Sermon – “The Hidden Wisdom of God”

4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 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. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adop-tion as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

This morning we’re going to continue in 1st Corinthians Chapter 2 titled this message the hidden wisdom of God but it is not hidden when we faithfully seek him surrender to him he were Vio his wisdom to us 1st Corinthians. Chapter 2 verses 4 thru 16 here the word of the Lord and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God friends our faith should not be in man or in the wisdom of man but in the power of Almighty God However we speak wisdom among those who are mature yet not the wisdom of this age nor of the rulers of this age who are coming to nothing like that when we think of the rulers of this age I think he’s speaking of the rulers of that time they’re coming to nothing but we can even look at the rulers the prince apologies and powers the air they’re coming to nothing we know what their em will be we can look at the rulers of this age today they’re coming to nothing because God is all powerful and almighty. 1st 7 but we speak the wisdom of God and a mystery the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for glory which none of the rulers this of this age knew for had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory but as it is written I has not seen nor era heard nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him but God has revealed them to us through his spear for the Spirit searches all things yes the deep things of God 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 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 These things we also speak not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual things but then that man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him nor can he know them because they are not spiritually because they are spiritually discerned but he who is spiritual judges all things yet he himself is rightly judged by no one for who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him but we have the mind of Christ’s Amen May God at His blessings to the hearing in the reading of His Holy Word let us pray Father we do thank you and praise you for your spirit that opens our minds and our hearts in order helps us to understand what you’re trying to speak to us how you’re trying to guide us and how you’re trying to be a part of our lives or May our hearts and our minds be open to what your spirit has forced today Lord may your name be lifted Hi I may your truth be proclaimed and Father I pray that you would have known way how the way in our hearts today were to help us to be faithful to you and all for your glory in Jesus’ name amen. Last week I did share a little bit of the history of the ancient city of corrent than where they were located and how they had the seasonal seal both sides in the mountain and just they were a vital part of the economy and that day they are were a vital part an H A H A grid they were the most important city in the Grecian Empire they were part of Greece and it is widely known that the ancient Greeks considered wisdom to be a very very important virtue they were always striving to learn something new I mean we were speaking to satisfy many back in ancient times run educated but many were learned and they were striving to learn something new friends there’s nothing wrong with learning something new we should we should even chart strive to learn something new to strive to better our education and to learn things some of the great thinkers of Greek were the great thinkers were descents the Grecian Empire Socrates was credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy and as being the 1st moral philosopher Plato was also considered a pivotal figure in history in ancient Greek and Western philosophy and the founder of the Academy the 1st institution of higher learning there’s a reason why when we read the Scripture we should try to figure out and understand who the writer is speaking to who the author is speaking to and oftentimes they will say yes you know they were speaking to the Corinthian church or they were speaking to the FI jps or they were speaking sometimes it says into all believers it depends on the context and how he’s speaking he was speaking to Greek people Greek believers at this time but it’s also for all believers so this word from Corinthians is also for us. But the have a right understanding we need to know who he was speaking to so here’s Paul speaking to this group of group of people that holds wisdom way up here they they was they thought wisdom was extremely important so now Paul was saying to them he begins with my speech in my preaching is not with the persuasive words of human wisdom this is not from man he’s saying that I am not preaching to you and I’m not teaching to you from the things that I learned in school I’m not teaching you the wisdom that I learned from other men it’s not the wisdom of the sage it’s not the wisdom of the rulers of this age even said had they known they would not crucify the Lord there’s a passage of Scripture in Acts where Peter preaching to the Jews about Christ in Acts chapter 2 verse $36.37 and if you look at the Scriptures that I want to send before you put them up or your problem how does that tie in with this Peter says Therefore I left for that all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ that when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles Men and brother and what shall we do they were cut to the heart when they heard the truth and they want to know what shall we do to be saved no one know that this isn’t kind of a lot kind of it’s a different context different context what he spoke to them cut to the heart but I can kind of imagine Paul speaking to this Greek audience and say and this is not the wisdom of man this is not the wisdom that I’ve learned in the school they were probably cut to the heart. Because they held wisdom that high they thought that much about wisdom and learning so they were probably cut to the heart I know I used it out of context and not God can’t say that I read that in Scripture but that’s how much they aspired to wisdom and knowledge and