House of Hope Online

May 18, 2025

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Last week, for Mother’s Day, we discussed Jesus’ words in John 16:21 about the joy a woman experiences when she gives birth.  Jesus said in essence the mother no longer remembers the pain and difficulties of childbirth because she is filled with joy that a baby was born into the world.  Proverbs 6:20 teaches us not to forsake our mother’s teaching and Proverbs 31:6 tells us she opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

So today, I want to talk a little more about the wisdom that Proverbs describes, which is the wisdom that God promises to those who ask.

Wisdom Distinguished

There are two types of wisdom: worldly wisdom and Godly wisdom.  The Godly wisdom from last week was: “do not forsake your mother’s teaching,” but the world would tell you her teaching is out of date, and the Bible is no longer applicable to today’s modern culture. 

The Apostle Paul teaches that God is opposed to worldly wisdom, and vice versa.

1^st Corinthians 1:

 18 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, 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 CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”

 20 Where is the wise man? 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 through its wisdom did not [come to] know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom;

 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness,

 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (NASB)

Verse 18 says the word of the cross, that is, the Gospel, is foolishness to those who are perishing.  The wise of this world believe our faith in the word of God is foolish.  Therefore, in verse 19, which quotes the Prophet Isaiah, God says he will destroy the wisdom of the wise in this world, and the cleverness of the clever he will set aside.  This is fair warning to us about which side of the debate to be on.  You want to be on the side that believes the word of the cross is the power of God. 

Verse 20 says God has already made foolish the wisdom of this world.  We are already seeing evidence of this.  If you watch footage of congressional debates in this country, you will see that God indeed has made foolish the wisdom of this world.

I love verses 23-24.  Paul preached Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to unbelievers foolishness, but to those of us who are called, Jesus is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Key Point:  Jesus is the power of God and the wisdom of God!  If you are looking for wisdom, forget the rulers of this age and focus instead on Jesus!

Paul teaches in 1^st Corinthians 2 that our faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but instead on the power of God.

1^st Corinthians 2:

 4 And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

 5 that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

 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;

Verse 6 says God’s wisdom is not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. 

Another Key Point – the rulers of this age are not walking in Godly wisdom.  Verse 8 says none of the rulers of this age has understood the wisdom of God.  None of them has understood the wisdom of God.  So, whose wisdom are you subscribing to?  Does your faith rest on the wisdom of man, or on the power of God?

Paul continues warning us about worldly wisdom, and how it is on God’s radar to catch them in their craftiness.

1^st Corinthians 3:

 18 ¶ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise.

 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “[He is] THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”;

 20 and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”

And so, if worldly wisdom is foolishness in God’s eyes, let us turn to God’s wisdom, and where we can find it.

Wisdom Is a Gift of the Holy Spirit

1^st Corinthians 12:

 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

 6 And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all [persons.]

 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 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;

Wisdom is not something you can earn or acquire for a price.  It is a gift of the Spirit, and it is available to those who ask in faith.

To receive this gift of wisdom, we need to seek the Holy Spirit.  We need to pray in the Spirit, pray in tongues, shutting our brain down and waiting patiently for a download of wisdom from above, from the throne room. 

Do not try to reason with God in search of wisdom.  His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  He knows things we are incapable of knowing.  That doesn’t mean we are stupid; it just means that there are things hidden from us.  The devil may be deceiving us, or God may be withholding it from us in His wisdom.  Paul writes “…we know in part, and we prophesy in part…”

Need Wisdom? Just Ask!

The Bible promises that we can have access to Godly wisdom by simply asking.

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.

 6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

 7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

 8 [being] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Verse 5 says God gives to all men generously.  If we ask God for wisdom, He will give it us generously.  But verses 6-7 tell us we must ask in faith, without doublemindedness.  Believe this promise of God, and do not doubt His willingness to give you wisdom generously.

Let us pray.

Father God, thank You for Jesus, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Lord, we ask for discernment to recognize the foolishness of the rulers of this age.  Help us to rest our faith on the power of God and on the gift of wisdom from the Holy Spirit.  Strengthen our faith to believe you will generously provide us with the wisdom we need in these evil days.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.