The Secret Of Growing In Wisdom
Someone once said, “The secret of growing in divine wisdom is to come to God stupid. Tell Him you don’t know a thing. Tell Him you need to know how to think, how to tie your shoes, how to win friends and influence anybody!”
With that kind of heart, God does His best work. When He is looking for receptacles into which He can place His divine wisdom, He looks for PHD’s … those who are Poor, Hungry, and Desperate!
Often, when I am ministering to people here and in other nations they often ask to speak to me as they want input or advice. So, I let them know I have 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes … whatever it is I actually have available to speak with them. They then proceed to fill the alloted time with the situation they are in and their understanding of that situation. They leave next to no time for the input they apparently desired to receive. They have not come into the situation as a PHD – ready to receive. They have come to share their story and the way they are handling it. Nice! I listen politely. But it means I could have had a cup of coffee and shared some fellowship with someone or simply gone and had a rest. They were really not looking for input – or, at the least, do not know how to receive input.
When I go to see or arrange to talk with one of my mentors – I quickly determine how much time they have for me on the given day and then in a very brief manner explain what I am facing or what I need to know and then shut up. I am “Poor” and needing input and wisdom; I am “Hungry” and needing as much information and insight that I can get; and I am “Desperate” or else, if I knew what to do, I would not be bothering my mentor.I am a PHD… And, I come with a note pad and write down what they are saying. In this way I can remember their points and the wisdom they shared (a digital recording would do the same). It also shows them that I am taking their input seriously.
So, as we all approach another year to learn and to grow here are my suggestions:
1> Find a mentor or two who can help to guide and direct you in the coming year
2> Set out the areas that you want to grow in and then ask for their help in those areas
3> Plan to meet with or talk to them on a “regular” basis (whatever their schedule allows)
4> Come to your meetings with questions to ask and listen to their answers (taking notes)
5> Always enter into your conversations with your mentors PHD – Poor, Hungry, and Desperate.
The next blog will be published and sent out on the 31st of December as I will be working with a writing project next week as well as having some extra family time…
Today’s culture is called postmodernism – often shortened to “pomo.” This change is thinking offers some unique opportunities for the Church in every nation of the world. As believers who are “going into all the world making disciples” as Jesus commanded we need to know and understand the shift in worldview that postmodernism has brought about. Let me just list a few of the changes…
In the Talmud – the Jewish commentaries of the Old Testament – there is a little story about Honie who was called the Circle Maker. In short, there is a drought in Israel during the first century B.C. E., and one guy becomes famous for praying for rain, almost like Elijah. Honie draws a circle in the sand, kneels down in to and says, “Sovereign Lord, I swear before your great name that I will not leave this circle until You have mercy upon your children.” What an unbelievable bold prayer. He was almost excommunicated by the Sanhedrin because they felt like it was too demanding, but you can’t argue with a miracle. It did rain upon the land of Israel. He was ultimately honored for the prayer that saved a generation. 
In the book of Genesis Jacob has a dream… In this dream he has an encounter with God Himself in which God makes a remarkable promise to him. Upon waking up, Jacob was understandably excited. He cried out, “‘Surely The Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!’ But he was afraid and said, ‘What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to Heaven!'” (Genesis 28:16-17 NLT).
I am the most unlikely candidate for a ministry to the nations. I really am. I am someone who likes to be home, who does not like to travel, prefers not to take a holiday as that means I need to go somewhere… I prefer to read and write much more than speak and minister. I feel no need to see other nations or meet more people. I certainly have no interest in being known or being in demand as a minister of the Gospel. I would be very happy pastoring a local church and loving the people that God gives to me to care for. But, that was not God’s plan – but it is the way He operates.
Paul the apostle writes, “Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand.” (2 Corinthians 10:15 NIV)
I believe we are facing a two-pronged problem in the Christian Church. The first is that we often make things much too complicated. The second prong is that we simplify everything and so end up with absolutely no substance at all – just a lot of fluff, smoke and mirrors. In either case the Christian faith and the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom suffers and God’s people perish for lcak of knowledge and a proper vision of The Lord and His Church.
When I travel overseas to minister there are a vast numbers of elements that make up a day’s ministry … meetings with pastors where I listen and advise, teaching God’s Word to public meetings, times of prayer with various leaders, fellowship over meals, prophesying over leaders, people, and organizations (and occasionally a nation)… Of course, people want to receive a prophetic word and so this aspect of the ministry can and often does occupy a great deal of my time.
A quote from an unknown source: “The mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it.” One of the greatest lessons that I’m learning from God is that rest is not a sin. Taking a break doesn’t mean you are lazy or that you are not valuable. Catching your breath now and then does not mean you are not carrying your load, or that you are less committed to your church, your company, or your calling. 
I am always amazed at God’s Word, our Bible. Every time I read it I learn something new. Not “learn” as in more information in my head; “learn” as in a heart revelation and thus transformation because of the new insights. An example: I am flying to Bishkek, Krygyzstan recently and I am reading and The Lord asked me, “When does your day begin?” When do you start your day?” Now, when The Lord asks me a question I know He is not looking for information – afterall, He is God and knows everything. He is asking so that I will learn (in my heart) a new truth and thus be transformed. My answer was, “Whenever I wake up!” Of course, at the time of asking I was mixing mornings and evenings up due to flying through 12 time zones on to the other side of Planet Earth. So, in reality I was not sleep and the morning and evenings were all mixed up. But, I digress.