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. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect:
yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world,…but we
speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,…But God hath
revealed them unto us by His Spirit…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 teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches…But the natural man
receives not the things of the Spirit of God….But he that is spiritual judges
all things.
—1 Corinthians 2:4-7, 10, 12-15
In this passage Paul contrasted the spirit of
the world and the Spirit of God. It was in seeking knowledge that man fell. It
was in the pride of knowledge that heathenism had its origin: “Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22).
Man’s wisdom is incapable of understanding God
or His wisdom. Because his heart is alienated from God his mind is darkened.
Even when in Christ the light of God in its divine love shone upon men, they
knew it not and saw no beauty in it.
Divine revelation, as Paul discussed it in
this chapter, means three things. God must make known in His Word what He
thinks and does. Every preacher who is to communicate the message must
continually be taught by the Spirit how to speak it. And every hearer needs the
inward illumination. As we have the mind and attitudes of Christ, we can
discern the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.
Reject the spirit of the world still in you
with its wisdom and self-confidence. Come, in poverty of spirit, to be led by
the Spirit. “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). The Spirit will teach a transformed,
renewed life that wants only to know God’s perfect will. Deny your own fleshly
wisdom. Wait for the wisdom in the inward parts that God has promised (Psalm
51:6). You will increasingly be able to testify of the things that have not
entered into the hearts of men and will understand that “God hath revealed
them unto us by his Spirit.”
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