
#19 | 18:24 to 19:06 | cleaned
you to hold Deuteronomy, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I want you to consider this passage in light of the Bible commanding us to cleave unto the Lord. Ok? So look in 1 Corinthians chapter 6 and let's begin reading there with verse 13. 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 13. He says, meats for the belly, and the belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. So God has made our body for Himself. The body is not to be used in an unlawful manner. Verse 14, And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by His own power. Now it begins, so look carefully.
#20 | 19:08 to 20:02 | cleaned
you not that your bodies are the members of Christ." So if we've been saved our bodies are the members of Christ. Remember He is the head, we are the body. So the question is, shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? Know you not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? For two shall be one flesh. There is cleaving. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication, every sin that a man doeth is without the body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
#21 | 20:03 to 20:52 | cleaned
for your bulk with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." So refusing to cleave unto the Lord as the one true and living God, as the Sovereign, as the Ultimate, as the Supreme One who has given us His Law, who has given us His Word to guide our lives and to direct our lives to refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication.
#22 | 20:53 to 21:20 | cleaned
It is just that simple. If I am joined to the Lord I cannot use my body in an unlawful manner. I cannot cleave to another God or profess any other God. I have to cleave unto Him alone and I do so in faith and obedience. This is what our Lord said in John chapter 14 and verse 15. He said, if you love me, what? Keep my commandments. Then in John 14 verse 21, he said he that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Wow so Walking in his ways then Demonstrates that we are cleaving unto Him that He is our God truly and genuinely.
#23 | 21:22 to 22:14 | cleaned
Now, go back to Deuteronomy, but I want you to go to Deuteronomy 26, Deuteronomy 26, and look at verse 17. In fact, let's begin reading there with verse 13. me just tell you about this chapter without reading the entire chapter. This is where the Israelites were coming to the priests. They were bringing their offerings to the Lord, their tithes. In verse 13 they would make a confession.
#24 | 22:15 to 22:54 | cleaned
Then thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have brought away thy hallowed things out of mine house, and And also I have given them unto the Levite, there's the Levitical tithe, and to the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widower, that's the poor tithe, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me. I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them. I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away aught thereof for any unclean use, nor given aught thereof for the dead, which would be idolatry. But I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.
#25 | 22:56 to 23:34 | cleaned
So here's the prayer request. Look down from thy holy habitation from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest on our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey. This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments. Thou shalt therefore keep to do them with all thine heart and with all thy soul. Now watch, thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes and his commandments and his judgments and to hearken unto his voice."
#26 | 23:35 to 24:21 | cleaned
Now, go back to verse 17. Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God. The word avouched is a very interesting word. We normally use the word vouch. Someone asked me, well what about David? Is he reliable? Is he a good worker? Is he honest? And I could say, I can vouch for David. All that means is I'm saying, yes, he's genuine. He's real. He's true. That is the way we use the word. However, the word means even more than that. The Hebrew word is the word Amar, which means not only to speak, But it also means to say in one's heart, and to think, and to promise. So here's what God is saying, listen carefully, that when we obey Him, and do that which He has commanding, we are saying We are thinking and we are promising that He is our God. And the way that everybody knows that He is our God is we keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments.
#27 | 24:22 to 25:42 | cleaned
So we are vouching that God is the Sovereign, the Supreme One, the Ultimate, and there is none but Him. Let me show you something else. This is interesting. Because as we avouch him in our obedience to him Look in your Bibles to verse 18 And the Lord hath avouched thee This day to be his peculiar people as he has promised thee and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments that amazing so as we have vouch God to be our God in obedience to him and Then God avouches the fact.
#28 | 25:43 to 26:24 | cleaned
Yeah, you're mine because you're obeying me. You're walking in my ways You're doing exactly that which I desire So look in Deuteronomy 28 and verse 9 Deuteronomy 28 in verse 9 Here's an interesting thing the Lord shall establish the unholy people under by unto himself as he is sworn into the if keep the commandments of the Lord by God and walk in His ways." How are we to be a holy people?
#29 | 26:24 to 27:00 | cleaned
How are we to demonstrate that we are His? The answer is by keeping His commandments and walking in His ways. In fact walking in His ways is keeping His commandments. Those who do not belong to the Lord are not interested in walking in His ways. They are not interested in keeping His commandments. And their lives Evidence and manifest that they're not interested Ignorant professors Do not know him Neither do they walk in his ways moreover They do not want to know him and they do not want to walk in his ways About a week and a half ago Was in Douglas, Georgia waiting to get
#30 | 27:00 to 27:51 | cleaned
a haircut there was one man in front of me and so I just reached over and I picked up a shopper to look through it and Here was an ad. I Nearly fell out of my chair the ad said we're starting a new church We're putting the fun back in Christianity parties Every month singing and dancing if you're interested call such-and-such number I thought Lord have mercy. Where's preaching? Where's teaching? Where's obedience? We're so putting the fun back in Christianity. I Wonder what the first century Christians thought was fun when they were being burned at the stake and thrown to the lions Can you imagine So that's why God said This is an ignorant people they have not known my ways Israel professed to be his But they were totally absolutely Ignorant they chose to walk in their own ways not in the ways of God Which brings me to the second consideration? You have to consider that to depart from the ways of the Lord is wickedness. To depart from the ways of the Lord is wickedness.
#31 | 27:51 to 29:28 | cleaned
When one turns from the ways of the Lord, he automatically turns to his own ways. And essentially turning to your own ways is a turning from the Lord and away from his ways. What did God say in Hebrews 3 in verse 10? He said they do always err in their hearts They have not known My ways the reason we err or make errors in our heart is because we do not know the ways of the Lord I've said this before Problem is not a problem if you know what to do You only have problems when you're ignorant and don't know what to do or do not have the ability to work it out God says we are because we do not know his ways thus implying that our ways are ways of ignorance and wickedness and David said it like this in 2 Samuel 22 verse 22, he said, For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. The same verse is quoted in Psalm 18 verse 21 where he said again, For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
#32 | 29:28 to 30:57 | cleaned
So in both passages David is saying that when we depart from the ways of the Lord it is wickedness. So is it not grievous to us when our children depart from our ways? Christian parents desire holy, godly, righteous, obedient children. Children that know the way of the Lord and that know the ways of their godly parents. Oftentimes when our children sin, instead of confronting them, We make excuses for them God is not like that Or he rather points out the sins Very quickly.
#33 | 30:58 to 31:51 | cleaned
I want you to look in your Bible. So Jeremiah whole Deuteronomy we're coming right back there, but look at Jeremiah chapter 4 and verse 22 Jeremiah 4 verse 22 Look what God says about His people. Jeremiah 4, verse 22. Look at it. God says, for my people is foolish. They are foolish. They have not known me. They are soddish children, and they have none understanding. They're wise to do evil, but to do good, they have no knowledge. Isn't that amazing? God says, for my people are foolish. They have not known me.
#34 | 31:51 to 32:46 | cleaned
And if they don't know him, they don't know his ways. They're sottish children.
#35 | 32:48 to 32:52 | cleaned
Now, I'm going to explain the word sottish in just a moment. Usually we use the word sot for our drunkard, but that's not what this word means. You can take a child that's ugly, rebellious, stubborn, won't listen, and what usually we say, that's a snotty little kid, by that we just mean he's mean and ugly, and we don't like to be around him. Well, the word sonnish here actually means foolish and to play the fool. He says, for my people are foolish, they have not known me, they are soddish children. That is they are foolish, they are playing the fool. And the evidence that they are playing the fool is they have no understanding.
#36 | 32:53 to 33:48 | cleaned
They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. So they may be professors, but they are ignorant professors. God says they don't know me, they have no knowledge. The only knowledge they have is to do evil and to do wickedness.
#37 | 33:49 to 34:04 | cleaned
Now, let me show you where Israel fell and from where they fell. Hold Jeremiah chapter 4 and turn back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 4. Deuteronomy chapter 4. Here is when God is giving them the law as they came out of the land. Deuteronomy 4. Moses is speaking in verse 5 And he says this Behold I have taught you statutes and judgments Even as the Lord my God commanded me that you should do so in the land whether you go to possess it Keep therefore and do them that is the commandments and the judgments the statutes keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdom and And your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, with God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all the things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous, as all this law which I set before you this day?"
#38 | 34:05 to 35:32 | cleaned
Now isn't that interesting? God says, keep my commandments. Keep my law. This is your wisdom. This is your understanding. And all the other nations will look around and say, what nation is so great as this one? Look how close God is to them. Look how close, how nigh God is to them in all things. there is not any other nation that has so righteous judgments and statutes. And now in Jeremiah 4 and verse 22, they have fallen so far that God said, for my people are foolish, they have not known me, they are soddish children, and they have no understanding.
#39 | 35:32 to 36:14 | cleaned
