wisdom Archives - Colin Dye https://colindye.com/tag/wisdom/ Fellow traveller on the journey of life Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:11:32 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://i0.wp.com/colindye.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cropped-favicon.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 wisdom Archives - Colin Dye https://colindye.com/tag/wisdom/ 32 32 168666140 WHY PASTORS SHOULD NEVER WALK ALONE – PART 5 https://colindye.com/2023/03/01/why-pastors-should-never-walk-alone-part-5/ Wed, 01 Mar 2023 17:30:00 +0000 https://colindye.com/?p=28993 In this series, I have been presenting the case against pastors seeing themselves in a “sole leadership” position. Not only is this a sub apostolic practice, it isolates pastors under a burden of responsibility no-one is equipped to bear.

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Correcting a Pastoral Model in the Contemporary Church

Walk with Teams

I knew “the buck stops here”, with me. But I had wonderfully gifted people around me to sound out my ideas, check my leadings from the Lord, and make up for my deficiencies in ministry and wisdom, as together, we looked for an agreed witness of the Spirit in our deliberations.

In this series, I have been presenting the case against pastors seeing themselves in a “sole leadership” position. Not only is this a sub apostolic practice, it isolates pastors under a burden of responsibility no-one is equipped to bear.

In New Testament times, the terms ‘pastor’, ‘elder’ and ‘overseer’ all referred to the same calling. ‘Pastor’ describes function, ‘elder’, qualification and ‘overseer’, role. Local churches were led by teams of acknowledged pastors/elders/overseers.

Fivefold ministry

Within this overall leadership category, the 5 ministry gifts of Ephesians 4:11 function: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Each of these specialise in different kinds of ministry. They are the gifts of Christ distributed to his body, the Church. He had them all and we need them all.  If any of these ministries operated translocally, they had no governing authority independent of the local eldership or leadership team. Translocal governorship does not appear to exist in the New Testament church.

Apostolic teams had a translocal role in establishing new churches and appointing elders, but their on-going role was not perceived as translocal eldership. For a while, Paul continued to oversee the churches he planted, but it seems he was not an on-going part of the local church governing body. That was the responsibility of the local eldership team, the pastors and overseers.

In the local church, there is always a plurality of eldership, but this does not rule out a ‘first among equals’ or a ‘presiding elder’, such as appears to be the case in the Jerusalem church, where James seems to have that role (Acts 15).

The power of teams

If this analysis is to a certain extent correct, then it shows that pastors should never walk alone. They function in teams with each duly appointed leader having a helpful and distinctive contribution to make. While there are many different styles, collegiate and co-operative leadership is essential.

Throughout my time in ministry, I have always worked in teams appreciating what others bring to the table. I never saw myself in monarchical leadership and was all too aware of the dangers it brings and its tendency towards becoming authoritarian, dictatorial and severely truncated. Who, apart from Jesus, can bring the full complement of ability and wisdom to the table? We need each other.

That is why I worked hard to break down the so-called clergy-laity divide. Those who led from a full-time position in professional or occupational life were equal to those whose sphere of ministry was centred around full time work in the church. That meant, though I often felt lonely, I was never actually alone. I knew “the buck stops here”, with me. But I had wonderfully gifted people around me to sound out my ideas, check my leadings from the Lord, and make up for my deficiencies in ministry and wisdom, as together, we looked for an agreed witness of the Spirit in our deliberations.

Celebrating our differences

Maturity in life, ministry and the workplace all came together in the gift-mix of our teams. We looked beyond ourselves and drew from the spiritual wisdom of the whole church. We recognised and celebrated our different gifts and areas of expertise. We discerned the full range of Christ’s gifts among us from the apostolically-minded to the didactically-gifted, from the prophetically-motivated to the pastorally-equipped and the evangelistically-enthused.  

For too long, churches and denominations have paid mere lip service to these New Testament principles. It is time for a bold and thorough-going reformation. We must move intentionally, albeit probably gradually, establishing these uniform principles and expressing them in the myriad patterns that can emerge from them. One size does not fit all, but we must nevertheless fully embrace the principles laid down by the Apostles.

What price failure?

The first casualty is the traditional-style pastor who inevitably functions below potential. Loneliness, discouragement and burn out often set in, sometimes compensated by increasing defensiveness, insecurity and self-referential promotion. The next casualty is the life and health of the church whose truncated leadership can never build the body of Christ correctly or bring it to full maturity. Finally, the casualty is our mission which a weak and ineffectual church can never fulfill.

