Wisdom from the Spirit
1Corinthians 2:6-2:16
Introduction-
We are in 1 Corinthians 2 and Paul is speaking to the church that he does not come with eloquence of words or superior wisdom.
He says that he comes to them with the fear of the Lord and with his weaknesses and that his messages and his sermons were preached in demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit working in his life.
“For I resolve to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
What honesty from a man of God.
Apostle Paul resolved that his ministry and his life was going to revolve around Jesus Christ and what Jesus Christ did on the cross for him and for each one of us.
1 Corinthians 2:6-2:16
Let’s lay this out- Paul is addressing mature Christians in the church and contrasts it with some of the immature or infants in Christ.
3:1
“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.”
The church at Corinth had mature believers acting immature, infants in Christ not getting the direction and guidance that they needed.
God had the answers they needed, but were looking for answers from the world.
They were looking for spiritual answers from the world.
God’s wisdom which was once a secret was now being revealed to the disciples and they are sharing that it is in the power of the Holy Spirit working in the life of the believer.
The secret or mystery was once hidden but is now known because God has revealed it to his people.
(10) “But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.”
To the unbelievers, it is still hidden.
There are three kinds of people in the world
Natural man-
They are unbelievers.
The natural man or women has no desire for spiritual things.
They struggle to grasp anything spiritual because the Spirit of God does not dwell inside them.
Spiritual man-
The spiritual man or women understands what God is doing because spiritually they are capable of discerning.
He/ She prays for wisdom.
He/ She goes to God Word for themselves
He/ She will seek counsel of wise believer when they have questions or problems.
They will allow and invite the Holy Spirit to direct their lives.
They will seek the power of the Holy Spirit to change them and change their circumstances.
Carnal person
A Carnal person is a believer that lives by human nature instead of being controlled by the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
A Carnal Christian is a person who allows their natural person to control what they do spiritually.
They are usually the ones that take one step forward and two back.
A carnal Christian is self-seeking.
Another word for them which is not liked is immature.
They are babes in Christ and some of them have been like that for a long time.
Illustration-
A baby is cute, when they are doing baby things! A 30 year old acting like a baby is not cute, actually it is sad.
Okay, so which one are you?
Which one would someone else say that you are?
Natural man- no desire for spiritual things-
Spiritual man- controlled by the Holy Spirit guiding you and giving you the power to live a victorious life instead of living like a victim.
Carnal person- a person that knows the power of God, but never seems to be able to live that life and always is in a struggle with immaturity and as the apostle Paul says “never able to be on solid food, but only can handle the milk.
Paul tells us that the spiritually minded believers are those who desire the Holy Spirit to lead their lives-
(9) “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those that love Him.”
First each one of us must determine where we are- which of the three types are you.
Natural man has no spiritual desire, so most of you would not fit that because you are here, your singing, worshipping, unless someone dragged you in and right now you are being tortured to listen to me.
Most people will fall between the carnal Christian and the spiritually lead believer.
So how do we get from one place in our lives to another?
First, by allowing the Holy Spirit to move into your life instead of being an occasional guest.
He is not a person you invite for dinner and then hold the door as He leaves.
He is an invited guest who is asked to take up regency in your heart.
Let the Spirit of God move in.
Let selfishness move out.
Let the things of the world move over.
As Nazarenes we believe in entire Sanctification.
It is one of our 16 fundamental truths.
We believe in the fullness of the Spirit.
That after accepting Jesus Christ there is a second work of grace in that a heart surrendering and seeking God can be filled with Gods Holy Spirit empowering a believer for life and service.
It is known by other names:
Heart purity, Christian perfection, Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
We believe that is the difference between a mature and immature believer.
A mature believer is seeking the fullness of God and desires that God have complete control of their lives.
Scripture tells us “No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”
The Spirit searches all things- not in order to know them because the spirit knows all things.
The Spirit of God equips us to know and comprehend the deep things of God and understand the depth of God’s nature.
(14) The 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.’
What does the Spirit of God do for us?
He teaches us the thoughts of God
He teaches us what God desires for us.
He teaches us the power of God working in our lives.
He empowers us to share our faith.
Paul says:
“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom…..I resolve to know nothing except Christ and Him crucified.”
Do you want that?
Do you want to be lead by the Spirit of God or continue to struggle and do everything in your own strength and your own wisdom?
You cannot find God’s wisdom by human standards.
God is too great, too wise, too big, too good, too Holy, too sovereign, for us to grasp spiritual things in the natural. God has to reveal it to us and we have to be ready to receive it from Him.
These Corinthians thought they were mature believers. Paul had to set them straight. You think that you are mature, and you are out! You think that the Spirit of God is leading you, but you are carnal. The natural flesh is losing the battle. Wisdom of this age is not working!
You want the deep things of God, it will only come by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead your life.
Man without the Spirit of God is described in Jude as “one who follows mere natural instincts.”
The non-Christian is governed in thought and life by an un-renewed, worldly heart. Such people are yet untouched by the Spirit and are not equipped to receive the truth that comes from the Holy Spirit.
Closing-
3:2- “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it.”
We cannot conceive what God has for each of us that love Him. If only we would surrender our lives and allow Him to empower our lives.
This explains why so many fail to apprehend God’s truths. Because it can only be perceived by the Spirit enlightening us.
God made the first move-
“God demonstrated his love for us in this, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
God made the second move-
He has sent the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truths pertaining to the things of God.
Romans 4:21-
“Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.”
Surrender to the Lord this morning- it is between you and God. Each one of us has to make our own decisions for Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
What decision are you going to make this morning?
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy, and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Altar Call
