UNDERSTANDING THE MIND OF GOD

August 06, 2019

UNDERSTANDING THE MIND OF GOD

 

One of my mentors, Manley Beasley once said to me that 1 Corinthians 2 is one of the most important passages in the Bible because it helps us see how to know the mind of God. It has become one of the most precious passages to me in all the Bible. Look at this vital text:

1 Corinthians 2 

9 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.”

10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

11 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.

12 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,

13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Notice the progression ...

  1. God has wonderful things prepared to tell us and give to all those who have truly come to know Him. Things which human understanding alone will never see.
  2. These things are only understood, though, through spiritual illumination.
  3. The one who knows a man best is his spirit. For instance, no one knows you better than you. In the same way, the one who knows GOD best is His Holy Spirit. He knows everything in the mind God.
  4. We have now received His Spirit if we are true followers of Christ! He is in us! Therefore, we have the MIND OF CHRIST in us and the capacity to know everything we need to know from God.
  5. Things which we could not have understood (before we received the Spirit) we can now understand through the Spirit’s help. A man without the Spirit cannot understand these things for they are “spiritually appraised” (like a jeweler appraises a diamond and can see the realities that a natural, untrained eye can never see).
  6. These things are freely given to us by God. He is not trying to withhold them from us or playing games! If we cooperate with Him and listen, He will make them known by His Spirit and His Word.
  7. Once we learn those things from the Spirit (and the Word) we can share them with others with the power of spiritual words.

What an incredible truth! We can know the mind of God because He now lives in us! And we can speak the truths of God to others because He can speak through us! This is being “conformed to the image of His Son” and the greatest joy of the Christian life!





Also in Graceful Truth

A SIMPLE, POWERFUL PRAYER TO MEMORIZE AND PRAY FOR OTHERS
A SIMPLE, POWERFUL PRAYER TO MEMORIZE AND PRAY FOR OTHERS

March 28, 2024

The Bible is a prayer book. Every page can be prayed to the Lord. Every truth can form our communication with the Father as we pray for people and situations.

Here is a powerful and beautiful prayer to pray over those you love.

Continue Reading

TEN GUIDELINES ABOUT HOW TO TREAT EACH WHEN WE HAVE DIFFERENCES IN NEGOTIABLE, PREFERENTIAL AREAS
TEN GUIDELINES ABOUT HOW TO TREAT EACH WHEN WE HAVE DIFFERENCES IN NEGOTIABLE, PREFERENTIAL AREAS

March 27, 2024

Don't be a Pharisee. You're not right about everything and neither are others. There is is plenty of room for disagreement on many issues and we should humbly admit this. Some issues, clearly found in the Word of God, are worth dying for. But others are not and should be treated with humility, deference, and love.

Continue Reading

THE SIMPLEST, MOST SUCCESSFUL WAY TO LIVE
THE SIMPLEST, MOST SUCCESSFUL WAY TO LIVE

March 26, 2024

Want to live an uncomplicated life? Get in the right posture every day (dependence upon God and a humble willingness to follow the promptings of His Spirit and the illumination of His Word). Follow His leadership. God (and His love) will flow through you, and you will fulfill everything He desires. You will be astounded by His love … and so will a watching world.

Continue Reading