WISDOM THROUGH PATIENCE 

2 Corinthians 6:4 KJVS 

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 

PRE-AMBLE by Robert 

In conversation with a brother in Yeshua, it became apparent why the Father has called us to come back to Him and abide in His law. In doing so, we find four duties in the first commandment he wants us to follow to take the complexity out of the worship being offered to him.  

The wisdom we receive through patience and not passion has three distinct characteristics:  

(1). It is practical. The wisdom of God relates to life even during the most trying times. It is not wisdom isolated from suffering and trials. Wisdom is the tool by which trials are overcome.  

An intelligent person may have profound ideas, but a wise person puts profound insights into action. Intelligence will allow someone to describe several reasons why the car broke down. The knowledgeable person chooses the most likely cause and proceeds to act.  

(2). It is divine. God’s wisdom goes beyond common sense. Common Sense does not lead us to choose joy in the middle of trials. This wisdom begins with respect for God, leads to living by God’s direction, and results in telling right from wrong.  

(3). It is Yeshua like. Asking for wisdom is ultimately asking to be like Yeshua. The Bible identifies Yeshua as the “wisdom of God” (1Cor. 1:24; 2:1-7). 

2 Corinthians 6:4 KJVS 

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 

He did not preach the gospel in this manner, lest the cross of Christ should be of no effect, lest the success should be ascribed to the force of art, and not of truth; not to the plain doctrine of a crucified Jesus, but to the powerful oratory of those who spread it, and hereby the honour of the cross be diminished or eclipsed.  

Paul had been bred up himself in Jewish learning at the feet of Gamaliel, but in preaching the cross of Christ, he laid his learning aside. He preached a crucified Jesus in plain language. He told the people that Jesus, who was crucified at Jerusalem, was the Son of God and Saviour of men and that all who would be saved must repent of their sins, believe in him, and submit to his government and laws.  

This truth needed no artificial dress; it shone out with the greatest majesty in its own light and prevailed in the world by its divine authority, and the demonstration of the Spirit, without any human, helps. The plain preaching of a crucified Jesus was more powerful than all the heathen world’s oratory and philosophy.  

We have the different effects of this preaching: To those who perish it is foolishness, but to those who are saved, it is the power of God, {cf11ul 1Co 1:18}. It is to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but unto those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God, {cf11ul 1Co 1:23}, {cf11ul 1Co 1:24}  

1. Christ crucified is a stumbling-block to the Jews. They could not get over it. They had a conceit that their expected Messiah was to be a great temporal prince, and therefore would never own one who made so mean an appearance in life and died so accursed a death for their deliverer and king. They despised him and looked upon him as execrable, because he was hanged on a tree, and because he did not gratify them with a sign to their mind, though his divine power shone out in innumerable miracles. The Jews require a sign, {cf11ul 1Co 1:22}. See {cf11ul Mat 12:38}
2. He was to the Greeks foolishness. They laughed at the story of a crucified saviour and despised the apostles’ way of telling it. They sought wisdom. They were men of wit and reading, men that had cultivated arts and sciences, and had, for some ages, been in a manner the very mint of knowledge and learning. There was nothing in the cross’s plain doctrine to suit their taste, nor humour their vanity, nor gratify a curious and wrangling temper: they entertained it therefore with scorn and contempt. What, hope to be saved by one that could not save himself! And trust in one who was condemned and crucified as a malefactor, a man of mean birth and poor condition in life and cut off by so vile and opprobrious a death! This was what the pride of human reason, and learning could not relish. The Greeks thought it little better than stupidity to receive such a doctrine and pay this high regard to such a person: and thus, were they justly left to perish in their pride and obstinacy. 

OPENING STATEMENT by Robert 

In previous videos and articles, we have been shown there are 4 duties laid out for us to follow to have grounded worship of the Father. In recognition of Yahuwah as the one and only God, the Ecclesia should use the four duties Mark 12:30 KJVS, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second Love thy neighbour as thy self there is none other commandments greater than these.  

It then is reasonable to assert by using the remaining eight commandments as templates to base our future walk to honour the Father, there can be no stronger walk than this fulfilling the Lord’s commandments.    

Our deepest challenge is the first and second commandments (Mark 12:28). He doth not mean the first in order, but the first in weight and dignity, “Which is the commandment that we need to have a special manner to, and our obedience to, which will lay a foundation for our obedience to all the rest?”  

