“Older men/women in Ministry are having greater impact these days than ever before. Why? Preparing younger generations to carry the baton of truth into the next century IN revival. “Prepare the way of the Lord”. The 2nd Coming. Vision is direction and not style.”
I put the above up on facebook and got quite a response.
I was quite suprised and realised that this needs more looking at.
The desire of mankind is to know that he is secure, has a meaningful destiny, that he is of value and what truth is.
Here is some further insights –
There is a book in the Bible that has a chapter for each month, Proverbs, that we can feast on, it is full of wisdom and understanding.
Prov 1:2 “Within these sayings will be found the revelation of wisdom and the impartation of spiritual understanding.” (All quotes from the PB.)
Prov 8:13 in the passion trans. “Wisdom pours into you when you begin to hate every form of evil in your life, for that’s what worship and fearing God is all about. Then you will discover that your pompous pride and perverse speech are the very ways of wickedness that I hate!”
Prov 6:6 “When you’re feeling lazy, come and learn a lesson from this tale of the tiny ant. Yes, all you lazybones, come learn from the example of the ant and enter into wisdom. The ants have no chief, no boss, no manager—no one has to tell them what to do. You’ll see them working and toiling all summer long, stockpiling their food in preparation for winter”.
An ant lives for six months, a spring, summer and a winter – that’s it! Amazing little creatures.
There are six Hebrew words translated “wisdom” in the book of Proverbs. Some of them require an entire phrase in English to convey the meaning. The word used here is ‘chokmah’, and it is used in Proverbs 42 times. 42 is the number of months Jesus ministered and the number of generations from Abraham to Christ listed in Mathew 1.
When proverbs instructs ‘My son’; it is speaking to those who are 40 and younger. Wow.
Lady Wisdom is a poetic personification representing Christ, the Wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:30 “Instead, credit God with your new situation: you are united with Jesus the Anointed. He is God’s wisdom for us and more. He is our righteousness and holiness and redemption.”
Prov 9 gives the 7 pillars of the house of Wisdom. is a fascinating word play in the Hebrew text. The verb meaning “to build”, and the word translated “son”, come from the same root. “Build” is banah and “son” is ben. So the house Wisdom is building, is a son. You and I are sons of God who are being built into a spiritual house. There is also a verb in the Hebrew for “hewn” (as in stones). We are living stones raised up to be God’s temple. Look at this in Hebrews – Heb 3:5-6 “Moses brought healing and redemption to his people as a faithful servant in God’s house, and he was a witness to the things that would be spoken later. But Jesus the Anointed was faithful as a Son of that house. (We become that house, if we’re able to hold on to the confident hope we have in God until the end.)”
The 7 pillars of wisdom (plural, “wisdoms”) point us to the 7 days of creation, the 7 spirits of God, and the 7 components of heavenly wisdom given; “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity)”. Ja 3:17-18
There is much to say.
First 7 chapters of proverbs talk about “My son” giving instruction to under 40’s. Then chapter 8 gives the contrast of the adultress woman and foolish son. Chapt 9 “Wisdom’s pillars”.
“I hold in my hands living-understanding, courage, and strength. They are ready waiting for you”.
“The meaning of My words will release within you revelation for you to reign in life”.
Questions:
- When revival comes to South Africa; within the next 5 years ,are we ready to be able to ‘carry it’?
- Does our younger generation have wisdom to value truth above – fame, fortune, frivolous acquirements?
- Are the grey-haired of cities retired too soon or still running with the lions and gazelles?
- Wisdom shouts into the gateways, down the streets and from the roof-tops, ”Do you know the “power of wisdom””?
There is no Retirement – older generation – in the Kingdom of God but only ‘Re-firement’!!