Understanding divine truth requires divine wisdom.
This is taught in a simple, childlike way by Jesus; ‘Ask, and you will receive.’
This was also taught by his forerunner, John the Baptist:
John 3:27. John answered, “A man can possess nothing unless
it has been given to him from heaven.”
He then adds later;
John 3:31,32. The One who comes from above is above all.
The one who is from the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaks.
The One who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard,
He testifies to that.
The Voice of the Bridegroom
In between these two statements we find a now familiar expression that has been used for discipleship training, stewardship, names of books and outreach ministries. This is the phrase ‘friend of the bridegroom’ and the extraction of that title from context clouds the real significance of the verse.
John 3:29. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom,
who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.
Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
The most important point of this statement is for the friend to hear the voice of the bridegroom. This point is brought into clear emphasis by Jesus in His Good Shepherd discourse in John 10. This is critical to receiving the wisdom from above, and is the focus of all devotions. Whether we are praying, singing psalms, studying the word, reading passages aloud or meditating in His presence, the ultimate goal remains consistent, to hear and recognize the voice of the good shepherd, the bridegroom, the Master.
The Fear of God
This relationship of the disciple to his master’s voice provides the correct understanding of
the ‘fear of God’. When one first begins to recognize the presence of the Lord and hear
The Voice, the experience can be a bit unnerving. However, the real fear of God is to
lose that contact. The gift of the Holy Spirit develops this relationship, and the proper definition of the fear of the Lord is to maintain a continual awareness of His presence.
Psalm 119:38. Establish Thy Word unto thy servant, who is devoted to Thy Fear.
Jesus explains this way;
John 15:4. abide in Me, and I will abide in you.
James 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Now we can properly relate the fear of God to wisdom.
John 8;23,24. Yeshua said, You are from below; I Am from above. You are of this world; I Am not of this world. Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. If you don’t believe that I Am, you will die in your sins.
John 8:28. So Yeshua said, When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I Am. I do nothing by Myself, but speak just what the Father has taught Me.
John 8:31,32. Then Yeshua said to the Judeans who had trusted Him, If you abide in My Word, then you are truly My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!
John 8:58. Jesus then said to them, Truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.
John 16:24. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Exodus 3:14. Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
This is taught in a simple, childlike way by Jesus; ‘Ask, and you will receive.’
This was also taught by his forerunner, John the Baptist:
John 3:27. John answered, “A man can possess nothing unless
it has been given to him from heaven.”
He then adds later;
John 3:31,32. The One who comes from above is above all.
The one who is from the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaks.
The One who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard,
He testifies to that.
The Voice of the Bridegroom
In between these two statements we find a now familiar expression that has been used for discipleship training, stewardship, names of books and outreach ministries. This is the phrase ‘friend of the bridegroom’ and the extraction of that title from context clouds the real significance of the verse.
John 3:29. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom,
who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.
Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
The most important point of this statement is for the friend to hear the voice of the bridegroom. This point is brought into clear emphasis by Jesus in His Good Shepherd discourse in John 10. This is critical to receiving the wisdom from above, and is the focus of all devotions. Whether we are praying, singing psalms, studying the word, reading passages aloud or meditating in His presence, the ultimate goal remains consistent, to hear and recognize the voice of the good shepherd, the bridegroom, the Master.
The Fear of God
This relationship of the disciple to his master’s voice provides the correct understanding of
the ‘fear of God’. When one first begins to recognize the presence of the Lord and hear
The Voice, the experience can be a bit unnerving. However, the real fear of God is to
lose that contact. The gift of the Holy Spirit develops this relationship, and the proper definition of the fear of the Lord is to maintain a continual awareness of His presence.
Psalm 119:38. Establish Thy Word unto thy servant, who is devoted to Thy Fear.
Jesus explains this way;
John 15:4. abide in Me, and I will abide in you.
James 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Now we can properly relate the fear of God to wisdom.
John 8;23,24. Yeshua said, You are from below; I Am from above. You are of this world; I Am not of this world. Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. If you don’t believe that I Am, you will die in your sins.
John 8:28. So Yeshua said, When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I Am. I do nothing by Myself, but speak just what the Father has taught Me.
John 8:31,32. Then Yeshua said to the Judeans who had trusted Him, If you abide in My Word, then you are truly My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!
John 8:58. Jesus then said to them, Truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.
John 16:24. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Exodus 3:14. Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
