03/19/2020 —  
In challenging times like these, our culture and our society need wisdom more than ever. And, because wisdom comes from God through the Holy Spirit, the Church is especially needed to be an agent of change in the culture!

Wisdom restrains our tendencies toward presumption and arrogance. And we receive it from God whenever we ask for it!
 
 
Matthew 10:16-20

“Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda]. Beware of men [whose nature is to act in opposition to God], for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you within that [very] hour; for it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (AMP).
 
Romans 11:33-36

“ You who are not Jews were once rebels against God, but now, because of their disobedience, you have experienced God’s tender mercies. And now they are the rebels, and because of God’s tender mercies to you, you can open the door to them to share in and enjoy what God has given to us!

^"Actually, God considers all of humanity to be prisoners of their unbelief, so that he can unlock our hearts and show his tender mercies to all who come to him.

^"Who could ever wrap their minds around the riches of God, the depth of his wisdom, and the marvel of his perfect knowledge? Who could ever explain the wonder of his decisions or search out the mysterious way he carries out his plans?

^"For who has discovered how the Lord thinks
    or is wise enough to be the one
    to advise him in his plans?

"Or:

'Who has ever first given something to God
    that obligates God to owe him something in return?'

"And because God is the source and sustainer of everything, everything finds fulfillment in him. May all praise and honor be given to him forever! Amen!”(TPT).
 
James 1:2-8

"My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested^[c] it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.

^"And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace. Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition?" (TPT).
 

• To survive in challenging times, we need to be strong. And to win, we must be wise.
• Jesus told His disciples, and He tells us today, to be as wise as serpents. That's an allusion to the serpent who deceived Eve in Genesis 3. That serpent knew just what to say to accomplish his conquest. Jesus wanted the disciples to use the same tactics to achieve holy ends.
• God is the only source of wisdom's spiritual power. To receive it, pray that the mind of the Lord be in you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
• There are three types of wisdom which, properly understood, work together to achieve God's agenda:
• Sophia: The Gift of Rare Insight. Sophia allows one to comprehend new ideas, create and implement new concepts, and gain a special understanding of God’s way of doing things. God through wisdom will give you rare insight to accomplish tasks, create things and devise solutions that others have said were impossible.  
• Phronesis: The Power of Small Details. Phronesis deals with the practical, ordinary things that shape our everyday lives. The essence of phronesis is common sense. Phronesis helps us take care of life’s small problems so that they do not grow into major difficulties. Attention to detail separates the good from average and the best from the good.
• Sunesis: The Knowledge of the Senses. This type of wisdom involves “putting two and two together.”  It deals with the knowledge acquired by man’s body—in particular, the five physical senses. Sunesis is a teacher—instructing us about the world that surrounds us.

 
Heavenly Father,

Thank You for placing me in my circles of influence as an agent of redemptive change. I ask You for wisdom to speak to the people You send me as You would have me speak.

In these trying times, where a virus is destroying wealth generated over a lifetime, jobs and lives, Your wisdom is needed more than ever. I will honor Your gift of wisdom to advance the Kingdom in my home, in my workplace and in my community. Thank you for the wisdom to know Your heart and Your mind! It is such a privilege to be Your child. 

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ – Jehovah Joshua Messiah – I pray. Amen!