They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Ignorance, disobedience Degenerated a wise and understanding holy people into a soddish disobedient and rebellious people If you look in Jeremiah chapter 9 and verse 3, here's what Jeremiah says and God says concerning these people Jeremiah 9 look if you would please at verse 3 and and they bend their tongues like their bows for lies. But they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth, for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not Me, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 9 verse 3. So they are liars. They are not valiant for the truth. They hate the truth. They don't care for the truth. They proceed from evil to evil and God says, they have not known Me. Wow! If you will turn back to Isaiah 42 and look at verse 24 Isaiah 42 and verse 24 Look at this question and Look at the answer Isaiah 42 verse 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers? Here's the answer Did not the Lord he against whom we have sinned for they would not walk in his ways Neither were they obedient to his law So God gave him up to a spoil God constantly and consistently cried out against their sin and their degradation, but they refused to listen and 2
#40 | 36:15 to 38:32 | cleaned
Kings 17 and verse 13, listen to this, "'Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah by all the prophets and by all the seers, saying, Turn you from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My service and prophets.'" So God sent servants. God sent prophets. And them. They refused to listen. When you get to Jeremiah 3 since you are not too far from there just go right back to Jeremiah chapter 3 and look at verse 13. Here is what God says, Jeremiah 3 verse 13, In fact we can read verse 12, here is what Jeremiah was saying, Jeremiah 3 verse 12, Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you. For I am merciful, saith the Lord, and will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree.
#41 | 38:14 to 39:23 | cleaned
You have not obeyed my voice said the Lord. So God said you just acknowledge that you have scattered your ways You have not obeyed my ways And of course They refused it's kind of like well, you can see it for yourself. I think it's in Jeremiah chapter 8 and verse 6 Look what Jeremiah says In fact you can read verse 5, Jeremiah 8 and verse 5, "'Why then is his people of Jerusalem slidden back by perpetual backsliding?
#42 | 39:24 to 40:03 | cleaned
They hold fast to seat. They refuse to return. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright. No man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done?' Everyone turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into battle." Wow! What have I done? David speaks about those who turn aside to their crooked ways, and he points out the fact that God is going to lead them with the workers of iniquity. He said in Psalm 125 and verse 5, and as such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Wow.
#43 | 40:03 to 40:51 | cleaned
Now, let me show you something. Probably you and I have never thought about this, but we understand that departing from the ways of the Lord is sin, wickedness, rebellion. We grasp that. But have you ever considered that departing from the ways of the Lord is more than that? It is that, but it is also a perversion. You know, we talk about perverts. Maybe I ought to preach a sermon on Christian perverts.
#44 | 40:52 to 41:30 | cleaned
Well, there is such a thing. Look in Acts chapter 13. Except the fact that this man that was doing this was not a Christian, obviously. He was Elymas, the sorcerer. And Sergius Paulus was the deputy of the country. Paul was witnessing to him and of course Elymas was a false prophet a sorcerer and he sought to turn the deputy away from the faith in fact let's let's go begin reading at verse 6 watch verse 6 and when they had gone through the island of Paphos they found a certain sorcerer a false prophet a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus and which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the Word of God. So, Sergius Paulus wanted to hear the Word of God, but Elymas the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation, withstood them. Ah, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him and said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
#45 | 41:36 to 43:04 | cleaned
So anyone then who tries to lead people away from the Scriptures is a pervert. That's what Paul said to this false prophet. It's a pervert. Why was he interested in leading Sergius Paulus away from the Word of God? Well, the answer is very simple. Because he wanted to turn him to his own way. Do you realize Isaiah used this illustration in Isaiah 53 in verse 6 when he said it like this? All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to where to his own way. So when we turn to our own way, we're perverts. We're perverting the ways of God. Wow. When we walk in sin and wickedness and rebellion and perversion, we're despising God and His ways. So God commands us to consider our ways.
#46 | 43:07 to 44:21 | cleaned
Now, I want to make some applications, and I want you to think with me, okay? In light of this message, there are several important truths that we need to consider. And each of these truths are actually from a scripture. First of all, In Proverbs 5 verse 21 the Bible says, For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all of his goings. The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he, God, pondereth all of his goings. So God is omniscient.
#47 | 44:22 to 45:06 | cleaned
