This week we’ll continue our investigation of spiritual gifts.  Last time we weighed–in on a combination of faith and wisdom, and the importance of prayer.
    One of the leading gifts of God’s Spirit is the Gift of Wisdom.  Let’s look at this together. 
   
FOUR KINDS OF WISDOM
    Natural human wisdom is naturally applied knowledge.  Wisdom in the fields of computer science and medical science have exponentially increased in the last two decades.  Eighteen years ago, while doing my grocery shopping, I saw my first person using a cell–phone. He was checking the grocery list with his wife. I was impressed.
   
Fallen supernatural wisdom was the very thing used to tempt the first man and woman to disobey God’s commandment.  The Tempter said, “It is a tree to be desired to make one wise” (Genesis 3:6 KJV).  They fell for it. 
Fortune Telling is an example of counterfeit wisdom today (Daniel 2:27-28). 
   
True intellectual wisdom comes by studying books of wisdom, especially in the Bible.  “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels . . . (Proverbs 1:5,6 KJV)
In my university, only secular books were required for a master’s degree.  Since graduating it is gratifying to once again buy and read faith–based books.  The wisdom of the author as well as the wisdom of God’s Word underlying it, gives me more benefits.

The Supernatural Gift of the Word of Wisdom was expressed often in the prophet Daniel’s life.  As a Jewish prisoner, he was taken from Israel to King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace in Babylon.  One of Daniel’s first opportunities was to reveal to the King the interpretation of a dream he had forgotten. The gift of wisdom was supernaturally revealed to Daniel in a dream or “night vision” (Daniel 2:20-22).

GOD SPEAKS TODAY
In 1961 in Tampa Florida, I was at a social worker’s meeting.  A Behavioral Scientist PhD during his lecture said, “We are animals.”  He then gave several examples that showed just how animal–like we are.
Then he said, “Your clients have good, and bad cycles. There is not much you can do to help them. That’s the way it will be.” 
As a renewed Judeo-Christian, I felt confronted and challenged by this encounter.  That night, as I lay in bed, I asked God a question, “Am I just an animal?”
I thought, “This would obviously mean that at death my body will go into the earth, and my spirit and soul will simply disappear.”
During the night I awoke with the answer from God, in question form: “How can you be an animal, when you are made in My image?” 
I came fully awake and turned over in bed. I thought over the message. 
“It must be the Lord. God is obviously not an animal so I, as His believing child, am not either!”
This was a Gift of Wisdom imparted to me as I slept.
I had fought my way out of the world–system into the arms of God, so He – who is love – was not going to let me fight this battle alone. 

MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE

In the first chapter of Genesis we are told that we are made in God’s image (vss. 26,27).  But what does that mean?
God is speaking on a level deeper than the physical. “From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us rulers of creation” (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 370).
M – emory of mankind is beyond that of animals.
R – eason helps us human beings to learn from past discoveries.  We’ve even
built a station in outer space.
S – kill to use our hands is unique in building, construction, surgery, art, and
music.  Our thumbs are unique to all living beings. (mnemonic mrs)
   
To top it all off, because we are joined to God through our faith, our spirit is already eternal because it is joined to Him.
We’ll have more on Spiritual Gifts next time.