• Home
    • Contact Me
  • Statement of Faith
  • Prayer
  • This Is Me…
  • 30 Random Things About Me…

Gone Fishin'

~ …“Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men!”

Gone Fishin'

Category Archives: Heavenly Insights

Religious Hypocrites Are Dangerous!

06 Saturday Sep 2014

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Heavenly Insights

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

decaying process, ethylene, father, fermenting process, fruitless, hypocritical righteousness, Leaven, man-given honorable titles, Master, narcissistic, Oral Law, Pharisees, phony, Rabbi, religiosity, religious hypocrites, religious hyporisy, ripening agent, rotten apple, Sadducees, spiritual pride, traditions of elders, venomous attitudes, Written Law

Pharisees & Sadducees' Leaven

Jesus said to them, ‘·Be careful [Watch out]! Beware of the ·yeast [leaven] of the Pharisees and the Sadducees [C yeast or leaven refers here to the dangerous permeating power of their influence].’ ~ Matthew 16:6, EXB

 

The Pharisees and Sadducees were the biggest religious hypocrites in Christ Jesus’ day, which was the reason why the Lord taught that these religious leaders’ outward religiosity was thoroughly fruitless, phony, and narcissistic. For these reasons, He warned His disciples to beware of the Pharisees and Sadducees’ leaven (their venomous attitudes), and why He advised His disciples to avoid judging other people with the same kind of hypocritical righteousness the Pharisees and Sadducees used.

For the record, the Pharisees were strict observers of the Written Law or Torah, as well as strict observers of the Oral Law. They adopted the “traditions of elders”—the interpretations of the Oral Law (unwritten laws) they claimed had been handed down from Moses. However, by placing more emphasis on the “traditions of elders,” the Pharisees made God’s written commands of no effect. Even though the Pharisees explained/taught the Law of Moses and enforced a strict adherence to said Law, they usually didn’t practice what they taught and enforced. Furthermore, they were nitpickers, but ONLY about SOME commandments; they actually ignored following many of God’s commandments, as well as many of the laws they themselves added. Because they were full of spiritual pride, they demanded to be greeted in public as Rabbi, Master, and/or Father, and they expected to be shown the proper respect. Then too, their deeds were constantly on display; they had a habit of praying, fasting, and giving alms in public, because they loved to be seen of men. They made sure that their phony religiosity and man-given honorable titles impressed the people watching them so that they (the Pharisees) could make money off of their religion, as well as receive praise.

In contrast, the Sadducees believed in a strict literal interpretation of the Written Law or Torah, which was to them without any influence from their contemporary society or the Oral Law (unwritten laws) that had been handed down. Their main concern was maintaining the integrity of the Mosaic Law. They insisted that the Torah, the Law of Moses found in the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament), was binding. The Sadducees believed that the oral regulations based on “tradition” misrepresented the Torah, and this is why they rejected the “traditions of elders.” They also didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead, nor in angles or demons. Moreover, because they didn’t believe in Judgment, Heaven, or Hell (denied the afterlife and the immortality of the soul), they also did not believe in rewards or punishments at judgment day. The taught external cleanliness (modesty; clean clothing), but they didn’t teach about inward holiness or obedience to God. They were rationalistic and worldly minded, heavily influenced by Greek customs and culture, and were in favor of adopting them. They accepted human reasoning over Divine Revelation, believing that if they couldn’t conceive or comprehend something, then that “something” could not exist. Although they believed in God, they denied the supernatural. Lastly, they didn’t believe in God’s involvement in everyday life. In fact, the Sadducees were exceedingly self-reliant.

Even though the Pharisees are the ones who consistently are given a bad rap, the truth is that the Pharisees and Sadducees in Christ Jesus’ day were spiritually proud religious hypocrites, legalists, murders, and militants. Both groups/sects also were involved in political scheming.

What is important to note here, however, is that the leaven Christ Jesus tells His disciples to watch out for refers primarily to the Pharisees and Sadducees’ spiritual pride and religious hypocrisy, which Christ Jesus teaches God never rewards. Metaphorically speaking, Christ Jesus is saying that the leaven in Pharisees and Sadducees’ unregenerate inner spirit or heart has the same internal and external altering effects as does the little amount of yeast that is put inside a portion of bread dough. In other words, both the Pharisees and Sadducees’ sufficient amount of toxic attitudes in their individual spirit/heart and the accurate measure of yeast in bread dough modify internal and external characteristics as they spread or rise. Bottom line: The Lord is saying that sooner or later the Pharisees and Sadducees’ leaven (spiritual pride and religious hypocrisy) will spread from the inside – out, causing internal emotional, moral, and spiritual changes and external physical alterations to the people in their Jewish Temple community.

For the purpose of being very clear, let’s mix metaphors.  Pharisaical and Sadducean leaven is a rotten apple. That is to say, malicious leaven during the process of fermentation has the same internal and external poisonous effect on an infected person and the region of people he or she pollutes, as does the internal and external decomposing effect the overripe apple during the ripening process has on itself and the other apples around it. In the case of the one bad apple that spoils the whole bunch, the riper apple gives off a higher level of ethylene, which is both a natural gaseous hormone and a ripening agent. It is the ethylene from the overripe apple that speeds up the ripening process in the other apples around it, and eventually rots them.

Additionally, an apple that is infested with mold also will contaminate the other apples (or the different fruit) it is stored with, because the mold on the infected fruit spreads to more food sources, ruining or rotting them as well. Likewise, this same rotting principle is true of the Pharisees and Sadducees’ leaven. Just like one bad apple most definitely will contaminate the other apples its around and ultimately cause their premature rotting, the Pharisees and Sadducees’ leaven (spiritual pride and religious hypocrisy) also will corrupt everyone with whom their leaven comes in contact.

Today, as it was in Christ Jesus’ day, the Pharisees and Sadducees’ cancerous leaven (spiritual pride and religious hypocrisy) pertains to both our natural and spiritual lives. In the natural realm, the Pharisees and Sadducees’ malicious leaven represents the destructive power one person’s contaminative influence can have on his or her own natural developmental process—mental and physical maturities—as well as on other individuals’ natural developmental process. Likewise, in the spiritual realm, the Pharisees and Sadducees’ malicious leaven signifies the destructive power one spiritually unrighteous, unholy person can have over his or her own eternal life status and spiritual growth, as well as over other people’s eternal life status and spiritual growth.

Finally, the main thing to remember is that a spiritually proud religious hypocrite who is in the process of spiritually, emotionally, morally, and physically decaying his or her own life, both internally and externally, absolutely can emotionally, physically, morally, and spiritually decay the internal character traits and external behaviors of the people who are around him or her. For this reason, a spiritually proud religious hypocrite is a dangerous enemy to the Household of Faith children who are in the Kingdom of God on Earth, because a spiritually proud religious hypocrite swiftly contaminates the inward emotions and attitudes of others. Additionally, a spiritually proud religious hypocrite’s behaviors always dishonors, disrespects, and diminishes the “much good” that genuinely holy and righteous people do.  For these reasons, believers today still need to watch out for the Pharisees and Sadducees’ leaven, for it rots within and affects without.  AMEN.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Spiritual Food

19 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Heavenly Insights

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Creator God, Designer's master plan, Holy Spirit sealed, prepackaged, spiritual bread, spiritual food, spiritual fruit, spiritual health, spiritual life, spiritual meat, spiritual milk, spiritual nutrients, spiritual well being

When I found your words, I devoured them; you words made me glad, they gave me joy; because, Adonai–Tzva’ot, you had me bear your name. ~ Jeremiah 15:16, Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

Anyone who has to drink milk is still a baby, without experience in applying the Word about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by continuous exercise to distinguish good from evil. ~ Hebrews 5:13-14, CJB

 

 

What has the Bible done for you lately?  Has the Word of God always rung true for you, or have you experienced a time when the Word of God had a hollow ring? Has any preacher ever fed you with a solid, hearty Word of God, or have you only eaten some liquefied or sugar-coated substitute passed off as the genuine Word of God?

Just as solid physical food is necessary for the growth and the development of your physical body, as well as for the maintenance of your physical life, physical health, and physical well being, the Word of God is your solid spiritual food, which is necessary for the growth and the development of your supernatural spirit, as well as for the maintenance of your spiritual life, spiritual health, and spiritual well being. If you did not need nourishment (natural food for your body and spiritual food for your spirit), then Christ Jesus would not have told Satan: “…The Tanakh says, ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of ADONAI’” (Matthew 4:4, CJB; the red lettering is this blogger’s emphasis; see also Luke 4:4, ESV).

For sure, the Protestant Bible is that Word, which comes from the mouth of God, because this Bible is God-breathed (God-inspired; see 2 Timothy 3:16). This Bible includes the Hebrew Old Testament, which closely corresponds with the Jewish Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), and this Bible includes the Greek New Testament. Since this Bible is that Word, which comes from the mouth of God, this Bible also is His revelation to you about Father God being the ONLY true living God.

Equally important is the fact that, because biblical instructions are needed first and foremost for your spiritual life, spiritual health, and spiritual well being, this is the reason why the Word of God indisputably provides prepared, processed and semi-processed, protected (from contamination) prepackaged Holy Spirit sealed spiritual food that is labeled with every conceivable safe, essential, and rich spiritual nutrient so that you will know that you are feeding your individual spirit its spiritual necessities. Spiritual food, thus, consists of spiritual milk (the basic plan of salvation, justification, sanctification, resurrection, glorification, judgment, and so on); spiritual daily bread (the amount of the Word of God that is necessary to support your spiritual life’s growth, spiritual life’s health, and spiritual life’s well being); spiritual meat (your spiritual maturity, or spiritual development/understanding, that goes beyond the basic tenets of faith); and spiritual fruit (a description of who and what you “grow” into; the sense of becoming more and more Christ-like; in other words, you “grow” into a spiritually mature loving, joyful, peaceable, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-disciplined believer).

Furthermore, the Word of God’s abundant spiritual nutrients guarantee that the spiritual food you are feeding your individual spirit is that which lasts forever (cf. John 6:27). Without a doubt, there is no use-by-date (or recommended last date for consumption) marked anywhere on your spiritual food, because the Word of God, which Protestant believers refer to as the Bible, is eternal.

Lastly, the Bible is replete with a variety of answers to ALL of your questions pertaining to who you are in Christ Jesus. The Bible also is full of amplified, mystified, and simplified wise principles that are necessary for your daily living. It is these  wise principles that help you to know when, where, and how to apply the spiritual food you have consumed.

So, again, the question is:  What has the Bible done for you lately? As your Manufacturer’s Instruction Manual that is full of basic instructions before leaving Earth, the Bible primarily should be guiding or directing your steps, for Psalm 119:105 says that God’s “…word is a lamp for [your] foot and light on [your] path” (CJB; the inserted bracketed words are this blogger’s emphasis).

As your Manufacturer’s Instruction Manual, the Bible also contains full and complete instructions on how to live your life here on Earth, as you prepare for an eternal life with Father God in Heaven. As your Manufacturer’s Instruction Manual, the Bible additionally teaches you about how to become a child of God by receiving the gift of Salvation by Grace through Faith (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). Thus, Salvation is The Designer’s master plan that, even though it cost Creator God and His only begotten Son very much, Creator God freely gives His gift of Salvation to you to demonstrate His immeasurable Love for you, to bring you Joy, to give your heart delight, and to motivate you to become all that He intends for you to be as His son or daughter. That is why His Holy Spirit convinces you to feed your spirit daily with God’s Word so that you might grow spiritually into a more intimate and deeper relationship with your Father.

Finally, as your Manufacturer’s Instructional Manual, the Bible also teaches you about your responsibilities as a child of God, which includes how to be accountable for the ways you behave in every relationship you enter into in this life. In other words, the Bible should be used to sustain (nourish and maintain) you, from day-to-day, so that you eventually will be able to graduate to spiritual meat (to grow spiritually strong enough) that you lovingly can demonstrate to the lost souls in this world why they too should taste and see that the Word of God is good, solid food for the spirit. Without doubt, it takes a spiritually fed mature spirit to spiritually nourish the soul and the body so that the entire person (spirit, soul, and body) will be transformed into the image of Christ Jesus.

 

Holy Spirit, remind us of our need to daily feed our spirit with the Word of God, instead of waiting until something goes wrong in our lives, or waiting until a difficult decision needs to be made, which too often is when we go running to our Manufacturer’s Instruction Manual (the Bible) to find that relevant scriptural passage(s) that will tell us how to fix our problem(s). Activate in us the desire to feast off of the Word of God more often than we feast off of our natural food. Reveal what the Word of God says about our Designer’s purpose for our lives. Restore us in our faithfulness to His Word so that we can prove, through our appropriate corresponding action to our God-given Faith in the Word of God, that His Word works when we work His Word. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Taken from Heavenly Insights

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

The Way Of Love

12 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Heavenly Insights

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

equally honor, equally value, God kind of Love, Good Samaritan principle, harmony, least dignified, least magnificient, least significant, most important, most necessary, puniest, weakest

…God has put the body together in such a way that he gives greater dignity to the parts that lack it, So that there will be no disagreements within the body, but rather all the parts will be equally concerned for all the others. Thus if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; and if one part is honored, all the parts share its happiness. ~  1 Corinthians 12:24b-26, CJB

 

Each believer is a separate and necessary part/member in the Body of Christ. However, God has designed the Body of Christ in such a way that in order for the Lord’s Body of Believers to function properly every believer not only needs each separate and individual part/member but also every believer needs to care for and to honor each part/member the same way.

There is no way to get around it. God, indeed, has put the Body of Christ together in such a way that the parts/members some believers might see as the puniest, least dignified and least important parts/members are the very ones that will have to receive extra care and extra honor.  For sure, in God’s economy, or the means by which He changes His holy and righteous sons and daughters into the image of Christ Jesus, those sons and daughters who are considered to be the weakest, least magnificent and least significant parts/members in the Body of Christ almost invariably will turn out to be the most essential ones!

That is why so much of what the Kingdom of God depends upon to reflect God’s Love already has become a vital necessity in shaping every individual Christian’s life. In other words, everything that God values in Heaven needs to be valued on Earth, and what He values in Heaven about the Body of Christ is every believer’s interdependence, kindness, humility, respect, concern, care, love, and harmony, which God uses to unite one believer with another.

The bottom line is: What God wants the Body of Christ to value the most on Earth is God’s way of showing the necessary God kind of Love that produces the God kind of Harmony within the Body of Christ. Without a doubt, more than anything else, the God kind of Love and the God kind of Harmony are indispensable godly characteristics, because they make it possible for the Body of Christ to function as a unified whole. Put differently, when God’s Love and Harmony are operating in the Body of Christ, according to God’s intent, ALL parts/members equally will care for and respect one another to the point that when one part/member suffers, ALL parts/members suffer; and to the point that when one part/member is honored, ALL parts/members rejoice.

Holy Spirit, please lead us in the way of love—the God kind of Love—that will cause us to look out for, to encourage, to support, and to strengthen the weaker yet the most necessary members in the Body of Christ. Help us to learn how to share in one another’s pain and to rejoice in one another’s joy. Tune us up so that every part/member in the Body of Christ is in harmony, valuing ALL that God values not only by playing the parts that God has assigned each one of us to play but also by exemplifying the essence of the Good Samaritan principle, which means we equally will care for and equally will honor and respect every member in the Body of Christ.  In Jesus’ name we pray and give thanks.  Amen.

Taken from Heavenly Insights

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Breath of God (Ruwach)

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Heavenly Insights

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Breath of Almighty, Breath of God, comforter, Convicter of Sin, Guide, Living Water, Rhema Word of "Life", Ruwach, Spirit of Life, Spirit of Truth, Teacher

Breath of GOD

So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. ~ Ezekiel 37:10, KJ21

 

Just like the prophet Ezekiel lived in a time of international crisis and conflict, today’s Christian believers also live in a time of international crisis and conflict. Indeed, if September 11, 2001 taught contemporary Christian believers anything, then it was that the love of many, which includes those who are in AND out of the “CHURCH,” truly is waxing cold.

The events on September 11, 2001 also have made it clear to the genuine Body of Christ members that this increasing coldness is why they must continue to share the hope they have in their Lord’s restorative and reconciliatory power with the countless unresponsive, fallen, broken, and/or empty clay vessels, full of dry bones. Additionally, September 11, 2001 has taught the genuine Body of Christ members that they can rest assured that the indwelling and infilling Holy Spirit is transforming them into spiritually redeemed, whole creatures who have faithful, impeccable character, perfect awareness, spiritual authority and dominion, and an overwhelming brilliancy that leaves no doubt that they are the light of this world (cf. Matthew 5:14-15). As such, these faithful and obedient believers know that they must share the hope they have in the transformation that is taking place in them, a transformation that is the result of the promised saturation (outpouring) of the Breath of God, which not only has poured out upon them but also has soaked into their spirits (hearts).

The point here is that, in this present Church Age (this time of international crisis and conflict), nothing but the Breath of God (or Ruwach, which figuratively means “life”) will be able to renew, restore, and empower today’s institutional “CHURCH.” Only the Breath of God (Holy Spirit) can produce true believers who not only are able to dream dreams and see visions, but also who are able to speak a Rhema Word of “life” into the Lord’s ekklesia, as well as speak a Rhema Word of “life” into the many unresponsive, fallen, broken, and/or empty clay vessels, full of dry bones. The bottom line is that the Holy Spirit’s “life” (the Breath of God) is the God kind of “life” that creates yielded, obedient, and believing individuals who become mighty soldiers that are equipped and anointed to stand firm against the swelling numbers of this world’s unloving people.

 

Breathe on us Holy Spirit. Let Your Breath of Life refill us with Your supernatural power. Awaken afresh in us our divine purpose. Revive in us, Holy Spirit, a surrendered will that is steadfast and immovable. Keep us standing on Christ Jesus, our Rock, while we are fighting on these last days and end times’ battlefields for our Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Taken from Heavenly Insights

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Strong Encouragement

23 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Heavenly Insights

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

afflictions, anchored, Christ Jesus, comfort, dangers and perils, hope, persecutions, Rock, shipwrecked, strong encouragement, sure foundation, temptations

This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us]. ~ Hebrews 6:18, AMP

 

Not only are we to have hope, and comfort from that hope, but also we are to make use of our hope and comfort.  Like ships are to a tempestuous sea, subject to the dangers of being tossed and driven, or even shipwrecked, our bodies, souls, and spirits are subject to the dangers and perils of temptations, persecutions, and afflictions. Just as the ships that are tossed and driven by the storms of nature need to be anchored in something that is steady and sure, our bodies, souls, and spirits must be anchored in a sure foundation, a steadfast hope, that will prevent us from becoming shipwrecked. For believers, that sure foundation is Christ Jesus—believers’ hope; their strong encouragement, which is set before them.

In several respects, Christ Jesus not only is the object of our hope but also He is the Rock upon which we can anchor our hope. In Christ Jesus, we have the assurance that our hope in our High Priest, who has made it possible for us to go beyond the veil and enter into the presence of God, will never fail us. Because of Christ Jesus’ sacrifice and His intercession, God has made it possible for our hope to be fastened solidly, steadfastly, and irrevocably to our Savior and Lord.

