02/03/14

Wisdom how to get it - the TRY and CRY methods

Proverbs 2:1-6
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide [treasure] my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.



There are 2 ways in getting wisdom - one is the TRY method and the other the CRY method.

The TRY method is the experience method it requires us to go through situations in our lives and to learn from them, we can also learn from the experience of others. This is one reason the Bible says give ear to the words of the aged for they share what they have learned through their experience in their lives. There are drawbacks in this method, firstly it takes a long time to gain wisdom through this TRY method; one also needs to pay a big price (suffering) if the wisdom is gained out of one's own experiences. This wisdom can also be gained from experience of others, though it may not be reliable, for at times it comes fused with their own understandings.

The CRY is the method wherein we ask God and God gives us wisdom, as it is written by James 1:5 but it is not as easy as just asking and receiving. Today's message gives us details of how to ask God.

Solomon asked God for wisdom and was given wisdom. The first time he asked, God gave him wisdom of the world but then he realized this wisdom was not sufficient, so he asked again and then God gave him wisdom to understand things of the Spirit world.

In today's message the Lord teaches us the five steps on how to get Spiritual wisdom.

The first step is to acknowledge the Bible as Word of God. Unless we do not take every word of the Bible as Word of God we will never receive wisdom to understand the hidden things of God.

The second step is to treasure every word of the Word of God as a living word and to meditate on it day and night (unceasingly). Like a sowed seed needs to be watered and protected as also every word that we read of the Word should be sowed, watered and protected within us.

The third step is stated as 'cries after knowledge.' The word translated as 'cry' also means to 'read'. It asks us to read things related to the matter in the Word of God, meaning to do research.

The fourth step tells us even after we research and all the previous steps yet it is not assured we will have the right understanding and wisdom. This step tells us to pray unto the Lord to reveal the right understanding. One may think why do research and the previous steps and not do this step directly?

I was discussing with a brother today morning and shared how he noticed what I did, that many young famous preachers in India are children and disciples of T.D. Jakes and less children and disciples of Jesus Christ. They not only teach the teachings of TD Jakes but also imitate him on the stage while preaching. The youth who are spiritual infants get impressed with their stage performance and follow these preachers. At the end we do not see the Lord being glorified but man being glorified. These preachers do not study scriptures but think watching TV preachers means studying the Bible. Let me tell you there are hardly any good Bible teachers on TV. The real message of the Kingdom of God is not what the general public likes to hear so there are very little chances of them being on TV.

Being taught by the Lord I can tell you of first-hand experience on how difficult it is for God to give us the right understanding without the previous steps. My whole journey of learning from the Lord started with me making a prayer asking for wisdom to understand His Word for the purpose of serving His people. Before that prayer I used to read scriptures and they were like history lessons for me. But after the prayer my learning started with the Lord showing me visions, then I would spend days meditating on those visions to understand them. As I built my knowledge and understanding of fundamental things it became easier to understand scriptures and today the Lord does not need to show me visions to explain scriptures to me.

The fifth step tells us as we seek silver so we should seek the hidden treasures through wisdom. In the Bible silver symbolizes things like money or precious things, knowledge and understanding of this world and gold symbolizes precious understandings and gifts of the spirit world. We know without silver (money, knowledge and understanding of this world) it is almost impossible to live in this world, but can we lose gold for the sake of silver? Even if we do not value gold more than silver, the Lord tells us to at least value gold as much as we value silver.

Through these five steps the Lord says we will understand fear of the Lord and find knowledge of God. We all know fear of the Lord is the first step towards wisdom of God. So these five steps are steps not for getting the ultimate wisdom of God but just steps to start our journey to receive the wisdom of God.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You are Almighty God and your wisdom has no bounds. The wisdom of man is like foolishness before God. Man thinks he knows and You, Lord laugh at him. Lord we pray we do not thirst more the knowledge and wisdom of this world but seek more the knowledge and wisdom of your Kingdom. Fill us with thirst for the understanding of your Kingdom which is living waters...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Luke 2:52 - And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

1 Corinthians 1:19-21
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 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?
21 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.

Ephesians 1:16-18
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.



The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others.
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