The first two manifestations of 1 Corinthians 12.

This article is part of a series. Click here for the archive.

“To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:7-10)

“In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3)

The introduction to this part of the series established a few background details about the manifestations and put them in the context of their surrounding chapters and verses. Bearing this in mind we will now look at the first two of the ‘gifts' listed in 1 Corinthians 12: ‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’.

It is important that we look at the two together as they invariably need each other and can be ineffective if they operate on their own. Although knowledge can appear to be good, it is of little use unless you also have wisdom to apply it in the right way – and vice versa. The one relies on the other to be truly effective.

As manifestations of the Spirit, they are given to whom - and when - and wherever the Spirit wills. They are not given to any one person permanently. Neither do they operate in the ways of the world; the world has its wise men as well as those who have amassed knowledge and they do have their place – but in affairs of the Spirit the Lord sees things differently. We are commissioned and sent, as Paul was, “to preach the gospel – not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Cor 1:17).

The Spiritual Nature of Knowledge and Wisdom

So what is this knowledge and wisdom that is mentioned here in 1 Corinthians 12? Proverbs 2 (the whole chapter) is an excellent help in understanding the true meaning of this. The writer starts by saying to his children that “if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding – indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding…then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (vv1-5).

He continues, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (v6); “for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones” (v7). “Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul” (vv9-10).

Knowledge is to know the facts; wisdom is to know what to do with them.

These insights continue throughout the rest of the chapter, describing how discretion and understanding will guard you and wisdom will save you from evil distractions so that you will keep to the paths of the righteous. True knowledge and wisdom come from knowing God, understanding his will by studying his word and seeking to stay close to him at all times.

Bestowed on Jesus

The prophetic words in the Old Testament speak of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear having been bestowed on Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit:

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord – and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. (Isaiah 11:1-5)

Knowledge, wisdom and understanding in the ways of God were the essence of Jesus’s ministry and the Holy Spirit ensures that these are available to his followers, albeit as manifestations rather than as actual gifts. “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives” (Col 1:9, emphasis added).

The Tribe of Issachar

In the time before the advent of Christ, an understanding of the ways of God usually came to individuals such as priests and prophets and this information was then passed on to the people – but there are also records of a whole tribe being gifted in this way.

We know that when the Lord turned Saul’s kingdom over to David at Hebron he received support in the form of fighting men from all the different tribes, except the Tribe of Issachar who sent men of wisdom and knowledge: “from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do – 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command” (1 Chron 12:32).

Today, followers of Christ all have the opportunity to have that close relationship with the Father and receive knowledge in order to bless others, and to help their communities and even their nations understand what is happening around them and to know the right steps to take.

To know God’s will is to have wisdom.

Back to Origins (or Translations!)

1 Corinthians 12:8 speaks of the gifts of wisdom and knowledge being given as ‘messages’ - the “message of wisdom” and the “message of knowledge”. The word being translated here as ‘message’ is the Greek word logos, which in the King James version is translated as 'word' and in the RSV as 'utterance'. Each translation gives the impression of something quite concise, often no more than a sentence or two. 'Utterance' can imply speaking forth generally, rather than to just one person.

Both gifts as described in this passage have a strong speaking element rather than a doing element, which the New Life version translates as just “the gift of teaching words of wisdom or what he has learned and knows”; The Living Bible as “the ability to give wise advice; someone else may be especially good at studying and teaching”; JB Phillips version as “One man’s gift by the Spirit is to speak with wisdom, another’s to speak with knowledge”. And The Message just has “wise counsel and clear understanding”.

Special Revelation

So we turn now to the expression of wisdom and the (closely associated) expression of knowledge. We are told “in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3), but the believer does not have a reservoir of wisdom and knowledge, from which he can draw at will. In these two gifts wisdom and knowledge are made available by special revelation in the needed moment through the believer, as the Spirit gives expression in his time and way.

The word 'revelation', which is used three times by Paul (1 Cor 14:6, 26 and 30), is probably used as a synonym for these two gifts of wisdom and knowledge: it is the Greek word apokalupsis, which literally means 'to take the covers off’ and this is the special function performed by these gifts. Paul says that he went up to Jerusalem “in response to a revelation” (Gal 2:2).

What About Manifestations Today?

We can understand the invaluable nature of spiritual knowledge and wisdom to ALL Christians as they grow to maturity and this comes with constant reading, study and understanding the word, alongside prayer. But is there something special about a message or word received as a spiritual manifestation by a selected few, as Paul intimates in his list here?

The desire to know all things, and especially to know the future, has always been with mankind, from the times of the oracles. Notoriously, gypsies have been reading crystals and palms for centuries, and the reading of horoscopes in newspapers is still sought after in a ‘secular’ world. Christians have often viewed these either as a bit of fun or as evil and coming from the wrong spirit.

