Awake and Walk Wisely

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool; but whoever walks wisely will be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26 NKJ)

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Before we dive into this study on walking wisely, take a moment and think about the above scripture. 

Now I know some of you are thinking, “Wait! If we are not to trust in our own heart, why do we continually hear the supposedly encouraging words from our parents, teachers, self-help books, therapists, and/or friends telling us to ‘follow our heart, or trust in our heart’?” Now take a minute and think about the below scripture: 

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. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

What’s the difference? It’s all about where your trust is directed. We are about to explore more of the principles of Yahweh as they pertain to His wisdom and the importance of walking wisely.

Awake and Walk Wisely is a continuation of two previous blog posts and podcasts on the Three Pillars of Awakening titled:

Do Not Be Deceived, and

Awake and Seek The Light

If you have not listened to the podcasts or read the blog posts, you can click on the links above and be directed to them. In those two podcasts/blog posts, we outline Yahweh’s principles and their benefits, for the purpose of providing you with scriptural understanding and revelation on why these principles are full of blessings when we apply them to our lives and daily walk. The three pillars and their principles go hand in hand.

To recap, the Three Pillars of Awakening are:

1) Arise

2) Seek the Light

3) Walk Wisely

This message focuses on the third Pillar of Awakening, Walk Wisely. For centuries, we have relied on the wisdom of man to solve our problems and give us insight on how to live, how to look, how to feel, etc. Take a look around the globe and let me know how that is working out? Yahweh, our Creator and the Creator of the heavens and the earth created us to rely on His divine wisdom for insight and problem solving. So, where did we steer off the path? How did we get where we are today and how do we get on the correct path? The Holy Bible is full of Yah’s wisdom and without it we can not stand strong and be courageous against this Anti-Christ spirit that abounds across the globe. Now is the time that each and every one of us must do an honest self exam to see where we are at in our relationship with Yahweh, Yeshua, and the Holy Spirit and where we need to be in this season. We can no longer be in a state of playing church. We can not get caught up in fear or what the world and media is brainwashing us to believe. The people of God are the church! Remaining in a state of slumber and stupor will be our greatest demise. If you are one just waking up, Arise, Seek the Light, and Walk Wisely!

We live in a time and season of a large awakening around the globe. People are seeking and searching for Truth–many for the first time in their life, because they realize they have been deceived by the devil and his minions who have (and still are) lulled many into a spiritual slumber or stupor through deception and manipulation. These people will become part of the great falling away if they do not wake up soon. The church is called to awake the church. In other words, every awakened believer in Yeshua should become a VOICE that awakens another. These are our brothers and sisters, Yahweh’s children. He would want that no one would perish but that all would have everlasting life through Yeshua, His only begotten Son, who came to save the world from its sins.

In the book of Revelation, Yeshua addresses the seven churches and He gives a strong rebuke to those who have gotten off track and become the dead, sleeping, or sleep-walking church (again…church being the people, not a building or denomination). The sleep-walking church is told to repent lest Yeshua removes the lampstand from their midst. If you have read or listened to Awake and Seek the Light, you will understand the significance of this rebuke. The blessing given upon true repentance is Yeshua gives to him who repents to eat from the tree of life. In Yahweh’s mercy, many people are experiencing an awakening! They want to know more truth and Yahweh has given us Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) and the Spirit of Truth, whom has given us everything we need to be able to stand against the gross darkness that seeks to cover the whole earth. Yeshua is the Light of the world.

“And at midnight a cry was heard; ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise; ‘give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves!’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” (Matthew 25:6-10)

What is Wisdom?

The book of Proverbs has been called the wisdom book in the Bible and it assuredly has a beautiful blueprint for the wisdom of Yah laid out in the first nine chapters. This blueprint was given to Solomon by his father, King David. David without a doubt imparted much of it to his son, knowing Yahweh had chosen Solomon to be the king of Israel upon David’s death. What Solomon’s father didn’t impart to him, the Holy Spirit did. So what is Wisdom? Wisdom is one of the seven spirits of Yahweh and comes straight from the throne room of Yah. Through the Spirit of Wisdom, we have the following:

1) Wisdom is a divine attribute of Yahweh (God). Proverbs 8:22-31 tells us she was begotten before all things to be the architect and counselor of God in the creation. 

