1 Corinthians 1
If ever there were a man who was wise, influential and of noble birth it was Paul. He was a Roman citizen, he was a Pharisee, who were known as the authority on the Law of Moses, and a Jew. He had Stephen killed for sharing his witness of Jesus. How much influence must he have had? He hated and killed Christians because, in his mind, they were spreading a false gospel.
And yet, all that began to be changed in the flash of an eye. While on the road to Damascus, he experienced a vision of the resurrected Jesus, after which he was temporarily blinded. It is interesting that he did not know to whom he was speaking but he knew with certainty that it was the Lord. He went from most feared to most revered by Christians who wrote half of the New Testament, much of it from prison.
If ever there was a man who understood Spiritual Warfare and how to be successful at it, it was Paul. Even though he was imprisoned he was filled with the joy of Christ. The devil had absolutely zero ability to take up space within his flesh.
In the book of James we are told that if we ask for wisdom God will give it to us. But why does it seem to not come? Why can’t I pray for wisdom before bed and wake up with a freshly downloaded spirit filled with wisdom, knowledge, and the fruits of the Spirit flowing from and through me?
I am pretty close to the most impatient guy I know so the answer frustrates me just as it does you. The answer is time. We can be given wisdom but that does not been that we see its effects immediately. Wisdom is defined as “the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of such experience, knowledge, and good judgment.” Wisdom needs knowledge to work and that it takes time to get knowledge.
There is a key point that we often miss in the life of Paul. It was not as simple as having a vision of Jesus Christ and the next day he’s planting churches. Paul studied for 15 years under Peter to get the knowledge that wisdom bouncing off of. FIFTEEN YEARS!??!!
How long have you been studying under your teacher?
And yet, all that began to be changed in the flash of an eye. While on the road to Damascus, he experienced a vision of the resurrected Jesus, after which he was temporarily blinded. It is interesting that he did not know to whom he was speaking but he knew with certainty that it was the Lord. He went from most feared to most revered by Christians who wrote half of the New Testament, much of it from prison.
If ever there was a man who understood Spiritual Warfare and how to be successful at it, it was Paul. Even though he was imprisoned he was filled with the joy of Christ. The devil had absolutely zero ability to take up space within his flesh.
In the book of James we are told that if we ask for wisdom God will give it to us. But why does it seem to not come? Why can’t I pray for wisdom before bed and wake up with a freshly downloaded spirit filled with wisdom, knowledge, and the fruits of the Spirit flowing from and through me?
I am pretty close to the most impatient guy I know so the answer frustrates me just as it does you. The answer is time. We can be given wisdom but that does not been that we see its effects immediately. Wisdom is defined as “the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of such experience, knowledge, and good judgment.” Wisdom needs knowledge to work and that it takes time to get knowledge.
There is a key point that we often miss in the life of Paul. It was not as simple as having a vision of Jesus Christ and the next day he’s planting churches. Paul studied for 15 years under Peter to get the knowledge that wisdom bouncing off of. FIFTEEN YEARS!??!!
How long have you been studying under your teacher?