Wisdom By The Spirit

Wilson Lim
Oct 8
11 min read

Once a little boy asked me to teach him to play chess. So I tried. The whole idea was to checkmate the king. To kill him. The boy promptly swiped all the chess pieces off the chess board. “I win! I killed the king!” “No, no, no!”, I exclaimed in dismay, “You missed the entire point!”

Have you ever felt like that with someone? You were trying to explain something, but they absolutely did not get it? That they totally missed the point? Apostle Paul certainly felt that way with the church in Corinth. For the church really missed the point in many areas. Especially in the whole area of wisdom.

If we are to truly build God’s Church, we need God’s wisdom so that we can build God’s Church, God’s way. Besides, we all need more wisdom! To live our lives more wisely, more fruitfully. To more wisely deal with challenges in our lives, our ministry. How do we gain such wisdom? We can find some answers here in 1 Corinthian 2:1-16.

In those days, in Corinth it was popular to be captivated by travelling Greek philosophers. They would come by the city and eloquently share the latest philosophical thinking. Many would gather to listen to their speeches. Many would be stimulated by the oratory skills of the speakers. How they can stir the hearts of the listeners. How beautiful the language they use. How profound the ideas and concepts they articulate. They were celebrities of their day. Just imagine a rock concert but with philosophers! These were the “wise men”.

This perspective was prevalent in the church there. They too sought for wisdom or “sophia”, but they sought it in the way they knew before they came to Christ. In this passage Apostle Paul dealt with the church’s misunderstanding of the very nature of wisdom and sought to point them towards the way of wisdom, God’s way. From this passage we will learn some important keys about wisdom.

BEWARE OF WORLDLY WISDOM

In chapter 1, Paul rebuked them for quarrelling over which apostle they preferred. For Paul realised that one of the key reasons was due to their misunderstanding about the very nature of wisdom and the wise men. That was why some preferred Apollos, who was an eloquent speaker (Acts 18:24-26) over Paul. That was why some questioned the validity or adequacy of the cross – it just does not seem to demonstrate much sophia. At least in their worldly thinking. So, Paul set about correcting their error in chapter 1.

There are several important lessons for us to learn.

Do not be captivated by worldly wisdom

1 Corinthian 2:1 (NIV) “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.”

In essence, Paul was saying that he chose not to come in the way of eloquence and wisdom that they had expected. This does not mean we do not use eloquence or wisdom, just not the worldly version. After all, we see the eloquence in the book of Psalms, Jobs, Proverbs, etc. And in some epistles of Apostle Paul, including this one, persuasive arguments were made, at times quite eloquently.

Worldly wisdom is based on human perspectives, human rationale, human logic. At its best is indifferent to God and at its worst rejects God.

So what is worldly wisdom? Worldly wisdom is based on human perspectives, human rationale, human logic. At its best is indifferent to God and at its worst rejects God. Worldly wisdom is often very pragmatic, results-oriented, self-centred, loud. I hasten to add that not all human wisdom is bad. Some are neutral, some are useful. But wisdom in general must be put through the filter of heaven to see if it is acceptable by God’s principles.

Wisdom in general must be put through the filter of heaven to see if it is acceptable by God’s principles.

Many of us are educated, even highly educated. The danger is we begin to rely too much on worldly wisdom in the decisions we make. We think we have it figured out. And we fail to go to God to seek His wisdom. We just use our logic. For example, we should not build church with worldly wisdom at the expense of godly principles.

We should not seek to build the church through reliance on carnal marketing techniques. Imagine if we built the church like MacDonald's, seeking to attract the children with toys and meals that attract their sweet tooth. Or build the church with capitalist concepts where every life group and ministry competes for resources. May the fittest, most popular life groups and ministries survive! Or attract fans with a reality show called "I am a Pastor - get me out of here!

Yet some approaches are neutral. We can utilise some marketing, such as utilising a website for the church or social media for people to look up. However, instead only relying upon a worldly wisdom, we should instead…

Rely on God and His power

1 Corinthian 2:2-4 (NIV) “2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”

When Paul wrote, “I resolved to know nothing”, it did not mean he lacked knowledge. But rather, he wanted to keep Jesus Christ and Him crucified at the fore, rather than be occupied with peripheral matters. He came to Corinth in weakness, not relying upon his own strength or wisdom, but upon God. That was why his message was not with eloquent and persuasive words that the Corinthian people had become accustomed to. Rather, it relied upon God and His power.

What was the demonstration of the Spirit’s power that Paul referred to? It was probably referring to a range of things that occurred in Corinth. The transforming power of God upon the hearers, turning them to Christ. The evidence of God’s power that came upon the believers such as the evidence of spiritual gifts. The evidence of sign and wonders that typically accompanied Paul’s preaching of the Gospel.

Romans 15:17 - 19 (NIV) 17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

To Paul the preaching of the Gospel is always accompanied by God’s power. Such power is released through humble reliance on God "in weakness and fear, and with much trembling". So instead of relying on worldly wisdom, we should rely on God and His wisdom.

When we started Hope Church in 1993, it was simply going out, meeting people and sharing our faith. Nothing flashy, gimmicky about what we do. God began to draw different people to us. Different ones began to turn to Christ. One time, I had to play the keyboard because no one else was available. Though I had classical training, I had not seriously played for many years. And certainly not for worship. It was so stressful! I desperately prayed that God would bring students who can play keyboard and guitar. God brought 2 girls 2 weeks later who could do both! They even eventually became key leaders in the church. That is relying on God’s provision.

