"... we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,
the hidden wisdom
which God ordained before the ages
for our glory ..."
1 Corinthians 2:7
_____________________________________________________________
Dear Saints,
The Garden of Eden had two trees that are a landmark for all humanity:
The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Read Genesis 2:8-17.
Mankind still has the right to choose ... life or death.
See Deuteronomy 30:19-20.
Two Trees—Two Kinds of Wisdom ...
Two Kinds of Fruit!
Wisdom From Above: Proverbs 4:1-13
In all your getting, get wisdom. Why?
Wisdom will:
Keep wisdom…it is your life.
What is wisdom?
Definition of Wisdom: the power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc.; the power of being wise; insight into the true nature of things; the ability to discern modes of action with a view of their results
Demonic Wisdom: James 3:13-18
In all your getting, do not seek earthly wisdom. Why?
It does not descend from above. It is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
Earthly wisdom will produce:
It will produce every evil thing in your life. Uh Oh!
God’s Wisdom
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18
“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God; and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; that, as it is written,
"He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
“I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-8
The Tree of Life and The Holy Spirit
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
“These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-13
How do we acquire wisdom from above?
Seek first the Kingdom of God every day. After all, we are citizens who are born from above. “Seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God,” and where we are sitting as well. Ephesians 2:6
Study to accurately divide the Word of Truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.
Definition of Seek: try to find, search for, look for, track down, look into, dig for, probe for, investigate, explore, examine, scrutinize, inspect, pursue, hunt for, to obtain, aim for, inquire for
The Bombardment of The Information Age
The Importance of Spending Time with the Teacher
One morning, sometime ago, I was studying Psalm 1. The Holy Spirit led me on several different “rabbit trails.”
I decided to look up the definition of scorn. I got out my old 1966 Webster’s Dictionary. Instead of the word scorn, my eyes first fell on a nasty picture of a scorpion. Yikes! One definition of scorpion said:
“in the Bible, a variety of whip or scourge, perhaps inset with spikes, 1 Kings 12:11.”
How horrid! I immediately began thinking of Jesus being tortured with such an awful instrument. As I read the scripture in 1 Kings, it brought me to tears. What a price our Savior paid for us!
HE'S CALLED "THE COUNSELOR"
When I began studying that day I was pressing through a cloud of weariness. But in a few moments what brought tears to my eyes brought tenderness to my soul and a total change in my outlook on life. If I would have allowed my soul to continue to go down the “woe is me" path, things would only have gotten darker and darker.
A heart that is grateful to Him who redeemed us will always lead us to the "joy" of our salvation.
Life Application
Jesus said, “By your patience possess your souls.”
That means He put the ball in our court.
Remember, “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Dear Saints, as people of prayer we must endeavor to stay "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." A weak Christian can do little for others in intercession.
Two Trees of Wisdom—It's Still Man's Choice
The world and it's earthly wisdom screams for your attention every day.
Make sure you set your heart to get wisdom from above ... from the Book ... early every morning.
It is your life.
Suggested Assignment
“Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.”
Read Proverbs Chapter 4 every morning this week.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER WITH PURPOSE
Fasting and Prayer: Friday, September 26th
Pray for Your State—God's glory to be revealed in every city and every county. Say to the cities, "Behold your God!" Read Isaiah 40:3-11.
Song for you from our "Power Praise" list:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG7v8jJKAOk
Let it Rain - Michael W. Smith
For the love of The Glorious Church
The Lost
Elected Officials
Copyright © 2013 – 2014 Prayer with Purpose; prayerwithpurpose.org
The Garden of Eden had two trees that are a landmark for all humanity:
The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Read Genesis 2:8-17.
Mankind still has the right to choose ... life or death.
See Deuteronomy 30:19-20.
Two Trees—Two Kinds of Wisdom ...
Two Kinds of Fruit!
Wisdom From Above: Proverbs 4:1-13
In all your getting, get wisdom. Why?
Wisdom will:
- Promote you
- Bring you honor
- Place on your head an ornament of grace
- Deliver to you a crown of glory
- Increase the years of your life
- Your steps will not be hindered
- When you run you will not stumble
Keep wisdom…it is your life.
What is wisdom?
Definition of Wisdom: the power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc.; the power of being wise; insight into the true nature of things; the ability to discern modes of action with a view of their results
Demonic Wisdom: James 3:13-18
In all your getting, do not seek earthly wisdom. Why?
It does not descend from above. It is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
Earthly wisdom will produce:
- Bitter envying
- Self-seeking
- Boasting
- Lying against the truth
- Confusion
It will produce every evil thing in your life. Uh Oh!
God’s Wisdom
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18
“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God; and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; that, as it is written,
"He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
“I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-8
The Tree of Life and The Holy Spirit
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
“These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-13
How do we acquire wisdom from above?
Seek first the Kingdom of God every day. After all, we are citizens who are born from above. “Seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God,” and where we are sitting as well. Ephesians 2:6
Study to accurately divide the Word of Truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.
Definition of Seek: try to find, search for, look for, track down, look into, dig for, probe for, investigate, explore, examine, scrutinize, inspect, pursue, hunt for, to obtain, aim for, inquire for
The Bombardment of The Information Age
- Be choosey what you hear and receive.
- Information does not mean transformation.
- Learning facts does not necessarily give one wisdom.
The Importance of Spending Time with the Teacher
One morning, sometime ago, I was studying Psalm 1. The Holy Spirit led me on several different “rabbit trails.”
I decided to look up the definition of scorn. I got out my old 1966 Webster’s Dictionary. Instead of the word scorn, my eyes first fell on a nasty picture of a scorpion. Yikes! One definition of scorpion said:
“in the Bible, a variety of whip or scourge, perhaps inset with spikes, 1 Kings 12:11.”
How horrid! I immediately began thinking of Jesus being tortured with such an awful instrument. As I read the scripture in 1 Kings, it brought me to tears. What a price our Savior paid for us!
HE'S CALLED "THE COUNSELOR"
When I began studying that day I was pressing through a cloud of weariness. But in a few moments what brought tears to my eyes brought tenderness to my soul and a total change in my outlook on life. If I would have allowed my soul to continue to go down the “woe is me" path, things would only have gotten darker and darker.
A heart that is grateful to Him who redeemed us will always lead us to the "joy" of our salvation.
Life Application
Jesus said, “By your patience possess your souls.”
That means He put the ball in our court.
Remember, “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Dear Saints, as people of prayer we must endeavor to stay "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." A weak Christian can do little for others in intercession.
Two Trees of Wisdom—It's Still Man's Choice
The world and it's earthly wisdom screams for your attention every day.
Make sure you set your heart to get wisdom from above ... from the Book ... early every morning.
It is your life.
Suggested Assignment
“Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.”
Read Proverbs Chapter 4 every morning this week.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER WITH PURPOSE
Fasting and Prayer: Friday, September 26th
Pray for Your State—God's glory to be revealed in every city and every county. Say to the cities, "Behold your God!" Read Isaiah 40:3-11.
Song for you from our "Power Praise" list:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG7v8jJKAOk
Let it Rain - Michael W. Smith
For the love of The Glorious Church
The Lost
Elected Officials
Copyright © 2013 – 2014 Prayer with Purpose; prayerwithpurpose.org