Holy Spirit: Wisdom & Giving

John 14:25-27

25

“All this I have spoken while still with you. 

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But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

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When a parent teaches a child to say, 'thank you', when it is given something, this is considered human knowledge. The human wisdom behind it is, if you are thankless, you close doors to further giving. Because this is how the world gives; with expectations.

As the child ages, becoming then capable of caring for itself, when it gives something, it has expectations to be thanked. Not only to be grateful though, they consider their giving to be honored in a way that suits them. Again, this is how the world gives, with expectations.

The Lord gives freely, without expectations. And what the Lord gives is pure and complete. And because our intention is selfless, we receive more than what has been asked for. When we are thankful for grace and forgiveness, or thankful for any of the states of righteousness that come through us, or thankful for the council and guidance we can only get from perfection; it honors the authority the Father placed on His Son. And our faith in that authority is a showing of love which the Son shows the Father through his service to His will. Holiness is complete, we are a part of holiness, instead of just receiving it.

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Isaiah 11:2

2

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD--

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The fear we have is that we cannot accomplish what is considered righteous without faith. Yes, through knowledge of sin, we know what not to do, but, that does not make for righteousness living. We must continually seek by faith to have righteousness be set upon us, so we can act on it. So in many ways, fear of the Lord is our hope. We hope that our faith in Christ's authority can bring forth the loving states of purity, which will serve the will of the Father's will.

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1 Corinthians 2:13

13

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

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It is enough to act on what we are shown in faith. The outcome, no matter what it is, we can have confidence the will of God has been done. When we used to act in worldly ways, our actions were done with a specific outcome. For example, you give to a hungry man food, he is thankful, he eats and is full. In righteous acts, we look to the Lord for guidance, it is given, we act on it, no matter the result or consequence, we are thankful to have been a part of holiness.

This is why, in all we do, we should first establish that what we desire is to serve the Father's will through the authority Christ has. In this, whatever we do, we do in confidence, and our hope is that it honors the Father through the Son.

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Proverbs 2:6

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For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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As we mature in reliance of this holy giving, our capacity for righteousness increases our faith. We become bold, seeking out more and more ways to bring the power of the Kingdom into the present moment. This is what the earliest Christians gathered to do. Each offering testimony of what holiness came through their acts, and encouraging one another by witnessing the states of holiness that they discerned.

We are in a generation where believers have been misguided to believe that the wisdom and knowledge of holiness results in giving in ways that the world recognizes. And although mercy and compassion for the helpless includes caring for their worldly requirements, it is not only what serves the will of the Father through His Son. Our seeking by faith, the attributes of holiness, by listening for what guidance and council the Holy Spirit rests on us, is the foundation of our acts of service in Christ.

Renew your bond with the Holy Spirit. Be hungry to serve through faith in Christ's authority. Be thirsty to take in the wisdom and knowledge that is not worldly, but eternal. And give what is set upon you, not to see an outcome, but confident your act on faith serves the Father's will through Christ. This is our path, and power is in its wake.

Amen

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