The Spirit Filled Life, "Spirituality"

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 STUDY NOTES SERIES: SPIRITUALITY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-12 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES THE SPIRIT FILLED LIFE, “SPIRITUALITY” INTRODUCTION \“Spirituality” is living the spiritual life through the leadership of the Holy Spirit The “Spiritual Life” begins with a “New Birth,” Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. To “see the kingdom of God” is more than an entrance into God’s Eternal Kingdom To be born-again is to receive a spiritual life that is lived within the realm of God’s presence The spiritual life is as real today as the physical life, Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. So, Jesus repeats the fact that we must be born spiritually, Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. At the time of spiritual birth, we receive the “Spirit of God” as our guarantee of spiritual life, Eph 1:13, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Paul is telling us that we can experience what God has promised through the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit teaches us all things that God provided for us “In-Christ,” Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of God’s blessings upon us, Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Spiritual blessings have been given to us “In-Christ” and through the Holy Spirit Everything that we will ever need spiritually is provided for us by God There is no excuse for a Christian living in spiritual poverty There is no reason for a Christian being spiritually immature Paul has already taught us that the blessings of God cannot be known through “worldly wisdom” “Spirituality” cannot be learned through the education of man’s wisdom Philosophers will never learn of spirituality by their profound thinking Historians will never learn of spirituality from a study of the past Politicians will never provide spirituality for you as a-result of their elected promises Paul is not teaching worldly wisdom, 1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: The “perfect” are those who are not only born of the Spirit but also “filled with the Spirit” Believers who are learning the Word of God and living God’s Word as the Spirit leads them This passage has one of the greatest truths that is revealed to believers found in the Word of God Paul explains why we study the Bible, why we come to church, why we share with one another There is a hidden wisdom to be discovered, which cannot be discovered any other way Man’s natural eyes can see what the world has to offer, but cannot see God’s works of wisdom Man’s natural ears can hear what the world has to say, but cannot hear God’s words of wisdom Man’s natural heart can enjoy worldly ways, but cannot experience what God’s wisdom shares “Spirituality” is experiencing WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR US--1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God Page 1 of 6 hath prepared for them that love him. Verse 9 is a contrast to what was previously stated, the lost do not understand God’s wisdom God’s wisdom has been revealed through the gospel of salvation, revealed through Christ God’s wisdom is revealed to those who are saved through that which is “written” That which has been “written” is known as the “Bible” God used humans to write the Bible, but they were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit The Bible has been written by the hand of man, but it was not written by the mind of man, 2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The Bible was written by the hand of man but came from the mind of God, 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (“Inspiration,” means that God breathed His Word into man) Therefore, that which is “written” is not of man’s wisdom, but that which is of God’s wisdom The Bible is “Words of wisdom” which are of divine origin and of divine perception Our source of information concerning “spirituality” is what God has written to us (the Bible) God’s wisdom has written nothing but the truth, the truth of all things related to life and death Through God’s written Word we learn what God has prepared for those who love Him Many believe that 1 Corinthians 2:9 refers to the wonders of our future home in Heaven Teaching us that Heaven is such a beautiful and glorious place, we can’t even begin to imagine it Eye has never seen, ear has never heard, the heart has never experienced anything like Heaven But 1 Cor 2:9 refers to that which the wisdom of God has prepared for us to experience today That which “Eye hath not seen” does not mean that we will not see it until we get to Heaven It is true that when we get to Heaven, we will see that which we have never seen before But in 1 Corinthians 2:9, Paul speaks of that which earthly eyes cannot see today That which is not discovered by the natural physical eyes of man The natural eyes of man cannot see the “Wisdom of God,” but “spiritual” eyes can “Nor ear heard” does not mean that we will not hear it until we get to Heaven It is true that when we get to Heaven, we will hear that which we have never heard before Paul was caught up into the third heaven and allowed to return to earth, 2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Paul saw and heard things in Heaven that earthly language could never explain In 1 Cor 2:9, Paul speaks of the natural ears of man, which cannot hear the “Wisdom of God” The ears of natural man alone are not capable of hearing that which is spiritual Even when they do hear it, they by themselves cannot understand what they hear But the “spiritual” can see and hear the things God