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God’s Word on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

1st Corinthians 2:7-16 (ERV) But we speak God’s secret wisdom that has been hidden from everyone until now. God planned this wisdom for our glory. He planned it before the world began.  (8)  None of the rulers of this world understood this wisdom. If they had understood it, they would not have killed our great and glorious Lord on a cross.  (9)  But as the Scriptures say, “No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”  (10)  But God has shown us these things through the Spirit. The Spirit knows all things. The Spirit even knows the deep secrets of God.  (11)  It is like this: No one knows the thoughts that another person has. Only the person’s spirit that lives inside knows those thoughts. It is the same with God. No one knows God’s thoughts except God’s Spirit.  (12)  We received the Spirit that is from God, not the spirit of the world. We received God’s Spirit so that we can know all that God has given us.  (13)  When we say this, we don’t use words taught to us by human wisdom. We use words taught to us by the Spirit. We use the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.  (14)  People who do not have God’s Spirit do not accept the things that come from his Spirit. They think these things are foolish. They cannot understand them, because they can only be understood with the Spirit’s help.  (15)  We who have the Spirit are able to make judgments about all these things. But anyone without the Spirit is not able to make proper judgments about us.  (16)  As the Scriptures say, “Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind? Who is able to give him advice?” But we have been given Christ’s way of thinking.

 

Breaking forth into a study…

1st Cor. 2:7 (ERV) But we speak God’s secret wisdom that has been hidden from everyone until now. God planned this wisdom for our glory. He planned it before the world began.  

Q1. “God’s secret wisdom that has been hidden from everyone until now” – What time does “until now” refer to?
(Answer: Time after the “Day of Pentecost” SEE Acts 2: 1-21)

Q2. “ God planned this wisdom for our glory” – What GLORY did God plan for us even before He created the world?
(Answer: That we might be able to serve others as Jesus served. SEE John 14:11-14)

(Vs.8)  None of the rulers of this world understood this wisdom. If they had understood it, they would not have killed our great and glorious Lord on a cross.  

Q3. To what death is Paul referring here?
(Answer: The sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross.) 

(Vs.9-10)  But as the Scriptures say, “No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”  (10)  But God has shown us these things through the Spirit. The Spirit knows all things. The Spirit even knows the deep secrets of God.

Q4. Is there a contradiction between these two verses? Eg. “No one has ever seen…” / ” But God has shown us these things through the Spirit”
(Answer: NO! Because Vs.9 refers to humanity before any Baptism of the Holy Spirit; while Vs.10 refers to after the “Day of Pentecost experiences.)

(Vs.11-12)  It is like this: No one knows the thoughts that another person has. Only the person’s spirit that lives inside knows those thoughts. It is the same with God. No one knows God’s thoughts except God’s Spirit.  (12)  We received the Spirit that is from God, not the spirit of the world. We received God’s Spirit so that we can know all that God has given us.

Q5. Can the most brilliant man or woman understand ALL God’s ways? (Answer: No, SEE Vs.11)

Q6. Can we understand ALL God’s ways?
(Answer: No, not ALL God’s ways, but Yes, God allows us to understand His ways at work in us.)

Q7. Of what value is the Day of Pentecost type Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
(Answer: SEE Acts 1:8 – It states we will receive the power to be Christ’s witnesses to the world.)

(Vs.13-14)  When we say this, we don’t use words taught to us by human wisdom. We use words taught to us by the Spirit. We use the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.  (14)  People who do not have God’s Spirit do not accept the things that come from his Spirit. They think these things are foolish. They cannot understand them, because they can only be understood with the Spirit’s help.  

Q8. Who must help us lead our unsaved loved ones (or even total strangers) to the Lord? (Why?)
(Answer: The Holy Spirit… Why? …SEE John 6:44 – No one comes to Jesus, unless God’s Spirit draws them.)

(Vs.15-16)  We who have the Spirit are able to make judgments about all these things. But anyone without the Spirit is not able to make proper judgments about us.  (16)  As the Scriptures say, “Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind? Who is able to give him advice?” But we have been given Christ’s way of thinking.

Q9. When we are confused about things of the world and of life, what do we need?
(Answer: We need God’s Holy Spirit.)

Q10. What do all of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit have in common? (HINT – See underlined portion.)
(Answer: They help us act and think like Jesus.)