The Last Days, Beginning of Wisdom

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The Last Days, Beginning of Wisdom
All will be revealed, nothing hidden!
By the Watchman Dana G Smith
Keywords: Luke, Yeshua, Jesus, wisdom, gospel, Word of God, God, watch
Words: 3139

In Luke chapter twelve the popularity of Yeshua was spread everywhere. People gathered around him, scripture says “an innumerable multitude of people”, so much so they “trod one upon another”. Now that is a popular ministry, or it would be viewed as such today. It was at this time that the Lord began to speak to the disciples, in the midst of the crowd, saying “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

The Beginning of Wisdom: Hypocrisy

The religious establishment of Yeshua’s day had a tough time with this voice declaring the oracles of God. They even sought to silence him, and make arrangements to put him to death. In the midst of all this that the Lord brought, he brought the “truth”, and a new “light” shone on the “path of God”. It was this new teaching that brought so many to hear him, along with signs and wonders. But in fact, the Lord said he did not come to destroy any of the law, but to fulfill it. This is what he did. His teachings brought fulfillment and depth to much of the light given in the Torah and rest of the Old Testament books. He took a stance against the ‘hypocrisy’ of the scribes and pharisees. For they put burdens on the people that they did not even follow. Over the many years since the last of the prophets and the temple in Israel before it was destroyed, those who handled the Torah and law had added many traditions to it. In fact the Lord said, “you have made the Word of God of none effect.”

Chapter twelve of Luke’s gospel is fulled with the Lord bringing home to this multitude what they needed to be doing! It was a moment for the Savior to present real ‘light’ in the midst of such religious ‘hypocrisy’. The one thing the Lord continued in his ‘hypocrisy’ teaching is that “nothing would be covered, that shall not be revealed, neither hid, that shall not be known.” Further he said that “whatever you have spoken in darkness will be heard in the light, and that which was spoken in the ear in closets would be proclaimed upon the housetops.” [Lk 12:2-3]

He was that ‘light’ as was the Father whom sent him. In the light of the truth, all such religious hypocrisy, lies, secrets, and wickedness would be revealed. Darkness loves to hide! People who keep secrets, do so in the dark, but the ‘light’ brings it out and the deeds of men are revealed for all to behold. In the end, Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they did not recognize him. He told of judgment upon the people, religious system, and even told his disciples that the beautiful temple that they held in high regard would be torn down, again. Just as the very first and ultimate temple the Solomon built was torn down and destroyed, so too would this one. The religious establishment had missed the mark. The Truth was here, his life was a contrast against the lies of darkness that the religious establishment had pushed upon the people. His light revealed real salvation and deliverance! The way revealed for those who were hungry for righteousness and God. This Way, Truth, and Life, was in the person of Jesus Christ. His motivation was Love, his message was Love, and he brought that Love of the Father to all who would accept it!

The Beginning of Wisdom: Fear God

But in the midst of all this, he spoke directly to disciples warning them and teaching them of kingdom truths that cannot be altered. After warning of ‘hypocrisy’, he flatly told them to “be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.” In addition, Jesus spoke these words “Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell, yea I say unto, fear him.”[Lk 12:4-5] The bible tells us wisdom or the beginning of wisdom is the “fear of the Lord.” A fear, reverence, and understanding that there is a God, he made us, and it is to him we must live. This fear, therefore is a teacher and a coach to us, bringing our lives into line with this God. Now fear cannot save us, but it can prepare our hearts to receive of God. In this case, the Savior Jesus Christ, following him in faith, obedience, and keeping his testimony in our lives! By doing this, the fear of the Lord becomes the beginning of wisdom and we repent, and follow Gods ways, thus learning more wisdom in the path God has directed us to walk. The wicked, though, do not learn this. They are those who in the worlds wisdom try to find God, a higher power, or their own God hood. All of which is in vain. But the fact remains, “the world by wisdom does not know God, neither can they know him, for he is spiritually discerned.” This spiritual discernment is through Gods Spirit. There is no other way. Many today are spiritually enlightened in the ‘new age’. This is an enlightenment of demons and dark powers who appear as ‘light’.

The Beginning of Wisdom: God’s Love and Provision through his Word!

