Welcome, everyone to our new article series. This time we endeavour to understand the classifications of celestial wisdom.

I imagine some of you might be wondering what the need to understand a concept as obvious as wisdom must be. Like, “Isn’t wisdom simply the application of knowledge? And if so, what’s the point?” Let’s open with a bang this time:

“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:”—Isaiah 11:1-3

In this amazing scripture, Isaiah prophecies about some really awesome stuff that I would be ecstatic to go over. But the main focus of this scripture is that here he introduces to us seven unique manifestations of the Holy Spirit. This is to say that the Holy Spirit has seven unique operations through which He manifests Himself i.e., the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Wisdom, the Spirit of Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel, the Spirit of Might, the Spirit of Knowledge, and the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord.

Our interest here is the Spirit of Wisdom. Did you notice that so far among the article series we have looked at, the Holy Spirit manifests Himself in some each of those major ways? We have taken a look at Celestial Knowledge and have so far understood the kind of knowledge God wants to bring us into (Epignosis) and we know that this is attained only through the agency of the Holy Spirit. And here, it tells us that this type of Knowledge is one of the seven unique ways that He manifests Himself?

Similarly, we have taken a look at different classifications of power and how that each of them are manifested by the Holy Spirit Himself (from Dunamis all the way to Ischus).

This means that wisdom is just as key to the Holy Spirit as knowledge and power. Let’s take a look at another scripture:

“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:”—1 Corinthians 2:6

Here Paul tells us how that we (meaning Christians) speak wisdom among mature Christians—which is to say mature Christians speak wisdom among each other. But then he also classifies that the kind of wisdom we speak isn’t the wisdom of this world. This shows us that there is a classification of wisdom referred to as the wisdom of this world and here he tells us that this wisdom comes to nothing. This isn’t what we are looking at in this series, but it is important in understanding why we are discussing wisdom in this series.

Let’s introduce one more scripture before we take a deeper dive into this topic:

“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe”—1 Corinthians 1:20-21

Now here, Paul gives us both major types of wisdom. He points out the wisdom of this world again, and he also introduces something called the wisdom of God. This shows us that there are two types of wisdom so far that we can be aware of: the wisdom of this world (which brings men to ruin as was read earlier) and the wisdom of God (which is the subject of this article series).

This scripture also shows that God has a specific wisdom.

“And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”—Luke 1:17

The above scripture is a prophecy about Jesus coming and how that He would conform the disobedient (us before being born again) to the wisdom of the just. This means among Jesus’ missions here on earth, He came to give just a type of wisdom—the wisdom of God. This means that this is not a type of wisdom just anyone can attain: this is a wisdom reserved only for Christians and rightfully so—we’re talking about the wisdom of God here that is revealed only to those who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. This wisdom can only come through Christ. Now why do I say this?

“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom (Sophia) and knowledge (Gnosis).”—Colossians 2:2-3

See that? All the hidden treasures of wisdom and gnosis (meaning all knowledge) are hidden (deliberately) in Christ. And what have we established that Christ is? Jesus as the head, and the church (as in all Christians) as the body. So this shows us that when we become born again, the Holy Spirit knits each one of us together in this body called Christ and makes available all these hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

So now that we understand that God wants us to conform our minds to having his type of wisdom, we can now jump right into our article series. In this article series, we shall look at the classifications of this wisdom of God: The Classification of His Celestial Wisdom. That’s what concerns us as Christians—the wisdom of God!

SOPHIA

So, what is Sophia? What type of wisdom is Sophia?

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom (Greek: ‘Sophia’ meaning an insight into reality) and spiritual understanding (Greek: ‘Sunesis’);”—Colossians 1:9

A good definition of Sophia follows thus:

1. An Insight into reality
2. An Insight in all learning and science
3. An Insight into hidden things including enigmatic and symbolic language

So, in Paul’s prayer there, he says he wishes for us to be filled with all knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom! He wants us to be filled with this wisdom in its entirety. Recall our earlier reading from Colossians 2:1-3 where Paul tells us that in Christ are all treasures of wisdom hidden/deposited? This means by virtue of being Christ, we have that wisdom inside of us but here he prays that it we allow it to manifest. How do we do it, you ask? We read so in our earlier article where we learned that in order to get God’s power working in our lives, we have to study and meditate on the scriptures day and night so that everything we think, talk, and do are all guided by the scripture subconsciously and consciously (Joshua 1:8).

Now I understand that there are some of you who may be sceptical about what I have just mentioned thus far: how could God do such a thing? Where does it explicitly say so that God has given to us this type of wisdom too? Well, I’m glad you ask:

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”—John 16:13-14

We just read how that all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are deposited in Christ, right? Now here, Jesus Himself speaks and tells us that the Spirit, when He comes into our lives (which happens the day you become born again), will take of everything that belongs to Jesus and reveal it to you, meaning he shall guide you through all reality! Believe it now?