He sees all and He knows all there is no hiding from him. You don't go out behind the barn from God That's why Hebrews 4 verse 13 says neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight But all things are naked and open under the eyes of him with whom we have to do So we need to consider the fact that We can't hide from God and God knows every one of our ways. He knows our moves He knows our motives. He knows our motivations We need to learn to live in light of God's omniscience Because God does indeed ponder all of our goings and he ponders them to judge us Secondly when we walk in our own ways, which are perverse and We're despising God back in May. I preached a message Christians who despise God From Proverbs 14 in verse 2. Let me just give you the scripture he that walketh in his uprightness fear of the Lord, but He that is perverse in his ways despise of him So that means obviously when we walk in our own ways we are despising God and But when we walk in our uprightness that which is ethical
#48 | 45:07 to 46:37 | cleaned
and moral and right according to God's laws We're praising him and we're fearing him Here's the third one. We need to be aware of the reality that just simply because we do not see That something is wrong Does not mean that it is right I've heard people say so many times, I don't see anything wrong with it. Well, regardless whether you see something wrong with it or not is beside the point. If God says it's wrong, if God says it's wicked, it's wrong and it's wicked. In Proverbs 16 verse 2, the Bible says, all the ways of man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. All the ways of man are clean in his own eyes. Everyone likes his own ways better than the ways of everybody else That's why we always want to do things my way But just because I don't see something wrong with my way Does not mean that my way is right or biblical But man always prefers his ways now Want you to go back
#49 | 46:37 to 48:01 | cleaned
to Jeremiah chapter 6 I Want to give you another verse You remember in verse 22 of chapter 4 God called his people soddish Foolish they're playing the fool. I Because they were wise to do evil, but they had no understanding and they had no knowledge of God's ways a Sardis people or people who refused to listen They refused to hear they refused to heed they refused to obey So look in Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse 16 Jeremiah 6 verse 16, Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the all paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Look what God said. God said, You ask and For the old paths you ask the good way. That is my way and you walk therein You're gonna find peace. You're gonna find prosperity. You're gonna find protection You're gonna find everything you need if you just obey me, but they said We're not gonna walk like that we're not gonna live like that Do you realize The reason God brought destruction upon both the southern kingdom and the northern kingdom is they refused to walk in His ways.
#50 | 48:02 to 49:56 | cleaned
Isn't that amazing? They refused to walk in His ways. One last thing. I want you to go back, and I'll deal with this more next week Lord willing, but look in Hebrews 3 and verse 10. I'm not sure that you caught the impact of this when I read it earlier, but look at it. Hebrews 3 and verse 10, our text where we began, God said, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways. Has it ever dawned upon you that not knowing God's ways and refusing to walk in God's ways grieves the heart of God? You know, you remember that verse in Ephesians 4 and verse 30, and grieve not the Holy Spirit, whereby you're sealed in the day of your redemption. There is a way to grieve the Holy Spirit, but here in this passage it is grieving the heart of God the Father. You remember Jacob and Esau, of course Esau was the oldest. And Esau married the daughters of Heth.
#51 | 49:57 to 51:32 | cleaned
He married idolaters. He married unholy, unbiblical women. Which the Bible says, and they were a grief to Isaac. They were a grief to Isaac. But you know what Rebecca said? She said, I am weary of my life with these daughters of Heth. If Jacob marries one of them, I can't make it. I'm weary of life. They were a grief of mine to Isaac. If our children acting like that and doing like that grieves the heart of parents, what must it be like for God's children, or at least those who profess to be his children, to not know him and not know his ways?
#52 | 51:34 to 52:38 | cleaned
I remember years ago the first time that I found out that my twins had lied to me. I remember it like it was yesterday. I just never thought they would lie to me. I know all men are liars, but I always thought that, boy, this is a relationship I have with them. I speak the truth to them, they speak the truth to me. When I found out they had lied to me, I was so heartbroken, I was so devastated.
#53 | 52:48 to 53:23 | cleaned
And of course I confronted them and they acknowledged it and repented. But I'm just simply saying, I remember that. It just blew my, I just never thought that they would lie to me like that. They would lie to anybody else, I would understand that, but not to me. And can you imagine what it must be like with God when He looks down and says, oh, that child of mine, he's so foolish. He doesn't know me. He doesn't know my ways. It breaks my heart. Oh, He said that my people had hearkened to me and Israel had kept my ways. We need to know His ways and to walk in them. Let's pray.
#54 | 53:24 to 54:24 | cleaned
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We acknowledge, Lord, that we have failed to walk in Your ways a multitude of times. We're sinners. We've sinned. We've erred. We've deviated. We've fallen short of. We've transgressed. But Lord, there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be desired. And Lord, we do ask that you would teach us your ways and help us to walk in them.
#55 | 54:24 to 54:58 | cleaned
May we not be soddish children. And like those in Jeremiah's time who said, we will not walk therein. But help us, Lord, to walk in your way and to honor you. Give us grace that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen.
#56 | 54:59 to 55:20 | cleaned
so so
#57 | 55:44 to 55:44 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:01:54Z

