Bible Study - Set Apart (3) - But Not Alone - 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 - July 29, 2023

 

Bible Study – Set Apart (3) – But Not Alone – July 29, 2023

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “Set Apart a Life Lived for GOD.”

When were you set apart? The answer is in the scripture. Can you find it?

Our scripture is 1 Corinthians 2:6-16:

The Holy Spirit helps us know how to live Holy lives.

The Apostle Paul is revealing to the Christians in Corinth how to live the completed, effective Christian life upon earth while they wait to go to Heaven. This is also true for all who have asked JESUS to forgive them for their sins and for JESUS to come into their lives.

When a person becomes a completed Spirit-born Christian, he/she is equipped with the Holy Spirit and equipped with special gifts to continue to live effectively for GOD upon earth.

Why do Spirit-born Christians need to be gifted with special Spiritual gifts? To serve GOD more effectively upon earth as they minister to others.

Ephesians 6:12 - ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

We know that Satan wars against all Holy Spirit Born people. Why and how? Satan knows when Spirit-born people become committed to GOD and JESUS, their desire is to listen and respond to GOD’S message. Satan does not want them to respond to GOD’S calling. So, Satan uses every distraction that he knows will lead a Spirit-born person astray or to delay.

Folks, the tide has turned and we are on GOD’S path for the second coming of JESUS. We will witness the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we have never seen before. The working of the Holy Spirit will be discredited as some new manmade device. Satan has the leaders of our world distracted by amazing technology, “Smart devices.” These devices are useful and do amazing things but they are time and mind robbers.

I have observed in the last few months when I open my computer, I am inundated with eye catching news and word and pictures which I want to follow and read. After a period of time, I find that I have wasted time. Time is a gift from GOD to be used wisely. Satan is a time robber for people – put off, you can do this later or you can study scripture later because you have too much to do.

Satan’s desire is to keep people from reading, listening to or applying GOD’S Word to the issues they encounter in life.

As Spirit-born people, GOD’S desire is to teach and develop in them to trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and protecter.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:1-9:

2 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery^[a] of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. ² I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. ⁴ My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom^[b] but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, ⁵ so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.

Human wisdom can be explained but GOD’S wisdom and power, outside of GOD cannot be explained.

Spiritual Wisdom

⁶ We do, however, 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, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ But as it is written,

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no human heart has conceived—
God has prepared these things for those who love him.^[c]

The best is yet to come as we, who have been Spirit-born will see.

In the last few months, I have seen a change in the working of the Holy Spirit in my life. GOD’S Word tells us to test the spirits to see if they are from GOD. GOD tells us to test spirits to determine whether or not they are from GOD. How does GOD do this in us? Read on ---

¹⁰ Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts^[d] except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 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.^[e] 14 But the person without the Spirit^[f] does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he/she is not able to understand it since it is evaluated^[g] spiritually. ¹⁵ The spiritual person, however, can evaluate^[h] everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. ¹⁶ For

who has known the Lord’s mind,
that he may instruct him?^[i]

But we have the mind of Christ.

Satan’s desire is for you to call this nonsense. When that thought enters your mind, rebuke it and call upon the name of JESUS to show you the truth and to confirm that truth.

Keep in mind what we read in Ephesians 6:12 - ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

The rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, spiritual forces want to control your life and lead you to confusion and destruction. In the name of JESUS, I command them to be gone and for GOD to reveal truth to you and reveal to you the deception these forces use to deceive you. How do you escape.

Ask JESUS to come into your life and ask HIM forgive you for your sins and to become the LORD of your life and continue to reveal truth and dispel the false. Ask JESUS to equip you with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit so that you can separate truth froms error.

Folks, a new day has arrived. No longer will Satan disguise himself as truth but he will be exposed for that he is a deceiver and liar. If you are a Spirit-born Christian ask GOD to deliver you from Satan’s lies and deception and to fill you with GOD’S Holy Spirit and then thank HIM as HE reveals truth to you.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:10-13:

¹⁰ Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts^[d] except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 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.^[e

Who knows your thoughts? You do! When a person has been Spirit-born, the Holy Spirit who is the third person of the Trinity, is GOD and lives within each Spirit-born person. How about that!!!

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:14-16:

 ¹⁴ But the person without the Spirit^[f] does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated^[g] spiritually. ¹⁵ The spiritual person, however, can evaluate^[h] everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. ¹⁶ For

who has known the Lord’s mind,
that he may instruct him?^[i]

But we have the mind of Christ.

Guess who does NOT want you to know that? Satan, who JESUS defeated upon the cross. The victory has been won by JESUS because of the resurrection of JESUS from the physically death to be eternally alive. Physical death was defeated by JESUS.

All who are Spiritually born into GOD’S Family have changed their permanent eternal address from Hell to Heaven. Eternal life is a gift from GOD. When was this decided? Let’s read Ephesians 1:3-23:

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him (set us apart), before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^[d] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the right time^[e]—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[f] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Insight

¹⁵ This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^[g] would give you the Spirit^[h] of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.

God’s Power in Christ

²⁰ He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens— ²¹ far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,^[i] not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And he subjected everything under his feet^[j] and appointed him^[k] as head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Did you find the scripture revealing to you when GOD set you apart?

To GOD Be the Glory – Great Things HE has done!

A NEW DAY HAS COME – REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 5:9:

 

 

Isaiah 29:14:

Isaiah 65:17

Isaiah 66:22

Acts 3:17

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 65:17: “For I will create new heavens and a new earth;
the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.

 

Isaiah 66:22: “For just as the new heavens and the new earth,
which I will make,
will remain before me”—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
“so your offspring and your name will remain.