Take a moment and consider whether you really have taken advantage of what has been made available to you? All this wealth of knowledge is sitting there within you, and you wonder why when you pray, God does nothing? It’s because of this! He has already done everything for you. The only one stopping yourself from enjoying all these things he has given you is yourself and its out of ignorance that many aren’t taking advantage of these amazing gifts. And for the most part, the church has not been taught these things.

But why did God do this? Why did God deposit all of His wisdom and knowledge into Jesus? Because of us; so that together, we can have access to hidden wisdom which the world could not know (we just read this).

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”—1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Did you see that? How can you possibly be considered anything less with such kind of information? See, until you realize and become aware of what you truly are you will always live an ordinary life both in this world and also in the world to come and it’ll be no one else’s fault but your own because getting to know this was and is your responsibility. That’s why Paul writes that,

“What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate”—Galatians 4:1

Let’s look at this kind of wisdom (Sophia) at work:

“Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.”—Daniel 5:12

Bear in mind that this man, Daniel, had only a measure of the Holy Spirit that you and I have today and yet the scripture tells all the things Daniel could do because of this Spirit at work in Him. Daniel had the Spirit of Wisdom at work in him. You have the totality of the Holy Spirit inside you!

To have Sophia is to have an excellent spirit. Daniel had so much wisdom that when he was done explaining anything to you, all your doubts would be dissolved! The same happened with Solomon and how that the queen of Shiba heard of him and came to him with hard questions to test his wisdom (1 Chronicles 9). The scriptures record that when Solomon was done answering all her questions, she was overwhelmed. The scriptures specifically record saying,

“…there was nothing that was hid from Solomon which he told her not.”—1 Chronicles 9:2

The man answered every question she had—dissolving of doubts and explaining hard sentences. This is Sophia! And now, this same wisdom resides in you.

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”—1 Corinthians 1:30

THE IMPORTANCE OF WISDOM

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”—Proverbs 4:1-7

Do you see the importance of wisdom? Here, the wisest man that ever lived before Jesus tells us how he got his wisdom: his father, David, told him of its importance. As important as everything was to him such as power and wealth, Solomon was wise enough to know that the most important thing to get isn’t money or power, it’s wisdom. He shows how that it is our responsibility to get it.

Now in the following verses, he tells us what the result of embracing wisdom is,

“Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”—Proverbs 4:8-9

These are the results of having wisdom work in you. Observe verse 13,

“Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”—Proverbs 4:13

Reason this is worth noting is because of another thing Solomon introduces to us,

“…a child left to himself will come to ruin (destruction/death)”—Proverbs 29:15

This is the importance of wisdom.

Before we conclude, let’s take a look at what wisdom itself has to say:

“Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”—Proverbs 8:1-11

Look at everything has to say about herself. She says she is better than silver and knowledge is better than gold. She tells her to value her over rubies and the things that are desired cannot be compared to her.

“I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me

Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable (lasting) riches and righteousness.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.”—Proverbs 8:12-21

Do you understand the true importance of wisdom? And this is the first classification of the wisdom of God—Celestial Wisdom. So how do you get Sophia? That’s the beauty: it’s already in you. Observe how our last scripture reading ends by wisdom telling us that she would cause those that love her to inherit substance?

Read, Joshua 1:8 once more and see for yourself how to get Sophia for yourself.

HOW DO I USE SOPHIA PRACTICALLY?

The first thing is you need to become aware of it. Just because it has been deposited into you doesn’t mean you will immediately be able to pull it out just because. You need to become aware of it. Remember our recent article series on celestial knowledge? You first discover (Ginosko) that you have this Sophia about a certain subject. And from point on, you are aware (Eido) of that wisdom. You then begin to interact with that Sophia and use it—you gain an Epignosis of this Sophia.

For instance, by this now you know that this Sophia has been deposited into you and now you can pull it out anytime you choose to. But you need to know how to pull it out, correct? So, you read through the scriptures and discover that you pull out this wisdom from your spirit is through the Spirit of Wisdom and so you begin to practice how to tune yourself to listening more and more closely to the voice of God inside you—you learn how to listen to the Spirit of God inside of you because He is the Spirit of Wisdom itself who will guide you in all truth. But it all starts with being aware: you have to be aware of it. And where do you get the information to be aware of it from? The scriptures themselves, because God does not speak outside of His word and the scriptures are His word.

So that right there is the first classification of celestial wisdom, Sophia! Thank you so much for joining me on this amazing journey. Join me again in my next article where we explore the second classification of celestial wisdom. Until next time, fam city!