Evans, Our God is Awesome: God's wisdom

THE WISDOM
OF GOD

Tuesday 15 February 2011

THE WISDOM OF GOD IS HIS
UNIQUE ABILITY TO SO
INTERRELATE HIS
ATTRIBUTES THAT HE
ACCOMPLISHES HIS
PREDETERMINED PURPOSE BY
THE BEST MEANS POSSIBLE


“God’s ability to use his attributes in perfect
wisdom is unique because he is the only one
who can do it.
His attributes are the outworkings of his
character - he has a predetermined plan and
purpose (see sovereignty of God) - his power
and perfections guarantee he will always
accomplish this by the best means possible.”
Evans


“GOD’S WISDOM MEANS THAT
HE ALWAYS CHOOSES THE
BEST GOALS AND THE BEST
MEANS TO THOSE GOALS”
WAYNE GRUDEM


Wisdom is more than
knowledge or information. You
can have knowledge and yet
have no idea how to live day
by day.
To be wise means you can use
the knowledge you have in the
best way possible.
Exodus 31:1-5 - Bezalel -I
have chosen Bezalel...and I
have ﬁlled him with the Spirit of
God, with wisdom, with
understanding, with knowledge
and with all kinds of skills


Wisdom is more than
knowledge or information. You
can have knowledge and yet
have no idea how to live day
Wisdom involves three things:
by day.
1. Having ameans you can use
To be wise goal in mind
the knowledge youmeans to
2. Having the best have in the
best way possible.
achieve that goal
Exodus 31:1-5 - Bezalel -I
3. Having the materials
have chosen Bezalel...and I
necessary to get there
have ﬁlled him with the Spirit of
God, with wisdom, with
understanding, with knowledge
and with all kinds of skills


1. GOD’S WISDOM AND
ETERNAL PURPOSE
God’s wisdom does not
operate outside of his
purpose, his wisdom is tied to
his purpose - Eph 1:7-11
In him we have redemption
through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of
God’s grace that he lavished
on us. With all wisdom and
understanding,


...he made known to us the mystery of his will
according to his good pleasure, which he purposed
in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach
their fulﬁllment—to bring unity to all things in heaven
and on earth under Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been
predestined according to the plan of him who works
out everything in conformity with the purpose of his
will,
God’s will is tied up with his purpose - and so all
God does in wisdom is moving to that purpose -
which is to manifest his own glory


1.A. NO ONE WISER
Some people get upset that God
is working for his glory, “why
should it be all about him?” -
they want it to be about them, it
makes more sense to them if it is
about their life, their salvation,
God’s love for them...
But God lives for himself - he is
the greatest or highest goal that
can ever be reached - there is
none wiser or greater than him.


We live for him who is greater than us - God - who,
as there is none greater has set his glory as his
highest goal
Rom 11:33-36 -Oh, the depth of the riches of the
wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable
his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has
been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?” For from him and
through him and for him are all things. To him be the
glory forever! Amen.


So all God does he does
with that end in mind - his
glory. All of history is set up
for this single purpose.
People might try to bend
things towards them and
their purpose - but they fail
because they aren’t God,
aren’t smart enough, and
they all die someday


1.B. NO ONE GREATER
You might not like what God is
doing - but you can only stop
him if you are greater than he is.
So the best idea is to cooperate
with him in the here and now.
He will achieve his glory, with,
or without, you.
Even in hell ultimately God’s
purposes will be achieved -
after all there are no atheists in
hell!


2. GOD’S WISDOM IS UNIQUE

The emphasis here is on
the unique ability of God
to use his attributes in
perfect harmony and
balance - so a number of
attributes are perfectly
combined to achieve the
purposes of God.


2.A. A REVEALING WISDOM
In Daniel 2:19-20, we see the
wisdom and power of God
working together to produce
revelation for Daniel to speak
to Nebuchadnezzar,
During the night the mystery
was revealed to Daniel in a
vision. Then Daniel praised the
God of heaven and said:
“Praise be to the name of God
for ever and ever; wisdom and
power are his.


2.A. A REVEALING WISDOM
HeDaniel 2:19-20, we see the he
In changes times and seasons;
deposesand power raises up
wisdom kings and of God
others. He gives wisdom to the
working together to produce
wise and knowledge to speak
revelation for Daniel to the
discerning. He reveals deep and
to Nebuchadnezzar,
hidden things; he knows what lies
During the night the mystery with
in darkness, and light dwells
was revealed to Daniel in a God of
him. I thank and praise you,
vision. Then Daniel praised the
my ancestors:You have given me
God of heaven and said:have
wisdom and power, you
“Praise be to to me what we asked
made known the name of God
foryou, you ever; wisdom and to
of ever and have made known
power dream of the king.”
us the are his.


