Forward by LeRoy Gardenier

Religionists of any era “love the praise of men more than the praise of God”. John 12:43 In our Lord’s time, it was the chief rulers of the synagogues who believed on Him but refused to confess Him because they didn’t want to lose their jobs. It was as simple as that. This is an ongoing problem. The Lord Jesus forcefully dealt with it when He warned His power-struck disciples not to exult over spiritual gifts but, rather, to rejoice that their names were written in heaven. We can never be reminded enough that Jesus told us that some would do mighty works, even cast out demons, in His name. Yet, He would have to say of them: “I never knew you.” Matt 7:23

In John 7:24 our Lord both warns and commands: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment”. Just as it was not enough for the ancient synagogue rulers to believe on Jesus, yet refuse to confess Him; so, it is not enough for modern Christians to receive the Holy Spirit with His spiritual gifts without the determination to continually yield to Him. Seven times the Spirit speaks to the churches in the book of Revelation so that we may understand what the church consists of and is really all about. Seven times in the Epistles the Holy Ghost inspires the writers to expound upon those foundational topics of which we must not be ignorant. As it was prophesied that the Messiah’s presence and preaching would dissipate the gloom and bring brightness to a land and people dwelling in darkness and the shadow of death, so it was promised to the Church that vast areas of ignorance and confusion would be enlightened and clarified by the teaching office of the Holy Ghost, the One sent by Jesus and given by the Father to lead us into all truth. Seven is God’s number for perfection and completion. In both the Old and New Testaments, God used units of seven to represent perfect or complete service: the seven years that Jacob labored for Rachel and the seven deacons chosen in Acts. Important life-fulfilling or life-threatening events such as years of fruitfulness and famine, degrees or levels of punishment, formulas for obedience, a spirit of perfect prayer, as well as the perfect completion of Messiah’s mission are all described in segments of seven. In the Gospels, forgiveness is related to multiples of seven. We mentioned that Seven Churches are addressed in Revelation. It should also be noted that Paul’s Epistles are sent to Seven distinct Churches. The consummation of all things, especially the important topic of judgment is connected with the number seven. Hebrews 6:1 gives perfection itself as the seventh item or goal in a series of doctrines the Holy Ghost wants to teach us: repentance from dead works, faith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, eternal judgment.

Most of us feel fairly confident in handling the problems and situations that life throws at us. We rely instinctively upon our innate ability and our past experience. The challenge of “the Seven Pillars of Wisdom” is to set aside these carnal weapons, repent of our spiritual ignorance, listen attentively to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches, and learn from His quickening Word where the battle really is.

Introduction
Wisdom Hath Builded Her House

The church has a perfect and everlasting example of wisdom in everything that our Lord Jesus has ever done or said, and will ever do or say. Jesus and wisdom are one and the same. The Scriptures say that in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The marvelously rich treasure house of wisdom and knowledge is revealed through­out the Bible. The booklet, The Seven Pillars of Knowledge, expounds on the seven places in the New Testament where God’s Word expressly tells the believer “not to be ignorant”. These seven plain formedces, which we have dubbed “pillars of knowledge”, are by no means the only areas in the Gospel where God would have us to be instructed in. These are, however, fundamental areas of knowledge so basic to our walk with Jesus that God has warned us to be alert and schooled in them so that they are incorporated into our faith. In Proverbs wisdom is personified and it is said that she “hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.” Prov. 9:1 Those seven pillars are the seven pillars of knowledge revealed in the Epistles of the New Testament.

We, the living stones (through our faith in Christ), are the building. “Ye also as lively stones, are built up to a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5 The pillars of knowledge are the backbone of our spiritual house upon which our faith and understanding of God’s will must securely rest. The seven areas are:

1.) The True Nature of Salvation (1 Cor. 10:1)

2.) The Jews: God’s chosen people (Rom. 11:25)

3.) Fellowship: The Sharing of Fruit (Rom. 1:13)

4.) Gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12)

5.) Our part of the Cross (2 Cor. 1:8)

6.) Judgment (2 Peter 3:8)

7.) The Rapture of the Bride (2 Thes. 4:13)

These seven exhortations are worth our constant review. They are critical to sound doctrine and a clear understanding of God’s plan for the house (we, His church) which He has built for His habitation. Truly they are the seven pillars of knowledge for the Church, which wisdom has hewn out and positioned securely in the framework of our spiritual building.

Peter, on the day of Pentecost, declared, “this is that which the prophet Joel prophesied”. Acts 2:16 The Holy Ghost had fallen on the multitudes and they had spoken in other tongues. The old men dreamed dreams, the young men saw visions, and the young women prophesied. But Pentecost was only the start. Joel spoke of the two rainstorms, the former and latter rains and the restoration of all things. The day of Pentecost was the former rain. Today’s revival is the latter rain and now the fruits of God’s fertile rain are ripening and bursting forth. Wisdom “hath builded her house” and the knowledge of Christ’s princi­ple doctrines has restored many things and made the Church strong again. Wisdom “hath hewn out her seven pillars”!

Consider the pillars if you have not already done so. Review them. Believe God’s Word about them. Take serious the announcement made by the Spirit in those seven scriptures where He has said, “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning…”. God is asking each member of his household – and remember we are the lively stones built up to a spiritual house – to get their pillars firmly fixed and situat­ed in their active faith so they then can move on to higher ground.

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.
   Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
   And this we will do, if God permit.” Hebrews 6: 1-3

As Jesus declared to the religious leaders, “Wisdom is justified of her children.” We are not only wisdom’s children if we follow Christ but we are the house which wisdom built. Be wise. Do not be ignorant. Check out these seven pillars so you can go on to perfection!

These seven exhortations are worth our constant review. They are critical to sound doctrine and a clear understanding of God’s plan for the house (we, His church) which He has built for His habitation. Truly they are the seven pillars of knowledge for the Church, which wisdom has hewn out and positioned securely in the framework of our spiritual building.

Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia because they had fallen away from true righteousness by following the law instead of spiritual perfection: ” My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be FORMED IN YOU.” Galatians 4:9

One night many years ago, God awakened me in the middle of the night and asked me; “Did you ever notice that the Star of David is made up of two triangles?” I had to answer that I hadn’t noticed that. He went on to say that one triangle represented the Church, and the other, Israel, and that the three points of each triangle each stood for the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. He said that it represented a time when both groups would truly be under the Trinity and that the core that lay at the center of the two triangles symbolized the Godhead.

Sadly the Church all too often has this advice of Paul flip-flopped. They want to judge the world (which is the job of the Holy Ghost) and not judge themselves within the Church. But it is clear we are to judge sin within the Church and leave the world to the judgment of God.

The Seven Pillars

1.) True Nature of our salvation (1 Cor. 10:1)

2.) The Jews God’s chosen people (Rom. 11:25)

3.) Fellowship: The Sharing of Fruit (Rom. 1:13)

 4.) Gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12)

 5.) Our part of the Cross (2 Cor. 1:8)

 6.) Judgment (2 Peter 3:8)

 7.) The Rapture of the Bride (2 Thes. 4:13)