I Cor.2

In Mel Gibson’s movie “What Women Want”, the actor was miraculously given the ability to hear what women were thinking. At first he used the gift to take advantage of women, but then he began to use it to relate to them better. One of those women was his 15 year-old daughter who had little respect for him because of his indifference toward her. But hearing her needs and her vulnerabilities stirred his dormant fatherly love. The scene where they went shopping for a prom-dress is particularly touching.

But in the real world we obviously can not know the unspoken thoughts of others. The apostle Paul made that point when he concluded: “For who knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him?” (I Cor.2:11) The only way I could really know my wife’s thoughts would be to have her spirit implanted in my soul. As good as that knowledge would be, an even greater gift would be to know the intimate thoughts of God. And who knows God’s thoughts? Paul explained: “No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” So if I want to know God’s most private thoughts, I must have His Spirit transplanted into me. But this also must be a fantasy, right? Wrong! “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” (2:12) Wow!

We often talk about the wonder of our salvation -- the infinite, holy, all powerful God gave his life so that we might have life. But an equally, if not more, astounding truth is that he sent His Spirit to make a home in our finite, unholy, weak selves so that we can know Him intimately. Why would he reveal his “secret wisdom” to us in this way? We will never understand but we can praise God for such an undeserved and unexpected gift! “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” (2:9)

Questions for I Cor.3 - Oct.9
1.What does it mean to be "spiritual"? "worldly"?
2.What are the characteristics of spiritual infants?
3.How should those who are ministering to others view themselves?
4.What rewards is Paul talking about in 3:14? How are those rewards achieved? When will they be given?

Next Sunday evening prayer fellowship: October 23, 6:00 P.M. Any volunteers to host?