In Part 1 [click] , we shared about the true Sabbath is now to be found in Christ alone. The ultimate rest for our souls is to be found in Him. Yet how can we appropriate this in practice? Firstly, we need to realise that we can find rest in all areas of our lives. 1. FIND REST IN GOD’S PROVISION. Psa 34:9-10(NIV) 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Do not fret, nor be anxious but know that God will provide. Whether it be unemployment, meeting household budgets and other needs. God never backs away from His promises of sustaining us if we continue to trust Him and act righteously. God never backs away from His promises of sustaining us if we continue to trust Him and act righteously. I chose to obey the Lord when He beckoned me to stay back in Melbourne upon completing my university degree. That also meant I would need to also find a job to help support my stay here. Jobs were not easy to come by in those days. Yet I chose to pray and trust the Lord for His provision whilst I actively sought for a job. My savings were dwindling fast despite good economical financial management on my part. God is the Lord of the eleventh hour! He graciously provided me with a job that allowed me time to pursue another practical accounting course and being able to work at flexible hours whilst being paid at a graduate’s rate. How good is that!! 2. FIND REST IN GOD’S GUIDANCE Jer 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Prov 3:26 (NIV) for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Life is always filled with choices, crossroads of decisions. Hence it is important for us to make good decisions. We need not be unduly troubled by tough, difficult choices when we choose to trust in Him. Let God’s Word guide us, let the Holy Spirit lead us. It was recession in Melbourne in 1989. I was now married and was looking for a full-time accounting position. God provided me a job in a small manufacturing company. A week into my work there, I was asked to go for an interview in a medium sized company. That sounded pretty lucrative. Yet as I prayed before God, I sensed Him encouraging me to stay in this small company. There was no peace to go for the job interview with a bigger company. I trusted in God’s guidance. Praise God for His goodness in leading me. About six months down the track, the medium sized company folded up and many people lost their jobs. If I had found employment there, I would have ended up like them. I learnt about the importance of being guided by the Lord and finding rest in Him. 3. FIND REST IN GOD’S COMFORT Some of us may be going through a valley experience. We may be attacked by anxiety or depression when such situations arise. These can be very real. Let us really find our rest in Christ’s comfort through the Holy Spirit. We should lean in into His comfort. Psa 107:14 (NIV) He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. I was looking forward to our first child in 1994. Then on the 36th week of my pregnancy, I discovered that I had contracted the dreaded chicken pox. On top of this, I had developed a secondary infection resulting in extremely high fever and lesions all over my body. I had to be admitted to the hospital and was placed in isolation. Each day was a day filled with nurses (adorned in full protective medical gear as I was highly contagious) coming in to take tubes of my blood for further testing. And consultants coming in to examine me. All day long I felt I was being “shot” at by some “gun” due to the intense irritation of the chicken pox infection. I found out later that they were concerned that I would deliver my baby when there were presenting complications at stake. Yet God’s Presence was so real to me. Instead of feeling deeply troubled whilst being isolated in the hospital, I virtually felt rested and comforted by the Lord. I spent my days praying and reading through an intercessory/spiritual warfare book by Cindy Jacobs. I thank God that I recovered quickly and finally delivered our first child a few days later when I was no longer infectious. Praise God!! Jesus is our Sabbath. He is faithful and true to His Word. Let us rest in Him. PRACTICAL WAYS OF FINDING REST IN GOD: Here are some quick practical tips on how we may appropriate God’s rest for our hearts. Persist in prayer.  We ought to seek God’s face. For prayer builds faith and trust in God. It deepens our assurance that He is our security. Psa 27:14 (NIV) Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Persist also in worship, as it draws you into God’s Presence just like prayer. His Presence can bring a peace that surpasses all understanding. It helps us gain a revelation that God is sovereign. Trust Him and allow Him to be in charge of your life. We should not be a “control freak”, seeking to always be in control. Part of trusting God is to let go and let God. Part of trusting God is to let go and let God. Persist in acknowledging God’s Word.  God is faithful and He keeps to His Word. Claim the promises in His Word. Recall testimonies of how God got you through previously. John 10:28 (NIV) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Persist in keeping godly and supportive company.  Your godly Christian friends can pray with you and encourage you. They can also be a good listening ear and be good sounding board. They faith, their support can help you trust God more deeply. Prov 17:17 (NIV) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Persist in resilience.  While you are resting in God, you need to be resilient in casting off doubt, worry, insecurities and the desperate need to be in control of our situation. Don’t let these steal the rest you have in God. Isa 40:31 (NIV) but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. God’s rest is available for us in Christ. Each day, we have to draw that grace of rest from Him. The more we do so, the more we learn to draw upon this grace. God’s rest is available for us in Christ. Each day, we have to draw that grace of rest from Him. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

