Daily Nugget:
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” I Corinthians 2:14
Many try to understand the things of God but cannot grasp His truths, nor do the truths seem relevant to them. They may have studied the Scriptures, memorized them, and appeared very knowledgeable about biblical facts. Still, there seems to be a veil that does not allow them to grasp the truths from the Word of God.
Preaching may entertain and even be interesting to them, but the truths heard from the pulpit never get into their heart and change their lives. Some even feel church attendance is meaningless, and that is why they seldom attend.
It is often not the preacher’s fault that they “get nothing from the service” or that they “do not feel convicted.” I Corinthians 2:14 puts the spiritual finger on who some of them are and why there is a spiritual connection missing in their lives. The reason that they are not grasping biblical truths or are not Spirit-led is that they are “natural” men and women.
These “natural” people may not be born again and cannot have a relationship with the Lord until they are saved. They may even be saved but are so worldly-minded that they could not hear the convicting Spirit of God if He blew an air-horn in their left ear. A “natural” man is one that is just the way they were born, without any spiritual alterations, illuminations, and connections.
No one can understand the things of God unless the Holy Spirit shows them to a person (I Cor. 2:11). A person can have head-knowledge of biblical and spiritual things, but unless the Holy Spirit is involved, there will never be a connection to what the brain knows and what the spiritual “heart” of a person understands. Many degreed preachers have been in left field regarding understanding the things of God because they were under their power of comprehension and not the Holy Spirit’s revelation. Education alone does not make the “connection.”
Preaching and the things of God are not appreciated and meaningless to a “natural” man. However, the preaching of the Word of God is essential to a saved man. The exhortation of God’s Word and its teaching are spiritual food for a spiritual person. It encourages, guides, and strengthens a child of God. To him, it is foolish to not be at church where God’s Word is taught and unwise not to read and obey God’s Word.
Today’s Thought:
“If you want to hear from the Father, you must speak the same language.” — Barbara Brinkworth
Today’s Reading:
I Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
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:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
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 hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
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.
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.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
