Jeffrey C. Long

This is part 1 of a sermon that was preached on September 15th, 2005 at Filer Mennonite Church.

One of the most incredible sections in the Bible is 1corinthians 2:6-16

“We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written,

“Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear,

Which didn’t enter into the heart of man,

These God has prepared for those who love him.”

But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For who among men 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 God’s Spirit. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?” But we have Christ’s mind.”

No matter how well you know me, you can never know me truly. Verse 11 says “who knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him.” Only I know myself.

Also true of God.

“No one knows the things of God, except God’s spirit.”

But then the most incredible verse in verse 16.

“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he should instruct him? But we have Christ’s mind.”

Earlier in verse 12 he said that we have received the Spirit which is from God that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.”

The Spirit imparts the mind of Christ on us.

Isn’t this remarkable?

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Ephesians 5:18-20 Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;

There are a couple problems with being full of the Spirit.

First:

It has been said that we only use 10% of our brains. I don’t know if this is a myth or not, but I’m pretty sure we don’t use our brain to it’s full capacity.

Can our brain contain the mind of the infinite Holy Spirit?

No of course it can’t.

Even if it was functioning at full capacity, it couldn’t contain the infinite holy Spirit. The Mind of God. The mind of Christ.

Second:

We leak.

Over time our passion wanes.

It is very difficult to sustain the fire of our salvation.

We struggle to maintain the disciplines of filling ourselves with the Word of God and communing with God in prayer in worship, the activities that give the Holy spirit increased place in our lives.

It’s all too easy to get formulaic which also quashes the spirit. to rely on our rituals.

So, Paul tells us in this Bible passage to keep on seeking to be more full.

A place to start is a simple prayer: “Lord give me more of the Holy Spirit. Let me know more of the mind of Christ. ”

To continue reading this sermon, click here

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