THE ILLUMINATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1 Corinthians 2:14-15
Morning Meditation 12/18/14
"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. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man."
The words "spiritually discerned" translate "pneumatikos" and means, "one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God."
There is a contrast here between the natural man, the man as he was born physically into this world, and the Spiritual man as he was born of the Holy Spirit. The natural man can never be anything but a natural man. Even in salvation the natural man is not improved or changed in any way. I Corinthians 15:50, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."
However, Paul says, "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things." The word "judgeth" translates, "anakrino" and means, "to investigate, examine, enquire into, scrutinise." The reason he can do this with success is that he has been made spiritual by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
John also deals with what the Holy Spirit does in the believer. 1 John 2:27, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."
The Holy Spirit is the One who brought the Word to us. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us how this happened: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
But the question comes? Can we understand the inspired word by preparing ourselves through the study of the original languages? As much as we need to understand the words of the text and how they are put together, the Holy Spirit who gave those words through Holy men of God, must also illuminate our minds to grasp the truths He has declared.
There are some things that they believer needs to practice in his Bible reading:
1. We need to read the Word expecting the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the Word.
2. We need to read the Word expecting Satan to lie to us about what it says. Satan took the Word and perverted it to Eve in the garden of Eden.
3. We need to read the Word with absolute faith. It is a mistake to read the Word with the idea that it is not written for us today. God says what He means and means what He says.
4. We need to always compare what we believe God has said to us with His written revelation in other places. The Lord will not tell you to do something that He has forbidden in another place. This is a safeguard from error.
5. Hebrews 10:32 says, "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;" The word illuminated translates "photizo" and means, "to bring to light, render evident." The Holy Spirit works in this way upon God's children as they read the Word.
So there is the revelation that the Holy Spirit gives in the written Word, and then, there is the illumination that He gives in helping us to understand what He has written.
May the Lord bless our hearts with these words.
In Christ
Bro. White
