OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY - 28/05/2014 - THE WISDOM OF MEN BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

THE WISDOM OF MEN

MEMORISE

Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

Deuteronomy 1:39

READ

Genesis 2:15-17

15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

MESSAGE

In the beginning, God generously permitted man to eat from every herb bearing seed and from every tree bearing fruit. In Genesis 2:17 however, God commanded him to avoid eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The fruit of this tree has been variously interpreted to mean sexual awareness or moral experience among other views. Since sexual interaction between Adam and Eve was allowed (being the only way to multiply the human race in obedience to God’s commandment), moral experience is therefore the most plausible explanation of what this fruit represents. God clearly wanted Adam and Eve to maintain their state of innocence. By choosing to obey or disobey, they would come to know good and evil by experience. God set before them a choice, of which obedience would lead to wisdom and blessing, while disobedience would lead to rebellion and punishment. I pray that the Body of Christ will witness great increase in wisdom and blessing as a result of total obedience to God in Jesus’ Name.

The knowledge of good and evil enables a person to make choices based on human knowledge and personal preferences, rather than simple obedience to the word of God. It provides an opportunity to exercise the power of logic and the supremacy of human choice in all human affairs. The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is contrary to faith. It is for this reason that 1 Corinthians 2:14, says that:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.“

Therefore the natural man stands for those who are controlled and influenced by natural instincts and are in opposition to those who are influenced by the Spirit of God. They cannot receive or obey the things of the Spirit of God because they make their choices in life based on their senses - what they see, hear and feel. To such people, the way of God and His commandments are foolishness. One would think that such would not be found among Christians, but many professed born-again and spirit-filled Christians cannot live with some biblical doctrines and commandments of God. They simply argue that such is not relevant anymore, suggesting that there is a need to review the Bible to accommodate modern times and human interests. The big question is; are you serving the Lord in the wisdom of men, or by faith and obedience in the power of God?

PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to serve you with total obedience to the authority of your word.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Exodus 10:21-12:42;

Psalm 113