Showing posts with label Christianity,Bible study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christianity,Bible study. Show all posts

July 30, 2020

Christian reality-check: The first two apostle-evangelists —Andrew and Philip

How do you know you are called? How sure are you of your vision and calling? I am led to read how the first disciple of Jesus discovered this “how” factor. And it varies. There are two different scenario described in the first chapter of the Gospel of John.

  1. John records how two disciples of John the Baptist became Jesus’ first disciples. (1:35-42) The two heard John declare that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and decided to follow Jesus to see where He lives. Jesus replied, “Come and see.” They went with Him to where He was staying and remained with Him the rest of the day. There is no mention why they wanted to know where Jesus was staying. But what followed that going and staying with Jesus is significant. There were two of them together but only one is mentioned by name, Andrew, the brother of Peter. Andrew went on and told Peter they have found the Messiah (Christ)! (the Bible did not record what happened to the other disciple of John the Baptist. Did he continue to follow Jesus? He is not among the twelve chosen to be apostles by Jesus later. Andrew and Peter became apostles. The unnamed disciple seemed to have missed it.
  2. In a second scenario Jesus took the initiative to go to Galilee to look for disciples. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”  And Philip became Jesus’ disciple. After that Philip went and looked for Nathanael and told him that they have found the person Moses and the prophets wrote about, namely Jesus! Both Philip and Nathanael became apostles. (1:43-49)

Let’s look at the similarities of the two apostles (Andrew and Philip):

  1. Both Andrew and Philip are well prepared, full of expectancy and are convinced that Jesus is the Messiah.
  2. They bring people to Jesus. (Andrew: John 1:41-42, 6:8-9, 12:20-26)
  3. They both say, “we have found the Messiah.”
  4. It means that they have been searching, enquiring and looking out for the arrival of the Messiah. When Jesus appears, they recall what they have learned about the Messiah, and are fully convinced and respond to His calling immediately.
  5. They show their faith in action by going to tell someone what they have found and believed. They became eager witnesses for Him naturally.

In summary, they first learned about what Moses and the prophets wrote about the Messiah, and expected Him to really come. When Jesus came and they heard about Him, they believed and responded when He called them. They declared to their close relative and friend, “We have found the Messiah—Jesus is the One!”

The Holy Spirit through John has given great significance to the calling of Andrew and Philip who in turn became the first two evangelists among the disciples. It is also significant to note that both Peter and Nathanael were at first reluctant to follow Jesus! They had to be persuaded. On the other hand, Andrew and Philip were already ready when Jesus showed up! 

Knowing and searching come before encountering and calling. When the calling comes they already know.  

January 10, 2016

Discourse with Jesus :purpose and power

God has revealed His purpose and power for us in this New Year’s journey to see God. Three questions are posted here today with answers from Jesus Himself. I have grouped some questions together for the same theme. Please read the passage or chapter for the context of each of the questions. I have taken them from the Gospel recorded by Luke (in NIV unless specifically denoted separately).

Question 6: What did you go out into the wilderness to see? To what, then, shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? (Luke 7:24, 31-32) (Read from Luke 7:24-35)

Jesus focuses on the key word ‘seeing’ again. You can only see what you want to see. Seeing takes growing up and maturity. In the Kingdom of God seeing requires a heart for God. Seeing what God sees. What does God see in this context of John the Baptist? Jesus has shown us what God sees: A true prophet, a messenger from God, accomplishing God’s plan faithfully. “’This is the one about whom it is written: “’I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’…
There are three types for seeing: (1) seeing the physical nature as it is, such as, the reed blown and swayed by the wind; (2) seeing man’s impressive worldly accomplishment, such as, display of wealth, social status, and political power (What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight. Luke 16:15); or (3) seeing what God sees in the spiritual realm: His will being carried out just as planned for the salvation of mankind. How do we see what God see? We have two most reliable spiritual guides: the Bible, the Holy Spirit.
Seeing God through the preaching, hearing and reading of His words requires positive response and faith in action on our part. The positive response to God comes after a genuine conversion: “All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.” (Luke 7:29; Matthew 3:5-6)
But another group responded negatively, the Pharisees and the experts of the law. They “rejected God’s purpose for themselves because they were not baptized by John.”(Luke 7:30) Jesus described them like children in the marketplace, mimicking their adults’ mocking, scorning, with contempt for matters they did not understand. Many Pharisees and Sadducees went to where John was baptizing but he saw through their real motive, rebuked them and exposed their unrepentant hearts which disqualified them from being

