Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom
Notes
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Salvation is entirely of God. He sovereignly chose, planned your salvation. Christians are Christian today because God decided to cast his favor on you. He delivered you by the redemption in Christ. He called you to treasure and submit to Christ as Lord, and he sealed (secured) you by giving you Holy Spirit. Paul wants us to see that this was God's doing. God is the subject of this entire discourse. He, he, him. Salvation is God's sovereign work brought by and in and through Christ. We don't work for it, earn it, or achieve it. God bestows it on who he wishes. You weren't smart enough, strong enough, wise enough to save yourself or to help God save you. He did it.
If you are in Christ today, you cannot be loved more, cared for more by God. You cannot have God's favor more. What now?? If I didn't do anything to deserve it, then I can't work to keep it.
So, what now? What do I do now? Now I must grow in my knowledge of Christ and understanding of what he has done for me.
We often pray, God I want you to bless me more. (Not always wrong) Give me strength, give me grace, give me hope... Some Christians believe that you need more of the Holy Spirit. Some are searching for a sense of more, more Christ, more power, more love, more help. According to Paul, if you are in Christ, you have all the Spiritual blessings you need. What you lack is the wisdom to use what you have.
Instead we should ask God to help us apply what he has already given us.
more when they have plenty on their plate)
Illustration
Kids at the table asking for more when they have plenty on their plate.
1.Our continual need for wisdom.
1.Our continual need for wisdom.
Paul prays continually that they will understand better Spiritual things.
A. The truth about God is not obscure, secret to only a few people, but it is open and obvious to all. We do not need new teaching.
A. The truth about God is not obscure, secret to only a few people, but it is open and obvious to all. We do not need new teaching.
Illustration
-The crowd in saw Jesus, but the didn’t SEE Jesus. They did not comprehend.
But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
John 6:
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
John 6:
-Many people today hear the Gospel presented and are unaffected by it. Unchanged by its message. Even at times Christians.
B. The Cause is Sin skews our vision.
B. The Cause is Sin skews our vision.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
B. This is more than a mere understanding of facts.
Revelation
C. We need our minds enlightened/illuminated
C. We need our minds enlightened/illuminated
To give light to.
Unbelievers are blind and can’t see, but believers have sight and need better vision.
Illustrations
-The disciples on the road to Emmaus. Heard, but see.
-Light in the Ancient Middle East was precious. Candles were common source.
Many Christians are operating with a low light source. Struggling with temptation. Complaining of your circumstances. Maybe you doubt the goodness of God. This week could have been a tough one with you and your spouse, you sinned against each other. You were angry and bitter with your kids. You are living in a low light source. Your like a person walking around the dark with a dim light.
The Church of Revelation
2. The Source of Spiritual Wisdom
2. The Source of Spiritual Wisdom
in the knowledge of Him
3. The Means of Spiritual Wisdom
The Knowledge of Him
A. Given by God
A. Given by God
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6
B. In the Knowledge of the Son
B. In the Knowledge of the Son
In the Knowledge of the Son
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:4-6
It’s not found in studying the cosmos, the stars and the planets and the earth. It’s not found in collaborating with all the brightest minds of the last 300 years. It’s not found in comparing all known religions and trying to find the best. It’s only found one place.
Application
This is why we preach doctrinal sermons. We preach Bible truths one at a time all centering back to Jesus because this is the source of truth.
C. It’s The Work of the Holy Spirit
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
3. How to Obtain It
3. How to Obtain It
Ask For It
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to open minds to give light/power to the truth.
Search For it
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
PART II
4.The Content of Spiritual Wisdom
4.The Content of Spiritual Wisdom
Christ is the Content of Spiritual Wisdom He’s the textbook for gaining Spiritual Wisdom and the Holy Spirit is the teacher.
“His Calling, His Glorious inheritance, His immeasurable power”
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
These things are revealed by the Spirit. We are dependent on the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us.
Application
How do you expect to live in a culture that despises God and his truth? How do you expect to fight and wage war against the lusts and desires of your flesh. How can you live with joy and yet face the reality that one day you will die. Your life is going to be snuffed out. You need a living apprehension of the truths of Christ. When you know Christ, you can do all these things.
1)The Hope of His Calling
expectation of good, hope; and in the Christian sense, joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation:
Calling
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Christians are the Called, Called out ones
Illustration
Lazarus
Confidence and Assurance for the Future
Personal Assurance Necessary
In order to live a life pleasing to God, you need the Personal Assurance that you have been called. It’s given by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
2 Peter 1:
The Immutability of God is the Ground for a Christians Hope
Read
2) The Riches of His Glorious Inheritance
In other words that we will begin to value and treasure Christ’s Kingdom.
The Value of His Kingdom
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:17-
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
This is How we begin as Christians
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
expectation of good, hope; and in the Christian sense, joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation:
If you are not a Christian today, if you know the Gospel and have not come to Jesus Christ, it is because you do not value Christ’s kingdom above this world. This is how we begin as Christians.
Illustration
Remember what it was like when you first believed! There was nothing more valuable than Christ to you.
If we are to grow as Christians, we must cultivate this by looking to the future. We must look to the reward. Begin to value and treasure Christ’s kingdom.
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Example
Moses did this when he left Egypt
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:
3) The Immeasurable Greatness of His Power
God is exercising his power in and to believers.
Your salvation was an exercise of God’s power.
He, he, in him.
When you begin to realize that salvation is God’s doing, that encourages you to live right. You didn’t get to be a Christian because of something you did.
We fail to realize the greatness of our salvation.
Paul’s Illustration
Christ’s resurrection demonstrates God’s power that is working and active in the believer.
This is detailed in the next Chapter.