There are many though who use that ‘fear of God’ phrase and take it into areas God never meant it to go. The fact was, Yeshua came for one reason. That one reason is the ‘love of the truth’. The Eternal truth was, is, and always will be this “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to be the savior of the World.” For this reason, in the last days, the world will reject this teaching and truth, because of it, “God will send a delusion, so they will believe a lie.” [see 2 Thessalonians 2]

It is in understanding this “love of the truth” that people need to grasp. For without knowing that this God is ‘full of mercy’, ‘full of Grace’, and loves ‘repentance’, man is left with a warped view of this. For our God and Father through our Savior Jesus Christ and the ‘blood of the covenant’ being provided, does willingly forgive all those who do repent. This is a God who will guide us, take care us, correct us, teach us, and send judgment upon the world. He is no respecter of persons, though, so we need to take care of our end of the duty. This is to seek God, keep his Word, believe on his Son, and walk in obedience to that Word. Why walk in obedience to his Word? Because God has declared this “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” As we walk in what Christ has declared to us, we keep the Word of God. As we keep this Word, we fulfill this scripture in our lives, simply that we as believers live not by man, not by money, not by the USA, not by others, but only by “every word of God.” We are in those times that God will hold us accountable to that. God expects us to walk in obedience to his Word, period.

Luke 4:4
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

To this large crowd, Jesus spoke directly to these issues. He wanted them to know His Father was a God of provision and love, not only judgment. This God loved them so much the “very hairs of your head are all numbered.”[Lk 12: 6-7] In plain English, God will not forget you! There may be times when you think this, but this is the enemy of your soul and your flesh. God teaches us, but he will never forsake us if we ‘seek him with all our heart, mind, and soul.’ It is in this context of teaching that our Lord makes, he speaks directly of provision and God watching over us. It is here he says “seek first the Kingdom of God and these things shall be added unto you.” [Lk 12:31]

Beginning of Wisdom: Lay up Treasure towards God

Jesus spoke this as he described the world and its wisdom of taking care of number one. This is the worlds wisdom. The world by wisdom does not understand God and this is evident by our Lords teaching. Many times we in the church forget this as well, getting caught up as the world is caught up. They seek after what to wear, what to eat, what to drink, where to work, how much money, having savings, and providing this nice nest egg for myself and my family. But the wisdom of God says the opposite. We are not to be covetous, but to avoid it [Lk 12:13-15], laying up treasure towards God [Lk 12:33-34] by selling what you have and giving to the poor, needy, i.e. those who cannot pay you back. God wants to give us the kingdom Jesus says. It is true that many times we worry, don’t give as we should, and even spend time worrying about life itself. How to pay bills, live, the kids, car payments, house payments, etc. All this is the American and modern life in many countries today. But the truth is, this is a hindrance. It captures us, takes us hostage, and the ransom is becoming worldly. Once we are in this, it is hard to get out of it.

Simply put, we are to take no thought for our own lives. We are strangers and pilgrims on this earth. But taking no thought for our life doesn’t mean God doesn’t care or will not take care of us. It is a concept we must grasp. We are more important that the birds, animals, and lilies of the fields, God takes care of them! He will take care of us, we are more valuable than they! [Lk 12:21-34] Many times though we want God to take care of us as we think he ought too! We have levels of this. We have certain bills, houses, lands, and cars and we say to this God, “God if your going to take care of me, this is the deal.” Well this doesn’t work! We are his servants, he is not ours! We are his disciples who are to take up our cross to follow him. He is not our Sugar daddy, providing riches to enjoy our carnality and lusts by! But this has been the message of many evangelists, pastors, and churches the last 40 years!

Beginning of Wisdom: Confessing God and Doing Our Work until he comes!

The top priority of any follower is to believe. This is the work of God, “that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” [Jn 6:28-29] This is an active belief in Him, Jesus Christ! It moves us into the realm of our Father and God to do his will. When discussing the work of God, there are many aspects, but Jesus here in Luke 12, touches on certain subjects that form a foundation for other teachings. Our Lord presented these teachings before a crowd that was pressing in and Jesus moved quickly to this, “whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” [Lk 12:8-9] Revelation 12:11 says it this way, “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

The pharisees hated this man whom people followed, they saw him as trouble and they could not stop his miracles or teachings. The one whom many called the Messiach, Yeshua, had certainly stirred the religious establishment. It was this climate that Jesus told them flatly that they must confess him before men. Today in America we have enjoyed ‘religious freedom’ and to do this means no trouble. But for many in many hostile nations, the Word of God we call the bible, the name of Jesus Christ or Yeshua Massiach, and the faith we follow means tribulation and many times death. For many, to believe in the same God and Son as we do, costs much. For us, however, what has it really cost us? Has it cost you blood? Has it cost your life? Have you been spat upon, put in jail, or beaten for his name?

