November 29, 2022
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
Who is the wisest person in the world right now? We may not know their name. They may live in a hidden village away from the public eye. But the wisest among us would be the one who knows more of the mind of God than others and who has chosen to respond to all God has shown them.
HIS MIND IS AVAILABLE
In one of the most startling revelations in human history, Paul tells us that we can know the things that have been “freely given to us by God.” These things have been prepared by God to be revealed to those who love Him.
Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory … but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-7,9)
BUT HOW?
It seems impossible, but God wants to know His mind and be filled with His wisdom. Things that could never be seen without Divine intervention. The great secret of knowing this wisdom is understanding the work of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Read these words prayerfully, asking the Holy Spirit to give you insight.
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)
Here is the spiritual logic Paul uses to help us understand this miracle.
Paul follows this with a contrast. A “natural man” (a man in his natural state without God) cannot possibly know these things, for they are only revealed through the Holy Spirit. They must be spiritually appraised like a wise jeweler understands a precious diamond. But a Spirit-indwelt man can appraise all things. He has the capacity to understand everything that God knows. In that light, Paul makes an astounding but true statement.
For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
LETTING THE SPIRIT SPEAK TO US AND THROUGH US!
So how is this amazing capacity experienced in the mind and life of the believer? Many who have the Spirit are not experiencing the mind of Christ. What must happen for us to access what God has prepared for us?
We must recognize the Spirit’s presence within us, acknowledging Him and turning to Him to reveal God’s mind. We must be filled with Him by giving Him control and walk by the Spirit, following His slightest promptings and illumination (Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:16).
As we pick up His Word, we must humbly acknowledge our absolute inability to understand the Bible apart from Him. The Spirit wrote the Scripture, though, so we can turn to Him and ask Him to open our eyes and reveal what we need to know. In this way, day by day, year by year, we receive more of this understanding. The Spirit renews our mind and, as we obey, transforms our lives, and we show the world how “good, acceptable, and perfect” the will of God is (Romans 12:1-2). We become increasingly conformed to the image of God’s Son (Romans 8:29).
And then, as we speak to others and minister, we rely on the Spirit so that our usefulness is like Paul’s, combining Spirit-thoughts with Spirit-power.
My message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
When we understand this blessed truth and allow the Holy Spirit to do His desired work in us, we will love the triune God even more. What a God that would allow us to know His mind and design a way for this to occur! What a Son who would go to the cross so we could be reconnected to God and who would send His Spirit to indwell us! And what a Spirit who would daily live within us to teach and empower us!
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