understanding wisdom is defined as the ability to think and act use the knowledge so the wisdom that we gain should guide and direct how we act in the things that we do how we live our lives it is also defined as experience now sometimes we can gain wisdom from our mistakes our experiences in our lives right and we’re all going to who’s not ever made a mistake I knew there’d be one. Over in the corner one or. I will pray for him. But next week we’ll speak about been that we’ve all made a few mistakes in our lives now I guess I should add now my wife says I thought I was wrong once but I was mistaken. So I’m surprised her hand didn’t go up. We’ve all made mistakes in our lives but prayerfully and hopefully we’ve learned from our mistakes that we have gained some wisdom from the mistakes that we’ve made and we won’t keep repeating them we’ll just make new ones right right. Wisdom is understanding it’s commonsense and insight wisdom is associated with attributes such as unbiased judgment compassion the ability to reach intelligent conclusions non-O. the sum struggle with that region intelligent conclusions sometimes I did. OK Charles H. Spurgeon define wisdom as the right use of knowledge like that the right use of knowledge the things that we learn in its use in it rightly hopefully to bring glory and honor to God right as Christians we know that there is a natural wisdom we all we go to school we went to school and we go to school right we know that there is a natural wisdom but as believers we believe also that there is a divine wisdom. Beyond the understanding of man a divine wisdom that is greater than the wisdom of the wisest of this world because it is as is of God Proverbs $99.10 says give instructions to a wise man and he will be still wiser T.J. just man and he will increase in learning the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding my friends how true that is the fear of the Lord remember when you 1st believe when you have 1st thought that their god is real but God is just but God is also going to bring judgment that fear that you one day experienced was the beginning of wisdom the beginning of knowledge of who God is and what he may do so fear can be a good thing it helps increase our wisdom. Romans 113336 says Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out for who has known the mind of the Lord or who has become his counselor or who has 1st given to him and it shall be repaid to him for 4 of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever amen now you know even though the scripture speaks of the depth in the wisdom and the knowledge of God in our passage and gritty and speaks of the wisdom of God in a mystery the hidden wisdom of God It calls it do not let these verses make you think they God’s plan for mankind is unintelligible because it is it is not beyond our understanding friends it is not it is or was hidden from some people for a certain time period and it is hidden from some from the foolish those unwilling to repent and believe in God but He will reveal his plan he will reveal his wisdom in his knowledge by the power of the Spirit by the power of the Holy Spirit we sang out in the song How blessed are we to live in the times that we live in some may say well these are awful evil wicked times yes they are but they have no power over us but how blessed to live in the time where God has poured out of his spear to give us the understanding the knowledge and the wisdom to know him to realize who he is to understand His Word we are so blessed so blessed to live in this this this been sation of time where he has poured out of His Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit helps us to understand. You won’t have this one I added as Exodus Chapter 31 reveals the amazing ability of the Holy Spirit to give understanding and wisdom its before the building of the tabernacle Then the Lord spoke to Moses same See I have called by name Basil alle the son of Euro the son of her of the tribe of Judah and I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom in understanding in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship to design the artistic work to work in gold and silver and bronze and cutting jewels for setting and carving wood and to work all manner of workmanship I have filled him with the Spirit God gave him the wisdom to be able to do the things that he was calling them to do that is the awesome power of the Holy Spirit of God 1st 1112 in our passage said For what man knows the things of man except the spirit of the man which is in him even so no one those the things of God except the Spirit of God Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spear who is from God that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God in that wonderful God wants us to have all the knowledge that we need to serve Him to love him to walk in His plans for our lives he has freely given it and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can then understand it. You know we oftentimes. Come up work out our own plans boy this is what happened Yeah Karen laughed forums got started we come up with a room plans don’t we this is what I want to do with my life this is where I want to work this is where I want to live that I want to build this or I want to do that or I want to learn this I want to marry this when I want to do this but guess what so often times we had a roadblock Don’t we sometimes we have to take a detour sometimes well I guess I’m going to have to revert to plan B. because Planned a Didn’t Work Plan B. didn’t work either I had to go to Plan C. right friends when God created man with the intent of having a turn all relationship with his created beings when man sinned when Adam and Eve sinned God didn’t say look it’s made a mistake now I’ve got to revert to Plan B. No that’s not the way it happened God did not revert the plan B. because he knew in knows all things well you’re going to say You’re saying that God knew that Adam Eve was going to sin yes he did yes he did if Eason’s reveals his truth he is $13.00 through 9 blessid be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Jest as he chose us in him so friends he chose us in Christ in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy him without blame before him in love he predestined us to