Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Properly Clothed

 Ephesians 6:14

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed.

Our garments of spiritual warfare are compared to the armaments of soldiers, who prepare themselves before going to into war.
Each piece of armor is absolutely necessary to enable the Properly Clothed Spiritual Warrior to succeed in his or her designated field of warfare wherein God, the High Commander, has placed us. An unarmed soldier will always fail, for each item of armor is connected to another. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 225

Truth: Reality, Moral Truth, Truth revealed to mankind by God; truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1343

Righteousness:  righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness

If any of these are not in alignment with God's Word before we go into prayer, then we are not ready to pray to God.

We must know the Truth of God's Word, we must know Jesus Christ.

The Belt Conforms & Transforms The Body

John 14:6

Jesus said unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.

The Breastplate Covers The Heart of The Body

We must receive God's Righteousness before God can hear our prayer.

Romans 3:14

Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Romans 3:22

And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction.

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Recognizing Our Enemies

 Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

RECOGNIZE THE ENEMIES OF YOUR SOUL

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 746
Principalities: beginnings, origins

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1849

Powers: authorities, influences, operating in a designated jurisdiction, dominion, moral authority

 Rulers of Darkness: 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2888

Ruler: world-ruler asserting independence from God; ruler of this world, that is, of the world as asserting its independence of God; used of the angelic or demonic powers controlling the sublunary world.

From Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4655: 

 Darkness: the principal  (beginning/origin) of sin with its certain (it has the power of rendering men bold to commit crimes [Luke 22:53]

ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery [Acts 26:18, John 3:19]

the shadow of a looming presence, a spiritual reality (good or bad) relating to God's light or spiritual darkness, densest darkness, spiritual death [Isaiah 1:9-10 (cf) Romans  Matthew 4:16, Luke 1;79]

results: persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway [Ephesians 5:8]

From Strong's #4152

Spiritual: the realm of the spirit, whether divine or against God, belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God 

From Strong's #4189

Wickedness: pain-ridden evil, malice, iniquities, depravity [Luke 11:39, Romans 1:24-32]

From Strong's #2032

High Places: celestial, sphere of spiritual activities, heavenly

 

These are the born again believer's enemies. But we should not fear this fight. Fear will only cause us to lose our faith in our Lord God. 

Recognizing the fact that we cannot win this battle on our own we turn to God for wisdom on how to fight. Since we do not wrestle against people, we do not need ordinary weapons which people use against each other. We need spiritual weapons and we need to know how to use them.

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Dedication

 Galatians 6:9

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

The Dedicated Spiritual Warrior does not give up but crosses the finish line to gain their laurel.

Well-doing is the business of being a Christian, being Christ-like with all people. It is living a Christ-centered lifestyle. Well-doing is sharing the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, whether having a conversation {for example, Acts 8:29-38}, as a teacher, up in the pulpit preaching, evangelizing (going from place to place sharing Christ) or on the internet, like this blog, for instance. 

1 Corinthians 1:18, 23

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

But we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense].

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1573 & 3286

Faint: to be negatively influenced with the outcome of experiencing inner weariness (ref. Isaiah 40:31); to become extremely exhausted, to become extremely weary (ref. Galatians 6:9)

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

2 Corinthians 4:1

Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.

Hebrews 12:3

Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Well-doing requires a continual stream of divine power into our lives through our prayer life in Christ. It's the only way we will not grow weary, not be faint, not lose heart and not give up. A Dedicated Spiritual Warrior does not quit just because the work is too hard.

Isaiah 40:29

He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.

2 Corinthians 4:16, 17

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.

Romans 7:22

For in my inner being I delight in God's law.

Ephesians 3:16

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. 

The Dedicated Spiritual Warrior Is A Happy Harvester

Psalm 126:5

Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.

Proverbs 11:8

The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.

The Dedicated Spiritual Warrior Is Called To Suffer

Mark 8:34, 35

Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it." 

