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Wisdom And Revelation
Brian Mashburn
June 8, 2008
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Are You Getting To Know God Better?
I sprained my ankle and wrist this week in the middle of nowhere out at Palo Duro Canyon. Injured, and in some fairly serious heat, I needed to get back to my Blazer. And to do that, I needed energy and perseverance. So that's what I prayed for...I kept asking that God would give me energy and perseverance, so that I could get back to the Blazer. Arrival at the Blazer was what I was after. Energy and perseverance is what I needed from God to get there.
Paul, in Ephesians 1:17, exposes the contents of his prayers when he says, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better."
For the follower of Christ, Paul knew what he was after. No matter what doctrine he is explaining, what practice he recommends, what behavior he suggests needs altering, when it all comes down to it, Paul wants you to know God better.
And he doesn't keep you guessing about what you need in order to know God better, either. He asks (on your behalf) for wisdom and revelation. So, if you knowing God better is what he's after, wisdom and revelation are what you need to get there.
Wisdom. We know Solomon asked for it, we know the Bible contains "wisdom literature," but do we really know what it is that Paul is asking God for when he asks Him to give us wisdom? And do we know how the having of it leads to actually knowing God more?
Revelation. We know there is a book of the Bible with this title, and that the word is thrown around in reference to any general insight we might have about anything, but what was Paul asking God to give us here that would allow us a deeper knowing of God?
Wisdom. Revelation. Knowing. These are the words we will devote some thought to this morning, praying humbly along with Paul that God will give us more of all three.