Ignorant Professors - Part 1 of 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver expounds Hebrews 3:10, where God says of the wilderness generation, 'They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways.' He argues that ignorance of God's ways is not bliss but death, and that many professing Christians are 'ignorant professors' who do not truly know God because they do not walk in His ways. Walking in God's ways is equated with keeping His commandments, fearing Him, loving Him, and cleaving to Him. Departing from His ways is wickedness, perversion, and grieves the heart of God. The sermon calls believers to examine their ways, repent, and learn to walk in God's righteous ways.

Introduction: Ignorance is Death, Not Bliss

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 3:7-11

Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness. When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways.

So I swear in my wrath they shall not enter into my rest.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 95:10

" The text that I'm going to be dealing with today and next Sunday, Lord willing, is found in verse 10. If you'll look at it carefully, God says, Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways."

Knowing God Means Knowing His Ways

God's Ways Are Higher Than Our Ways

Commanded to Walk in God's Ways (Deuteronomy)

So what does it mean then to love Him and serve Him with all thy heart and all thy soul? Verse 13, to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes. which I command thee this day for thy good.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 11:22

" So, loving the Lord, serving the Lord, and keeping His commandments is walking in His ways. And please take note of this fact that it is true that as we walk in His ways and keep His commandments we honor Him. But doing that is not just simply for His honor and glory according to verse 13, it is for our good. I will explain more next week. So look in Deuteronomy 11 and verse 22. Deuteronomy 11 verse 22, God says, if you shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him. Now, we've already pointed out from these other verses that loving the Lord and walking in His ways involve obeying His commandments.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:13-20

" So if we've been saved our bodies are the members of Christ. Remember He is the head, we are the body. So the question is, shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? Know you not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? For two shall be one flesh. There is cleaving. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication, every sin that a man doeth is without the body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? for your bulk with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

Departing from God's Ways is Wickedness and Perversion

Applications: Living in Light of God's Omniscience and Our Ways

Ignorant Professors - Part 1 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	eT-RU1iEf3o
Subject	Family Government
Course	The Christian Family: Children, Fatherhood, and Generational Faithfulness: The World And Times Of Jesse James
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-12-05
Dictation Name
Book	Book 032: Ignorant Professors — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	57