How do we find peace living in such uncertain times? What rest can our troubled souls find? The COVID pandemic has infected hundreds of millions and millions have died not to mention those who are now suffering from long-term effects. Numerous reports of war and conflict are breaking out in various countries. Severe storms deluged and fires ravaged different places in the world where lives were lost and many properties damaged. It has been a rough season for many. As fellow believers, we are not exempted from rough seasons in life. Yet, God’s Word reminds us in   Psa 91:1 (NIV) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. God wants to remind us that through Him we can find rest, security and refuge. Even in difficult seasons of our lives. God keeps His promises made to mankind. Even in rough and uncertain times such as these days, God is still with us. This idea is captured in the concept of sabbath. Ex 31:12-18 (NIV) 12 Then the LORD said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. 14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. 15 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.’”18 When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. Hence, we will examine the significance of Sabbath and how we are to find our Sabbath in Him. 1. SABBATH AS A SEAL OF COVENANT (v12-13) Exodus 31:12-13 (NIV)  12 Then the LORD said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.   The overall context of this passage of Scripture is God was making His covenant with the Israelites at Mount Horeb. A covenant is an agreement, in this case initiated by God with His people. Our God is a covenant making and a covenant keeping God. Whatever He instituted covenantally with His people, He will keep to it. God does not go back on His Word. The covenant made here is called the Mosaic covenant. It was made strictly with the chosen nation of Israel after their exodus from Egypt. The Mosaic covenant was expressed in the moral, civil and ceremonial laws that governed the life of the Israelite people. Hence, observing the Sabbaths in the Old Testament time was a part of the ceremonial laws commanded by God. The Sabbaths were literal days of rest, namely occurring on the weekly seventh day and the appointed holy days of the Festivals of Passover, Pentecost and the Tabernacles. For example, Lev 23:7-8 (NIV) 7 On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 8 For seven days present an offering made to the LORD by fire. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’” Observation of the Sabbaths was a sign and seal of the Mosaic covenant. It was a sign of the Mosaic covenant being put in action as the Israelites followed through in their ceremonial lifestyle. The question is whether New Testament Christians are now obligated to keep the Sabbath days as commanded by God. As the Sabbath is now fulfilled in Christ, New Testament believers are no longer obligated to keep the Mosaic Covenant including its sign and seal. In fact, New Testament believers are now under the New Covenant with different signs (which are water baptism and communion) and sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13). Hence the literal Sabbath, or observance of the days of rest by the Israelite community are no longer applicable. We explain this further in the next point. 2. SABBATH AS A REST (v15-17) Exodus 31:15-17 (NIV) 15 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.’” The word “Sabbath” means rest. When God gave the Mosaic covenant to the Israelites it was meant as a foreshadow, pointing the Israelites to Jesus Christ who is to become the Saviour of the world. What God taught the Israelites in those times, is also applicable for us as fellow believers in the 21st century in the following two aspects: God showed us by example how He Himself rested at creation (v17) Gen 2:1-3 (NIV) 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. God also desires His people to find their spiritual rest in Christ. (v15,16) The Mosaic covenant pointed towards the New Covenant that we now have in God through Jesus Christ. The spiritual truth of the literal Sabbath is now fulfilled in Christ. God desires us to cease from our own works and rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. All these years, man have tried to be good, to fulfil all the laws and so forth but the Scripture tells us in Isa 64:6(NIV) All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. The spiritual truth of the literal Sabbath is now fulfilled in Christ. God desires us to cease from our own works and rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. We cannot save ourselves because we are inherently sinful. This is where Christ comes in. Jesus became our ransom and paid the price by dying for us at the cross. Jesus fulfilled all of God’s requirements because he Himself is sinless and by His sacrifice at the cross, He set us free from sin and from Satan’s power. Those of us who receive Jesus as our Saviour and Lord and accept Christ as the One who saved us, we will find out true rest in Him. Rest from striving to gain our way back to God by fully trusting in Jesus for our entire salvation. This is a lasting covenant of God’s grace shown towards us. Heb 4:10-16 (NIV) 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience…14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. In other words, the literal Sabbath rest pointed to a greater rest to come. This is found by entering the God’s rest, meaning the rest that God provides. A rest found in Jesus Christ alone. The one who trusts in Christ, rests in what Jesus has already done for us. We are to cease striving to achieve salvation by our own efforts and in our daily walk with God, we are to depend on the Holy Spirit. God desires man to rest as a whole person by relying upon Him. That is what Jesus promised. Matt 11:28-30 (NIV) 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” God desires us to rest in Him spiritually. We can come to Jesus and cry out for His help, His strength upon us. That is why Jesus Christ is declared as the Lord of Sabbath, for He is the creator of Sabbath and the ultimate expression of Sabbath. Jesus Christ is declared as the Lord of Sabbath, for He is the creator of Sabbath and the ultimate expression of Sabbath. Mark 2:27-28 (NIV) 27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”   So now that the ultimate Sabbath