The Lord created me at the beginning of His way, before his works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. (Proverbs 8:22-24)

2) Wisdom is the fear of the Lord – meaning have great reverence for Yahweh.  The more reverence we have for Him, the more Wisdom will be with us.  The fear of the Lord is also one of the seven spirits of Yahweh.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10)

3) Wisdom is divine skill, discernment, and judgment. She gives the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. She gives shrewdness in the management of affairs. She gives skill and good judgment in the use of resources.

And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings. On that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people for who can judge this great people of Yours?” (2Chronicles 1:6-10)

Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” (2Chronicles 1:11-12)

Understanding the first nine chapters of Proverbs make it much easier to understand why Solomon, in his early reign over Israel, cried out for wisdom. It was far more important to him than anything he needed at that time. As a result, all the blessings of wealth, nobility, and health pursued him. He sought her diligently because Yahweh impressed it upon his heart, he learned and gained understanding to fulfill that which he was born to do, he walked wisely in leading a people. Then (drum roll please) there was that time (gulp) in his life when he put his trust in his own heart causing him to fall prey to the lust of his eyes, lust of his flesh, and pride of his eyes (1 John 2:16). We know from history that Yahweh removed Solomon’s legacy that was to be passed on to his son. The twelve tribes were torn from his reign and would never again have a God fearing King until Yeshua was born. Yahweh was correct when He said, “I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before your, nor shall any after have the like.” King Solomon set a stage that ended true kingship until Yeshua was born.

4) Wisdom is a tree of life. (For more on the Tree of Life, read ‘Come, Let’s Meet in the Garden.’) 

Wisdom is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her. (Proverbs 3:18)

There is so much about Wisdom in the Bible that we could spend days reading about it. I want to focus on the principles of walking wisely with the reminder that a principle is a universal, non-optional cause and effect relationship. We get to chose to walk in the blessings by obeying them or the consequences/curses of disobeying them. We must chose wisely beloved.

The Old Testament is given to us for the edification of the Body of Christ. It points us to our Redeemer from the very first sentence in Genesis. It reveals the fall of man due to deception, pride, etc. It’s purpose is teach us, guide and instruct us on Yahweh’s plan for mankind. In the New Testament, we see much of the Old Testament is referred to as prophecy fulfilled or yet to be. More importantly, it teaches us how to return to the Way of Yeshua. 

As we just read about Solomon’s bad choices, it has been no different for leaders of nations nor for the people residing in those nations. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was thorough in what Yahweh requires of us followers of Yeshua. His principles are true and are designed to convert the soul, make wise the simple, rejoice the heart, enlighten the eyes, and endure forever. Why was Paul’s letter to Ephesus so thorough? When Yeshua gave His message to the apostle John in the book of Revelation, the believers (church) in Ephesus had all the makings of what one would think looked like the true followers of Yeshua, or part of the body of Christ; except…they had managed to leave Him (Yeshua) out of their heart. They, too, had been hoodwinked into a sleep-walking mode (stupor) by the enemy to become so busy with works and having a form of godliness in their conduct, but their hearts were far from the One true God. It’s a easy thing to fall prey to in this world and the enemy is every bit as crafty today as he was in history past. He knows his days are short so he intends to up his game. Again, the need to walk wisely in the wisdom of Yahweh.

“I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3) 

I love Paul’s writings because he shares so many mysteries of Yeshua HaMashiach and Yahweh’s plan for the Bride of the Bridegroom. The above scripture comes immediately after revealing the mystery of Christ’s body (you, I, and all who have made Him our King, Savior, Redeemer, Prince of Peace, etc) Given the mystery has been revealed, we are encouraged to walk worthy, walk wisely, because the days are evil. Time is of the essence and much time has already been devoured by the enemy.

Principles of Walking Wisely

To Walk Wisely:

1) Know the season you are in & redeem the time

Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

This generation is living in the most perilous times since WWII and the Great Depression. Lawlessness and violence is all around and thanks to the Internet and media, we are bombarded daily by the evil. Deception is at an all time high and as sheep being led to slaughter, too many people are buying into the lies and allowing the spirit of fear to set in. Evil is calling evil good and good evil. So how do you redeem the time? First, we need to be very careful what is coming into our eye gates, ear gates (media, entertainment, thoughts, actions, behavior—things that will separate us from Yahweh) and spend our time filling and nurturing our spirit, soul, and body with Yeshua and His word, If this is new to you, it will be a battle to tarry with Yeshua for an hour. This is where you must learn how to resist the devil through repentance and prayer over the past and ask Yahweh to redeem the time that has had you separated from him. In other words, use your time wisely and get your focus off the temporal things of this world that is keeping you in bondage and put your time on things eternal. Time is the first thing that God sanctified for mankind. Is it too much to ask that we sanctify our time for Him? Don’t let another day go by for the hour is now and the day of the Lord is near.