adoption as his sons by Jesus Christ to himself Whoa there is that predestined word he knew he knew that Adam Eve was going to sin but He predestined that we would be adopted back in Jesus Christ to himself according to the good plays are of his will to the praise of the glory of His grace by which he made us accepted in the BE love and in Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace which he made to abound toward toward us in all wisdom and prudence having made known to us the mystery of His will according to HIS good pleasure which he purposed in himself no plan B. God’s plan God’s perfect plan to redeem man he knew that man was going to sin he knew it from the foundations of the earth but in His perfect plan he provided Christ Jesus he provides his spear that we can understand and know the Spirit dwells in those who believe in Jesus Christ Romans 811 but the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you he raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through a spear who dwells in you the same power that raised Jesus Christ up out of that grave do wells in you that you too will be raised up out of that grave in the resurrection. OK it now a man’s Oh my goodness that same power is in you were talking about the spirit this morning a moving mountains while there’s a mountain friend it is called Death. In the same power that raised Christ from the grave is going to raise you from the grave on the Resurrection day when he comes back with those who believe with the spear and there’s a resurrection or a written 3 units of the body in the spare we know that the spirit the breath goes to be with the lower but they’re going to be or are you know one day when that power raises those who believed in Christ from the dead from the sleep and there’s going to be a union a new glorified body will be like him that’s power Amen trying bladders at least somebody that that excites because it excites me because God’s original plan that we would do well with them that we would walk with them that we would enjoy being his presence my friends is going to happen it’s his a plan from the beginning from the foundations of the world for those who love Him and believe in Him and accept his son that power is in you inside of you the Holy Spirit searches it said But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit for the Spirit searches all things yes the deep things of God. So if you want wisdom allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the deep things of God to you to your heart to your mind the mystery is revealed the mystery of my friends is Christ in his life and his death Sperry’s resurrection the Holy Spirit teaches in 1st John 226 and 27 these things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the annoying team which you have received from him abides in you and you do not need that anyone teach you but as the same annoying ting teaches you concerning all things and is true and is not a lie and jest as it has taught you you will abide in Him The Holy Spirit will teach you the things you need to know I found an illustration in wisdom and it’s the 10 guiding principles that Abraham Lincoln held to and I know a lot of this the this wisdom is speaking about money or finances or you know things but its wisdom Abraham Lincoln said you cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift you cannot help small men by tearing down big men you cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. My friends don’t try to tear down the strong and bring them down and make them weak you cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer I think I need to copy these and send them to the Congress and Senate right you cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich praise the Lord there is rich men out there Rob would have anybody to work for none of us would right you cannot further the brotherhood of men by inciting class hatred especially need to send that one you cannot establish security on borrowed money you cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves. While be a good list to send a post on the walls when that in the halls of Congress in the Senate. But we have the mind of Christ. Another passion didn’t send to you the 2nd Corinthians 516 through 19 therefore from now on regard no one according to the flesh even though we have known Christ according to the flesh yet now we know him thus no longer Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation old things have passed away behold all things become new now all things are of God who has reconciled us to myself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not imputing their trust passes to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation my friends there’s the mystery the hidden mystery we are a new creation in Christ Jesus. I want to turn to Socrates I found a story concerning Socrates and says a proud young man came to Socrates one day asking for knowledge and he walked up to the muscular philosopher and said oh great SOCRATES I come to you for knowledge Socrates wise as he is recognised this pompous numbskull and he led the young man through the streets of the sea in chest deep into the water Socrates with him right beside him and asked What do you want knowledge oh wise Socrates said the young man with a smile Socrates put his strong hand on the man’s shoulder and pushed him under. 30 seconds later SOCRATES Let him up what do you want he asked again wisdom the young man sputtered Oh great wise Socrates Socrates crunched him under again 30 seconds pass 3540 SOCRATES Let him up the man was grasping what do you want young man between heavy breasts the fellow we knowledge a wise and wonderful SOCRATES Again jammed him under the water 40 seconds pass 50 he brings him up what do you want air the young man screeched I need air he says when you want knowledge as you have just wanted air then you will have knowledge I say when we want God is much as we want air then we’ll have God we want God’s wisdom and understanding as much as we want there we will have it there is a song that says as a dear panda for the water so my soul longs for the 2 we want God that much do we want his wisdom and understanding that much he will give it to us by the power of His Holy Spirit and we humble ourselves before him amen.