1 Cor 2:14-16
Intro:
We have a great need of wisdom.
Illustration
This imbecile decides one day that he is sick and tired of people calling him stupid, so he decides to show his wife that he is really smart. While his wife is off at work, he decides that he is going to paint a couple of rooms in the house. The next day, right after his wife leaves for work, he gets down to the task at hand. His wife arrives home at 5:30 and smells the distinctive smell of paint. She walks into the living room and finds her husband lying on the floor in a pool of sweat. She notices that he is wearing a ski jacket and a fur coat at the same time. She rushes over and says, “Honey, are you all right?” He slowly nods his head yes. “What are you doing?” she asks incredulously. “I wanted to prove that I’m not so dumb,” he started, “and I wanted to do it by painting the house.” “Well why do you have both a ski jacket and a fur coat on?” she asks dumbfounded. “Well,” he says, “I was reading the directions on the paint can and it said: For best results, put on two coats.”
The older I get, the more I find I’m learning about the need for wisdom.
14The 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. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
I. COMPREHENDED BY SPIRITUAL PERSONS
A. NOT BY THE NATURAL MAN...
1. The "natural" man is one:
a. "governed and influenced by the natural instincts; the
animal passions and desires, in opposition to those who are
influenced by the Spirit of God" - Barnes
b. Who depends only on his own senses and own reasoning
2. The "natural" man in such a state:
a. Does not receive the things of the Spirit, for they seem
b. Cannot know them, because such must be spiritually discerned
-- This helps explain why many people think the Bible is foolish
B. BUT BY THE SPIRITUAL MAN...
1. The "spiritual" man is one:
a. "who is enlightened by the Holy Spirit in contradistinction
from him who is under the influence of the senses only"
- Barnes
b. Who is open to the teaching of the Spirit revealed through
2. The "spiritual" man in such a state:
a. Is able to make judgment (discernment), for he has had his
senses exercised concerning what is good and evil - 1Co 2:
b. Is rightly judged by no one (other than the Lord Himself)
-- Through the inspired Word, the Spirit leads one to true
spiritual enlightenment
CONCLUSION
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Eph 1:15-23
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