is available for us, do we need the literal Sabbath? The Scriptures is clear that we are under no obligation to observe such literal days. After all, why bother when we have the real thing, in Christ? Colossians 2:16–17 (NIV) 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. However, on the practical front there is still benefit in physical rest. For man needs physical rest and recuperation, as well as time for spiritual refreshment. That is why the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. This day in the Old Testament was given for the benefit of mankind. In ancient times, there were no weekly days for physical rest. People could be working non-stop every day, particularly for slaves. So God declared a day, which practically enabled man to rest and also focus on worship unto God. In today’s world, many only need to work 5 days in a week, 6 at most. Thus, this can be fulfilled quite easily, as long as we don’t undo it by taking a second job and end up working 7 days a week without any day off. 3. SABBATH TO MAKE US HOLY (VERSES 13,15) Exodus 31: 13-15 (NIV) 13 Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy... 15For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. In the Old Testament Sabbath days were days of holy assemblies. The Israelites gathered at least once a week as a people together, and also at the times of feasts which occurred three times a year. The Israelites are called to gather and worship the Lord in His sanctuary. There is that sense of sacredness to the whole essence of Sabbath. It was also a time of celebration of God’s deliverance and mercy shown to the Israelite people. God has called them out of Egypt to a land of promise and a good future. Today, as fellow believers we are instructed to come together to worship God. To learn together of His Word, to take communion which reminds us once again of Jesus’ wonderful finished work at the cross and to rejoice together that we are worshipping the living God. Such gatherings are times of refreshing and renewal that we may be sanctified as fellow believers come together, through experiencing God. As a community, God’s Word cleanses us and renews us. Such times of regular gathering are sacred in the eyes of God. It helps us recall constantly, consistently and perpetually of the wonderful finished work of Jesus Christ so that we may rest in Him. Our willingness to set time aside for God, assemble together to worship God and to assimilate His Word into our lives is definitely pleasing to God. Heb 10:25 (NIV) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Yet our gatherings as a church to worship God together is not a replacement for Sabbath day. For we should not confuse God’s use of Sabbath also for holy purposes of worship, in addition to it being a day of holy rest. For Christ is our Sabbath. In Christ, every day can now be our sabbath. Our gatherings as a church to worship God together is not a replacement for Sabbath day To be continued in Part 2 Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

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. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Reflections Wilson Lim 4 January 2023 Givers will be blessed... Givers will be blessed both here and in heaven. 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.” Now I want to clarify that I am not teaching a hyper-prosperity doctrine. That teaches: the more you give the more God will bless you materially, regardless of your attitude. It is giving so that you may get. Often that promotes greed. But the Bible teaches that we should give unto God for His purposes, not so that we can get a multiplied return. And when we give with the right heart, not in greed, God will bless the most. It could be materially, emotionally, spiritually or in heavenly rewards. When our heart is right, we will have no problems giving even if God does not bless us materially as we may hope. Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Recent Posts See All God does not leave us... The Blessings of Choosing Righteousness God Uses the Lowest Follow God’s way When faith gets real

Reflections Wilson Lim 8 June 2022 Want to get out of survival mode? Want to get out of survival mode? One of the keys that help us step out of the survival mode is when we recognise that God’s favour is upon us. Because we know that God is going to help us. He is going to open doors. King David had such deep assurance when he was faced with battles. Psalms 3:6 - 7 (NIV) 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. 7 Arise, O LORD!  Deliver me, O my God!  Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. Psalms 91:1 - 2 (NIV) 1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. When we have a fresh purposes beating in our hearts. When we know that God’s favour is upon us – it helps us to rise up and say, “I no longer want to be in survival mode.” Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Recent Posts See All God does not leave us... The Blessings of Choosing Righteousness God Uses the Lowest Follow God’s way When faith gets real

Reflections Wilson Lim 5 June 2024 Be holy in all you do God’s Word challenge us in 1 Peter 1:14 - 15 (NIV) 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. The world’s perspectives and ways are earthly ways, not God’s ways. Because many of us grew up without godly parents, we often learn only from the society around us. We often think that is the only way to do things. As a result, our thinking is moulded in the world’s ways without us even realising it. Thus, we may blindly, unknowingly just follow what we knew in the past. The Bible is saying that once we lived in ignorance. We did not realise that we were being moulded in the ways of wickedness. But now that we have been enlightened, choose to be holy before God. This may mean we have to re-examine some of the ways we do things before God. Things that we grew up with. Be humble enough to let God point it out to us. Be humble enough when others point it out to us. Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Recent Posts See All God does not leave us... The Blessings of Choosing Righteousness God Uses the Lowest Follow God’s way When faith gets real