The Power of Wisdom and How To Get It

God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (1 Peter 1:3). As a child of God, you are an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17 (NIV)

If you are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ Jesus, you have an inheritance from God. People on earth who have great wealth and dynasties typically give a major inheritance to their heirs and also provide everything their heirs need to live good dignified lives. They tend to provide a large trust fund, financial security, health care, housing, living allowance, physical security, and a number of other entitlements to their heirs. Some even leave foundations with large endowments to enable their heirs to engage in charitable endeavours. And that is just from earthly parents who are severely limited!

The scripture we saw earlier in 1 Peter 1:3 tells us that God has given to us (His children) everything that pertains to life and godliness. From the Word of God, we also learn that we are seated in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So how do we access this inheritance? We access our inheritance through God and His Word. The scripture says in Acts 20 verse 32:

Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (NIV)

God really takes our being His heirs and co-heirs with Jesus seriously! So, if you are not born-again, you have not surrendered your life to Jesus and made Him the Lord of your life, then you should do this quickly because that is what it takes to become an heir of God and co-heir of Jesus. If you would like to do so, pray the Salvation Prayer out loud and mean it from your heart.

The Lord has given to His children wisdom as an inheritance. It should give every believer cause to rejoice to discover that wisdom is one of the possessions Jesus died to receive (Revelation 5:12).

saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”. Revelation 5: 12 (NKJV)

Wisdom is so vital to living. To create your world, you need wisdom because God Himself created the world through wisdom, and we are creators like God.

Jeremiah 10:12 (NIV)

But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

Proverbs 3:19 (NIV)

By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;

If God made the earth by wisdom, how then can a Christian achieve anything significant and make a mark on earth without wisdom? It is not possible. Let us explore a scripture that shows us that we create our desired world by wisdom.

Proverbs 24:3-4 (NIV)

3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; 4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

Children of God need to access wisdom and take possession of it. Thank God it is our heritage in Christ (Revelation 5:12).

Here is a breakdown of the power and benefits of wisdom. It will help you immensely if you read each scripture and meditate on it till you really grasp it.

1. You Reign by Wisdom

The Word of God in Proverbs 8:15 (NKJV) says:

By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.

Remember what the scripture says about children of God being kings and priests in Revelation 5:10 “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” (NKJV).

You reign on earth by wisdom. Having the wisdom of God is life-changing.

2. Wisdom is a Defense and It Preserves

From the scripture below we learn that wisdom preserves those who have it, and wisdom is a defense. It is dangerous to be defenseless in this world. The New International Version of the scripture says that as money is a shelter, so is wisdom too! This implies that wisdom does what money can do. It is imperative for every child of God to obtain wisdom to live by.

Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it. Ecclesiastes 7:12 (NIV)

For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. Ecclesiastes 7:12 (NKJV)

3. You Make Enduring Wealth and Riches By Wisdom

Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. Proverbs 8:18 (NKJV)

With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. Proverbs 8:18 (NIV)

To build wealth and riches that endure, you require the wisdom of God. We learn from Ecclesiastes 10:15 that wisdom leads to success, clarity, and efficiency.

It is through wisdom that you find out inventions and obtain creativity. See Proverbs 8:12 (KJV):

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

4. Wisdom Brings Honour and Glory

Proverbs 4:8 - 9 (KJV)

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

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Wisdom brings honour and glory. Honour means high respect and great esteem while glory refers to importance, splendour, honour, etc. However, a simple way to understand glory is that it is the opposite of shame. Therefore, wisdom overcomes shame, prevents shame, and keeps you in a state of high honour, esteem, and splendour.

5. Wisdom Enhances Family Life

From Proverbs 24:3 (NKJV) we learn that a house is built by wisdom.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;

Family relationships and marital relationships are enhanced through wisdom. Many struggles people have in their family life and marital relationships are because they lack the wisdom of God. If you just ask God for wisdom and begin to live by the wisdom you would find challenges in this area and other areas fading away.

How To Access and Gain Wisdom

i) Accept Jesus

Only heirs of God and co-heirs of Jesus have access to the inheritance God has released to His children. You come into the heritage of wisdom of God through salvation. When you accept Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of your life, you are accepting and receiving the wisdom of God because 1 Corinthians 1: 24 tells us that Jesus is the wisdom and power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:24 (NIV)

but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Jesus is the wisdom of God. When you have Jesus, you automatically have the wisdom of God. You still need to activate it, and we will see how as we proceed.

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you have the mind of Christ. There are testimonies of students who were average before they were saved, and after they were saved they “saw and understood” the promise of wisdom and excellence in the Bible (such the first chapters of James and Daniel) and they received it, activated it, and become geniuses by all standards.

