Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
This week, we contemplate a key biblical insight into true wisdom.
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. (James 3:13)
True wisdom is not attained, it cannot be sought for selfish reasons, nor self-serving purposes; it is revealed, imparted exclusively by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8), and intended to be passed on – only through the pursuit of holiness, to the glory of God our Father.
True wisdom is not of this world (James 3:17).
True wisdom - and her purpose - transcends the individual, and most certainly trumps the insatiable desires of the selfish heart (James 3:14).
And here’s the key biblical insight into true wisdom… …
True wisdom comes only from God; bestowed only by Him, and reflects everything about our Triune God – which is, ‘first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.’ (James 3:17)
In James 3:13, the Holy Spirit issues the call to this true, heavenly wisdom through the apostle James.
“Who is wise and understanding among you?”
Who will rise up and receive this call?
Will you?
If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t bother to heed this call.
If you boast or deny the sin of bitter envy or selfish ambition, don’t bother to heed this call.
You are not ready for true wisdom.
If you are fixated on attaining comfort and success in this world, don’t bother to heed this call.
You are not worthy of true wisdom.
Motivational speakers, life coaches, self-help, leadership gurus and their likes are all the rage today. It is not difficult to deduce that the growing success of this industry pivots on the growing demand for personal success amongst the adherents and fans of these gurus.
This quest for personal success is really the quest for a certain quick-fix, band-aid wisdom, so desperately sought after, deeply entrenched in mindless hopes for a this-worldly success.
There is no depth, nor eternal resonance, to this kind of wisdom.
In fact, James exposes this as false and devilish wisdom that is ‘earthly, unspiritual, and demonic’ that leads only to‘disorder and every evil practice.’ (James 3:15-16)
This reveals to us the source of all worldly logic and rationale – false and devilish wisdom – of everything that is biblically opposed and immoral in our world today.
We must never identify with this kind of ‘wisdom’, nor approve any practice or lifestyle that is rooted in false wisdom.
The apostle Paul forewarned us in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
And exhorts us to “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13) and to ‘pray in the Spirit…’ (Ephesians 6:18)
That’s why praying in the Spirit is central to the Christian life.
Praying in the Spirit must become the agenda, mandate and task of the Church of Jesus Christ in standing up – to the glory of God the Father, in the authority of Christ Jesus our Lord, and in the power of the Holy Spirit - in the face of the world’s troubles and evil, facing down the ‘rulers, authorities and powers of this dark work’.
Prayer to God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit encourages, equips and empowers us to achieve the task required of us – to stand with God.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, pray in the Spirit.
As you pray, allow the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, emotions, your soul and spirit.
As you pray, be prepared to pray till you sense the peace of God that transcends all understanding (Ref: Philippians 4:7a); in the knowledge and faith that His Sovereign Will will come to pass ‘on earth as it is in heaven’.
If you pray, but feel confused, disturbed or uncertain, understand that there are areas of darkness in your life that must be dealt with by the Spirit of God. Never indulge in self-pity when this happens, because self-pity is the slippery slope to a life of deeper guilt and shame. Instead, take heart in the knowledge that through this chastisement and discipline, you are actually loved by the living God (Hebrews 12:6).
Press in! Pray, pray, pray.
Allow the Holy Spirit to convict your heart to areas of disobedience, sin and wickedness in your life.
Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in repentance, into the mercy and grace of our Father in heaven.
Allow the Holy Spirit to heal you.
Allow the Holy Spirit to increase your faith in Christ, and thereby trust in the sovereign will of God the Father in every facet and event in your life.
Pray in the Spirit; be restored unto true, heavenly wisdom.
Remember true wisdom is never a self-serving, nor intellectual pursuit. True wisdom can only be revealed, and embraced, through obedience to God.
If true, heavenly wisdom seems elusive to you, you can be sure that there are areas of disobedience in your life. This darkness is the result of arrogance, apathy and active rebellion to God’s eternal love and purposes for you – all of which are fruits of false wisdom.
God loves the world and He desires for His children to be set apart from the sin and wickedness of the world; for this is the stark contrast that we are required – by commission – to present to the world, in order that they may themselves be convicted by the Spirit, and experience the love, grace and mercy of our Father in Heaven, through our lives.
We must be known to the world as God’s wise and understanding people; wise to the Way of our Saviour, and fully understanding of God’s Truth for us.
