Our Father’s Wisdom

A Study in the Book of Proverbs

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’

Isaiah 56:8-9

Wisdom is the unique and glorious way the true and the living God thinks and acts on His thoughts. “The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth;” (Proverbs 3:19a) As we live according to God’s wisdom we live in peace and harmony with Him and the world He created for us. God’s proverbs are divine sayings that illustrate His manifold wisdom and instruct us in His ways.

There is another philosophy operating in your world. This counterfeit wisdom is depicted in the book of Proverbs as the evil man, the strange woman and other symbolic names that will be reviewed as we study through this book. This counterfeit wisdom is the thoughts and actions of Satan. “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:15)

Proverbs

Chapter 1

Verses 2-4

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

The purposes of God’s proverbs are:

1. to know wisdom – to recognize God’s ways
2. to perceive understanding – to see beyond the natural; to see with your heart; to see with your spiritual eyes.
3. to receive – to take possession of

a. the instruction of wisdom (God’s ways)

b the instruction of justice (what is right)

c. the instruction of judgment (God’s decisions)

d. the instruction of equity (evenness, balance)

4. to give – to grant or bestow, to put upon

a. prudence to the simple (caution of evil)

b. knowledge (of God and His ways)

c. discretion (understanding of God’s purpose and plan)

Verses 5-6

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

A wise man has a teachable spirit and a man that understanding God’s ways will listen to wise counsel. This man will have a deeper understanding of God’s word.

Verse 7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The recognition of the awesomeness of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This entails coming to the realization that He is no joke, nor a figment of the imagination. He is real, all powerful, gracious and personal. He wants to personally interact with you. Those who can not perceive His awesomeness are fools. They reject His wisdom and refuse to be instructed by Him.

Verses 8-9

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

As the children of God, we need to hear and obey the instructions of our Father. God word is “an ornament of grace unto thy head” it gives clarity of thought and the “chains about the neck” reflects God righteousness

Proverbs

Chapter 2

Read Verses 10-19

The entrance of God’s wisdom and knowledge brings discretion and understanding. Discretion and understanding will keep you from the evil man and the strange woman. The evil man and the strange woman symbolize ungodly relationships. It depicts both the unsaved man and woman, but more importantly it depicts Satan’s opposition and scheming ways. His desire to destroy God’s people can be seen in the evil man and the strange woman.

Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God. Putting your faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, in His death, burial and resurrection is wise. It brings wisdom for life on earth as God the Creator intended it and eternal life. Be wise receive the free gift of salvation today. God is waiting to receive you into His kingdom through faith in His Son.

To God be the Glory!

Evoking the Powerful Presence of God in Your Life (Part 2)

by Denise Hinson

The sole purpose of fasting is to cultivate a closer and more intimate relationship and fellowship with our heavenly Father. This should be your ultimate objective and desire for setting aside a time of fasting. As I mentioned in the previous article, my fellowship with the Lord during that first forty day fast was so sweet and His presence was so powerful.

As He began to speak to my heart, He revealed three attributes fasting would bring into my life. These characteristics were discipline, moderation, unwavering and uncompromising faith. All of these attributes I desperately wanted in my life. Moderation, unwavering and uncompromising faith, I will talk about a little later. In this article discipline is the topic.

The first forty day of fasting until five o’clock was very interesting. The Lord truly kept me and I know that it was Him doing it, but at five o’clock this sister tried to eat everything in the refrigerator. Discipline, oh how I needed some in my life. Not only did I need it in this area of my life, but the Lord made me realize that my lack of discipline spilled over into other area of my life. He also revealed that the development of discipline in this area would also spill over into all area of my life. I love it when Jesus is right, which is all the time. We are His disciples. Disciple means follower and learner, but it also means disciplined one. Did I develop a disciplined life in forty days? No, but this was the beginning of the process. Praise be to God for the process.

This forty day fast culminated October 14, 2007. That weekend my church traveled to Ohio for the installation service of Pastor David Nelson. I hope he does not mind me using his name. It was a wonderful fellowship. However, that Saturday night one of the saints fell getting off the bus. I went with her to the hospital. I did not know her before that night, but the Lord placed a wonderful woman and friend in my life that day.. Although she was in pain, Sis Span and I talked and laughed all night long. We did not get out of the hospital until 6 o’clock that next morning.

When I arrived back at the hotel, I was informed that the bus would be leaving for the church at 9:30am. It was about 7:00am and I was totally exhausted. I went to my room. I sat at the little table and I began to cry. It was day 41. The morning I was to break the fast. I closed my eyes and I said “Daddy my fellowship with you has been so sweet, I have been so blessed. I do not want to break this fast.” The Lord spoke to my heart and said “Obedience is better sacrifice, break the fast.” I obeyed. I had some grapes. Anyone who knows me knows that I love grapes.

After the morning service, lunch was serviced. There was some much food and good food too. I was so hungry. I truly wanted to make a pig of myself, but there were certain people, whom I will not mention by name, that kept watching me. So I could not act uncouth and pig out.

This forty day fast was the beginning of the Lord teaching me many things and cultivating our relationship. It has been such a blessing learning to fast. It is powerful. Sometimes it is difficult to find the words to express what this powerful tool does in your life. However, through this series of articles, I hope to encourage you to experience the powerful presence of God through fasting for yourselves. In the next article I will talk about obedience and moderation.

What does Jesus said about fast?

“And Jesus said unto them, can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.”

Mark 2:19-20

In this passage Jesus is asked why his disciple did not fast like John The Disciple and the Pharisees. Because Jesus was with them they experienced a close, intimate relationship and fellowship with Him. There was no need for them to fast. But as He said a day was coming that He would no long be with them. For them to continue their close fellowship with him they will need to fast. We are also His disciples and this applies to us. Remember the sole purpose of fasting is to cultivate and develop a closer walk with the Lord.

Evoking the Powerful Presence of God in Your Life

Evoking the Powerful Presence of God in Your Life

by Denise Hinson

About three years ago Sis Renae Thompson encouraged our church to fast together every Wednesday. Little did I know that this was the beginning of a lifetime commitment to the Lord for me in this area of worship. During the summer of 2007 the church took a break from this fast. I was compelled by the Spirit of God to continue to fast.

On September 4, 2007, during my morning prayer, I felt an overwhelming desire to be close to the Lord. I remember saying, “Daddy, I want to walk closer to You. So close that I will walk right in to heaven.” The Lord spoke to my heart and requested me to do a forty day fast. I choose the word request because Daddy will never force you to do anything. He always gives you a choice. The choice is always His way or your way and I am continually learning to desire His way. But I digress, that is another teaching for another time. My answer to the Lord was yes. "Yes, Daddy, I will fast for forty days."

Now this was not a total fast. His instruction to me was that I was to fast until 5:00pm everyday, keep a fasting calendar and a journal for the next forty days. I thought to myself "Wow, I can do that." On the first day 3:00pm, I was so hungry that I told the Lord, “I’m hungry and I’m gonna go eat.” The instant I said that, I heard in my spirit, “That is the problem. Your flesh dictates and you go running.” At that moment I realized that I was not able to do this alone. Being completely honest with myself and with the Lord, I asked him to do this for me. He did.

My fellowship and the power of His presence grow stronger each day. Over the next few weeks, I will share with you the amazing events that occurred during the first year of this lifetime commitment.

What does Jesus say about fasting?

Matthew 6:16

Moreover when ye fast be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

The word “when” in this verse means this is not a suggestion. Fasting should be a regular part of our worship, similar to giving and prayer.