Spiritual Wisdom in Human Weakness 11-28-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my voice to speak out Your name and give You my life again this day. … "When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Human wisdom or God's power? Lofty words of wisdom or Jesus Christ, and Him crucified? Act like I know it all from my own intelligence and the education of this world or admit I really know nothing apart from what You have taught me from Your Word and by Your Spirit? Help people put their faith in sound doctrines and carefully worded creeds or help them put their faith in a personal, living relationship with the Living God? You taught Paul how to teach and lead in deep humility, without any self promotion, so that You alone were glorified through his life and ministry. And You want that same heart and spirit in each of us You have called Your disciples, as we teach others Your truth and lead them to You (1 Corinthians 11:1). The wisdom of the world is wearing thin these days. And the wisdom of the world that's woven it's way into the mind of the church will continue to wear thin as well. All our training and education, all of our promotion and production, will increasingly be exposed as nothing more than lofty words and the world's wisdom clothed in spiritual garb. In Your mercy, You are bringing us back to the place of humility -- in weakness and in fear and much trembling -- depending on You and Your power to confirm our message of faith and hope. "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Bring me back to the basics. Empower me again and afresh by Your Spirit to teach Your Word in Your power. Keep reminding me it's not about me. "So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I would appreciate your prayers for me next week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit, not my own wisdom: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January, 2009. Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com