ONE OF GOD'S VERY BEST GIFTS TO US
1 Corinthians 2:9-12 NKJV
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."
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.
Paul is writing to the Corinthians about God's wisdom. He is making a distinction between the wisdom of this age and God's wisdom. God's wisdom is higher and greater, but without help, man does not grasp God's wisdom. It is interesting that Paul is spending this much time in these first three chapters on wisdom. The ancient Greeks were big into wisdom. Wisdom was a thing with them. However, Paul cautions that God's wisdom is not available to man outside of the Holy Spirit’s help.
Paul is quoting the prophet Isaiah in verse nine when he quotes the famous' eye has not seen, nor ear heard' passage. I have heard people quote this verse to me as a way of excusing their lack of understanding of God's ways and wisdom. But what they often omit are the following verses. Yes, eye has not seen, nor ear heard what God has prepared. Natural man does not perceive God's wisdom. But, and it's an important but. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. Now, we are getting somewhere.
The Holy Spirit is God's gift to man when they receive Christ as Lord. Being indwelt by the Holy Spirit is a gift from God that has been dramatically underestimated. Mention the Holy Spirit in some circles, and people get nervous. And yet these verses show us just how important He is to us. The Holy Spirit is the One who knows the things of God. The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And just as the spirit of a person knows what is in that person, the Spirit of God knows the things of God. Man does not get the things of God on his own through intellect or reasoning.
Verse 12 is such good news. We have not received the spirit of this world. We received something far better. We have received the Spirit who is from God. We can stop and rejoice right there. But we have received the Spirit of God that we might know. God does not want us in the dark concerning His person and His kingdom. He has given us His Spirit so we can know what God has freely given to us. The Holy Spirit has come into our lives to reveal what God has done for us in Christ. The Holy Spirit has been sent for the purpose of helping us understand God's wisdom. No longer are we limited to the wisdom of this world. We have access to a higher level of wisdom and the One who can teach us this wisdom.
APPLICATION
Selling the Holy Spirit short has not helped the church. Some have embraced Him and His ministry. Some have acted as if the Holy Spirit is the "crazy uncle" of the Godhead and One to be cautious of. But, oh, how we need His strength and His wisdom in our lives. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and sent to be our helper. He is God's gift to us and should be received as an honored guest. With His help, the scriptures open up and the things of God become more tangible. What a wonderful gift.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I desire more of His help and wisdom in my life.