Today’s Reading:
1Corin. 2:9-16 (16)
"For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by his thoughts and purposes]. (v.16; Isa. 40:13)
The key to understanding the wisdom of God as contained in the scriptures lies within the Spirit of God. God's wisdom was before hidden as mystery from us but has now through Christ been revealed by the Spirit of God. Like the church at Corinth, we cannot understand the scriptures by human wisdom. Unless the Spirit gives us revelations and understanding in our hearts and minds, we cannot ordinarily understand the mystery of our redeeming grace. Only the Spirit grasps the depth of God's nature, God's plan of salvation and reveals it to us. According to Apostle Paul, other philosophical principles are understood by like minds. The Spirit of God is the link between God and us and therefore is able to make God, his will and ways known to us.
To those who do not believe in Jesus, and who do not have the Spirit in them, the things of the Spirit of God is foolishness. They lack the capacity and knowledge to discern the truth, excellence and the beauty of divine things, because they consider them absurd and distasteful. It is not that Paul does not value self-judgement, constructive criticism and church discipline but his argument is that, believers are accountable only to God and cannot be judged by people of the world operating out of a carnal mind-set.
The Spirit enabled Paul and all believers who proclaim the wisdom of God, to communicate truths about God's will in words that best expressed his will. Those who are mature in the spirit, whose lives are controlled by the Holy Spirit have special privilege to be able to judge above all things. They are able to examine things carefully sifting what is important. Because they possess the mind of Christ, they are able to make right decisions about all issues.
God wants us to have the mind of Christ (v.16) so that through the teaching of the Spirit we will understand the greatness of the gift freely bestowed on us - redeeming grace (v.12).
Olufunmilayo Titilola Adekusibe
Prayer:
Father, thank you for preparing for me things my eyes have not seen, my ears have not heard, and my heart has not thought of; things only revealed by your Holy Spirit, in Jesus name.
Every invisible remote control of darkness, working against my spiritual life, be consumed by fire of God, in Jesus name.
Foundational demonic bondage afflicting and disgracing my life, be terminated by fire, in Jesus name.
My life, my prayer altar, be converted to fire of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name. Holy Spirit saturate my life and make me more sensitive to your leading, in Jesus name.
Father uproot everything you have not planted in your church and revive your Pentecostal fire and power, in Jesus name.
Father, thank you for sustaining Nigeria with your power and fire. Give our leaders fresh vision, inspiration and direction to move the nation forward. Let there be peace and harmony of purpose, in Jesus name. Amen.
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