has prepared for us today “Neither have entered into the heart of man” does not mean that we will not experience it now It is true that when we get to Heaven, we will experience that which is only of Heaven We will experience that which we have never experienced in our life upon earth In 1 Cor 2:9, Paul speaks of life today, a personal experience of life that can be ours today The “heart of man” is not the physical organ pumping life through our body In scripture “heart” refers to the center of our personality, our intellect, emotions, and will The thinking and reasoning of natural man cannot understand “Spirituality” The wisdom of the world cannot teach, learn, or experience the things God has prepared for us Paul is telling us what the wisdom of God has prepared for our life upon earth Which must be learned and experienced through “Spirituality” All-of the effort that man can put forth mentally will never attain spiritual wisdom Understanding the wisdom of God is not a mental attainment but a spiritual attainment Spirituality is experiencing “the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” Page 2 of 6 These “things” are not the unknowns of the New Jerusalem or the eternal state They are not “things” identifying the blessings of heaven following life after death They are the blessings of this life in the realm of the Holy Spirit, they are “spiritual things” God has prepared for our spirituality, provided through Jesus, experienced through the Spirit Paul speaks to us concerning our spirituality as he speaks of the wisdom of God God has prepared a way for us to see, hear, and receive the words of God’s wisdom They are experienced in the realm of love for God, “prepared for them that love him” Only those who are saved can be identified as those who love God, 1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Loving God is the result of receiving Jesus as our Savior, the one who died for our sins God loved us, but the spiritual things promised are “prepared for them that love Him” “Them that love him” refers to a continual attitude and action as-a result of our love for Jesus God loves the world that doesn’t understand spirituality, Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God loves even the princes of the world who crucified Jesus because they did not know Him Spirituality is the experience of those who love God, through love they learn of God’s wisdom Paul is going to show us that not everyone who is saved is living as though they love God The evidence of loving God is not a profession of the tongue but a life of obedience to God Jesus said, Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. (Love for Jesus obeys God) Jesus said those who obey Him are the ones who love Him, Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. “I will manifest myself to him,” refers to that which God has prepared for those who love Him But again, the point is, “he that loveth me,” which is often found in scripture There are many promises made to those who will live their daily life loving God The “crown of life” is a present earthly experience, Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (Love for God will endure the trials of life) We experience the wisdom of God through faith toward God and love for God, Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? Spirituality is living today as the heirs of the Kingdom of God Christians are to live like kings Life is good when we love God, Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Love for God is a must for spiritual perfection, there will be no spirituality apart from loving God Only those who love God and mature spiritually will experience what God has prepared for us What God has prepared for our life today has been revealed to us--GOD HAS REVEALED WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR US--1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. There appears to be no limit to the intellectual powers of man concerning worldly things Look at man’s advanced accomplishments in science, technology, and engineering But worldly wisdom will never understand spirituality apart from God revealing it to us, Psa 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. “But God,” through His wisdom, has made known to us the things God has prepared for us God has “revealed” what God has prepared for “them that love Him” The knowledge of what God has prepared for us does not come through a college education “God has revealed them unto us,” which some say the “us” refers only to Paul and the apostles That “us” refers to those men that God used to write the scriptures (it does include them) Page 3 of 6 That which was revealed to them was the scriptures, God’s Word was revealed by God The context reveals that “us” is referring to those who possess the Spirit of God According to verse 9, “us” refers to those who love God God reveals through the Spirit the things that God has prepared for those who love Him God can only reveal those things to those who are spiritually perfect, spiritually mature God wants every believer to be spiritually perfect or spiritually mature God wants every lost person to become a believer so they can become spiritually mature How has God revealed what God has prepared for us? “By his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” Divine wisdom comes through the Holy Spirit as we love God and obey His Word “The Spirit searcheth” does not mean that the Spirit is seeking information about God The Spirit does not search to discover or obtain information concerning God or God’s people The Spirit uncovers, makes known, and brings to light the things of God (2 Peter 1:19) The Holy Spirit knows all things of God and is