If knowledge is to know the word of God, spiritual wisdom is to understand God’s will for service.

The idea of manifestations of the Holy Spirit became more generally accepted again among Christians following the birth of the Pentecostal movement last century, but words of knowledge have gained more prominence in the Charismatic movement.

John Wimber’s definition of knowledge was, reportedly: "This is the supernatural revelation of fact about a person or situation, which is not learned through the efforts of the natural mind, but is a fragment of knowledge freely given by God, disclosing the truth which the Spirit wishes to be made known concerning a particular person or situation".¹ One lesson we must learn from the Charismatic movement is that we need to lay a greater emphasis upon ‘distinguishing between the spirits’ that bring these words (we feel that this is doubly necessary with words of prophecy and we will look at this next time).

Another lesson we must learn from the Charismatic movement is who words of wisdom and knowledge are intended for. Whereas some Christians think that words of knowledge and wisdom are mainly for individuals (or for specific occasions) and are synonymous with personal prophecies or prophetic words, others feel they give an individual the power to proclaim the message or, as the Amplified Version says: “To one is given through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] the message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] the word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Spirit” (1 Cor 12:7-8).

It is important to remember that each of the gifts are intended for the good (or the ‘profit’, YLT) of the whole community.² So the question we need to ask is: are personal words of wisdom and knowledge truly biblical? If so, how do they benefit the whole community? Whatever decision you reach, all of them when exercised should manifest the Spirit’s power and presence.

Final Words…

God keeps before him in the storehouse of his mind all the facts of heaven and earth. He knows everything about every person. He knows every event, every reaction, every intention and every consequence – past, present and future. Therefore he can uncover any information we may need and he can reveal what should be done in any situation. It would be utter foolishness to ignore the potentiality of these gifts.

The manifestations of wisdom and knowledge reveal the love of the Lord for his people: they are audible and have visible consequences - unlike the fruits of the Spirit which are invisible graces. When Jesus turned water into wine John records, “He thus revealed his glory and his disciples put their faith in him” (John 2:11). These manifestations of the Spirit result in God's people seeing his glory and believing more confidently than ever. They also demonstrate to unbelievers that the God we worship is alive, interested and powerful.

References

1 Derived from this site.

2 The gift of the message of wisdom is that 'speaking by the Spirit of God' which manifests some part of God's total wisdom for the direction of the body of Christ; and the gift of the message of knowledge is that 'speaking by the Spirit of God' which manifests some part of God's total knowledge for the information of the body of Christ.

Clifford Denton unpacks God's vision for knowledge, understanding and wisdom.

"Education, education, education", said Tony Blair as he entered 10 Downing Street for the first time. It sounded good at first. Now, our new Prime Minister Theresa May has raised education to a high priority once more, with a fresh focus on grammar schools. With standards under scrutiny as each year passes, whether it be through Ofsted reports, or exam results, our attention is never far from how our children are being taught in school.

But how close are we to a biblical pattern for education? It is not so much the efficiency and funding of our national programmes that should be our priority, but the foundations on which we are raising the next generation.

The Jesuits have been credited with the maxim, "Give me a child for his first seven years and I'll give you the man", reflecting what everyone who wants to order society according to a certain world-view knows. If an education system is designed to conform to a certain philosophy or religion, then society can be changed in a generation – for good or bad.

If an education system can be conformed to a certain philosophy or religion, then society can be changed in a generation – for good or bad.

Back to our Roots

So what does the Bible say? That must be the prime focus for Christians.

First, the word education is not to be found. The biblical word is Torah. Yet even before the establishing of Torah through Moses, God's prime purpose for his people was shown – right back in the Garden of Eden. God created mankind to be in fellowship with him. Adam and Eve were given simple instructions to maintain that fellowship. The principles of Torah were given to them in basic form - they were told what not to do in order to maintain a close relationship with the Lord.

The Bible, in other places, describes this relationship as a walk with God. Through human weakness and a little input from the enemy, Adam and Eve could not maintain this walk and so the Fall occurred, followed by God's programme of recovery through covenant that is still going on today. Principles of biblical education, Torah, were made known through Moses so that the chosen people of God could live an ordered and blessed life in fellowship with him.

Torah: Principles and Purpose

The Hebrew word Torah refers to the teaching of God's people. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, summarised the way God's people should be taught: "stand before God for the people...teach them the statutes and the laws and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do" (Ex 18:19-20).

The walk with God, highlighted here, was recalled time and again throughout Israel's history. It was a walk that could (and did) falter through disobedience, and so its principles were reiterated at key moments. For example, Ezra affirmed the principles after his return to Jerusalem from Babylon:

Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Torah of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach the statutes and ordinances to Israel. (Ezra 7:10)

Micah also was inspired to champion the balance and purpose of Torah:

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8)

In considering what Christian education might look like, in contrast to what the world around us is establishing, we are wise to first look back to the Old Testament and consider how God intended his covenant people to walk safely with him.