For only in this, may we live - always praying in the Spirit; fully believing in Christ our Saviour – which is the initial sign of heavenly wisdom - and fully embracing His Way, His Truth and His Life – which is the progressive Christ-life lived in heavenly wisdom.
“Who is wise and understanding among you?”
Who will rise up and receive this call?
Will you?
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank you, O God, for Your divine Call unto the Church to stand up and stand out, in wisdom and understanding.
We believe that You are the only source of true wisdom.
Lord, grant us Your Wisdom!
In this, we pray that Your Holy Spirit will constantly guide us in the wisdom of Your Way, and in the understanding of Your Truth; for only through this, may we live in Your Life.
Lord, forgive our personal ambitions and selfish enterprises birthed out of worldly wisdom. Thank you for revealing to us, through the darkness and discomforts of our lives, that we are to reject any and all forms of false wisdom, and repent of our evil intents and ways.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for revealing the source and light of heavenly wisdom – through Christ our Saviour.
May our Church pray in the Spirit at all times.
May we stand – on our knees in prayer – before the world and allow Your Light and Life to shine brightly through us.
May ‘praying in the Spirit’ be our chief agenda, mandate and task, in standing up – to the glory of God the Father, in the authority of Christ Jesus our Lord, and in the power of the Holy Spirit - in the face of the world’s troubles and evil, and in facing down the ‘rulers, authorities and powers of this dark work’.
Holy Spirit, please guide our thoughts, our emotions, our souls and our spirits.
Please teach us to press into prayer, till we sense God’s transcendent peace upon our hearts.
In our darkness, please deal with all of our confusions, uncertainties and disturbances in our spirits. We reject our lives of sin, guilt, shame and stubbornness that has been the result of our selfish and self-serving ways.
We reject false wisdom.
May we take heart that You, O God, disciplines those He loves.
Thank you for loving us so much, that You sent Your only Son, to die in our places.
Holy Spirit, convict our hearts to areas of disobedience, sin and wickedness, and lead us through repentance, into the mercy and grace of our Father in heaven.
Holy Spirit, please heal us; and increase our faith and wisdom in Christ Jesus.
We rise up and embrace Your call to be wise and understanding.
We thank you and pray all these in the Name of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
This week, we contemplate a key biblical insight into true wisdom.
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. (James 3:13)
True wisdom is not attained, it cannot be sought for selfish reasons, nor self-serving purposes; it is revealed, imparted exclusively by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8), and intended to be passed on – only through the pursuit of holiness, to the glory of God our Father.
True wisdom is not of this world (James 3:17).
True wisdom - and her purpose - transcends the individual, and most certainly trumps the insatiable desires of the selfish heart (James 3:14).
And here’s the key biblical insight into true wisdom… …
True wisdom comes only from God; bestowed only by Him, and reflects everything about our Triune God – which is, ‘first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.’ (James 3:17)
In James 3:13, the Holy Spirit issues the call to this true, heavenly wisdom through the apostle James.
“Who is wise and understanding among you?”
Who will rise up and receive this call?
Will you?
If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t bother to heed this call.
If you boast or deny the sin of bitter envy or selfish ambition, don’t bother to heed this call.
You are not ready for true wisdom.
If you are fixated on attaining comfort and success in this world, don’t bother to heed this call.
You are not worthy of true wisdom.
Motivational speakers, life coaches, self-help, leadership gurus and their likes are all the rage today. It is not difficult to deduce that the growing success of this industry pivots on the growing demand for personal success amongst the adherents and fans of these gurus.
This quest for personal success is really the quest for a certain quick-fix, band-aid wisdom, so desperately sought after, deeply entrenched in mindless hopes for a this-worldly success.
There is no depth, nor eternal resonance, to this kind of wisdom.
In fact, James exposes this as false and devilish wisdom that is ‘earthly, unspiritual, and demonic’ that leads only to‘disorder and every evil practice.’ (James 3:15-16)
This reveals to us the source of all worldly logic and rationale – false and devilish wisdom – of everything that is biblically opposed and immoral in our world today.
We must never identify with this kind of ‘wisdom’, nor approve any practice or lifestyle that is rooted in false wisdom.
The apostle Paul forewarned us in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
And exhorts us to “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13) and to ‘pray in the Spirit…’ (Ephesians 6:18)
That’s why praying in the Spirit is central to the Christian life.
