The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 1:9b,
"We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives..."
What is this "wisdom and understanding" the Spirit of God gives?
Paul speaks of the wisdom the Holy Spirit imparts to believers in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. In that passage he says this wisdom is not "the wisdom of this age or of the rulers [the leaders] of this age", verse 6. It is wisdom of another order, it is wisdom from God, verse 7. In fact, this wisdom is so different from that of this world, the leaders of our world are incapable of understanding it, verse 8. This wisdom is a "mystery" that has been hidden and predestined by God for the glory of believers, verse 8.
In verses 9-10, Paul quotes Isaiah 64:4 and tells us that God has revealed to believers what he has prepared for "those who love him", something no human mind has conceived. In the Isaiah passage that Paul refers to, Isaiah calls out to God to come from heaven and reveal himself to his enemies so they would "quake" before him. Although God does not reveal himself to unbelievers, at least not in terms of the mystery Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 2:7, he does so to believers.
Paul goes on to say that it is the "deep things of God", verse 10, that the Spirit "searches" or knows of, and that is what believers receive from the Holy Spirit, verse 12. The intent is that believers may understand what it is God has given them. Paul explains that his teaching is not what comes from human wisdom but what the Holy Spirit teaches, verse 13, and that the spiritual realities Paul speaks of are cast in Spirit-taught words, verse 13. Paul also tells us that those who do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them consider what the Holy Spirit teaches as foolishness-- they cannot understand it, verse 14. Paul points out that we have the "mind of Christ" and therefore access to these deep things of God.
The reality of this wisdom that God imparts to believers is mysterious and mystical. It is something people do not arrive in God's family with, but having embraced the Lord in faith and having the Holy Spirit indwell them, it is something the Holy Spirit reveals to them in a startling and meaningful way as they mature in the Lord. Paul points out that it is to the "mature" he instructs in this wisdom the Holy Spirit provides, verse 6. As the writer of Hebrews says, "solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil", Hebrews 5:14.
In considering these things, a passage about wisdom comes to mind, a reminder of what we can do if we feel the spigot of God's wisdom is not what it should be in our lives,
"We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives..."
What is this "wisdom and understanding" the Spirit of God gives?
Paul speaks of the wisdom the Holy Spirit imparts to believers in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. In that passage he says this wisdom is not "the wisdom of this age or of the rulers [the leaders] of this age", verse 6. It is wisdom of another order, it is wisdom from God, verse 7. In fact, this wisdom is so different from that of this world, the leaders of our world are incapable of understanding it, verse 8. This wisdom is a "mystery" that has been hidden and predestined by God for the glory of believers, verse 8.
In verses 9-10, Paul quotes Isaiah 64:4 and tells us that God has revealed to believers what he has prepared for "those who love him", something no human mind has conceived. In the Isaiah passage that Paul refers to, Isaiah calls out to God to come from heaven and reveal himself to his enemies so they would "quake" before him. Although God does not reveal himself to unbelievers, at least not in terms of the mystery Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 2:7, he does so to believers.
Paul goes on to say that it is the "deep things of God", verse 10, that the Spirit "searches" or knows of, and that is what believers receive from the Holy Spirit, verse 12. The intent is that believers may understand what it is God has given them. Paul explains that his teaching is not what comes from human wisdom but what the Holy Spirit teaches, verse 13, and that the spiritual realities Paul speaks of are cast in Spirit-taught words, verse 13. Paul also tells us that those who do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them consider what the Holy Spirit teaches as foolishness-- they cannot understand it, verse 14. Paul points out that we have the "mind of Christ" and therefore access to these deep things of God.
The reality of this wisdom that God imparts to believers is mysterious and mystical. It is something people do not arrive in God's family with, but having embraced the Lord in faith and having the Holy Spirit indwell them, it is something the Holy Spirit reveals to them in a startling and meaningful way as they mature in the Lord. Paul points out that it is to the "mature" he instructs in this wisdom the Holy Spirit provides, verse 6. As the writer of Hebrews says, "solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil", Hebrews 5:14.
In considering these things, a passage about wisdom comes to mind, a reminder of what we can do if we feel the spigot of God's wisdom is not what it should be in our lives,
"The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:1-7.
for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:1-7.
There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs. I strongly encourage all to read the chapter for the day of the month. Nothing could be more profitable than gaining the wisdom that comes from God!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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