It is true that if something comes easy, many times it is not appreciated as it should be. Even freedoms and the many things that have made America what it is seem to have come easy for this generation. We have always had plenty to eat, drink, and able to believe what we wanted. Christians have been well fed, lived in luxury for the most part, and not even seen a shred of persecution. As such, ‘many are weak among us’, in the faith. We are told here by the Lord, “let your loins be girded about and your lights burning.” We are to be like “men that wait for their Lord”, so when he comes and knocks, we “may open unto him immediately.” [Lk 12:35-36] Here it is interesting to note that Jesus spoke to the Lukewarm Laodacian church that he “stands at the door and knocks”. The cold, lukewarm church who is rich and in need of nothing, or so they think, are warned of ‘being spewed out of his mouth.’ So this warning given by Jesus many centuries ago to this large crowd is applicable to us today. We must have our loins ready, girded about, as if prepared to work at any moment, as if prepared to go with him when he comes. We must have our lights burning. We must open the door immediately to him.

Beginning of Wisdom: Watching through the 2nd or 3rd Watch

Many may think they will not be able to do the work of the Lord up till the time he comes. I know the Lord says, “night cometh when no man can work.” That, though does not apply to us as yet. I personally believe, which is merited out by the scripture here that the Lord expects us to be ‘so doing’, that is, working for him, as a servant [Lk 12:37-38;42-48] until he comes. He calls that one who does so a “faithful and wise steward” in verse 42 and a “blessed servant” in verse 43. These two verses make it clear that the Lord is telling us to keep our lights burning, our confession of him going forth, and to be laying up treasures in heaven, doing the work of God until he comes to get us!

wars and rumor of wars

What this means is that as the world is shaken, in turmoil, facing wars, plagues, pestilence, and more, the ‘children of our God and the disciples of his son Jesus Christ our Savior, will be busy for him.’ This tells me that we can expect our God to take care of us, even unto death, if that is to come! But the foremost thing here is, we are not expected to ‘give up’, ‘lose faith’, ‘quit’, ‘go hide in a cave until it is all over with’, or ‘stop watching’. We are to be his ‘stewards’, ‘servants’, ‘disciples’, and ‘faithful ones’ who walk as the light of God in this earth. We are not to be carnal, worldly, and be prepared to do what it takes for the furthering of his kingdom!

This as well takes patience. For we are to be prepared to watch through the first watch, second watch, even unto the third, and even the fourth watch of the night for our LORD! He will come when we least expect him. If we say in our hearts “my Lord delays his coming” and return to our former ways and life, then be sure trouble will find us. For that servant who “knew the Lords will” and “prepared not himself”, nor “did according to his will”, will face a portion with the unbelievers. It is here we see that the servant says, “their heart.”[Lk 12:45-48] It always a heart issue and here let it be known that we must guard our hearts and let not unbelief enter in to create a wicked heart from which we do not return.

Beginning of Wisdom: Fire and Divisions

Jesus said in Luke 12 and verse fifty, that he had a “baptism to be baptized with” and he was pushed, pointed, pulled, and determined to accomplish that. The baptism would be the death on the cross, the burial, and finally resurrection. With that would come the final chapter to put ‘death and hell’ in its place, and to ‘redeem’ mankind from the lost state they were in. This would be known as the ‘Gospel of Jesus Christ’. It is that which Jesus said would in fact bring ‘fire’ on the earth. First on the group in the upper room, baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire, then their fire would ignite the world, which then would spread to the ends of the earth. Finally, ending at his coming when this Fire would have spread to every corner, nation, and tribe on earth.

It is that Fire, that will bring divisions. It is that fire that will divide households who do not believe. It is that fire that will bring variance between people. It is that fire, the uncompromised Gospel of Our God and his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Yeshua Ha Massiach, our Lord.

I am come to send fire on the earth-verse 49
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on the earth? Nay, but rather division-verse 51
There shall be five in one house divided-verse 52
Father divided against Son, son against father-verse 53
Mother against daughter, daughter against mother-verse 53
Mother in law against daughter in law, daughter in law against mother in law-verse 53

It is that Fire that will bring us headlong into conflict with the Son of Perdition who will make war against God, against heaven, against Israel herself, and against the Saints of God, redeemed through the ‘blood of the covenant’ by Jesus work on the cross. This is the endtime and our God has called us to action, faith, and patience. But all this is to be done in His power, His might, His presence, all through the Spirit of God in our lives. By faith and patience, with his presence we will meet all challenges and overcome!
Revelation 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

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