"The Spirit’s Wisdom"
Summary of the series on Corinthians and of chapter 1
Thesis: The Spirit’s wisdom is the too lead our lives not our human intellect or another person¡¦s human intellect. Why? So that we can witness the power of the Spirit and see lives transformed.
Scripture Text: 1 Cor. 2:1-16:
1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him."
10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:
16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?"
But we have the mind of Christ.
Introduction:
Quote: "Religion is what you are left with when the Spirit leaves the building." Bono
I want to highlight for you two verses for a moment from 1 Corinthians 2:4,5 look at verses: "4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power."
Video Illustration: Clips from the "Finger of God."
In this clip of this movie we see that God is doing supernatural things by His Spirit for people today all over the world. He is winning people in Iraq, China, Africa, USA and other countries by demonstrations of His power not by great speeches or oratory masterpieces. He is not winning them by argument or debate but by demonstrations of the Spirit’s power!
Now let me ask you a couple of questions today: "Does the American church look to demonstrations of the Spirit’s power to authenticate the Gospel today? Or do they think it’s going to come through wise and persuasive words from the speakers?"
Paul is reminding the feuding Corinthians that transformation and conversion to the Gospel comes from demonstrations of the Spirit’s power these supernatural signs will always point to Jesus and authenticate His message to the lost. They were fighting in the church over leaders with in the Body of Christ. They were taking sides and deciding who they should follow based on speaking styles, oratory skills, talent and even natural abilities. Paul is telling them that their benchmark for spirituality is wrong and they need to get back to the power of the message of the cross.
T.S. It’s time for the American Christian church to get back to a NT Acts Christianity and lose our so-called intellectual and oratory speeches to facilitate conversion. People today want to see and experience the real deal. Jesus gave people the real deal! We need to as well. Paul tells this church how to get back on track in this chapter listen to his instructions to this group of believers.
I. "Be led by the Spirit’s wisdom not human intellect."
a. When we proclaim the Gospel to others we are to do it by the wisdom of the Spirit not by our own human intellect (verses 1-5).
b. Paul reveals that he came with apprehension and fear.
i. He did not come with human wisdom and great speaking intelligence.
1. He was unsure of what would happen when he came to them - but he followed the call of God and came and did what he was called to do.
2. God enabled him through His Spirit to be able to reach these Philosophers and Corinthian people.
ii. Paul said that he was not a great preacher or amazing orator but a simple man with a simple message ¡V Christ crucified!
1. The power behind his words came from the Spirit not from him.
c. God showed the truth of Paul’s message by manifesting the power of the Spirit - in other words demonstrations of the Spirit¡¦s power over nature and the ordinary.
i. Acts 18:1-17 - Speaks to us about the founding of the church in Corinth.
ii. The ability to plant this church came from the Spirit’s power and the Spirit’s moving among the people. This supernatural move became a testimony to the truth of the message of Jesus Christ. It validated the message of Jesus¡V it put the signature of God on the message and showed it to be the real deal.
God does show up in power demonstrations of his Spirit to lead people into His Kingdom.
d. Paul tells us that the message of the Cross is a mature message for those in the Spirit but for those outside the Spirit it is considered foolish.
i. The rulers who are not in the Spirit are coming to nothing according to Scripture but the ones that tap the Spirit will be somebody forever.
1. Many today may have positions of power but their lives mean nothing if they do not have the Spirit of God active in them.
ii. The reality check is that the rulers of this age who are not taped into the wisdom of Spirit are the ones who crucified Jesus and still do so today.
1. They seek to discredit Him and to silence His message through civil suits and persecution of the true church.
2. The same spirit that opposed Paul in Corinth is alive today in the country of America.
e. Paul tells us that God reveals His truth through His Word and then verifies it by the Spirit’s power.
i. Jesus himself did miracles to verify that He had the real deal- the truth that would change the life of an individual.
ii. It’s the Spirit that opens the eyes of the blind in this world, it’s not my great preaching or human insight that does it but it is the Spirit’s power.
1. We have to tap the power of the Spirit if we want to see transformation happen in our lives and in the lives of the people around us.
