Spiritual IQ

1Corinthians 2:13 We are not using the words that human wisdom teaches but those which the Holy Spirit teaches, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.

Intelligence is a knowing of a particular kind. Do you have any intelligence concerning the cause of a certain matter?
We have ways of measuring wisdom for different areas of our lives. One is called our IQ or Intelligence Quotient, which measures our intellectual intelligence - how competent we are to associate different things together, shapes, numbers, words, concepts, problem solving. There is also much emphasis today in measuring our emotional intelligence, our EQ - how effectively do we respond emotionally to life – calm responses or frustrated reactions? AND we also have an SQ, a spiritual intelligence - how we respond spiritually to life and resonate and flow with the gift of God’s Spirit living within us through Jesus (spiritual things with spiritual).
I can have a high strategic intelligence and not have an emotional intelligence awareness because I allow frustration and annoyance and resentment to rule instead of peace and calm. I can also have emotional intelligence but not have spiritual intelligence, not living in spiritual resonance or harmony with God’s Spirit within, not being grateful to God in all things, and indifferent to the needs of others. So finding emotional peace and calm is not just for making me an island of peace isolated from the needs around me.

These are all valid measures for different areas of effectiveness or success in our lives. So it is good to be aware of them all. And to do the work needed in each area.

What does the Bible say about natural wisdom and intelligence? – The parable of the unjust steward.
Luke 16:8 …Children of this world wiser than the children of light… Doesn’t mean Christians should learn how to cheat better in the rat race. But in the natural wisdom of the rat race the smart rats win. In the world of market place strategies those who have the clues and intelligently get down to the business of mapping their territory will be successful. What about us in our spiritual territory?

What are the virtues of natural wisdom? IQ
Confidence, intelligence, conscientiousness, discipline and stewardship.
The attitude is one of confidence.

What does the Bible say about emotional intelligence and wisdom? EQ
Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all devious talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path . Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

What are the virtues of emotional wisdom?
The attitude is one of caution and calm and consistency – not ups and downs but steady as she goes.

What is spiritual intelligence and wisdom?
Is it how much we read the Bible, or pray, or exercise spiritual gifts?
It is more than all of that. The Pharisees read the Bible and prayed. The Christians in Corinth excelled in spiritual gifts but the competition between them in the exercise of spiritual gifts was not spiritual.

2Corinthians 10:12 In comparing themselves with themselves they are not wise (spiritually unintelligent)
1Corinthians 3:1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your natural desires. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your natural desires? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

How do we blend these all these spheres of intelligent KNOWING in our daily lives and how do they affect us personally and help us to bless one another? We can be a blessing to people in our world.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ… vs.8 he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life… That is Spiritual Intelligence talk!
There is only one simple thing to do – be still and know. Intelligence is a knowing that you and God are doing his will together!
Have the faith of God Galatians 2:20. … no longer I that live…he is not a spectator in your life neither are you in his. It is not that God can’t do his will without us – He busts into our life (Philippians 2:6 - Saul Damascus) He just wants to do his will with us. An unlimited God wants to include limited us because that is his way of life since Jesus. That is his intelligent plan.
Jesus sowed the seed of his life so that his risen life would be the harvest in our lives. Paul sowed his life in prayer for others for this risen life to become real in them. (Galatians 4:19)

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ…
This is a powerful activity of the cross in our lives. In fact being anchored by faith in this spiritual understanding prospers our efforts in the other spheres. We become more productive and successful in our emotional and relational world and in our worldly plans.

There are choices we make in life that have a spiritual effect on ourselves and upon others and which also affect the spiritual environment around us.
There are certain simple but critical choices that we are confronted with in life at any given time which result in us being in harmony with God’s Spirit or not. Something in our responses and reactions resonates either with the nature of God or with the nature of our frustrated humanity or the nature of darkness. letting his love flow to us and through us to others, letting go of our doubts and limitations and letting God’s faith find us.