Jesus told us that he came to throw swords, dividing family members, countrymen, and nations. This doesn’t seem like a typical Sunday morning sermon. One division we have on earth is that people either have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, or they do not. Christian life is not about a brainy knowledge of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it is about the indwelling of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. We need the head knowledge to understand the realm we live in but we only attain this knowledge via the Holy Spirit. We live in four dimensions, length, width, height, and time. But for us time only moves forward. We cannot go backward into the past to another time. We cannot go sit at the feet of Jesus, or war with David, or hang out with Daniel in the lions den. We can only move forward from now. The knowledge preserved for us to understand, which has to be understood in light of the time it was written, was written as holy men spoke, moved by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has lived through all of our history. However a clever enemy has smeared much of the truth of the Elohim, the Father, the Son, and especially the Holy Spirit. Since we cannot go back to the time when the Holy Spirit brooded upon the waters, or was the architect in the beginning, we have to rely on what information we have. Just before sending them out on a missions journey to heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead, Jesus told his twelve disciples that when they were delivered to the judges in the synagogues, they were not to be concerned about what they would speak because the Spirit of the Father would speak in them. Today, we have the Holy Spirit in us if we so choose. How do we choose? By believing on Jesus. It seems too easy. Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to enter the kingdom of the Elohim one must be born of Spirit. No one goes to heaven without having been born of the Holy Spirit. Paul told us that the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit. Clearly this tells us that there is a division here between people with the Holy Spirit and people without. Let’s explore.
Jesus told the disciples not to think about what they will say when they are brought before the Sanhedrin.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
The Father would speak to the Sanhedrin via the Holy Spirit, through the disciples. While this sounds mystical it really isn’t when you consider that the Holy Spirit indwells holy men and women who believe on Jesus as Messiah and Yahweh. People without the belief in Christ cannot understand the indwelling Holy Spirit, because spiritual matters are only one sided, demonic. The only spirits they are in contact with are demons, as well as Satanas principalities and powers whom he rules over. Demonic trickery is all they have. When one goes to a spiritual medium, that medium only channels demons. The funny part is that person can have the Creator of the universe dwelling within, and not have to pay an intermediary, as Timothy tells us that the only mediator between the Elohim and man is Jesus Christ, our Messiah.
This is similar to our dilemma of knowledge in the garden. All that the adam and Eve knew was good, they did not know evil. Once they took the challenge to become like the Elohim and know good and evil, all humanity had was an overwhelming knowledge of evil, and only glimpses of good. We humans have to fight and scrape to understand the knowledge of our Creator and His creation, and to learn what is good so that we can see the contrast. For people without the Holy Spirit, there is no contrast between the Holy Spirit and evil spirits. Everything they see is evil because they cannot see spiritual good.
Now apply that idea to the understanding of the Holy Spirit. Someone who does not have the Holy Spirit does not understand the things of the Spirit of the Elohim because they are trying to see the things of the Spirit through mud. The one without the Holy Spirit will not see the kingdom of the Elohim.
Jhn 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jhn 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus gives Nicodemus the key to entering heaven, being born again by Spirit.
Jhn 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Jhn 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Jhn 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Jhn 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Jesus makes the point that the wind breathes where it wants to. It goes wherever it goes. This is what people are like who are born of the Spirit. They breathe where they want to, they go wherever they go. While Nicodemus should have known the things of the Spirit, because the prophets and Zadok/Zedek priests had the Holy Spirit indwelling them, he did not. Nicodemus was a Pharisee. The Assideans knowledge was lost to the Pharisaical order. If Nicodemus had a time machine he could zip on over to David, or Melchizedek, or Elijah and ask, but evil men hid the knowledge of good, and now Nicodemus is learning from Jesus.
Jhn 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Jhn 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Jhn 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Jhn 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Remember the difference here between the Nazarene/Essenes/Assideans, and the order of the Pharisees. The Pharisaical order was corrupted in knowledge due to corruption in power. They did not teach true knowledge of the Holy Spirit. They had no prophets or true priests. Their priesthood had been corrupted by non-Jewish government officials deciding to make the priesthood non-Levitical with Jonathan Apphus who was defiled by his inherited blood, and by shedding of blood. The Pharisees became a political office of self preservation under the Romans.