Not that any commandment of God is little (they are all the commands of a great God), but some are greater than others, moral precepts than rituals, and of some we may say, they are the greatest of all. Christ will guide in judgment and teach his way for those who sincerely desire to be instructed concerning their duty. 

That the great commandment of all, which is indeed inclusive of all, is that of loving God with all our hearts.  

(1) Where there is a commanding principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Love is the leading affection of the soul; the love of God is the leading grace in the renewed soul  

(2) Where this is not, nothing else that is good is done, or done aright, accepted, or done long. Loving God with all our heart will effectually take us off from, and arm us against, all those that are rivals with him for the throne in our souls. It will engage us to everything by which he may be honoured, and with which he will be pleased, and no commandment will be grievous where this principal command, and has the ascendant.  

Matthew 10:16-42, these verses relate to Christ’s ministers’ sufferings in their work, which they are here taught to expect and prepare for; they are also directed to bear them and how to go on with their work in the midst of them.  

This part of the sermon looks further than to their present mission, for we find not that they met with any great hardships or persecutions while Christ was with them, nor were they well able to bear them, but they are here forewarned of the troubles they should meet with.  

When after Christ’s resurrection, their commission should be enlarged, and the kingdom of heaven, which was not at hand, should be actually set up; they dreamed of nothing then, but outward pomp and power, but Christ tells them, they must expect greater sufferings than they were yet called to that they should then be made prisoners when they expected to be made princes.  

My question to those coming to the truth, how many in their mines believed as these disciples did, would be seen as princes in the world. It is good to be told what troubles we may hereafter meet with, that we may provide accordingly, and may not boast, as if we had put off the harness when we are yet but girding it on. 

CLOSING COMMENT by Robert 

Mark those who cause divisions and offences. Our Master had himself foretold that divisions and offences would come but had entailed a woe on those by whom they come (Matthew 18:7), and against such, we are here cautioned.  

Those who burden the church with dividing and offending impositions, who uphold and enforce those impositions, who introduce and propagate dividing and offending notions, which are erroneous or justly suspected, who out of pride, ambition, affectation of novelty, or the like, causelessly separate from their brethren, and by perverse disputes, censures, and evil surmising’s, alienate the affections of Christians one from another–these cause divisions and offences, contrary to, or different from (for that also is implied, it is para ten didactic), the doctrine which we have learned.  

Whatever varies from the form of sound doctrine which we have in the scriptures opens the door to divisions and offences. If truth is once deserted, unity and peace will not last long. Now, mark those that thus cause divisions, skopein. 

The apostle, having applied himself to the fears of the Hebrews, to excite their diligence and prevent their apostasy, now proceeds to apply himself to their hopes, and candidly declares the good hope he had concerning them, that they would persevere and proposes to them the great encouragements they had in the way of their duty. I. He freely and openly declares the good hope he had concerning them, that they would endure to the end: But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, Hebrews 6:9. Observe, 1. There are things that accompany salvation, things that are never separated from salvation, things that show the person to be in a state of salvation, and will issue in eternal salvation 2. The things that accompany salvation are better than ever any hypocrite or apostate enjoyed. They are better in their nature and in their issue 3. It is our duty to hope well of those in whom nothing appears to the contrary 4. Ministers must sometimes speak by way of caution to those of whose salvation they have good hopes. And those who have in themselves good hopes, as to their eternal salvation, should yet consider seriously how fatal a disappointment it would be if they should fall short. Thus they are to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. 

CLOSING PRAYER by Robert

As we journey forward, Heavenly Father, we look for your guidance and comfort. We thank you, Lord, for each moment you dedicate to our lives, families, and homes. As we hear from the Holy Spirit, we know your voice is being listened to through him and all those infirmities which may plague us will be healed and a hedge of protection built around our lives. We thank you, Father, for all your mercies and abundant dealings you perform on our behalf. Thank you, Lord, for being our Shepherd and bringing us to bountiful pastures and protecting us from ravening wolves. This we pray in your name Yeshua. Amen and Amen. 

Remember, these articles are from a humble servant doing God’s work as a Watchman. Blessings to all. May your walks be steady blessed and lead to Yeshua waiting at the door when the time is right.

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and he with me.”

Robert