2.B. AN ORDERING WISDOM
God arranges, people, places,
nations, situations - all
because he knows which
situations will best bring about
his perfect plan - this requires
his inﬁnite wisdom
Acts 15:18 - TM -"God said it
and now he's doing it. It's no
afterthought; he's always
known he would do this.
Because God sees it all in
advance he can plan every
detail to work out.


Usually we are happy to
accept things as long as they
work out - like using a watch,
we don’t know how it works
and don’t care as long as it
does. (in some situations we
care more - like in a plane, car
or life / death situation)
God cares for the details all of
the time.


2.C. A DETAILED WISDOM

Usually we are happy to
accept things as long as they
work out - like using a watch,
we don’t know how it works
and don’t care as long as it
does. (in some situations we
care more - like in a plane, car
or life / death situation)
God cares for the details all of
the time.


3. GOD’S WISDOM IS EVIDENT

Psalm 104:24
How many are your
works, LORD! In
wisdom you made them
all; the earth is full of
your creatures.
The earth tells of the
wisdom of God in
bringing it forth - see
also Ps 19:1


3. GOD’S WISDOM IS EVIDENT
3.A. IN CREATION
Psalm 104:24
How many are your
works, LORD! In
wisdom you made them
all; the earth is full of
your creatures.
The earth tells of the
wisdom of God in
bringing it forth - see
also Ps 19:1


3.B. IN SALVATION

God’s wisdom is shown
superbly in the plan of
salvation he devised for us in
Christ Jesus.
1 Cor 1:19-20 shows how God
outwits the wise - who might
have had all sorts of other
ideas for how to bring about
salvation - and probably not as
free and accessible to all as
the one God devised is.!


1 Cor 1:21, 25, 27-29
What becomes clear is that
God chooses a way we would
not have. One that might not
make sense to us - but that
results in him getting
maximum glory.
Jesus said it is easier for a
camel to get through the eye
of a needle than for a rich man
to be saved - why? Because
[often] the rich man can think
his money gets him the glory.


3.C. IN JESUS CHRIST
Col 2:2, 3
...in order that they may know
the mystery of God, namely,
Christ, in whom are hidden all
the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge.
1 Cor 1:30
It is because of him that you are
in Christ Jesus, who has
become for us wisdom from
God—that is, our righteousness,
holiness and redemption.


3.D. IN THE CHURCH
Eph 3:9-11
...and to make plain to everyone
the administration of this
mystery, which for ages past was
kept hidden in God, who created
all things. His intent was that
now, through the church, the
manifold wisdom of God should
be made known to the rulers and
authorities in the heavenly
realms, according to his eternal
purpose that he accomplished in
Christ Jesus our Lord.


3.D. IN THE CHURCH
Eph 3:9-11
...and to make plain to everyone
the administration of this
God’s wisdom is shone in the
mystery, which for ages past was
church - andin God, it, thecreated
kept hidden out of who church
acting likeHis intent was thatall
all things. a prism revealing
the colours ofthe church, the
now, through God’s wisdom.
In spite of all the of God should
manifold wisdom ‘deﬁciencies’ in
the church God to the rulers
be made known gets glory in and
authorities in the heavenly
through it.
realms, according to his eternal
purpose that he accomplished in
Christ Jesus our Lord.


3.E. IN THE ORDERING OF LIFE

E.g. Joseph - sold into
slavery, becomes 2nd in
command in Egypt - by
chance, money, good
education?
Gen 50:20
God gets into your life and
orders it in a way that he
gets the glory.


2 Cor 1:3-5
Praise be to the God and
Consider our Lord the hand of
Father of Esther - Jesus
God is theover herof
Christ, all Father life.
compassion andchooses herall
King Ahasuerus the God of
comfort, who comforts us in all
as his wife - God made her
our troubles, sosight.we can
beautiful to his that
comfort those in any trouble
Haman plots, she knew
with the comfort we ourselves
nothing from God. For just as
receive - but Mordecai, her
uncle did abundantly has her in
we share - and God in the
place already.
sufferings of Christ, so also our
comfort abounds through
Christ.


4. GOD’S WISDOM IS GENEROUSLY AVAILABLE
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and
sisters,whenever you face trials of many
kinds, because you know that the testing
of your faith produces perseverance. Let
perseverance ﬁnish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything. If any of you lacks
wisdom, you should ask God, who gives
generously to all without ﬁnding fault,
and it will be given to you. But when you
ask, you must believe and not doubt,
because the one who doubts is like a
wave of the sea, blown and tossed by
the wind.


