Wisdom from above

So I feel like I am on a theme here but that is just where we are.  God is amazing in His persistence and patience towards us.  He keeps revealing more and more of His nature.  As I have said in previous posts I believe the very foundation of His body, the church, is the revelation of the love of God, His very nature as manifest in Jesus the Christ.  We all desperately need more and more of that revelation, understanding and revealed wisdom. We may have the nature of God, how He operates, how He thinks written on our hearts and minds (Heb 8,10) but only the Holy Spirit can bring those truths to the surface.  Our job in this divine relationship is to surrender to His wisdom and stop trying to manufacture our own from worldly experience.  His ways are different.  His thinking is different.  His wisdom is foolishness to the world.  The more we surrender to that approach and just abide in Him, we step into a deeper understanding and operate with the mind of Christ.  I think that is awesome, don’t you?

So there is on section of scripture that really sums this all up for us, Ephesians Ch 3.  This is one of my favorites.  Every time I read it I see something new.  Here are 14-21 from the  ESV:

Eph 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a]in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. ESV

Think about some of the images here.  Can you see the breathed rhema of foundation building in v.16,17?  We put on our Jesus glasses in v.18 and are stretched beyond our comprehension in v.19.  Can you believe it is possible to be filled with all the fullness of God as the Holy Spirit continuously pours out revelation of the love of Christ?  God uses paradox to describe the indescribable.  That should make it obvious to all of us that human wisdom will never amount to anything as compared to the richness of the wisdom of God that only He can give us as we abide.

We have an example of this that we go back to all the time, works and faith, James.  Jesus finished it all, period.  So I don’t feel the need to present a more persuasive argument.  But notice that we have had the key to unlocking James staring us in the face every time we open the letter.  If we lack wisdom (from God) we need to go after it and know with absolute certainty we will receive it.  Want to understand James, really?  Ask God.  Still don’t get it, ask God and trust His word that He wants to give you understanding.  Congratulations, you have just justified your faith through works!

The AMP translation of this passage in Ephesians is beautiful.  Take a look:

Eph 3:14 For this reason [[a]seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].

16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].

17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

19 [That you may really come] to know [practically,[b]through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses [c]mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] [d]unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and[e]become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—

21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). AMP

So I want to challenge you and myself to surrender.  Let’s surrender our very thinking to the wisdom of God.  Let’s stop striving and start thriving.  I want to be a branch not a vine.  I want to bear not make.  I want to abide not contrive.  I want to be totally dependent not independent.  I trust God so much that I have no fear of late delivery, lack of or incomplete revelation, inability to hear, or any of those kind of lies.  I also know that my Papa loves me and you so much that we cannot be deceived.  Greater is He who is in you! Believe it!  Put down you commentary and spend some time listening to the rhema of God as you spend time in His word and presence.  Let him build you up on a solid foundation.  Receive His love as He tells you how much He loves His son, of which you are one!

Yay Jesus

Lance