I Corinthians 2:7-16

I Corinthians 2:7-16

When dusk descends and the night stretches herself across the skies of this earth then suddenly the glorious, shimmering stars can be seen twinkling in the heavens above just as they have always done since the beginning of this world. But it is not that the stars sleep in the day but rather their light is hidden by the day light of the sun. And so it is with the great eternal wisdom of God. It is here, all round us, saturating the very air that we breathe. It is found in the flowing of the stream, and the changing of the seasons. And just like the stars, which we can only see shinning in the night, the wisdom of God is hidden from this world. It is only revealed to those who seek it through the Spirit of God.

The Bible says in I Corinthians chapter 2:7-8, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Paul said that he spoke the wisdom of God in a mystery. Jesus said the very same thing to His disciples in Mark 4:11, “And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.” What is a mystery except something that is unknown or unrevealed, or not understood, not seen. The wisdom of God is a mystery until the Spirit of God gives you an understanding of the things of God.

Why did Jesus and why did Paul say that they spoke in mysteries? Because; God’s wisdom is for those who want it. Jesus said seek and ye shall find. There are two kinds of people in the world: those who are ready for the truth and those who do not want the truth. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way the truth and the life.” You will be able to perceive how ready a heart is for the truth by that heart’s openness to Jesus; because Jesus is the truth.

Jesus warned us not to cast our perils before swine. The truth is for those who want it. This is why the wisdom of God is spoken in mysteries. If you want to be a witness to the lost people of the world, then remember, the truth is for those who want the truth. If you want to be effect in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ then go to those who want to hear the Gospel. Don’t cant your perils before swine.

This is the very same reason the governments, the rulers of organized religion, and the people of Christ’s day, sent Christ to the cross to be crucified. They did not want the truth. “For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” The important question that you must ask yourself is, what kind of heart do you have? Do you have a heart that seeks the wisdom of the mysteries of God?

The Bible goes on to say in I Corinthians 2:9-11, “But as it is written, Eye hath not see, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.“

What is the measure of God’s wisdom? What is the measure of God’s grace? Who can count the number of the stars? Or who can measure the distance from one end of the universe to the other? Or who can measure the breadth of God’s hand, which bringeth forth both mercy and judgment?

There is a practical wisdom to living life. But this passage is talking about spiritual wisdom. The kind of wisdom that is sweet like honey and refreshing to the soul like the morning dew of spring. Such spiritual wisdom is only found in the Word of God. And such wisdom can only be understood by the Spirit of God revealing it to you. A thousand different translations of the Bible won’t make the Bible easier for you to understand. The Bible can only be understood through the Spirit of God. Because they that worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

Because you are a man you understand the things of man. You know what it means to be a human being. It means to live and breathe in this physical world. And in the same sense the things of God are understood by the Spirit of God just as the things of man are understood by the spirit of man.

Verse 7 says that the wisdom of God was ordained before the word for the glory of His children. Romans chapter 8:17 says, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” Joint heirs with Christ in His glory, such is the destiny of the children of God.

Now what exactly does all this mean? I Corinthians 2:12 says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” The things that are freely given to us of God. O, God is a giver. Compared to God, Santa Claus is just another Ebenezer Scrooge.

If you are a child of God and you have allowed the Spirit of God to show you the riches of the mysteries of God’s wisdom then you know there is nothing better than fellowship with Jesus. Then you know it will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. If you have the riches of God’s wisdom then you are a person who lives for Jesus day by day and you do your best to be faithful even in the little things.

It’s the mysteries of the wisdom God to offer us things that are eternally glorious and perfect such as body untainted by sin and a fellowship one day in heaven with our Father that brings a holy joy and pleasure much sweeter than that found in the intimacy of marriage. It’s the mysteries of the wisdom of God to give to us His promises; promises through which we become transformed into the image of Christ, promises through which we become capable of enjoying this life.

Jesus said in John 10:10, “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” If you’ve turned from you sins and turned to Jesus, If you’ve been washed as white as snow by the blood of the Lamb, then as you walk in the light as He is in the light, and you experience fellowship with God the Almighty, you will find that its just like being love. The grass becomes greener than it ever was before and the morning sunshine smiles wider across the sky. And the burden’s and toils of life are a cross that you bare with joy because the mysteries of the wisdom of God are revealed to you.

I Corinthians 2:12, “That we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” Romans chapter 8:32 says, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things.” Baptize yourself in the depths of God’s eternal wisdom and you will find that unlike the people of the world who find the things of God to be foolish, the things of this world will become foolishness unto you and the things of God will become priceless. Because He hath freely given us all things through His Son Jesus Christ.

This is the marvelous mystery of the wisdom of God. Then next time that you see someone who is going the way of the world instead of the way of Jesus you will know there is someone who is blind and does not see the wisdom of God for to them it is a mystery. Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. II Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” Is there joy in your Christian life? Does the fruit of the Spirit abound in your soul? Each day that you live life, do you see the benefits of going God’s way? If not, then you need to seek the mysteries of the wisdom of God that can only be found in His Word. Don’t be a Christian who is satisfied to just listen to what the preacher says. Think for yourself and seek God’s wisdom in His Word.

The Bible says in Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.”

Perhaps the wisdom of God is indeed a mystery to you. Perhaps the way to redemption from your sins and the way to heaven is a mystery to you. Well, it need not be, for this is the mystery revealed. Turn from you sins and turn to Jesus. He is the Savior of the World. Pray to Him right now and He will save you from you sins. And He will freely give you all things. Jesus said in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

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