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: Ignorance is Death, Not Bliss: Weaver introduces Hebrews 3:10, quoting Psalm 95:10, and states that the Israelites' ignorance of God's ways led to their death in the wilderness. He contrasts the world's view that ignorance is bliss with the biblical truth that ignorance of God is deadly.
Knowing God Means Knowing His Ways: Weaver argues that to know God is to know His ways, because His ways reveal His person and character. He uses the analogy of parents and children to illustrate that conflict arises when family members do not understand each other's ways, and how much more it grieves God when His children do not walk in His ways.
God's Ways Are Higher Than Our Ways: Weaver explains from Isaiah 55:8-9 that by nature we do not know God's thoughts or ways, but when we are converted we must learn to think as He thinks and walk in His ways. He emphasizes that God's ways are knowable and doable, citing 1 Kings 3:14 and other passages.
Commanded to Walk in God's Ways (Deuteronomy): Weaver examines several passages in Deuteronomy (8:6; 10:12-13; 11:22; 26:17; 28:9) to show that walking in God's ways means keeping His commandments, fearing Him, loving Him, serving Him, and cleaving to Him. He explains that cleaving to the Lord is joining to Him in faith and obedience, and refusing to do so is spiritual fornication.
Departing from God's Ways is Wickedness and Perversion: Weaver teaches that turning from God's ways is wickedness (2 Samuel 22:22; Psalm 18:21) and leads to foolishness and ignorance (Jeremiah 4:22). He shows how Israel fell from being a wise and understanding people (Deuteronomy 4:5-8) to a sottish, disobedient people. He also argues from Acts 13:10 that leading people away from God's ways is perverting the right ways of the Lord.
Applications: Living in Light of God's Omniscience and Our Ways: Weaver applies the message by reminding listeners that God sees all our ways (Proverbs 5:21), that walking in perverse ways despises God (Proverbs 14:2), that our own perception of rightness does not make our ways right (Proverbs 16:2), and that refusing to walk in God's ways grieves His heart (Hebrews 3:10). He concludes with a call to repentance and prayer.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Knowing God Necessitates Knowing His Ways

Weaver argues that if we truly know God, we will know His ways, because His ways are the manifestation of His person and character.

He says, 'If we really know Him we should also know His ways. If we do not know His ways then we really do not know Him.'

Walking in God's Ways is Commanded and Defined by Scripture

Through a series of Deuteronomy texts, Weaver demonstrates that walking in God's ways is not a vague concept but is clearly defined as keeping His commandments, fearing, loving, serving, and cleaving to Him.

He summarizes Deuteronomy 10:12-13: 'loving the Lord, serving the Lord, and keeping His commandments is walking in His ways.'

Refusing to Cleave to God is Spiritual Fornication

Weaver uses 1 Corinthians 6 to argue that being joined to the Lord means we cannot use our bodies unlawfully or cleave to other gods; to refuse to cleave to Him is spiritual fornication.

He states, 'to refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication.'

Obedience is the Evidence of Faith and Love

Weaver argues that our faith is revealed and evidenced by obedience, and that loving Christ is demonstrated by keeping His commandments (John 14:15,21).

He says, 'My faith is revealed and evidenced and manifested by obedience.'

Ignorant Professors are Foolish and Have No Understanding

Using Jeremiah 4:22, Weaver shows that those who do not know God are foolish, sottish children with no understanding, wise only to do evil.

He reads Jeremiah 4:22: 'For my people is foolish... they are soddish children, and they have none understanding.'

God's Judgment Comes for Refusing His Ways

Weaver points to Isaiah 42:24 and 2 Kings 17:13 to show that God gave Israel over to spoil and destruction because they would not walk in His ways or obey His law.

He quotes Isaiah 42:24: 'Who gave Jacob for a spoil... Did not the Lord he against whom we have sinned for they would not walk in his ways.'

Scripture References

Hebrews 3:7-11: The opening reading and the primary text for the sermon, focusing on verse 10 where God says the Israelites always err in heart and have not known His ways.
Psalm 95:10: Weaver notes that Hebrews 3:10 is a quote from Psalm 95:10, emphasizing God's grief over the generation that did not know His ways.
1 Corinthians 10:5: Cited to show that with many of the Israelites God was not well pleased and they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Hebrews 3:17-19: Weaver reads these verses to show that the Israelites could not enter God's rest because of unbelief.
3 John 1:4: Quoted to illustrate the joy of a parent when children walk in truth, contrasting with the grief when they do not.
Genesis 18:19: Used to show that God knew Abraham would command his household to keep the way of the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8-9: Explained to show that by nature our thoughts and ways are not God's, but we must learn His ways after conversion.
1 Kings 3:14: God's promise to Solomon that if he walked in God's ways, his days would be lengthened.
1 Kings 11:38: God's conditional promise to Jeroboam that if he walked in God's ways, God would build him a sure house.
Psalm 81:13: God's lament that His people did not hearken to Him or walk in His ways.
Ephesians 5:1: Paul's command to be imitators of God as dear children.
Matthew 5:48: Jesus' command to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect, connected to walking in God's ways.
Haggai 1:5,7: God's command to consider your ways, used to call for self-examination.
Psalm 145:17: Declares that the Lord is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works.
Revelation 15:3: The song of Moses and the Lamb declares God's ways are just and true.
Deuteronomy 8:6: Command to keep God's commandments, walk in His ways, and fear Him.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13: What God requires: fear, walk in all His ways, love, serve, keep commandments.
Deuteronomy 11:22: Command to diligently keep commandments, love God, walk in His ways, and cleave to Him.
Genesis 2:24: Used to define 'cleave' as joining together, applied to cleaving to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 6:13-20: Extended reading to argue that being joined to the Lord means not using the body for fornication; refusing to cleave to God is spiritual fornication.

