Jesus was not here on earth to bring us suggestions that might help us succeed in this life. He came on a mission ~ The Mission For Success ~ in this life and the next. He came to bring the knowledge that we need to strive, survive and thrive. Man’s wisdom and knowledge fail to bring God’s creatures to attain the excellence and the stature that He has planned for us.

Jesus instructed us to ask the Father, to pray to the Father, and to expect from our heavenly Father what we need. He is exceedingly abundantly able to do more than we can ask or think according to the power at work in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

Listen to how He has instructed us to think and ask, “according to the power at work in us.”

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:13

The power at work is the Spirit of God in us. We have no means on our own of learning from Him, understanding or living as He desires us to. The Holy Spirit is the constant teacher, through God’s Word, dwelling in us, teaching and writing on our hearts and in our memory what we learn and live by. Without His Spirit our children and we are simply puppets living by our own desires as our culture dictates.

We can learn and earn as many diplomas and degrees as we want in this world and still remain ignorant and fail in the pursuit of true life.  A formal education may give us the means to achieve the standards that men set for us, and totally miss the mark that our heavenly Father and Creator has set for us and calls us to.

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

The Spirit of God is His divine power in and through His Word, His text book, The Holy Bible, where we are taught of Him. He is the writer of the knowledge of God and the teacher given to all who ask of Him. He comes by the will of the Father to testify of Christ, His Son.

When we take our children to school, or we go to school, we are asking the teachers by their wisdom and knowledge to prepare our children, or us, for life here on earth.  When we come to God and His Word in the power if His Holy Spirit we are asking Him to prepare us and His children for His glory and eternal life with Him.  Are we asking in the right places and for the right things in this life? As His children we have the access to wisdom and knowledge that the world does not have. Are we flourishing and teaching our children what it means to strive for the excellence that is ours in Christ? Consider how many hours and years they learn from the spirit of the world how to live the life of the world. How many hours and years will be spent to accumulate in their minds and hearts how to live for eternity?  Only this preparation will bring true success here and eternally.

Why should we listen to what Jesus says? Why should we depend on God’s Word for living a successful life? Paul prayed for the church at Colossae for them “to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ ……………..

Wisdom Given Generously

 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5

In humility we ask, admitting that we lack wisdom. If we ask for wisdom what can we expect from God? It will be the divine power of His Holy Spirit bringing Christ to live and reign in our spirit, soul, and body, in our hearts, our minds, our wills, our impressions, our affections, our emotions, and our expressions. He is the way, the truth, and the life that God has planned for His children. Anything less than following in His footsteps will only produce a deception ~ at best, an imitation.

Dear Father, the wisdom of the world, comes from the world to achieve its own purposes. You teach us the difference when you teach us of Christ. So fill us with your Spirit that your continual presence be the test of what is genuine in this life.  Separate what is of you and what is of the world. Thank you for your divine power to destroy the strongholds, imaginations and false teachings of our culture. Enable us to teach our children about you, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.