Matthew 10:22

You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

1 Peter 2:20-23

(20) How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

(21) For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

(22) “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”

(23) When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

1 Peter 3:17

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

The Dedicated Spiritual Warrior Enjoys The Harvest

2 Timothy 4:7, 8

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: From now on the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me in that day; but not only to me, but also to all those loving His appearing.

2 Timothy 1:12

For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. 

The King Is Coming. Are you ready to meet Him. Have you been a Dedicated Spiritual Warrior? There's still time to get ready. 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for calling me to be Your Spiritual Warrior. Thank You for calling me to suffer for Your name's sake. Thank You, Lord, for being my God, my song, my joy, my life, my King. Thank You, for being my Strength when I feel weak in spirit, for filling my heart with peace, and my thoughts with Your Wisdom. 

May my hands ever be busy doing Your work. May my feet go where You send me. For in what I do and wherein I go, I know that You are with me, for in Your Word You have promised to never leave me, never forsake me, as long as go with You. 

Open my eyes that I may see You more clearly. As I draw nearer to You, You pull me close in Your embrace. I am loved by You. Reveal Yourself in dreams and visions, as Your Word states in The Book of Joel, to those who know You not that they may recognize their need for a Savior and claim You as their Lord and King. 

Fill us now, Lord, with Your power and Your might that Your purpose would be accomplished in us and through us.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Diligent

 2 Peter 3:14 

Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight. 

The preamble to this verse is 2 Peter 3:10-13

(10)  But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

(11) All these things being dissolved in this way, what kind ought you to be? In holy conduct and godliness,

(12) expecting and hastening the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens will be dissolved, being set on fire, and the elements are melting, burning with heat.

(13) But according to His promise, we are awaiting new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4704

Every Effort: to move speedily by showing full diligence (fully applying oneself); acting fervently (speedy commitment) to accomplish all that God assigns through faith ("His inbirthed persuasion"); to make haste, to give diligence.

The Diligent Spiritual Warrior keeps digging through God's Word while in constant communication with The Holy Spirit, working our way through it until we reach the nuggets of wisdom that help us gain a better understanding of what it means to be Diligent.

THE DILIGENT

 

The Diligent are Threshers. 

Isaiah 41:15, 16

Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff; you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the LORD; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

The Diligent Soul Prospers

Proverbs 10:4

Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 13:4

The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

The Diligent Strategize & Work Hard To Accomplish Their Purpose

Proverbs 12:24

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Proverbs 21:5

The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.

DILIGENCE MAKES OUR HOPE SURE

Hebrews 6:11, 12

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. 

Hebrews 3:6

But Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.

Knowing that our diligence to be faithful in our hope of salvation and patience in eagerly anticipating The Day of The Lord, when all wickedness will be consumed, we must also be diligent in winning the lost souls to Christ, that they would not be consumed in the coming conflagration. 

Jude 1:23

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

With this thought in mind, let us pray earnestly all the more: mornings and afternoons and evenings and throughout the nights. Effectual Fervent Prayer accomplishes God's purpose for the one being prayed for, just like electric current flowing from the power plant (GOD) through the cables (The Holy Spirit) into the outlet (the person praying) which attaches to another cable (the person being prayed for) to produce an instant action (that which is being prayed for). 

James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

A Diligent Spiritual Warrior must be spotless (without stain) and blameless (without fault). We will all be held accountable to God for how we lived our lives. To be spotless is to have our sins washed away. To be blameless is to have Christ ruling in our hearts. For we are His temple, His house: in us He dwells (takes up residence). He cleans His house on a daily basis, when we let Him. A Diligent Spiritual Warrior allows Christ to clean His house. 

There is no fault to be found in Christ. Because He lives and lives in the born again believer there should be no fault in us either when The Day of The Lord makes its appearance. 

