Bishop David Oyedepo: Accessing Divine Wisdom through Meditation!

Signs & Wonders (Sunday, March 19, 2017)

 Topic: Accessing Divine Wisdom through Meditation!

By David O. Oyedepo

…What wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands (Mark 6:2)?

According to scriptures, the wisdom of God is that of mighty words which expresses itself in mighty works. For instance, Jesus exemplified divine wisdom as He taught in the synagogue and people were utterly astonished, as seen in the above scripture.

The Bible recognises four kinds of wisdom−Earthly, sensual, devilish and the wisdom from above. Earthly wisdom is natural wisdom and it is instinctive in nature. Sensual wisdom, which is acquired through intellectual training, enhances our social status. Devilish wisdom is destructive in nature; it is used by magicians, witches, wizards and men of the occult. On the other hand, the wisdom from above is divine (James 3:15-17).

As we all know, whatever is from above is above all. Therefore, the wisdom from above is superior to all other kinds of wisdom. Interestingly, this wisdom is traceable and ‘track-able’ because it is pure, easily entreated, and full of good fruits without partiality and hypocrisy. Thus, it delivers the same way and at the same rate to anyone who engages it; there is no racial discrimination or partiality associated with it. That means, when we operate in divine wisdom, we get the same result and command the same level of dominion regardless of our background (John 3:31; Romans 2:11).

For instance, concerning Daniel, the Bible says: There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers (Daniel 5:11).

King Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel master over the magicians and all others because he stood far above them by reason of divine wisdom.

Solomon also displayed divine wisdom, which was clearly above all intellectual wisdom. As it is written: God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about (1 Kings 4:29-31).

Furthermore, after Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream by divine wisdom, Pharaoh said: Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art (Genesis 41:39).

Moreover, a large portion of the Bible was written by ignorant and unlearned men; but through divine wisdom, they made their mark. Their writings form the most frequently quoted words of wisdom on the earth today. That shows the superiority of the wisdom from above to other kinds of wisdom.

We understand from scriptures that Jesus is the living Word of God; He is the power and the wisdom of God. Thus, God’s Word, the Bible, is the custodian of the power and the wisdom of God. Consequently, putting the Word to work is walking in the wisdom of God, which puts us above others in every area of life (1 Corinthians 1:24).

But, how do we access this wisdom from the Word?

One of the channels of accessing divine wisdom from the Word is MEDITATION, which is the art of pondering through scriptures in search of answers to the bugging questions of life. The Psalmist says: O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts (Psalms 119:97-100).

Meditation is also thinking through scriptures to find the way out of our predicaments. As it is written: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8).

It is also written: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Psalms 1:1-3).

It is important to note that meditation is not freelance thinking; rather, it is thinking through scriptures to create the future we desire. Consequently, it is impossible to flow in divine wisdom without genuine commitment to the Word. This is because God’s Word is His wisdom bank where we draw the virtues of divine wisdom. Therefore, if we are not committed to the Word, it is impossible to flow in divine wisdom.

Moreover, no ‘Word-lazy’ Christian can flow in divine wisdom because it is ‘read-thinking’ that makes the Word profitable. Two of my elderly friends in the United States were in ministry for 40 years and had been married for 50 years, as at that time. The wife got the copy of the book, The Wisdom that Works, authored by me, and as she read it, it resuscitated her entire system. She said that for the first time, she found ‘read-thinking’ as the way to maximise the benefits of the Word. As a result, her weary and tired body bounced back to vitality.

We must understand that our profiting cannot be evident without meditation. It is written: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all (1 Timothy 4:13, 15).

Meditation is key to accessing divine wisdom because we encounter unbelievable solutions as we think through scriptures and give ourselves wholly to our findings.

How, then, can we facilitate meditation?

• Through purpose-driven meditation: Purpose-driven meditation will always culminate in the required insight for our escape. The Bible says: Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom (Proverbs 18:1).

We saw how the prodigal son directed some hard-line questions at himself, which helped him find his way back to dignity. It is important to examine oneself in order to find the way out of life’s unwanted situations. God is never wrong and the devil does not have the power to determine the events of our lives because by redemption, we have been repositioned above him. That means if anything is not working, we must ask ourselves questions to find the way out (Luke 15:17-24; Ephesians 1:21-22).

• Through insight expectant prayers: We flow in divine wisdom through insight expectant prayers, which usually delivers through meditation. It is written: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:3).

When the Philistines gathered against Israel, David stood up to the task and asked the Lord: Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand (2 Samuel 5:19; see also James 1:5-7).

• We must possess a heart for God: A heart for God is a covenant platform for fruitful meditation. Jesus said: Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you (John 15:15).

We need a heart for God to enjoy fruitful meditation. This is because God won’t share His heart with just anybody but with those with a heart for Him. It is written: But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee       (1 Samuel 13:14).

When we become God’s friends, meditation becomes supernaturally fruitful, as He shares His heart with us. Remember, the secret of God is with those who fear Him. Hence, it is not just about meditating, but doing so with the right heart in our walk with God (Psalms 25:14).

In conclusion, divine wisdom is a highly valuable virtue, which shows us the way out of the crossroads of life. As already mentioned, the study and the meditation of the Word is vital to accessing the wisdom virtues in the Book and when we have a genuine heart for God, our meditation will always be fruitful. Therefore, as you meditate on the Word and commit to engaging your findings, I see you soaring above life’s situations in Jesus’ name! Remain ever blessed!

Jesus is Lord!

Prophetic Blessings!

• May obeying God remain an eternal delight to your soul!
• Everything tormenting your life comes to an end today!
• Every threat of death on your life is turned to a testimony today!
• Every life-threatening disease is terminated in your body today!
• Every weakness in your life is terminated today!
• By the Blood of Jesus, whatever wants to cut short your life is nullified in Jesus’ name!
• Every plan of the wicked to end your happiness is cancelled today!
• There shall be no harm on your life!
• Your life will never run testimony dry!