Beware of dry legalism, however, in which Torah is reduced to a set of dos and don'ts, as if God desires only ritual observance. What he desires above all is relationship with us, as a father with a child, or a husband with a wife. The principles of Torah are for securing this walk, not replacing it.

Principles of biblical education, Torah, were made known through Moses so that the people of God could live a blessed life in fellowship with him.

Keeping on Track with God

The struggles of the Children of Israel to maintain a close walk with God demonstrate our need of principles to protect us along our way in life. As much as Adam and Eve were subject to the temptations of the evil one, so there are always ways in which evil is at work in the nations of the world to seduce God's people off track.

This principle is reflected in the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) and so is as valid for Christians as it was for Adam and Eve and for the Nation of Israel. The four injunctions of the letter written from the Council to new believers (Acts 15:28-29) were essential things to abstain from so that "if you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well."

So even though we live in days of the New Covenant where, according to the fulfilment of Jeremiah 31:33, Torah (God's educational programme) is put into the minds and written on the hearts of God's people, still there are warnings about being seduced away from a close walk with God.

Jesus Messiah the Goal

The ultimate goal of Torah (God's educational package) was to bring us to Messiah (Rom 10:4), like an escort taking a person to the place of his education (Gal 3:24). Jesus made it clear that he did not come to abolish Torah but to fulfil it (Matt 5:17-20), meaning that the goal of teaching within the Christian community is the interpretation of Torah by the Spirit of God, in the light of Jesus the Messiah, fulfilling the New Covenant announced first by Jeremiah (Jer 31).

This goal remains the same as in the days of the Old Covenant, though now it is enabled by the Spirit of God in the heart of every believer. Our teaching should encourage and establish this walk for all of Jesus' disciples. Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission, is Jesus' command that we do this - making disciples.

This walk is enabled through the Spirit of God and it is as much a spiritual battle today to gain and maintain it as it was for Adam and Eve and for the Children of Israel through the days of the Old Covenant. Our education programmes must have the objective of discipleship and growth to maturity in the Holy Spirit as their prime focus, to help others mature in their personal walk with God.

Summary So Far

In summary, from the time of Adam and Eve, God's plan has been to live in relationship with his own people. Since the time of Jesus, the invitation has gone out to the entire world for people to walk in this relationship. God desires this but also requires our complete commitment.

Torah is not to be reduced to a set of ritual dos and don'ts. Above all God desires relationship with us – the principles of Torah are for securing this, not replacing it.

Education God's Way: The Method

Whilst each disciple of Jesus has a personal walk and a promise of the Holy Spirit as our personal teacher, God has also appointed some to be teachers (Eph 4:11). We learn from Deuteronomy 6 that responsibility for Bible teaching is first through the example of parents. Biblical education is primarily to take place in the home – more so than in church!

Other Bible teaching is ordered around this, with the aim of raising up disciples of Jesus to personal responsibility and independence in their walk with God. The exhortation of God to the families of Israel (Deut 6:4-9) is still foundational to the teaching of our children today:

Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

The importance of diligence is emphasised here; the minute care that is to be taken to remember, and always be alert to opportunities to teach God's ways. This shows that it is easy to slip into the ways of the world around. We must always remember what God has done in the past, in order to have a straight path into the future.

The goal of Torah, God's educational package, was to bring us to Jesus Messiah.

Education God's Way: The Content

If discipleship is the goal, what then of the content of biblical education? The Book of Proverbs emphasises the three key elements of knowledge, understanding and wisdom. These are three distinct elements usually considered key in any education system.

However, James warned us about demonic counterfeits (James 3:15). There is a wisdom that does not come from God. This is the danger inherent in education systems that are not founded on the Bible and are motivated in other ways (which James would call earthly, sensual and demonic).

Knowledge: Only the Start

Much education in our schools today is knowledge-based and much of it ends there, leaving the application of this knowledge open and vulnerable to the spirit of the age. Our children can be trapped within a system perpetuated by unbiblical objectives that are self-serving and at times dangerous. Thus, knowledge of nuclear power can be put to good use providing heat and light to enhance or lives – or it can be used to make weapons to destroy the world. This is just one illustration.

Knowledge from a biblical perspective, however, is far deeper than factual knowledge. The Hebrew word for 'knowledge' is the same word that describes the relationship between a man and his wife. As we study this we discover that all three of the key elements of biblical education are spiritual in nature. A prayerful reading of the Book of Proverbs will confirm this. So, whether we are speaking of factual knowledge or relational knowledge of God, we are designed and intended to exercise our spiritual nature in its acquisition.