John 19:6

Therefore when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, "Crucify! Crucify!" Pilate says to them, "Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No 156
Fault:  a cause, reason, excuse; a charge, accusation; guilt

Therefore let us persevere in our daily walk with Jesus Christ to be the Diligent Spiritual Warriors He has called us to be. Let us grab hold of this grace He has extended us and pray that all may come to know Him personally. 

Dear Lord,

Thank You for saving me, for calling me out of the darkness and into Your marvelous Light. Thank You for leading me through Your Word and filling me with Your Holy Spirit, that I might walk these last days, these last hours, with Your strength, Your peace. I pray that everyone who reads this knows You, in all Your glory and strives to become Your Spiritual Warriors, too. 

Many whom we pray for have heard Your Name but have not kept You near: whatever it takes Save them before it's too late. We grab them by the collar and shake off the flames which are encroaching on their souls. 

A slap upside the head doesn't seem to work any more, Lord, so give ear to our prayers and break their hardened hearts for You. Save our lost family members, our lost acquaintances, our lost strangers and our lost enemies. for they are all lost in the darkness of this world until they, too, see Your marvelous Light, just like we did. 

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen. 

 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Steadfastness

 1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1476

Steadfast: firm, firm in purpose, morally fixed, securely positioned, not moving off course, not fluctuating

Colossians 1:23

If indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

If you have your Thesaurus handy, you may see there are other words describing this word 'steadfast': resolute, inflexible, unwavering, unyielding. We can also see the opposite of being steadfast: unreliable, dishonest, weak. 

This word 'steadfast' occurs three times in the New Testament. Here is 1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 Corinthians 7:37, and again in Colossians 1:23. But when we search out it's definitions, we find other verses which help us understand what it means to be a Steadfast Warrior. 

Psalm 1:1-3

       Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

or set foot on the path of sinners,

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the Law of the LORD,

and on His law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

yielding its fruit in season,

whose leaf does not wither,

and who prospers in all he does.

While forces beyond the tree's control may uproot the tree and destroy it, the tree itself does not make that decision. Here we see that being steadfast and immovable serves a purpose: it causes the tree to prosper and be fruitful. 

Why are we pursuing the tree as a symbol of steadfastness? Because the Lord compares His people to trees. Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.

PSALM 1:1

We are immovable, fixed in our purpose to glorify God with our desire to serve Him and each other in His kingdom. A Steadfast Warrior does not let him or herself be influenced by ungodly advice, nor do we walk the same paths, nor do we allow ourselves to get caught up in a crowd of mockers. A Steadfast Warrior lives a life of integrity and honor. 

PSALM 1:2

We determine to set times when we read God's Word, when we pray to God, when we praise God. We set up life-changing, soul-changing, goals and stick to them, regardless of the cost. Our social life will change. Our priorities will be realigned. The world around us will not influence how we live our lives: the Spirit of God within us will. A Steadfast Warrior lives a life of self-improvement, exercising our faith that it might grow and prosper. 

PSALM 1:3

A Steadfast Warrior sees people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ,  whose faith increases incrementally by seeing our the results of our faith happen; our prayers are answered: lost loved ones are found, the sick get healed, the dying restored, the dead are raised. 

Our souls prosper: Our emotional well-being glows when we stick to our faith in The Word of God; Our thoughts are centered on The Word of God; Our attitudes get changed, sometimes gradually, sometimes immediately. 

There is no confusion or doubt in a Steadfast Warrior. When questions arise, we seek answers in God's Word and in our prayer times with our God. And in these times, we wait for God's response.

Ephesians 4:14-15

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. 

The Steadfast Warrior does not allow him or herself to be swayed by every argument put forth, but remains anchored to the Word of God in which we have placed our hope.  We are unwavering in our faith. 

Have you ever seen the Queen's, now the King's, guardsmen standing outside Buckingham Palace or St. James Palace? They have their orders and follow them to the letter. Always on guard, alert, appearing to stare forward at all times but aware of peripheral activity, that they may be ready to defend their royal employer. 

