Do You Hear What I Hear?

"When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan.  For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.  I came to you in weakness-timid and trembling. 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.  I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten.  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.  But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had , they would not have crucified our glorious  Lord.  That is what the scriptures mean when they say,

               'No eye has seen , nor ear has heard,

            and no mind has imagined

            what God has prepared 

            for those that love him.'   ~Isaiah 64:4

But 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.  No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thought except God's own Spirit.  And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 

When we tell you these things, we do not use the words that come from human wisdom.  Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirits's words to explain spiritual truths.  But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.  For,

            'Who can know the Lord's thoughts?

              Who knows enough to teach him?'  ~Isaiah 40:13

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

                                   ~ 1 Corinthians Chapter 2 (NLT)

                                       Paul's Message of Wisdom

Wasn't this a wonderful gift the Lord gave us indeed!

Tea mug is "Three Kings" by Emma Bridgewater.  Table topper is Zinna Table Topper in gray by Heritage Lace.

Sherry

  
I will be linking up with these parties:
MommyMoments at Life of Faith- Sun evening   
Moments of Hope at Lori Schumaker 
Monday's Musings at What Joy is Mine
Coffee and Conversation at Pat and Candy.com
Tell Us His Story at Jennifer Dukes Lee
Grace Moments at Journeys in Grace
Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3-D Lessons for Life
100 Happy Days at A Kreative Whim
Grace and Truth at Above the Waves
Fresh Market Friday Crystal Twaddell
TGI Saturdays at Ask Latisha

Friends Sharing Tea at BTTCG

Tuesday Cuppa Tea at Antiques and Teacups 

The Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims