Passionate Importunate Prayer for Pure Practical Wisdom
James 1:5-6; 3:17
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“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” (James 1:5-6). These verses talk about wisdom. There is the human wisdom (that can make us go far in the thing we do or achieve), devilish wisdom (terrible, horrible, and that of the Devil), and then spiritual wisdom (that comes from the Spirit of God). And this is the wisdom that is referred to in these verses. If we lack this wisdom, we should ask from God. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17). This is the wisdom that is from Above, supernatural, and spiritual wisdom. The characteristics of this wisdom are that it is pure, (does not lead us to anything impure or defiling), peaceful (does not lead to fighting), gentle (not aggressive, nor oppressive), easy to be intreated (easily forgives and forgets when offended), full of mercy and good fruits, impartial (not selective in the application of God’s word to any man), and without hypocrisy. This is the wisdom that we do not have naturally or by educational attainments. That is why we need to pray for this wisdom from above.
1. PERCEIVING THE WISDOM WE ALL LACK
James 1:5; Matthew 19:20; Mark 10:21
There is a kind of wisdom that we all lack that we need to perceive. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5). We are asked to pray for this wisdom that we lack in our lives.
- The Wisdom for Workmanship beyond Natural Wisdom – Exodus 31:3-5; 1 Kings 7:14; 1 Corinthians 2:7-8; 3:10,19. There is a kind of wisdom that we have which is natural, and yet beyond that natural wisdom, we need the wisdom for workmanship. There are people skilled workers who are not born again, and do their work by their natural wisdom. But we are called to do the extraordinary, and God calls us to do that special work beyond our natural wisdom. “And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.” (Exodus 31:3-5). God called him to do this special work with the wisdom from above, the supernatural wisdom. When God gives us work to do, what we do is not in the natural wisdom of the world, but that of the Spirit of God. “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8). Paul preached not in his natural wisdom, but with that from above. There is wisdom that comes from above for workmanship, so the workmen, the leaders, and workers, must seek this supernatural wisdom to do the work, and not just use their natural skills or abilities.
- The Weapon of Wisdom above Native Wisdom – 1 Kings 2:6,9; 3:5-14; Ecclesiastes 2:1,3,9-12; 9:14-18. “Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace. Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.” (1 Kings 2:6,9). Here was David talking to Solomon before he received the supernatural wisdom, that he had the native wisdom. “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.” (1 Kings 3:5-14). Solomon had native wisdom, but when he came to the throne, he asked for supernatural wisdom to lead the people of God. That is why the Scriptures are saying that whatever wisdom we have acquired in our education and profession, there is still wisdom above that is beyond the native wisdom. “I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.” (Ecclesiastes 2:1,3,9-12). A time came in Solomon’s life after he had the native and supernatural wisdom, he wanted to taste the vanities of this world, and at that time, the supernatural wisdom departed from him, and the native wisdom remained after he backslidden. He lost self-control and self-denial, and yet his native wisdom remained with him. You should be careful not to think that you cannot lose supernatural wisdom when you backslide. The Lord wants us not to operate in the native wisdom but to ask for the wisdom from above so that we can do profitable work for His kingdom and our fellow men.
- The Wealth of Wisdom higher than Neighbours’ Wisdom – Deuteronomy 4:68; Proverbs 24:3-5; 14:1,7; 31:26,29-30. Our neighbours have native and carnal wisdom, but God wants us to have wisdom that is greater than that of our neighbours. “Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?” (Deuteronomy 4:6-8). We have the wealth of wisdom which is the word of God that our neighbours do not have. So we operate and pray in that wisdom from the Scriptures. It is with that wisdom we build our lives, homes, and the Church of God. And we don’t build our homes and lives with that wisdom we learn from our forefathers, but with the word of God. “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” (Proverbs 14:1). As wives, we need wisdom from above to build our homes, and not just that from our parents. “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” (Proverbs 31:26). As a man or woman, you need to open your mouth, and build your life with the wisdom from above.
2. PRAYING FOR WISDOM FROM THE LORD
James 1:5-6; Luke 11:8-10
This wisdom comes not from the books in the world but from the Lord, we are to pray for this. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” (James 1:5-6). If this wisdom coming from above is what we seek, then we must pray to ask God for this wisdom. We need that wisdom to do the work of the ministry.
