Friday 7 February 2014

The Beginning of Wisdom

I understand more than the ancients, because I have kept thy precepts. Psalm 119:100
Light follows obedience. Revelation abides with faithfulness. Wisdom germinates where there is the fear of the LORD, and understanding springs up where there is desire for holiness.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Prov 9:10
Being a doer of the Word opens up spiritual insight and understanding. The Lord has ordained it so.
And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Mark 4:25
Our devotion to Christ and our submission to His Word determines the wisdom and understanding and spiritual insight that we walk in. "The measure you use," that Jesus speaks of here, relates to the regard and value we place on His Word. As we are faithful and obedient with the light we have received, more will be given us; if we disregard and neglect the light we have received, then even what we have will be taken from us.

We cannot sidestep consecration and the humble road of obedience to Christ. There are no shortcuts. In the words of the old hymn: "Trust and obey for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey." 


To pursue revelation and light apart from humble devotion and obedience to Christ is to fall into the same temptation as Eve.
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate... Gen 3:6
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Cor 11:2
Satan is a thief and a robber and his modus operandi has always been to cunningly offer shortcuts to God's treasure store of wisdom and knowledge. "Your eyes will be opened and you will be like God." Satan is a liar. The light he offers is darkness. (Luke 11:35). Brothers and sisters, there is no other way to true revelation and insight and Divine power than through Christ and the way of the Cross. There is no conference or spiritual encounter that can bypass the patient and humble path of obedience to Christ. 
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. John 10:1
... Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:2-3
False teachers and false prophets preach another message. For filthy lucre, they cunningly offer shortcuts and easy paths to revelation and glory. They offer an alternative to obedience and the crucified life. They are enemies of the cross of Christ. They make merchandise of the people. Thieves and robbers  they creep in and pervert the grace of our God into sensuality. Their very lives deny Christ Jesus, our Master and Lord. They undermine the perspicuity of Scripture so they can market their own titillating, esoteric 'revelations'.

The Bible remains a closed book to many, not because they need a spiritual guru or the latest Bible translation, but because they have been unfaithful with the light they have received. The Bible is not difficult to understand  it's just difficult to obey. It's hard on our flesh and it calls us to a lifestyle that attracts persecution and reproach. (2 Tim 3:12). His ways are higher than our ways. But we dare not sidestep such a high calling, brothers and sisters, for an easier path ... as much as our itching ears would have it so. We dare not take the lazy approach and bury our talent in the ground. No, rather we come to our precious Lord and Saviour with humility and we appeal to His mercy and grace. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing! As we admit our inability and come to Him humbly, He will give us the grace to prove faithful with the little light we have received. 


As we prove faithful with the little, He will give us more. It's the patient way; the meek way. 
The secret counsel of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He reveals His covenant to them. Psalm 25:14
Be wary of any ministry or teaching that shifts your focus off Jesus and onto man. Let's be very honest with ourselves. Have we become enamoured with a gifted man or woman instead of Christ? Has their name been on our lips in place of the beautiful name of Jesus? Have we elevated a teacher to a place of authority and devotion that is reserved for our Lord alone? Have we lusted for an earthly guru instead of submitting ourselves to the lordship of Jesus?

Be wary of any ministry or teaching that leaves you doubting the plain meaning of the Scriptures in favour of exciting, extra-Biblical, private revelations. This kind of 'wisdom' is not new. It led to man's fall in the Garden. Gnostic writings and cunning, esoteric teachings have lurked in the shadows for thousands of years. False teachers have an interest in sowing doubt in the plain meaning of God-breathed Scripture. It frees them from the constraints of sound doctrine and provides a lucrative market for their lofty and sensual revelations. Brothers and sisters, if you abandon the safety of the perspicuity of Scripture, it will be only a matter of time before your faith is completely shipwrecked.


Be wary of any ministry or teaching that breeds competitiveness and striving; that fosters a lust for angelic encounters and spiritual experiences. While the life of a pilgrim is spiritually rich and marked by profound experiences, there is no place for lusting after such things. That is dangerous ground. Satan himself will cater to such lusts, disguising himself as an angel of light to devour those he may. Our motivation must be to stir up one another  not to spiritual encounters  but to love and good works. (Heb 10:24).
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. Jam 3:14-16
The cult of personality in Christendom, and the lust for spiritual encounters and experiences over obedience to plain Bible truth, will see many stumble in this hour. Darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples as we approach the great and terrible Day of the Lord. The deception will be intense. Don't pursue spiritual gurus or fanciful, extra-Biblical revelations. Rather, submit yourself to Christ's perfect light and charity lest you stumble and lose your way at the worst possible time.


If we would have more revelation and spiritual insight and prophetic clarity, and if we would taste of the powers of the age to come, we need only humbly submit ourselves to the truth we have received in the Word of God. We need only be faithful with what we have been given and we will receive more. We need only learn at Christ's feet, in sincere and pure devotion to Him, and obey what He says. And in this dark hour, He will rise upon us and His glory will be seen upon us in ever-increasing measure.
And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of Him. 1 John 2:28-29

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