GOD’S HIDDEN WISDOM IS AVAILABLE

1 Corinthian 2:6-9 (NIV) “6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”

Worldly wisdom is often measured by attainment and effective use of knowledge. It is a wisdom without a soul.

The wisdom of God is not the same as that of this world. Much of the wisdom of this world is corrupted by sin - our self-centredness, our fears, our human limitations. Worldly wisdom is often measured by attainment and effective use of knowledge. It is a wisdom without a soul.

But the wisdom of God is totally different in nature. James 3:17 (NIV) 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.

The wisdom of God is holy, righteous, just and full of love. A creative expression of God Himself.

The wisdom of God is holy, righteous, just and full of love. Unconstrained by human limitations. It is glorious! A creative expression of God Himself. A wisdom tied to a Person. Perhaps it could be said that the difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom is like a Photo shopped picture of yourself. Compared to the real person, a pale shadow.

What Jesus did at the cross of Calvary is pure divine wisdom. It is so God! Imagine the horrible, shameful, repugnant crucifixion of an innocent man. The personification of failure and defeat. That very act was turned by God to become the most merciful, loving, glorious act of self-sacrifice. The personification of undeserved grace poured out for us all. That God Himself, who is totally innocent, sinless, would Himself suffer for the sins of the world – out of love for His creation.

It demonstrated at its very core the humility of the Almighty God, the mercy of the Judge of all Souls, the love of the Most Holy One. It is so God! So absolutely different from the wisdom of this world. Christ crucified - that is the message of wisdom, the Gospel message. But this wisdom of God is hidden from the people, even rulers of this world. They failed to understand the wisdom of God. If they had, they would have accepted the Messiah, rather than reject Him. And it remains hidden because of the stubbornness and pride in their hearts.

In 2007, a man walked into a Northampton second-hand shop and bought a grubby looking, dirt-covered painting for 100 pounds because he liked the frame. Only years later, he decided to take a closer look. He realised that the painting looked rather old. In fact, it had a date 1854. He brought it to an auctioneer who identified it as possibly a Cezanne and the painting could be worth 48M pounds! How many people missed it because they looked but did not see it for what it was.

Matthew 13:15 (Msg) Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing. Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing. The people are blockheads! They stick their fingers in their ears so they won’t have to listen; They screw their eyes shut so they won’t have to look, so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them.

How many times have the Gospel been preached yet many refuse to humble their hearts to consider it? Yet it is made available to those who love God. Those who humble their hearts before God. That we may have revelation of His wisdom. We have the privilege of experiencing it, of understanding it.

The question is how much do we value the wisdom of God? How much will we seek after God’s wisdom?

RECEIVE GODLY WISDOM BY THE SPIRIT

1 Corinthian 2:10-12 (NIV) “10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

It is by the Spirit of God that the wisdom of God is revealed.

Scriptures reveal that it is by the Spirit of God that the wisdom of God is revealed. The Holy Spirit knows everything from God. And since He dwells with us, He can reveal it to us. 1 Corinthian 2:13-14 (NIV) 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

If we do not have the Spirit of God with us, we are unable to understand. The spiritual realities that the Holy Spirit reveals makes no sense to the unspiritual person. It may even sound foolish. For only the spiritually discerning will understand.

I mean how do we understand spiritual truths such as Luke 6:38 (NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

We can only comprehend spiritual truths through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds.

The more you give, the more you will receive. The degree of generosity you give will be the degree of generosity you will receive! It does not make sense! But such is the spiritual principle Jesus taught. We can only comprehend spiritual truths through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is the giver of wisdom.

How can we gain wisdom from the Spirit?

We can study Proverbs 2 carefully and meditate upon it.

Proverbs 2:1 (NIV) My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,

Study the Scriptures as God’s Word, treating is as the very words of God and the keys to life. Be diligent to absorb it in your heart, then the Holy Spirit will enlighten you.

Proverbs 2:2 (NIV) turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,

Posture our hearts to learn wisdom and applying it in our lives. Tune in to God to hear Him and apply it in our lives. For wisdom cannot truly be understood unless you live it out.

Proverbs 2:3 (NIV) and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,

Pray and seek God for wisdom. For He is the source of wisdom. Godly wisdom cannot be attained apart from God.

Proverbs 2:4 (NIV) and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,

Be diligent in seeking God’s wisdom as something truly precious. Squeeze every drop out. Imagine suffering from thirst in the desert and desperately getting every last drop out of their water bottle.

Proverbs 2:5 - 6 (NIV) 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Scriptures affirm that as you apply Proverbs 2:1-4, you will gain revelation about how you should walk with God and come to know Him more. The more you do so, God will give wisdom, knowledge and understanding. You see, divine wisdom and God are intertwined. Know God and gain wisdom.

I have applied the above for most of my Christian life. And I assure you how true it is that you will gain wisdom from God.

CONCLUSIONS

Surely, you can find godly wisdom if you value it and seek God.

God is wisdom personified. He has all wisdom. He desires His Church to be built His way, with His wisdom. So let us not seek worldly wisdom, nor attempt to build His Church with worldly wisdom. But recognise that God’s wisdom is available to those who seek Him for it. Surely, you can find godly wisdom if you value it and seek God.