As a believer, you can activate wisdom in your life and you can begin to invent, create, and innovate. You can develop disruptive technologies. It is all possible and within reach with the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV)

for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

The scripture in 1 Corinthians 2:16 is a major revelation in the school of wisdom. Christians should read it hundreds of times if necessary and meditate on it day and night till it becomes a revelation that takes hold in their spirit. When they get to that stage, something supernatural is activated in their brain and mind, and wisdom comes alive.

ii) Seek Wisdom Through Prayer

God has made provision for His children to ask specifically for wisdom and receive it. However, the condition is that they ask in faith.

James 1:5-7 (NIV)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

As a child of God, it is also your right and heritage to ask for divine direction.

Whatever God does is permanent (Eccl 3:14), so as you ask God to release wisdom to you, and He does so, you take possession of the wisdom that is your heritage in Christ.

iii) Apply Yourself To Study

As you receive divine wisdom, apply yourself to study. Become a learner

Ecclesiastes 1:13 (NIV)

I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!

Daniel was one of the wise men in Babylon who were found to be ten times better than all the other wise men (Daniel 1:18 – 20). Yet, Daniel still sought understanding and wisdom by studying and learning.

Daniel 9:2(NKJV)

in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

The Bible also tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15 to study to show ourselves approved, a workman that does not need to be ashamed. Who is the workman that does not need to be ashamed? A wise, knowledgeable, and competent workman does not need to be ashamed. When you study the Word of God intensively and study widely (in relevant areas through books and resources) you become wise and knowledgeable.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

What do the top people in their fields have in common? They study both the basics and new innovation in their fields intensively. From the top brain surgeons in the world to the top athletes, in interviews they keep saying they study.

If a believer wants to have wisdom and excel, having studied the Word intently, they should also study widely.

As a Christian you have the gift of wisdom (through salvation), so stir up the gift of wisdom.

2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV)

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

How do you stir up the gift of wisdom? You stir up the gift by thanking God for the gift of wisdom; anything you thank God for is multiplied to you (Mark 6: 41 – 44) and is perfected (Luke 17: 11 – 19).

You also stir up the gift of wisdom by using it. Find avenues to use the gift. Even if you feel your current job or business has become monotonous and you now operate on autopilot without the need for innovation; begin to create new inventions, businesses, solutions, ideas, systems, structures, Christian games, quizzes, and whatever requires wisdom and inventiveness. You will find that truly you have now taken possession of wisdom.

iv) Renew Your Mind

Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Simply put, do not leave your mind as it is, renew your mind daily. Take possession of wisdom by renewing your mind with the Word of God. Study the Word of God regularly and consistently.

There are many ways to study the Word of God. Some choose to study topically i.e. they choose a topic like healing, faith, or the light of God, and study up on that. Others choose to study chapter by chapter. When you aim to study the Word of God fully and understand the full counsel of God, it is advisable that you take the Bible and begin to study chapter by chapter.

Here is a Bible study system that works all the time. Study some of the Old Testament and some of the New Testament daily. For instance, if you intend to study seven chapters of scripture daily, study Genesis chapters 1 – 3, and Matthew chapters 1 – 4. The next day study Genesis chapters 4 – 6, and Matthew chapters 5 – 8. Keep going in that order till you have studied the whole Bible. You will find that you will finish the New Testament first, when you do so start from Matthew again while you continue with wherever you are in the Old Testament.

While studying the Word of God, ask God for revelation and understanding. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you the Word and show you what God wants you to know. Say “I plead the Blood of Jesus upon this Bible study session, and by the Blood of Jesus I gain access to revelation of the Word and the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of God”.

The Bible is not a history book or story book; rather it reveals the mind of God, the will of God, your inheritance in Christ, the mysteries of the kingdom of God, instructions for living, and the power of God. Studying the Word of God makes you wise. So approach the study of the Bible with all this in mind.

v) Fear God.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. When you fear God you will walk in wisdom. To fear God means to have a sense of awe and submission to God. To fear the Lord means to submit to Him totally and reverence Him fully.

Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

When you fear God, you will walk in the wisdom of God.

Prayer Points

1. Thank you Lord for making wisdom available to me; thank you Lord for giving me an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

2. O Lord, help me to incline my heart to your Word.

3. O Lord, according to your Word in Matthew 7: 7 – 11, I ask that you grant me wisdom because you said in James 1: 5 – 7 that I should ask in faith for wisdom and I will be given, so Lord please grant me wisdom.

About the Author

Edikan Uko is an entrepreneur, and management consultant focusing on strategic management and innovation. She is also a Bible teacher, speaker, Founder and President of Judah Global Intercessors, and editor of LoveFaithandMiracles.com

Twitter: @IAmEdikanUko

Email: edikan@lovefaithandmiracles.com