Consider the Sentinels at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. They serve 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for two years with strict rules that must be followed. They never relax fully while serving in this capacity. Sentinels serve with honor and are unwaveringly committed to their course. 

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

1 Peter 2:12

Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

A Steadfast Warrior sets his/her mind on things above (Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.)  and pays no nevermind to the events happening here below. Yes, be aware of the times, but not allowing ourselves to be run, or controlled by the upheaval around us. Focus on Christ, Who waits at the finish line for His people to arrive, and crowns each of us as we cross over. 

Matthew 24:36-47

(42)  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.

A Steadfast Warrior keeps watch for Lord's return, ever mindful of our behavior, our attitudes towards one another, our interactions with each other, the words we speak and the things we do. 

Our integrity must be upheld. We must make a decision to follow where our Christ leads us: out of the mire, through the valley of the shadow of death, up on the mountains high, across deep waters, in the fires meant to destroy us: Where He Leads Me I Will Follow. Why? Because I am a Steadfast Warrior in a spiritual war, a war in which the enemy of my soul is wily and uses every little thing to try to get me away from my post, who tries to destroy my reputation, who tries to discourage me in my walk with Christ. 

A Steadfast Warrior is always in prayer mode, alert to the devil's tactics and raising up our shields of faith to prevent his fiery darts from entering our hearts. We remain in the Word and the Word remains in us. Our souls prosper.

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Fully Clothed

 Romans 13:14

 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

To 'put on' is to clothe one's self with. When we dress ourselves, we are putting on outerwear to cover our nakedness. With this understanding, when we recognize our sins against God, we realize we have no covering and seek out what will remove the nakedness of our hearts. 

Through prayer to God, He leads us to His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, His Lamb which takes away the sins we have committed against Him. And God applies the blood of His Lamb to the wickedness of our hearts, washing away the sin and covering us with the blood. It is a spiritual thing which God does, for God is spirit. We cannot cover ourselves. But we can believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He is God's only begotten Son, that He is the Righteousness of God. 

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

Romans 1:17

For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Romans 3:22, 23

And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

I CLOTHE MYSELF WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS

Job 29:14

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

Ephesians 6:14

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed. (When we apply this verse to ourselves, we are able to say, "I stand firm, having buckled the belt of Truth around my waist, and putting on the breastplate [corselet which extends from my heart to my hips] of Righteousness [which protects my heart and my emotions].")

Luke 12:35

Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. 

Proverbs 31:17

She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.

Galatians 3:27

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH

Galatians 5:16

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Ephesians 4:21-

Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus—to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

Only a fully clothed Spiritual Warrior can enter God's presence and live. When we pray to this Holy God, we are entering the spiritual realm where good battles evil (Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.) 

With this new knowledge we have gained an understanding of how to put on Jesus Christ:

1. Walk by the Spirit
2.  Clothe ourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience
3. Put off (take off the dirty clothes) our former way of life, our old self
4.  Be renewed in the spirit of your minds (daily and throughout our days)
5. Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
6. Submit ourselves to God
7. Resist the devil
8. Humble ourselves under God's mighty right hand 

There's no other way to be a FULLY CLOTHED SPIRITUAL WARRIOR than to wear JESUS CHRIST on the inside, in our hearts. When He is there by the Spirit of God, then He will become the Light which shines from the darkness into the darkness, lighting every nook and cranny of ourselves, revealing sins that He might uproot them and remove them permanently. This Light of Christ shines through us where others are able to see Him in us and in our actions. 

Lord, let Your Light shine in me and through me, that those around me may see You in my life and be drawn to You. Make Your Light and Your Love to be evident and may this evidence be apparent to even the darkest, breaking their bonds and chains with Your Grace and Mercy. Help me to be fully clothed and in my right mind today. 

