Sermon Central
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Now I Get It!
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jul 16, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: Apostle Paul understood Christ and he understood that we must have a balanced life that begins and ends with Christ
Now I get it!
Introduction-
Turn to 1 Corinthians 2:6-14
As you are turning there, let me set up this passage.
We have for several weeks been looking at topics like priorities, God being first in your life, taking responsibilities for your actions.
We have looked at balancing life’s demands against how the Lord wants us to live and this morning looking at the power that is available to believers through the Holy Spirit of God.
Sandwiched between three chapters of Corinthians is wisdom and power that comes from God.
Chapter one describes the awesome power of God- what is man by himself, but a created being of God.
God chooses the foolish things to confuse man’s wisdom to show the wisdom and power of God.
Chapter three we see division already in the church as man in his own wisdom began following their favorite men rather than putting their trust and allegiance in Christ.
Right in the middle of that, Apostle Paul describes himself as not a man of fine words, not exceptionally smart man, and that “he resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
He understood Christ.
He understood what Christ did for each one of us.
He understood the power that was available to believers in Christ.
He understood the promises of God
He made no claim to fame and everything He did was because of Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit working in him.
Paul began to share some of the God given wisdom that came to him from God.
He shares that he brings a message that not only comes from God, but has the power of God to change people and circumstances.
He very clearly says that the rulers of this age won’t get it.
Those that have not experienced a change of heart will not be able to understand or grasp this truth.
The truth that they cannot grasp is the truth of Christ crucified, Christ resurrected, Christ redemption for mankind.
Those that know Christ received not this truth in their own wisdom but by God revealing to us by His Holy Spirit, and us being drawn to Him.
Those that do not know Christ, it is foolishness, it does not make sense.
It will not make sense until God reveals himself and they respond to His love and drawn to Him.
“The man without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot accept them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
God’s Holy Spirit has been resisted since the day of Pentecost.
He has been ridiculed and thought to be foolish.
He has been misunderstood because to understand God, it must be spiritually discerned.
(10) Tells us that the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Not searching as if He is trying to find something or don’t know where to find it, but the
Holy Spirit of God searches and knows the thoughts of God. He reveals these truths to believers.
He empowers us to know the things of God.
He empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to God.
He empowers us to seek to have the mind of Christ.
The city of Corinth was a thriving city.
It was a place of great exportation and transportation.
The culture was away from God.
The city was full of temples of all kinds of gods.
Aphrodite, the goddess of love loomed over the city, and prostitution ran high because of being a seaport with many travelers.
Apostle Paul reveals a true pastors heart as he deals with Christian conduct and reveals that the Holy Spirit of God is the only way to change a heart.
There are three levels that man falls into. Each one of us falls into one of these levels.
Natural Man (Man without the Spirit of God)
Carnal Man (Man without the Spirit of God and without understanding)
Spiritual Man (A man/women lead by the Spirit.
Now it really does not matter what level we think we are at, the only thing that matters is where the Lord sees you.
Natural man-
Natural man is far from God- from the fall of man, man was born into sin, and without Christ is lost spiritually.
(14) Natural man (man without the Spirit) does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God.
The natural man cannot know the things of God! (though some think they do)
The things of God are foolishness- He/she is unappreciative of the things Christ did and feels no need for God.
He sees no need to read his Bible. He sees no need to go to church. He sees no need for anything spiritual that would cause him to make a change.