T.S. - We need to allow the Spirit’s wisdom to lead out lives and our church so that he shows up in power to bring the lost in. We need to focus on His message and then allow the Holy Spirit to do His work.
II. "It’s the Spirit that connects us with God’s Word not our human reason or the human reason of another."
a. It’s the Spirit that makes the message relevant and applicable to the people when we share it - that’s where the power comes from (verses 6-10).
i. Paul is reminding this church that they need to connect with the Holy Spirit not align themselves around other men.
b. It’s that moment when you say, "How did he know that?" Has someone been talking to Pastor Mike?
i. It’s the words that hit a home run in our heart and that are relevant to what I you dealing with at that moment.
1. These divine moments are reminders that this message hits home to people by the Spirit not by human intellect.
c. Paul also reminds us that no one knows the thoughts of God but the Spirit - this is why we need to be taped into the Holy Spirit!
i. If you want to know what God is doing in the church then you have to be informed by the Holy Spirit.
1. There has to be a connection to the Holy Spirit to hear the voice of God and understand its message.
ii. It’s the Holy Spirit who is said to be the Counselor and the one that will lead us into all truth.
1. John 14:26 states, "Jesus said, ’The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things."
a. So why do we think that education will teach us all things?
b. Scripture tells me that it is the Holy Spirit that teaches us the major lesson of life.
c. My main teacher is to be the Holy Spirit not some professor without the Spirit!
2. Since the Holy Spirit is the ultimate teacher I must have an intimate relationship with Jesus in prayer, meditation and Bible Study so as to hear the direction of the Spirit.
a. I have learned to listen to what the Spirit is saying to me and to His church as a whole and I have learned to obey that leading. In my Servant Leadership role at New Life I have learned to lead from the heart of God as the Holy Spirit reveals to me how to do it. The Holy Spirit has directed me as I have served His Kingdom here in the community of Polk County I continue to choose to lose to God every day.
3. The Holy Spirit is to be leading our life and this means that we must tap into the Spirit¡¦s message!
4. Jesus told his followers this in John 20:21-23: 1Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, ¡§Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
a. Notice the link between the Spirit and the act of forgiveness, if you do not have a forgiving heart then you don’t have the Spirit controlling your life!
b. Many in the church walk around with un-forgiveness and they think they hear the Spirit of the Lord but they don’t because this sin disconnects you from the Spirit.
iii. The Spirit is given to us by God so that we know the mind and heartbeat of God.
1. This is not the spirit of the World, because that spirit does different things and has a poisonous fruit.
iv. The Spirit helps us understand God and it enlightens us into realizing what a great gift we have been given by God.
1. This is where the power comes from because it opens the door of faith in our hearts and minds.
d. From the Day of Pentecost on we see the Holy Spirit active in the life of the church-in teaching, in miracles, in further fillings, and new baptizings, but above all in the work of spreading the gospel and establishing the Church (148). The Holy Spirit’s ministry and His work in the believer is noted as follows according to Scripture and according to Holdcroft’s book The Holy Spirit (pages 74-89):
