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Continuing our discussion from part three, as we learned in part one of this series, the Apostle James warns his readers that not all wisdom is good or comes from above. In fact, he wrote that some of it is actually earthly, sensual, devilish and evil. Let me share those verses with you one more time:

"This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."


As we have also seen, the Apostle Paul told his readers many times which wisdom to seek after. He likewise warned them regarding which kind of wisdom they should outright avoid. In other words, secular philosophies and vain deceptions of the world. Let me also share that verse with you one more time to emphasize this point:

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."


In the following group of verses, the Apostle Paul reminds his readers how when he came to share the Gospel with them, he did not try to impress them by speaking great, swelling words of worldly wisdom as so many modern preachers like to do. He in fact kept his message plain and simple. He spoke to them in their own language, so that anyone could easily understand him, and thus receive the Gift of Salvation:

"Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, LET HIM DO IT WITH SIMPLICITY; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness."


"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: NOT WITH WISDOM OF WORDS, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."


And I, brethren, when I came to you, came NOT WITH EXCELLENCY OF SPEECH OR OF WISDOM, declaring unto you the testimony of God."


"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, THAT IN SIMPLICITY and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward."


"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY that is in Christ."


If we stop for a moment and think about the time in which the Apostle Paul lived, it makes perfect sense that he would write to the brethren in this manner. After all, his was the time of great Greek and Roman philosophers and orators who just loved to amaze the crowds with their wisdom and human insights. It was a haughty, proud display of human intellect which proceeded from the vanity of their own minds. I am reminded of what Luke wrote in the Book of Acts regarding how the Greeks just loved to hear a new thing. This goes right along with what Paul wrote regarding people seeking teachers because they have itching ears. Consider this set of verses:

"Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, OR TO HEAR SOME NEW THING.)"


"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, HAVING ITCHING EARS;"


The previous verses are rather interesting. Notice Paul's usage of the words "not with wisdom of words" and "not with excellency of speech or of wisdom". As I said, Paul's goal was NOT to try to impress his readers or listeners by using great, swelling words of worldly wisdom. His goal was only to accomplish one thing, and that was to reach people with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was to help them to understand the gravity of their sinful condition, and their need for a Savior. Period. He was not in competition with the Greek and Roman philosophers and orators of his day.

In fact, speaking of the phrase "not with excellency of speech", according to the Scriptures, it appears that Paul was not only not very strong in a physical sense, but even in his manner of speaking, apparently, he was not a powerful orator. Contrary to the way Paul has been portrayed in some movies, he was perhaps rather meek, just as Moses was also described as being meek in the Old Testament. I am reminded of the following Scriptures which seem to verify these two points:

"(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)"


"For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible."


From my own observations, and due to my own experiences over the years with various newsgroups, message forums, mailing lists and social networks, I understand exactly what Paul is talking about in the previous verses. Please notice that he clearly writes that employing this method of witnessing -- in other words, using difficult-to-understand and swelling words -- makes the Cross of Christ "of none effect". Do you know why this is? If not, let me explain it to you.

It is all really quite simple. As I mentioned a moment ago, there are some preachers of the Gospel, both online as well as offline, who because of their own pride and vanity, feel that they have to impress their audience. They also do not want to be outshined by other popular preachers. Therefore, when they preach, they use a whole lot of big fancy words in order to appear well-versed and educated. After all, they have attended some prestigious Bible college, and they have acquired their degrees in this, that or the other. So they need to demonstrate that it has made them a better preacher. You know, if you stop and think about it, this really isn't that different from the ancient Greek and Roman orators and philosophers who probably did the very same thing.

But as I already said, where the problem arises is in the simple fact that if you are using such big, fancy words, and basically speaking or writing above your intended audience's heads, then what in the world is the point of it all? If they are not even able to understand what you are saying to them, then your preaching is in fact "of none effect", because no one is even going to understand the gravity of their personal situation without Christ, and much less arrive at a point of Salvation. In other words, your words won't have the desired effect that you want them to have. Sure, you may feel great about yourself, and think that you have delivered a wonderful sermon, but so what! If it bears no fruit, it is pointless. Now do you understand?

As I point out in the series "Modern Deceptions: Return to Israel, the Fig Tree and This Generation", this proud manner of preaching is totally contrary to the Lord's own method of witnessing and teaching. As I explain in that series, Jesus used simple Parables which His listeners would easily relate to and understand. For example, He would use such things as nets, fish, seeds, weather, trees, wheat, tares and other things which were familiar to His listeners. So to reiterate this point, it is very important to remember that when we share the Gospel message with somebody, we need to adhere to the simplicity of the Gospel in our witness. If we are not willing to do this, if we just want to impress them with our Bible knowledge, then we might as well forget it and just go home.

