Fishers Of Men Study

 

Tonight I want to start by reminding you of the context of our text this week, because of all that Paul has said thus far concerning how God has blessed us with all spiritual blessing in the heavenly…  aThat we have been chosen before the foundation of the earth, that we have been adopted by God through Jesus Christ, that He has made us accepted in the beloved, that we have the forgiveness of sins through His blood, that He has made know to us the mystery of His will, that we have an inheritance, and specifically that we are to be to the praise of His glory and that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, which is the earnest of our inheritance …..

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 Paul goes on to say….

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Eph 1:15-17 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, (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:

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Notice what Paul is praying for…  That the God the Father would give unto you (saints and faithful in Christ Jesus) the spirit of wisdom!

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What is the spirit of wisdom?  a Why do I bring this up, because it is important in the study of God’s word to be able to properly understand the application first in relation to the primary application and then the secondary application. But in order to have proper application we must first have proper interpretation

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In the observation process we are learning to define what the words in the original language mean…. From that we must then ascertain the meaning of not simply the word but what is being communicated in the phrase or sentence that the word is in.  

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So Paul is NOT saying that he is praying that God gives us another Spirit or more of the Spirit how do we know this? Because in Eph 1:13 says that when we believed we were sealed with that Holy Spirit and Eph 1:14 says that the Spirit is our earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until (time reference) the redemption of the purchased possession (which is future)    

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So if we have already been sealed with the Spirit and it is the mind and body that is yet to be redeemed what does Paul mean by “give unto you the spirit of wisdom” ?    

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Well lets look at how this word “spirit” is used else where in the Bible

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• Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 
• Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 
• 1Co 4:21  What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? 
• Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 
• 2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

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Now the Vines dictionary gives a long list of examples as to how this word is used in the New Testament here are 3 out of about 17…    Vines Dictionary…. (f) the sentient (conscious) element in man, that by which he perceives, reflects, feels, desires, (i) character (j) moral qualities and activities: 

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We often use this same kind of expression when we use the term “Team spirit” it is describing an aspect or characteristic   So what Paul is praying for in the lives of these saints and faithful in Christ Jesus is the characteristic of “wisdom”  

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Now notice what the Bibles say about wisdom….  

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• Pro 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 
• Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

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Notice the connection in these verses between fear, wisdom and knowledge… Now what I was hoping you take away from this is this point…. 

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This fear is multifaceted, first is an aspect of awe, a fearful astonishment of God for who He is… then it is a reverential, honoring fear of God for who He is… we could go on with many other words to describe this Godly fear, respect esteem wonder amazement it is all of this and more…. Because we are dealing with The One and Only True God of the Universe WOW!

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This fear is the beginning of knowledge, we can think about knowledge as true factual information, this Godly fear is the beginning of true factual information. But the Bible also says that this same fear of God that leads to true factual knowledge is also the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom has been described as the proper application or use of that true and factual information (knowledge)

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This is what Paul is praying for, and this is what I desire in my life and I hope you do also; it’s what I am praying for you…  But it all begins with a healthy does of Godly fear for the Almighty God of heaven and earth the Creator all things…      I know this is a lot of information but I believe it will serve you well to think soberly on this issue the Bible says in….

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Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man 

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So let us be diligent in our whole duty; Fear God and keep His commandments (study His Word)  

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Bro. Brian