In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen. 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Godly Wisdom

Proverbs 18:15 

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

In the KJV the word 'prudent' is used, which means, (according to Strong's No. 995): intelligent, discern, gain understanding of,  diligently consider, pay close attention, investigate. Plus a few more definitive words given, but we'll start with these in this study. 

Understanding what words mean is a one of the steps in being able to explain what the Bible tells us. The other is a saved and filled heart: saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and filled with God's Holy Spirit, who is described as the Spirit of God, or Wisdom personified. Godly Wisdom comes from God.

GODLY UNDERSTANDING

Daniel 1:17

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

2 Chronicles 26:5 (referring to King Uzziah) 

And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

Godly Understanding comes from seeking God's Wisdom with fear, a reverence, of God. Fearing God is more advantageous to one's soul and life than fearing anything that people may do to us. It is not a fear of consequences, but a loving respectful fear. 

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

GODLY WISDOM IS GOD'S GIFT & INVALUABLE

Job 28:12-28

(12) But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

(13) Man knows not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

(14) The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

(15) It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

(16) It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

(17) The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

(18) No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

(19) The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

(20) From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?

(21) Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

(22) Destruction (Hades) and death (those who have died without godly wisdom)  say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. (heard a rumor, a report of [it, wisdom])

(23) But God understands its way, and He knows its place.

(24) For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

(25)  When He gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,

(26) when He made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder,

(27) then He saw it and declared it; He established it, and searched it out.

(28) And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Are we discerning Christians? Do we seek out, look for, the fear of the Lord that He may impart to us His Wisdom? Or are we too lazy, content to be barely saved, saved enough to attend church and/or become involved in church activities? 

Do we understand the times in which we live? If it came to choosing life in Christ or life without Christ, would we be able to choose Christ knowing that this choice means death? This is Wisdom: making an informed decision to follow Jesus Christ all the way to the cross, into the garden? 

John 8:28, 29 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”

• Jesus lives His life in the Love of God in service to His Father. 
• Jesus speaks to us what His Father speaks to Him.
• Jesus does what pleases God

ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE

Proverbs 15:31

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

Ecclesiastes 7:5

It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

Proverbs 16:16

How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

So just how do we acquire, get, this Godly Knowledge?

Isaiah 55:6

Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

Psalm 119:105

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Job 23:11

My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

Psalm 119:157

Though my persecutors and foes are many, I have not turned from Your testimonies.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil in the Lord is not in vain. (KJV)

The ESV reads like this: So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Are you smiling yet? I am. I have joy inside me and it is overflowing to the outside of me. I am being poured into and the Spirit is pouring out of me. 

You Are My Joy

GODLY WISDOM

To acquire knowledge is to hear what the Lord God says to us in His Word through His Spirit. We must be willing to seek out God's face and submit to God's will, surrendering every aspect of our lives to His purpose. This is honoring God, this is blessing God. More than lip service or acts of kindness: it is a whole-hearted, God-fearing lifestyle. This is Godly Wisdom, too. 

 

Godly Wisdom is given to the heart of the born-again believer, not the brain. It is with the heart that we believe. It is in the heart that Jesus Christ, The WORD of God, takes up residence. It is from the heart that Wisdom speaks. It is the heart that makes the decisions, so the heart must be filled with The WORD in order to make wise decisions.

The heart of the born-again believer makes sound decisions, but the heart of the foolish makes unwise decisions.  God has given each of us the ability to choose. And He wants us to choose wisely, but we know that doesn't always happen. While we are in this world, we are tempted on every side to make wrong, unwise, decisions. But we don't have to stay in the consequences of those decisions, we can choose to make a decision to leave the unwise decision and seek out God's wisdom for our lives. 

Lord, help me. Help me to lead a life that is pleasing to You. Help me to hear Your voice more clearly. Help me to see You in every decision I make and follow through in the doing of that decision. Lord, be my strength as I follow You. Give me Your wisdom that I may make decisions based on Your Word. In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.