Power, wisdom, goodness

In a large auditorium, an evangelist proclaimed the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior Matthew 18:11; Luke 9:56; 19:10; John 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 John 4:14 and Healer. Matthew 4:23-24; 9:35; 12:15; 15:30-31; 19:2; Hebrews 13:8

The preacher prayed for the crowd.

Then, one after another, many came to the front to say that they were saved or healed.

A man who identified himself as a pastor came onto the platform and was asked by the evangelist what had happened to him.

He replied, "I want this power. That's all that I want."

In the Bible, a man said to Peter and John, "I want your power!"

And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Acts 8:19

That modern-day pastor and Simon wanted power.

Why?

A preacher said, "I read the red and pray for the power." The words of Jesus are in red color in some Bibles.

Did they believe that having power would make them great?

Paul wrote,

The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20

Paul referred to power as divine power, the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:19; 2 Corinthians 6:6-7

The Holy Spirit's power will always point to, testify of, and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. John 15:26; 16:14; Acts 1:8

WISDOM

A poor man had wisdom and by it saved a city against attackers.

Did he become rich and famous because of his saving wisdom?

No. 

People forgot about him. Ecclesiastes 9:13-15

Then I said:

"Wisdom is better than strength.

Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised,

And his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes 9:16

Have you noticed that most of us look up to those who dress nicely and appear to be high class?

And that most of us look down upon those we think are dressed poorly?

Many may think, "They must be homeless, losers, unemployed, and not worth much."

Some discriminate against people if they think that they're poor financially.

In the New Testament, James wrote 7 verses about how bad this is.

My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him? 

Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you? James 2:1-7

Interestingly, the Bible says that to have food and clothing, believers should be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:8

We don't have to worry about what we're going to eat, drink, or wear. Matthew 6:31

Why not? Everybody has to have these things!

God the Father knows it. Matthew 6:32

So, Jesus said,

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33

What else could we seek?

Wisdom is the principal thing;

Therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom might be defined as the ability to use knowledge to help people.

But it's a certain kind of wisdom, isn't it?

Paul wrote that God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. 1 Corinthians 1:20

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." 1 Corinthians 3:18-20

Doesn't the Lord want us to have the hidden wisdom that the Holy Spirit teaches? 1 Corinthians 2:7, 13

Paul also wrote, 

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

And the Lord Jesus Christ has become wisdom for His followers.

But it is due to Him [God the Father] that you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written: "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

GOODNESS

Is there goodness in every person?

Are children born with built-in goodness?

Can people live in goodness?

If given a choice between being great or good, wouldn't most pick being great?

If one is great, usually it comes with fame, money, and power to influence.

If one is good, this is typically a secret character trait that many don't even notice.

They only pay attention when someone is NOT good.

"Oh, look at that! Only a bad person would do that."

God the Father told Moses,

"I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.

I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." Exodus 33:19

The psalmist wrote,

How wonderful is the goodness You have reserved for those who honor You! In front of everyone You give this goodness to those who come to You for help. Psalm 31:19

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;

Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant. Psalm 135:3

Since He is good, He gives His mercy, NOT giving people the punishment that they deserve.

That can be true for you and me.

If the wages for my sins are a death sentence Romans 6:23 because I am NOT good, Romans 3:9-19, 23 how can I make it?

Consider the bad news about our sins and the good news about our sins in ONE BIBLE VERSE --

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

The good news is that yours and my goodness, being good, and doing good is NOT in our ability to attain.

The Bible says that we can be made the righteousness of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

For He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus] Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

His righteousness means to be in right standing with Him.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

When we're in right standing with God the Father through faith in Jesus, John 3:16-17; Romans 3:21-26 His goodness and other spiritual fruit can be ours by the Holy Spirit. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

The Lord's life in believers by His Holy Spirit John 14:15-17; Romans 8:9-10 has this fruit of goodness.

So, as we walk in the Spirit Galatians 5:16 we can DO His good works that He ordained for us.

For by grace [His unearned and undeserved favor] you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10  

POWER, WISDOM, GOODNESS: Choose wisely

Someone may ask, "Do I need to choose? Why not all 3?"

History might teach us that those who want POWER and achieve it, may do so for the wrong reasons.

The man referred to earlier, Simon, bewitched, astonished, and amazed people with his sorcery [magic arts] so that they said, "This man is the great power of God." Acts 8:10

They were impressed by him because he had amazed them with his magic for so long. Acts 8:11

Simon marketed himself that he was "some great one." Acts 8:9

Philip the evangelist Acts 21:8 preached the true great One and had His true power. Acts 8:5-8

But when they believed in what Philip told them about the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Simon also believed and was baptized. He accompanied Philip, amazed at the miraculous signs and wonders he saw. Acts 8:12-13

What about WISDOM and knowledge?

If someone has knowledge and lots of it in a certain subject or more, it can be easy to be puffed up with pride.

Knowledge puffs up but love edifies. 1 Corinthians 8:1

Look at the Bible's Solomon.

What a life that was filled by the Lord with riches, honor, wisdom, and knowledge. 1 Kings 4:29-34; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12; 9:1-7; Luke 12:27

But the wealth and the wisdom did NOT insulate him from committing idolatry, led away by his many wives to worship false gods. 1 Kings 11:1-10

So, it seems that power and wisdom can have limits and be corrupted.

But GOODNESS is a pure element, against which there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Why desire the Lord's power?

"I want Your power to be a witness to You everywhere!"

But you will be given power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest places on earth. Acts 1:8

So also you — since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12

Why seek after the Lord's wisdom?

"I want Your wisdom to teach others in the wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives."

These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13

Why pursue the Lord's goodness?

"I want Your goodness to flow out of me so that people will see You because You are good." Psalm 100:5

I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Romans 15:14

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23:6

Your thoughts?

R. Jason