Jesus asks Nicodemus how he doesn’t know this as a teacher to Israel. Nicodemus should have known the prophecies of the Messiah. He should have known the Holy Spirit personally. He was suppose to be teaching these things to others in the synagogues. Why wasn’t he? It was politically incorrect. The Pharisees believed that the Messiah was not coming, but if he did come he would come as a political leader to free Israel from Roman rule. The Pharisees didn’t teach people about the Holy Spirit because they were not born of the Holy Spirit, and they also did not want common people to have power. The Pharisees had to be the lords and rulers over Israel, and to make backdoor deals with the devil to stay in power.
Jhn 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Jhn 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Jhn 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus tells Nicodemus that he, Jesus, is the one. He is the Son of man. He descended from heaven. If we all believe this then we will have eternal life. This is hard for a teacher of the law, Nicodemus, to understand because he was all about the ritual acts of the law. If we bring a bull or a goat, if we are sprinkled with hyssop, if we pay a tithe, if we do no work on the Sabbath, then Nicodemus thinks that we are saved. We are not saved by works. We are saved by believing. Something so simple it is hardly realistic. Why? If all we know or see is spiritual evil, like looking through mud, we cannot see the Holy Spirit and the things of the Spirit. Nicodemus became a believing Pharisee.
Paul explains that the natural, physical, man does not lay hold of the Spirit of the Elohim.
1 Corinthians 2: 14 G5591 But the physical G1161 G444 man G3756 does not G1209 receive G3588 the things G3588 of the G4151 spirit G3588 G2316 of God; G3472 [3moronishness G1063 1for G1473 4to him G1510.2.3 2 they are], G2532 and G3756 he is not G1410 able G1097 to know them, G3754 for G4153 [2spiritually G350 1 they are examined].
The things of the Spirit are spiritually examined, or scrutinized, or investigated, or interrogated, or discerned. They are divinely judged. They are moronishness to regular non-spiritual people. It is like speaking about Physics to an infant. You can talk all you want but the infant doesn’t understand your words. Let’s back up to grab the context here. Paul is making an argument that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom, is not attainable by non-spiritual men, no matter if they are Jews or Greeks.
1 Corinthians 1:21 G1894 For since G1063 G1722 in G3588 the G4678 wisdom G3588 G2316 of God G3756 [3did not G1097 4know G3588 1the G2889 2world G1223 6through G3588 G4678 7wisdom G3588 G2316 5God], G2106 [2thought well G3588 G2316 1God] G1223 through G3588 the G3472 moronishness G3588 of the G2782 proclamation G4982 to deliver G3588 the ones G4100 believing.
Men’s wisdom is not impressive to the Elohim, so the Elohim did something really funny. He decided to deliver humans by their faith when they hear the gospel preached. To the Jews and Greeks it is moronish. There are no works, there is no sophistry, there are no decisions made by human counsels, it is all by the individual’s faith that the gospel message is true, that we are saved.
Remember the division here, natural man vs. the spiritual man. Natural man only knows and has dealt with the demonic and cannot understand the Holy Spirit.
I Corinthians 1:22 G1894 Since G2532 both G* Jews G4592 [2a sign G154 1ask for], G2532 and G* Greeks G4678 [2by wisdom G2212 1seek];
23 G1473 but we G1161 G2784 proclaim G5547 Christ G4717 being crucified, G* to Jews G3303 indeed G4625 an obstacle, G* and to Greeks G1161 G3472 moronishness;
24 G1473 but to these G1161 G3588 the G2822 chosen, G* both Jews G5037 G2532 and G* Greeks, G5547 Christ, G2316 God's G1411 power G2532 and G2316 God's G4678 wisdom.
25 G3754 For G3588 the G3474 moronish G3588 G2316 of God G4680 [2wiser than G3588 3the wisdom G444 4of men G1510.2.3 1is]; G2532 and G3588 the G772 weakness G3588 G2316 of God G2478 [2stronger than G3588 3the strength G444 4of men G1510.2.3 1is].
Christ is an obstacle for the Jews because many thousands of people saw Jesus after he was crucified. The disciples were all pointing out that Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies regarding his first coming. He opened blind eyes. Healed the sick and lame. Raised the dead. Yet the Jews still didn’t believe. The Greeks who were looking for a great wise orator who would bestow all the mysteries of the universe. Instead Jesus saved humans by their own faith in Jesus Messiah. This is so simple it seems foolish. It is too easy. Nevertheless, the Elohim didn’t give many people human wisdom or human knowledge. Instead he gave everyone who wants it, spiritual wisdom and spiritual knowledge just to confound the people with human wisdom. Likewise the Elohim chose the lowly and despised to abolish the world system of Satanas, so that no one would glory in His presence.
