Monday's Message: Spiritual Understanding

Spiritual Understanding  I Corinthians 2:1-16

I Corinthians 2:1-2. “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

Paul introduces this passage by reminding them that from the first time they met until now he had always used plain and simple language with them concerning the things of God, and that his primary motivation for getting to know them and teaching them was to ensure they would know the Gospel of Christ.

I Corinthians 2:3-5. “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Paul was very serious about the delivery of truth, and was adamant about it being taught exactly as God had given it to him. He did not wish to lead people astray, but to bring them closer to God through the power of the Holy Spirit.  It seems that he was fearful of speaking to them, yet in spite of his own weakness, fear, and trembling he boldly proclaimed truth in their ears.  He had no interest in spreading his own opinions; he knew that the faith of those he would teach could never stand on his words or beliefs, but if their faith was founded on God’s Word then they would have a sure place to stand.

I Corinthians 2:6-8. “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 

Now among those who possess the Holy Spirit, which is every believer, more than just the Gospel is shared.  They are now saved, and have need of spiritual growth.  Paul is saying that not everything contained in the Word of God is right there on the surface; at times, Bible study can be very tedious, and can take a great deal of time to gain a good understanding of a given passage.  Also, it requires faith to believe the whole story or message.  It was obvious to Paul, that it was a mystery; because, many people, princes and rulers included, remain ignorant of the details of the Gospel and ministry of Christ.  Some of them were willfully ignorant, but ignorant none the less.

I Corinthians 2:9-13. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

There are some things in the spoken of in the Bible about which only the Holy Spirit can provide clear understanding.  He knows and understands each one of us perfectly, and He also possesses infinite wisdom and knowledge.  He desires to teach to us, but we must study and pray and be submissive to Him in order to allow Him teach us these things.

I Corinthians 2:14-16. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

The natural man refers to the ordinary man who lacks the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit of God.  The Scriptures will never be clear to anyone who in not yielded to the Spirit.  God’s Word is a powerful, deep, and living book, and He wants each of us to benefit from the truth contained in its pages.  However, He will not “pull back the veil” allowing anyone to experience His wisdom until they have surrendered themselves to Him and placed their faith in Him to guide them.

Please, do not buy into the lie of the devil that “The Bible is too hard to understand”, so you need a more updated version.

I Corinthians 14:33 God is not the author of confusion… there is only one Bible for every language!

We simply need the Holy Spirit to guide us and to teach us!

I Corinthians 2:14 Tells us that we are not able to fully grasp all that is in the book without Him.

Ps. 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Most times we would understand the passages we are reading better if we understood the complete meaning of the words. You need to have a good dictionary.  I recommend you purchase a Webster’s 1828.  Mr. Webster used the King James Version (KJV) to guide his writing of the dictionary.