In actuality, one of Satan's tricks is to try to complicate things, and to make everything confusing. After all, as you may know, he is the author of confusion. To emphasize that point again, we must remember that the message of Salvation can be simplified into one basic fact: We are all sinners in need of a Savior; and that Savior is Jesus Christ. That is all people need to know and understand. They don't need to hear some long theological argument from you which will only leave them confused, and leave you lifted up in your pride. They just need the basic facts so they can make a decision. A lot of them are too simple-minded, or else they are not very knowledgeable of the Bible to understand most of it anyway. Remember what the Apostle Paul also wrote in his Epistle to the Hebrews:

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."


Now, once a person has accepted the Lord, it is at that point where you can begin to teach them whatever else you feel they need to know. I can understand that perhaps through some of these long, eloquent conversations, some of these Christians are just honestly trying to follow Paul's advice of becoming all things to all men that they might win some. I'm referring to what Paul wrote in the following verses:

"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."


If this is their true motivation, then I applaud them for their patience and perseverance. On the other hand, there is also such a thing as taking this too far. I have personally witnessed certain Christians who will be earnestly involved in a conversation with someone whom they are trying to win to the cause of Christ, who in my view do not appear to be much different from the person they are witnessing to. What happens is that the individual who is doing the witnessing becomes involved in a long, drawn-out, dry, spiritless kind of conversation which has devolved into nothing more than a battle of wits and human pride. They are fruitless, empty conversations which go nowhere fast.

Why does this happen sometimes? One reason may be because the person who is doing the witnessing just wants to impress the other individual by appearing to be on the same level in a scholastic or theological sense. Or perhaps it is because he is afraid that he might offend the other person if he quotes too many Bible verses. Thus, he ends up going to the opposite extreme and hardly quotes any at all. Lastly, perhaps it is possibly because the person who is doing the witnessing is a babe in Christ and simply doesn't know enough verses from the Bible to respond effectively to the person he is talking to. As a result, he resorts to depending on his human knowledge.

If that is the case, then perhaps such a person should not even be out on the witnessing field yet. Maybe they need to spend more time first really getting themselves anchored in God's Word. As we discussed earlier in this series, they need to be firmly established in the faith. That includes having at least a small arsenal of Scriptures they can use while out on the witnessing field. The truth of the matter is that in this day and age, street witnessing is not such an easy job. There are a lot of hard-hearted, mean-spirited and highly-educated people out there who will chew up a babe in Christ. So it pays to be properly prepared by possessing a firm foundation in God's Word.

If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that there is nothing more powerful than the Word of God. Human philosophy and vain deceits -- as the Apostle Paul writes -- are nothing compared to it. It is for that reason that when I write my articles and series, I do my very best to fill them with as much straight Scripture as possible. After all, if people are not convinced by God's Word, then nothing will convince them. Certainly not my mere human words. As we find written in the Epistle to the Hebrews:

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."


Frankly, whenever I see the aforementioned dry conversations occurring, where not a single Bible verse is quoted in post after post, it makes me wonder about the person who is doing the witnessing. As those of you who know me will realize, my approach is entirely different. As I already said, I believe in exalting the Word of God, whether people like it or not. I like to cut to the chase and get down to the facts. There is no point in wasting our time with unbelieving reprobates who do not have the slightest interest in what we have to say to them, and who in fact totally despise it anyway.

We need to always remember to balance one verse with another. In other words, while the Lord did instruct His followers to bring forth fruit with patience and perseverance, as we see in the Parable of the Sower in Luke chapter fifteen, He also instructed them to not cast their pearls before swine, or to give that which is holy -- meaning the Word of God -- to the dogs. Furthermore, Jesus instructed the Disciples to shake off the dust from their feet when people refused to receive their witness. This is in fact precisely what we see Apostle Paul doing in the Book of Acts when certain unbelieving Jews rejected His message. Consider the following group of verses which confirm these various points:

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."


"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."


"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."


Sadly, some Christians are just so namby-pamby that they are afraid to offend anybody, particularly in today's atmosphere of sickening political correctness. However, as I explain in articles such as "Are You a Burning Ember for the Lord?" and "Do You Stand Up for Your Faith?", we cannot allow ourselves to be pressured into silence by an unbelieving world. We need to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, come what may. This fact becomes evident by verses such as the following:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."


"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."


"And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes."


"But, lo, he speaketh BOLDLY, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?"