We love movies with one strong hero. This is not Hollywood. The Elohim chose many average people to each play a small part in tearing down the kingdom of Satanas. This is what confounds the wise.
I Corinthians 1: 30 G1537 [4of G1473 5him G1161 1But G1473 2you G1510.2.5 3are] G1722 in G5547 Christ G* Jesus, G3739 who G1096 became G1473 wisdom to us G4678 G575 from G2316 God, G1343 both righteousness G5037 G2532 and G38 sanctification G2532 and G629 release by ransom;
31 G2443 that, G2531 as G1125 it has been written, G3588 The one G2744 boasting, G1722 [2in G2962 3 the Lord G2744 1let him boast]!
“But are from out of him you are in Messiah Jesus that come into being wisdom to us away from Elohim both righteousness and purification, and release by ransom in order that just as written the boast in Yahweh boast.”
Jer 9:23 (Brenton) Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the strong man boast in his strength, and let not the rich man boast in his wealth;
Jer 9:24 but let him that boasts boast in this, the understanding and knowing that I am the Lord that exercise mercy, and judgment, and righteousness, upon the earth; for in these things is my pleasure, saith the Lord.
To boast is to “glory or exult”, and it is usually done by those who are humble, who recognize that they are not smart in themselves, but they are smart in Yahweh. Paul explains this and says that he did not go to Corinth with superior words or wisdom announcing the proof of the Elohim and not with persuasive words of human wisdom either. The people would not be able to hear the wisdom of the Elohim, because all they knew is the demonic. Paul needed to win them for Christ another way.
1 Corinthians 2:1 G2504 And I G2064 having come G4314 to G1473 you, G80 brethren, G2064 I came G3756 not G2596 according to G5247 superiority G3056 of word G2228 or G4678 wisdom, G2605 announcing G1473 to you G3588 the G3142 testimony G3588 G2316 of God.
2 G3756 [3not G1063 1For G2919 2I decided] G3588 G1492 to know G5100 anything G1722 among G1473 you G1508 except G* Jesus G5547 Christ, G2532 and G3778 this one G4717 being crucified.
3 G2532 And G1473 I G1722 in G769 weakness, G2532 and G1722 in G5401 fear, G2532 and G1722 in G5156 [2trembling G4183 1much] G1096 was G4314 with G1473 you;
4 G2532 and G3588 G3056 my word, G1473 G2532 and G3588 G2782 my proclaiming G1473 G3756 was not G1722 in G3981 persuasive G442 human G4678 [2of wisdom G3056 1words], G235 but G1722 in G585 a demonstration G4151 of spirit G2532 and G1411 power;
5 G2443 that G3588 the G4102 belief G1473 of yours G3361 should not be G1510.3 G1722 in G4678 wisdom G444 of men, G235 but G1722 in G1411 power G2316 of God.
Instead of speeches and skillful arguments regarding the Elohim Paul came to Corinth with the manifestation of the Spirit and dunamis, “miracle power”, so that the Corinthians faith would not be in men’s wisdom but in the miracle power of the Elohim. Instead of a Mars Hill expository of the Old Testament proof of Jesus the Messiah, Paul just walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, operating the gifts of the Spirit, wisdom, knowledge, miracles, healings, casting out demons, etc. This way they saw and believed the power of the Elohim instead of scrolls. The Corinthians were a secular society, even though some Jews lived there, the majority didn’t know what the prophecies were. It was a brilliant plan of the Holy Spirit for Paul to simply walk in power instead of talking about power.
By Paul utilizing the Holy Spirit’s power he effectively washed away some mud, or turned on a light in the darkness for them. They had only known of demonic spiritual power, and evil spiritual practices. Paul just started healing people. This spread the word far better than words of wisdom.
1 Corinthians 2:6 G4678 [3wisdom G1161 1But G2980 2we speak] G1722 among G3588 the ones G5046 completed; G4678 but wisdom G1161 G3756 not G3588 G165 of this eon, G3778 G3761 nor G3588 of the G758 rulers G3588 G165 of this eon G3778 G3588 of the ones G2673 being rendered useless.
