Enticing Words of Man - Study 6/16/11
Enticing Words of Man
Hello Corinthians. I am Apostle Paul. As I look around and have observed, you serve so many gods and you are confused about which is true and most powerful. I have come to bring you a better gospel that will meet all your needs and make you happy always. You only need to serve one God through Jesus Christ who died and rose again to insure that you are always happy and prosperous. With Jesus on your side and as you work very hard, you will always realize the Corinthian dream of pleasure, happiness and prosperity. Don’t you see that of all the people on earth, those who believe in this our God should always be happy and God can do anything for you if you just ask because Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive”. Now what are you waiting for. Give your lives to God through Jesus and all your misery will go away. God wants you to be happy always and wants you to be rich and prosper because he owns the whole world and all of God’s is yours. All you need to do through prayer in Jesus name is just to name whatever you want and you have it. God will bless you beyond your imagination and as he does, the more you give to the church the more he will give you.
You have read Acts 18. Is the above illustrating how Paul came and preached to the Corinthians? Paul said to the Corinthians, “4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5. In our study for today, Paul continues on dealing with the roots of the contentions and divisions in the Corinthian Church. He compares the wisdom of this world with the wisdom of God. The Gospel is the Wisdom of God because it does not make sense to the natural senses but only to Spiritual senses.
Unfortunately these days, the above introductory summation (the prosperity gospel) is what is being preached in many Churches and places today. It is the wisdom of man. You can appeal and persuade most people with words that they want to hear as long as you feed it back to them repeatedly. What are you preaching through your words and life? And in addition, what and who are you listening to that is only appealing to your feelings and wants? Let’s get God’s wisdom through His Word. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” Proverbs 4:7.
1 Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony[a] of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[c]
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy[d] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?”[e] But we have the mind of Christ.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul continues from the previous chapter 1 in explanation and in defense of his style as compared to those of Apollos. Remember the divisions in the Corinthian Church was of the sort that some were preferring Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter) (1Cor. 1:12). “Perhaps Apollos (Acts 18:24-28) had influenced the Corinthians in such a way that they were placing undue emphasis on eloquence and intellectual ability”. Paul is not discounting education. It is okay to be well read in this world and obtain all the degrees our man made universities can offer. However, no degree or philosophical attainment can be compared to the Wisdom of God.
2. Paul is saying to the Corinthians that Spirit gives birth to Spiritual life. “In demonstration of the Spirit and of power”. God’s work is accomplished in us through His Holy Spirit. “7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (John 16: 7-13).
3. Note, where the faith of the Corinthians and our faith must stand on. “That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” vs. 5. Any other foundation is on sinking sand and will eventually crumble. The power of God is the power to deliver from sin and death through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection as our substitution.
4. God’s wisdom has been revealed and given to us in the person of Jesus Christ. “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[c] 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” Vs. Christianity is not mystical but a mystery which has been made known to us. We thank God for this. People will make it seem mystical but we should not go for it. They speak of the “deep things” as if it is only available to a select few.
5. Whether it is the Corinthians or any other human being, we cannot understand Spiritual things by the natural mind. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” vs.14. This is the more reason why we must continue in prayer for our friends and loved ones who have not yet come to believe in Christ. Our eyes were opened by God that allowed us to see and know God. It is going to be the same process for everyone. It is like going to the 3-D movies. If you are not wearing the special 3-D glasses, you will not see the movie in 3 dimensions.
Where are you and I getting our wisdom from? If it is not coming from God’s word then it is the wisdom of man. We are living in the last days when people only want to hear what they want to hear. Paul instructed Timothy. “3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:3-5).
Lord, help me to be discerning your truth and to apply your wisdom in my life. You said if any lacks wisdom to ask (James 1). Lord I need your wisdom for these day and days to come to be ready for your soon return. Help me to get wisdom and with all my getting to get understanding . Amen.
Hello Corinthians. I am Apostle Paul. As I look around and have observed, you serve so many gods and you are confused about which is true and most powerful. I have come to bring you a better gospel that will meet all your needs and make you happy always. You only need to serve one God through Jesus Christ who died and rose again to insure that you are always happy and prosperous. With Jesus on your side and as you work very hard, you will always realize the Corinthian dream of pleasure, happiness and prosperity. Don’t you see that of all the people on earth, those who believe in this our God should always be happy and God can do anything for you if you just ask because Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive”. Now what are you waiting for. Give your lives to God through Jesus and all your misery will go away. God wants you to be happy always and wants you to be rich and prosper because he owns the whole world and all of God’s is yours. All you need to do through prayer in Jesus name is just to name whatever you want and you have it. God will bless you beyond your imagination and as he does, the more you give to the church the more he will give you.
You have read Acts 18. Is the above illustrating how Paul came and preached to the Corinthians? Paul said to the Corinthians, “4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5. In our study for today, Paul continues on dealing with the roots of the contentions and divisions in the Corinthian Church. He compares the wisdom of this world with the wisdom of God. The Gospel is the Wisdom of God because it does not make sense to the natural senses but only to Spiritual senses.
Unfortunately these days, the above introductory summation (the prosperity gospel) is what is being preached in many Churches and places today. It is the wisdom of man. You can appeal and persuade most people with words that they want to hear as long as you feed it back to them repeatedly. What are you preaching through your words and life? And in addition, what and who are you listening to that is only appealing to your feelings and wants? Let’s get God’s wisdom through His Word. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” Proverbs 4:7.
1 Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony[a] of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[c]
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy[d] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?”[e] But we have the mind of Christ.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul continues from the previous chapter 1 in explanation and in defense of his style as compared to those of Apollos. Remember the divisions in the Corinthian Church was of the sort that some were preferring Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter) (1Cor. 1:12). “Perhaps Apollos (Acts 18:24-28) had influenced the Corinthians in such a way that they were placing undue emphasis on eloquence and intellectual ability”. Paul is not discounting education. It is okay to be well read in this world and obtain all the degrees our man made universities can offer. However, no degree or philosophical attainment can be compared to the Wisdom of God.
2. Paul is saying to the Corinthians that Spirit gives birth to Spiritual life. “In demonstration of the Spirit and of power”. God’s work is accomplished in us through His Holy Spirit. “7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (John 16: 7-13).
3. Note, where the faith of the Corinthians and our faith must stand on. “That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” vs. 5. Any other foundation is on sinking sand and will eventually crumble. The power of God is the power to deliver from sin and death through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection as our substitution.
4. God’s wisdom has been revealed and given to us in the person of Jesus Christ. “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[c] 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” Vs. Christianity is not mystical but a mystery which has been made known to us. We thank God for this. People will make it seem mystical but we should not go for it. They speak of the “deep things” as if it is only available to a select few.
5. Whether it is the Corinthians or any other human being, we cannot understand Spiritual things by the natural mind. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” vs.14. This is the more reason why we must continue in prayer for our friends and loved ones who have not yet come to believe in Christ. Our eyes were opened by God that allowed us to see and know God. It is going to be the same process for everyone. It is like going to the 3-D movies. If you are not wearing the special 3-D glasses, you will not see the movie in 3 dimensions.
Where are you and I getting our wisdom from? If it is not coming from God’s word then it is the wisdom of man. We are living in the last days when people only want to hear what they want to hear. Paul instructed Timothy. “3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:3-5).
Lord, help me to be discerning your truth and to apply your wisdom in my life. You said if any lacks wisdom to ask (James 1). Lord I need your wisdom for these day and days to come to be ready for your soon return. Help me to get wisdom and with all my getting to get understanding . Amen.
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