As I was thinking back on the various storms we encounter seasonally,
I can't help but be thankful for our weather radio! Our attention is gained
via it's loud beeps, followed by a stream of facts informing us of threatening
weather conditions in the area. The plain and simple truth is given out
so that we can strategize properly and remain safe and confident throughout
the storms. Hence, we become wiser in preparing for what lies on the horizon.
So too, the Spirit of God speaks to us with urgency about certain situations
in our life that He would like to prepare us for, via the wisdom of God.
Has the Spirit "beeped" you lately? When have you been in a stormy situation
where you wished God would speak directly to you? What was your confidence
level at the time? To what sources would you say people most often look
for wisdom? To what sources do you most often look to? Let's turn to 1
Corinthians chapter 2 and take a moment to read through before we begin,
and then we'll find some answers to these questions.
In verses 1-5, let's first consider that Paul thought it was important
HOW his message of the gospel was delivered to the Corinthians. He gave
careful thought to his approach and determined to lay aside that which
would hinder their clear understanding of God's wisdom...
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech
or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined
not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And
my speech and 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."
Ladies, Paul did not come to the Corinthians to glorify himself or to
start his own following as many were guilty of doing in that day. (Remember
Simon?) Paul came with a purpose, a determination to declare unto them
the gospel of Jesus Christ and not to spiritually "show off" or impress.
He emphasized here in these verses that folks would not get a performance
of eloquent words or speech out of him, but rather a demonstration of
the Spirit and of power. Why? Because Paul was bent on glorifying God's
wisdom, not man's! Herein lies the secret to his confidence and his boldness
in sharing the gospel.
Which reminds me... How's your confidence level these days, dear lady?
You haven't been placing it in your own wisdom have you? If so, you won't
get very far in your own faith or in assisting the faith of another...
You won't experience much spiritual progress, for the wisdom of man is
a shallow well compared to the wisdom of God! The Bible says it comes
to naught... Ladies, I hope that we, as Christians, are not turning to
the world for our wisdom, even when it comes to understanding the Lord
or His Word, for it is a dead end street! We don't need to rely on resources
such as Christian books to discern spiritual things when the abiding presence
of the Spirit of God also brings with Him the mind of Christ! When in
the past has the Spirit enabled you to understand the things of God? Far
too many preachers, teachers, and Christians in general so magnify themselves
and their gifts that they fail to reveal a genuine demonstration of the
Spirit and of power in their lives!
Isaiah 47:8-10, "Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures,
that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else
beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of
children: But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day,
the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their
perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance
of thine enchantments. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast
said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee;
and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me."
What is the center of the message you are bringing to others? Your wisdom,
or God's? Your life is a testimony of one or the other... Paul stated
that he was with the Corinthians in weakness, and in fear, and in much
trembling. That does not sound like a man who is depending upon his own
abilities to fulfill his ministry, amen? Ladies, sinners are transformed
by the power of God, not by our personal talents or gifts! Paul is saying
here that it was not him that was getting the job done, but rather God
in him and through him. You see, it's not our personalities that make
the ministry effective, but the Spirit of God entering our personality
that brings about a powerful demonstration. Hence, Paul was trusting the
Spirit of God to work in the hearts of the hearers, and not in himself.
Romans 7:18, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no
good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which
is good I find not."
So too, when we share the Word of God, we must be prepared to use our
talents and gifts, yet also be careful at the same time not to place our
confidence in them. Have you been sharing the gospel simply to "show off"
spiritually and impress others with your independent, fundamental, Bible
knowledge?? Have you utilized your talents for the purpose of being recognized
above others? What have the results been with such a shallow performance?
No doubt about it, the apostle Paul saw results wherever he went. He experienced
firsthand a demonstration of the power of God drawing people to Christ
with a simple message put simply, apart from "showing off." In other words,
he got out of the way and let God move!
1 Cor. 1:26-29, "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many
wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise;
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised,
hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things
that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence."
