Now I get it!
1 Corinthians 2:6-14
Introduction-
Turn to 1 Corinthians 2:6-14
As you are turning there, let me set up this passage.
We have for several weeks been looking at topics like priorities, God being first in your life, taking responsibilities for your actions.
We have looked at balancing life’s demands against how the Lord wants us to live and this morning looking at the power that is available to believers through the Holy Spirit of God.
Sandwiched between three chapters of Corinthians is wisdom and power that comes from God.
Chapter one describes the awesome power of God- what is man by himself, but a created being of God.
God chooses the foolish things to confuse man’s wisdom to show the wisdom and power of God.
Chapter three we see division already in the church as man in his own wisdom began following their favorite men rather than putting their trust and allegiance in Christ.
Right in the middle of that, Apostle Paul describes himself as not a man of fine words, not exceptionally smart man, and that “he resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
He understood Christ.
He understood what Christ did for each one of us.
He understood the power that was available to believers in Christ.
He understood the promises of God
He made no claim to fame and everything He did was because of Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit working in him.
1 Corinthians 2:6-14
Paul began to share some of the God given wisdom that came to him from God.
He shares that he brings a message that not only comes from God, but has the power of God to change people and circumstances.
He very clearly says that the rulers of this age won’t get it.
Those that have not experienced a change of heart will not be able to understand or grasp this truth.
The truth that they cannot grasp is the truth of Christ crucified, Christ resurrected, Christ redemption for mankind.
Those that know Christ received not this truth in their own wisdom but by God revealing to us by His Holy Spirit, and us being drawn to Him.
Those that do not know Christ, it is foolishness, it does not make sense.
It will not make sense until God reveals himself and they respond to His love and drawn to Him.
“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 accept them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
God’s Holy Spirit has been resisted since the day of Pentecost.
He has been ridiculed and thought to be foolish.
He has been misunderstood because to understand God, it must be spiritually discerned.
(10) Tells us that the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Not searching as if He is trying to find something or don’t know where to find it, but the
Holy Spirit of God searches and knows the thoughts of God. He reveals these truths to believers.
He empowers us to know the things of God.
He empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to God.
He empowers us to seek to have the mind of Christ.
The city of Corinth was a thriving city.
It was a place of great exportation and transportation.
The culture was away from God.
The city was full of temples of all kinds of gods.
Aphrodite, the goddess of love loomed over the city, and prostitution ran high because of being a seaport with many travelers.
Apostle Paul reveals a true pastors heart as he deals with Christian conduct and reveals that the Holy Spirit of God is the only way to change a heart.
There are three levels that man falls into. Each one of us falls into one of these levels.
Natural Man (Man without the Spirit of God)
Carnal Man (Man without the Spirit of God and without understanding)
Spiritual Man (A man/women lead by the Spirit.
Now it really does not matter what level we think we are at, the only thing that matters is where the Lord sees you.
Natural man-
Natural man is far from God- from the fall of man, man was born into sin, and without Christ is lost spiritually.
(14) Natural man (man without the Spirit) does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God.
The natural man cannot know the things of God! (though some think they do)
The things of God are foolishness- He/she is unappreciative of the things Christ did and feels no need for God.
He sees no need to read his Bible. He sees no need to go to church. He sees no need for anything spiritual that would cause him to make a change.
The natural man is handicapped spiritually.
Carnal man- (Man without the Spirit and understanding)
One that 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.
The carnal man is a man of the flesh.-meaning that he functions by human nature. This man may have a faith in Christ, but he finds no satisfaction in Christ alone.
He is not like the natural man because he has some spiritual side, but he is in his infancy. He is a babe in Christ.
Apostle Paul deals with him because these babes in Christ have been that way for years.
They depend on others for spiritual food and really they don’t have much of a devotional life. They rarely read their Bibles, and they don’t seek God for direction and guidance in their lives.
God always seems to be on the back burner.
They usually get themselves in trouble because they attempt to live in both worlds- natural and the spiritual.
They are easily offended and often look at other people’s lives before they take a hard look at their own.
At a time in their life when they should be helping others, they struggle keeping their own lives in check. If they are not mentored and driven by someone, they will backslide into their old way of live.
I heard it said one time that a carnal person is stuck between Egypt and the promised land of God. They don’t know which way they really want to go.
Spiritual man-
They are in a right relationship with God.
The Holy Spirit is able to work through them and give them direction.
The Bible calls them mature- not necessarily because of the years with the Lord, but because they are not babes in Christ.
They allow God to nurture them to the things of God.
They are teachable and are willing to allow God to change their lives, their attitude, their purpose and priorities.
Able to be taught, able to teach. One who has the fruit of the Spirit working in their lives.
Bears fruit
They left Egypt so to speak, they have allowed God to work in them in the wilderness and are determined that they do not want to return to Egypt. (repeat)
Natural man- does not care about the things of God.
They are lost and need a savior.
They are lost and need a Damascus road experience with the Lord.
They need an encounter with God that changes their live.
Only God can do that!
I cannot save anyone.
You cannot save anyone
But we can be a tool that God uses to reach people
“When you have done all that you know to do, stand firm” Do all that you know to do and leave the rest to God.
Carnal man- knows just enough religion to get them in trouble. Attends religious functions just enough to be secure it that instead of their relationship with God
Never really goes deep with God.
Never that moment that God says get out of the boat and walk to me.
Don’t look at the storm, don’t look around, keep your eyes on me.
They are babes in Christ for years.
They need to get into the meat of the Word. Break away from the things that keep pulling you away from God.
Spiritual man-
“Knows that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The man or women that does not let a day go by that they don’t acknowledge that they need God for help and direction.
Understand that spiritual truths can only be understood by the Spirit of God revealing it to us.
“For I resolve to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
Closing
Which one are you this morning? You have to be one of them.
For some of you- your faith is in mans wisdom… it must rest on the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.
It is not works, it is Christ
Others, you have never taken that step of faith to a deeper relationship with Christ.
He is telling you to give up the milk and get into the meat of His word.
Others stop wearing your feelings on your sleeve. The things that you cannot change, allow God to have it. Stop letting it affect your walk with God.
Listen, God is speaking to some this morning
You have no relationship with Christ- He is making himself available to you this morning. Respond to Him don’t let the moment get away.
Some need to go deep with God- launch out away from the boat of comfort and safety and keep your eyes on Christ.
Some are waiting for God to speak and He already has-told you what to do, where to do it. Roll up your sleeves and dig in.
There is something for everyone this morning.
Illustration
The poet William Blake wrote a poem about Pentecost. Part of the poem says:
Unless the eye catch fire, God will not be seen.
Unless the ear catch fire, God will not be heard.
Unless the tongue catch fire, God will not be named.
Unless the Heart catch fire, God will not be loved.
Unless the mind catch fire, God will not be known.
Amen
