Bible Study - GOD'S Will and the Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 - October 27, 2019

Bible Study – GOD’S Will (3) – GOD’S Will and the Holy Spirit – October 27, 2019


This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “How to Know GOD’S Will.”


Our focus scripture is 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.


The Holy Spirit will guide us in knowing GOD’S will.


Our lesson last week focused on the Bible guiding Christians in knowing GOD’S will. There is another factor that needs to be considered and that is the role of the Holy Spirit. Once a Christian reads GOD’S Word it has to be more than words on a page. Christians must have understanding of how what they read applies to them.


The word “knowing” means to have full comprehension, understanding and application of GOD’S Will. Let’s explore!


Did you know, as a Christian, that you can know the mind of GOD?


Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:6-8:

Spiritual Wisdom

⁶ However, we do speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

What is wisdom? Wisdom is knowledge applied to GOD’S plan. GOD makes history. People think it they make history but GOD orchestrates the things upon earth and the universe to accomplish HIS plan.

A case-in-point is in the fact that GOD withheld the purpose of crucifixion of JESUS from both the religious leaders and political rulers. GOD sending HIS only SON into the world in the flesh to die is beyond comprehension until a person’s Spiritual eyes are opened to the marvelous truth of that fact. If JESUS had sinned, HE would not qualify as the perfect sacrifice to pay, in full, for sin. JESUS willingly gave HIS life by the shedding of HIS blood to pay the penalty for sin. As I wrote last week, if HE had remained dead then we could question the event but GOD raised JESUS from the dead as the first fruit to show the world that JESUS had conquered both sin and eternal death. GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead to receive HIS Glorified Body, which HE commanded. This is the body all born-again Christians will receive at the second coming of JESUS. (Read 1 Thessalonians 4:14 printed later.)

Will Christians have a special Spiritual body while they are in Heaven waiting for the return of JESUS to earth? YES! It is a Spiritual body/building GOD is fashioning which began at the instant of Salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:1 - For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

Any person placing his or her faith in JESUS, acknowledging that he or she is a sinner and accepting JESUS as his or her Savior experiences a miracle. That person is Spiritually born into GOD’S Family in that instant. A Spiritual miracle takes place in an instant. That person receives forgiveness for sin and the miracle of Spiritual rebirth. It is the born-again Spirit of a person that will exit his or her earth suit at physical death and in the twinkling of the eye or quicker is with JESUS in Heaven. GOD is fashioning within every born-again Christian a Spiritual body suitable for Heaven. The born-again Christian uses that Spiritual body until the he or she returns with JESUS to receive his or her New Glorified eternal body. That New Glorified Body will be like JESUS’ Glorified body. This takes place at JESUS’ second coming.

It is believed that Paul was describing his death or near-death experience. The person Paul described went to Heaven and returned to earth – 2 Corinthians 12:2-5:

² I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows. ³ I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, God knows— ⁴ was caught up into paradise. He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak. ⁵ I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

Paul’s reporting of this event is much like a friend who was pronounced dead after an auto accident. He was taken to the basement of the hospital for the undertaker to him pick-up. A nurse happened by and saw his eye-lid move and resuscitated him. He told me that he saw Haven but there are NO HUMAN WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT!    

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep (died), so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. ¹⁴ Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through^[h] Jesus. ¹⁵ For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord:^[i] We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over^[j] those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,^[k] with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage^[l] one another with these words.

Yes, there are Heavenly mysteries but what did the Apostle Paul write as we read on -----

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:9-11:

⁹ But as it is written:

What eye did not see and ear did not hear,
and what never entered the human mind—
God prepared this for those who love Him.^[c]  

¹⁰ Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. ¹¹ For who among men knows the thoughts^[d] of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts^[e] of God except the Spirit of God.

How can mere Christians know these Spiritual facts? Born-again Christians have the Holy Spirit within them and it is the Holy Spirit that connects every born-again Christian to the heart of GOD. WOW! What an overwhelming joy it is to possess that reality! So, why don’t we as born-again Christians live accordingly and serve our LORD without hesitation as HE gives us opportunity?

As born-again Christians, we are grafted into the true vine of JESUS through Whom all Spiritual nourishment flows. Do we as born-again Christians need to confess our lack of faith that GOD can do all things even raise the Spiritually dead from the depths of being bound to Hell to experiencing the miracle of Spiritual rebirth? All things are possible for GOD to those who place their faith in JESUS even to moving mountains of Spiritual resistance.

Let’s reconsider “What eye did not see and ear did not hear,
and what never entered the human mind—
God prepared this for those who love Him.^[c]”

The human mind is limited but the mind of a born-again Christian is beyond human thinking. As you walk upon earth, are you using your human mind or your Heavenly mind? Do you know that the Holy Spirit indwells you and is active in your life as you walk upon earth?

How can that be? Let’s read on ----

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:12-16:

¹² Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. ¹³ We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.^{[f] 14} But the unbeliever^[g] does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated^[h] spiritually. ¹⁵ The spiritual person, however, can evaluate^[i] everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated^[j] by anyone. ¹⁶ For who has known the Lord’s mind,
that he may instruct Him?^[k]

But we have the mind of Christ.

WOW! Did you know that you have the Spiritual mind of CHRIST? How can that be? As a born-again Christian, you are GOD’S Child. HIS DNA is your born-again DNA. What does the Apostle Paul reveal to us in Philippians 4:13?

¹³ I am able to do all things through Him^[b] who strengthens me.


The indwelling Holy Spirit is our guarantee and assurance as recorded in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22:


²¹ Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, ²² who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.


2 Corinthian 5:5:

Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.


Ephesians 1:13-14:

¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who^[d] is the ^[e]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.


1 Corinthians 6:19:

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?


Why, as a born-again Christian are you not your own?


1 Corinthians 6:20:

²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body ^[g]and in your spirit, which are God’s.


As a born-again Christian your salvation cost JESUS HIS sinless life, because you are of great value. John 3:15-17 says it best:


¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should ^[c]not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Why did he do it? Because HE loves you! How long has HE loved you?

Ephesians 1:4-10:

⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he^[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship^[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.


GOD chose you. The question is do you choose HIM by placing your faith in JESUS, your Savior?


Blessings!!!