4.A. IN TRIALS
God brings you a trial - that
you might pass it, and in so
doing, bring him glory.
Just as you have to pass tests
in school, college etc. In fact
tests are important to show
you can do something or have
knowledge - without them how
do you know?
The good thing is we get
through these with the wisdom
of God - well he offers it to us,
we choose if we accept it


4.A. IN TRIALS
One brings you a trial -to note
God important thing that
is that the wisdom does
you might pass it, and in sonot
doing, bringof the trial - verse
get us out him glory.
4 talks you have to pass tests
Just as of perseverance
being developed in In
in school, college etc.us.fact
tests are important to show
We still have to get through
you can do something or have
the trial - but God helps how
knowledge - without them
us.
do you know? “God get me
We don’t pray,
out of this” - because God
The good thing is we get
wants these with the wisdom
throughus to get the ‘right’
of God - and he offers toto us,
answer well be able it
we choose if we accept it
move on.


4.B. IN OUR CONSTANT NEED

In every situation in
life you need the
wisdom of God -
work, rest, play.
God gives wisdom -
as long as we ask for
it.


4.C. WHEN WE ASK

Commit yourself to asking
in faith - ask - then when
you receive move in the
revelation you get.
You don’t ask then decide
if you like what God says -
you commit to it
Do not be double minded


4.D. ONE DOSE AT A TIME

Pray and ask related to
the trial you are in - this is
not about general prayer
but speciﬁc to what you
are going through.


4.E. WHEN WE WANT ANSWERS

You will get wisdom - but you
won’t necessarily know why
God allowed the trial.
Job knew God was putting
him through a trial - but had no
idea why. He simply asked
God to show him how to go
through it.
The wisdom of God comes as
we go through our trial in faith.


5. GOD’S WISDOM AND THE
WORLD’S WISDOM

James 3 - you cannot
mix God’s wisdom and
the world’s wisdom.


5. GOD’S WISDOM AND THE
WORLD’S WISDOM
James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show
it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that
comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish
ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the
James 3 - you cannot
truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but
mix God’s wisdom and
is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and
the world’s wisdom.
selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil
practice.
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. Peacemakers who sow
in peace reap a harvest of righteousness


5.A. VISIBLY DIFFERENT

God’s wisdom is not about
being clever, smart, intelligent
- it is about walking, not
talking.
James 3:14-16
A child of the devil thinks like
his father - and you see all the
ungodly results of such
thinking listed here.


5.B. EXPERIENTIALLY DIFFERENT
Earthly wisdom means operating
with my own agenda - with
everyone in a home or college or
business working in this way the
result is obvious - discord and
disunity. We saw the result of
living in the world’s wisdom is
powerfully different to that of God.
God’s wisdom is pure - Ps 19:8 -
the precepts of the LORD are
right, rejoicing the heart;the
commandment of the LORD is
pure, enlightening the eyes;


5.B. EXPERIENTIALLY DIFFERENT
Earthly 90:10-12means operating
Psalm wisdom
with my own agenda - with
Our days may come to seventy
everyone in a home or college or
years, or eighty, if our strength
business working in this way the
endures; yet the best of them are
result is obvious - discord and
but trouble and sorrow, for they
disunity. We saw the result of
quickly pass, and we ﬂy away.
living in the world’s wisdom is
If only we knew the to that of your
powerfully different power God.
anger! Your wrath is as great as
God’s wisdom is pure - Ps 19:8 -
the fear that is your due.
the precepts of the LORD are
Teachrejoicing the heart;the
right, us to number our days,
that we may gainthe LORD is
commandment of a heart of
wisdom.
pure, enlightening the eyes;


RESPONDING TO THE
WISDOM OF GOD

1. Admit you need God’s
wisdom - Prov. 11:2 - When
pride comes, then comes
disgrace, but with humility
comes wisdom.
2. Fear the Lord - Ps 111:10 -
The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom; all those
who practice it have a good
understanding.


3. Study the Bible - Ps
119:97-100 - Oh, how I love
your law! I meditate on it all
day long. Your commands
are always with me and
make me wiser than my
enemies. I have more insight
than all my teachers, for I
meditate on your statutes. I
have more understanding
than the elders, for I obey
your precepts.
4. Ask - God gives it to
those who ask - James 1:5


Evans, Our God is Awesome: God's wisdom

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