WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE WILL OF GOD
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Since the beginning of time man has sought after wisdom and knowledge; whether the wisdom and knowledge of this world, or wisdom or knowledge into the will of God. However as wisdom and knowledge are thought to have the same meaning, this is not the case at all. Possessing knowledge is the issue of gaining information about an unknown situation, issue, subject, or anything not understood by the individual prior to gaining this new-found insight. Having wisdom is the issue of being able to use the newly found knowledge along with previously attained knowledge, and be able to “discern” matters that may come up (which is the issue of knowing how to properly deal with the matter) in someone’s life as it happens. Once a son gains the progressive and proper knowledge of the Father’s will, he comes to a particular stage in his life as a son where he will be able use wisdom as a tool to judge the knowledge of God as it comes up in his sonship life.
Pro 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
Pro 1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Pro 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Pro 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
To “know wisdom and instruction” of God is the issue of perceiving the “words of understanding” of our Father’s will; and with that newly learned “understanding” we will have the ability use this information as a tool to use “justice, and judgment, and equity” in all the matters that come up in our sonship lives. As we “receive” our education as it has been ‘laid out’ (the progressive revelation of the Father’s will; which is the 66 books of the bible; but especially Romans thru Philemon for the son in this present dispensation of grace) we will properly grow in our ‘milk to meat’ education as long as the son has the desire to want to be educated by the will of the Father. Moreover in our early stages as a “simple or young man” we gain more and more knowledge of our Father’s will, we should desire more of what we have been taught, and want to “increase learning” about his education. Therefore it will come to a point when a son will gain enough of the will of his Father’s knowledge, and as a “wise man” he will be able to use “justice, and judgment, and equity” properly as he has learned to “discern” things just as the Father would if He was dealing with the issue Himself. Moreover having the ability to use “justice, judgment, and equity” just as our Father would have us to is the issue of the son knowing how to be “just” (which is doing what is right) in his knowledge, and the way he uses his wisdom daily. And having “judgment” is being able to judge matters and make proper decisions in a godly manner, using the doctrine according to godliness as a blueprint in how the son is to react to the things that he encounters on a daily basis. Finally, having “equity” is when the son has reached the advanced stage whereas he can walk in fairness towards one another, and his daily decisions are based upon godly love and charity.
Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Eph 1:17 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:
Eph 1:18 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,
As we process the knowledge we have attained we learn to be able to “discern” things easier and more efficiently as it comes to us. And as we progress through our epistles (Romans thru Philemon), the son is now ready for the doctrine of Ephesians, and this where we see the issue of “knowledge” and “understanding” being stressed (by Paul and God Himself), because as the “young man” the Father knows he is now ready to receive the “meat” of the doctrine. Also we see Paul’s prayer and the design that God has for the son to gain the wisdom and the understanding of his Father’s will, this is so that the “young man” can be successful in his education in learning how to “think like God does,” which will equip him with the doctrine that he will need so that he can be a “perfect man” with having the “knowledge of the Son of God.”
Eph 4:13 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 fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
There comes a time when a son ‘grows up,’ and it is at this time where he will not make the same “childish” mistakes as he did in his early years. And an obedient and wise son will fare far better in his adult life versus a son who has not taken the advice, wisdom and knowledge of his parents. Moreover he will continue to be victimized by his costly mistakes as he goes through life, and in his adult life he will have to learn ‘the hard way,’ which can be very disappointing to the parents who have tried to give him the progressive knowledge he needed growing up. We also need the progressive knowledge of our Father, going from ‘milk to meat’ in our education; which some will try to go from the doctrine of Romans, to trying to understand the doctrine of Colossians. Furthermore we must desire the necessity to “grow up into him in all things.”
Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
The son is “taught” by the Father in a progressive manner so that he can successfully “grow up” and be a son that has “perfect” knowledge, and so that he can wisely “put off” the “old man,” and with the corrective doctrine he can begin to walk in the “new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Once the son has “learned Christ,” he is now at the stage where he understands “what the will of the Lord is,” and he now has the ability to walk in the “new man” on a more consistent basis. It would be “unwise” for the son to continue to walk in the “old man” and deny the “wisdom and instruction” of his Father; when he can accept the proper education that he needs so that he can live a productive sonship life whereby he can fully glorify his Father in all things.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
To be “filled with the Spirit” is the issue of letting “the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,” this is why the verses in Ephesians are similar to the Colossians verses because they have the same message to the son as he progresses through the epistles. In “wisdom” a son is shown how he should now walk in these verses; he is shown how he should treat one another, and how his behavior ought to be as one that has “let the word of Christ dwell” within him “richly in all wisdom.”
Col 1:8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Col 1:9 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;
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
The more we increase “in the knowledge of God” we are “strengthened” in the “new man,” and he is “filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Therefore as the new man he has the “wisdom” to walk “worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,” and the “old man” will eventually become weak, and a non-issue in the life of the son.
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Moreover as we are “strengthened” in our “new man,” our “old man” becomes weak by “the word of God,” and it is our “wise” choices that we make as a son whether we want the education of our Father’s will, or whether we want to continue to follow this world and its ‘wisdom,’ and worldly ‘knowledge.’ Therefore if the son does desire to be “taught” by the Father in His will, he is successfully equipped with “the whole armour of God” so that he can take a “stand” against “the old man,” and his ways, and the wisdom knowledge of this world.
Rod Jones