INTRODUCTION: Matthew 13:16-17 (NKJV) 16 "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (((((Matthew 5:14 (NKJV) 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) 8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Proverbs 2:6 (NKJV) 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; )))))
Humankind simply is not God; doesn’t live or think as God IS. BUT, God has made the things humankind sought to know available to you. We should ask …what are we to DO with God’s knowledge and understanding?
We HAVE miraculous knowledge from GOD - Still …we must be motivated and instructed in HOW to live. What tool do we still need? What miracle of God’s Spirit is yet to be fully developed?
BENEFIT STATEMENT: We are told by God to get His wisdom. How? And even if we have it, can we be completely SURE it is not a figment of our vain imaginations?
Specific Purpose Statement: Since we are told - God GIVES Wisdom, we must not have it on our own. Let’s study God’s Word today to look for the Wisdom OF God
BODY:
- We may start with Biblically defining what Wisdom OF God actually IS. Wisdom is used by God to CREATE. And that is always Good
(((((Colossians 1:16 (NKJV) 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
((((Genesis 1:31 (NKJV) 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. …
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
God Created All Things through Jesus Christ for Jesus Christ and the Creation OF God is “Good”. WE are created for “good” works. So…WE are created to BE OF God …and that’s ‘good’. HOW?
Prov 8: 22 "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primeval dust of the world. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.
Proverbs 3:18-19 (NKJV) 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. 19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding [Hebrew – skillfulness]He established the heavens;
Father is speaking but taking on the words of woman wisdom. Creation was built and is being built using wisdom and that equates with Life and the opposite with death. God allows us to use His wisdom as He does, but He does not force us to do so.
Solomon Given Wisdom of God and concludes something after a life of using it.
((((2 Chronicles 1:11-12 (NKJV) 11 And God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life--but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king-- 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."))))
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NKJV) 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
WISDOM: To KNOW we are temporal and created from returning to dust. To KNOW God is Life Giver of precious moments to acquire and learn Wisdom, and that God is the SORUCE of all Good and Truth.
Wisdom is like rain or streams of water in a dry desert where God’s creations sleep waiting for the mechanism of the life-giving moisture. Then …that God-created, sleeping life comes alive because God built in to life - how to use the life-giving water. That is like Wisdom enlivening God’s Good Creation. WE just need to learn to recognize and then use Wisdom in order to become ALIVE and Live as God intends.
“Woman” Wisdom makes here case here:
Proverbs 9:6,10 (NKJV) 6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.
10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Wisdom is not simply a matter of learning rules and precepts but is a matter of socialization, Active Interaction with God, Family, and Society …but GOD’S WAY
Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV) 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
- How can we recognize God’s Wisdom in Life today?
Ezekiel 28:17 (NKJV) 17 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.
Genesis 6:11-12 (NKJV) 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
((((Revelation 19:2 (NKJV) 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her."))))
Wisdom given to a person trusting God not man, even though that person sins.
Ecclesiastes 7:19-20 (NKJV) 19 Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city. 20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.
Ecclesiastes 7:23-24 (NKJV) 23 All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise"; But it was far from me. 24 As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, Who can find it out?
Ecclesiastes 7:25 (NKJV) 25 I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NKJV) 29 Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes."
Wisdom is – grasping that God is God and not you, and that HE is above all things and persons. To follow HIS Way IS wisdom.
(((((Psalm 85:8-13 (NKJV) 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.))))
The Purpose of Wisdom
Proverbs 1:1-7 (NKJV) 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion-- 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Wisdom is not our experience or life values, no matter HOW much worldly wisdom we have.
Proverbs 3:5-7 (NKJV) 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
How to GET Wisdom?
James 1:5-8 (NKJV) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
- Since mankind has corrupted Wisdom and we are part of that history …HOW do we measure God’s True Wisdom in Us?
God has given us this priceless gift of being able to understand His will and make wise decisions.
- Knowledge is important, but only when applied with wisdom.
- We gain wisdom by learning and living by God’s will.
Hebrews 5:12-14 (NKJV) 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
- Understanding, applying and learning from the will of God is a lifelong assignment for all of us.
- The ability to make wise decisions is a vital and fundamentally important prerequisite of leadership.
- We must learn to make wise decisions based on the will of God, not only so we can achieve the benefits that God intends, but also as leadership training for our future destiny of teaching God’s way to others.
- We must understand the relevant underlying principles so we can apply them as needed in the specific circumstances of our life.
The only perfect example is Jesus Christ…
1 Peter 2:21 (NKJV) 21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
((((1 Peter 1:13 - 16 (NKJV) 13Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”))))
“If you don’t know what you are looking for, you won’t know when you find it?”
- Heb.1:3 –EXPRESS IMAGE
Hebrews 1:3 (NKJV) 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
the instrument used for engraving or carving…2b the exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect, i.e facsimile.
The words “express image” are the translation of charakter (χαρακτερ). This word was used in classical Greek of an engraver, one who mints coins, a graving tool, a die, a stamp, a branding iron, a mark engraved, an impress, a stamp on coins and seals. Metaphorically it meant “a distinctive mark or token impressed on a person or thing, by which it is known from others, a characteristic, the character of.” Moulton and Milligan5 say that it was used to denote the tool for engraving; then it came to be used of the mark or impress made, with special reference to any distinguishing peculiarity. Hence it referred to an exact reproduction…
Vincent, commenting upon the entire expression says, Thus it is the impress of the divine essence possessed by absolute the Son bears the exact impress of the divine nature and character.”
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ESV
3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. NLT
- Mr. Herbert Armstrong use to write extensively on this. The definition he arrived at:
“ It is that controlled ability, in a separate independent entity, to come to a right knowledge of the TRUE from the false -- the RIGHT from the wrong -- and, by free choice, to CHOOSE the right and the true, and, further, to use the self-discipline to will and to actually DO the right. And how define right? By the spiritual Law of God! (MDSEX.DTH Page 1 Line 2269)
CONCLUSION:
We are who God is working through to show His Wisdom to humankind. We see our calling:
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NKJV) 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."
Psalm 90:1-12 (NKJV) 1 LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. 3 You turn man to destruction, And say, "Return, O children of men." 4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night. 5 You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: 6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers. 7 For we have been consumed by Your anger, And by Your wrath we are terrified. 8 You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. 9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh. 10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days [NIV – aright – in light of temporal life], That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
- Wisdom is used by God to CREATE. And that is always Good. INCLUDING NEW Creature WE are to BECOME
- HOW do we measure God’s True Wisdom in Us? By Christ as our Standard
- How can we recognize God’s Wisdom in Life today? – Trust God
CLOSE:
Psalm 90:13-17 (NKJV) 13 Return, O LORD! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. 14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! 15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children. 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. ALL in The Wisdom of God