Perhaps you've NOT reached out to others simply because your confidence
level in yourself has been low. You're in God's way too! As a matter of
fact, that is precisely the best time to launch out! For then you will
see the power of God in your life as His strength is made perfect in your
weakness, as His Spirit moves through your personality to accomplish that
which God desires... What was Paul's goal in approaching the Corinthians
with the mindset he spoke of here in our main verses today? What was it
he wanted them to realize? Why do you enter into spiritual conversations?
What do you want others to realize? Let's look at verse 5 again:
"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power
of God."
I'd say Paul knows something that we need to be reminded of - that clever
speech and polished words will save no one! Otherwise, you and I would
be at the mercy of the next man or woman that came along more enchanting
than the first... Paul wanted other's faith to stand, and to stand not
in the wisdom of men, but in God. Have you ever considered that your being
caught up in impressing others with clever spiritual arguments, impressive
amounts of Bible knowledge, or past experiences, could actually hinder
such an important thing from taking place?? Ladies, Paul wanted these
people to trust in God and His wisdom alone. He wanted them to know the
same demonstration of the Spirit and power could be evident in their lives
as well as his! Is your life such a demonstration of power? It will be
if you are trusting the wisdom of God! What is your motive for ministry,
for coming alongside others, for bringing the gospel message - to perform
your own fleshly abilities or to demonstrate God's?? If you are looking
to yourself or the world's wisdom for confidence, you will never experience
God at work in your life in the powerful way that Paul did!
You see ladies, the Corinthians were guilty of glorying in men and considered
themselves wise when it came to the Holy Spirit. I believe we Christians
are guilty of that same thing today. We think we are so tapped into the
Holy Spirit that we walk around like Moses with our rod and a "stand back
and see the power of God in me" attitude. So much so, that we have caused
others to think they could never be used by God. Hence, some have inappropriately
decided that God cannot work in them the same way He is working in others
- and that is a lie! No personality is exempt from the possibility of
the power of God flowing through it.
1 Corinthians 2:9 says, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which
God hath prepared for them that love him."
Tell me ladies, what does Paul have that you don't have? Did the disciples
have access to more of the Spirit of God than we do? Of course not! We
must glory in the Lord and not in ourselves or our spiritual leaders...
God has prepared a job for you to do and He will equip you with the necessary
power to see to it that that particular job gets done, the same way he
did with them. But will you be hindered by the world's wisdom, possibly
by your own ability or inability, or will you allow the wisdom of God
to usher forth a demonstration of the Spirit and power in accomplishing
that very task He called you to do? Our human methods of understanding
fail to uncover the good things God has for us, but the Spirit reveals
them...
1 Cor. 2:10-11, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for
the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what
man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."
Just for a moment, mentally subtract the Holy Spirit's presence from your
life... Now tell me, could you still do what you do for God without Him?
Would you still be the same type of person if the Spirit did not reside
within your heart? If the answer is yes, chances are you're operating
in the flesh! Chances are you're leaning upon your own strengths rather
than God's - either that or you aren't stepping out by faith to accomplish
any impossibilities via a demonstration of the Spirit in you! That's the
difference Paul was referring to... Let's stop taking credit for those
accomplishments in our lives that belong to the Holy Spirit, amen? Neither
should we deceive ourselves into thinking that which we are able to do
is always because we are filled with the Spirit - it could just be your
flesh! What percentage of your Christian life is really a work of God??
In closing, what specific things can you ask the Holy Spirit to do in
your heart and mind as you read and study the Bible to further understand
this truth today? Without properly understanding God's wisdom, you and
I will not live up to our holy calling, but will instead follow the world's
standards and be led by the wisdom of the world right down a dead-end
street. Do you feel like that's where you've been spiritually parked as
of late? Why not turn off that road and turn onto the road that leads
to the glory of God? Yes, we can be aware of our unworthiness, but it
should point us to the worthiness of the Lord Jesus Christ and bring a
holy boldness to our lives enabling us to do the impossible! We can follow
the same formula the apostle Paul did as found in the Word of God:
Declaring the testimony of God + Determining to know nothing but Christ
= Demonstration of the Spirit and power
The result? Your faith will stand in the power of God above all else,
thereby pointing others in the right direction - away from the world and
it's wisdom, straight toward the glory of God with the Spirit as your
guide!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 1999 Pamela A. Iannello