Understanding: Releasing the Potential of Knowledge

But what of understanding? I have been a teacher and educationalist for many years, but it has taken me until recently to get a better grasp of what this is. Many of us use the words knowledge and understanding interchangeably, thinking we have grasped their meaning, but I would suggest there are hidden depths here that we did not realise existed.

Hebrew, the foundational language of the Bible, is verb-orientated: application is always paramount. Knowledge leads to action. One becomes intimate with information and with facts and the natural tendency is to do something as a consequence, to apply knowledge into some form of action or end result.

This is understanding in action, putting together diverse pieces of information to bring about a creative consequence. There is potential in knowledge - understanding releases that potential. How important, therefore, that understanding be properly directed, since the potential of knowledge can be released in so many different ways!

All three key elements of biblical education – knowledge, understanding and wisdom - are spiritual in nature.

Wisdom

Biblical education must develop a Godly mindset, so that our understanding (and therefore our doing) has the right motives. This can only be accomplished through a prayerful walk with God, who alone can lead us to apply what we learn rightly. That is why James says that we should ask God for wisdom in faith, in confidence that God will give it liberally.

The wisdom of God is not only concerned with abstract and spiritual matters. It is also concerned with practical outworking for the ordering of our society. In all ways, practical and spiritual, the goal of education is to fulfil the two Great Commandments: to love God with all our being and our neighbour as ourselves. It is no small thing to teach one another to walk with God in this way and it is clear that education in our nation's schools is likely, in the world as it is, to fall far short of this.

In Conclusion

Returning to the introduction to this article: "Education, education, education" rightly directed is an excellent maxim, but wrongly directed is worldly, blind and potentially dangerous. Surely we are at a period in history when we should consider carefully what God's plan for the education of his people should be, especially our children.

"Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecc 12:12-13)

Paul Luckraft reviews three of CFI's handy teaching booklets, each approaching this important topic with a slightly different emphasis.

Praying for Israel: Practical Guidelines (various contributors, 18 pages, available from CFI for £2.50)

This short booklet has been compiled from a selection of articles by various contributors including Lance Lambert and Derek White. As the title suggests, it is mainly a series of tips and hints for those who already see the need to pray for Israel and who are committed to this.

The first section gives a series of bullet points to enable stronger praying regarding the Church and Israel. The aim is to uplift those in the Church who support Israel and teach Hebraic roots, and to pray for a change of heart for those who do not. Each point is backed up with a verse from Scripture.

The second section recognises that praying for Israel is a spiritual battle which requires intervention in the heavenly places. Some 'prayer weapons' are listed, as are some scriptures (mainly verses from the Psalms) to enable the prayer warrior to cry to God from the heart.

The third section concerns praying for Israel in the modern world today. We are encouraged to pray for truth, for those in authority and for the salvation of both Jews and Arabs. Reconciliation and protection are also key issues. We should also not forget those in Israel who are already believers in Jesus.

The final section provides guidelines for corporate prayer. This is the longest section and gives practical advice for leaders of prayer groups as well as for those who are new to intercessory prayer. These final few pages are full of wisdom and good sense, and round off the whole booklet in an excellent way.

For Zion's Sake: Praying for the Restoration of Israel (Carl Kinbar, 12 pages, available from CFI for £2)

This is the shortest of the three booklets but overflows with excellent information and advice. It is a basic prayer guide for those who have a heart for the Jewish people and who desire to see the complete fulfilment of God's purposes for them.

It opens with an outline of God's basic plan for Israel based on passages from Ezekiel, highlighting the three main aspects of the prophetic promise; namely their return to the land, their restoration to God and then the reign of Messiah. These serve as the foundation for intercessory prayer on their behalf. Kinbar is clear that Jews are "restored to relationship with God in exactly the same way non-Jews are saved, by the grace of God through faith" (pp 3-4). The barrier of sin must be removed and a spiritual cleansing take place. Only then can they walk in God's ways and fulfil their destiny as a nation.

The rest of the booklet contains seven specific areas of prayer that arise from the prophetic pattern and which are shaped by God's promises. One area is to pray for believers and congregations already in the land. Another is to pray for the attitude of the Church and that it would fulfil its God-given role of making Israel jealous. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is explained in two ways, external and internal, covering both protection against enemies outside the land and reconciliation between factions inside the land.

The overall conclusion is that one day "God will capture the heart of Israel and possess her as a people who worship and serve him fully" (p13). Those who pray "For Zion's sake" have a part in that restoration.

Intercession: Called to be Watchmen (Lance Lambert, 28 pages, available from CFI for £2)

This longer booklet is obviously a transcript of a talk given by Lance back in 1987. Nevertheless, the principles it contains remain the same even though the final section on certain specifics of the time is now outdated.

Lance's first point is that interest in Israel must lead to intercession for them, rather than obsession with them. He asserts that 'watch and pray' should be a key instruction for all who love Israel.

He warns that intercession is the deepest form of prayer. It is not a light or easy thing. He gives details from the biblical examples of Moses, Samuel and Daniel to back up this point. Anyone wanting to be a watchman needs to feel called to this. He or she doesn't need special education but does need vision, someone who sees the Lord and what he is doing, not so much with physical eyes but with the eyes of the heart. Lance explains that the "function of a watchman is to guard the interests of the king and of the city" (p9).

He must see not only what is coming from outside, but also what is happening inside the city. His job is not only to see enemies coming from afar but also look for betrayers within.

Lance goes on to explore the mystery of intercession, including why God requires it at all. He also helpfully outlines common misconceptions regarding intercession. With the help of real life stories that are both amusing and alarming, he explains the errors and pitfalls that he has come across in practice, and warns of the dangers of entering into this ministry without the leading of the Spirit.

He ends with the costs and rewards of being an intercessor. Intercession requires "your whole being, spirit, soul and body for twenty-four hours of every day of every week of every year" (p20). This might seem rather daunting, even off-putting, but it is as well to be aware that intercession is a constant burden and not for Christians of 'minimal maturity'.

Taken together these three booklets provide a comprehensive set of teaching on this important topic of praying for Israel.

There are many more teaching booklets available through CFI (Christian Friends of Israel) – just click here.

UK hi-tech company ARM Holdings has been sold to Japanese firm SoftBank - but should we care?

'STORM OVER JAPAN RAID ON WORLD CLASS UK TECH GIANT', ran the p1 headline in the Daily Mail.¹ The story described how, for £24bn, top UK microchip technology company ARM was to be sold to the Japanese firm SoftBank.

Hard Won, Easily Squandered

Whilst one Member of Parliament likened the deal to a football club flogging off its best players, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, claimed that the deal would turn "a great British company into a global phenomenon" (in fact, it already was a 'global phenomenon').

He was clearly anxious to cash in on what was promoted as the great advantages to the UK economy of new world-class deals resulting from the decision to pull out of the European Union. Shares inevitably soared sharply upwards as investors interested in making money licked their lips.

But this deal wasn't about selling abroad a quantity of finished products (e.g. ten million chips). It was about the one-time disposal of what is called 'intellectual property rights' held by ARM - the hard-won skills and know-how across a wide range of technical disciplines required to bring such products to market. The long-term worth of such know-how can amount to hundreds of millions of pounds over decades.

During the last few days a technically naïve political class - goaded on by the press - has, too late, begun to sense the importance of such a decision and, at the time of writing, efforts are being made to claw back the deal.

This deal wasn't about selling a quantity of finished products – it was the one-time disposal of hard-won skills and know-how.

Common Folly

Tragically, such deals are now commonplace in Great Britain. They go largely unreported, making news only in the financial press. They are commonplace because the nation is unaware of the value of the work done by skilled scientists and engineers collaborating closely, as in this case with Cambridge University, with bodies having universally acclaimed academic skills.

Industry in the UK is generally privately owned and thus able to act in its own interest. In the USA, in France and Germany, state oversight bodies are set up to ensure that technology essential for a nation's future wellbeing is protected, and to scrutinise such deals to permit or disallow them. But not in the UK.

Historic Precedent: Rolls-Royce Jet Engines

Careless disposal of such knowledge for short term financial or political gain began with the sale of a few Rolls-Royce jet engines, the brain child of Frank Whittle (later Sir Frank), to the Soviet Union just after the war. In 1946, Soviet jet-engine designers asked Russia's leader Josef Stalin to acquire proprietary technical information on Britain's jet engines needed to leapfrog the technically steep, expensive and lengthy learning curve associated with the huge, new technology challenges and so position itself into technical equality or superiority with the West.

The Russian Government approached Sir Stafford Cripps, President of the Board of Trade and a Cabinet Minister in the post-war Labour Government, who prior to that had been Ambassador to the Soviet Union. Soviet engineers visited England to negotiate for the rights to build the engine originally designed by Whittle and his small Power Jets company, which had built the first Allied jet engines under the most severe financial constraints. Whittle's engine technology had subsequently been taken over by Rolls-Royce for development and mass-production to power the very first Allied jet fighters, the UK's straight-winged Meteors and Vampires.

Careless deals disposing of knowledge for short term financial or political gain are now commonplace in Britain.

Agreement was reached, and a handful of engines were supplied. Russian engineers rapidly reverse-engineered the design to produce their own version. The pay-off occurred in the early 1950s, when American heavy bombers tasked with destroying North Korea's industrial infrastructure were attacked by a new Russian swept-wing, transonic fighter (the MiG-15) powered by the new engines. The West had nothing to touch it. The Americans lost aircrews and were very upset.

More Recently: Astra-Zeneca vs Pfizer

A host of innovative, high-tech technology, the UK's life-blood, has subsequently been sold off over the years to the benefit of company directors and investors.

One deal was remarkable because its directors refused to give way to would-be hostile take-overs. In 2014, pharmaceutical company Astra-Zeneca was approached by US firm Pfizer to accept an offer. Top-level UK Government officials, including Prime Minister David Cameron, cheered Pfizer from the side-lines. Their argument was that in a global marketplace it doesn't matter who owns what. The battle became prime-time 'must see' TV coverage of the Government's Select Committee in which the US company was described as an asset-stripper.

Astra's directors—among them Swedish chairman Leif Johansson and French chief executive Pascal Soriot, who could between them have made around £60m from the deal - steadfastly resisted four successive offers by Pfizer's Scottish-born chairman and chief executive Ian Read. Finally, after some five or six weeks in the glare of knowledgeable and intensive press and BBC commentary, Pfizer admitted defeat and said that it would not again attempt to take over Astra. The American offer, finally standing at an eye-watering £70bn, collapsed.

A Fool and His Money

The Bible has much to say in warning about such deals. Abraham grew immensely wealthy because he was a man of faith and recognised the source of his wealth. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 says that the true dispenser of wealth is God himself (1 Chronicles 29:12 says much the same thing).

Solomon (2 Chron 1:12) was promised wealth, riches and honour such as no other man before him had enjoyed and no other later one would have – because he had first chosen to seek the way of wisdom. The benefits of wisdom are extolled in the Book of Proverbs, which promises prosperity for all who seek her (Prov 3:2).

Precious assets are given by God for the good of the nation, not to satisfy the greed of a few individuals.

God's people are not to give away what he has given to them. Proverbs 5:15-16 gives us the picture of a man drinking water from his own well and not allowing his springs of water to overflow casually onto public squares. These water supplies, precious in a semi-tropical environment, were intended to bless the local community, not to be scattered around and lost.

Selling off the precious assets that God has given to Britain may satisfy the greed of individuals in the short-term, but its long-term effects are to reduce the wealth of the nation and to reduce national ability to help its citizens and bless others in less developed parts of the world. This is surely sinful in the eyes of God.

References

1 18 July 2016.

'The Way of Wisdom: Facing the issues of Life with the Wisdom of the Bible' by Patrick Whitworth (2013, HK Forwards Printing, 240 pages, available from Amazon for £9.99)

'The Way of Wisdom' stands out in Christian literature – not because Patrick Whitworth's writing is controversial, but because through it he sheds light on the lack of teaching currently available on this vital subject.

Whitworth has been Rector of All Saints Weston (Bath) for over 20 years, and for ten years was the rural dean of Bath. He is also canon of Bauchi diocese in Nigeria, a Prebend of Wells Cathedral and Chair of SOMA UK, an Anglican mission agency. He has written several books including the trilogy of 'Becoming Fully Human', 'Becoming a Spiritual Leader' and 'Becoming a Citizen of Heaven', as well as books about the challenges facing the Western Church ('The Word from the Throne', 'Prepare for Exile'). Many of these are used for study guides and courses.

Extensive Survey of Scripture

The Way of Wisdom works through less familiar portions of Scripture like Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs and Job, as well as the better-known territory of the Psalms and Proverbs. It also surveys the lives of individual Bible characters, drawing lessons from their examples.

A section is devoted to wise leadership, looking at the lives of David, Solomon, Joseph, Daniel, Esther and Nehemiah. Difficult questions about how wisdom works in times of suffering and apparent injustice are dealt with through the story of Job and the poor counsel provided him by his friends. Another delightful chapter is given to the connections between wisdom and love, particularly in the context of intimate love and the family, focusing on Song of Songs and Ruth. The author also devotes some space to a wider survey of Church history.

The Example of Jesus

Of course, no book on biblical wisdom would be complete without a study of the person of Jesus. Whitworth devotes the final 60 pages of 'The Way of Wisdom' to Jesus' life and teaching, discussing the wisdom found in the Parables and the Beatitudes, as well as Jesus' wise responses to characters like Nicodemus, Lazarus and the rich young ruler. Importantly, Whitworth demonstrates that Jesus' wisdom consisted in his understanding of his identity as God, his calling as Messiah and his role as suffering servant.

Though not always an easy read, grounding it as he does in real examples of fallible people and the perfect example of our loving Saviour, Whitworth brings an underappreciated and poorly understood topic down-to-earth. For study purposes, the book includes a 30-page study outline which applies the teaching with many searching questions.

Other Whitworth books available from via Amazon, and some from SPCK.

What is the 'fear of the Lord' and what connection does it have to the prophetic ministry? Edmund Heddle unpacks this important topic.

People in every age need to be reminded that the God revealed in the Bible is "a great and awesome God" (Deut 7:21; Neh 1:5; Dan 9:4). He is God of unlimited power and inexplicable mystery; frightening to face and of 'awful purity'. He holds the keys of life and death, and exercises absolute authority over the destiny and life-span of every one of us.

No wonder John fell at his feet as dead when he was confronted by such majesty (Rev 1:17-18). While it is true that the Bible reveals God as a loving father who cares for his children, he has a name which must be hallowed (Matt 6:9).

The Fear of God

It is part of the prophet's task to tell God's people that they must respond to such a God with respect and reverence; in Bible language they must 'fear God'. But what does this mean? As in English so in both Hebrew and Greek the same word for 'fear' has to express widely different emotions.

At one end of the scale it expresses worship and is often qualified by such adjectives as godly, reverential and filial (the fear appropriate to describe a son's respect for and obedience to his father). At the other end it creates an impression of despair, and is qualified by words like servile, craven, or morbid.

The fear spoken of by the prophets and other writers of the Bible is of the former type. It is a reverence for God's holy character and a dread of offending him and his command¬ments which expresses itself in watchfulness, obedience and constant prayer. This is the fear which the prophets seek to encourage in God's people.

The fear of the Lord is a reverence for God's holy character and a dread of offending him, expressing itself in watchfulness, obedience and constant prayer.

Godly Fear is a Divine Gift

On the day Jerusalem was surrounded by an invading army, Jeremiah bought a piece of land as a testimony to his belief that it would one day come back into the possession of God's people (Jer 32:1-41). Following the prophet's obedience, the Lord made this promise: "I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them" (Jer 32:39).

Godly fear that is a gift from God results in all kinds of goodness being received, and should prompt us to use the prayer in Psalm 86:11 "Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name".

Two Kinds of Fear Contrasted

Isaiah distinguishes two kinds of fear as he warns God's people at a time of national anxiety: "Do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread" (Is 8:12-13).

The nation was scared at the approach and power of the enemy, but the prophet told the Lord's people they were not to share that fear. Instead, he tells them to fear the Lord Almighty, who would himself be their sanctuary. One fear is full of anxiety and dread, whereas the other is trustful, peaceful and certain of deliverance. In the words of a well-known hymn, "Fear him, ye saints, and you will then have nothing else to fear".

Worldly fear involves anxiety and dread, but the right fear of God is trustful, peaceful and certain of deliverance.

Learning to Fear from the Scriptures

Each king of Israel was instructed, upon his accession to the throne, "to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law...He is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God" (Deut 17:18-19). The sacred writings can help us to gain a right understanding of the God we worship and of the reverence which must ever be at the heart of that worship.

In his last words David declares what a blessing it is when rulers do rule in the fear of God. "The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me, 'When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning'" (2 Sam 23:3-4).

All Israel, without exception, were required to attend the public reading of the law at the end of every seven¬ year period so that the ordinary people, like their king, might adopt a similar attitude to God:

At the end of every seven years...when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God...you shall read this law before them in their hearing. Assemble the people men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns, so that they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God...Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God. (Deut 31:10-13)

When today's children seem to lack any sense of respect for God and his name, is it because they do not hear what God's law has to say nor understand the disastrous penalties of failing to observe it?

When today's children seem to lack any sense of respect for God and his name, is it because they do not hear what God's law has to say nor understand the disastrous penalties of failing to observe it?

In the time of Samuel, when he reproved the people for wanting to have a king, God sent thunder and rain with the result that all the people stood in awe of the Lord (1 Sam 12:17-18). The New Testament also provides us with examples in which mighty works of Jesus caused the people of his time to manifest awe and fear. When Jesus told a paralysed man to get up, take up his mat and go home, the crowd were amazed. "They were filled with awe" (Luke 5:24-26). When Jesus brought back to life the son of the widow of Nain the gospel sums up the reaction of the crowd thus: "They were all filled with awe and praised God" (Luke 7:16).

Similar things are still happening today, as the PWM Team discovered in Indonesia and China. In those countries God is revered and worshipped in a way that is often sadly absent in the West.

Fearing God is Qualification for Service

When Jehoshaphat king of Judah appointed judges in each of the fortified cities of his kingdom, he gave them instructions to judge each man carefully. His injunction reveals that it would be their fear of God that would save them from injustice, partiality and bribery (2 Chron 19:6-7).

In the early days of Israel's history Moses' father-in-law reproved him for overwork, and recommended that a number of assistants be appointed. His words reveal the essential qualification of office-holding to be the fear of God: "Select capable men from all the people - men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them" (Ex 18:21).

In the Old Testament, fear of the Lord was considered a key qualification for leadership.

When Nehemiah discovered that certain men were charging their fellow countrymen interest, he reproved them with these words: "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?" (Neh 5:9). Nehemiah went on to explain that former governors had levied heavy burdens on the people, but that his fear of God prevented him from doing as they had done. "Out of reverence for God I did not act like that" (Neh 5:15).

A Different Attitude to Others

The fear of God prevents our being thoughtless or unkind to the less fortunate. "Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God" (Lev 19:14). The fear of God will prompt us to respect our elders. "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly, and revere your God" (Lev 19:32).

In their purchase of land they were required to obey this instruction: "Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God" (Lev 25:43) and "Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God" (Lev 25:17).

Old Testament Prophets and the Fear of God

• Moses in a Psalm attributed to him asks God the question, "Which of us can fear you as he should?" (Ps 90:11, Living Bible).
• Through Jeremiah, God reproved the people for failing to fear him as they ought to have done: "'Should you not fear me?' declares the Lord. 'Should you not tremble in my presence?'" (Jer 5:22).
• Isaiah shows the tremendous blessings that are available, to which the fear of God is the key: "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure" (Is 33:6).
• Zephaniah speaks in God's name to Jerusalem saying, "Surely you will fear me and accept correction", but is saddened that "they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did" (Zeph 3:7).
• In contrast Haggai is able to report that the people of his time "obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet" and "feared the Lord" (Hagg 1:12).
• Malachi warns that judgment is near for those who persist in evil-doing and who "do not fear me" (Mal 3:5), but in contrast promises that "for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings" (Mal 4:2).

The Old Testament prophets ranging over many centuries agree that it is those who fear and reverence the Lord who will receive his blessings both in this life and in the glorious future to which they bear testimony.

The Old Testament prophets agree that it is those who fear and reverence the Lord who will receive his blessings, both in this life and in heaven.

People who Feared the Lord

Scripture contains the stories of a number of men who 'feared the Lord'. Obadiah, who hid a hundred of the Lord's prophets during a time of great persecution, is said to have "revered the Lord greatly" (1 Kings 18:3 RSV). Job "was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1). Hezekiah is referred to as one who feared the Lord and sought his favour (Jer 26:19). Nehemiah put his brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem "because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do" (Neh 7:2). The Lord himself commended Levi and said of him, "He revered me and stood in awe of my name" (Mal 2:5).

There are 'God-fearers' in the New Testament, but they were a special class of people, attending the synagogues and worshipping God but not accepting all the demands of the Jewish law, for example circumcision. Among these was the Roman centurion Cornelius, who became a Christian disciple as the result of Peter's ministry in Caesarea (Acts 10:1-2). The Messiah as foretold by Isaiah would receive the sevenfold blessing of the Spirit, the culminating clause of which states that "he will delight in the fear of the Lord" (Is 11:3).

God's Desire – a People Who Fear Him

"Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children for ever" (Deut 5:29). "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deut 10:12). This desire became gloriously possible after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. "The church...was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31).

One of the rare names of God in the Old Testament is the 'Fear of Isaac' (Gen 31:42). Could we substitute our name for that of Isaac and honestly claim that we at all times deeply reverence our God and tremble to grieve him, that we do fear him as the prophets of the Scripture say we should?

Can we honestly claim that we at all times deeply reverence our God and tremble to grieve him, that we do fear him as the prophets of the Scripture say we should?

First published in Prophecy Today, Vol 4 No 6, November/December 1988.

'Simply Good News: Why the Gospel is News and What Makes it Good', by NT Wright (SPCK, 2015, 144 pages, available from SPCK for £9.99)

This is an excellent title for an excellent book. Tom Wright's lucid explanation of the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ is well worth reading. Although there are depths of research and background behind the chapters, and quotations from eminent writers of the past, it is his own personal stories and memories as well as the illustrations he gives which enliven the writing.

The author explains why the gospel is 'news' and what makes it good. As such it should have an impact that will significantly change lives. Here is "something that has happened, because of which everything will now be different." (p3). He argues against the way that in some churches the gospel has become merely advice on how to be saved and go to heaven. In reality the Gospel is part of a longer story and larger context. It did not simply appear out of the blue. And only by knowing this back story can we understand why this announcement is very much good news.

The Gospel is not simply a ticket to heaven- it's part of a much longer, larger story. This story teaches us why it is very much Good News!"

The book takes us through the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul and the way that, as he preached the Good News to them, people believed and "power and wisdom" became real for them; Jesus became alive and present with them. As he worked through the scriptures he demonstrated how they all pointed to "King Jesus", and his power was different – it was love. There are excellent chapters on the death and resurrection of Jesus with clear explanations for anyone with unanswered questions.

Some chapters deal with the attitudes of well-known teachers, scientists, writers and leaders over the last few centuries and the effect they have had on people because of the new ideas they have put forward. Despite all of this, the real and lasting truth remains because "He is the God of the Good News".

There are powerful and thought-provoking chapters on heaven and the new earth, the love and justice of God (and what he's really like), plus a very encouraging last chapter with helpful hints on "Praying the Good News".

This is a book to be recommended for understanding, learning and growing in the Christian faith."