Speaking God's Mind

1 Corinthians 2:6–16 NIV

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Introduction: I wonder what you think of those people who say that God was speaking to them?

We have our ways of Thinking.

Different Philosophies of that day - Created a Dualism.

Platonism

Aristotle

Stoicism

Even the Way the Religious Rulers thought.

The ways we Know things Chart:

Reason/Logic, Observation/Empirical, Experience, Senses/Feelings, Authority/Tradition - These are all ways that Paul says are from Natural Man - Not necessarily bad, but does not always help us know God who is above these things.

Paul says, there is another way for those

These can create division around these ways of thinking.

Paul says there is another way...

The Spirit Speaks God’s Mind.

Stories when we assumed we know what people were thinking and projected on them something false in conflict.

Why - We do not really know what people are thinking unless they tell us.

Revalation - Scripture, Yes, Paul, here also indicates that it is the Spirit who Speaks the Mind of God. - Scripture speaks the clearest revelation of who God is openly.

The Spirit, though not a special refelation, will speak to us in ways to empower his ministry through us.

2. “Human ears cannot hear high-frequency radio waves; deaf men are unable to judge music contests; blind men cannot enjoy beautiful scenery; and the unsaved are incompetent to judge spiritual things, a most important practical truth” (S. Lewis Johnson, Jr., “I Corinthians,” in The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, ed. Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison [Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1990],1233).

2. “Human ears cannot hear high-frequency radio waves; deaf men are unable to judge music contests; blind men cannot enjoy beautiful scenery; and the unsaved are incompetent to judge spiritual things, a most important practical truth” (S. Lewis Johnson, Jr., “I Corinthians,” in The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, ed. Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison [Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1990],1233).

1. Unfortunately, the Holy Spirit is often neglected (or maybe even avoided) because he wrongly gets blamed for “the weird stuff.” But just because someone says the Holy Spirit is who motivated or led them to do something doesn’t mean it was really him. It might have actually been their immaturity or flesh. We can’t throw out a whole person of the Trinity just because people misuse his name and reputation.

So, How do we listen to the H.S. Well?

How do we listen to the Spirit?

Take them through the Kingdom Ambassadors Card.

Conclusion: Can We listen to God? Yes, and it is the Holy Spirit who speaks the mind of God to us as the Holy Spirit desires.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 1, 21, 49, 53, 65, 67, 70, 76, 79, 115-116 Belgic Confession: Article 5, 8, 11, 22, 24, 27, Canons of Dort: Head II, Article 8; Head III & IV, Article 3, 11; Head V, Article 1, 11

atechism: Q&A 1, 21, 49, 53, 65, 67, 70, 76, 79, 115-116 Belgic Confession: Article 5, 8, 11, 22, 24, 27, Canons of Dort: Head II, Article 8; Head III & IV, Article 3, 11; Head V, Article 1, 11