BULLETIN

Acknowledging God’s Wisdom

Jeremiah 10:12 (NIV) 12 But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

James 3:13-18 (NIV) 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

It is a bit of an understatement that our world is full of controversy and mayhem – greatly in need of wisdom’s resolution. What to do? How to resolve and correct differences and wrongs? The right choice of movement is critical for there to be a productive and positive outcome. Thankfully, the answer is very near for those who will simply acknowledge the One who’s every movement is a display of wisdom’s solutions.

Recognizing His overwhelming knowledge, understanding, experience and foresight both for now and anything to come is the first requirement in escaping the results of earthly and evil choices for resolution. Accepting the reality of His all-encompassing wisdom is the beginning of an awareness that has the only hope of bringing peace and justice. To insist on denying this amazing attribute of God and its promised availability is to insure failure and defeat.

As His wisdom is recognized, however, it increasingly becomes a source of awe and wonder in the heart that will worship. That God so wonderfully formed all of creation and is ordering its completion brings on reasoning to fearfully comply and conform to His will in every way. The magnitude of His holiness and resolution of justice is exalted above any other considerations that would contradict His ways.

In worship of this amazing God of wisdom and understanding is also transformation into the same image and likeness that is seen. Acknowledging His wisdom is completed in this transformation and the fruit of Godly wisdom is assured both in this life and the one to come.

WISDOM

Definition: the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

Purpose: To resolve problems, circumstances, conflicts, and challenges with positive outcomes.

What is needed: Knowledge, understanding, experience, intuition, emotionally detached, unafraid

Acknowledging God as Wisdom

• The simple acceptance of existence - Recognize
• Gain knowledge - Respect
• Influenced by - Respond

Recognizing God’s Wisdom

God’s movements – Wisdom in motion

Proverbs 3:19-20 (NIV) 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

God’s ever present demonstration of excellence

Proverbs 8:27-29 (NIV) 27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, 28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, 29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

In God – Wisdom that all that exists

Jeremiah 10:12 (NIV) 12 But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

In simply requesting wisdom of God is an incredible display of deference in worship

2 Chronicles 1:10 (NIV) 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

In God’s displayed wisdom – awe

1 Kings 3:28 (NIV) 28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

When there is failure to acknowledge God’s wisdom – dishonor, division, destruction

2 Chronicles 10:9 (NIV) 9 He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?" (Rehoboam vs Jeroboam)

In the worship of God are actions driven by overwhelming awe of His wisdom

Psalms 111:10 (NIV) 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Worship is the displayed wisdom of a heart that fears God, while mockery and disregard immobilize any evidence of wisdom

Proverbs 9:8-12 (NIV) 8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

Responding in God’s Wisdom

To acknowledge God’s wisdom in the time of need – transformation

James 1:5 (NIV) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

In the time of adversity – the voice of Wisdom heard by the acknowledging heart

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Jesus’ promise of wisdom for times of difficulty

Luke 21:15 (NIV) 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Wisdom’s appearance/evidence

James 3:13-18 (NIV) 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Only source of true wisdom – the Lord

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NIV) 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Comes by the Spirit

Ephesians 1:15-23 (NIV) 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.