Spiritual Wisdom – 1 Corinthians 2

Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #135.  Today we’ll read 1 Corinthians chapter 2 together:  Paul claims to come in humility so that the power of the Holy Spirit is displayed, and he explains spiritual wisdom.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

We had an interesting conversation in our adult Sunday school class.  How at risk are we willing to go for the furtherance of the Gospel?  We were discussing 2 Timothy 2:12. The verse reads, Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.  Not exactly a future you want to run toward.  And yet we all agreed that Christianity is becoming less and less popular.  We’re already seeing fallout…people being fired from their jobs, sued, called names.  We sheepishly confessed that in many instances we have opted to just be quiet at work, to avoid conflict and out of fear of possibly losing our jobs. 

However, Mitch shared a quote from Allie Beth Stuckey, author, and Christian commentator.  She said, “What we’ve seen throughout history is that the church of Jesus Christ, it thrives in the margins, that the church is refined by fire – it is not destroyed by fire.  And if we look throughout the centuries, that is where the Gospel has been spread and God has been most glorified….”  The point is, we need to recognize the handwriting on the wall.  Not to acknowledge it is to not be prepared for the persecution to come.  But we also know how it ends.  Jesus wins.  So, regardless of our sacrifice, regardless of what we are called to do, our reward will be eternal life with Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians Chapter 2

Paul’s Proclamation

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.

Spiritual Wisdom

We do, however, speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written,

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no human heart has conceived —

God has prepared these things for those who love him.

Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.

The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. For

who has known the Lord’s mind,

that he may instruct him?

But we have the mind of Christ.

Closing Thoughts

The most outstanding part of this chapter to me is not necessarily a verse or group of verses but the collective message.  It’s this:  If you don’t know Christ, if you are not a regenerated spiritual being, you will never understand spiritual things.  You will be eternally lost in the foolishness of this world – the lies and the hypocrisies. 

We cannot even conceive of the things God has prepared for us; for those of us who love Him.  The energy with which Paul speaks of belonging to Christ jumps off the page.  Here’s the deal:  When a person commits his life to Christ; when she admits she is a sinner, asks forgiveness, and receives His free gift of grace, the Holy Spirit immediately takes up residency in that person. 

Now, don’t twist my words…we’ve talked about the renewing of the mind and sanctification that continues to take place; both of which take time.  Heck, it takes the rest of our lives.  But what does take place immediately is justification and regeneration.  God’s own Spirit comes to indwell the believer and to secure and preserve his eternal salvation.  It is God’s pledge of the believer’s future inheritance.  And it’s free!  Only believe.  Let’s pray. 

Prayer

Father, I’m literally jumping up and down inside.  Thank You.  Thank You for this incredible gift.  If there is anyone – anyone at all – whether within the sound of my voice or an acquaintance of someone in the sound of my voice – who hasn’t made this confession of faith, I pray that by Your compassion and power and grace they are convinced to take that step right now.  I pray it be so.  For their good and Your glory, Lord.  I pray it be so.  Amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.