Moreover, Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection also provide us with the most earnest and perfect examples of a first-fruit hope, a hope that maintains that just as Christ Jesus was resurrected from the dead we too will follow in a like manner after Him. And, our Lord also assures us that we have a sure hope in the fact that He will accomplish the WHOLE work and design of God, which is to watch over our heavenly interests and concerns (our prayers), to watch over our safety and well-being in this world, and to watch over our positions in heavenly places.

 

Holy Spirit, please teach us how to express our love for God’s peace, joy, and happiness that He gives us, because we know that we safely can hope for, trust in, and depend on Him to keep His promises. Help us to see, Holy Spirit, that our hope of glory, our fear of the Lord, and the comforts of the Holy Spirit are our “strong consolations” (KJV) that strengthen and encourage us, even in the midst of our strongest trials and tribulations, as long as we remain anchored in (if we lay hold upon) the Gospel and the Person of Jesus the Christ.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Taken from Heavenly Insights

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Real Wisdom Is The Fear Of God

23 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Heavenly Insights

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

battleground, biblical wisdom, combat zone, creation speaks, exisential, godly perspective, heavenly insights, secular wisdom, spiritual wisdom, the fear of the Lord, voice of reason

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding. For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased. ~ Proverbs 9:10-11, AMP

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline. ~ Proverbs 1:7, AMP

 

According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, there are three basic definitions of “real” wisdom. Two of these definitions are secular in nature and application, but the third one is clearly spiritual in nature and application.  The three basic definitions of “real” wisdom are:

 (1) the ability to learn how to live a successful, prosperous life by yielding to the world’s methods or systems—submitting to the world’s rules and principles (secular wisdom); (2) a philosophical study of what it means to exist in a world in which people are being held accountable for their own actions (as exercised by the use of their free will), even though they don’t have any conclusive knowledge about what is right or wrong, or what is good or bad (secular existential wisdom); and (3) wisdom is the spiritual life; it is living a life that involves not only noting and recording something but also surrendering to and obeying authoritative directions so that the proper moral and intellectual judgments can be applied. This spiritual wisdom begins and ends with God, as well as begins and ends with believers’ faith in God’s Son as their Lord and Savior (biblical wisdom).

It should be clear that the third definition of wisdom pertains to the above-cited Proverbs 9:10-11 and Proverbs 1:7 Scriptures.  Without doubt, the real essence of wisdom is spiritual, because our lives are meant to be more than lives that only seek to be rewarded in some physical manner, and our lives are meant to be more than lives that only follow (live by) a set of rules or principles.  Even though biblical wisdom also emphasizes that our life’s successes and well-being can be achieved in this life, the major emphasis of biblical wisdom is that it (wisdom) must become our guide for daily living, and this objective is accomplished through the exercising of our Christian faith. 

The fact of the matter is that ALL wisdom, whether secular or spiritual, starts and ends with God. The secular wisdom about how to be successful in this life by acquiring knowledge, virtue, character, justice, wealth, or even family comes from God. That’s right. The successes obtained in this life in these mentioned areas also are biblical wisdom’s major focal points. However, the missing area, especially where secular wisdom is concerned, is the God kind of faith. The God kind of faith is the greatest focal point of biblical wisdom’s major focal points, because it is by acquiring faith in God and in His Son, Christ Jesus, as our Savior and Lord, that human beings are able to gain a Godly perspective, which only comes from the spiritual insights about living that He gives.

The bottom line is that our Godly perspective is “the fear of the Lord,” which simply put means living our entire lives in love, worship, submission, and obedience to God’s Perfect Will. Therefore, if we have faith in God, our corresponding action must be “the fear of the Lord,” because both wisdom and knowledge begin and end with “the fear of the Lord.”  Moreover, it is our faith in God that keeps us believing that He constantly watches over the wisdom He gives us, as well as watches over EVERYTHING that happens in this life (cf. Romans 8:28).