Historical References

Israelites in the wilderness: The generation that came out of Egypt but died in the wilderness because they did not know God's ways and did not believe.
Joshua and Caleb: The only two original men who entered Canaan because they pleased God, contrasting with the many who were overthrown.
King Solomon: God promised Solomon long life if he walked in God's ways as David did (1 Kings 3:14).
Rehoboam and Jeroboam: The kingdom was divided; Jeroboam was offered a sure house if he walked in God's ways but disobeyed and built golden calves.
Elymas the sorcerer: In Acts 13, Paul called Elymas a child of the devil for perverting the right ways of the Lord by trying to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith.
Jacob and Esau: Esau married idolatrous women who were a grief to Isaac and Rebekah, illustrating how children's disobedience grieves parents.

Important Quotes

if ignorance is bliss, we should be the happiest people on earth. But according to our text, ignorance is not bliss, it is death.

Sets up the central contrast of the sermon: the world's view versus God's view of ignorance.

If we really know Him we should also know His ways. If we do not know His ways then we really do not know Him.

Core argument that knowledge of God and knowledge of His ways are inseparable.

to refuse to cleave unto Him is spiritual fornication.

Strong language emphasizing the seriousness of not being joined to God in obedience.

My faith is revealed and evidenced and manifested by obedience.

Succinct statement of the relationship between faith and works in the believer's life.

for my people is foolish. They are foolish. They have not known me. They are soddish children, and they have none understanding. They're wise to do evil, but to do good, they have no knowledge.

Quoting Jeremiah 4:22 to describe the state of ignorant professors.

anyone then who tries to lead people away from the Scriptures is a pervert.

Application of Acts 13:10 to modern contexts, defining perversion of God's ways.

Has it ever dawned upon you that not knowing God's ways and refusing to walk in God's ways grieves the heart of God?

Emotional appeal to consider the personal grief caused to God by disobedience.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What does it mean to 'know God's ways' according to this sermon, and how is that different from simply knowing about God?

[Context]

Weaver argues that knowing God's ways is essential to knowing God Himself, and that His ways are revealed in His commandments.

[Question]

How does the analogy of parent-child relationships help us understand God's grief over His people's ignorance and disobedience?

[Context]

Weaver uses the grief of parents when children lie or act contrary to their teaching to illustrate God's heart.

[Question]

In what ways might professing Christians today be 'ignorant professors' who do not truly know God's ways?

[Context]

The sermon challenges listeners to examine whether their profession matches their walk, citing the example of the Israelites.

[Question]

What is the relationship between loving God and keeping His commandments according to John 14:15,21 and Deuteronomy 10:12-13?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that love for God is demonstrated by obedience to His commandments.

[Question]

Why does Weaver call refusing to cleave to the Lord 'spiritual fornication,' and what does that imply about our relationship with God?

[Context]

Using 1 Corinthians 6, he argues that being joined to the Lord means exclusive loyalty and obedience.

[Question]

How does the concept of 'perverting the right ways of the Lord' (Acts 13:10) apply to those who lead others away from biblical truth today?

[Context]

Weaver applies Paul's rebuke of Elymas to anyone who distorts or opposes God's ways.

[Question]

What does it mean practically to 'consider your ways' in light of God's omniscience (Proverbs 5:21; Haggai 1:5,7)?

[Context]

The sermon calls for self-examination and repentance where our ways do not align with God's.

Applications

Format deepseek deepseek-v4-pro structured study JSON | Source Commentary.net transcript enrichment

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T23:37:20Z