The Beginning of Wisdom

The usual quote on 'the fear of LORD is the beginning of wisdom' is taken from the Book of Wisdom, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10; NKJV)."

Today's reading from Psalm 111:10 (NKJV) is a refreshing take: 

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever."

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

When we humbly recognise our lack of wisdom, we can ask God for heavenly wisdom (James 1:5). 

However, having due reverence and honour for God would be the first step we need to take in order to be wise; not in our eyes but in God's sight. 

As we walk in the ways of God such as heeding His commandments, which God has in His infinite wisdom established to be non-negotiables from the very beginning, we show that we have a good grasp of what is good for us.

Even when we are not conscious of the divine edicts of God, we are blessed when we do them, and we begin to learn and understand the will of God as we see the favourable outcomes of our good conduct.

"The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; a good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord; His praise endures forever (Psalm 111:10; AMP)."

As the blessings of wisdom in fearing and obeying the LORD's guidance become established as a lifestyle, we can't help but be full of praise and thanksgiving unto God.

Indeed, "The good life begins in the fear of God— do that and you’ll know the blessing of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever (Psalm 111:10; MSG)!"

For your further rumination, please study and meditate the following Scriptural passages as well:

"And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding’ Job 28:28 (NKJV).”

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent (Proverbs 1:7-10; NKJV)."

The Presence of God

While people in the world talks about the usual things such as finding your tribe, the good ol' days, politics, fashion, sales and so forth, the tribe of the Lion of Judah (aka Christians) gets to recount passionately about the Presence of God which they have experienced in church, cell group, Christian conference and personal time with God.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

The Presence of God is like heaven on earth where we can see and believe that all the Promises of God are indeed "Yes" and "Amen".

Recently, while reading "Becoming Aggressive About Your Harvest" by Dr. Jerry Savelle, I received a fresh revelation that being in God's Presence is like a two-fold blessing of experiencing not just His tangible reality but, also, the dissipation of all evil and whatever hindrances that come against our walk of faith, hitherto.

The particular extract from Dr. Savelle's blog post is as follows for your edification:-

"This is what the Psalmist was saying when he declared, “My enemies will fall back and perish in your presence.” (Psalm 9:3 TLB)

I like to say it this way: Every assignment of your adversary is broken when you stand in the presence of God. When the presence of God shows up on the scene, every attack of the enemy must cease."

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Don't settle for the last row in church. Gather unto the LORD with expectancy, come hungry spiritually and press in for the Presence of God; touch the hem of His robe.

Click here for Becoming Aggressive About Your Harvest by Dr. Jerry Savelle

Click here for I Love Your Presence/I Remember - Annabel Soh

Kingdom Attitude of Faith

The following is a skeletal sermon notes based on Rev. Bobby Chaw's preaching of "Kingdom Attitude of Faith" at City Harvest Church on 1 September 2018, with adaptation.

In Numbers 13, Moses obeyed God's command to send out twelve spies (one leader from each of the twelve tribes of Israel) to check out Canaan -- the very Promised Land the LORD intended to give to them.

After exploring for forty days, the spies came back and reported their fact findings to Moses: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan (Numbers 13:27b - 29; NKJV).”

There were Good News accompanied by Bad News. It was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey; they even brought back fruits such as a giant cluster of grapes as well as pomegranates and figs. 

However, there were  some problems. Such is the  reality of life; Promises come with challenges or hindrances. "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you (1 Peter 4:12; NKJV);"

The key to your victory and destiny is: How will you respond?

"Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30; NKJV)."

Alas, the other ten spies (excluding Joshua) started mythologising Canaan with a made-up bad report to dissuade the people. "And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight" (Numbers 13:32-33; NKJV)."

Whatever you focus on grows. Fear causes the people to forget the purpose of their journey. They even forgot their freedom from slavery. Fear makes excuses. Fear forsakes the promise altogether. Fear paralyses and blinds. 

The crux of their situation is on having faith in the Living God and not be daunted the spirit of fear.

When they forsake the Promised Land, they forsake God Himself as they intended to select another leader to lead them back to Egypt. God and His Word (such as His promises) are synonymous (John 1:1). Words are synonymous with the speaker. When we do God’s Word we are obeying God Himself. 

"But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them (Numbers 13:6-9; NKJV).”

Lest we forget, the world we live in is still God's world where the reality of His Kingdom can be expanded. God works by His Word. "Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light (Genesis 1:3; NKJV)." His Word and His Promises must ultimately prevail. 

Rejecting God’s Word is synonymous to rejecting God. "Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them (Numbers 14:11-12; NKJV)?" The rebels died by the plague before the LORD.

It is not by human strength or resolve (Numbers 14:40). The key is the Presence of God in the midst of them. His Promise is His Person. His Person is His Living Word. It is encountering the Person. Loving the Word of God is loving the Person of God Himself. 

God's Promises and Presence are the basis of our faith. John 5:19 reveals to us that Jesus does life and ministry by looking at God the Father. "Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner(John 5:19; NKJV)." 

One of the name of Jesus is "Wonderful" (Isaiah 9:6). Pastor Bobby shared of His recent ministry in an affiliate church in Fukuoka where he preached on the "Wonderful" name of God and urged the people to do wonderful things according to God's Name and nature. He prayed for the sick there and God did wonderful works of healing among the people. 

Earlier, Pastor Bobby also shared of a Myanmar School of Theology student whose son was healed of throat cancer through fervent faith and prayers.

Citing these evidential fruits from Japan and Myanmar, he then led the congregation to lay hands and prayed for those in our midst who needed a healing miracle for their sickness.

Footnote (not part of the sermon):-

Important Lesson On Attitude of Faith In GOD Rather Than Rebellion Against GOD

 

"And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. 

Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. 

According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. I the Lord have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’ (Numbers 14:26-35; NKJV)”

Do not allow fear to hijack your promise and destiny. God is a God of faithfulness whose Words are trustworthy. 

Contend for God's promises. The enemy, including our carnal nature, is fighting us back and we need to squash them by faith and fight for our promise and destiny by holding on to God's Word.

Let God arise and His enemies, the enemies of His people, be scattered. Amen.