1/11/2023

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭16‬.

Just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

God sent His spirit to comfort and instruct us, that we might be strong in our faith and go to all the world in His name. This was so important that the risen Christ told His disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4-5). God’s spirit is absolutely essential to our relationship with Him.

Paul writes that by receiving the Holy Spirit “we may know the things freely given to us by God” (v. 12). This is puzzling to people who have not yet accepted Jesus, because they rely on natural things rather than the spirit. We can’t understand true faith on our own, we need the presence of the Holy Spirit to speak into our lives and inspire us to use God’s gifts for the good of His children.

Paul says in Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ”, encouraging us to think and live as Jesus did. We are called to share the love He brought to earth with all our brothers and sisters. Paul closes this passage with the assurance that “we have the mind of Christ” (v. 16), the promise that we have been saved through God’s grace.

Loving Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide and unite us. Help us to be good stewards of the faith, sharing the joy we have found in You with everyone. Amen.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *