1 Corinthians 2:6-13

                                                                 1 Corinthians 2:6-13

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

As fallen people living in a fallen world, we have deep needs and are incapable of meeting those needs on our own.  It is difficult for us to understand the world in which we live.  There is a certain type of wisdom that comes from the experiences and minds of men.  This wisdom may resonate with our own limited minds, but it is not dependable.  God’s wisdom is different.  Since He knows everything about everything and everyone, God’s wisdom is dependable and dispensable.  We can count on it being truth and communicate it with confidence in dependence on the Holy Spirit.

 

DISCERN THE WISDOM OF GOD: There is a wisdom that is from this world and the rulers of this age.  There is a wisdom that is from God.  It is vital to be able to tell the difference.  Paul turned his back on the world’s wisdom and boldly proclaimed the Lord’s wisdom.  This discernment is what makes all the difference in a minister’s effectiveness.  God’s wisdom is hidden and secret to those who wield the power in this temporary world.  The condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus is the ultimate proof of this reality.  We can be impressed by and attracted to the political and popular power-seeking men of our day.  However, this will inhibit us from understanding and having access to the wisdom of God.   We must learn to reject the obvious wisdom of this world in order to gain access to and benefit from the hidden wisdom of God.

 

DEPEND ON THE SPIRIT OF GOD: God has an incredible plan for all who love Him.  Central to that plan is the indwelling power of the Spirit of God.  In the history of humanity, this divine blessing could never have been imagined.  In Christ the Holy Spirit becomes available to all who believe on a permanent and personal basis.  How can we hope to be able to discern the difference between God’s wisdom and man’s?  Dependence on the Spirit of God.  He is the one who knows the mind of God and is able to make this information and instruction available to us.  This is why human weakness is such an advantage to believers.  Our weakness makes us dependent on God’s Spirit.  In our strength we will simply depend on our own power and position.  The supernatural power of the Spirit of God is available to all who will humbly trust Christ and love God’s wisdom.

 

DISPENSE THE TRUTH OF GOD: When we depend on God’s Spirit, we are able to discern God’s wisdom which allows us to dispense God’s truth to other people.  God’s Spirit is at work in the lives of believers.  His first job is to reveal the wisdom of God to people who trust Christ.  His next job is to transform us through the knowledge of His Word and His indwelling power.  Finally, it is His job to equip us to be instruments in His hands to point others to the truth of God’s wisdom.  These are the spiritual truths that only spiritual people can understand.  Those who reject Christ cannot see past the temporal benefits of human power structures and prosperity.  Only God’s Spirit allows us to see God’s eternal wisdom and then equips us to be able to reveal those spiritual truths to others.

 

APPLICATION: Be careful not to be distracted by the glitz and glitter of man’s wisdom.  Seek to discern the wisdom that come to us from God.  Learn to lean on the Spirit of God and the power He provides for us to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.  Boldly tell others about spiritual truths of God’s Word, will and ways in the power of the Spirit.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more

1 Timothy 1:1-2

Paul,   an apostle of Christ Jesus   by command of   God our Savior and of Christ Jesus   our hope, To Timothy,   my true child in the faith:   Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. The true sign of maturity is multiplication.  Believers, churches, and ministries that do not reproduce are not demonstrating true maturity.  One of the key characteristics we can identify in Paul’s ministry is that he was constantly reproducing godly believers who were faithfully following the Lord.  Evangelism, discipleship, and leadership training are the hallmarks of mature ministers and ministries.   THE APOSTLE: Paul was called by God to be an Apostle.  Though Paul converted after the resurrection and assentation of Jesus, he met Jesus in the road to Damascus and was instructed by Jesus in the desert.  Paul considered himself to be the least of the Apostles because he persecuted the church and did not walk with Jesus on earth like the other Apostles.  However, God had
Read more