I Corinthians 2:9-16

1. 9However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” – I Corinthians 2:9-16

2. 10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. I Corinthians 2:9-16

3. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. I Corinthians 2:9-16

4. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. I Corinthians 2:9-16

5. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. I Corinthians 2:9-16

6. 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:9-16

7. I Corinthians 2:9-16 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

8. Living with the Spirit Communication with God

9. How God Communicated – Old Testament • Direct (Adam & Eve, Gen. 3:8-19) • Angels (Hagar, Gen. 16:6-14) • Visions (Abram, Gen. 15:1-19) • Dreams (Jacob, Gen. 28:10-19) • Prophets (Isaiah, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, … ) • Many other less direct ways • Urim and Thummim (Aaron, Ex. 28:30) • Miraculous signs (Plagues, Ex. 7-12)

10. How God Communicated – Christ on Earth God became flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14); so, God communicated through Jesus. Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. … The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, ... (John 14:9-10)

11. How God Communicates – Since Pentecost Since the days of Acts 2, God has been speaking to us through the Holy Spirit within us. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" -- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. ... (I Cor 2:9-10) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; … He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. (John 16:13-14)

12. How do we know we have the Spirit? If you are a Christian (baptized believer), God has promised that you have the Holy Spirit. Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:38-39)

13. How Does the Spirit Speak to Us? • Through • The Bible • Prayer • Circumstances • The Church

14. God Speaks to Us Through the Bible As we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit helps us understand what we read – reveals spiritual truths and God’s wisdom. (I Cor 2:9-14, John 16:13-15) Example: Reading Psalms 37 21The wicked borrow and do not repay, … The Spirit may help us recall that we have an unpaid debt

15. God Speaks to Us Through Prayer As we pray for specific requests, God through the Holy Spirit may cause a particular scripture or “solution” to come to our mind. Prayer is two-way communication! (Have a pencil and pad near you during your private prayer time to write down thoughts that come during prayer.) • After prayer: • Be attentive, especially to scriptural references • Expect God to answer; he always does • Remember God’s timing is always best

16. God Speaks to Us Through Circumstances Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” (John 5:17) • Recall: • Job • Lazarus • When difficult circumstances come: • Know that God loves you • Pray for understanding • Be attentive for God’s answer • Be prepared to adjust to God’s plan • Currently: • Anna

17. God Speaks to Us Through the Church Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph 4:15-16) • The church is a body • Every member is placed in the body as it pleases God • Members are mutually interdependent (we need each other) • Compare others’ input to God’s Word (let Holy Spirit work)

18. Two Examples • Church Property • Hilltop at Pellissippi Parkway and Hardin Valley Road • Property on Hickory Creek Road • Current Hardin Valley Road / Steele Road property • Hiring Larry Cline as Evangelist • Member heard him a couple times (potential candidate) • Annual cabin vacation over-booking (positive visit here) • Linda’s work environment change (less positive) • Mutual friends (David Skidmore, Mark Smith, Mike Lewis)

19. Is God Speaking or Satan? • General Guidelines • What is being communicated: • Always consistent with God’s Word • Typically requires our knowledge/study of God’s Word • Typically supplies wisdom rather than knowledge • Allows Holy Spirit to work rather than direct verbal communication

20. Conclusion The Holy Spirit is within you. Be attentive to His workings. Be prepared to adjust your life to God’s plan for you.