To Walk Wisely:

2) Understand what the will of the Lord is.

Eph 5:17 Therefore do no be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

His will is His purpose for mankind—that He would have us be co-heirs to the throne with Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) as our bridegroom. These are not just words. This is our inheritance! There is only one way to understand what the will of the Lord is and that is through a personal relationship and communion with Yeshua. The more we seek the Light (Yeshua) and the wisdom of Yahweh, the more we understand His will and the more wisdom and prudence dwells with us to guide us and make straight our path. Read Proverbs, Chapters 1 and 2. Remember, we can not take the things of this world with us when leave this earth. We can only take our relationship with Yeshua to the judgment seat. Don’t be deceived into thinking otherwise. It is only through our understanding (knowledge of the Holy One) that His will can be accomplished in and through us.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10)

To Walk Wisely:

3) Be filled with the Spirit

Eph 5:18-19 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Many read the above scripture and immediately think of being an alcoholic and may even begin to get offensive and try to defend drinking any sort of alcoholic beverage, but in scripture (the Word of God), the wine referred to is symbolic for that which dulls our senses and causes us to do stupid things. If we lower our moral standards to the standards of this world, we behave like this world and all its fleshly works. We allow worry, strife, greed, fear, lust of eyes, lust of flesh, and pride of life control our thoughts and conduct. In other words, we become drunk with wine, in which is dissipation. It’s a downward spiral. Read Romans, Chapters 1 and 2.

If we are filled with the Spirit of Yahweh and walk by the Spirit, we will walk in a worthy conduct that is pleasing to God and we will have put off the old man and become a new creation in Christ. As a new creation in Christ, what enters our eye gates and ear gates and what comes out of our mouths is what is manifesting in our heart. We can rejoice with a new song. Songs of praise and thanksgiving and others will see the love and joy in our heart because our heart is for the Lord. The old wine skin will be replaced with new wine (Yeshua) and the joy of Yeshua will become our strength to endure and overcome with evil times.

To Walk Wisely:

4) Give thanks always for all things unto Yahweh

Eph. 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Yes, there will be times and trials and tribulation in every person’s life. However you want to phrase the term be it ‘life is like a bowl of cherries, there’s always a pit in the middles’ of ‘life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get inside’, it is true. We all go through good times, bad times, happy times, sad times, trying times, and rejoicing times. As followers of Yeshua and being filled with His Spirit, we can always give thanks because we know of the Holy One and we have understanding that He has a plan and His promises are true. Life will hurt at times, but it is truly our perspective on where our eyes are focused that will see us through. Even if we lose a loved one, we must always remember, Yahweh gave His only son to die on a cross in the most brutal unfair manner, so that He could rise again on that 3^rd day for one purpose: That whosoever will believe in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life with Him. Trials and tribulations test our faith.

James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

To Walk Wisely:

5) Submit yourself one to another in the fear of Yahweh – Understand the Mystery!

Eph 5:21-33 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He who love his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

For this cause ‘shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.’ This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

For the carnal person (immature in the Word), this one always hits a nerve because they get caught up in the first few sentences. Stop! Paul is expanding on the mystery of Christ that begins in the beginning of Ephesians and this is all about the marriage covenant with Yeshua. Please take time to read the Marriage Covenant. Once you understand (have knowledge of the Holy One), you will see the mystery of Christ here and how easy it is to submit one to another. Our marriages here on earth parallel our union with Yeshua that exists spiritually. 

To Walk Wisely:

6) Honor your father and mother

Eph 6:2-4 Honor your father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. And, you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (training) and admonition of the Lord.

This is an area of which the culture in America and some other nations have failed miserably. We have lived in a fatherless society for so long that we have lost the meaning of this commandment and the spiritual implications of not obeying it. This is also a result of us trusting in our own hearts and becoming fools. Broken homes, broken children, dysfunctional lifestyles to say the least. 