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]]> 28993 Walking in Wisdom https://colindye.com/2013/06/19/walking-in-wisdom/ https://colindye.com/2013/06/19/walking-in-wisdom/#respond Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:00:25 +0000 http://www.colindye.com/?p=3006 Walking in wisdom, a sermon by Colin Dye

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Walking in wisdom, a sermon by Colin Dye
Walking in wisdom, a sermon by Colin Dye

Walking in wisdom, a sermon by Colin Dye

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]]> https://colindye.com/2013/06/19/walking-in-wisdom/feed/ 0 3006 The Wisdom of Men and the Wisdom of God https://colindye.com/2013/01/30/the-wisdom-of-men-and-the-wisdom-of-god/ https://colindye.com/2013/01/30/the-wisdom-of-men-and-the-wisdom-of-god/#respond Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:43:22 +0000 http://www.colindye.com/?p=2607 ‘For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.’ 1 Corinthians 1:25

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‘For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.’ 1 Corinthians 1:25
The Wisdom of Men and the Wisdom of God

The Wisdom of Men and the Wisdom of God

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]]> https://colindye.com/2013/01/30/the-wisdom-of-men-and-the-wisdom-of-god/feed/ 0 2607 The Tree of Wisdom https://colindye.com/2012/12/28/the-tree-of-wisdom-2/ https://colindye.com/2012/12/28/the-tree-of-wisdom-2/#respond Fri, 28 Dec 2012 09:00:39 +0000 http://www.colindye.com/?p=2440       If we are rooted in Christ, we will find in Him our security, our significance, our self-worth, therefore, if the root is good, so will be the tree and so will be the fruit. Download:?Resources

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If we are rooted in Christ, we will find in Him our security, our significance, our self-worth, therefore, if the root is good, so will be the tree and so will be the fruit. Download:?Resources
The Tree of Wisdom, a sermon by Colin Dye

The Tree of Wisdom, a sermon by Colin Dye

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]]> https://colindye.com/2012/12/28/the-tree-of-wisdom-2/feed/ 0 2440 Albert Einstein's "God Letter" to be auctioned online https://colindye.com/2012/10/03/albert-einsteins-god-letter-to-be-auctioned-online/ https://colindye.com/2012/10/03/albert-einsteins-god-letter-to-be-auctioned-online/#respond Wed, 03 Oct 2012 10:30:01 +0000 http://www.colindye.com/?p=2025 A letter handwritten by physicist Albert Einstein a year before his death, expressing his views on religion, will be sold on eBay this month with an opening bid of $3 million, an auction agency said on Tuesday. Albert Einstein in his “God Letter? wrote the following words:”?The word God is for me nothing more than […]

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]]> A letter handwritten by physicist Albert Einstein a year before his death, expressing his views on religion, will be sold on eBay this month with an opening bid of $3 million, an auction agency said on Tuesday. Albert Einstein in his “God Letter? wrote the following words:”?The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation, no matter how subtle, can (for me) change this?

 

Einstein was a genius, and yet to him the cross was foolishness…

 

But doesn’t the Bible say: “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”

 

Albert Einstein's 'God Letter' to be auctioned online

Albert Einstein’s ‘God Letter’ to be auctioned online


 
Known as the “God Letter,” the correspondence offers insights into the private thoughts about religion, God and tribalism of one of the world’s most brilliant minds.
“This letter, in my opinion, is really of historical and cultural significance as these are the personal and private thoughts of arguably the smartest man of the 20th century,” said Eric Gazin, the president of Auction Cause, a Los Angeles-based premier auction agency, which will handle the sale on eBay.
“The letter was written near the end of his life, after a lifetime of learning and thought,” he added.
Einstein wrote the letter in German on January 3, 1954, on Princeton University letterhead to philosopher Erik Gutkind after he read Gutkind’s book “Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt.”
“…The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation, no matter how subtle, can (for me) change this,” wrote the German-born scientist, who in 1921 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Albert Einstein's 'God Letter' to be auctioned online

Albert Einstein’s ‘God Letter’ to be auctioned online


The anonymous seller of the letter, which will be auctioned with the original envelope, stamp and postmark, purchased it from Bloomsbury Auctions in London in 2008 for $404,000.
source
 

Sad to see that the man that is the modern day icon of genius, like Da Vinci? is the prototype of the Renaissance genius can be so far way from the truth. But doesn’t the Bible say in 1 Corinthians 1:

 

18?For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19?For it is written:
?I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.?

 

20?Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21?For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22?For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23?but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks[b] foolishness, 24?but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25?Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

 

And so even today we see that atheism is still far from dead. But we also can now see atheism for what it truly is ? a religion in its own right. It is a religion founded neither on clear-thinking nor on science and is absolutely committed to perpetuating a view which is being increasingly discredited by science ? the belief that the natural world, the world we can see or touch, is all that exists, and that everything we can see and touch comes only from what we can see and touch. Matter/energy is the ultimate reality of the universe.

Congratulations! Atheists these days have more faith than most Christians I know!