Question 7: Do you see this woman? Where is your faith? Who touched Me? Who do you say I am? However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? (Luke 7:44; 8:25; 8:45; 9:20; 18:8)

Jesus focuses on the key word ‘FAITH’ when He asks the above questions. Do you see faith? Do you have faith? Where is your faith? What does faith look like? One thing that stands out is faith must manifest. It can be seen. God can see. The spiritual beings can see. Human can see.
Faith in Jesus brings salvation and healing. An ostracized woman had faith that Jesus came from God, had the power and authority to forgive sins, and was willing to forgive her many sins. So she took an action of faith to approach Him, showered Him her appreciation and reverential love, even at great cost, perhaps the greatest cost of her lifetime. She was forgiven. (Luke 7:44, 47, 50) Another similarly ostracized woman of faith approached Jesus with the same faith, boldness in action, risking being discovered and punished harshly according to their law. She was healed. (Luke 8:45, 48)
In the final analysis, everyone is confronted with the same question: “Who do you think I am?” Salvation and healing do not come cheap. No amount of lip service can bring a person this twin-benefit. Jesus questioned His disciples. “Where is your faith? Who do you think I am?” These are what He is looking for in everyone who wants to follow Him. Without faith in Jesus being the Son of God, the only way to God, no one can go to God. Without faith no one can please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
When Jesus returns he wants to find one thing on earth: Faith. (Luke 18:8) Why? Because before He comes again His believers are required to always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1, 8). During the interval between the time Jesus left earth and His imminent return, His followers will go through storms and squall, boat being swamped, great danger that need faith. That is why Jesus questioned, “Where is your faith?”(Luke 8:22-25) Faith makes things manifest from the unseen realm to the seen realm. (Hebrews 11:3)
Faith is the end time survival key. Faith extinguishes all the flaming arrows from the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16). We need to have the shield of faith as part of the full armor of God on the day of evil. (Ephesians 6:13). Jesus has taught His disciples to put on daily and be prepared for we do not know when it comes. The gospel of Jesus requires faith to receive. The same salvation message was proclaimed but the message some heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who listened to God and obeyed. (Hebrews 4:2)

Question 8: What is written in the Law? How do you read it? You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? (Luke 10:26, 40, 56)

Law is a highly esteemed and favorite study of the Jewish people because it governs every aspect of their lives. In the time of Jesus, There were scholarly experts and specialists in the Law of Moses. They knew all the fine prints and liked to question and challenge Jesus intellectually. But Jesus was more than well prepared for them than they thought. Jesus knew everything they knew. In addition He knew what they did not know because they had no direct link to God in the spirit. Jesus pointed out the flaw in their reasoning.
The Law of Moses had two parts: the written part and the part they read and understood and receive the power of God. The written part is external. People could read, memorize and recite them. The difficulty is in the reading and understanding internally. Jesus questions: "How do you read it?"
There is no real understanding without allowing the words to become life and spirit inside us. (John 6:67)
Jesus pointed out the error of those who tried to interpret God’s truth using the same principle and method they use to interpret physical appearance–natural sciences and philosophy. (Luke 12:56) Reading the Bible is not difficult. But its interpretation requires the Holy Spirit. Jesus said this to the Sadducees who came to challenge Him on the truth of resurrection,
There is no real impact on lives if not accompanied by the power of God. God’s words require interpretation.Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?” (Mark 12:24)
Summary: Through God's Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit
  1. Seeing that God's purpose is to save through Jesus and it is a serious matter of either having eternal life with God or eternal damnation with the devil.
  2. Believing and receiving the power of God as real in our lives.
  3. Taking the bold step of faith in action: believe in Jesus and receive salvation and healing!

June 30, 2015

Be wise investors: Be foundation builders


State Of The Ministry
By Andrew Wommack(from: http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/state_ministry)
Fhttps://citizenheaven.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/cbc.jpgoundation Builders are people who understand the importance of equipping faithful men and women for the work of the ministry. And they know that equipping them with the message of God’s unconditional love and grace will give them the power to affect other lives. With that understanding, Foundation Builders have committed to helping Andrew build a new facility large enough to accommodate a student body of 3,000.
I remember the first time Jamie and I heard preaching on prosperity. The message was great, and we needed to hear it again and again. But we couldn’t afford to buy even one tape. Jamie was eight months pregnant, and we hadn’t eaten in days—we couldn’t afford food. As I looked at the tears in her eyes, I made a commitment to God: “If You ever give me something that will help others, I will never refuse them access to it because of lack of money.”
I really had no idea what that would mean, but thanks to the faithful support of our partners, we have now given away over six million tapes, CDs, and booklets.We receive emails and letters every day thanking us for the free materials and telling us how their lives were changed as a result.
Those early times in the 1970s were days of humble beginnings, to say the least. There was absolutely no evidence back then that would have convinced anyone of where the Lord would one day take this ministry. As I look back over the years, I am amazed at what He has done.
Today we have the potential of reaching one-third of the people on the planet with the Gospel Truth television program. Our signal is being broadcast around the world by satellite and being received by viewers through satellite dishes and cable and even old-fashioned antennas in underdeveloped countries like Uganda. Certainly not everyone who could view our programs does, so there is still much to be done.
We have begun broadcasting in other languages. This year the Gospel Truth can be heard and seen through the CNL network across the eleven time zones of Russia, in their language. I can hardly imagine what I must sound like speaking Russian or Hungarian.
Much of the world now has internet capability. Anyone, anywhere, anytime can go to our website and watch or listen to the Gospel Truthand download hundreds of hours of teaching materials. We are currently receiving nearly 600,000 website hits per month (over 19,000 per day). And new for 2010, we have just launched Charis Bible College (CBC) Online.
The CBC Online school is changing everything about the way people can study. We will go to them wherever they are via the internet, with downloadable lessons and videos and a facilitator to lead interactive discussion forums online. This will be as close as one can get to attending classes in person. Based on the interest we’ve already gotten, I believe that thousands of students from across the globe will be enrolling in online school in the next few years.
The CBC first-year curriculum is designed to build a strong biblical foundation through basic course study. Therefore, it can easily be accomplished online. The second year, however, requires class attendance because it goes beyond study to hands-on, practical ministry. Second-year students participate in events, are given opportunities to minister, and must travel abroad on a missions trip.
Upon completion of the first-year classes online, many of these students will find themselves wanting to enroll in one of our schools to complete their second year. In America, besides our parent campus in Colorado Springs, we have schools in Atlanta; Chicago; Kansas City; Dallas; Jacksonville; and Dyer, Indiana.
Worldwide CBC schools are located in Walsall, England; Belfast, Northern Ireland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Belize City, Belize; Chennai, India; Kampala, Uganda; and soon, Heidelberg, South Africa. We currently have over 1,000 students attending our schools, over 1,000 enrolled in correspondence courses, and now the online school will provide thousands more with the opportunity to learn.
In addition, new in 2010, we have just launched a third-year CBC program, available only at our Colorado Springs campus. The third-year “Vocational School of Ministry” curriculum is designed for those who desire to make the ministry a career. It will offer courses emphasizing everything from music to business administration in the church.
Happy Caldwell, Duane Sheriff, and Bob Yandian will anchor the third year by teaching the “School of the Pastors” courses. Each area of study has qualified and experienced leaders teaching the classes. For details, go to our website at http://www.charisbiblecollege.org.
During my recent trip to Europe, I witnessed the power of books and literature. Andrew Wommack Ministries Europe (AWME), has overseen the translation of many of my books into thirty-seven different languages. Every place we held meetings, from Poland to Hungary to Germany, teaching materials in printed form were in high demand. When people can read about the message in their languages, it makes all the difference. When I leave, those materials stay behind and keep on teaching. They are usually passed from one person to the next, affecting dozens of lives.
To help distribute materials and serve needs more efficiently, we have opened several new offices in addition to the AWME office in Walsall, England. We are now operating from offices in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; St. Petersburg, Russia; Kampala, Uganda; Heidelberg, South Africa; and Chennai, India. As you can see, offices and schools usually work hand in hand using the same facilities.
To say the ministry is experiencing growth is an understatement. Since 2001, when I first began on television, we have grown at the rate of 28 percent per year. That means we have doubled every 2.6 years. I could give you all of the statistics that measure the growth, but there is something much more important than statistics: The lives that those statistics represent.
In America, for instance, over 20,000 people per month call our Helpline, most of them in need of prayer. We see people healed and set free all day, every day, through the anointed people in the Phone Center.
Our Production Department ships over 30,000 packages of teaching materials each month. Combine that with the 122,000-plus downloads through the website, and it gives you an idea of how hungry people are for the truth of the Gospel. By the way, all downloads are free, and 52 percent of what we ship has been requested and mailed without a gift of any kind. Thank God for the many faithful partners who make all of this possible.
Growth is a blessing, but it also presents us with the challenge of accommodating the results. The school is the most pressing issue. At the present rate of growth, we will be maxed out in three to five years. It leaves us with the choice of expanding and building or limiting enrollment. I believe God wants us to expand, and He has just provided us with a miracle that will allow that to happen.
In September of last year, we purchased 157 acres of pristine mountain property within the city limits of Woodland Park, Colorado, fifteen miles west of Colorado Springs and only thirty minutes from the Colorado Springs Airport.
One year ago, the property was priced at over $10 million. We closed on the property September 21, 2009 for $4 million. As a special bonus, there is an 8,400-square-foot lodge that by itself is worth over $2 million, not to mention the three ponds, the barn and other outbuildings, and the fact that it backs up to the Pike National Forest. This purchase would not have happened in a strong economy. Only God could have arranged this timing. It’s the blessing of the Lord.
We are currently working on a master plan with architects and going through the process of city and county zoning and approval. It is my hope that we will complete the first phase of this project by the end of 2012. That phase will include an auditorium, facilities for the school, and the Phone Center. The rest of the AWM departments will move to the new location as phases two and three are completed in the years to come.
I am not condemning or criticizing other non-profit organizations; they all have reasons for the decisions they make. But for little more than the price of purchasing and operating a large private jet, we can complete this entire project. I would much rather change the lives of thousands of future students who will impact the world than fly in comfort.
Please prayerfully consider becoming a Foundation Builder. Ask God what He would have you do to help with this building program.
Jamie and I could not be more thankful to our partners. Yes, God is changing the lives of thousands through this ministry. However, it’s not just Jamie and me. We cannot complete this project any more than we can provide free teaching materials without the Lord first speaking to you about helping. God has built a team to accomplish His purpose. Thanks for being a part of the team.
http://news.awmi.net/v-tour

