Challenging Our Wisdom

EarsToHear.net
He That Has Ears To Hear, Let Him Hear (Matthew 11:15-30)
Challenging both secular wisdom and religious doctrines. - Will our descendants know moral virtue?

Back to Kingdom Index
Last Updated Saturday November 22, 2008 05:12 PM -0500

Challenging Our Wisdom
Seven Challenges to our worldly wisdom

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Job 32:8-9

"Reason had overthrown faith, and had defeated the purpose of God." Charles S. Price

1. Who do you believe?
2. Is Jesus God?
3. "...the world by wisdom knew not God"
4. Can You Live The Sermon On The Mount?
5. "I never knew you"
6. "Promise?" & "Comforter?"
7. "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?"

...and continues with further challenges to Christians

Challenge 1

Who do you believe?

"A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working in his father's shop. He has no formal education. He owns no property of any kind. One day he puts down his tools and walks out of his father's shop. He starts preaching on street corners and in the nearby countryside. Walking from place to place preaching all the while even though he is in no way an ordained minister he never gets farther than an area perhaps 100 miles wide at the most. He does this for three years. Then he is arrested, tried and convicted. There is no court of appeal so he is executed at age 33 along with two common thieves. Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets his clothing -- the only possessions he has. His family cannot afford a burial place so he is interred in a borrowed tomb. End of story? No, this uneducated, property less young man who preached on street corners for only three years who left no written word has for 2000 years had a greater effect on the entire world than all the rulers, kings and emperors, all the conquerors, the generals and admirals, all the scholars, scientists and philosophers who ever lived -- all put together. How do we explain that? ...Unless he really was what he said he was." Ronald Reagan

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that you art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, You art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 16:13-17

Challenge 2

Is Jesus God?

What was the "light" on the first day? On the first day, God said "Let there be light."? The sun, moon, and stars were created on the fourth day, so what was the light of the first day? Do you know?
Who was the light? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lights every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." John 1:1-10
What is truth? John 18:38 Truth is sought by those who desire to know the truth. Some look for truth in their everyday experiences. Some search for the meaning of life and the "after life." True Christians believe what Jesus spoke: "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by me." John 14:7 "The kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21 Man can know God now and "know the deep things of God." 1 Corinthians 2
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you. Exodus 3:13-14
Prophecies: Here are but a few concerning Jesus and His time on earth. (Note: There are more Old testament prophecies concerning the second coming of Christ then of His first.)

Isaiah 53:12 - Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. - Matthew 27:38 - Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

Psalms 69:21 - They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. - Matthew 27:34 - They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

Psalms 22:18 - They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. - Matthew 27:35 - And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Psalms 22:14-17 - I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. - Luke 23:33-35 - And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

Isaiah 53:11 - He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. - Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Psalm 22:1 - My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? - Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Psalms 16:10 - For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. - Luke 14:46 - Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

See also The Fourth Man and Some of God's Hebrew Names and their meaning.

Next Challenge >>>