Freely Receive the Mystery
Freely Receive the Mystery
By Bill Hyer
In 1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 2, Paul writes about one of the most important things we have freely received from God. It is an understanding of the “mystery” and “hidden” wisdom and ways of God. It is getting a glimpse of “what God has prepared for those who love Him,” an understanding of “the depths of God” (1 Cor. 2:7, 9-10). This “wisdom” is seen in the cross of Christ which demonstrates both “the power and wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24), and the understanding of God’s mysterious and hidden wisdom only comes from the Holy Spirit.
Paul says our understanding of this “mystery” and “hidden” wisdom of the ways of God revealed in the cross of Christ is something we have, in fact, freely received from God. “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God” (1 Cor. 2:12). However, Paul says there are three kinds of beings that do not, and, in fact, cannot “understand” God’s wisdom.
The first is Satan and all his demonic hosts. Of them, Paul writes, “None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2:8). The second is unbelievers, those of “the world,” to whom the cross of Christ is “foolishness” and “weakness” because they think according to “human wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:5, 12-13). The third is spiritually “immature” Christians. Paul clearly writes of this, saying “we speak wisdom among the mature” (1 Corinthians 2:6), which means that the spiritually immature don’t understand it. Why? He identifies the basic problem in verse 14, which is a verse that is often translated incorrectly in English. Most English translations say, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” The erroneous translation is that of the Greek word translated as “natural.” If this were a correct translation, it would mean Paul is speaking about an unbeliever, but he is not. The Greek word is “psychichos” which is literally “soulish.” He is speaking about a “soulish” Christian, one who is spiritually “immature,” and because of this, doesn’t understand the “wisdom” of God. The reason they are “soulish” is because they are not walking in the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit.
Even though this has been “freely given” to all Christians, the “soulish” and “immature” Christian cannot “accept” or “receive” an understanding of the “deep things” of God demonstrated in the cross of Christ. To understand the mystery of the hidden wisdom and “depths of God” that has been “freely given” to us, we must be filled with and walk in the reality of the manifest presence of Christ.
Pray now: Father, help me to walk in spiritual maturity. Where I have been immature, forgive. I desire to grow mature so that I might receive your hidden wisdom and plunge the depths of who you are.
Pray for Breakthrough in the Nations!
Each day during this fast we are asking you to join us in asking for the remaining nations where the College of Prayer is not yet serving churches.
Pray today for Mauritius (Indian Ocean).
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." Revelation 11:15
By Bill Hyer
In 1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 2, Paul writes about one of the most important things we have freely received from God. It is an understanding of the “mystery” and “hidden” wisdom and ways of God. It is getting a glimpse of “what God has prepared for those who love Him,” an understanding of “the depths of God” (1 Cor. 2:7, 9-10). This “wisdom” is seen in the cross of Christ which demonstrates both “the power and wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24), and the understanding of God’s mysterious and hidden wisdom only comes from the Holy Spirit.
Paul says our understanding of this “mystery” and “hidden” wisdom of the ways of God revealed in the cross of Christ is something we have, in fact, freely received from God. “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God” (1 Cor. 2:12). However, Paul says there are three kinds of beings that do not, and, in fact, cannot “understand” God’s wisdom.
The first is Satan and all his demonic hosts. Of them, Paul writes, “None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2:8). The second is unbelievers, those of “the world,” to whom the cross of Christ is “foolishness” and “weakness” because they think according to “human wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:5, 12-13). The third is spiritually “immature” Christians. Paul clearly writes of this, saying “we speak wisdom among the mature” (1 Corinthians 2:6), which means that the spiritually immature don’t understand it. Why? He identifies the basic problem in verse 14, which is a verse that is often translated incorrectly in English. Most English translations say, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” The erroneous translation is that of the Greek word translated as “natural.” If this were a correct translation, it would mean Paul is speaking about an unbeliever, but he is not. The Greek word is “psychichos” which is literally “soulish.” He is speaking about a “soulish” Christian, one who is spiritually “immature,” and because of this, doesn’t understand the “wisdom” of God. The reason they are “soulish” is because they are not walking in the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit.
Even though this has been “freely given” to all Christians, the “soulish” and “immature” Christian cannot “accept” or “receive” an understanding of the “deep things” of God demonstrated in the cross of Christ. To understand the mystery of the hidden wisdom and “depths of God” that has been “freely given” to us, we must be filled with and walk in the reality of the manifest presence of Christ.
Pray now: Father, help me to walk in spiritual maturity. Where I have been immature, forgive. I desire to grow mature so that I might receive your hidden wisdom and plunge the depths of who you are.
Pray for Breakthrough in the Nations!
Each day during this fast we are asking you to join us in asking for the remaining nations where the College of Prayer is not yet serving churches.
Pray today for Mauritius (Indian Ocean).
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." Revelation 11:15
Posted in 2025 Breakthrough Fast
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