Many are long-time partners who have been led by God to give above and beyond their current pledges, to help complete this building project. Some are people who have never helped the ministry before. But all are people who love God and want to see lives changed as this message spreads around the world.
http://www.awmi.net/foundation_builders

August 13, 2013

End Times church countdown: give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine

1 Timothy 4

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Great Apostasy

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.

Take Heed to Your Ministry

12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

June 20, 2013

Jesus' power to heal is available to all who believe

 Jesus heals many

How did Jesus heal? What did He want of the patients? This is another key to divine health and wholeness living.
The key truth: Jesus clearly stated that He is the Physician who heals those who are sick and the God who has power on earth to forgive sins. (Luke 5:31-32) All who actually believed what Jesus said were healed.
Oftentimes He just preached and taught the multitudes and the power of the Lord was present to heal them! Luke 5:15
Here are some verses spoken by Jesus and they revealed the truth that set free!

_________Bible verses (NKJV) are taken from the Gospel According to Luke, chapters 4-6: describing the behavior, attitude, belief of the 'patients' who came to Jesus for healing.
4:32-33 a man with an unclean demon cried out in the presence of Jesus who was teaching, for His word was with authority. The man was listening to His word.
5:12 a man full of leprosy saw Jesus and fell on his face and spoke out his faith in Jesus' power and authority to heal. He acknowledged his uncleanness and need of cleansing, saying "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
5:15 great multitudes came together to hear Jesus' teaching and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. They believed in the power of the word Jesus spoke to heal them.
5:25 a paralyzed man believed his sins were forgiven because Jesus said so, and obeyed the command of Jesus to rise up and take up his bed and walked back to his own house.
5:27-28 a sinner (tax collector) Levi was saved from his sins by obeying the command of Jesus to follow Him. He left all, rose up, and followed Him.
6:10 a man with a withered right hand believed in Jesus' authority to override that of the synagogue authority (based on Moses Law), and obeyed Jesus' command to stretch out his hand on Sabbath.
6:17-19 "great multitude of people came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those tormented with unclean spirits. And they were all healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out of Him and healed them all."

The patients came, heard His word, believed the word, and even touched Him (encountered His power)! Power came out of Jesus as He preached the word. They believed and were healed.

June 16, 2013

imagine a wordless and thoughtless mind -it is here today.