This world is a battleground between wisdom (wise living) and folly (foolish living), as well as a combat zone between righteousness and wickedness, good and evil, or right and wrong. But, God has placed in His creation a wise order, which speaks to mankind about God’s Wisdom—speaks about the Creator and every revelation He gives about His creation. God reveals knowledge and wisdom to us, not only through what some think is our voice of reason, but also He speaks to us through His entire creation. Those of us who fear God know that His creation speaks to us and lets us know that EVERY bit of ALL life has been created by God and belongs to God. 

Moreover, we know that His authoritative Word (the Bible) also speaks to us about what is good and evil, urging us to choose to do “good” and to choose to avoid doing evil. The Word of God is the reason why our “fear of the Lord” initiates our faith in God, which in turn sets us on a journey toward obtaining heavenly insights by way of observation and instruction. However, the people who refuse God’s heavenly insights (refuse to hear His creation when it speaks, and refuse to be instructed by Him) will not operate in the kind of faith that will have the appropriate corresponding action. As a consequence, the foolish men and women, those who refuse to observe the voice of God’s creation and who refuse to follow God’s written instructions, will become people who are not loving, worshipping, submitting, nor obeying the God of creation.

 

Dear Lord, let us NEVER become as fools who despise Your wisdom and instruction. Holy Spirit, help us to maintain our faith in God as our Creator, our Lord, and our Savior so that we will fear God by living our lives entirely dedicated to His Will and His Ways, for we know that “the fear of the Lord” is the beginning and end of wisdom and knowledge.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Taken from Heavenly Insights

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen

Sanctified Child

KEEN Blogging Days

January 2021
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Dec    

KEEN (Weekly) Top Posts

  • HARPAZO (Rapture, Take, Snatch, Force, Pull, Pluck, Catch, Catch Up, Catch Away) Scriptures
  • It Is Very Meaningful, When God Speaks A Name Twice
  • Proverbial Wisdom from Three Wise Monkeys
  • The Three Most Important Crops of Israel’s Seven Major Crops
  • Our Deepest Fear: The New Age Philosophy/Spiritualism in Coach Carter
  • A Two-Word Sermon: But God!
  • Christian Snobbery: So, You’re Better Than Other Believers, Because You’re . . .
  • The Bride of Christ’s Inner, Upper, and Outer Garments
  • The Ten Horns and The Little Horn: Good and Bad News for Edom, Moab and Ammon
  • Spiritual Food

KEEN Topics

Awards Bible Prophecy Bible Study Devotional Faith and Wisdom Heartbreak Heavenly Insights National Tragedy Natural Disasters Poetry Praises and Thanks Published Book Reblogged Review Spiritual Tribute Uncategorized

Published Book Author

Perfect Peace, published 2-19-2015; collection of my Haiku poetry

Published Book Author

Keeping It Real..., published 10-20-2015; collection of my devotions

My Newest Book

My Spirit's Musings, published 1-9-2017; collection of mostly Free Verse poems

My Mini-Memoir

My mini-memoir deals with love, loss, and forgiveness. Published July 26, 2018.

My Third Collection of Poetry

Moody Woman - published January 12, 2020

My Spirit’s Musings Press Release

Captivating New Xulon Verses Remind Believers Why Only a Christlike Life Reflects God’s Image - Reverend Keen of Deeper Walk Ministries Lyrically Addresses Christlikeness

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Ambassador for Christ Blogger Award

Deeper Walk Ministries Logo

Serving Others Ministry

KEEN Created Graphic

Fruit of the Spirit

KEEN Created Graphic

Lone Voices Suffer

KEEN Created Graphic

AKA Haiku

KEEN Created Graphic

KEEN Social Media

  • View preachingwoman’s profile on Facebook
  • View sanctifiedchild’s profile on Twitter

KEEN Twitter Followers

My Tweets

KEEN Posts Liked

  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • The Welcoming Committee on Words Like Honey
  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • Epiphany on Three Kings’ Day… on Gone Fishin'
  • Rotten Apple Award on Words Like Honey
  • Labor of Love~1989 on Words Like Honey

KEEN Community of Friends/Visitors

KEEN Blogging History

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • June 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009

KEEN Visits

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: