Category: Receive the Spirit of Wisdom

1 Corinthians 12:7-9 NIV
⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit….

“’For the common good’ meant to shatter the Corinthian church to see that the gifts of the Spirit are not for a certain spectacle or to serve an individual’s own boast of maturity. It is never to meant for self service. The common good means it is always for the other. Loving God and loving others. It’s like if you win, I also win. If you are encouraged, then I’m encouraged. If we only edify ourselves and not others in the church, it is not a win. But if the other is edified than it’s a win for the person, together.” (P. Mark’s message)

Church, let’s win together, as we live to love God and love others. God has called us to live God-focused and outward-focused rather than self-focused. Let’s pray that God will help us to see one another with his eyes and his heart, and let’s pray for those in our missional groups, campus ministries and churches to know Christ more. This is how we win together.

Prayer: Father, help us to not live for ourselves, but to love you and love others. May our churches grow in greater knowledge of you so that we can live out our calling together to love you and love others more effectively. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s prophetically sing “Help Us See Christ” by Sovereign Grace Music over our churches (click here).

– DW

Let’s read aloud the following passages, proclaiming God’s Word over our lives:

Psalm 19:1-2,7,10,14 NIV
¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Matthew 13:11-12,16-17 NIV
¹¹ He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. ¹² Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them… ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Word that renews, refreshes and reveals your heart to us. Truly we are blessed! May all of who are be pleasing unto you Lord. Be glorified and magnified through our lives today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s praise the Lord by singing “May the Words of My Mouth” by Tim Hughes (click here).

– DW

Philippians 3:7-9 NIV
⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

“What is your intention? What do you have as your main focus or plan to spend your energy and resources on? We can follow Paul’s example to have the intention to serve others with God’s agenda and that comes with encountering the Holy Spirit to fill us with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we can know him better. The Holy Spirit allows us to know Jesus like Paul had experienced for himself. Why else would he say that the goal was know Christ better, if it wasn’t for it being the very key, the very essential thing to all that is ultimate for the human flourishing!” (P. Mark’s message)

Living intentionally means actively and purposefully choosing God in our every day. Let us honestly assess how we spend our time and resources throughout our day. Is it for the Lord or is it for ourselves? May we live like Paul praying, “whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for setting us apart and inviting us to live for you. Will you fill us with your Spirit’s wisdom to live intentionally for you moment by moment? In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s say “yes” to the Lord as we worship the Lord to “Follow” by Passion (click here).

– DW

1 Corinthians 12:7-9 NIV
⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit…

“The ‘message of wisdom,’ revealed by the Spirit, is not some special understanding of the ‘deeper things’ or ‘mysteries’ of God. Rather, it is the recognition that the message of Christ crucified is God’s true wisdom, a recognition that comes only to those who have received the Spirit. For only the Spirit, Paul says, whom we have received, understands the mind of God and reveals what God accomplished in Christ.” (Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, The NICNT)

This message of wisdom is none other than the message of Christ crucified and as people of God, this is our framework. We no longer follow the patterns and behaviors of the world, but rather we are filled with the Spirit of wisdom to work through all of our life issues. So today, let’s bring all the deep concerns of our hearts before the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I surrender all my concerns, issues and difficulties and ask that you would help me to approach all of these as a Christ-formed, Spirit-filled person. Empower me to live in true wisdom today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

As we sing to “Living Hope” by Phil Wickham, let’s continue to surrender all of our lives unto the Lord (click here).

– DW

 

Philippians 3:10-11 NIV
¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Ephesians 1:15-17 NIV
¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

“The purpose of the Spirit’s illumination is an increase ‘in the knowledge of him.’ The goal of all Spirit-given wisdom and enlightenment is to know God, as Paul writes in Philippians 3:10: ‘I want to know Christ.’ To know God is both to know about him and to come to know him experientially as Father and God. This includes obedience and worship, as well as mental awareness.” (Grant Osborne, Ephesians: Verse by Verse)

How can we know God more? It is the Holy Spirit who illuminates our hearts and minds to give us greater understanding of who God is, and in turn, we discover who we are and how we can live the truly good life. Today, let’s pray in faith for the filling of his Spirit in every part of our lives.

Prayer: Lord, I want to know you more! Fill me with your Holy Spirit today so that I may know you more and live a life that is set apart for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

As we sing to “Holy Spirit” by Bryan & Katie Torwalt, let’s continue to pray for an abundant outpouring of his presence (click here).

– DW