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DEALING WITH TWELVE CONSEQUENCES OF NON-FUNCTIONAL SYSTEMS

Intelligence is fundamentally spiritual in nature and by default divine in origin. This statement may sound unusual or even controversial to those conditioned by secular educational paradigms that treat intelligence as merely a function of genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental conditioning. But if we are to understand the original concept of how God has ordained and designed humanity to function, we must recover this foundational truth: we cannot effectively function without intelligence, and true intelligence is not merely biological or psychological, it is spiritual.

When we speak of intelligence in the biblical sense, we are referring to spiritual intelligence, the capacity to perceive, understand, and respond to reality as it actually is, not merely as it appears to natural perception. This involves accessing dimensions of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that transcend the limitations of empirical observation and rational deduction.

Spirituality, in its true definition and essence, is a reflection of intelligence. To be spiritual means to know, to possess knowledge that originates beyond the material realm. It means to have access into realities, truths, and dimensions that are closed to those operating solely from natural human perspective. It means to have understanding that penetrates beneath the surface of circumstances to discern root causes, spiritual dynamics, and divine purposes. It means to see things in a manner that is not limited to natural human perspective, to perceive with prophetic clarity, apostolic authority, and the mind of Christ.

When we understand this foundational reality and then link it to the God-kind of intelligence, we are speaking of a dimension of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that operates from a higher dimension of existence—from the throne room of heaven, from the eternal counsel of the Godhead, from the infinite wisdom of the Creator who knows the end from the beginning.

Two Kinds of Wisdom
This is why Scripture consistently speaks to us about two kinds of knowledge, two kinds of understanding, and two distinct categories of wisdom. The apostle James makes this distinction explicit: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:13-17).

Here we see the clear contrast: there is a wisdom that is earthly—rooted in natural human perspective, limited by fallen perception, tainted by selfish ambition, and ultimately connected to demonic influence. This wisdom may be sophisticated, impressive, and even effective within certain contexts, but it cannot produce the outcomes that align with God’s kingdom purposes.

Where this earthly wisdom operates, the result is “confusion and every evil thing.” On the other hands, there is wisdom that comes from above—descending from the Father of lights, pure in its nature, peaceable in its effect, gentle yet powerful in its application, and productive of good fruits that endure. This heavenly wisdom operates from entirely different principles and produces entirely different outcomes than earthly wisdom.