 

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]]> https://colindye.com/2012/10/03/albert-einsteins-god-letter-to-be-auctioned-online/feed/ 0 2025 The Beginning of Wisdom https://colindye.com/2012/09/19/the-beginning-of-wisdom/ https://colindye.com/2012/09/19/the-beginning-of-wisdom/#respond Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:29:30 +0000 http://www.colindye.com/?p=1923 Wisdom truly begins with fearing the Lord. When you understand who God is ? that he is the creator and sovereign ruler of all things, then you be ready to respect him fully.     There can be no greater wisdom than lining up with the ultimate reality of the universe. Without this holy regard […]

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]]> Wisdom truly begins with fearing the Lord. When you understand who God is ? that he is the creator and sovereign ruler of all things, then you be ready to respect him fully.

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom, proverbs 9-10

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom, proverbs 9-10


 
 
There can be no greater wisdom than lining up with the ultimate reality of the universe. Without this holy regard to who God is and his claims over your life you will always tend in the direction of self and the mere opinions of this world. But the fear of the Lord is concerned with more than a mere moral code or philosophical principle. It has to do with personal and intimate knowledge of God who not only commands respect, but rewards all those who truly follow him with the fullness of his life.

Key Thought

Those who scoff at the fear of the Lord will miss out on everything he has but those who surrender to it will be rewarded with all that God is as the author and sustainer of life.

Prayer

Lord, I surrender to your holy fear in my life today. I want all that you are and all that you have for me. Please help me learn your wisdom and your way for me today.

Discipleship Steps

The centre of control and the fountain of wisdom do not lie within us, that is, in ourselves. Instead Jesus Christ, as the Lord of all, is the one who directs and controls. But this control does not operate independently of our will and our choices. If we recognise that we will begin to understand, not only the fear of the Lord, but also the wisdom that flows from it. Knowing that the Lord will not manipulate or dominate us, we yield to him freely and willingly.

Read: Proverbs 9:10-12

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]]> https://colindye.com/2012/09/19/the-beginning-of-wisdom/feed/ 0 1923 The Fear of the Lord is Clean https://colindye.com/2012/09/18/the-fear-of-the-lord-is-clean/ https://colindye.com/2012/09/18/the-fear-of-the-lord-is-clean/#respond Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:59:01 +0000 http://www.colindye.com/?p=1905 Big debates often rage about the relationship between the fear of the Lord and New Testament believers.   We are told that the concept belongs only to Old Testament times when the people did not know the intimacy and love made available to us in Christ. But this is not the case. Although we do […]

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]]> Big debates often rage about the relationship between the fear of the Lord and New Testament believers.

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom


 
We are told that the concept belongs only to Old Testament times when the people did not know the intimacy and love made available to us in Christ. But this is not the case. Although we do have a greater appreciation of God?s love as Jesus has revealed it to us, this should intensify our fear of the Lord and not diminish it. Our verse today shows that because we do have these great promises of our heavenly Father?s love and acceptance we should all the more cleanse ourselves from the things that displease the Lord and have a holy regard for him in every detail of our lives.

Key Thought

The fear of the Lord will lead you to cleanse your life from all that displeases him. The greater the sense of intimacy you have with the Lord, the greater will be your intolerance of sin in your life.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you that you are my Father and that you hold me close to you. Help me to turn away from the things that offend you and that keep me from enjoying closeness with you.

Discipleship Steps

The fear of the Lord extends to every area of your life ? private as well as public. Many times we will behave one way when others are watching us but another way entirely when we are alone or when we think no-one is watching. That is not the fear of the Lord which calls for consistency in all things. God?s eyes are on us all the time and if we disregard this fact, then we show we are more afraid of being embarrassed before men than are of offending the Lord.

Read: 2 Corinthians 7:1

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]]> https://colindye.com/2012/09/18/the-fear-of-the-lord-is-clean/feed/ 0 1905 Wise for Salvation https://colindye.com/2012/07/18/wise-for-salvation/ https://colindye.com/2012/07/18/wise-for-salvation/#respond Wed, 18 Jul 2012 11:51:52 +0000 http://www.colindye.com/?p=1711 And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.?All Scripture?is?given by inspiration of God, and?is?profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,?that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.?2 […]

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]]> And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.?All Scripture?is?given by inspiration of God, and?is?profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,?that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.?2 Timothy 3:15-17

 

And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.


 
The Scriptures give us the real wisdom we need. Above all, they show us how to be saved and how to live our lives until the end when we shall be with Christ forever. The divine capacity of the Scriptures lies in their divine origin. They are the product of divine breath, that is, God?s very Word. They are ?God-breathed? making them not only infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and belief but also making them useful and practically relevant in all matters of life and living. The Word of God is complete, instructing us, convicting us, correcting us and leading us into the patterns of righteousness.

