House of Hope Online

February 16, 2025

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There is a fundamental difference between wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom tells us how to use our knowledge.  You might know something, but wisdom tells you whether to disclose that knowledge, or how to disclose it.  You can tell someone the truth, but wisdom teaches you to speak truth in love.

The Bible teaches that God’s wisdom is hidden in a mystery, which He predestined to our glory.  This means there is a higher and deeper level of wisdom available to us that the world is unable to see and hear.  That is precisely the promise espoused by the Apostle Paul in 1^st Corinthians 2.

1^st Corinthians 2:

 6 ¶ Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;

 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden [wisdom,] which God predestined before the ages to our glory;

 8 [the wisdom] which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

 9 but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND [which] HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

 10 For to us God revealed [them] through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

 11 For who among men knows the [thoughts] of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the [thoughts] of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God,

 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual [thoughts] with spiritual [words.]

 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man.

 16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. (NASB)

Get that – we have the mind of Christ!  And the world doesn’t.  Verse 7 says God’s wisdom is hidden in a mystery which God predestined for our glory.  God’s wisdom is for believers only.  The rulers of this age will not understand this wisdom promised to us.  Verse 9 describes it as things which eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and as things which have not entered in the heart of man.

Verses 9 and 10 are tremendous promises – there are things that man has not yet fathomed, yet they are things which God has prepared for those who love Him.  These things are revealed to us through the Holy Spirit, who searches all things even the deepest things of God.

What Do You Need to See?

This promise that we are talking about, things which eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, is promised to us throughout the Bible.  Here are just a few examples.

James 1:

 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

1^st Corinthians 12:

 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another [various] kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

Psalms 119:

 18 ¶ Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Thy law.

John 14:

 25 ¶ “These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you.

 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will teach us all things.  But the key is the Father only sends the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus, meaning one must be saved to receive teaching of things previously unseen and unheard.

Seeing Is Believing

The conversion experience of the Apostle Paul is one of the great stories of faith in the Bible.  It is a tremendous example of being able to see things which could not be seen previously – things which eye had not seen, and ear had not heard.

Acts 9:

 1 ¶ Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

 3 And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

 4 and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

 5 And he said, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And He [said,] “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

 6 but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.”

 7 And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.

 8 And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Paul, prior to his conversion, was named Saul.  He was a persecutor and murderer of Christians.  Yet, instead of hating Saul, Jesus loved him and chose Him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, and to become the author of most of the New Testament.  Jesus appeared to him and asked a simple question: “…why are you persecuting me?”

Others heard Jesus’ voice but did not see Him.  Verse 8 says although Saul’s eyes were open, he could see nothing.  So, it is with us prior to our accepting Christ, our eyes are open, but our vision is hampered.  Jesus sent Ananias to evangelize and minister to Saul.

Acts 9:

 10 ¶ Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Behold, [here am] I, Lord.”

 11 And the Lord [said] to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,

 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.”

 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem;

 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name.”

 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

 17 And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized;

 19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,

 20 and immediately he [began] to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Ananias, having been sent by Jesus, laid hands on Saul, restored his sight, and filled him with the Holy Spirit.  Verse 18 says something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight.  The Greek word for “scales” means flakes.  The Albert Barnes Commentary describes it as perhaps a thin crust or layer or leaf that caused the blindness. 

This is the lesson for us – before receiving Jesus into our hearts, our eyes are hampered from seeing.  But, after receiving Him, He sends the Holy Spirit, and we begin seeing things which eyes have not seen, and we begin hearing things which ears have not heard.

Jesus often used the expression: “If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.”  This is a reference to the fact that we believers have a degree of hearing in the Spirit that unbelievers do not.  This means there is a difference between Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom.

Godly Wisdom Versus Worldly Wisdom

Paul’s conversion showed us that, once saved, there is a higher level to our sight and to our hearing.  The Lord gives us sight as well as insight.  James 3 teaches us the importance of Godly wisdom, and its many differences from earthly wisdom.

James 3:

 13 ¶ Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and [so] lie against the truth.

 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The wisdom of this world is earthly, natural, and demonic.  Why is that so?  Worldly wisdom is designed to make one wiser than another.  It is rooted in jealousy and selfish ambition, and verse 16 says where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.  This is why the devil tries so hard to sow jealousy among us.  Jealousy brings disorder, even murder, and every evil thing.

On the other hand, God’s wisdom is:

• Pure, that is, based on the word of God,
• Peaceable,
• Gentle, which is a fruit of the Spirit,
• Reasonable, that is, persuasive,
• Full of mercy and good fruits,
• Unwavering (it does not change to accommodate an unbelieving world), and
• Without hypocrisy.

Our Future Advantage

In closing, the Word promises us a wisdom hidden in a mystery, which God planned from the beginning to our glory.  Not only that, but Romans 11 also promises that God will give the unbeliever a stupor, eyes not to see, and ears to hear not.

Romans 11:

 8 just as it is written, “GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.”

 9 And David says, “LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.

 10 “LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.”

As we move forward in these days, we see the eyes of this world seeing not, and ears hearing not.  Traps are being set, and stumbling blocks are everywhere for those who do not humble themselves before the Lord and His Word.  King David prayed their eyes would be darkened.

Let us pray.

Father God, thank You for wisdom that is hidden in a mystery, predestined to our glory.  Thank You for revealing to us things which eyes have not seen, things that ears have not heard.  Quicken us to seek the Holy Spirit, who will teach us these things from the very depths of God.  Give us your wisdom, knowledge, and discernment.  Remove our scales, that our eyes might see.  Remove any jealousy or selfish ambition that is within us and help us to discern Godly wisdom from that which is earthly, natural, and demonic.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.