OUTLINE:

Pr 4:7
“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.”

Faith & Wisdom
Wisdom is a function of faith. There's a lot of worldly wisdom in the absence of godly faith. That wisdom encourages striving after the wind, as Solomon would say it (Ecc). True faith results in true wisdom, which is as powerful as the Giver, Himself (e.g. Pr 1).

Jesus’ Faith
Jesus had perfect faith. Within the sphere of that faith, He prayed to His Father to sanctify His sheep in Truth - NOT that our circumstances be changed (like so many of His sheep pray for, even today). He knows that YOU have been given the ability, by grace through faith, to persevere!

God’s Grace Doesn’t Fail
God clearly states that those of us with saving faith cannot ever fall from grace. This is the strength of "by grace through faith" (Eph 2:8) and "the rightesous man shall live by faith" (Ro 1:17).

Heb 11:6
Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

1Co 2:4-5
and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

Pray For It!
Some people cry out "I want faith!", but the problem is that they never earnestly pray to God for it. Why? Possibly laziness…self-absorption…entitlement??? "For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord" (Jas 1:17).

What the Apostles Lacked
- Understanding (e.g., Mt 16:15-23; Lk 18:31-34; Ac 1:1-9)
- Humility (e.g., Mt 20:20ff; Mk 9:33-35)
- Faith (e.g., Mt 16:5-11)
- Commitment (e.g., Lk 5:11; 22:31ff)
- Power (e.g., Mt 17:16-17; Jn 20; Ac 1:8)

Commitment
Satan has done a great job at destroying this concept in humanity, in general. People make vows all the time that are vapid, void of integrity. (read “Options” blog) (ref. Num 30:2; Psa 37:5; Pro 16:3; 1Ki 8:61; Jon 2:9; Ecc 5:4; Luk 9:62; Jam 5:12; Mat 5:32)

Jas 5:12
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath [ref. the thoughtless use of swearing,  with wrong motivation]; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. [for God takes no delight in fools - Ecc 5:4]

Idle hands are the devil's workshop. (2Th 3:6-12)

Entitlement Issues
How committed is a person with entitlement issues? Does this person bring glory to God???

Lack of Commitment
As soon as you think you can disobey the commands of the Lord God by no longer working as unto Him, you have chosen to depart from His gracious plan for your life. It's then and there that you've broken your commitment to Him!

Commitment
True commitment puts the Lord as top priority (ala Ro 12:1 & first fruits). If you’re convinced that something is from the Lord, then commit to it wholeheartedly. If you’re not convinced of the prior, then you shouldn’t be doing whatever it is in the first place.