Praying in the Spirit must become the agenda, mandate and task of the Church of Jesus Christ in standing up – to the glory of God the Father, in the authority of Christ Jesus our Lord, and in the power of the Holy Spirit - in the face of the world’s troubles and evil, facing down the ‘rulers, authorities and powers of this dark work’.
Prayer to God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit encourages, equips and empowers us to achieve the task required of us – to stand with God.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, pray in the Spirit.
As you pray, allow the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, emotions, your soul and spirit.
As you pray, be prepared to pray till you sense the peace of God that transcends all understanding (Ref: Philippians 4:7a); in the knowledge and faith that His Sovereign Will will come to pass ‘on earth as it is in heaven’.
If you pray, but feel confused, disturbed or uncertain, understand that there are areas of darkness in your life that must be dealt with by the Spirit of God. Never indulge in self-pity when this happens, because self-pity is the slippery slope to a life of deeper guilt and shame. Instead, take heart in the knowledge that through this chastisement and discipline, you are actually loved by the living God (Hebrews 12:6).
Press in! Pray, pray, pray.
Allow the Holy Spirit to convict your heart to areas of disobedience, sin and wickedness in your life.
Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in repentance, into the mercy and grace of our Father in heaven.
Allow the Holy Spirit to heal you.
Allow the Holy Spirit to increase your faith in Christ, and thereby trust in the sovereign will of God the Father in every facet and event in your life.
Pray in the Spirit; be restored unto true, heavenly wisdom.
Remember true wisdom is never a self-serving, nor intellectual pursuit. True wisdom can only be revealed, and embraced, through obedience to God.
If true, heavenly wisdom seems elusive to you, you can be sure that there are areas of disobedience in your life. This darkness is the result of arrogance, apathy and active rebellion to God’s eternal love and purposes for you – all of which are fruits of false wisdom.
God loves the world and He desires for His children to be set apart from the sin and wickedness of the world; for this is the stark contrast that we are required – by commission – to present to the world, in order that they may themselves be convicted by the Spirit, and experience the love, grace and mercy of our Father in Heaven, through our lives.
We must be known to the world as God’s wise and understanding people; wise to the Way of our Saviour, and fully understanding of God’s Truth for us.
For only in this, may we live - always praying in the Spirit; fully believing in Christ our Saviour – which is the initial sign of heavenly wisdom - and fully embracing His Way, His Truth and His Life – which is the progressive Christ-life lived in heavenly wisdom.
“Who is wise and understanding among you?”
Who will rise up and receive this call?
Will you?
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank you, O God, for Your divine Call unto the Church to stand up and stand out, in wisdom and understanding.
We believe that You are the only source of true wisdom.
Lord, grant us Your Wisdom!
In this, we pray that Your Holy Spirit will constantly guide us in the wisdom of Your Way, and in the understanding of Your Truth; for only through this, may we live in Your Life.
Lord, forgive our personal ambitions and selfish enterprises birthed out of worldly wisdom. Thank you for revealing to us, through the darkness and discomforts of our lives, that we are to reject any and all forms of false wisdom, and repent of our evil intents and ways.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for revealing the source and light of heavenly wisdom – through Christ our Saviour.
May our Church pray in the Spirit at all times.
May we stand – on our knees in prayer – before the world and allow Your Light and Life to shine brightly through us.
May ‘praying in the Spirit’ be our chief agenda, mandate and task, in standing up – to the glory of God the Father, in the authority of Christ Jesus our Lord, and in the power of the Holy Spirit - in the face of the world’s troubles and evil, and in facing down the ‘rulers, authorities and powers of this dark work’.
Holy Spirit, please guide our thoughts, our emotions, our souls and our spirits.
Please teach us to press into prayer, till we sense God’s transcendent peace upon our hearts.
In our darkness, please deal with all of our confusions, uncertainties and disturbances in our spirits. We reject our lives of sin, guilt, shame and stubbornness that has been the result of our selfish and self-serving ways.
We reject false wisdom.
May we take heart that You, O God, disciplines those He loves.
Thank you for loving us so much, that You sent Your only Son, to die in our places.
Holy Spirit, convict our hearts to areas of disobedience, sin and wickedness, and lead us through repentance, into the mercy and grace of our Father in heaven.
Holy Spirit, please heal us; and increase our faith and wisdom in Christ Jesus.
We rise up and embrace Your call to be wise and understanding.
We thank you and pray all these in the Name of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.