Rick Joyner - Wisdom From Rick Joyner

OTHER BOOKS BY RICK JOYNER

The Journey Begins (Divine Destiny Series)

There Were Two Trees in the Garden (Divine Destiny Series)

The Prophetic Ministry

The Call

The Final Quest

The Torch and the Sword

Forgiveness: Mobilizing a Power-Filled Life

Leadership Development: Keys to Advancement

Overcoming Evil in the Last Days

Delivered From Evil: Preparing for the Age to Come

Breaking the Power of Evil (Expanded)

Understanding the Times

The Overcoming Life

Leadership: The Power of a Creative Life

Overcoming the Religious Spirit (Combating Spiritual Strongholds Series)

Overcoming Witchcraft (Combating Spiritual Strongholds Series)

Overcoming the Accuser (Combating Spiritual Strongholds Series)

Overcoming the Spirit of Poverty (Combating Spiritual Strongholds Series)

Overcoming Fear (Combating Spiritual Strongholds Series)

Overcoming Confusion (Combating Spiritual Strongholds Series)

Fire That Could Not Die (Hall of Faith Series)

A Message to the Glorious Church:

A Verse by Verse Study of Ephesians Chapters 1-4

A Message to the Glorious Church:

A Verse by Verse Study of Ephesians Chapters 5-6

The Power to Change the World

Epic Battles of the Last Days

The Apostolic Ministry

Breaking the Power of Evil: Winning the Battle for the Soul of Man

Visions of the Harvest

AVAILABLE FROM DESTINY IMAGE PUBLISHERS

Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge properly. In Proverbs 24:3-4 we are told, By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. It is true that sermons filled with knowledge will tend to draw people. The gift of a word of knowledge will also draw crowds. This is good, but our purpose in the Lord is not just to draw crowds, but also to see people built together into the house of the Lord. To do this we need wisdom.

[The following excerpts are adapted from High Calling.]

T HE gift of a word of wisdom may not be as spectacular as the gift of a word of knowledge, but it is every bit as essential for the work of God to be accomplished.

How do we acquire wisdom? We just need to ask, as we are told in James 1:5: But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. It is wisdom to understand that we need wisdom. This is a fundamental humility, which is a prerequisite for wisdom, as we read in Proverbs 11:2: When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.

A basic characteristic of humility is teachableness. A tragic pride has gripped our souls when others cannot teach us. The depth of our humility might be demonstrated by how open we are to being taught by those whom we might consider inferior. Was this not the great test, and the reason why the Lord, who was Wisdom Himself, came as a humble carpenter? Is this not why He called the uneducated and untrained (Acts 4:13) to be His apostles?

It seems that He so structured His ministry and His Church to filter out the proud and attract only the humble. We can see that this is basic to the Lords nature in James 4:6 and First Peter 5:5, which both state that God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Knowledge fills our lives, but wisdom builds them. Therefore, in the building of our lives, families, churches, and ministries, the seeking of wisdom must be a priority. To do this, we must seek humility. It is therefore wise to associate with the lowly, and learn to patiently listen to those whom we may be prone to think are inferior.

The Lord Jesus Himself rejoiced saying, I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants (Matt. 11:25). He also said that we would have to become like little children to enter the Kingdom. One of the basic characteristics of children is that they are teachable. Humility is the way that the Kingdom will come to our lives.

The depth of your humility might be demonstrated by how open you are to being taught by those whom you might consider inferior.

Was this not the great test, and the reason why the Lord, who was Wisdom Himself, came as a humble carpenter?

Knowledge fills your life, but wisdom builds it.

In the building of your life, family, church, and ministry, the seeking of wisdom must be a priority. To do this, you must seek humility.

You are wise to associate with the lowly, and learn to patiently listen to those whom you may think are inferior.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6).

It should fill us with joy, that infinite wisdom guides the affairs of the world. Many of its events are shrouded in darkness and mystery, and inextricable confusion sometimes seems to reign. Often wickedness prevails, and God seems to have forgotten the creatures that he has made. Our own path through life is dark and devious, and beset with difficulties and dangers. How full of consolation is the doctrine, that infinite wisdom directs every event, brings order out of confusion, and light out of darkness, and, to those who love God, causes all things, whatever be their present aspect and apparent tendency, to work together for good.

J.L. Dagg, Manual of Theology

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.

Mother Teresa

God created man to be free. We cannot be who we were created to be without freedom. If all that the Lord wanted was perfect, harmonious worship, He would have done better to create computers instead of humans so He could just program them to worship Him in perfect harmony. Certainly our God is worthy of more than that, but in order to have more than that, there must be freedom.

In the domain of darkness there is fear, oppression, and bondage.

In the Kingdom of God there is faith and freedom.

[The following excerpts are adapted from Breaking the Power of Evil.]

F UNDAMENTAL to understanding the truth is understanding that man was created to be a free moral agent. This does not in any way infringe on the sovereignty of God; rather, it illuminates His sovereignty. The greatest, most noble authority is always demonstrated by the freedom it allows its subjects. The Lord wants us to worship Him and reject evil because we love Him and love His truth, not just because we are afraid of punishment. There are consequences for disobedience that we cannot overlook, yes, but our main goal must be to obey because we love God and because He is worthy of our devotion.