Tag-Archive for ◊ wisdom ◊

17 Mar 2024 1 Corinthians (Program #18)

1 Corinthians (Program #18) – Growth in Life Needed (1)

In the first two chapters of 1 Corinthians the apostle Paul stresses one thing, Christ. This is his wisdom in pointing the believers’ in these problems laden church to the one unique solution to all the problems in the Christian life and in the church life.

But in chapter three he turned his focus to the church. Writing about the church in a marvelous way without even ever using the term, church. In this book his speaking related to the church is not according to the doctrine and teaching regarding the church life but according to the life and the growth in life.

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07 Mar 2024 1 Corinthians (Program #8)

1 Corinthians (Program #8) – Christ, Our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption

In our human society we typically have a high regard for the wise and the well born among us and conversely we tend to despise even to disregard the poor and the lowly ones. Yet in God salvation there is no room for man to boast in himself. So God in His wisdom renders all our human wisdom mere folly in Christ. Well at the same time He Himself becomes wisdom and strength and status to all those who had been called. Listen to Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians chapter 1

For consider your calling, brothers, that there are not many wise according to flesh, not many powerful, not many wellborn.  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world that He might shame those who are wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world that He might shame the things that are strong, And the lowborn things of the world and the despised things God has chosen, things which are not, that He might bring to nought the things which are, So that no flesh may boast before God.”

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02 Sep 2023 Acts (Program #69)

Acts (Program #69) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (35)

Once again the apostle Paul is given an opportunity to speak during his two year imprisonment at the hands of the corrupt Roman government.  With his wisdom and knowledge of Roman laws and custom, he likely could have talked his way out of this difficult situation.  But he chooses instead not to say all the right things in order to gain his freedom, but rather boldly testifies of the vision of the resurrected Christ that he had seen and who charged him with the marvelous commission of the New Testament ministry.  Stay with us today for a rich and enlightening life study of the Bible.

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25 Sep 2022 Proverbs (Program #8)

Proverbs (Program #8) – The Detailed Precepts for Man To Live a Proper Human Life (3)

The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom but the real purpose of Proverbs is to cultivate our new man. Yet many people come to the book of Proverbs seeking wisdom to help them and improve their old man, their natural life, to improve their “self”. But the problem is no matter how much we improve our “self”, we still according to the Lord’s word in Luke 17:33 we need to deny our “self”. We need to take up the cross and follow the Lord. So at best we’re perfecting our “self” that we need to deny. But if we have the light and we see Proverbs in a proper way, we can see the benefit of the book of Proverbs is to help us to cultivate our new man.

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22 Sep 2022 Proverbs (Program #5)

Proverbs (Program #5) – Touching the Word of God by Our New Man

The book of Proverbs is a wonderful collection of gems of wisdom concerning nearly every aspect of human life. As such, people of many persuasions appreciate Proverbs and often quote these nuggets of wisdom. While we’re thankful for such a book in the Bible, it also presents a dilemma. And that is that an ethical person, even one who has no personal knowledge or experience of our dear Saviour Jesus, can apply these moral precepts to build himself up and enhance his fallen human life. While we may say that society would surely benefit if all men practice these principles and employ the wisdom expressed in Proverbs, yet God’s goal of bringing us, His children, not into an improved condition but into a new creation will be no closer to reality. While we extol God for the wisdom of His word, our real need is not self-improvement but rather that we put off our old man and put on the new man.

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19 Sep 2022 Proverbs (Program #2)

Proverbs (Program #2) – The Principles for Man to Live a Proper Human Life

Many people love the book of Proverbs because the truth conveyed in these short, easy to understand, poetic utterances matches their ethical approach to the Bible and the Christian life itself.  Fearing God is a good example. There are numerous passages in Proverbs that extol the benefit of fearing God. The question is not then, “Should we fear God?” Of course we should and even we must. But we fear God not simply out of duty or instruction but because our reverence to Him issues in a deeper and more genuine experience and love for Him. The difference may seem subtle but in actuality, the difference is profound and life-changing.

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14 Jun 2022 1 & 2 Kings (Program #3)

1 & 2 Kings (Program #3) – The Reign of Solomon (2)

We all remember the inspiring story of King Solomon in the Old Testament.  As the new king over Israel the Lord agrees to grant him one request.  Solomon touches the Lord’s heart by asking for wisdom in order that he could rule over Israel in a just manner.   For centuries, men have admired Solomon and long to be like him and have the wisdom that God blessed him with.  Surely his wisdom was great, but consider for a moment: how it compares to the wisdom that is our blessing as God’s New Testament called ones.  In 1 Corinthians 1:24, Paul writes “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” and in verse 30, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God: both righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”

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10 May 2022 James (Program #7)

James (Program #7) – Practical Virtues of Christian Perfection (7)

The Apostle James was a man of tremendous Christian character and virtue. He was genuinely pious and godly, and he obviously possessed great human wisdom. His epistle was perhaps the most practical in the New Testament in terms of Christian perfection. But as we have seen repeatedly in this current life-study of the book of James, when we compared his writing with that of the other New Testament writers, it becomes quite clear that for all his virtue and piety, James lacked a clear view of God’s goal and God’s way. A goal and a way that Paul described as God’s economy. All we need to do is consider how each of these two important figures in the New Testament present the matter of wisdom. In James 1:5 he said, “But if any one of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and does not reproach, and it will be given to him“.

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26 Dec 2021 Colossians (Program #47)

Colossians (Program #47) – The Word Of Christ Inhabiting Us

Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to God.” Immediately after speaking about the peace of Christ arbitrating in us, Paul goes on to tell us to let the word of Christ dwell in us. Why does Paul mention the indwelling word after the peace of Christ? The answer to this question relates to a basic principle revealed in the Bible that God’s speaking requires oneness. Whenever God’s people are divided, His word becomes rare. But when oneness is intact, even the oneness that is produced by the very life of Christ operating in us, God’s word automatically opens and the light pours in.

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22 Nov 2021 Colossians (Program #13)

Colossians (Program #13) – Presenting Every Man Full-Grown In Christ

It’s a marvelous feeling to share Christ with someone, even pray with them as they accept the Lord Jesus for the first time. But typically, what happens to them after this initial step. Colossians 1:28 says, “[Christ] whom we announce, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man full-grown in Christ;” We need to check within. Are we satisfied just to lead someone to salvation, or are we, as Paul was, burdened, even consumed with their being brought on to maturity.

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