Supernatural Wisdom and Communion

The Word of the Cross

English Standard Version Chapter 1

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Paul uses the cross as the symbol for the Gospel and wisdom. We need to be able to identify with the sacrifice of Jesus to become carriers for the Holy Spirit.

In this hour people are looking for reason and wisdom and are coming up short. Science isn’t providing the kind of answers we are used to, they don’t have a vaccine yet, they don’t have a widely used treatment of any kind, all they have is what seems to be wisdom to the scientific community. Even among the specialist there is a wide variety of beliefs and protocols, so where does the Church fall on all of this?

I’m not a doctor, I’m not a scientist, I’m not even a very good Jesus follower. I am a flawed individual. Where then is my hope? Where does wisdom come from? How am I to navigate this season well and look back with the satisfaction that I was obedient to the Lord?

I believe that God will use the low, weak, unwise, and even foolish people of the Kingdom to shame the high-minded, powerful, and wise. He does this through the message of the Gospel.

When my message is simplified to Jesus Christ and Him crucified I position myself under His authority and rulership. I don’t have to convince anyone of anything, in fact the Gospel is in direct opposition to worldly understanding and wisdom. The central point of the Gospel is the resurrection of Jesus, a completely inexplicable and miraculous event, yet we try to reason away the rest of our existence. My whole faith is built on this supernatural event, but I naturally want to live in a way that has scientific backing and sound logic. This one element is a hard one for me, I love for things to make sense, for me to be able to figure out some sort of formula or method and reduce my life down. I am so convicted in this season of the need to live supernaturally. I need my faith to rest in the power of God, not in the wisdom of men

We have received Holy Spirit through the work of Jesus. Holy Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. Holy Spirit wants to reveal things to us. says that it is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out. Real searching, the kind that will produce lasting fruit, requires the leading of Holy Spirit.

I believe that in this hour, with all the uncertainty and chaos in the world, that we need to be examining ourselves regularly. I don’t want to focus our attention on ourselves, searching your own soul for answers will not give you relief. I do want to call us to the table of the Lord! I want us to be able to sit with the Lord, in the craziness of the world and trust Him! I want us to know that we are surrounded! We have provision! We have everything we need in Him!

We only reap the reward of His table when we properly examine ourselves.

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

I believe that what Paul is communicating through 1 Cor is that we need a simple Gospel message that reminds us of the supernatural redemption that we have received. Through the work of Jesus we have received Holy Spirit to lead us and instruct us on the mind of God. That instruction should call us to a higher standard of living. It should provoke me to examine my heart and judge where I’m at with the Lord. That judgement and examination should lead me to a place where I am totally dependent on Him. we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory. We don’t measure up! That is why many of us are weak and ill, and some have died. We studied this a while back, the series Killing Kryptonite with John Bevere took us on a deep dive into removing the sin that causes distance and death to our souls. John used this verse to drive home the severity of sin’s impact on my life. I don’t want to spend too much time there, but if you haven’t read that book you should get a copy and dive into it, it will change you!

The severity of vs 30 is followed up with this encouragement in vs 31 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. If we judged ourselves truly, if we separated ourselves from our natural defense mechanism we would clearly see where we have missed the mark. Then identifying that shortcoming and repenting brings us into a place of deep fellowship and communion. This is not a magic formula, its not a 12 step program, its not a method of manipulation where I get what I want if I follow this progression. BUT! What it absolutely is an invitation back to the table of the Lord. At His table I have provision, at His table I have peace, at His table I have intimacy, at His table I hear His voice clearly, at His table I am sitting under the glorious authority of my King and that is where I want to be. That is where I will receive the encouragement and instruction to be a light in this strange time. I want to call us to a lifestyle of communion. It doesn’t always have to be crackers and juice, use whatever you have, but come to His table daily! I believe that will create and atmosphere of humility and faith that will see our world redeemed!