DAILY SPIRITUAL FOOD; THE PLACE OF DIVINE WISDOM AND GRACE IN DISCIPLESHIP. “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13 The propagation of the gospel of the kingdom of God is an act of fruitful persuasion which turns people (sinners) from worldly views to Heavenly views, and thus requires the divine winning wisdom of God and that makes for why Paul never stopped asking for consistent prayers for the Spirit of wisdom and grace, to be given to him of the Lord. Friends, the wisdom of God demands us to know what to do at any given point in time, as we build this end- time discipleship programme (structure). The church of God must of necessity, desire, and sustain the enabling grace and wisdom of God to be able to initiate and effectively complete the discipleship of the great commission entrusted into its hands. What then is wisdom and grace? According to the new Oxford illustrated dictionary, wisdom is defined as “being wise; soundness of judgement in matters relating to life and conduct: knowledge, enlightenment, learning.” The same dictionary aptly defines grace to mean “ unmerited favour of God, divine regenerating, inspiring and strengthening influence...” In the light of these definitions it is very instructive to see that, as sound and good as these are, the wisdom of God contrasts a little bit from the Oxford dictionary definition. The wisdom of God can aptly be defined to mean the ability to know God’s perfect will, and the burning desire to obey and act it. It demands us to know what to do at any given point in time, as we build this end- time discipleship structure. In the seventh chapter of the gospel according to Apostle Matthew, our Lord Jesus describes a wise man as one who hears the words of God and makes genuine effort to obey. He encourages his disciples to continue steadfastly with the word of God ministered to them, if they expect God’s divine approval. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.” Luke 6:47-48 The carnal wisdom of this wicked life cannot be used in building the discipleship structure because it is full of imperfections and lies. It is foolishness before God and so cannot endure the rigours of God’s expected standards. “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory” 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 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. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 The house of discipleship of our Christian life must as a result be built and anchored on the divine, winning wisdom of God. Truly speaking, there is not much we can do without sticking closely to this heavenly wisdom which proceeds peacefully from above: Solomon counsels that wisdom remains the main ingredient of a successful Christian,God- approved life, and urges us to desperately reach out for it. “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom, and in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:5,7 Solomon caught this revelation when he said; “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4 It is instructive to note that God built and established the world with his supernatural wisdom and knowledge, and therefore it stands to reason that if the church must effectively build and perfect the discipleship work God gave it, then it needs to apply the wholesome supernatural wisdom of God. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”Matthew 28:18-20 Prophet Jeremiah captures this revelation when he wrote; “He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.” Jeremiah 51:15 Friends, we must exercise the divine winning wisdom of God in our discipleship work by declaring the wholesome word of God, undiluted- without adding or subtracting from it. Jesus told us in the gospel of John the Apostle that only then can we lay claim to being true Christian disciples. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30: 5-6 It is interesting to note that God also gave Moses this revelation when he was building the old testament discipleship structure for the children of Israel. Moses wrote in affirmation thus; “Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:1-2 “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32 With the spirit of wisdom, our Lord Jesus, Paul, and other new testament apostles interacted with unbelievers and was able to win and en graft them into the discipleship programmes of God. As a matter of fact, Paul became all things to all men in a concerted effort to win some over to God. He never stopped asking fellow believers every where to pray and ask God to release to him, the spirit of wisdom and revelation. “ For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.And this I do for the gospels sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” 1 Corinthians 9:17-23 The beloved Apostle Paul, writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, enjoined us, (the church of God) to progressively grow/increase in heavenly wisdom so that our discipleship programmes be patterned according to the wisdom of the cross. Paul very much treasured the wisdom and knowledge of God that he pressed forward to reach out for more knowledge of God’s revelation. He eventually succeeded in building a perfect, heaven- approved discipleship programme for the Lord. “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” Colossians 1:9-13,28 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” 1 Corinthians 1:17 We need to know the mind of God, by having the mind (wisdom) of Christ, to be able to start and perfectly complete the discipleship work given to the church by God. Jesus Christ, our Lord and saviour is the express reflection of his heavenly Father and as a result knows the ultimate (consummate) intents, purposes and the perfect will of God. He is the embodiment of the divine wisdom which accomplishes the divine purposes of God on earth. In the gospel of John, Jesus told us bluntly that without him we can do nothing. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 It stands to reason to conclude, therefore, that the church needs the fullness of Christ to be able to accomplish God’s purpose on earth. The church of God which Jesus built over two thousand years ago, in a tiny corner of the middle east, is on an urgent earthly mission of reconciling a decadent, direction-less world to our heavenly Father- God. “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.Which things also we speak, not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.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 2:3-10 GRACE. The grace of God helps us, in no small measure, in the building of a Heaven- approved discipleship structure. The grace of God represents the supernatural ability God gives individuals to accomplish a divine task. It involves the unearned favour of God and according to the new Oxford illustrated Dictionary, ‘regenerating, inspiring, and strengthening influence’ given by God to propel the church to construct the Heaven- envisioned discipleship ark which accommodates those called of God to the Heavenly abode (Home). Apostle Paul and the other servants of God, recognised and treasured the great/huge importance of God’s grace in their Christian lives and ministries, and prayed God to grant it to their followers. “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:2-8 “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:5-8,21-22 We need the strengthening and supportive influence of God’s grace in order to effectively build a strong, lasting and heaven- approved discipleship. Paul, Peter and other servants of God were all generously given this enabling grace, and built a virile and lasting discipleship structures that stood the test of time. The current church dispensation is being enjoined by God to continue to improve on these legacies left behind by these faithful builders and messengers of God, by drawing from the well of grace of God’s glorious throne. “For we are labourers together with God: ye are Gods husbandry, ye are Gods building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 The grace of God aptly defines the nature and size (scope) of our ministry (discipleship work), and generates favour and divine approval. It is an essential ingredient intended by God to perfect and lubricate the wheels of discipleship, so as to avoid a shipwreck. “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” Galatians 2:9-10 “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7,11-13 It is also imperative to highlight one more important role divine grace plays in discipleship. The grace of God takes the church into the divine presence of God to obtain revelational insights (secrets) of the knowledge and wisdom of God, and this enables us to effectively build and sustain the discipleship work given to the church. Discipleship is a divine call or invitation to a covenant relationship with God, and as a consequence, requires covenant secrets from Heaven to make it work properly. The church, therefore must of necessity, strive to enter God’s throne of grace to receive these divine secrets. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”Hebrews 4:16 David strengthened this revelations when he wrote; “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” Psalm 25:14 Apostle Paul repositions this revelation in this light; “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” Ephesians 3:2-10 Pastor Martins Okonkwo An excerpt from the book The Mark Of Discipleship-a new discipleship manual for true Christian growth; May God empower you as you read .
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 22:25:59 +0000
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