A. He makes the repentant sinner spiritually alive by the power of regeneration.
a. John 3:5, 6
b. Ephesians 2:1
c. Romans 8:11
B. He then indwells the believer as His temple
a. 1 Corinthians 6:19
b. 1 Corinthians 3:16
c. Galatians 4:6
d. John 14:16, 17
C. He grants assurance to the believer that all is well in there soul.
a. Romans 8:16
b. 1 John 5:6
c. Ephesians 4:30
D. He sanctifies the believer and shows them how to hold onto their holiness
a. Galatians 5:22, 23
b. 1 Peter 1:22
c. Ephesians 3:16
d. 1 Corinthians 1:30
e. Romans 8:2
f. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
E. He empowers the believer spiritually and works miraculously through their lives.
a. Acts 1:8
b. Luke 10:10
c. 1 Thessalonians 1:5
d. Ephesians 3:16
e. 1 Peter 1:12
F. He leads and guides the believer into truth
a. Romans 8:14
b. John 16:13
c. Galatians 5:25
d. Acts 16: 6, 7
e. John 14:26
f. 1 Corinthians 2:11
G. He assists the believer so that they can connect through worship with God and in prayer.
a. 2 Corinthians 3:17
b. Ephesians 6:18
c. Romans 8:26
d. Ephesians 5:18, 19
H. He implements adoption
a. Romans 8:15,16
I. He communes and fellowships with the believer
a. Philippians 2:1
b. 2 Corinthians 13:14
J. He anoints the believer for service to God the Father
a. 1 John 2:20, 27
b. 2 Corinthians 1:21
K. He seals the believer with the signature of God
a. Ephesians 1:13
b. 2 Corinthians 1:22
L. He teaches the believer and reminds them of the truth for application into their daily lives
a. John 14:26
b. John 16:13
c. 1 John 2:27
d. The Book of Acts is really not about what the Apostles did but what the Holy Spirit accomplished through the Apostles and the followers of Jesus Christ¡¦s lives. The dominant focus of Acts is not the Acts of mankind but the working and empowering of the Holy Spirit to build the church of Jesus Christ.
i. Stop - ask how many want to be filled with the Holy Spirit - pray for people to be filled with the Holy Spirit!
T.S. - We need to connect with the Holy Spirit today so as to hear the voice of God and to know what to do with the instructions He gives us. Our reason will never lead us into the Spirit it will only come from having the Holy Spirit saturating our life with his being and he leading us down the path of truth.
III. "It’s the Spirit’s wisdom which helps us to understand God’s purpose, plan and power."
a. The Spirit’s message and power can only be understood by the help of the Spirit (11-16).
i. His wisdom is what brings us understanding in this world of confusing messages.
ii. His wisdom is what helps us to see in the darkness of this world.
iii. His wisdom is what helps us to see if something is true or false.
iv. His wisdom illuminates our minds to deception and danger.
v. His wisdom see’s the trap of the enemy and exposes it to us.
vi. His wisdom guides us down the narrow path of life.
vii. His wisdom tells us we are in the right when many others say we are in the wrong.
b. We need to realize that the things of the Spirit can only be understood by the act of faith. If we chose to open up our hearts and minds to the teaching and the words of the Holy Spirit then we will see things we never saw before.
i. We will see what really matters in life.
ii. We will see that the world is lost and going to Hell.
iii. We will see that the superstars are heading for destruction not fame and fortune.
c. The world cannot understand the spiritual realm without the willingness to open their hearts to the Spirit’s leadings and promptings.
i. No Spirit - no wisdom (1Cor. 2:10)
ii. No Spirit - no insight (John 14:26)
iii. No Spirit - no freedom (2 Cor. 3:17)
iv. No Spirit - no church
v. No Spirit - then only thing left is a dead religion
vi. No Spirit - no life (2 Cor. 3:6)
vii. No Spirit - no fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22)
1. Spirit gives birth to Spirit - flesh gives birth to flesh.
d. We are promised in the Bible that if we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit then the Lord will speak through us.
i. Mark 13:11: "Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."
ii. Luke 12: 11, 12: "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
e. We must have spiritual discernment in this age to hear and see what the Spirit is doing in the world today. We also need spiritual discernment to see what the enemy of our soul is doing in this world. We need to see the truth and not be led astray by the deception of the spirit of this world.
i. The spiritual man will make judgments as he is lead by the Holy Spirit and this is because he has the mind of Christ leading Him and guiding him in life.
ii. Paul tells us that we make judgment calls on situations in our life and man will not be the judge of our actions but the Holy Spirit will.
Conclusion:
We need to tap the Spirit’s wisdom instead of our human intellect to win people to Jesus. It is the manifestation of God’s power which will authenticate the Gospel message not my eloquent preaching and teaching. His demonstrations of power will win the lost and bring transformation to our county.
1. We are to tap the Spirit’s wisdom and allow the demonstration of the Spirit to be manifested when we share the Gospel.
2. We are not to put out the Spirit’s fire!
3. Our faith is to be in God’s power not in our human intellect or another’s human reason.
4. We need to help people connect with the Spirit and to the Word of God through His wisdom.
„H We need to recall that it is the Spirit’s wisdom which makes the light bulb go off in a person’s mind and connects them with God’s purpose, plan and power for their life.
We if we want to be a New Testament church must tap the power of the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to the goal.