Paul says he does speak about wisdom to those fully grown in Christ but not of Satanas’ rulers in this age who are being abolished and left unemployed. He speaks the wisdom of the Elohim to the fully grown believers in a mystery.
1 Corinthians 2:7 G235 But G2980 we speak G4678 wisdom G2316 of God G1722 in G3466 a mystery, G3588 the one G613 being concealed, G3739 which G4309 God predefined G3588 G2316 G4253 before G3588 the G165 eons G1519 for G1391 our glory; G1473
8 G3739 which G3762 not one G3588 of the G758 rulers G3588 G165 of this eon G3778 G1097 has known. G1487 For if G1063 G1097 they knew, G3756 [3not G302 2would G3588 5the G2962 6Lord G3588 G1391 7of glory G4717 1they 4have crucified].
Paul speaks of the wisdom of the Elohim, as he calls it in Ephesians, “the manifold or kaleidoscope wisdom of the Elohim”. He speaks this wisdom in a mystery that was hidden, which the Elohim determined to keep hidden before the ages for our glory. We get to know this wisdom as it unfolds in us. As His wisdom is shown through us, that the Elohim resides within us, we are glorified before all the principalities, powers, and rulers of this age. Had Satanas and his merry band of evil sons of God known, they would not have crucified Yahweh Jesus Messiah, because all we have to do is believe and we are born of the Spirit of the Elohim.
The miracle power of the Holy Spirit opened the door to speaking about Jesus. People wanted to know about the power and found the Messiah.
1 Corinthians 2:9 G235 But G2531 as G1125 it has been written, G3739 That which G3788 eye G3756 saw not, G1492 G2532 and G3775 ear G3756 heard not, G191 G2532 and G1909 into G2588 the heart G444 of man G3756 ascended not, G305 G3739 which G2090 God prepared G3588 G2316 G3588 to the ones G25 loving G1473 him.
10 G1473 But to us G1161 G3588 G2316 God G601 revealed G1223 by G3588 G4151 his spirit. G1473 G3588 For the G1063 G4151 spirit G3956 searches all things, G2045 G2532 even G3588 the G899 deep things G3588 G2316 of God.
These deep mysteries are revealed to us who love him, who by believing that the testimony of Jesus Christ is true, now have the Holy Spirit revealing the depth of the Elohim. The Elohim is deep. The Elohim is multifaceted. We are barely able to understand the profundity, bathos, of our spiritual life.
1 Corinthians 2:11 G5100 For who G1063 G1492 [2knows G444 1of men] G3588 the things G3588 G444 of man, G1508 except G3588 the G4151 spirit G3588 of the G444 man, G3588 the one G1722 in G1473 him? G3779 So G2532 also G3588 the things G3588 G2316 of God G3762 no one G1492 knows, G1508 except G3588 the G4151 spirit G3588 G2316 of God.
12 G1473 But we G1161 G3756 [2not G3588 3the G4151 4spirit G3588 5of the G2889 6world G2983 1received], G235 but G3588 the G4151 spirit, G3588 the one G1537 from G3588 G2316 God, G2443 that G1492 we should know G3588 the things G5259 [3by G3588 G2316 4God G5483 1being granted G1473 2to us].
“For who knows manfaced the the manfaced whether not the spirit the manfaced the in him if not and the the Elohim and not one come to know whether not the Spirit the Elohim but we not the Spirit the cosmos lay hold of rather the Spirit the from out of the Elohim so that know the under the Elohim show favor to us.”
The translation here is not particularly great. Let’s break this up into several sentences.
Who knows manfaced whether it’s the spirit of manfaced or the Spirit of the Elohim is in manfaced. We do not know whether or not people are of the Spirit of the Elohim. We don’t lay hold of the spirit of the cosmos rather the Spirit from out of the Elohim. We know that under the Elohim we are shown favor, which we speak as instructed by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:13 G3739 Which G2532 also G2980 we speak G3756 not G1722 in G1318 [2instructed G442 3by human G4678 4wisdom G3056 1words], G235 but G1722 by G1318 words instructed G4151 [2spirit G39 1of holy]; G4152 [3in spiritual ways G4152 1spiritual things G4793 2being interpreted].
We speak, instructed by the Holy Spirit, ethereal, comparing ethereal or non-carnal combining non-carnal. We are comparing, combining, judging, or explaining two things, spiritual and spiritual. The idea is that we are instructed by the Holy Spirit to compare, combine, and interpret, spiritual matters. We are not instructed in human words of wisdom, instead spiritual comparing spiritual.
Humans have a lot of their own wisdom, especially if they have lived long enough. Sometimes human wisdom is helpful. But human wisdom falls short because the Holy Spirit instructs us in spiritually comparative matters. These are things above human knowledge, known by the Holy Spirit, hidden from the ages, so that Satanas and his evil rulers would not know the immense treasure we have in our little clay bodies.
1 Corinthians 2:14 G5591 But the physical G1161 G444 man G3756 does not G1209 receive G3588 the things G3588 of the G4151 spirit G3588 G2316 of God; G3472 [3moronishness G1063 1for G1473 4to him G1510.2.3 2 they are], G2532 and G3756 he is not G1410 able G1097 to know them, G3754 for G4153 [2spiritually G350 1 they are examined].
Paul calls a person without the Holy Spirit inside, a “natural man” or a “physical man”. Paul is answering his own question of 'who knows manfaced, if it’s the spirit of manfaced or the Spirit of the Elohim in him.’ This is how we know. The spiritual things are moronish to a man with only the spirit of man, who does not have the Spirit of the Elohim. So now if we are comparing spiritual with spiritual, the natural physical man will not be able to know them, they are spiritually investigated.
Step back and think about life. We cannot explain the evil that we see on the earth without the spiritual. We cannot cure the evil we have on the earth without the spiritual. We cannot save a corrupting world without spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and power. Paul did not come to Corinth with a catchy cliche filled sermon. He came with miracle power, using the gifts of the Spirit, healing the sick, casting out demons, etc. He did not attempt to get into the deep spiritual kaleidoscope wisdom of the Elohim and the mysteries until they saw the power. They couldn’t hear anything else because all they had known was spiritual evil. They could not understand the Elohim because they lived, encased in demonic spirits. The way to pierce through the darkness is with the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:15 G3588 But the G1161 G4152 spiritual G350 examines G3303 indeed G3956 all things, G1473 but he G1161 G5259 [2by G3762 3no one G350 1is examined].
16 G5100 For who G1063 G1097 knew G3563 the mind G2962 of the Lord? G3739 Who G4822 instructs G1473 him? G1473 But we G1161 G3563 [2 the mind G5547 3of Christ G2192 1have].
“But the spiritual examines truly everything but he under no one is examined. For who knows the mind Yahweh that instructs him but we have the mind Messiah.”
The Corinthians had the benefit of the power of the Elohim in action when Paul came to town, so that they could see miracles, and then believe his teachings. This is what Jesus told the twelve and the seventy to do. Somehow we have shied away from the gifts of the Spirit. We listen to mens arguments of human wisdom and allow their fancy words to keep us from actually doing what the Holy Spirit wants. Who would benefit if churches never walk in the Spirit? Who would benefit if no one ever saw the power of miracles or demons cast out? Exactly, the dopey rulers of this cosmos, Satanas and his coconspirators. Spiritual compares spiritual, supernatural combines supernatural.
After explaining natural men and human wisdom, Paul says that he couldn’t tell them the deep mysteries of spiritual wisdom, and he says that he had to speak to the Corinthians as babies in Christ. This is where we should not be pointing our fingers as we too are babies in Christ. We have no idea how the Holy Spirit works in us. We have no clue how to utilize the gifts of the Spirit. We don’t know any mysteries or hidden secrets, and we certainly don’t look like the Elohim’s plan for saving the universe.
1 Corinthians 3:1 G2532 And G1473 I, G80 brethren, G3756 was not G1410 able G2980 to speak G1473 to you G5613 as G4152 to spiritual ones, G235 but G5613 as G4559 fleshly ones, G5613 as G3516 infants G1722 in G5547 Christ.
There was a time in the history of the body of Christ when teachers taught in depth on Sunday mornings. Then there were small groups that met during the week that would dig into the meat of the word. Paul calls the Corinthians “fleshy infants in Christ”. They believed in Jesus as Messiah and Lord, but they lived carnally and after the flesh. That is the summation of churches in our age. There are many believers in Yahweh Jesus Messiah but the people live carnally after their own flesh. We are still drinking milk because a pastor can control milk. The pastor cannot control the effect meat has on believers.