I would suggest here that we go back to the first and second principle here and redeem the time. It is not too late to repent and recognize that if it weren’t for your father and your mother, whoever they are and wherever they are, however you were raised, you are here because of them and for that alone you are to give them honor. You must also realize and appreciate that Yahweh chose them to be your parents. Just as we are to give thanks always to God for all things, your father and mother are two of them. Your Father in heaven made you special. He created and crafted you before the foundation of the world. He planned you and everyone of your 23 pairs of chromosomes and everyone of your 10,000 plus genes. You are no accident. You are important to this world and your world needs you. It is Yahweh who chose every part of your spiritual heritage and chose your father and mother to bring it all together and you were conceived and birthed at the appointed time. For some of you, rather than get into a blame game of all their short comings, take a good look in the mirror at your own short comings. We have all fallen short of the glory of Yahweh, but we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb that was shed for our sins on the cross. The devil’s works were defeated on that glorious day and his only weapon has been deception. Honoring your father and mother does not mean you have to agree with how they did things if they didn’t meet your standards or God’s standards in raising you. His promise to you is that before the end of your story, that which is written on your scroll of life, He will turn it around for His glory if you let him.

There is also a spiritual reason why we must honor our father and mother. Just as the marriage covenant above is an unveiled mystery for the bride, so is the unveiled mystery of giving honor to our heavenly Father and mother. Yahweh is our Father and our mother is the church (the body of Christ). We honor our Heavenly Father by fulfilling the first commandment and we honor our mother by fulfilling the new commandment Yeshua gave us:  Love one another as I have loved you. (John 13:34, Matt 22:39, Romans 13:10, Galatians 5:14 etc)

To Walk Wisely:

7) Walk in obedience

Eph 6:5-9 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ. Not with eye service as men pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven and there is no partiality with Him.

In Seeking the Light, one of the principles with a cause and effect relationship is to be obedient to the voice of the Lord. The same cause and effect relationship applies here, but let’s look at it from Wisdom’s perspective—walking in obedience of the heart of the Lord in our relationship to one another. Its pretty easy to be obedient when we hear the Holy Spirit speak to us individually and tell us to do something for Him. It becomes a little more challenging in our daily life. This is why scripture tells us that though we are in this world, we are not of this world, but of another kingdom, i.e. the Kingdom of Heaven. One of the beatitudes spoken in Matthew 5 is: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. The Hebrew definition of meek is (humble, modest, patient). This blessing illustrates the importance of seeking and submitting to the teachings of Yeshua HaMashiach, and having the patience and trust to wait upon Him. His word is true and He is faithful to fulfill it.

To Walk Wisely:

8) Know the real battle and put on the armor of Yahweh – DO NOT take it off!

Eph 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

My beloved, this is where the rubber meets the road (if I may use that analogy). Without this, you may as well pull out that silver platter you’ve kept stored in the cabinet and shine it up, because you will be having your behind handed back to you on it if you don’t understand and apply this principle! This may sound harsh and yes, I can be blunt with my words, but I love you far too much to have you ignorant any longer.

I can not begin to say how many times I have heard pastors stand at a pulpit and say “put on your armor every day.” What? Why on God’s green earth would we put it on and then take it off? No! No! No! Read the scripture again. It’s a spiritual battle we’re in and I can assure you the demons do not lay their heads down at night to rest and say, “I’ll pick up where I left off yesterday,” Satan is on a full-time mission to steal, kill, and destroy everyone Yeshua is seeking to restore, renew, and give eternal life to. He does this through deception. We must wake up, arise, seek the light, and walk wisely on a full-time basis.

What Is the Armor?

• Walk in Truth with the Sound Doctrine of Yeshua HaMashiach – Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

• Walk in the Righteousness of Yahweh – Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

• Be Prepared to Share the Gospel With Others– Eph. 15 And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

• Walk in Faith – Eph. 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

• Protect Your Thoughts with the Mind of Christ – Eph. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
• Keep Your Sword Sharp and Use It – Eph. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

• Have a Healthy Prayer Life – Eph. 18 Praying always with all prayers and supplications in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

It is really hard to end here because I could elaborate and provide so many more scriptures to expand on these principles. If you have found this three-part series on the Pillars of Awakening helpful in your walk with Yeshua, we would love to hear from you with your thoughts, comments, and/or questions. We appreciate you and encourage you to subscribe to this website and check out more of the teachings and blogs or listen to the podcasts. By subscribing, you will be notified when a new blog or teaching is uploaded. Until next time, be blessed, be encouraged, and know you are loved in Jesus’ name. 

For this reason we also, since the day we heard of your faith, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in who we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14)

Norma Umphress

All scripture taken from NKJV