Yesterday at Redeemer I preached out of Acts 6:1-4. This is where the twelve apostles choose seven men who are full of wisdom and filled with the Holy Spirit, to assist in ministry to widows in the early church.
Wisdom is a skill. Like, skilled in managing money, or skilled in bringing peace and reconciliation to troubled relationships.
Eugene Peterson writes,
"“Wisdom” is the
biblical term for this on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven everyday living. Wisdom is
the art of living skillfully in whatever actual conditions we find ourselves.
It has virtually nothing to do with information as such, with knowledge as
such." (Peterson, The Message Remix 2.0: The Bible In Contemporary Language, p. 870)
The way to acquire Godly wisdom is: Ask. We read,
If any of you
lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all
without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)
And just what is it that you are asking for? For this. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)
To be filled, literally, is to overflow. A glass of water is 100% filled when it brims over onto its surroundings. To be filled with wisdom is to overflow with purity, peace, mercy, and so on, and more.
It's the same with the filling of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:15 commands, Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. The verb "be filled" is in the continuous tense, implying "keep on being filled."
The Spirit-filled life, said Jack Hayford, is the new-dimensional life of worship, witness, and warfare."
How do we keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit? We ask. Jesus said,
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Right now, this morning, I begin my day, asking.
God, fill me with your wisdom.
God, fill me with your Holy Spirit.