"Now when they saw the BOLDNESS of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus . . . And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all BOLDNESS they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with BOLDNESS."


"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."


"But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached BOLDLY at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake BOLDLY in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him."


"Long time therefore abode they speaking BOLDLY in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands."


"And he began to speak BOLDLY in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."


"And he went into the synagogue, and spake BOLDLY for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God."


"Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more BOLDLY unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,"


"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth BOLDLY, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."


"According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all BOLDNESS, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death."


"So that we may BOLDLY say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."


"He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light."


"Quench not the Spirit."


"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."


At the same time, we also need to learn to have Spiritual Discernment, and to know when we should bleat like a lamb with the hungry sheep, and when we should roar like a lion with the unbelieving reprobates. We also need to ask God to give us His wisdom so that we do not waste our precious time with those people who are just unworthy of, and who have no interest in, God's Grace and Mercy through Jesus Christ.

Let me remind you again that when we are witnessing, we are not to try to impress people with our own wisdom and human knowledge, or even with our knowledge of the Bible, because it will be totally ineffective, exactly as the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:17. Not only that, but such a proud attitude will in fact offend and turn off a lot of people.

You will find a perfect example of this type of misguided, know-it-all witnessing with the Jehovah's Witnesses. If you have ever had an encounter with them -- Ha! Who hasn't? -- then you will know exactly what I am talking about, right? They are one very proud, pushy, bullheaded, argumentative group of people. They are not the least bit interested in what a person has to say. All they want to do is prove that they are right about everything, and that you, the listener, are wrong. Aside from that, their primary goal is to try to get you to accept some of their literature. It is truly sad, and their pushiness has turned many people against them. I won't even open my door to them anymore, or to the Mormons for that matter. I have had enough encounters with both.

Returning to our primary topic regarding relying upon human wisdom and philosophy versus trusting in God's Wisdom, God's Word and Spiritual Discernment, here are a few more verses which plainly tell us that we must never resort to carnal, earthy, human wisdom insofar as our witnessing endeavors are concerned. Rather we must always rely solely on the Wisdom, Truth and Power of God's Holy Spirit. After all, by so doing not only does our Father truly receive all of the Glory that belongs to Him alone, but in this way, we can also bear the most fruit for His Kingdom:

"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 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: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:"


"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."


"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."


"Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist."


"And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake."


Earlier, I mentioned how in his second Epistle to Timothy, the Apostle Paul issued a prophetic warning regarding a future time when people would be totally given over to a pursuit of worldly wisdom and knowledge. They would even seek out teachers to instruct them in those things which are not of the Lord; or as Paul wrote "not endure sound doctrine". This reminds me of another verse which I have shared before which is found in the twelfth chapter of the Book of Daniel. Let me share both of those verses with you side by side:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, HAVING ITCHING EARS;"


"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."


While we can debate regarding exactly what time period the Prophet Daniel and the Apostle Paul were referring to, there is simply no denying that this type of situation exists in our modern day for sure. For many decades now, obtaining a higher education has been emphasized and promoted as the way to advance in one's personal life and job, and get ahead of the rest of the common herd of humanity. There are now so many colleges and universities which teach a vast array of courses, that it is absolutely mind-boggling to contemplate it all.

Of course, attending one of the more prestigious places of higher learning does not come cheap. However, because people are so desperate to get ahead, and because they have bought into the hype, they are willing to invest everything they've got in order to obtain the holy grail of a college degree. Sadly, many people, including young people, have gone into very serious debt in order to achieve their lofty goals. It is indeed tragic that some folks have lost their properties -- including their very homes and other valuable possessions -- when they were unable to pay back the debt with interest. In fact, some people are so overextended, that even if they live to be one hundred years old, they will still never be able to pay back their debt. Personally, I have to wonder if it is really worth it all.

As the Apostle Paul wrote, "knowledge puffeth up". This is certainly true in our own time, being as man has become so lifted up in his own pride, and in the vanity of his own mind, that he now dares to even challenge the sacred truths of God's holy Word. In other words, he's replaced the Truth of the Bible with such evil things as evolution, same-sex "marriage", transgenderism, and other wicked lies which were born in the very bowels of Hell. Likewise, he's hired vile, liberal-minded teachers to pollute the minds of our children in the classroom. Sadly, at this point in time, parents are increasingly becoming powerless to do anything about it. But concerning all of these modern evils, let me remind you one more time of what the Apostle James wrote:

"This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish."


Please go to part five for the conclusion of this series.

⇒ Go To The Next Part . . .

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