I actually completed this study in August 2015. It turns out I really needed it the next year on August 1st. That’s my birthday. Who would have thought that one year later I would need this teaching to help me get through a less than desirable occurrence that left me wondering just what God was trying to show me at the time.
Many times things happen in our lives that leave us wondering why they happened. What if I would have done this or that? If I would have just done this or that. If only I would have listened to God the first time, or in my case the first or second time. We think God is punishing us, but I think it was Graham Cooke who said “When situations arise, God is not trying to take anything from you. He’s trying to get something to you”.
Thanks Graham. I’ll try to remember that. Then I see a post somewhere that says “Happiness is a choice. Don’t give away your power by freaking out over things you cannot change”. Isn’t it interesting how these words full of wisdom appear at just the right time?
So, although this teaching is about having the mind of Christ. Within it are little helps for those of us who have been in a struggle about why something happened. Some of you may be asking what you did wrong to make God “cause” it. That’s the wrong kingdom mindset. Some of you may be asking the questions I listed above or made the statements about “what if”. My first reaction was “God, what are you trying to show me in all of this and what blessing should I look forward to as a result of it”?
Finally, we must accept that God is NOT in control of everything that happens, but He is in charge. In other words, He knows everything and what will occur at every instant, but He will not violate His covenant by taking away our choice.
It’s like I said, and I’ll use myself as an example. I heard Him tell me to do something other than what I chose to do. So, He did not control my actions by disallowing my choice, but because He knew in advance what those choices would lead to, He still let me make them.
It’s really no different when we speak to our own children. We can tell them what they ought to do, but ultimately it is their choice and decision on what they do. If you tried to control them, they would eventually rebel, many times to an extreme.
In my case, I made the choice I did and that left me very disappointed in myself. I beat myself up for not listening, for making a stupid decision, and for being very discouraged about it. Then I heard God say to me “This is a small occurrence as a result of a not so good choice, but it will alert you to be positively responsive to my voice in a situation that could be extremely damaging. It will help you make an immediate choice to follow my voice and avoid a very damaging situation”. I guess that is part of what God was trying to get to me. I wonder what the rest is?
We have all heard people say “the Lord’s thoughts are so far above ours, no way we can understand or even have an inkling of what he thinks. I have to admit I had to repent from this mindset, because it’s just not true. Now let’s go to the word and find truth to support that statement.
Lets start with 1 Corinthians 2:4-7.
4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
Right here is a good place to say this – “It’s hard for fruit to be produced in our life like it was in the early church, when we are more committed to a book they didn’t have, then we are to the Holy Spirit they did have”.
5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
Now there’s a good word. Quit listening to what ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN say. Quit listening to what politicians say. Quit listening to what religious minded people say. Quit basing your walk in Christ on some televangelist with a mega church. Why?? Look at the next verse.
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away
See…all their words are soon forgotten. They are and will pass away.
7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.
The NLT says it this way – No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—His plan that was previously hidden, even though He made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.
Wow…the wisdom we speak we actually speak in a mystery, the mystery of God, previously hidden. Remember, this book is full of mysteries, not hidden from us, but for us.
The majority of “christians” just want to live with what they can understand about the scriptures. Well, what they don’t realize is they are going to have to give up their right to understand. Then there are the prophetic people who want to understand every word they get before they receive a revelation that leads to understanding.
Let me say that the mysteries of God are there not to frustrate us, but to secure us. If there were no mysteries or things we do not understand, there would be no trust or hope. God keeps everything in balance. As your revelation increases, the mysteries increase to support them.
Look, it says his plan that was previously hidden. Even though he made it for our ultimate glory. When? Before the world began. For whose glory?
This proves God wants to give us glory. We say “Lord we give you glory”. Well you can’t give away what you don’t have.
Paul knew what Jesus said in John 17:22 and then verse 5.
Then those in bondage or legalism will say something that sounds religious like “I don’t want to steal the glory of God”. Well, you can’t steal something that has been given to you as a gift.
Okay, look what it says in verse 8. “but the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord”.
They’re still trying to crucify Him today. Graham Cooke says “if the devil understood what Jesus would do on the cross, he would have killed everyone who was trying to kill Jesus.
Continue, verse 9. “but just as it is written, “things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that god has prepared for those who love him.”
Now, that portion in italics or set off somehow is because the writer is quoting an Old Testament prophet.
Verse 10.
10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
Okay, so no one knows the thoughts of God, but the Spirit of God. Continue.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
What did we receive? The Spirit who is from God. Who knows the thoughts of God? The Spirit of God. What did we receive? The Spirit of God. Are you getting it?
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
Before we go to verse 16, please notice the majority of that verse is either italicized or set off because, once again, Paul is quoting an Old Testament prophet. Notice that’s the only part of the verse either in italics or set apart. The next part is not where he says "we have the mind of Christ". So we know Paul is speaking that part. As we start Part 2 of this teaching, Paul asks that very important question. If you want to know what it is, you can study verse 16 now. Grace and Peace.