always ready to illuminate the truth of God to us “All things” are the things that God has prepared for those who are saved and love God The Spirit penetrates-into “the deep things of God,” even the very depths of God’s wisdom It is impossible for us to search out the deep things of God on our own, Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (“Unsearchable” means impossible to trace out) The Spirit enters-into the deepest truths of God, nothing of God is kept secret from the Spirit The Spirit can reveal anything and all things of God to those who are saved and loving God The Spirit knows God and the Spirit knows us, God knows the Spirit and God knows us It is through the Spirit that we come to know all that we know about God There is no end to what we can learn about God in our Christian life There is more of God to see, more to hear, and more to experience in our daily life There is always more to experience tomorrow than we have already experienced today, because-THE SPIRIT KNOWS GOD--1Co 2:11 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 person knows you better than you know yourself? (Your mate things they do) No one else really knows or perceives exactly what you are thinking except God We often think that we really know one another but we really don’t (We are often surprised) We only think we know what someone else is like and what they are going to do But we do not always really know the feelings, emotions, thinking, or the will of another person Paul’s point is, we know no one else like we know our self The reason we know our self so well is because we are always there Which is the meaning of “save the spirit of man which is in him” (Eliminates mind-reading) Inside of a person is the truth of that person, those outside can only speculate Within our spirit is the truth of our life and we know that truth, which illustrates Paul’s point “Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” And in the same way, just as it is with man knowing themselves So it is with God, no one knows God like God knows Himself, and even more so with God For who can know God apart from God revealing Himself There is no inside information concerning God outside of God Man has no knowledge, discernment, or comprehension of God without God revealing Himself Man’s personal experience with God is because of God’s personal presence within man The Spirit of God knows God inside and out The Spirit inspired Word must be taught by the Spirit and received by the Spirit within us The evidence of man not knowing the things of God is found in the gospel of salvation Page 4 of 6 If the wisdom of man could know the things of God, man could earn his own salvation There would be a salvation by works, but salvation is by God’s Grace, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: And not by man’s works of wisdom, Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. WE CAN KNOW GOD--1Co 2:12 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. This verse is a commentary on the wisdom of man It also reveals to us the wisdom of God that is given to us through the Holy Spirit The worldly spirit of man is not received from God, it is of man’s own making It is worked for, studied for, and prepared by the works of man himself, with Satan’s help The spirit which is of the world knows only that which is of the world Worldly or human wisdom cannot come to know the “things of God” The things of God are received through “the spirit which is of God” Every believer has received the Spirit of God, Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. God has given the believer His Holy Spirit in order that we might know God The only way we can know God and all that God has for us is through the Holy Spirit God wants all believers to know His Word and His Will for us Christians are not to have a worldly attitude or live by the world’s standards We are not to evaluate ourselves by the world’s measuring rod of success The reason God has given us His Spirit, is “that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit and through the Word of God we learn the things of God Paul has already presented the truth of the things of God to us: The wisdom that Paul speaks (vs. 6) The things that God has prepared (vs. 9) The things that God has revealed (vs. 10) The deep things of God (vs. 10) And God has “freely given” those things to us God gave us “His Word,” His promises to us have been written in the Bible God gave us “His Son,” His promises are guaranteed according to the Bible God gave us “His Spirit,” His promises can be experienced as we read the Bible He is the Spirit of truth and dwells within us, Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. He is the Spirit of Grace, we must submit to His leadership, Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? It is an insult to the Spirit of God when Christians refuse to submit to the leadership of the Spirit Why is “Spirituality” so important? Because those who are saved can “grieve the Holy Spirit, Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. The sins of a Christian grieve the Holy Spirit Christians are not to quench the Holy Spirit, 1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. Paul is saying to us, do not discourage the activity of the Holy Spirit in your life Do not ignore what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life Don't stifle, suppress, or quence the Spirit, quit saying “no” to the Holy Spirit Page 5 of 6 In-order to learn, live, and experience all that God has prepared for us we must be Spirit-filled, Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Spirituality) Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Spirituality) Page 6 of 6