Read The Second Half
I deeply yearn for all believers, especially pastors and teachers of The Word of God to continue reading, out-loud the verse in which they seem to always stop half-way to three-fourths through – 1 Corinthians 2:9-10. These two verses read –
"However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'--but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit."
Paul is quoting Isaiah 64:4 in the majority of this passage with what I glean many instructors of The Word communicate as just no possible way we can know this side of heaven all the marvels that await us in paradise –
'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'.
Why Not?! First, that is not what Scripture says according to the above verse. The rest of the verse has not been read or considered. Second, you are limiting the power of the Holy Spirit within each believer to do this work - the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead! And thirdly, look at where this verse and idea sit. This verse and idea are located in the middle of a section speaking on Wisdom from The Spirit. By the way, Paul instructs believers in the rest of the verse –
“but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.”
Here is the passage that the verses are located in so that we may all know and appreciate the context of this study.
Wisdom From the Spirit
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 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. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." - 2 Corinthians 5:6-16
Allow me to magnify some key points in the surrounding verses to support my position and encouragement to Read The Second Half.
We have received -
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him--" –
You can say confidently, "BUT GOD HAS REVEALED IT TO US BY HIS SPIRIT." Then afterward you are prepared to tell anyone the findings of your research.
If you have NOT studied the wonders and mysteries of God - past, present, and especially future - in the Bible, then I encourage you to do so. This will be a highly rewarding experience. To get you started studying Scripture correctly, especially prophetic in nature, always use The Golden Rule of Interpretation. The Golden Rule of the Interpretation of Scripture is if the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense seek no other sense.
When you do encounter symbolism or anything else that you do not understand, cross-reference it in the Bible and seek other trusted commentary about that topic and pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance. Just think as you research, God is Revealing His hidden wonders to you by His Holy Spirit as you read, study and research! That is His promise, if you believe and Read The Second Half.
"However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'--but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit."
Paul is quoting Isaiah 64:4 in the majority of this passage with what I glean many instructors of The Word communicate as just no possible way we can know this side of heaven all the marvels that await us in paradise –
'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'.
Why Not?! First, that is not what Scripture says according to the above verse. The rest of the verse has not been read or considered. Second, you are limiting the power of the Holy Spirit within each believer to do this work - the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead! And thirdly, look at where this verse and idea sit. This verse and idea are located in the middle of a section speaking on Wisdom from The Spirit. By the way, Paul instructs believers in the rest of the verse –
“but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.”
Here is the passage that the verses are located in so that we may all know and appreciate the context of this study.
Wisdom From the Spirit
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 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. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." - 2 Corinthians 5:6-16
Allow me to magnify some key points in the surrounding verses to support my position and encouragement to Read The Second Half.
We have received -
"the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."
I believe this verse pertains not only to understanding the free gift of salvation provided by Christ Jesus through His death and resurrection, but also to the abundance of wisdom we as believers can grasp through His Holy Spirit, right now, especially concerning things not seen, heard and still future.
Observe the next verse –
"This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words."
This verse explains how readers and students of the Bible receive from the Holy Spirit a different, personal application after reading and researching the same passage many times.
The key is to be in The Word in the first place on a regular basis So That the Holy Spirit has a foundation to work with when He desires to reveal something to you. The more a believer practices seeing, hearing and speaking by the Holy Spirit's leading the more mature in that lifestyle he/she becomes.
Next –
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Remember here, Paul is addressing believers in Corinth with these instructions. After you are "born again" or become a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) we still need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit - we need a baptism of His Holy Spirit. Pentecost, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, for the Disciples came after the resurrection and after they believed in Jesus as truly the Son of God (Acts 2:1-4).
Why do believers need this empowering? For the acceptance and discernment of the things of God. Some believers just stop at salvation. That is sad to me because the man/woman with the Holy Spirit leading and guiding them in their lives has a great foundation, a wonderful foothold, an excellent filter to rely on for everything. The next part of the passage continues to support this idea -
"The spiritual man makes judgments about all things,".
With the believer in Jesus being a new creature in Christ and the Holy Spirit within the Christian leading him/her in all truth (John 16:13) the ending of this passage is a very encouraging message for the Christian who walks or lives in the Holy Spirit daily. Believers walking up-rightly have a thought-life governed by The Lord. The last sentence of the passage reads -
"But we have the mind of Christ."
Having the Holy Spirit dwell within the believer and empower Christians grants many things, but among them are -
Observe the next verse –
"This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words."
This verse explains how readers and students of the Bible receive from the Holy Spirit a different, personal application after reading and researching the same passage many times.
The key is to be in The Word in the first place on a regular basis So That the Holy Spirit has a foundation to work with when He desires to reveal something to you. The more a believer practices seeing, hearing and speaking by the Holy Spirit's leading the more mature in that lifestyle he/she becomes.
Next –
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Remember here, Paul is addressing believers in Corinth with these instructions. After you are "born again" or become a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) we still need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit - we need a baptism of His Holy Spirit. Pentecost, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, for the Disciples came after the resurrection and after they believed in Jesus as truly the Son of God (Acts 2:1-4).
Why do believers need this empowering? For the acceptance and discernment of the things of God. Some believers just stop at salvation. That is sad to me because the man/woman with the Holy Spirit leading and guiding them in their lives has a great foundation, a wonderful foothold, an excellent filter to rely on for everything. The next part of the passage continues to support this idea -
"The spiritual man makes judgments about all things,".
With the believer in Jesus being a new creature in Christ and the Holy Spirit within the Christian leading him/her in all truth (John 16:13) the ending of this passage is a very encouraging message for the Christian who walks or lives in the Holy Spirit daily. Believers walking up-rightly have a thought-life governed by The Lord. The last sentence of the passage reads -
"But we have the mind of Christ."
Having the Holy Spirit dwell within the believer and empower Christians grants many things, but among them are -
- the mind of Christ,
- spiritual discernment,
- spiritual enlightenment of The Word and
- revelation of the previously hidden things of God!
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him--" –
You can say confidently, "BUT GOD HAS REVEALED IT TO US BY HIS SPIRIT." Then afterward you are prepared to tell anyone the findings of your research.
If you have NOT studied the wonders and mysteries of God - past, present, and especially future - in the Bible, then I encourage you to do so. This will be a highly rewarding experience. To get you started studying Scripture correctly, especially prophetic in nature, always use The Golden Rule of Interpretation. The Golden Rule of the Interpretation of Scripture is if the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense seek no other sense.
When you do encounter symbolism or anything else that you do not understand, cross-reference it in the Bible and seek other trusted commentary about that topic and pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance. Just think as you research, God is Revealing His hidden wonders to you by His Holy Spirit as you read, study and research! That is His promise, if you believe and Read The Second Half.
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