- The Search for Wisdom in the World – Job 28:12-14,20,23,28; Proverbs 2:3-7; 1 Corinthians 1:22-24,30; Proverbs 16:16. Any leader that comes up in any community or nation, they search for people that have wisdom that will support and uphold the vision that they have. And for us as ministers and Christians, we need to search for wisdom so that we will not be falling and rising in life and ministry. “But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:12-20,23,28). This is not the natural wisdom, nor that in our neighbours, but this is the wisdom that comes from above. You cannot buy anything or experience from Heaven with money. The wisdom that fears the Lord, believes the word of God, and knows that without salvation we cannot please God. The wisdom that leads you to have the definite experience of salvation, and to have the grace to walk in His light. “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:2224,30). Christ, our Saviour, Sanctifier, and One Who enables us to live in the fear of God is the Wisdom of God.
- The Supplication for Wisdom without Wavering – James 1:5-6; Luke 21:15; James 4:2-3; Jeremiah 29:12-13. We come to ask knowing that the Lord will give us because we are making supplication without wavering. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” (James 1:5-6). Now we know that if we don’t have Christ as Saviour, we lack wisdom. But then we need to ask the Lord and spend time to seek the Lord in fervent and passionate prayer for this wisdom. “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” (Luke 21:15). These disciples were born again, and yet they lack this wisdom, that Christ said that He would give them as they asked for it. We have adversaries and people who want to hinder our way to heaven. So we need wisdom to deal with them.
- The Supremacy of His Wisdom above the Wordlings – Colossians 2:3,8-10; 3:16-25; 1 Corinthians 1:24-30; 2 Timothy 3:14-15. The wordlings are the people in the world, and we need that wisdom that is greater than those in the world. His wisdom in us makes us steadfast, solid, and stable despite all the things happening around us. “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Colossians 2:3,8-10). In Christ dwells all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge. And He had the supremacy of wisdom to resist the devil and his temptations while Christ was on earth. So you don’t have to go into the depths of Satan, books of people with secret knowledge to get wisdom, but only Jesus Christ. “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14-15). This is the real and greatest kind of wisdom, wise unto salvation.
3. POSSESSING OF HIS WISDOM IN OUR LIVES
James 1:5-6; Colossians 4:5-6
It is one thing to learn, but another thing to possess that wisdom in our lives. It is one thing to read it in a Book and find it in a fellow minister and believer, but let it come into your life, that you have the wisdom that makes you live the life of a saved and sanctified soul. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” (James 1:5-6). “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:5-6). Walk, act, and pray in wisdom, and not in the earthly or natural wisdom, but that from above. We need to possess this kind of wisdom from above.
- Begin with the Wisdom of the Lord for Lifestyle – Job 28:28; Psalm 111:9-10; Proverbs 9:9-12; Micah 6:8-9. In this new year, we must begin with the wisdom of the Lord, that is to have salvation. “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28). If you are not born again, you must begin with this wisdom, to depart from every sin and evil that can damn your soul and make you miss heaven. And then you have the fear of the Lord in your heart. “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? The LORD’S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.” (Micah 6:8-9). The Lord requires repentance, and that we stop doing evils that will damn our souls.
- Beware of the Wisdom of the Lost with Looseness – James 3:14-16; Jeremiah 4:22; 8:8-9,20; Ezekiel 28:17. There are people who are lost and loose in life, character, behaviours, and language. We must beware of the kind of wisdom that those people have. “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (James 3:14-16). The wisdom that makes a man loose, carnal, sensual, devilish, and hypocritical, leads others into sin and hell, that wisdom is earthly, deadly, and devilish. Pray that the Lord will protect us from all those wisdom in the world in Jesus Name.
- Behave in the Wisdom of Love with Liberality – James 3:17; Romans 12:9,13,16-17; 2 Corinthians 8:2-5; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. The wisdom that makes us love the brethren as Christ loves, is true wisdom. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17). The wisdom that makes you purer and purer every day, that is wisdom from above. This is the wisdom that makes you follow peace with all men, and not boisterous. This is the wisdom that makes it gentle, not intimidating or oppressing anyone. It is wisdom that is easily intreated, not the one that does not easily forgive the offences of men. It is the wisdom that is full of mercy and does not hinder others from being merciful. And of good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
The Lord is calling us in this new year, that we need this wisdom from above in our offices, lifestyle, homes, and everywhere we go, and we need to ask the Lord for this wisdom, and it shall be given unto us.