Key Thought

God?s Word is sure and infallible carrying the very revelation of God to us. This revelation not only shows us how to get saved and be ready for heaven, but it also reveals how to live our lives on the earth to the honour and glory of God.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for the sure word of the Lord I have in my Bible. Help me to understand it and follow it all the days of my life. Help me to receive the correction and direction I need for today.

Discipleship Steps

The Bible is God?s manual for life and living. It will thoroughly equip you for your calling in life to live for God and to influence others to do the same. This means you take God?s Word every day for your instruction ? what God?s standard is, your reproof ? where you are going wrong, your correction ? how to put it right, and for your training ? how to develop a godly lifestyle. Learn to come to the Bible looking for these things day by day.

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]]> https://colindye.com/2012/07/18/wise-for-salvation/feed/ 0 1711 Leaning on the Wisdom of the LORD https://colindye.com/2012/07/13/leaning-on-the-wisdom-of-the-lord/ https://colindye.com/2012/07/13/leaning-on-the-wisdom-of-the-lord/#respond Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:50:32 +0000 http://www.colindye.com/?p=1705 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,?And lean not on your own understanding;?In all your ways acknowledge Him,?And He shall direct your paths.?Proverbs 3:5-6?     Today we see three principles of guidance. If we follow these steps God?s guidance will always be clear. We may not fully understand God?s leading, but we will […]

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]]> Trust in the Lord with all your heart,?And lean not on your own understanding;?In all your ways acknowledge Him,?And He shall direct your paths.?Proverbs 3:5-6?

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord


 
Today we see three principles of guidance. If we follow these steps God?s guidance will always be clear. We may not fully understand God?s leading, but we will always be clear on the direction we should be taking. Proverbs tells us first of all to trust the LORD with all our heart. Without this we cannot hope to hear God clearly, and if we do we probably will not be willing to listen to him anyway. Then, we must be willing to lay aside our own opinions and understanding in favour of God?s Word to us. Finally, we must be willing to obey what he says to us. These three things will bring God?s clear guidance.
 

Key Thought

 
Trusting God and his ability to guide you is essential. You must learn to reject all human or worldly-wise advice that goes against God?s clear leading in your life. Even if you don?t fully understand why God is taking you in a certain direction, you can be sure his way is best.
 

Prayer

 
Please help me, Lord, to hear your voice in the midst of so many other voices clamouring for my attention. I choose not to listen to the word of man or rely on my own understanding. Instead I put my trust in you and in your Word.
 

Discipleship Steps

 
Your natural inclination in situations of stress, confusion or challenge could well be to resort to your own wisdom or to rely on some human understanding of what you should do. But if you are determined to follow the Lord, you will wait patiently for the Lord?s way forward and rely solely on his direction for your life. In the end you will be glad that you didn?t rush ahead in your own strength.

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]]> https://colindye.com/2012/07/13/leaning-on-the-wisdom-of-the-lord/feed/ 0 1705 Blessing for the Righteous https://colindye.com/2012/06/27/blessing-for-the-righteous/ https://colindye.com/2012/06/27/blessing-for-the-righteous/#respond Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:47:31 +0000 http://www.colindye.com/?p=1665 The person of wisdom and understanding walks in the way of the Lord and lives under the blessing of God.     The direction of your life is set by your speech and it brings you into the place of expectation that God will grant you your desires for protection, preservation, long life, abundant provision, […]

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]]> The person of wisdom and understanding walks in the way of the Lord and lives under the blessing of God.

 

Lord thank you for your blessing that makes rich and for the joy that removes all sorrow.

Lord thank you for your blessing that makes rich and for the joy that removes all sorrow.


 
The direction of your life is set by your speech and it brings you into the place of expectation that God will grant you your desires for protection, preservation, long life, abundant provision, and the removal of sorrow from your life. The wicked may enjoy some of these things but God?s blessing is for reserved for the righteous. As a person who believes in Christ, you are righteous by faith and as you walk in faithfulness you also live the life of righteousness to honour His name.

Key Thought

There is a fundamental difference between the righteous and the wicked. It has to do with orientation of life ? either towards God or away from Him. And this difference is also manifest in the blessings that come to those who follow the Lord ? He blesses you and removes all sorrow from you.

Prayer

Lord, I set the course of my life in the direction of righteousness and I choose to live under your favour. Thank you for your blessing that makes rich and for the joy that removes all sorrow.

Discipleship Steps

Quiet confidence in God comes with a godly lifestyle. To walk in righteousness means you live your life as an open book before the Lord. You seek to line up your life according to His standards in thought, word and deed. This is not oppressive because God has placed His righteousness in our hearts and promises the rewards of righteousness ? His blessing in every area of life. Learn to life in this expectation, knowing that it is all of God?s grace and goodness.

Read: Proverbs 10:19-25

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]]> https://colindye.com/2012/06/27/blessing-for-the-righteous/feed/ 0 1665