Today we read 1 Corinthians 2 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I LOVE this chapter! In verses 1-2 Paul says this:
And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; 2 for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].
The Word of God is alive and powerful! There is NO need for eloquent speech or practiced presentations! The Word is received by those hungry and thirsty for more of HIM and understood personally and uniquely by Holy Spirit Who indwells every born again believer. Paul goes on to say this in verses 4-5:
4 And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them], 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God.
Paul explains this supernatural power and Wisdom in verses 6-7:
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those spiritually mature [believers who have teachable hearts and a greater understanding]; but [it is a higher] wisdom not [the wisdom] of this present age nor of the rulers and leaders of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom once hidden [from man, but now revealed to us by God, that wisdom] which God predestined before the ages to our glory [to lift us into the glory of His presence].
Our God desires that we KNOW HIM! He reveals Himself within His Word, but only those who are born again have the ability to understand and only those who go after this Wisdom will be able to dig it out! Verses 13-14:
13 And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. 14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.
The unbeliever CANNOT understand the Word of God because they do NOT have Holy Spirit living in them and ONLY Holy Spirit can reveal and make known to us what the Word of God is REALLY saying and how to put it into practice! Simply hearing the Word taught will not give us the understanding, either! We can sit through teaching after teaching and come away with nothing IF we do not apply ourselves to seeking the Truth! We do this by meditating on the Word. Joshua 1:8 is an excellent charge to us!
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
And Hosea 6:3 is another charge to us:
3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
We must make it our 'determined purpose' to know more, and then Holy Spirit will work with us! There is no limit to the understanding of God's Word but that which we put upon ourselves by our choices and decisions. I hope that YOU are stirring yourself up to go after MORE OF HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Know You More":
Shalom in Him!
