THE GIFT OF A WORD WISDOMWhat a generous God we have!Last week David summed up how we are given gifts by Father, Son and Holy Spirit for building up ourselves and each other. We are offered these gifts and how often do we ignore them? Do we leave them unopened or ignored.

Today we are considering the Holy Spirit gift of Wisdom.I get a bit tired of what I call "Lecture Language" - People talking about "the journey we are taking" or we should be "blue sky thinking" and we certainly mustn't mention "the elephant in the room". I spent one talk with a friend counting how many times the speaker "flagged up" things for us".But when it comes to the Gift of Wisdom I like to talk about "Thinking outside the box" Our God cannot be boxed up.

What we are talking about here is what I like to call "Godly wisdom" or "The Wisdom of God"

What Godly wisdom is NOT1 Natural Wisdom - Common sense2 Counterfeit Supernatural Wisdom

This would include Astrology, Horoscopes, Tarot Cards, Witchcraft. - Occult practices attempting to gain wisdom and advice. When the magicians could not interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream by sorcery Daniel was able to say,"But there is a God in heaven who is able" That was Godly wisdom.

3 Worldly Wisdom - Intellectual WisdomThe acquisition of knowledge increases day by day and we know that it can be put to good or bad use. Most scientific discoveries can be used for good or evil. Wisdom is needed to use the knowledge we have. Even so this wisdom cannot understand the things of God. And is no use for our salvation.

In Corinthians we read18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

So, we are not thinking about common sense, magical powers or intellectual thinking. We are thinking here about the Holy Spirit inspired Wisdom of God

It's a bit difficult to always separate wisdom from the other gifts of a word of knowledge and discernment. They often have to work together with each other to receive God's complete message.

Wisdom of God.I'd like to make a distinction between what I call "Godly Wisdom" and the gift of a "Word of Wisdom"The Bible talks about Godly wisdom as something to be sought after.

In Proverbs we read "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."This was the kind of wisdom Solomon displayed throughout his life as we heard earlier. A gift given to him because he asked for it so that he could be a blessing to others.It is interesting that during the Coronation service of a Monarch in this country the Bible is presented with the words, "Here is Wisdom; This is the royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God."We get this wisdom by studying Scripture. The more we study and meditate the more God's Wisdom contained in it becomes part of us.To do this we must first receive Jesus who is referred to as "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" Jesus IS WisdomFinally there is the supernatural "Gift of a Word of Wisdom"It is one of the speaking gifts. This gift describes someone who can understand and speak forth biblical truth in such a way as to skilfully apply it to life situations with all discernment. This is the sudden and miraculous giving of wisdom to meet a particular situation, or answer a particular question. It is knowing what to do with natural or supernatural knowledge.The gift of the word of wisdom is the application of knowledge that God gives you ( I Corinthians 2:6-7). This type of wisdom is a gift which cannot be gained through study or experience and should by no means try to replace them. The gift of the word of wisdom is seeing life from God's perspective. As a Christian exercises this gift, he begins to develop a fear of the Lord. This is the "beginning of wisdom" according to Proverbs 1:7.

The gift of the word of wisdom is also the revealing of prophetic future; it is speaking hidden truths of what is not known. It is a supernatural perspective to ascertain the divine means for accomplishing God's will in a given situation, and is a divinely given power to appropriate spiritual intuition in problem solving.

Furthermore, this gift involves having a sense of divine direction, being led by the Holy Spirit to act appropriately in a given set of circumstances, and rightly applying knowledge.

The gift of wisdom is the wisdom of God. It is the supernatural impartation of facts; it is not natural. You can't earn it. It is received from God through prayer (Ephesians 1:17). Cuts through a dilemmaKenneth E. Hagin remarks, "How desperately we need supernatural manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit today, such as the gift of the word of wisdom. As we learn to yield to God, His plans and purposes will be revealed to us through the word of wisdom as His Spirit wills." p. 93The gift of the word of wisdom works interactively with the other two revelation gifts: knowledge and discernment. Speaking Scripture - Speaking Guidance - Speaking into situations Wait for it. Don't rush into it. Examples of this kind of Wisdom in the Old Testament Joseph and Daniel and their interpretation of dreams.Jesus spoke words of wisdom from scripture at His temptations and words in situations when the leaders tried to trap Him with trick questions.

( Share contemporary examples and any personal examples from the congregation)Outside the BoxIf we are to receive and use God's gifts we must be prepared and ready for Him to work in our lives. I believe He is asking us if we are prepared not only to think outside the box, but to live outside the box. Do we really want a life in the Spirit which is glorifying Him? The battle is for our minds."Do not let the world squeeze you into its mould, but instead let yourself be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 J B Phillips “Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” The MessageFor my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. IsaiahWe should always be seeking the mind of Christ

Seekin James we read "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting"and13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Experience

God wants His gifts to be active in our lives as individuals and as a fellowship. He wants to build us up and experience the joy of knowing that Jesus is alive. He wants us to make this evident to the world around.The Holy Spirit divides the gifts to everyone as He wills and the Holy Spirit wills that we live an abundant life in Christ.