THE SPIRIT OF ENLIGHTENMENT I Cor 2:6-16

Introduction Corinthian church was a church in turmoil The people held worldly views The church was influenced by pagan practices Pride and sin from human depravity. All swirled in a spiritually immature church The passages is challenging, and you will be challenged

I Corinthian 2:9-16 (ISV) But as it is written, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him." But God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God. Is there anyone who can understand his own thoughts except his own inner spirit? In the same way, no one can know the thoughts of God except God's Spirit. Now, we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we can understand the things that were freely given to us by God.

I Corinthian 2:9-16 (ISV) (13) We don't speak about these things with words taught us by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual things to spiritual people. (14) A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the things of God's Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can't understand them because they are spiritually evaluated. (15) The spiritual person evaluates everything but is subject to no one else's evaluation. (16) For "Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can advise him?" However, we have the mind of the Messiah.

The Perfect and the Spirit of God Perfect men - τελειοις – Spiritually mature individuals Implies they are NOT mature Distinguished by having spirit of man or Spirit of God ◦ And the distinction is whether they have the spirit of man or the Spirit of God.

Immature Christians “For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him?” Immature Christians: ◦ Do not know the Spirit of God ◦ Do not understand the hidden secret (mystery) of Christ and His cross ◦ They are compelled by the wisdom of man ◦ They are of the flesh, not of the Holy Spirit

A mature Christian Understands the centrality of Christ and His Cross Has the work of the Holy Spirit in this person Not detracted by the trappings of the world and the traps of human flesh. This man has the Spirit of God

Application Challenge questions: ◦ How well do you know the Holy Spirit? ◦ Are you a mature or immature Christian?

Question Keep the gospel of Christ and His cross central in your life The Holy Spirit teaches and enlighten us about God Christian maturity is important, and knowing the Holy Spirit is important Assess your current spiritual maturity

Conclusions Keep the gospel of Christ and His cross central in your life Know the enlightening Holy Spirit Christian maturity is important and needs to be pursued Assess your current spiritual maturity