Prayer Service 9-27-23

Adoration

The wisdom of God may be regarded as a particular aspect of His knowledge.

It is quite evident that knowledge and wisdom are not the same, though they are closely related.

They do not always accompany each other. An uneducated man may be superior to a scholar in wisdom.

Knowledge is acquired by study, but wisdom results from an intuitive insight into things.

The former is theoretical, while the latter is practical, making knowledge subservient to some specific purpose.

Both are imperfect in man, but in God they are characterized by absolute perfection.

God’s wisdom is His intelligence as manifested in the adaptation of means to ends.

It points to the fact that He always strives for the best possible ends, and chooses the best means for the realization of His purposes.

H. B. Smith defines the divine wisdom as “that attribute of God whereby He produces the best possible results with the best possible means.”

We may be a little more specific and call it that perfection of God whereby He applies His knowledge to the attainment of His ends in a way which glorifies Him most.

It implies a final end to which all secondary ends are subordinate; and according to Scripture this final end is the glory of God — Louis Berkhof

Abstract of Systematic Theology (The Wisdom of God)

Wisdom in God is infinite and unerring, choosing always the best end and the best means of attaining it. It is seen in creation, and in providence, but is most signally manifested in redemption. — James Petigru Boyce

Job 12:12–16 (ESV)

12 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.

13 “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.

14 If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.

15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.

16 With him are strength and sound wisdom...

Creation:

Psalm 104:24 (ESV)

24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

What is he implying?

Psalm 136:5 (ESV)

5 to him who by understanding made the heavens...

Wasn’t random or purposeless

Designed and planned

Bring about a certain end

Proverbs 3:19 ESV

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;

Psalm 147:5 (ESV)

5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

Understanding is more than knowledge.

It’s the assessment and application of that knowledge

Holy Wisdom:

Jeremiah 10:6–7 (ESV)

6 There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might.

7 Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.

Jeremiah 10:12 (ESV)

12 It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

Providence:

Daniel 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.

21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

Redemption:

1 Corinthians 1:22–25 (ESV)

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Prologue to Ephesians (One Sentence):

Ephesians 1:3–10 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Ephesians 3:6–11 (ESV)

6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.

8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,

10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Doxology:

Romans 11:32–36 (ESV)

32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 16:25–27 ESV

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Revelation 7:9–12 (ESV)

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Prayer of Adoration

Supplication

Libya and Morocco: Flood and Earthquake

The Legges: Ministry opportunities via disaster relief

Luke Walters: Recovery from fall

Hugh Webster: Healing and Salvation

Doctors appointment Oct 6th

Mark Hill, Danny Williams, and Hope Sanders: Liver Failure

Gale Jenkins: Terminal Infection

Sonya, Ty, Randy, Allen, Mackenna

Andrew and Family

Spiritual help and protection for our church

Wisdom, Strength, Grace, Guidance, Faith, Fear of the Lord for the elders.