The Holy Spirit: Our Source of Wisdom

Those who knew and can know the wisdom of the Holy Spirit

Why not Moses?

Moses had wordly education of the highest degree at the time. But it did not seem to be enough. God wanted obedience and not excuses, even after having his identity questioned.

Exodus 2:14 TNIV

14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”

Acts 7:22 NIV

22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

Exodus 18:13–27 NIV

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

Exodus 33:11 NIV

11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Moses had to unlearn some wordly wisdom by being obedient to God. It took a great deal of time, and he still missed the promised land.

Each anointed leader of Israel was given the Holy Spirit to guide them with Godly Wisdom. Judge, King or Prophet.

But there, was NO guarantee that the Spirit would remain with them. In fact, the anointing of the Spirit would be removed when disobedience occured.

Bezalel and Oholiab: Wisdom for Craft and Artistry

Exodus 31:1–7 NIV

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent—

Joshua: Wisdom for Leadership

Deuteronomy 34:9 NIV

9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

Messianic Prophecies

Isaiah 11:2 NIV

2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

Jesus fulfilling Prophecy

Luke 2:40 NIV

40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Christians

Ephesians 1:17 NIV

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 Holy Spirit is our source of Wisdom

Elihu knew it

Job 32:6–9 NIV

6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. 7 I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ 8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding. 9 It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.

When the Spirit imparts wisdom, wise men look foolish

Acts 6:9–10 NIV

9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

Solomon sought wisdom from God

Proverbs 2:6 NIV

6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Jesus' work of redemption guaranteed the presence of the Holy Spirit to all who believe.

The Apostles planned for it

Acts 6:3 NIV

3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

Acts 15:28 NIV

28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:

Supernatural gift of wisdom or knowledge of things they could not have known are given for a special purpose.

1 Corinthians 12:8 NIV

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,

And for building up each other in the faith

Colossians 1:9 NIV

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,

The Holy Spirit as our teacher

John 14:26 NIV

26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Nehemiah 9:20 NIV

20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.

The Spirit even gives us what to say in the moment

Matthew 10:19–20 NIV

19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

You are Anointed by the Spirit for God’s work and will

1 John 2:20 TNIV

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

1 John 2:27 TNIV

27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Spirit-Given Wisdom is:

James 3:17 NIV

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.