1 Corinthians 3:2 G1051 [3milk G1473 2you G4222 1I gave 4to drink] G2532 and G3756 not G1033 food; G3768 for not yet G1063 G1410 were you able, G235 and G3777 neither G2089 yet G3568 now G1410 are you able.
What Paul is saying is that they have to grow up. Put off the things of the flesh. To be fleshy is to be carnal. It is using our brain alone to think instead of the Holy Spirit to impart and inspire. If we are carnal then we use human wisdom and are like natural physical men. We might actually be living via our own spirit, the spirit of man, instead of the Holy Spirit. This is what we need to know to grow.
1 Corinthians 3:3 G2089 [3still G1063 1For G4559 4fleshly ones G1510.2.5 2you are]. G3699 For where G1063 G1722 among G1473 you G2205 are jealousy G2532 and G2054 strife G2532 and G1370 discord; G3780 [2not G4559 3fleshly ones G1510.2.5 1are you], G2532 and G2596 [2according to G444 3man G4043 1walk]?
If we are jealous or have jealousy then we are being carnal. If we are contentious or quarrelsome, we are carnal. If we have disunity or dissension in the Body of Christ we are carnal. We are one body, not thousands of denominations. We are of one Spirit of the Elohim. Paul addresses the different idea that people had regarding following different people, and points out that they all are workers for the Elohim.
Paul comes back around to his original point, that men’s wisdom is moronish and the wisdom of this world is moronishness.
1 Corinthians 3:18 G3367 [2no one G1438 4himself G1818 1Let 3cheat]! G1536 If anyone G1380 thinks himself G4680 to be wise G1510.1 G1722 among G1473 you G1722 in G3588 G165 this eon, G3778 G3474 [2moronish G1096 1let him become]! G2443 that G1096 he should become G4680 wise.
19 G3588 For the G1063 G4678 wisdom G3588 G2889 of this world G3778 G3472 [2moronishness G3844 3with G3588 G2316 4God G1510.2.3 1is]. G1125 For it has been written, G1063 G3588 He is the one G1405 grabbing G3588 the G4680 wise G1722 in G3588 G3834 their cleverness. G1473
20 G2532 And G3825 again, G2962 The Lord G1097 knows G3588 the G1261 devices G3588 of the G4680 wise, G3754 that G1510.2.6 they are G3152 vain.
21 G5620 So that G3367 let no one G2744 boast G1722 among G444 men! G3956 For all things G1063 G1473 are yours. G1510.2.3
If all humans have is a knowledge of spiritual evil, and we are never able to see what is good, it is very hard to explain that there is something spiritually better. Paul didn’t bother talking about Jesus, he showed the power of the Holy Spirit and that was not moronishness because people got healed and were set free from bondages they carried their whole lives. Paul did not do this apart from the Holy Spirit, he allowed the Holy Spirit to work through him. Jesus said that he cast out devils by the Spirit of God. This tells us that Jesus also utilized the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was not casting out demons in his own power.
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Jesus says that if he casts out demons by the Spirit of the Elohim, then the kingdom of the Elohim has come to them. This is their opportunity to receive entry into the kingdom of God. That entry could lead to the kingdom of heaven. We do not use the gifts of the Spirit without the Spirit. We are required to ask in each instance. Paul just told us that we speak as instructed by the Holy Spirit 1Corinthians 2:13.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
It is possible for people who are working in Christian ministry to never ask the Holy Spirit regarding the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. If this is the case then they would be using the gifts and the name of Jesus unlawfully and will find themselves outside the kingdom of heaven. They may have cast out demons, healed the sick, and prophesied many times, but they did not do it as instructed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus calls this unlawful and sinful.
People are divided as to the indwelling Holy Spirit or just being natural men. The natural men only know evil and cannot perceive good. They need more than words, lectures, and wise arguments. They need to see something they don’t have, power from the Elohim. The miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a division where Jesus threw swords to show the contrast of non-carnal compared to spiritual. Nicodemus became a believing Pharisee. He will be in the kingdom of God and possibly the kingdom of heaven because he believed on Jesus as Lord and Messiah and became born of the Spirit of the Elohim. The idea of just believing Jesus is Messiah and Lord is so simple it is hard. Those who are not filled with the Holy Spirit cannot see the simplicity of what we speak through the mud. Since we cannot go back in time to Paul ministering to the Corinthians, we will have to use his letters, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how to use them. Next week.