One exists 100% when one lives the truth. Otherwise one lives not his own life but others. Truth involves words. When words are eradicated, no truth exists.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/get-better-at-math-by-disrupting-brain_1.jpg
the mind controls the data or the data controls the mind?
The mindman discovers that a reality check on truth is for everyone with a mind to complete. Every thought ought be a reflection of the truth about oneself. Here is the mindman’s confession.
At one time I was convinced that the mind itself was the truth.
I was very sure that I had the truth and my mind controlled the truth. After all, who could have known me better than my mind knows myself? Surely my mind knows best where I am concerned.
If the mind is loyal to its master, then it would have functioned 100% for my benefits, for my good, for my well being. The ‘me’ or ‘my’ or ‘self’ is very big in the dictionary of the mindman, indeed the whole world to a person who thinks he exists because he thinks.
If the above is true, then everyone (body, soul, and spirit) should be happy. But in real life this is not so. Instead, the mind is subject to deceptions and mental attacks. Why? Because not one mind is perfect or altruistic. Who sets the standards for the mind to function? Who really knows oneself? If the mind sets its own standards of performance then it merely sets those for its own convenience and benefits. It would not bother with anything concerning the well being of the other parts of the body or the soul. (One who exists by his mind does not know about his spirit, so there is no point mentioning his spirit).
As previously written the mind is habit. Habit is a convenience. Which mind would not prefer convenience? In another word, idleness.
The commercial society knows this preference best. It comes up with a lot of commercial conveniences. The mind does not need to do any hard work. It can always pick and choose the decision that offers the easiest and requires least physical and mental effort. Forget about moral. Ignore others well being. Self love, self promotion, and self preservation are the utmost priority.
If there is a reality check on the mind, most significant and common finding will be the atrophy of the brain cells that recall facts and make decision. Signs? Who cares about mental mathematics calculation these days when every mobile phone has a calculator? Who cares to remember phone numbers or addresses or even faces with names when every one has a mobile phone with ease of access to each person’s data so openly stored on the internet? Symbols (including short utterances concocted by the modern digital community) are so easily available and of such rich variety, so why bother to remember words or languages?
mind with no thoughts
Thoughts with no words. Mind with no thoughts. The mindman shudders when he has a glimpse of the inevitable future of human ‘mind’.
Worse, minds with untruth about oneself and others. How will human decision be made? When lies and deceptions become the ruler of the minds, the world’s end will surely arrive. There will be no need for any other form of war. The minds self-destruct itself by a gradual process of atrophy.
Worst, empty minds think themselves powerful.
________________
For Christians to ponder: What can you do when you become wordless?
The Lord Jesus Christ has warned:
"... and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works." (Revelation 2:23)

A more positive way out:

Romans 8:4-6
Amplified Bible (AMP)
So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].
For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.
Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].
big freeze in the mind

February 5, 2013

Journey to see God: no eye has seen, no ear has heard

For those who want to know the mysterious things of God, you just need the Holy Spirit and His power. God does not reveal His truth to anyone except those who have the Spirit of the Lord. The power of the Holy Spirit is the power of God. The power of God is the wisdom of God.
The mystery of God speaks of His plan for us.
God tells those who love Him His deep secrets, His thoughts, His plan which only His Spirit knows.
Those who have received God's Spirit, can know too. So we can know the wonderful things that God has freely given us. Isn't life in Christ (Spirit of Christ), being led by God's Spirit (as sons of God are led by the Spirit of God) wonderful?


Paul’s Message of Wisdom ((1 Corinthians 2 New Living Translation (NLT)

2 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.[b] 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God[c]—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared

for those who love him.”[d]

10 But[e] it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.
11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.
12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.[f]
14 But people who aren’t spiritual[g] can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it,

for “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.
16 For, Who knows enough to teach him?”[h]

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Footnotes:

a.1 Corinthians 2:1 Greek brothers.

b.1 Corinthians 2:1 Greek God’s mystery; other manuscripts read God’s testimony.

c.1 Corinthians 2:7 Greek But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery.

d.1 Corinthians 2:9 Isa 64:4.

e.1 Corinthians 2:10 Some manuscripts read For.

f.1 Corinthians 2:13 Or explaining spiritual truths in spiritual language, or explaining spiritual truths to spiritual people.

g.1 Corinthians 2:14 Or who don’t have the Spirit; or who have only physical life.

h.1 Corinthians 2:16 Isa 40:13 (Greek version).

___________________________

Romans 8:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

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