Living and Moving in the Holy Spirit
Part I: Our Purpose & Power
Study Guide Week Five:
Message for Sunday May 13, 2018
This Week Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Additional Reading: Isaiah 55:8&9; 64:4; 65:17-25
Introduction
Wisdom is one of the key concerns of Paul these verses. What does real wisdom consist of? Where can we find wisdom. Remember as mentioned in the previous study guides in this series Paul is writing this to people who live in Greece back at the time when the philosophers such as Socrates and Plato were known by everyone. In our time also there are many claims to wisdom. Today claims of wisdom come mainly through science and education. The basic idea is that wisdom comes from man. Paul is letting us know that true wisdom comes from God. When we base wisdom on what man can do and think is possible we are limiting the possibilities. Often we limit God to what we think is possible. Another way of saying this is that we put God in a box of our own making and whatever we believe is outside of that box is not possible. Paul encourages us to see the endless possibilities with God. Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit will reveal to us the wisdom of God. By walking in the Spirit we will understand what God has freely given us (verse 12).
Wisdom is one of the key concerns of Paul these verses. What does real wisdom consist of? Where can we find wisdom. Remember as mentioned in the previous study guides in this series Paul is writing this to people who live in Greece back at the time when the philosophers such as Socrates and Plato were known by everyone. In our time also there are many claims to wisdom. Today claims of wisdom come mainly through science and education. The basic idea is that wisdom comes from man. Paul is letting us know that true wisdom comes from God. When we base wisdom on what man can do and think is possible we are limiting the possibilities. Often we limit God to what we think is possible. Another way of saying this is that we put God in a box of our own making and whatever we believe is outside of that box is not possible. Paul encourages us to see the endless possibilities with God. Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit will reveal to us the wisdom of God. By walking in the Spirit we will understand what God has freely given us (verse 12).
Some Background Information
A good way to divide up these verses is as follows: Verses 6-8 the contrast between the world's wisdom and God's wisdom; Verses 9-10 the unlimited potential of God's wisdom and Verses 11-16 how the Holy Spirit reveals to us God's wisdom. Verse 9 is based on a verse in Isaiah chapter 64 verse 4. Read the additional verses above for more information. Paul uses the idea that God has more planned for us than we can even imagine. Paul speaks of this in other books also (see Ephesians 3:20). Paul also talks about maturity in the verses we are studying. God's goal for us is to be mature spiritually (Colossians 1:28). When we become mature we will no longer be tossed about (Ephesians 4;13-14). In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 11 he tells us to put away childish things. Being mature is connected with having the mind of Christ (verse 16). Being mature means we walk by the Spirit in God's wisdom not in our own wisdom or the world's wisdom. We receive the Holy Spirit and through the Holy Spirit we understand what God has for us (verse 12). As we do that we can walk in the wisdom of God with the mind of Christ.
Digging Deeper Questions:
1. How would you describe the wisdom of the world? Give examples
6. Why do people who do not have the Spirit consider things of the Spirit foolish (verse 14)?
7. What is your application from this study?
This Week’s Victory Challenge: Pray for each other to receive the Holy Spirit
A good way to divide up these verses is as follows: Verses 6-8 the contrast between the world's wisdom and God's wisdom; Verses 9-10 the unlimited potential of God's wisdom and Verses 11-16 how the Holy Spirit reveals to us God's wisdom. Verse 9 is based on a verse in Isaiah chapter 64 verse 4. Read the additional verses above for more information. Paul uses the idea that God has more planned for us than we can even imagine. Paul speaks of this in other books also (see Ephesians 3:20). Paul also talks about maturity in the verses we are studying. God's goal for us is to be mature spiritually (Colossians 1:28). When we become mature we will no longer be tossed about (Ephesians 4;13-14). In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 11 he tells us to put away childish things. Being mature is connected with having the mind of Christ (verse 16). Being mature means we walk by the Spirit in God's wisdom not in our own wisdom or the world's wisdom. We receive the Holy Spirit and through the Holy Spirit we understand what God has for us (verse 12). As we do that we can walk in the wisdom of God with the mind of Christ.
6. Why do people who do not have the Spirit consider things of the Spirit foolish (verse 14)?
7. What is your application from this study?
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